i do not qualify for retraining programs because i have excellent skill sets. all i hear is i'm in a perfect storm. sorry, you are not alone. i have been a productive member of society for many years and do not consider myself a taker. how many will lose their homes, dignity and hope. to my constituent, i do know and americans know and it was wrong to leave without fixing this problem. thank you. and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. lee: thank you, mr. speaker. in addition to congratulating and saluting mel watt, i want to rise and absolute our friend , nicki mays tonight. nicki, i have to say to you, first of all, i was a staffer for ron delham when i first met knicky. i know tonight ron would want

-- nicki. i know ron would want to absolute you and congratulate you so much for your 36 years of service. on behalf of ron and myself, let me just say, what a great role model you have been for all of us, but also i want to thank you for helping us navigate this great institution. we will always remember you, we will cherish your friendship and also i just want to say to you that as you start this new chapter of your life, i hope you get some rest, but hope you have a lot of fun. thank you again, nicki. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from illinois seek recognition? without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. mrs. bustos: thank you, mr. speaker. i rise today to thank all of our brave heros who are serving overseas and are not home with their families this holiday season. while most of us will be returning to our homes to celebrate with family and friends, let us not forget all of the men and women serving

our country, who will not be able to be with their loved ones. my region of illinois is home to thousands of veterans who have served honorably in wartime and peacetime. it is also home to many active duty service members, national guard members and ready reservists. i was heartened to learn recently that the peoria-based arbitrarilyy national guard unit is expected to come -- army national guard unit is expected to come home before the holidays. this will surely be an early christmas present for those across the country. i looked for to helping welcome them home. all of our service members deserve our full support year-round, but let us please take that holiday season as an opportunity to thank them for their sacrifices that they have given to their families and to our country. let us be there for them now, because they are there for us. thank you, mr. speaker, and yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition? ms. kaptur: i rise to address

the house for one minute, please. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. kaptur: mr. speaker, as we end this particular legislative session, i just wanted to rise and say that on the one hand, we voted, the vast majority of members voted to run the government of the united states prudently and within budget and to operate as adults over the next two years. on the other hand, the lack of a provision in that bill to accommodate those who are unemployed across this country is a sad commentary on the leadership of this house. in the state of ohio, where speaker boehner hails from, over half of the counties in ohio have -- are above the national unemployment average of 7%, which is way too high for the country as a whole. for us as a chamber, not to be able to include, especially before christmas and the holiday season, extension of unemployment benefits, even for a few months, for people who

will now face christmas and the new year with even more worry and hardship is unconscionable for this nation. i just know that we are capable of better. and, you know, i would suggest to the chairman of the appropriations committee, if you but shaved 1% off every account in the discretionary part of the budget, you'd be able to find the money to extend the benefits for three more months and then we can look toward a more permanent solution from the ways and means committee and i thank the chair for allowing me to make this important statement for the record. america can do better for our unemployed. thank you so very much. the speaker pro tempore: are there any more requests for one-minute? s -- one-minutes? the chair lays before the house the following personal requests. the clerk: leave of absence requested for mr. doyle of pennsylvania for today, until 3:30 p.m., and mr. rush of illinois for today and tomorrow, december 13. the speaker pro tempore:

without objection, the requests are granted. under the speaker's announced policy of january 3, 2013, the gentleman from pennsylvania, mr. fattah, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the minority leader. mr. fattah: thank you, mr. speaker. and i rise at this moment for the house to appropriately acknowledge the life and legacy , the true extraordinary leadership of president nelson mandela who has passed on to history now, but during his 95 years, he played a -- an extraordinary role in the life of his country and in his countrymen -- and his countrymen and this congress played a part in that process through the debates on this floor and through finally the passage of sanctions and then even more so, overriding the

presidential veto and putting into place sanctions that president mandela indicated and all recognize plays an important role in ending apartheid in south africa. so there are members who are no longer members of the house, some who even have passed on themselves, and congressman bill gray from philadelphia, who authored the sanctions legislation, but congressman dullens, who had previously offered and fought side by side, and many members of the congressional black caucus and others, democrats and republicans, on this floor of this house who were involved in this activity. so i rise for this special order, for us to appropriately pay tribute to the leadership that was exhibited by president mandela in his african national

congress. i'm going to yield and for only 2 1/2 minutes per member, an opportunity for them to reflect on the life of president mandela. and obviously we recognize that he was born and that he died, that he went to school and he played certain roles in his profession as a lawyer, but he has been recognized around the world for the struggle that he led and that he dedicated his life to. i first yield to the gentlelady from the great state of ohio, who chairs the congress am black caucus, congresswoman marcia fudge. 2 1/2 minutes. ms. fudge: i thank you, mr. fattah, for leading this special order. mr. speaker, today we celebrate the life and legacy of former south african president nelson mandela. a releaptless pioneer for justice, -- relentless pioneer for justice, equality and democracy. i'm proud to say that members

of the congressional black caucus stood with mandela before it was popular or politically advantageous. working with grassroots advocates, and many others from across the world, mandela activated a movement that not only spoke of democracy, and equality, but realized those principles through action. meaningful action that ultimately broke the chains of apartheid and will be forever remembered. today the c.b.c. absolutes the life of a world leader who sack -- salutes the life of a world leader. today we celebrate the life of a man from humble beginnings who overcame the obstacles of racial intolerance and rose to lead a country and a people to prosperity and freedom. today we cherish the life of a president who led with dignity and strength. today we treasure the life and legacy of nelson mandela, will you forever be remembered -- you will forever be remembered. i yield back.

mr. fattah: i thank the gentlelady and i thank her for her leadership on this house floor, on behalf of not just the people she represents in ohio, but throughout the country. i now want to recognize someone who is no stranger to struggle, nelson mandela once said when asked about his life being a struggle, he said, no, you misinterpret. the struggle is my life. the struggle is this man's life. i recognize the gentleman from the great state of georgia, john lewis, for 2 1/2 minutes. ray lewis mr. speaker, i rise to -- reuss reuss mr. speaker, i rise -- mr. lewis: mr. speaker, i rise to honor nelson mandela. when i first met mandela, i felt like i was touching the

spirit of grathe greatness. he was tall, graceful with the calm spirit of the dalai lama. he was one of those rare individuals, like gandhi, lincoln or king, who came, who come along only once in a generation and who are a blessing to all humanity. they teach us not just to liberate the body, but to free our minds and unleash the power of the human spirit. this weekend i had the honor of traveling with members of the house and one member of the senate to attend official memorial service in south africa. i would like to thank you, thank the speaker, his staff for working with chairwoman fudge to ensure that congress was represented at this global tribute. tonight i express my deepest sympathy to the family and friend of president mandela.

the people of south africa and the global community have lost a giant of a man who embodied grace, dignity and peace. he just walked out of prison after 27 years without any bitterness, hostility or hatred. and through the power of love and complete forgiveness, president mandela not only freed the oppressed, but he also freed the oppressor. what we know of his long walk to freedom, what he endured and what he overcame has made us all a little more human. and what he told us about reconciliation, love and inner peace, inspired each and every person who knows his story to be better, stronger, more loving, more peaceful citizens of the global community. he was a father of a new south africa, who helped build a new

nation, more focused on unity today than ever before. during the height of the civil rights movement, mr. speaker, the chant of the south african people became our chant. one man, one vote. he was great leader, but i never thought i would have the honor of meeting him and calling him my friend, my brother. during this holiday season, i hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, in both chambers, will use this time to reflect on how we can can be representatives of the people, can continue to work on unity, extend a legacy of love, of service, and respect for all human kind, as mr. nelson an della did. and with that i yield become -- mandela did. and with that i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the chair will receive a message. marc: mr. speaker, a message from the -- the messager: mr. speaker, i have been -- i have

an amendment. the secretary: mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: madam secretary. the secretary: the snalt has through 2014. in which the concurrence of the house is requested. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. mr. fattah: thank you. i met president mandela on a number of occasions. in philadelphia and here in washington. when i traveled to africa with then president bill clinton when mandela was leading some peace talks in a country that was involved in a great deal of conflict at that time, but before i met nellson mandela, i knew -- nelson mandela, i knew a state legislator from the great state of california who had led the fight and the rallying cry in state houses, not just in california, but around the country. and want to recognize now congresswoman maxine waters who

really was an extraordinary figure in the fight, in the united states. to get pension funds and universities and others to divest. i recognize her, maxine waters, for 2 1/2 minutes. ms. waters: i want to thank my friend and colleague from pennsylvania for that warm introduction. and i want to thank the members of the congressional black caucus. we just returned from south africa where we participated with thousands of folks from across south africa, memorializing nelson mandela. and it was a wonderful moment in our lives. but of course nelson mandela has helped us all to be a better person, he has inspired us all in so many different ways. when i was a member of the california state legislature, i authored the legislation that divested all of our pension

funds from doing businesses in south africa. and so that legislation caught fire across the country and we had other divestment movements going on and others divesting their funds from businesses that were doing business in south africa. we went on to have rallies and marches, we came to washington, d.c., we got arrested at the south african embassy, we sat in the south african consulate in los angeles, we worked with students on the college campuses, they got involved in divest. s. some of them took the -- divestments. some of them took the names of the streets in those campuses down and made them nelson mandela way. and as we worked and worked, we were instrumental in helping to free nelson mandela, who had served 27 years in prison. in addition to that, some of us had the opportunity go to south

after chasm we continued to work with them until nelson mandela walked out, free, from having served that 27 years, and then we were able to welcome him to the united states, in los angeles, we put together a huge celebration, and when he and winnie mandela walked out on the stage, the crowd just exploded. but it exploded because here was a man who had the courage of his convictions. a man that was so committed to freedom, justice, and equality that he was willing to put his life on the line. he was a warrior and he tried to negotiate he tried to get the south african government to realize that they should be recognizing that black south africa can -- south africans were human beings too. and when they didn't, he organized the struggle. he resisted and of course they placed him in prison and some people thought we would never see black south africans free. but because of nelson mandela

and because the people loved him so, followed him as he led, today, we have a free south africa. mandela is gone, he's no longer with us. but he will be remembered forever because what he did was such a feat that we cannot identify anybody else, certainly in the 20th century, that led the way that he led. so i'm pleased to be here with my colleagues tonight paying tribute to himism thank my colleagues for all the work that they, too, participated in to honor him. i yield back the balance of my ime. >> i thank the gentlelady. she reminds us of all the people who played a role. mr. fattah: the one clarion voice in the congress when i was very, very young who introduced the di vestture legislation and

was -- the divestiture legislation and was at the very point of the spear was congressman ron d embing los. barbara lee, who now represents that district, but work -- but worked for the great congressman when he was here, i want to recognize congresswoman barbara lee now, who has dedicated a significant part of her work to helping africa in its development and continuing to deal with the challenges that remain after so many years of colonial rule and a number of these countries. congresswoman barbara lyric you're now recognized for two and a half minutes. ms. lee: thank you very much. let me thank you, congressman fattah, for yielding and for your tremendous leadership on so many fronts. thank you for the special order tonight and reminding us in many way hofse history of this great movement that took place in this country. let me also just thank our chair of the congressional black

caucus, congresswoman marcia fudge, for her tremendous leadership and her tireless work and for the real humbling honor to be part of her dell bation to south africa to honor president mandela. also to leader pelosi and to our assistant leader mr. clyburn. let me just take a moment to extend my thoughts and prayers on behalf of my district to esident mandela's family for south africa, we all have lost a warrior. south africa has lost a war dwhromplee world has lost a freedom fighter and a great statesman. the congressional black caucus . ood alongside the a.n.c. even throughout his 27 years of incarceration and pruittal treatment his spirit was never broken this stands testament to the power of resistance and determination. not only is nelson mandela the father of the liberation movement in south after

character he laid the framework for mod herb lynn ration -- liberation movements throughout the world he never compromised his principles and took up the mantle of fighting h.i.v. and aids. i was first inspired by mr. mandela in the 1980's. i was arrested in berkley in a time when the brave brothers and sisters refused to unload ships from south africa that arrived in oakland's port. congressman dellham led the rules alling for these that finally put the united states on the right side of history when congress overroad president reagan's veto. it was illegal to meet with the freedom fighters then, mu but many of us did anyway.

i remember meeting with a.n.c. members in switzerland and austria to help map out our work here in the united states. you can imagine how i felt when i joined some of you as election observers when i saw lines of people waiting to vote for nelson mandela as the first president of a free south africa. one of my proudest moments was effort to remove nelson mandela, a nobel peace from winner and the a.n.c. terrorist list. this legacy was shown briefly in the handshake between president obama and raul castro.

that handshake stands with the legacy of nelson mandela of working an negotiating with those with whom you may not agree. as madiba said, reconciliation means working together to correct the legacy of past injustice. he was a peacemaker. president mandela taught us so many lessons from reconciliation and personal perseverance to the true meaning of public service. what he taught us never to give up the fight for justice. i had the privilege to meet mr. mandela many times. his serenity and strength really was larger than life. his legacy will live on forever in how we live our lives in the fight for freedom and the fight for justice in a multiracial society. i hope, finally, just let me say, i hope in ms. honor that we live his legacy and continue our fight to end racism and defend voting right here's in the united states. ay his soul rest in peace. mr. fattah: i thank the

gentlelady from california and i want to recognize my colleague from the united states virgin islands, congresswoman donna christensen. for two and a half minutes. mrs. christensen: thank you. i want to thank you, congressman fattah, for bringing us together to dedicate this hour to the life and slig of an iconic lead every who truly fought the good fight, finished the race and always kept the faith, our beloved mmbing adiba, nelson mandela of africa. to say to congresswoman fudge as i was pleased to join her and our kordell leader at the funeral on tuesday, i'm honored to speak on behalf of my constituents the people of the u.s. virgin ilappeds in tribute to this great man. mind me is the pick choufer a sign that marks the site of mandela's circle in st. testimony mas.

it was given that name when he was released from prison after 27 years. through it, the people of the virgin islands paid tribute to him every day. i want to recognize someone i knew many years ago, dale rogers, who from the time the circle was named until thely dyed took it on himself to sweep that circle so it would remain beautiful. in the days since december 5, the people have gathered with signs and flowers and have adorned the area with black and purple ribbons. there have been vigils and other ceremonial tributes. our plag -- flags, like flags across the country, were flown at half-staff. the people of the virgin islands have a deep love and respect for nelson mandela and all he came to represent. he was an inspiration to virgin islanders and aspiring

democracies and free people around the world. tomorrow the virgin islands will host a public tribute. leader said, we have vowed to end injustice and for -- around the world. on sunday on st. croix, one of our senators, senator nelson, will lead a celebration of his life in the historic site where enslaved africans seized freedom from my africans in the then danish west indies in 1848. even when these celebrations are ended, it is my hope and prayer that the essence of why we celebrate madiba remains firmly planted in our hearts and minds. it would be a real tribute to a man who taught us how to be resolution in our fight for justice and equalityity until the end and that love, peace,

and reconciliation is a better path for us and for the world than hatred, conflict and retribution. the only way to true freedom. his wife, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, his extended family and all the people of south africa, we extend our deepest sympathies but also our deep appreciation for you have given us the people of the vir-in islands our nation and the world a beautiful gift that's enriched our lives and inspired us to be better human beings. i consider myself blessed not only to have met him but just to have lived in the time of nelson mandela and to be able to personally bear witness to his life and legacy. c.v.c. and we love him back. mr. fattah: i thank the neesm u.s. virgin islands for

establishing this honor. there are many segments of nelson mandela's life. there was a period, a point, when he was a lawyer. there was a point in which he was leading, involved in gos. there was a point in which upon the police assault on those who thered, and 69 died, that he took up armed struggle and there was a point after being released from prison, after 27 years, that he was elected president. i embrace the entire legacy. i think it is very much in keeping with our own country's evolution over time in which you had to deal with the times as they presented themselves. i want to recognize the gentlelady from the state of texas, sheila jackson lee, for two and a half minutes. her predecessor, congressman

mickey leland, who was so involved in these issues over time. sheila jackson lee, two and a alf minutes. ms. jackson lee: let me thank the congressional black caucus and mr. fattah and our chairwoman, congresswoman fudge, or bringing us all together on this very important evening. it gives me great privilege to speak about this patriot of this human rights leader, this father nd husband, this man who experienced incarceration yet came out with limitations that would normally shackle anyone completely released. and it's important to connection nelson mandela to houston and this signifies many of us who gathered in front of the federal building just a week ago to be able to honor him and to

acknowledge him. so many of us wanted to share and extend our love. we also participated in honoring him in restaurants in southwest houston and throughout the week as i go home this week, we will honor him at the georgia brown convention center. last sunday i was able to call in to a very important honoring t the roscoe chapel, celebrating dominique dimonel who invited nelson mandela to houston, texas, in 1991, one year after he was released the surprise and excitement was he accepted her invitation, the dimonels being great humanitarians themselves and brought together the connection between houston, the nation, south africa and the patriot that nelson mandela was and always will be reminded of.

we listen to the stories of the time he had to pull away from the a.n.c. to form a fighting unit, if you will a rebel unit, and i also explain that to people, that it was no less than the patriots who stood on the shores of this currentry to fight against oppression and to stand against the british and to dump tea into boston harbor, to rebel against oppression. so i would never call nelson mandela a terrorist. i would call him a patriot. one who loved his beloved south africa. wanted to make sure that those who understood that apartheid could not stand would recognize he had no other choice but yet in time he was able to make other choices. i'm reminded of his words, courage was not the absence of fear but the triumph over it. he triumphed over fear but he triumphed over bitterness and opened his arms and coming out of that incarceration in 1990,

walking in freedom, standing with his then-wife winnie and now his beloved wife that has been with him for the past 15 years, he expressed to the nation his humanity, his humility, an elder statesman, a father figure, nelson mandela showed us that in the course of the debate here on the floor of the house that we should never forget the vulnerable. i want to read these words he gave in defense in the 1964 trial. i have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. it is an idea which i hope to live for and to achieve. but if it needs to be, it is an idea for which i am prepared to die. i met nelson mandela many times. engaged in the efforts to ensure that the apartheid oppression would end. joined with congresswoman barbara lee in 2008 to rid his

name off the terrorist list. all of us in our small way are diminished by the commitment, dedication and sacrifice of this man. so, finally, i close by saying to all, in a letter that he wrote in april, 1971, for many of white house had the experience of walking -- for many of us who had the experience of walking into that cell and looking through those prison bars, to be reminded of the peace that he brought to the nation and to the world. there are times when my heart almost stops beating, slowed down by heavy loads of longing. i would love to bathe once more in the waters as i did at the beginning of 1935. he comforted himself by the wishes of hope. he comforted himself by wishing to hear the voices of children. he comforted himself by wanting to be what the people of south africa needed, an unembittered leader coming forward to lift the country up. may you rest in peace. nelson mandela, thank you for your service for all of your

year, thank you for leading south africa and thank you for leading the world. i yield back. mr. fattah: i thank the gentlelady from the great state of texas. in 1994 nelson mandela was elected president. it was not of the same historical importance, but i was elected to the congress. but i'm reminded that every day we are made anew and we have a new congresswoman from the great state of ohio, i want to recognize her now, congresswoman beatty, for 2 1/2 minutes, on the life of nelson mandela. mrs. beatty: thank you, mr. speaker. thank you, mr. fattah, for organizing this special order hour for us. first, let me say, as i stand here today, to be honored to talk about a man who is hard to define. because he's a man who gave so much of his life. a man who understood that his

success would be the success of the people around him. yesterday i returned from south africa where i had the distinct honor and pleasure to pay tribute to a man who inspired billions, for his courage, for his commitment to people, for his fight for justice, for equality and for freedom. hundreds of thousands of people from around the world came there, witnessed it through electronic media. and gave their final respect to a man we love so dealer and call madiba. a most beloved leader who liberated south africa from apartheid. they waited for hours, they lined up, they filled the streets, and there i was, this new freshman, with my congressional black caucus members and members from this

congress. so i say to our chairwoman and president of the congressional black caucus, congresswoman marcia fudge, job well done. for leading us. and to congressman eric schock, thank you for leading us on this delegation. and as i sat there with my colleagues and witnessed the spirit, the culture and the evidence that a great man has gone on, we watched the spirit and the rhythm of the dancers and as the memorial service began, to have our president of these united states come and pay tribute to nelson was in itself a great honor. before his election in 1994, he gave so much, gave up so much to rid his country of

injustice. as we know, he spent 27 years, almost 1/3 of his life, in prison. most of that time on the island which i had the opportunity to visit. 14 years living in a small cell without water or accommodations for his personal needs. speaks volumes for him. but to be able to see this firsthand, what mandela endured in that tiny, isolated cell when i was there, to set his people free. time and time again nelson mandela talked -- taught the world many powerful lessons about justice, tolerance and reconciliation. he astonished us all with his ability to forgive something that we should remember -- forgive. something that we should remember on this house floor. including his forgiveness for those who jailed him and

persecuted his family. nelson mandela lastly believed in people. he believed in communities. he believed in countries and he believed in world change for the better. something that i think we're witnessing now with our first president of these united states, a man of color. so i say to us, let us remember his words. it seems impossible until it's done. to you, madiba, we say, job well done. god bless you. mr. fattah: i thank the gentlelady from the great state of ohio. and obviously when nelson mandela looked at the united states, one of the things that he was most interested in was the civil rights struggle in this country. african-americans who were fighting for the right to vote and for equal justice under the

law. we were in a significant minority position demographically. whereas in south africa, black south africans were the overwhelming majority in that country. and he was quite taken that the united states could right itself in such a way, at least legally, against these -- the laws that oppressed minorities here in our country, african-americans in particular. he always was interested in this. one of the persons who was unique lie involved in that and who serves -- uniquely involved in that and who serves with us today, i want to recognize now to speak for 2 1/2 minutes, is congresswoman eleanor holmes norton. ms. norton: i thank my good friend from philadelphia, the gentleman from pennsylvania, who is so honorably following the great example of his

predecessor, bill gray, in leading us today in the house and all of the work he's done in the house. i want to thank the congressional black caucus and particularly our chairman, marcia fudge, who led us on an exhausting but exhilarating trip to south africa just this week. for to thank the c.b.c. decades of work which was instrumental in the work of nelson mandela. when i went to south africa this week, i wanted to share with south africans their arewell to the father of their country to madiba, the man who meant so much to millions of us

for his leadership throughout the world. and i went because for me he was a freedom-defining leader. i knew nelson mandela before i met him. as a member of the free south africa movement that was particularly active, it began here in the district of columbia. the organization led by transafrica, or the movement led by transafrica, which free synonymous with mandela. mr. speaker, it was almost 30 years ago that four of us went into the south african embassy, randall robinson, the head of transafrica, dr. mary barry, my own predecessor, former congressman walter and i

secured an appointment with the ambassador of south africa and it was under false pretenses because we didn't intend to come out. however, in those first arrests, we could not have imagined the cascade of events that followed. we really did not imagine that from all over the country protests would come and people would come to be arrested, to free mandela. mr. speaker, perhaps least of all did i imagine that on his 95th birthday we would have a commemoration where the democratic and the republican leaders of this house would gather to celebrate mandela's 95th birthday. if you can't mantle -- imagine the life of nelson mandela, there's so much about that life that was unimaginable. there's so many to thank tonight.

because if i think of all those who people see, who are connected with mandela, because there are millions of them, i hope we do not forget those who led this movement, that we do not forget bill gray, who was a sponsor of the sanctions bill, and succeeded in overriding a veto to get it through the congress of the united states. i hope we do not forget transfer an -- transafrica which invented the struggle for deldom for mandela or ron hams or mike lugar who were sponsors of the bill. i hope we do not forget the hundreds of thousands who lobbied and picketed their state legislatures to divest pension funds from south africa . it is very difficult to imagine that without that collective action mandela would have been free to free his country. mr. speaker, most of all

tonight we thank nelson mandela himself. how do you thank a man for making the highest and best use , spending -- rs by spending them -- or almost 30 years incarcerated? and then coming out to eacefully and ever so gently lead his fellow south africans to lay down their grievances, just as martin luther king said, lay down your arms. lay down their grievances, rise above their painful scars, their own years of suffering and to somehow march with him into a new multiracial south

africa. it's a south africa which today , like madiba, its great leader , is an example for the rest of the world. much of the rest of the world today i hope remembers man diba not only for -- madiba, not only for what his years of sacrifice meant but for how he used those years to bring peace in the last place where peace was expected. i thank the gentleman for leading us tonight. mr. fattah: i thank the gentlewoman for her extraordinary contributions to this. we -- to this remarkable occurrence in our lifetime, to see mandela and his transformation from prisoner to president. i have something more to say about that as we close. but i want to recognize the gentlelady from the great state of new york, our new ambassador hails from the

community of new york and is doing an extraordinary job. i want to recognize congresswoman yvette clarke who has the best birthday in the world because she shares it with me. yvette clarke. yes. 2 1/2 minutes. >> i stand to honor the memory of president nelson mandela of south africa. his commitment to wrussties, equality and the right to human dignity that must be afforded to each individual person afforded him a moral thorget that could not be denied. ms. clarke: nelson mandela understood that the policy of apartheid was pure evil, a

violation of our commitment to human rights and the dignity of each individual. trained as an attorney he became an activist and for his activism he was in prison -- he was imprisoned in the very year i was born, confined to a cell on robin island. through activism, he affirmed the ability of women and men to achieve freedom from the harshest forms of racial oppression, created a movement that inspired people worldwide. i myself was inspired as a young person by his example as a student on the campus of observer lynn college where, like many campuses across this nation, led a di vestment movement. i was in the enormous proud of -- crowd of people in brooklyn who cheered mandela when he was released. who could forget cheering a man who was released, who came to

our shores and who joined the whole world in sing the words, free nelson mandela. i was honored and humbled to be part of the congressional delegation that attended his memorial earlier this week, to pay my respects and that of my constituents in the ninth congressional district. nelson mandela will remain an inspiration to those who believe in justice and equality and the promise of a better future for all of god's children. today, madiba is truly free. we all mourn in tribute to a hero to men and women everywhere. i yield back the balance of my time. mr. fattah: i thank the gentlelady, i thank not just you but all those with hail from your part of the country who helped in this struggle. i want to recognize the congressman from the city of newark and the state of new

jersey, congressman donald payne jr. who will be allotted two and a half minutes to speak on the life and legacy of president elson mandel lafment mr. payne: mr. speaker, nelson mandela as we know was a hero for social justice and a model of leadership in this globe. born during the years of apartheid, he was resilient as a democratic leader, a peacemaker, an inspiring fighter for racial equality. as it has been stated and well known fact, mr. mandela spent 27 years in prison. let's look at that time in a little more detail.

jailed as a young man, two young children, one of them only being 3 years old. not being able to touch her again for 27 years. while in prison, his mother passes away. his first bjorn son dies in a tragic car accident. never being able to say ood-bye. also, during that time, his wife was subjected to abuse both physical and mental. she was locked up in prison for 16 months in solitary confinement. so how does a person after all of that strife and all that grief come out of prison and

talk about reconciliation. president mandela never let his 27 years in prison deter him from doing what he knew was right by ending apartheid and bringing democracy to the country he loved. even in the face of adversity, he has proven that with a noble cause and internal will, one person can change the tifed oppression. one american can change an entire country. -- one person can change an entire country and in turn the entire world. although i did not have the pleasure of meeting president mandela, he's always been a role model to me and likewise was an inspiration to my father, the late congressman donald payne, who toiled on the continent of africa for equal ithes and

humanity for full -- for all people, especially in south africa. years of ul for his service and true leder shape my condolences go out to the mandela family and the entire country of south africa as the entire world mourns such a great loss. all though madiba is gone, his work and his imprint on this world will never be forgotten. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: now let me recognize the democratic leader in the house of representatives, congresswoman nancy pelosi. ms. pelosi: thank you, mr. fattah for taking this special order as part of the ngressional black caucus period of mourning for many mandela. i was so proud that so many members of the c.b.c. and others

went to south africa to be present at the celebration of the life and the memorial services for president mandela. i wish i could have gone, i thought i was, so did mr. van hollen but the business of the budget kept us here. but our thoughts and prayers were with all of you as we en-- as we were at the national cathedral yesterday. what i came to the floor to say, of course to associate myself with the beautiful sentiments expressed by my colleagues about an icon in the world a person that is so unique in history, not just in our lifetime but in the history of the world. when i was asked today some thoughts about president mandela, i said, what he did reminded me of king solomon. king solomon was to inpert the kingdom -- the throne from his father, king david he prayed to god with a great spirit of humility and the humility, he

said to god, please give me the wisdom to be the keng of your people. to follow in the footsteps of king david. please give me wisdom and understanding so that i can do the job. and god came back to him another night and said, solomon, because you did not ask for longevity, vengeance upon your enemies or great wealth, i will give you more wisdom and more understanding than any other person has ever had and people will come from all around and your wisdom will be renowned in the world for ages to come. it reminds me so much of nelson mandela because in his greatness was that spirit of humility, that humility that was open to wisdom, to understanding, being in somebody else's place, that led him not to wish for long

life, though god gave him that, not to give him great wealth, which he did not possess. certainly not to give him vengeance upon his enemy because that was the opposite of what he was. in the spirit of forgiveness, as our colleagues have discussed, and reconciliation, the great wisdom god gave him as well as long life was able to use that wisdom springing from that humility to understand other persons' situations and then of course to do great things. things that would make him renowned for ages to come. for his wisdom and for his spirit. i had the privilege of seeing president mandela when he came to address the joint session of congress in 1994 as the president of south africa. afterwards the speaker, speaker foley, had a lun con -- luncheon

and invited a number of us to lunch with president mandela, a large number of us. president mandela spoke again at that luncheon. what was sad is he spoke about the price he paid to be the father of his country and the expense that came, at being the father of his family. we talked about how hard it was to be separated for your family for over 26 years. imagine, from his wife and chirp, meeting their needs and the rest and also his needs to be a father he made quite a sacrifice. it was uveraget that he do so. but again, in different periods of his life he demonstrated great courage, great determination, great strength, great persistence in prison. great sadness about not seeing his family and all of that strengthened him to say he really had to exploit the investments that had been made

by the people of south africa in the name mandela and when he came out to be an example to the world of forgiveness, of reconciliation, of a strength unlike most of us have ever seen. in california, i have to say, we take some ownership of the mandela -- the whole issue, whether it was stopping investments in south africa and e rest, rondellham was the champion of this we're proud of the role that we played in -- from the great state of california. but it really is again in that same humility that is a virtue that we should all possess, that i come to this floor to even talk about such a great -- we went from a village to a leader of a movement, to prison, to the presidency of south africa. from a name that we heard in america to a person who would

address the joint -- a joint session of congress, joint chiefs were here too but on top of all of that, to go from his village, to be a world icon. thank you, my colleagues, for giving me the time. mr. fattah: thank you, madam leader, for coming and sharing with us a profound reflection on the life of president mandela. i yield now two and a half minutes to the gentleman from maryland, chris van hollen who has done a lot of work in this house today. please. mr. van hollen: thank you, and i want to thank my friend, mr. fattah and my friend ms. fudge and the entire c.b.c. for organizing this time to honor the life of nelson mandela. nelson mandela, a man who stood up so bravely to injustice and the power of his beautiful example inspired people around the world. stirred our hearts and stirred

our conscience. it was nelson mandela and the injustice of apartheid that first moved me to political activism. at the time, i was a student at swarthmore college in the state of pennsylvania. and i joined the spartmore antiapartheid committee to urge and petition swarthmore college to di vest from south africa. -- divest from south africa. and young people at colleges around the country were moved to action. and i watched there as members of the congressional black caucus here in the united states congress worked to make sure that the united states stood up to the meaning that is in our founding creed that all people will be created equal, people like congressman gray and others, and members around the world who are today members of

the c.b.c. standing up and then in 1985, i had the privilege of going to work as one of the foreign policy advisors to a great maryland senator by the bias, who served on the foreign relations committee, and was one of the sponsors of legislation to impose economic sanctions against south africa evil of the apartheid. it was senator ma these and ores working with the c.b.c. in the house of representatives and others who said the united states cannot stand by while the evil of apartheid is in place. we must answer the call of nelson mandela. certainly, my proudest moment as a staff member to senator ma these in those days on the

senate foreign relations committee, was when the united states congress passed that legislation and then on a bipartisan basis overroad --over rode the veto of then-president reagan, showing how the democratic process in this country would work to stand up for justice. and as we confront issues here at home and around the world, we would do well by remembering the example of nelson mandela as we confront other issues of justice and peaceful reconciliation. i thank you, mr. fattah. mr. fattah: i thank the gentleman. mr. fattah: can i inquire how much time we have left? the speaker pro tempore: five minutes remaining. mr. fattah: i recognize for 2 1/2 minutes, great the gentleman from georgia and republicans who

supported this effort and let me add newt gingrich and appropriately recognize his recognition because he is from the great state of georgia. mr. johnson: i thank you, mr. chairman. i rise today to join my distinguished colleagues in tribute to the life of nelson mandela. i do so with a heavy heart. world-at-largehe have lost a great human being. although president mandela has and d, his legacy is vital will rebhain with us. he taught us how to live and also how to die. he inspired hope in the people of south africa.

he set an example of leadership. we would all do well to follow. he showed the world that an impassion the pursuit of justice could win over come placens si and corruption. i will remember him as a man and movement. in 1990, not long after mandela's release from jail, i attended a speech he gave in atlanta, georgia. seeing this icon in the flesh and hearing his voice, something of the nature of a true revolutionary, that they are very real people. nelson mandela was a real person who faced oppression. facing that reality made his legend made it all inspiring to me. it is not a product of wishful thinking.

radical change comes from determination with integrity. his peaceful presence underscored the intensity of his resolve. he sought to change the seemingly unthinkable status quo. the consequences of his actions were severe to him, but they did not bake hip. no amount of brutality could overpower the will of people to be free. he worked tirelessly to channel the oppressed into a change. and what impressed me most about mandela of his forgiveness and love. neither angry and with great courage and dignity, he endured 27 years in prison, sacrificing his liberty for the life of all

south africans. leaving the world a better place for his journey amongst us. on behalf of the people of georgia's 4th congressional district, my wife and myself, i celebrate his life and will work in pursuit of his vision and the spirit of his life will remain in my heart for as long as i shall live. mr. fattah: that concludes this special order. i seek unanimous consent that all members have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks relative to the subject of this special order. i would like the house to focus on the transformation of this man, who moved from a prison cell to a president of a nation, whose circumstance in 27 years, whose name could not be spoken, but became a world figure.

he could not have a visitor, more than one, for 30 minutes in a six-month period, but yet, hundreds of thousands gather to memorialize him. delegations from 100 countries came to his funeral in his homegoing celebration. he traveled a great distance over the 95 years and he had the willingness to fight against oppression and willingness to reconcile with his oppressors in which all could live in harmony. he set a great example for the world and i thank the house for taking the time to honor his life and legacy and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. under the speaker's announced policy of january 3, 2013, the gentleman from texas, mr. gohmert, is recognized for 60 nutes as the designee of the

majority leader. mr. gohmert: tonight, one of the things we did is take up a national defense authorization bill and it was to extend the power of the president. there were some good things in it. i applaud the inclusion of a conscience exception that would allow members of the military to do as members of the military have done throughout our history, be able, for example, to have a bible on a desk. things that now have now resulted in persecution and actually, there were things that

our greatest commander, george washington, felt were noble things. this administration, under its watch have now begun to result in persecution. so when you go back to the bill, the authorization of use of military force that was passed on september 18, 2001 when the united states did not even know o had attacked us, it is incredible. and i don't fault the legislature, the congress, house and the senate at the time. americans were scared. churches, synagogues. they were packed all over america. never seen anything like it in my lifetime the way people flooded churches and were praying fervently.

and after that there wasn't another attack in 90 days. americans were saying, never mind, god, we haven't been attacked again. he nbaa was added to the authorization for use of military force against september 11 terrorists. that's the name of it. and it says in section 2-a, president is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on september 11, 2001 or harbored such organizations or persons in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the united states by

such nations, organizations or persons. nd then it sets out war powers resolution, requirements, democratic government to replace -- i'm sorry -- says consistent with the war powers resolution, congress declares this section as intended to constitute the fic statutory within war powers resolution, 50 u.s.c. 1544-b. it goes on and more extensive nd as i say, it modifies and extends things. but when that was passed, we didn't even know who had attacked us. obviously, i was not here in congress at the time, but we were afraid and concerned. this was -- we didn't know what

was going to hit next. but it perhaps, in retrospect, was a granting of powers than should have been granted by the congress because subject to it being abused. fortunately, i don't consider it to be having been abused by president bush some blame him for iraq. i wasn't here at the time, but i can't help but wonder when eople supported the numerous efforts, successful efforts by president bush at the united nations building a big coalition of countries to support our efforts to curtail iraq military efforts. that they were not allowing u.n.

inspectors to come in and check on. every indication -- i don't plame the democrats that voted for the authorization to go into iraq. i don't blame the republicans, because saddam hussein gave every indication to the people at the time and to the president, that he was up to no good. long time ago. and now we find that the president is using forces or authorities that were granted and this administration is using authority that was granted to do things like help rebels that we knew at the time in libya had al qaeda infused within them. we didn't know how extensive. and many of us pointed that out.

and now this fall, we see that this administration has sent hundreds of tons of weapons to the syrian rebels. and we find out that the syrian rebels that are fighting a cruel dictator named assad, they're ing more -- engaging in more brutality, particularly against christians. the original roots where christianity was born. these are areas where the apostle paul established churches. city where -- only city in the world that still speaks the riginal aramaic that jesus was believed to have spoken. this is an amazing place.

this isn't some trivial area where christians, if you happen to be, this is right to the very founding of the christian church that so many people came to america, had the freedom to worship without persecution. and fled europe, other places so they could worship in a christian church without persecution. and now this administration is using incredible powers that were bestowed on the president by congress to help the wrong people. and i go back to a visit to the middle east earlier this fall when allies were basically saying, we do not understand what we're doing. do you not understand that the muslim brotherhood was really -- i mean that's really who

supports radical islam. and it was the radical islamists, the muslim brotherhood, who supported the 9/11 attacks. it was muslim brotherhood that basically supported the training and all the efforts the taliban was doing. it is the muslim brotherhood that was engaged in trying to take down gaddafi, which without american help would not have done. it is the muslim brotherhood at took control in egypt and persecuting christians as the egyptian pope was fighting. and now in syria, you are backing the people that are at war with you. we don't understand. since it appears that we have gone from being at war with, as president bush talked about anyone who has supported the

terrorists, you are either with us or you're with them. and now we have gone to not only being at war with those who are at war with us, we have gone to helping them. and as a christian to know that votes that we have taken in congress have helped enable this administration to provide weapons of war. to people who are brutalizing, raping, killing. seen reports of the beheadings of christians in syria. . . while i appreciate some of the things included in the ndaa and in the past i've helped work on

bipartisan agreements, bicameral with the senate and the house, worked on an effort to rein in the president's authority to just indefinitely detain american citizens, and i think we had a great solution that we had worked together to get inserted, so i don't believe that the president can do that any longer with the language now eing used, i still can't continue to support what we're doing and i hope that we will have a bipartisan effort in the w year to actually end the authorization for use of military force against september 11 terrorist. now that we seem to be helping those associated with the radical islamic terrorists instofede being at war with them. mr. speaker, it is an honor to

stand here and congratulate the national industries for the blind, that's the n.i.b., on their 75th anniversary and the great work they do for texas' first congressional district. n.i.b.'s mission is to, quote, enhance opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are ind, primarily through creating, sustaining, and improving employment. unquote. unfortunately, 70% of working age american whors blind are unemployed. however, the n.i.b. is trying to reverse those upsetting trends by providing more employment opportunities for people who are blind through their more than 250 locations across the united states. horizon industries a division of the east texas lighthouse for the blind, is located in tyler,

texas, and currently employees 70 blind and visually impaired individuals. i have visited horizon industries, east texas lighthouse for the blind, i am with the amaizement and appreciation for the dedication, the ability, the desire and theout right help that these visually impaired american wonders are working with. horizon, one of the jobs, they convert paper products into industrial cleaning cloths for the general services administration and its customers. these incredible employees have 35,661 miles ed of parachute cord for the

department of defense, much of which was shipped directly to our troops who are deployed in iraq and afghanistan. horizon industries has empowered blind americans through employment since 1976. these marvelous friends whose official impairment has heightened their other senses to an amazing extent, are dedicated, they love this country, they want to help this country, they are a blessing and an asset to their community, to east texas, texas, and this country. may god continue to bless these wonderful, lovable, dedicated americans as they continue to bless america.

to address the affordable care ct, as it was improperly and inaccurately labeled, there was an article from ben shapiro, on e bart, today, that said friday, politifact bowed to the inevitable and named president obama's quote if you like your health care plan you can keep it, unquote, statement, its lie of the year that came after politifact labeled that statement, quote, half true nquote, in 2012 and defended its half true rating in october 2013. now they say it was a catchy political pitch and a chance to calm nerves about his dramatic and complicated plan to bring

historic change to america's health care system but the promise was impossible to keep. of course there's more to the story than that. the promise was a lie when it was made given that they knew at the time that insurance plans would be cancel bud politifact, even in naming the statement the lie of the year, soft pedaled that. he fought back against -- talking about the president, fought back against attacks with his own oversimplifications which he repeated even as it became clear his promise was too sweeping. even politifact doing all they could to defend something that ended up absolutely not being ue, they finally had to come around and actually admit, when

the whole country, basically, most of the country, the truth, politifact had to finally get around to being factual. other story from john nolte, brite bart, 12 december, today, it said during the white house press briefing thes precorps erupted in protest over the president's lack of transparency. they seem to be in complete agreement that the obama white house was less transparent than the bush white house, quite a when president obama labeled it the most transparent in history.

i've also noted from some here in the house that immigration will be a top priority for 2014. i would not have a problem with immigration being a top priority the administration would first enforce the laws that are in effect regarding this nation's security and its immigration laws. we had a hearing today in judiciary, heard testimony about the administration through its customs and immigration office i.c.e., migration, office that actually they're not complying with the law. the law says if somebody claims asylum, then they're detained

until such time that they have the matter ultimately adjudicated. and we learned that actually about 75% of those claiming sylum, which is -- has grown multiples of times from where they were in 2008 when president bush left, dramatic, dramatic increase in the numbers of people coming across our southern border and claiming asylum and apparently this administration is releasing about 75% of them and was quite sad to hear testimony that even ough they're making policy that these individuals, deputy directors, could not give us the exact numbers of how many people they were releasing, how many people reported back for their hearings, and so that was quite a bit discouraging.

so when you know that there have been so many misstatements that have turned out by this administration, turned out to be far less than accurate or true, then i do not know why republicans, democrats, would want to take up immigration which just the discussion about legal status, amnesty, anything of this sort, creates a massive magnet drawing people across our borders illegally as we've heard testimony repeatedly, statements repeatedly from our i.c.e. agents, our immigration and customs enforcement people, they say it increases dramatically every time we start talking about legal status and amnesty.

and we see huge numbers of people, numbers that would get, talking about people dying coming across deserts, not having adequate water and food to get across, why would we do something to create a magnet until we have a secure border? there are a lot of things that immediate to be reformed. but for those who continue to say, oh, yeah but we'll have real security in the next bill, look, there's money that this administration has, there's manpower this administration has there is the ability this administration has to secure our border. what it does not have is the will. and if it turned out the administration were really and truly serious about securing our border, that could be confirmed by the border states, then you would see me along with most of

the people i know willing to sit down and immediately work out an immigration reform package. but to debate it in committee and on the floor, to talk about it, to make speeches before the border is secure, i'm afraid makes us complicit in drawing people across deserts that will not make it and will die in the desert because we started talking about promises, dangling shiny objects to draw people to , when we had not put proper protection in place to make sure that innocent people did not die trying to get here. for those who say we need to vastly broaden the number of visas, there's some areas that i'm in favor of increasing visas

, there are a lot of things we can talk about but it does not serve those who we will draw across deserts, who won't make it, doesn't serve them any good purpose until the administration secures the border. so with all the wonderful talk about triggers and oh, but we're going to finally secure the border, president reagan got fooled on that and regretted it. and i just think it will be a terrible mistake. to do anything other than take p resolution saying that until the administration secures our borders as confirmed by the border states, not homeland security, which we have trouble getting straight answers out of, but as confirmed by the border states, who are important,

critical stake holders in the immigration and secure border issue, when they confirm the borders are secure, then we immediately move in to dealing with immigration reform. to do otherwise is a mistake that will do great damage to people that we draw in, unfortunately, to their great damage and possible demise and it will do great damage to this country. let's get the immigration, set it on hold, not take anything up until the president is committed and does actually secure the border, then we'll get something worked out. it won't be a difficult issue at all. but for those that say, oh, i think we can trust homeland security or we can trust groups in washington, or we can trust homeland security, sure we can

trust this administration. they say that once we give them everything they want in an immigration bill, then they really and truly will start securing the border to the extent that the law requires. i'm sure i look stupid to some but i say that's a massive mistake. follow the follow the law. if you won't enforce and follow the law faithfully now in accordance with the oath that was taken in the beginning of office, then why do we think things will change and there is no more incentive to follow the law. well, and we get back to the promises made about the so-called affordable care act. here's an article from the "wall street journal" today, it says obamacare raised the case of

your kids' braces. the term, obamacare, we don't mean anything derogatory than the president when he called massachusetts health care romneycare. know he didn't mean anything derogatory, a way to identify massachusetts health care. the president doesn't say anything derogatory when he says romneycare. don't mean anything derogatory, but it identifies for people more than the affordable care act, as we have seen now. the interviews on television that don't know that the affordable care act and obamacare are actually the same thing. but this article points out. here is something that your dentist is not smiling out. the new tax rule raised the

price of braces. places an annual $2,500 contribution cap on flexible spending accounts which let workers set aside pre-tax dollars to cover medical expenses. some consumers may be spending more on braces or other medical supplies they would typically buy with the accounts. before the new rule there was no cap on how much taxpayers could put into the account, though many companies set their own limits. the cap cuts the maximum tax $625 n half by $6 -- to from $1,250 and goes on to explain how these increased care. f braces and

another issue here, this article om the "wall street journal" as well dated december 11, says duking the obamacare stats, says most of washington seems to have bought the white house claim that the 36 exchanges are finally working. but if that's really true, then what explains the ongoing secrecy and evasion? we have had so much trouble getting answers, specific direct answers about people who have actually purchased insurance through the exchange. now, health and human services, h.h.s., if they don't have these

numbers. if they can't even tell us the number of people that have actually purchased insurance, then how in heaven's name will they ever be able to tell people whether or not they are actually covered and how extensively they're covered and whether or not they are going to take care of expenses? i mean the fact that they can't come in here and give us specific information on who signed up, how many have signed up for this, that or the other, is a terrible harbinger as to how bad and disastrous this health care bill is. and as we have continued to have a number of hearings where we -- when specific facts are requested from the administration, we know that spob has this information in

this administration. and it brought to mind the legal doctrine. our american courts ks in every state in federal court, we have very strict court law about the admitance of hear say into evidence before a jury because our rules are there to protect the finer of fact, the jury, from hearing evidence which does not have really enough credibility to it. and hearsay has to be a specific exception or it's not allowed. it must be direct evidence. otherwise, it's not allowed, with very tight exceptions. one exception in most jurisdictions, as we have in spoliation.

the doctrine is this, in essence. if one party in court has would of evidence that be admissible toward proving or disproving a fact and that party does not, will not or says they cannot produce that evidence to prove or disprove a fact, in that case, the judge, as i used to be, could turn to the jury and ininstruct the jury that even though this is not direct evidence because of our justice system and the effort to achieve justice in america better than any court system in history, we can direct the jury under that doctrine, that this party had

evidence in their possession that they have either refused to produce, cannot produce or will not produce since this party has possession or had possession of that evidence, then ladies and gentlemen of the jury, you may consider the fact that they're not producing that evidence as evidence itself, that if produced, that evidence would disprove their claim. .et's call the doctrine that's the doctrine, evidentiary doctrine that came to my mind as we continue to have hearings and the obama administration refuses or fails and refuses to produce specific information about

sign-ups to obamacare. law, we were in a court of it certainly appears that that instruction might be appropriate. ladies and gentlemen of america, the administration has evidence n his possession that it cannot, will not or refuses to produce. therefore, ladies and gentlemen of america, you may consider as evidence the fact that they will not produce that information as evidence that it does not support what they claim. basically, that's what we've got here. they are refusing to produce evidence, information about obamacare. so i think the american people would be justified. i think a jury in my court would justified in presuming that

ar legal presumption that their evidenceo produce this is evidence that their claims are not supported by the evidence they refuse to produce. here's an article from "the weekly standard"," december 11, entitleled sexiest man alive brought in to boost obamacare enrollment. is.who adam levin was designated as such by "people" magazine. he has been enlisted, according to "bloomberg," having been hired by this administration to give credibility to obamacare. to me, again, that seems like if you have to hire a sexy guy to come in and promote and tell

people, promote obamacare is so wonderful and great, then it's a pretty clear indication as people look into obamacare personally, that they don't like what they see and that's what we are hearing from most constituents. thankfully, some people have benefited from obamacare. but the people we are hearing from have been hurt, not helped. here again, another article from "washington examiner" brian hughes at 5:08 today, h.h.s. extends more obamacare deadlines and goes on to talk about that the obama administration announced today that it would take steps to push back an already-delayed deadline and help those to obtain coverage on january 1 and extend a federal insurance program for those with pre-existing conditions and goes

on to talk about -- they keep extending deadlines and if harry reid and senate democrats had not been so dead set on shutting down the government on october 1 been atdid, if they had least willing to forego their desire to shut down the government and hope republicans would get blamed which the mainstream would do, because the mainstream would not look at the facts that the house was compromising repeatedly and the senate was saying our way or the highway, making clear they wanted a shutdown. they got the shutdown and now in retrospect, there are democrats in the senate saying, you know what? since we have to keep extending these deadlines, the american people are going to figure out we could have avoided that whole shutdown if democrats were

remotely reasonable in the senate and said, ok, let's postponethis for a year. well, they wanted a shutdown and got a shutdown as senate democrats wanted and now there's got to be buyers' remorse. they created the shutdown when they should have taken one of our various compromise offers and at least suspended the individual mandate the president illegally did for businesses. now i want to touch on another thing quickly here. iran is as israel has said repeatedly, a threat, a threat to the very existence of israel. if they get nuclear weapons. they want to attack israel first as the little satan and attack

america next. and we have had wendy sherman who is the lead negotiator for the obama administration come up and brief members of congress. i wasn't there. i read about her policy leadership in working out the deal with north korea under the clinton administration, which rovided them nuclear power plants, fuel. got them up and going and also agreed not to inspect their nuclear facilities, which gave north korea time to develop nuclear weapons. and in order to get us to give them nuclear power plants and all they needed to make nuclear weapons, mostly what they needed, all they had to do is promise they wouldn't pursue nuclear weapons. they got to be thinking, these americans are the most stupidest

people in the world. we'll make nuclear weapons. and we have the same people involved in the obama administration want to do the same type of thing with iran. the trouble is, this time it really is a threat to the united states. it's a threat to israel and we have betrayed ourialy, unfortunately, in israel. any way, here's the people in whom the clinton administration and numerous people in the obama administration have such faith in. this article today, 5:07 p.m., rth korea state media says cle of kim jung inch l was executed. and wendy sherman persisted that we can trust these guys even in her ope ed in 2001.

and you couldn't trust them. and people that knew these people knew you couldn't trust the leadership. you could trust the north koreans. you can't trust their leadership. yirnians but he can't trust their leadership. another article, nuclear gang-bangers and points out, yirne appreciates three laws, number one, nuclear weapons earn a reputation. number two, the more loco a nuclear nation sounds the more it sounds that nuclear states will say it is not subject to nuclear deterrence and pay vibes for it to bave. gang bangers have nothing to lose. they are more responsible intended targets have everything to lose. number three, there is no 100%

effective nuclear effective defense systems that can guarantee non-nuclear powers from a sudden attack. the police have the upper hand. and this administration is turning a blind eye to the deceit and lies and the nuclear development in iran to our detriment and the detriment of our dear friend. the speaker pro tempore: 20 minutes remaining, i believe, mr. gohmert. mr. foam ert -- mr. gohmert: thank you, madam speaker. in the remaining time, since this is the last republican special order time before we recess in the house for the christmas holidays, the new ar, although it irritates, apparently irritates some

liberals to no end, and they miss the point of why it is important to read these historic statements, some people say, saying e people call, the things being read on the house floor by congressman gohmert are an affront and should never be allowed to be a part of the united states government. they miss the entire point. that the reason i'm reading them is because these poor people have not had a proper education, they do not know what a historic basis going back to george washington, creating an order that you couldn't take god's game in vain, creating in his resignation a prayer for the nation, talking about the divine author of our blessed religion without imitation -- without

humble imitation in these things we can ever hope to be a happy nation. the proclamations thanking god, directing people, days of prayer, directing people to have difes prayer. all these things throughout our history. so madam speaker, i hope americans appreciate the profound things that have been done by america's leaders in the past. this is from franklin d. roosevelt, december 24, 1933, christmas greeting to the nation. again, franklin d. roosevelt as president of the united states. it was ok in the 1930's, just as was throughout our history, to thank god, no one ever had a problem with democrats, republicans, paying tribute to

god, in the house chamber, in the senate chamber, in the white house, anywhere. these are franklin roosevelt's comments. he said, this year marks a greater national understanding of the significance in our modern lives of the teaching of him, he capitalized him, whose birth we celebrate. to more and more of us, the ords, quote, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself have taken on a meaning that is showing itself and improving itself in our daily lives. may the practice of that high ideal grow in us all in the year to come. i send to you all a merry christmas and truly happy new year and so for now and for always, god bless us every one. the following year, on christmas

eve, franklin d. roosevelt gave us these words. from the white house. government property. it was entirely appropriate. he said, let us make the spirit of christmas of 1934 that of courage and unity. that is, i believe, an important part of what the maker of christmas would have it to mean. in this sense, the scriptures, capitalized scriptures, admonish us to be strong and of good courage, to fear not, to dwell together in unity. to some of his -- just some of his comments. frank lib lynn -- franklin dfment roosevelt, january 25, 19 the new prologue of

testament distributed by the gideons to soldier in world war ii, i have one, my aunt provided me, it was my uncle's. i take pleasure in commending the reading of the bibble to -- bible to all who serve in the armed forces of the united states. throughout the centuries, men of many faiths and diverse religions have found in the sacred book words of wisdom. it is a fountain of strength and now as always an aid in attaining the highest aspirations of the human soul. very sincerely yours, franklin d. roosevelt. on december 21, 1941, two weeks after america was attacked, as president roosevelt said, a day which will live in infamy, franklin roosevelt delivered

this message. president roosevelt said, sincere and faithful men and women are asking themselves this christmas, how can we light our trees? how can we give our gifts? how can we meet and worship with love and with uplifted spirit and heart in a world at war? a world of fighting and suffering and death. a day, we pause even for even for christmas day, in our urgent labor of arming a decent humanity against the enemies which beset it. how can we put the world aside as men and women put the world aside in peaceful years to ejoice in the birth of christ?

president roosevelt goes on, he says, looking into the days to come, i have set aside a day of prayer and in that proclamation i have said, quote, the year 1941 has brought upon our nation a war of aggression by powers dominated by arrogant rulers whose selfish purpose is to destroy free institutions. they would thereby take from the freedom-loving peoples of the earth the hard-won liberties gained over many centuries. the new year of 1942 calls for courage. our strength as the strength of all men everywhere is of greater avail as god upholds us. therefore i do hereby appoint he first diof the year 1942 as

a day of prayer, of asking forgiveness for our shortcomings of the past, of conservation to the task of the present, of asking goth's help in days to come. we need his guidance that his people may be humble in spirit but strong in conviction of the right. steadfast to endure sacrifice and brave to achieve a victory of liberty and peace. our strongest weapon in this war is that conviction of the dignity and brotherhood of man which christmas day signifies. president roosevelt goes on, against enemies who preach the principles of hate and practice them, we set our faith in human love and in god's care for us.

nd all men everywhere. on january 6 of 1942, president roosevelt said, our enemies are fwided by brutal cynicism, by -- are guided by brutal cynicism, by unholy contempt for the human race. we are inspired by a faith which goes back through all the years to the first chapter of the book of yen sis, quote, god created man in his own image, unquote. we on our side are striving to be true to that divine heritage. we are fighting as our fathers have fought to uphold the doctrine that all men are equal in the sight of god. those on the other side are striving to destroy this deep belief and to create a world in their own image, a world of tyranny and cruelty and serfdom.

that was franklin roosevelt, 1942. and he knew at the time that evil were the axis powers, powers that included hitler in germany, mussolini in italy, radical islamists in north africa, joining forces together and he talked about our heritage. here he is a year later, franklin roosevelt, and these were official statements, madam speaker, this is president roosevelt's official government message. to you who serve in uniform, i also send a message of cheer that you are in the thoughts of your families and friends at home and that christmas prayers follow you wherever you may be. to all americans i say that loving our neighbor as we love ourselves is not enough, that we

as a nation and as individuals will please god best by showing regard for the laws of god. there is no better way of fostering good will toward men than keeping -- than first fostering good will toward god and then president roosevelt quotes john 14:15. he says, president roosevelt says if we love him, we will keep his commandments. in sending christmas greetings to the armed forces and merchant sailors of the united nations, we include therein our pride and in their bravery on the fighting fronts and all the seas. s is ig -- it is significant tomorrow, christmas day, our plants and factories will -- factories will be still. that is not true of the other holidays we have long been accustomed to celebrating. on all other holidays, work goes

on gladly for the winning of the war. so christmas becomes the only holiday in all the year. i like to think that this is so because christmas is a holy day. may all it stands for live and grow throughout the years. franklin d. roosevelt. in 1944, december 24, the official government statement by franklin roosevelt as president. he said it's not easy to say merry christmas to you, my fellow americans. in this time of destructive war, nor can i say merry christmas lightly tonight to our armed forces at their battle stations all over the world. our to our allies who fight by

their side. here at home we celebrate christmas day in our traditional american way because of its deep spiritual meaning to us. because the teachings of christ are fundamental in our lives and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the ofing of the immortal prince peace and good will. franklin roosevelt. he goes on -- but in perhaps every home in the united states, sad and anxious thoughts will be continually with the millions of our loved ones who are suffering hardships and misery and who are risking their very lives to preserve for us and for all mankind the fruits of his teachings and the foundations of civilization itself. the christmas spirit lives

tonight in the bitter cold of the frontlines in europe and in the heat of the jungles and swamps of burma and the pacific islands, even the roar of our bombers and fighters in the air and the guns of our ships at sea will not drown out the message of christmas which come to the earts of our fighting men. president roosevelt goes on, the tide of battle is turned but slowly, but inexorably, against those who sought to destroy civilization. we pray this day may come soon, we pray until then god will protect our gallant men and women in the uniforms of the united nations, that he will receive into his infinite grace those who make their supreme sacrifice in the cause of racheseness and the cause of love of him and