Commending and supporting Radio Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and only radio station for women.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the House will take up H. Res. 784, a resolution I introduced that honors Radio Al Mahaba, an Iraqi radio station that offers the Middle East's only programming for women. The station began broadcasting on April 1, 2005, as an educational tool for the women of Iraq.

Historically, Iraqi women were extremely well educated, but the educational oppression brought on by Saddam Hussein led to the illiteracy rate for women rising to 75 percent. Saddam's regime drove women back to confinement and the extremists restricted them with harsh rules and practices, mostly imported from Iran and Saudi Arabia.

After Saddam was ousted, the women of Iraq needed some way to reach out to all women nationwide, to talk to them directly and provide help.

Bushra Jamil, an Iraqi who was living in Canada, saw this as an opportunity to empower the women of Iraq as it transitioned to a democracy. Bushra returned home and created Radio Al Mahaba.

Once the station began broadcasting, the response from Iraqi women was astonishing. Radio Al Mahaba programs

included news, call-in talk shows, covering various legal, health and educational topics, as well as music programs. The station became so popular that they were broadcasting 16 hours a day in three languages: Arabic, Kurdish and English.

While we take radio shows that cater to women for granted, this was a revolutionary concept in the Middle East. Women who had been oppressed for years were finally able to hear their side of the story. And Radio Al Mahaba provided a forum for women to make sure that their voices were heard.

The station received 100 calls a day from women asking questions, giving advice and voicing their opinions of how to rebuild their country. The radio station had found an audience, and they were financially in good shape as well from new sponsorships.

But last October, Radio Al Mahaba fell silent. The terrorist attack on the Palestinian Hotel in Baghdad destroyed their transmitter. And while the radio station was not the target of this attack, many leaders in Iraq were not all that upset that these women's voices were silenced once again.

But the women of Radio Al Mahaba were resilient. They found another transmitter, but it wasn't as powerful as the one they lost during the terrorist attack. The new transmitter could only reach about one-third of their listening audience. And less listeners meant less sponsorship revenue for the station.

Unfortunately, the rented transmitter died about a month ago, and they are in desperate need of funds to get back on the air. Once they receive this funding, they plan to expand listening audiences to include all of Iraq and its neighbors. They also plan on broadcasting in Persian to reach the women of Iran, who have been oppressed for nearly 30 years.

If democracy in Iraq is going to succeed, women will have to play a role, a vital role, in making sure that it goes forward. The radio station can be the place for women in Iraq and throughout the Middle East to learn about the issues that will affect their lives. It allows them place to be heard without often violent consequences for the first time in their lives.

The right to educate yourself and to be heard are cornerstones of our democracy, and these characteristics should be carried over to the new Iraq.

At this point in Iraq's history, the station is in the midst of a battle. But not just a military battle, but also in the battle for Iraqi women's rights against fundamentalists.

The station's 28 full-time and part-time staff risk their lives every day to make sure that the voices are heard. Despite this terrible risk, they are all very dedicated because, in one of the staffer's words, ``they want to reach out and touch people's lives. They want to give hope and knowledge, empowerment support and the passage of freedom to Iraqi women.''

Mr. Speaker, I recently had a chance to talk to President Bush about this station and he was very enthusiastic about the role it will play in democracy in Iraq. It is my hope that the passage of tomorrow's resolution honoring the radio station will raise awareness and find funding for the station so they can continue their message of hope to the women of the Middle East.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New York for allowing me to speak on this, and I also want to thank my colleague from Florida, who has been a sponsor. We actually had a trip of women that went to Iraq and saw firsthand how important it is for the Iraqi women to have a voice.

Historically, Iraqi women were extremely well educated, but the educational suppression brought on by Saddam Hussein led to the illiteracy rate of women rising to almost 75 percent.

After Saddam was ousted, Bushra Jamil, an Iraqi who was living in Canada, saw an opportunity to empower the women of Iraq as it transitioned to democracy. Bushra returned home and created Radio Al Mahaba, the Middle East's only radio station for women. The station became so popular that they were broadcasting, as my colleague had said, 16 hours a day in three languages, Arabic, Kurdish and English.

While we take radio shows that cater to women for granted, this was a revolutionary concept in the Middle East. Women who had been oppressed for years were finally able to hear their side of the story.

The radio station provided a forum for women to make sure their voices were heard. The station received 100 calls a day from women asking questions, giving advice and voicing their opinions on the rebuilding of their country. The radio station had found an audience, and they were now financially sustainable through sponsorships.

But last October, unfortunately, the radio station fell silent. The terrorist attack on the Palestinian hotel in Baghdad destroyed their transmitter. And while the station was not the target of this attack, many leaders in Iraq were not all upset that these women's voices were silenced.

They found another transmitter, but it wasn't as powerful as the one they lost during the terrorist attack. This new transmitter could only reach about a third of their listening audience. Fewer listeners meant less sponsorship revenue for the station.

Unfortunately, the rented transmitter broke down about a month ago, and they are in desperate need of funds to get back on the air. Once they receive this funding, they plan to expand their listening audience to include all of Iraq and its neighbors. They are also planning on broadcasting in Persian to reach the women of Iran, who have been oppressed for nearly 30 years.

The radio station can be the place for women in Iraq and throughout the Middle East to learn about the issues that will affect their lives. The right to educate one's self and to be heard are cornerstones of our own democracy, and these characteristics should be carried over into the new Iraq.

The station's 28 full-time and part-time staff risk their lives every day by going to work. These people are Iraqi patriots, and I am confident their sacrifices will be rewarded.

Mr. Speaker, I recently had a chance to speak to President Bush about the station and he was very enthusiastic about the role it will play in a democratic Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this station and the resolution. I would like to thank members of the Iraqi Women's Caucus and the International Relations Committee. I would also like to thank Representatives Osborne, Tauscher, Granger, Solis, my colleague from New York, Mr. Ackerman and, of course, my colleague from Florida, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for their strong support of this station and this resolution. This has been a bipartisan effort from the start, and I hope we can continue to work together.

Mr. Speaker, with all the bad news that is coming out of Iraq, we must recognize those who are really trying to make a free Iraq. Democracy takes a long time. We can do this, but we all must work together.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 784) commending and supporting Radio Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and only radio station for women.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, House Resolution 784, introduced by our colleague Mrs. McCarthy, and a measure of which I am proud to be an original cosponsor, commends and supports Iraq's first and only radio station for women, Al Mahaba. All of us who have spent time in the Middle East know of the courage that it takes for women to take to the airwaves and provide education and information for women.

It was April 1, 2005, when Al Mahaba first went on the air. Despite personal risk, these courageous people took to the airwaves, in the words of the resolution, to reach out and touch people's lives, and give hope, knowledge empowerment, support and a passage to freedom to Iraqi women.

Its commitment was to serve as an important education resource for women, for broadcasting in three languages, and enabling women to hear, some for the very first time, messages about women's rights and women's issues. Radio Al Mahaba provides a forum for women to voice their opinions and to hear the opinions of other women who face the complexities of life for women in the Middle East.

The programming on Al Mahaba deals with issues specifically focused on women, which includes such important topics as relationships, parenting and other social issues which are not dealt with in other media. This radio station, which operates within the aura of what we in America know as our first amendment rights of freedom of speech and freedom of the press, is a wonderful example to Iraqi women and Iraqi people nationwide of the benefits of freedom. It plays an important role in paving the way for women to have more of a fundamental impact on Iraqi society.

House Resolution 784 appropriately commends the efforts of these pioneers. It supports the mission of Radio Al Mahaba and it encourages it to continue with its important work. I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) who is going to close our debate, the cochair of the Iraqi Women's Caucus here in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 784, which commends and supports Radio Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and only radio station for women.

In the midst of all the bad news coming out of Iraq, it is important that we recognize one of the positive developments there. Radio Al Mahaba provides a unique service to the citizens of Iraq, particularly the women. It allows Iraqi women to express their opinions about issues important to them, including women's rights.

For Iraq to have any kind of future, there must be full participation and equal treatment under the law for women in Iraq. The voices of Iraqi women must be heard in all levels of government, the private sector, in schools, and in the media. I am pleased that today this body officially goes on the record in support of these efforts.

However, we should not stop here. We must continue to encourage the leadership in Iraq to protect the rights of women, particularly in the amendment process for the constitution. Iraqi women and men should be guaranteed equality in the constitution to ensure that women

will never become second-class citizens. Both women and men should have the right to vote, access to equal opportunities, and equal treatment under the law. I am particularly concerned that final language in the constitution could limit women's rights, including in matters such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance.

I have introduced legislation, H.R. 5548, the ``Empowerment of Iraqi Women Act of 2006,'' which would establish an Iraqi Women's Fund to help Iraqi women and girls in the areas of political, legal, and human rights, health care, education, training, security, and shelter, and it would authorize $22,500,000 in each fiscal year 2007, 2008, and 2009 for this fund. I have met with several delegations of Iraqi women during my trips to Iraq and here in Washington. I am always inspired by their strength and courage to speak out in support of equality, even in the face of danger. While these women have hope, they understand that the future is very uncertain.

I know my colleagues join me in expressing our strong support and solidarity with the women of Iraq as they fight for the rights to which they are entitled. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to commend and thank my good friend and colleague from New York, Carolyn McCarthy, for sponsoring this very important measure.

Mr. Speaker, our intervention in Iraq and its aftermath have not been without controversy, but there are some developments there that I know every Member of this body is happy to embrace. Radio Al Mahaba represents just such a development.

Radio Al Mahaba is a unique phenomenon in the Middle East, a radio station for women dealing with issues of interest to women, and, more importantly, run by women.

In a society where a majority of women are illiterate, radio is a vital

means of imparting information. Of course, female illiteracy is a problem in virtually every state in the Islamic Middle East, which is precisely why Radio Al Mahaba is a model for the region.

I am pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that Radio Al Mahaba is a fully independent radio station, both politically and religiously. It is surely one of the few Iraqi radio stations, some say the only one, that can be described in that way.

Mr. Speaker, Radio Al Mahaba was founded 1 year ago with a $500,000 grant from the United Nations Development Fund for Women. It started out broadcasting 6 hours a day; and as a result of its incredible popularity, it was up to 16 hours a day very soon thereafter. Unfortunately, it was forced to cut back after terrorists destroyed its transmitter. Nonetheless, Al Mahaba carries on.

Radio Al Mahaba is a beacon of free expression for Iraqi women, and it has the potential to make a remarkable contribution to the political and cultural growth of Iraqi society as a whole. It deserves the support of every Member of this body, as does the resolution commending its work.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge all of our colleagues to do likewise

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, the sponsor of the resolution, Carolyn McCarthy.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.