McDermott Seeks To Set Congressional
Record Straight
For Immediate Release - October 20, 2003

Washington D.C. - Today Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) released the following statement after Speaker of the U.S. House ruled on a privileged resolution that McDermott introduced on October 23rd. The resolution sought to correct the Congressional Record for Tuesday, January 28, 2003 by noting that several statements included in that day's record were inaccurate.

McDermott's resolution called for an asterisk to be placed next to four specific statements the President Bush's 2003 State of the Union address as delivered in the House of Representatives on that day.

"The President used his State of the Union speech to make statements that we now know were inaccurate.

1. "The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa."
2. "Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high-strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production."
3. "From intelligence sources, we know, for instance, that thousands of Iraqi security personnel are at work hiding documents and materials from the U.N. inspectors, sanitizing inspections sites, and monitoring the inspectors themselves."
4. "Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications, and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of al Qaeda."

"Members of Congress, the citizens they represent, and indeed the rest of the world now understand that these statements were inaccurate. I believe the House has an obligation to provide guideposts to those who look back on these events and must make clear that these statements, although printed in our Proceedings, are not accurate.

"Normally, when inaccurate statements are made in the House Chamber, members of Congress have a collective responsibility to challenge them through discussion and debate on the floor, and this is reflected in the record. On January 28, when the President spoke in this chamber, there was no debate. The only way to make clear that these statements were inaccurate is to note this fact in the record.

"I am disappointed that Speaker did recognize the magnitude of this issue and did not allow debate on my resolution to be considered by the full house. My goal was to protect the Congressional Record for this and future generations so that they can understand the facts behind these statements.