House Proceeding 03-19-09 on Mar 19th, 2009 :: 1:11:50 to 1:16:00
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1:11:46 to 1:12:06( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: to flood more money into the money supply, but this reduces the value of the dollar. there is so much we can do to change the economy. let's get busy. thanks again. and i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from tennessee, mr. cohen, is recognized for five mut

1:11:50 to 1:16:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Stephen Cohen

1:12:07 to 1:12:28( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: mr. cohen: thank you. today is the sixth anniversary of the iraq war. we, as americans, need to remember all those who have made sacrifices becse of this war. the 4,259 servicemen and service women who have given their lives in this conflict.

1:12:29 to 1:12:49( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: one of the soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice was christopher foxx of memphis, a constituent of mine who was based in fort carson, colorado. only 21 years old, he was on his second tour in iraq and due to be discharged from the army in july of this year. he was looking forward to

1:12:50 to 1:13:10( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: attending the university of tennessee at knocksville to study football or criminal justice and hoped to be a police officer, so his military training would not have gone to waste after he left the service. but specialist foxx did not make it home alive. he died in iraq onseptember 29,

1:13:11 to 1:13:33( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: 2008 of wounds sustained when e encountered small arms fire while on patrol. on this anniversary of the war, we need to rember these sacrifices and do what we can to honor the memory and wishes of the soldiers who have given the ultimate sacrifice. specialist foxx wanted his mother figure, not his mother

1:13:34 to 1:13:56( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: who was deceased, but his mother figure, a woman who was awarded temporary custody when he was 17 to oversee his burial arrangements when soldiers are asked to designate someone. his her name was listed on the form to direct the disposition of his remains. however, because of current

1:13:57 to 1:14:18( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: federal law, it is prohibited that service members designate nonrelatives to make those arrangements. it is a travesty, mr. speaker, that our laws do not allow a soldier's wishes to be honored, especially for something as final and simple and as appropriate and meaningful as

1:14:19 to 1:14:40( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: the disposition of their remains. someone who puts their life on the line in fense of our country should be allowed to make arrangements for their memorial service. i attended his memorial service in arkansas. there were a few people there.

1:14:41 to 1:15:01( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: there were no public officials. it was unfortunate that even his mother figure wasn't able to make it. she was in knoxville. but if she would have had the opportunity to make the arrangements, i think we would have seen something different. it is with this experience that i along with congressman john

1:15:02 to 1:15:22( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: duncan of tennessee where his mother figure lived and dana rohrabacher of california and congressman watson and congresswoman moore are filing the intent of our soldiers' wishes. this bill allows servicemen and

1:15:23 to 1:15:43( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: women designating whom ever they want in the disposition of their remains. it seems only appropriate and fitting that we honor the wishes of our soldiers. thank you, mr. speaker. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. mr. flake of arizona.

1:15:44 to 1:16:00( Edit History Discussion )

Stephen Cohen: for what purpose does the gentleman from pennsylvania rise? >> to address the house for five minutes and revise and extend my remarks. the spea objection. >> mr. speaker, i bring a serious economic concern from my district today.