The U.S. House of Representatives today debated and passed H.R. 310, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act.  The bill would substantially increase fines on individual artists and broadcasters.  Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) spoke on the House floor in strong opposition to the bill.  His remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow: “Mr. Speaker, no one wants to… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today praised the Israeli government’s decision to relocate all eligible Falash Mura – Ethiopians of Jewish heritage – to Israel by the end of 2007.  Congressman Nadler has long been a leader in encouraging Israel to step up efforts to absorb the Falash Mura.  Most recently, Nadler sent a letter to Prime Minister Sharon urging… Read more »

Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that during further consideration of H.R. 418 pursuant to House Resolution 75, it may be in order to consider amendment No. 4 in House Report 109-4 in the modified form I have placed at the desk. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fossella). The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Amendment to H.R. 418 Offered… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, the distinguished chairman talks about section 102 of the bill, which gives the Secretary of Homeland Security the ability to waive all laws that might get in the way of building the fence; and he talks about environmental laws, and he talks about endangered species. Well, that is all well and good, but the… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to explain a unanimous consent request I am about to make. Mr. Speaker, I regret I must request unanimous consent to amend my amendment, which I am going to offer later, but the process the majority has chosen to use is, to say the least, unfair. The rule makes in order virtually a new bill, which we did not get to see until after the… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today blasted House Republicans for defeating his amendment to H.R. 418, the REAL ID Act, immigration legislation sponsored by Congressman James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-WI).  Congressman Nadler’s amendment, supported by numerous faith-based aid groups, would have stripped the Sensenbrenner bill of its dangerous modifications to America’s… Read more »

AMENDMENT NO. 4 OFFERED BY MR. NADLER Mr. NADLER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment. The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows:   Part B Amendment No. 4 offered by Mr. Nadler:  Strike section 101 of the bill (and redesignate the… Read more »

Mr. Chairman, the supporters of this legislation are completely correct that obviously real terrorist threats exist and we must act forcefully to safeguard our national security. But this bill is really three or four or five separate bills entirely, some of them unexceptional, some of them very questionable. Under the excuse of national security, for example, the asylum provisions in… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) yesterday sent a letter to Secretary of State Rice, asking her to investigate evidence of clandestine nuclear weapons programs being conducted by Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.  Secretary Rice is in Europe this week, discussing nuclear proliferation with key allies of the United States. “It is imperative that Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, this resolution would have us believe that a grave threat is presented to the security of this Nation by the policy of some institutions of higher learning to bar military recruiters from their campus because of the discrimination against gay and lesbian people by the military. But that, Mr. Speaker, is not the threat to our national security. The threat to our national… Read more »