E1438 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 3, 2012 

Moreover, the recently enacted Dodd-Frank 

Wall Street Reform law further enhanced the 

Federal Reserve’s transparency by expanding 

the types of audits GAO must conduct and by 

mandating disclosure of transactions at the 

Federal Reserve’s discount window. 

In light of these facts, the issue in H.R. 459 

is not whether the Fed should be audited. It 

already is. Instead, what is at issue in this legislation is whether the Fed’s internal deliberations concerning the formation of monetary 

policy should be made public. This is the 

equivalent of asking whether Supreme Court 

justices’ pre-decisional debate should be 

made public—and it is a bad idea for the 

same reason. It would have a predictably 

counterproductive and chilling effect on that 

debate and ultimately undermine the Fed’s 

independence. Time and time again, history 

has shown that central banks whose decisionmaking falls under the influence of short-term 

political considerations quickly lose all credibility with the public and with the credit markets. This cannot be allowed to happen. 

It’s ironic that most, if not all, of the information proponents of this legislation cite to justify 

its enactment is in the public domain because 

of the transparency measures that are already 

in place. Indeed, many advocates of H.R. 459 

are avowedly less interested in striking the 

right balance between independence and accountability at the Federal Reserve than they 

are in abolishing the Federal Reserve altogether—or in ending the Federal Reserve’s 

dual mandate to achieve both stable prices 

and maximum employment. 

I am in neither camp. I support an independent Federal Reserve pursuing its congressionally directed dual mandate, subject to 

strict oversight and accountability—and that is 

why I oppose this bill. 

f 

HONORING HARRIET TRUDELL ON 

HER 80TH BIRTHDAY 

HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY OF NEVADA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I urge 

my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 

life and achievements of Harriet Trudell of Las 

Vegas, Nevada on the occasion of her 80th 

birthday. 

Harriet was born on August 22, 1932 in St. 

Petersburg, Florida, into a family passionate in 

their beliefs of the Democratic Party and its 

principles. 

In 1948, 16-year-old Harriet had a lifechanging experience when she accompanied 

her father to the Democratic National Convention where he was an alternate delegate. 

Hearing Hubert Humphrey’s civil rights speech 

during the convention had a great impact on 

Harriet’s life, and she returned home to Florida 

passionate for the cause of equality and 

began a lifelong quest for social change. 

Throughout every decade since, Harriet has 

been a force to contend with, fighting for fairness and equality for all. 

During the early 1950’s, Harriet organized 

unions for the state AFL–CIO in Florida. 

In 1962, Harriet moved to Las Vegas with 

her husband and two children where she continued her passion for equality. 

In 1965, Harriet marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights activists 

from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, raising 

the awareness of voting rights of AfricanAmericans. 

Coming full circle from her attendance at the 

1948 Democratic National Convention, Harriet 

served as the Southern Nevada Director of 

Hubert Humphrey’s 1968 presidential campaign. 

During the 1970’s, Harriet was active in the 

League of Women Voters, National Organization for Women (NOW), and the Clark County 

Women’s Democratic Club. She fought passionately against segregation in the Clark 

County School District, for welfare rights and 

for the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. 

In March 1971, Harriet marched down the 

Las Vegas Strip in support of opportunity for 

the disenfranchised. 

Harriet served as Southern Nevada Aide for 

Governor Michael O’Callaghan from 1974 to 

1978 and as the Foreign Affairs Aide for Congressman Harry Reid in Washington, D.C. 

from 1983 to 1986. 

In addition, throughout her extraordinary career, Harriet has been an advocate for Operation Life, served on the board for NOW, and 

been a lobbyist for the Feminist Majority Foundation in Washington, D.C. 

Fifty years after Harriet’s initial foray into national and state politics, she was a driving 

force in NOW’s ‘‘Elect Women 2000.’’ While 

serving as Campaign Director in Louisiana, 

she traveled throughout the State, and was 

successful in tripling the number of women 

elected to the Louisiana State Legislature. 

Presently, this remarkable woman serves as 

the Political Director for the Nevada State 

Democratic Party. 

As the Representative for Nevada’s First 

Congressional District, it gives me immense 

pride to honor Harriet Trudell of Las Vegas, 

Nevada, and I urge my colleagues to join me 

in recognizing the accomplishments of this incredible woman on the occasion of her 80th 

birthday. 

f 

CURRENT SITUATION IN THE 

REPUBLIC OF GEORGIA 

HON. JIM McDERMOTT OF WASHINGTON

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. MCDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, on March 

26, 2012, I introduced H.R. 4258, the Republic 

of Georgia Democracy Act of 2012. I introduced this bill in response to the growing acts 

of repression by the Government of Georgia 

against the Democratic opposition there in the 

run-up to the October 2012 parliamentary 

election. 

After reviewing reports from the region and 

meeting with members of the opposition, I became worried that the parliamentary election 

would be viewed as illegitimate if the situation 

did not change. 

I offered H.R. 4258, which threatened termination of the tens of millions of dollars the 

United States gives Georgia each year in assistance—including millions for democracy 

promotion—in the event of illegitimate elections, in an attempt to demonstrate to the ruling regime the cost of stealing the election. 

I regret to report that the situation is getting 

worse. 

The United Nations, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and 

the European Union have all raised concern. 

Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has 

publically called for free, fair, and competitive 

elections, but the Georgian government does 

not seem to be listening. 

For more than two decades, successive administrations and my colleagues in Congress 

have worked hard to expand democracy in the 

post-Soviet world. We did so believing that the 

former Soviet states would be more stable and 

more economically prosperous if governments 

were more responsive to the will of the people. 

This is especially true in Georgia, where the 

United States has invested considerable financial resources and political capital in an attempt to create a model democracy in a complex region. 

These investments are now at risk. The 

Georgian government is succeeding in creating an atmosphere of intimidation and fear, 

handicapping the opposition’s ability to operate and access the media and voters, and taking steps to ensure victory before election day. 

The United States can ill afford to stand 

aside and watch democracy in Georgia unravel. 

If another round of illegitimate elections occurs, there will be more instability, including 

the possibility of peaceful protests and a violent government response, which has been 

the historic norm. 

This would threaten key American interests, 

including democracy promotion, energy security, stability in the Caucasus, relations with 

Russia, and operations in Afghanistan. 

I have included a recent article that highlights the Georgian government’s efforts to repress the democratic opposition. The article 

from the Economist notes that only 38% of 

Georgians think their country is a democracy 

and that this election could be on course to a 

political crisis. 

If things continue on their current track, 

there are few scenarios where this election will 

be seen as legitimate. 

The United States should take steps now to 

prevent a potential political crisis that would 

arise just before the U.S. presidential election. 

I would encourage the Obama Administration 

and my colleagues to communicate clearly to 

the Georgian government the importance of 

free, fair, and competitive elections and that 

Georgia’s relationship with the United States 

cannot survive a stolen election or subversion 

of democratic principles. 

Like a canary in the coal mine, I will do my 

best to continue to warn my colleagues of this 

looming disaster and provide regular updates. 

I hope the United States acts before it is too 

late. 

[From the Economist, Jul. 13, 2012] 

GEORGIAN POLITICS—BLOOD FEUD

(by G.E. Tbilisi) 

Georgian democracy in trouble? The government claims that the ‘‘Russian-influenced 

opposition’’ could subvert Georgia’s parliamentary elections in October this year. In 

contrast, Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of 

Georgian Dream, an opposition party, complains of systematic discrimination at the 

hands of an increasingly authoritarian regime. New polling results show that only 

38% of Georgians think that Georgia is now 

a democracy, compared with 49% in February. 


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August 3, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1439 

Georgians may have too pessimistic a view 

of their own country. As a recent pre-electoral assessment from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) points out, Georgia 

has implemented several key democratic reforms in recent years. New institutions ensure the accuracy of the voters’ list or regulate party financing. Amendments to the 

electoral code in late 2011 and early 2012 introduced a raft of positive changes although 

the failure to redraw electoral districts 

(which range from 6,000 to 158,000 voters) 

means some votes are worth less than others. Recent ‘‘must carry’’ provisions will improve opposition parties’ access to the media 

by obliging cable providers to transmit all 

television channels with news programmes 

during the sixty-day campaign period. In all, 

the ‘‘2012 electoral process is more 

formalised and regulated compared to past 

elections’’, the NDI concludes. 

Even so, the dark side of Georgian politics, 

which Thomas de Waal has likened to ‘‘a 

blood feud’’, has been all too evident since 

Mr. Ivanishvili entered politics in October 

last year. Georgia’s richest man remains 

without Georgian citizenship, an absurd situation of which most of his compatriots disapprove; the sooner that is resolved, the better. The Chamber of Control stands accused 

of levying disproportionate fines on the 

Georgian Dream movement, which Mr. 

Ivanishvili has refused to pay. (It has responded by seizing some of his assets). And 

before Parliament adopted the must carry 

provisions, Channel 9, a new television station co-owned by Mr. Ivanishvili’s wife, and 

Global TV, the only broadcaster that carried 

it, suffered from almost continuous harassment. 

Both sides continue to vilify each other, 

complaining of harassment, improper campaign spending, attempted bribery of state 

officials and abuse of administrative resources. A debate in the European Parliament on 4th July about Georgian politics 

reached similar extremes. As punch-ups during Georgian Dream campaign meetings in 

the central Georgian villages of Mereti on 

26th June and Kareleti on 12th July suggest, 

it could get nastier still. 

Yet Mr. Ivanishvili’s political awakening 

has also awoken Georgian voters. Huge, 

peaceful rallies have taken place across the 

country, far beyond anything seen in recent 

years. Many more Georgians (75%) now plan 

to vote in October’s elections than intended 

to so in September last year (51%), polls 

show. And the political debate is increasingly focused on issues that matter to ordinary Georgians, not just personalities. 

Georgian Dream unveiled some of their 

plans in May: cutting utility costs, investing 

in agriculture, free universal health-insurance and increased pensions. Vano 

Merabishvili, the former interior minister 

who became prime minister in late June, announced the government’s four-year postelection programme shortly after taking office. He too wants to boost pensions, provide 

universal health-insurance, and invest in agriculture. Mr. Merabishvili has also set up a 

new ministry to tackle unemployment 

(roughly 34% of Georgians say they are unemployed, compared with an official rate unemployment rate of 16%), and promises to 

provide each family with vouchers worth 

$600. 

Does Mr. Merabishvili’s appointment indicate that Mikheil Saakashvili, the president, 

is unlikely to become prime minister once 

his term in office expires in early 2013? As 

one of the few big beasts of Georgian politics, Mr. Merabishvili would certainly be 

hard to shove aside. At any rate, slightly 

more Georgians would oppose such a jobswap a ́ la Putin than would approve of it. 

Reassuringly, 55% of Georgians surveyed 

think the elections will be well conducted, 

and only 21% fear falsification. But there is 

little room for complacency. Mr. Ivanishvili 

has said that if he has any evidence of voterigging by the authorities, he will call for 

street protests. For most foreign observers, 

and many Georgians, that would be a step 

backwards. Yet 27% of those polled say he 

would be justified in doing so. Come October, 

that sentiment could matter. 

While most Georgians are focused on who 

will win, Georgia’s allies say the credibility 

of the electoral process is key. As the NDI 

states, ‘‘further development of democratic 

institutions and practices offer the best 

chance for western integration and for longterm prosperity and stability.’’ With the political temperature likely to rise further in 

coming months, Georgia’s politicians would 

do well to bear that in mind. Will they? 

f 

IN HONOR OF ALEXANDER 

COCKBURN 

HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH 

OF OHIO

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 

honor of Alexander Cockburn, the bold IrishAmerican journalist who passed away after a 

courageous, private battle with cancer. He left 

this world on Saturday, July 21, 2012 at the 

youthful age of 71. 

Alexander Cockburn was born in Scotland 

on June 6, 1941 and spent most of his childhood living in Ireland. He attended the University of Oxford and earned a degree in English 

literature and language in 1963. Alexander became a permanent resident of the United 

States in 1973, where he wrote for several 

noteworthy publications. He spent his first ten 

years in the U.S. writing for The Village Voice, 

an alternative weekly magazine based in New 

York City. He then became a writer for The 

Nation until the time of his death, in addition 

to a variety of publications including The Wall 

Street Journal and New York Press. Alexander 

was also the co-editor of CounterPunch, a 

newsletter in which he frequently expressed 

his controversial, unfiltered opinions for which 

he became renowned and deeply respected. 

Friends and co-workers remember Alexander for his remarkable talents. He could 

quickly write dazzling columns that were full of 

passion and conviction. He was unafraid to 

speak his mind, often writing in opposition to 

his colleagues at the same publications. His 

bold style set him apart as a truly remarkable 

journalist. 

Alexander died on July 21, two years after 

he was diagnosed with cancer. He kept his illness a secret and continued to write until the 

day of his death, refusing to let cancer get in 

the way of his passion. He will be missed by 

his family, friends, and many readers. 

Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me 

in honoring Alexander Cockburn, the talented 

journalist and audacious man who has left a 

lasting legacy on the world of literature and 

the world at large. 

TRIBUTE TO CPL MARCUS W. 

DANDREA, UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS 

HON. ANDER CRENSHAW OF FLORIDA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, August 2, 2012 

Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to honor one of Florida’s brightest sons, Corporal Marcus W. Dandrea, United States Marine Corps, from Jacksonville. On February 

24th of this year, CPL Dandrea, a member of 

Charlie Company, stepped on a pressure plate 

while patrolling a mountain top in Sangin, 

Helmond Province. His recovery has been fast 

and furious, as he is already moving to start 

the next phase of his already inspiring life. 

However, his U.S. Marine Corps active duty 

service will continue through his wife, Lance 

Corporal Victoria Dandrea. They have three 

children, Naomi, DJ, and Micah. I ask that this 

poem, penned in their honor by Albert 

Caswell, be placed in the RECORD. 

INTEL

Intel . . . 

In every battle . . . 

And in every fight . . . 

And in every war, 

there is but such need to so bring such insight! 

Intel . . . Intelligence, 

is what a war’s life blood so ignites . . . 

leading us all to victory by shedding such 

light! 

To illuminate the darkness of war, 

to burn bright! 

For there are but only a few who so gather 

such insights . . . 

For there are The Ph.D’s of the battlefield 

who fight . . . 

The men who are but armed with mind of 

might, 

and with heart’s of steel in sight! 

Top Secret! 

The United States Marine! 

One of our brightest of all shades of green! 

Jar Heads, 

who with such Intelligence so fight . . . and 

so convene! 

Where Technology So Meets Might! 

Saving lives, 

but with all of the knowledge that they so 

provide . . . 

As from all of this, 

such battle plans are so devised! 

As many times, 

making the difference between death and 

life! 

Darkness or Light! 

So that out across a Nation, 

a mother will not have to so cry this night! 

As warriors drop in from no where, 

from out of sight! 

For they are both beauty and the beast, 

all at their height! 

Fighting with their brains and bodies, 

oh what an awesome sight! 

Putting, The Stealth in Technology! 

As how wars are won, 

all in the cover of day and or night . . . 

As when it all so depends on who lives or dies 

As is the high cost so compromised! 

As that’s where you will find, 

all of their most magnificent of all silent 

battle cries! 

As it was out on such a secret mission, 

when this young Marine’s life would almost 

not reach its fruition! 

As an IED went off, 

as so close to death he’d lie! 

As right there but on its very edge, 

as when Marcus so reached so deep down 

with something so left inside! 


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