Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special recognition to Ms. Quintina Bennett, who has served with distinction as a classroom teacher of the San Gabriel Unified School District from 1953 to the present.

Ms. Bennett was born November 29, 1930, in the Lincoln Heights region of Los Angeles, California. She was raised in a close-knit Italian family, where strong work ethics and responsibility were a way of life. Ms. Bennett continues to exemplify these values, priding herself in her extended family and commitment to education. She attended school in Lincoln Heights, graduating from Lincoln High School. Ms. Bennett continued her education at Los Angeles City College and graduated from California State University, Los Angeles in June, 1953.

Ms. Bennett began her teaching career at Washington Elementary School in September, 1953. During this tenure, she taught second through fifth grades, and the last 30 years have been spent in the same third grade classroom. She has dedicated one-half a century enriching the lives and minds of approximately 1,500 students, with more to come!

Ms. Bennett has actively promoted the creative arts through classroom music instruction and appreciation. Ms. Bennett has written and choreographed many of Washington School's music programs. She has also been the piano accompanist for all school musical programs. In addition, Ms. Bennett has played an active leadership role in developing district science curricula, serving as team leader for the advancement of technology for Washington School's third grade class.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in congratulating and recognizing Ms. Quintina Bennett on a truly remarkable career as she reaches her 50-year milestone year in education at Washington School. Best wishes for many more rewarding and fulfilling years to come.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago this Friday, the President ordered the men and women of our Armed Forces into Iraq. They performed magnificently and have continued to do so despite an ongoing guerilla campaign, difficult conditions, and a shortage of protective gear such as Kevlar vests and armored Humvees.

As we celebrate their courage and skill, we must also reflect on their sacrifice. As of today, 565 American troops have been killed in this war including United States Army Specialist Rel Allen Ravago, IV, one of my constituents.

I will support this resolution because it includes language honoring our troops, but I am very concerned over what the resolution excludes and deeply disappointed that it was not crafted in a bipartisan manner.

Our troops in Iraq are not representatives of one political party or the other, and those who seek to exploit their daring and sacrifice for partisan gain would do well to remember that.

This resolution fails to address a number of serious issues that have arisen as a result of the war. Although the resolution before us makes no mention of it, this Nation went to war over intelligence that Saddam Hussein had both an existing arsenal of biological and chemical weapons and an ongoing nuclear weapons program. A year has passed, and we have yet to find evidence that this was correct.

Clearly, we must look at the totality of the circumstances that led to such a colossal intelligence failure. This failure cannot be minimized or, in the case of this resolution, ignored all together. To do so does no honor to our troops who have been lost and further imperils our future.

The planning for the post-war period of this operation was also deficient and based on a number of unsupported assumptions. Over the past decade and a half, our forces have been engaged more and more in post-conflict operations. Clearly we need to organize ourselves better to meet the challenges posed by post-conflict reconstruction.

In the coming days, I will offer a House companion to a bill introduced in the Senate by Senators Lugar and Biden that does just that, and I hope my colleagues will support it.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments of our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Ms. Linda Wilson. Ms. Wilson's passion for community service, especially on behalf of libraries, has made our community a better place in which to live.

Linda Wilson was born in Rochester, Minnesota, and raised on a farm near Hayfield, Minnesota. An outstanding student, she was the valedictorian of Hayfield High School, then obtained her BA majoring in Math and Spanish and her MA in Library Science at the University of Minnesota. She first moved to California in 1968 and has called California home with the exception of a 5-year return to Minnesota and a 2-year residence in Florida. Currently, she lives in Monterey Park, California.

Her experience includes working as a research librarian at UC Riverside, the Adult/YA Extension librarian at the Kern County Library, supervising librarian at the San Diego County Library, and the county librarian at the Merced County Library. In 1995, she began her tenure as the city librarian for the Bruggemeyer Memorial Library of the City of Monterey Park.

Linda has been instrumental in several efforts to help libraries. In Minnesota, she worked on a tax measure to build a new library. She has written numerous applications and received grants for library service and buildings over the years, totaling more than $10 million. In Monterey Park, Linda participated on the team that received Los Angeles County Proposition 14 funds to renovate and expand the Bruggemeyer Memorial Library. In addition, she also worked on the successful Measure C campaign that helped fund the expansion and provide service on Sundays at the Bruggemeyer Memorial Library in Monterey Park.

Linda's volunteer service is extensive. She is a graduate of Leadership Merced, past president of Merced Business and Professional Women, formerly active in Rebuilding America, and headed up the United Way campaign for Monterey Park city employees. Currently, she is the president of East Los Angeles-Montebello Business and Professional Women, a past president and active member of Monterey Park Rotary Club, a member of the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, and active in her church, St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Ms. Wilson also serves on the American Library Association and the California Library Association. She has received numerous honors, including the Librarian of the Year Award in 1990 from the California Association of Library Trustees and Commissioners and the Merced Business and Professional Women's Woman of the Year Award.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Linda Wilson. The entire community joins me in thanking Linda Wilson for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments of our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Ms. Aida Yeghiazarian. Ms. Yeghiazarian's passion for community service, especially in the area of education, has made our community a better place in which to live.

Aida Yeghiazarian was born in Tehran, Iran, in 1955. After attending Reza Shah High School, she took accounting courses at a local college for 1 year. Although her studies in Iran were interrupted when she and her family immigrated to the United States in 1977, Aida took many courses in the United States over the next few years, including management of commercial properties, business and real estate law, and English.

In 1979, Aida married her husband, Vahe, and they moved to Glendale. In 1980, Aida obtained her real estate license and, with her husband, bought a franchise of the Re/Max Real Estate Agency. They have two daughters, Sevan and Anie.

While maintaining a full-time career, Aida volunteered at all of her daughters' schools, including the Verdugo Gymnastics School, Flintridge Preparatory School, the Champion Gymnastics School and Van Nuys Gymnastics Olympica. Formerly active in the PTAs of Tufenkian Pre- school and Chamlian Armenian School, she still assists Chamlian School in its fund-raising efforts.

Aida Yeghiazarian has been on the Glendale Board of Realtors for over 24 years, serving on their commercial real estate advisory committee. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors and a member of the California Association of Realtors. Because of her real estate experience, Aida feels fortunate to be able to help financially struggling families with their financial planning, often by working without commission.

Ms. Yeghiazarian spearheaded the successful fund-raising campaign for the Glendale Police Memorial Fund, raising over $35,000. She is a former president and 12-year board member of the Armenian Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that assists Armenian students with scholarships, teacher training, and school restoration. Aida serves on the Armenian National Committee of America Western Region, is a member of Homenetmen, and the Armenian American Chamber of Commerce.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Aida Yeghiazarian. The entire community joins me in thanking Aida Yeghiazarian for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments of our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Ms. Romelia Kirkaldy. Ms. Kirkaldy's commitment to comforting others and advocating for those in need has made our community a better place in which to live.

Romelia Kirkaldy was born in Colon, Republic of Panama. She married a military serviceman and lived in Panama for many years. She has four children, Ricardo, Luis, William, and Terrence; and 11 grandchildren.

In 1966, Romelia immigrated to Chicago and worked as a nurse's assistant for 25 years with the Illinois Masonic Center in the neonatal/newborn nursery. She gave thousands of newborn babies comfort during their first hours in the world.

Upon her retirement in 1990, Ms. Kirkaldy moved to Pasadena, California. She began her community service career by volunteering for the Truancy Department of Pasadena, where she checked up on children who were absent from school. For many years, Romelia also participated with Family Friends, where she mentored disabled children and their families.

Over 14 years ago, Romelia became active with the Pasadena Senior Center as a senior lay advocate where she assisted senior citizens with information and referrals and helped to organize group outings and tours. Romelia considers this effort to be one of the most important efforts in her life and continues to volunteer at the center, staffing the front desk and telephones.

In 1992, Romelia was appointed to the Accessibility and Disability Commission for the City of Pasadena and served for 6 years, serving as chair for one term. For the last 7 years, she has been staffing the information kiosk at Pasadena City Hall and has been a volunteer for the annual Latino History Parade in Pasadena. As a lay Eucharistic minister at St. Phillip the Apostle Church, Romelia ministers to the sick and infirm. In addition to her many volunteer activities, Romelia works at the Altadena Traffic School in Altadena, California.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Romelia Kirkaldy. The entire community joins me in thanking Romelia Kirkaldy for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments of our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Ms. Jeannine Wolfe. Ms. Wolfe's passion for community service has made our community a better place in which to live.

Born in Kansas in 1929, Jeannine's family moved to Los Angeles, California, in 1932. In 1945, the family relocated to Inyokern, California, where her father was an ordnanceman at the Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS).

After graduating from high school, Jeannine went to work for the U.S. Navy as a civil service employee in the Explosive Department Office of NOTS. Working at NOTS was an exciting experience for Jeannine, who had the opportunity to work with CalTech scientists and engineers, naval officers, and meet young enlisted women and men from all over the Nation. She married her husband, Edward Wolfe, a U.S. Army corporal, in 1948; and they moved to Temple City, California, in 1952. The Wolfes enjoyed 13 years of marriage until Edward's death in 1961. They have three children, Linda, Marilyn, and Wesley; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

In 1961, Jeannine worked for NOTS, Pasadena Annex, until her transfer to the Board of U.S. Civil Service Examiners for Scientists and Engineers, now the Office of Personnel Management.

After 40 years of service with the Federal Government, Jeannine retired in 1989 and began her volunteer service. She organized and operated a National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE) service center, where she assisted retired Federal employees who had Social Security, retirement, or other issues. Although the center closed after 4 years, Jeannine continues to act as the service officer for West San Gabriel Valley NARFE Chapter 556 and helps retired employees. Currently, she serves as NARFE's newsletter editor and legislative officer.

Jeannine has volunteered for Temple City's schools over the years and has served on numerous Temple City Unified School District committees, including the Bond Construction Support Committee. An active member of the Temple City Historical Society, she is also a dedicated volunteer for the Temple City Chamber of Commerce, serving as co-chair of the Legislative Committee and as an ambassador. In addition to her volunteer activities, Jeannine helps to care for a nearby elderly relative.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Jeannine Wolfe. The entire community joins me in thanking Jeannine Wolfe for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments of our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Shireen Chang of South Pasadena. Mrs. Chang has been pivotal in the social and cultural vitality of our community, and I wish to salute her efforts today.

Born and raised in Malaysia, Shireen came to the United States in 1978 as a court reporting student. When she achieved her American citizenship shortly after, it was, in her words, one of the proudest moments of her life. Shireen married her husband, John Chang, in 1983; and they moved to South Pasadena in 1984. They have three children: Leonard, Samantha, and Arthur.

As a young mother, Mrs. Chang began volunteering at her son's school, Monterey Hills Elementary School. She assisted with sports activities, art classes, dance classes, classroom projects, and field trips. She was the den leader for her son's Boy Scout troop for 4 years and was very active in the local PTA, serving as president, vice president, and as chair of various committees. She was awarded an Honorary Service Award from both the Monterey Hills School PTA and the South Pasadena Council PTA. In addition, as a member of the South Pasadena Educational Foundation, Mrs. Chang raised thousands of dollars for the fine arts and language programs for South Pasadena schools.

Shireen is currently a member and past president of the South Pasadena Public Library Board of Trustees, where she has been instrumental in fund-raising to benefit the restoration of South Pasadena's library. She is also extremely active in the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club, having served as vice president, secretary, chair of various fund-raising events, and chair of the education committee, providing translations, grants and scholarships to South Pasadena Unified School District schools. Mrs. Chang is also active in her church, Chinatown Church of Christ, where she organizes retreats and teaches Bible study.

In addition to her service to the community, Shireen works for her husband's law firm in San Marino. Some of her future plans include forming a Neighborhood Watch, organizing workshops to educate new immigrants about services available to them and the importance of voting, and continuing to advocate for South Pasadena's schools and library.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring a remarkable woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Shireen Chang. The entire community joins me in thanking Shireen Chang for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments made by our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today, to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Doris Blackstock. Mrs. Blackstock's passion for community service, especially her immense contribution to the American Red Cross, has made our community a better place in which to live.

Born and raised in Winfield, Kansas, Doris attended Winfield High School, continuing her journey into higher education at Southwestern College and Methodist College.

During World War II, Mrs. Blackstock moved to Los Angeles, California, where she got a job at Foster Kleiser Outdoor Advertising Company, now Clear Channel. She met her husband, Joseph Blackstock, the company's Director of Research and Public Relations and they married in 1946, enjoying 53 years of marriage until his death in 1989. While staying at home and raising their two sons, Joseph Jr. and Forrest, Doris was an active member of the Parent Teacher Association and is currently a Life Member.

In 1966, she began her extensive volunteer career with the American Red Cross in Alhambra, working an average of 8 hours a day for many years. Her duties included assisting the military families program, presenting programs on Earthquake Preparedness, and responding to local disasters. The National Headquarters of the American Red Cross often sent Mrs. Blackstock to other locations in the United States to assist with major disasters. In addition, she served for 6 years on the Board of Directors of the San Gabriel Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross.

A natural leader and ``professional volunteer,'' Doris currently volunteers at the Alhambra Chamber of Commerce, the Wholly Grounds Coffee House at Alhambra's Atherton Baptist Home and the Alhambra American Red Cross. She is a long-time member of many organizations, including the Alhambra Women's Club, and the Order of Eastern Star #193 Alhambra-Granada Chapter. Additionally, Doris is active at her church, First United Methodist Church in Alhambra.

I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Doris Blackstock. The entire community joins me in thanking Doris Blackstock for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments made by our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Helen Kennedy of San Gabriel. Mrs. Kennedy has been pivotal in the social and cultural vitality of our community and I wish to salute her efforts today.

Helen and her husband, George Kennedy, first moved to San Gabriel in 1942, where they raised their 2 children, Brian and Drake. Helen and George worked together in their family business, Kennedy Outdoor Advertising, and became actively involved in the community of San Gabriel. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy volunteered for the Boy Scouts of America, Little League, and were instrumental in the development of Vincent Lugo Park. Helen was the first PTA President of San Gabriel High School while George fund-raised for the purchase of lights for the high school's new football field. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy enjoyed 55 years of-marriage until his death in 1988.

Helen Kennedy, often referred to as ``San Gabriel's Sweetheart,'' has an impressive and varied list of city, county and state accomplishments. Appointed to the San Gabriel City Council in 1963, she won election in 1964 and served on the council for 17 years, serving 2 terms as mayor. She was a cofounder of the California Elected Women's Association for Education and Research, along with U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein.

The founder of the Friends of the Library, and Checkmates for Cancer at the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center, she also volunteered for years at La Casa de San Gabriel Community Center. Helen currently serves on the boards of the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center Foundation and the San Gabriel Chamber of Commerce, Women's Division.

An avid supporter of the arts, Helen spearheaded the successful fund- raising campaign to restore the original doors of the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium, and obtained the theater

organ for the auditorium. She was on the board of directors of the Music Theater of Southern California and served for 30 years on the Music and Performing Arts Commission of Los Angeles County.

I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Helen Kennedy. The entire community joins me in thanking Helen Kennedy for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments made by our Nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today, to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Juanita Young DeVaughn. Mrs. DeVaughn's passion for community volunteerism, especially on behalf of children and education, has made Altadena and surrounding areas a better place in which to live.

Born in 1925 and raised in Boligee, Alabama, Juanita attended Alabama A&M University where she earned her BS in Home Economics. Juanita completed her higher education in 1977, obtaining her MA from Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, CA. Juanita married Paul DeVaughn in 1950. They have 2 children, Paula and Robert, and 2 grandchildren. The DeVaughns moved to Altadena, CA in the 1960s.

A lifelong educator, Mrs. DeVaughn has taught for 47 years. Her teaching experience began at the Industrial School for Girls in Alabama. She also worked as a Dietician at Talladega College, as a Nutritionist for the Headstart program in Birmingham, a teacher at Eliot Middle School in Altadena, and concluded her illustrious career in 1993 as an instructor in Home Economics, Geography, English, and Social Studies at John Muir High School in Pasadena.

A natural leader, Juanita has been extensively involved in many community organizations. She spearheaded the Campus Beautification project for John Muir High School, served on the boards of the Alkebu- Ian Cultural Center, and the Altadena Christian Children's Center. An active Altadena NAACP board member, Juanita revitalized and chaired the Altadena NAACP's ACT-SO Program; an undertaking she continues to this day. She is a long-time member of Altadena Baptist Church, where she is a Deaconess, choir member, and volunteers for various projects. In addition, she raises funds for NAACP youth projects, the Pasadena chapter of the Alabama A&M University Alumni Association, and the Alberta Vaughn Scholarship Foundation.

Juanita has received numerous awards, including the Pasadena-Foothill Valley's YWCA Second Century Award, the Roy Campanella Humanitarian Award, Phi Delta Kappa's Woman of Year Award, an International Optimist Award, and the Pasadena Human Relations Commission's Harry Sheldon Award.

I ask all Members to join me today in honoring an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Juanita Young DeVaughn. The entire community joins me in thanking Juanita DeVaughn for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments made by our nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today, to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Susan Bowers. Mrs. Bowers's passion for community service, especially on behalf of children and education, has made the City of Burbank a better place in which to live.

A native Californian, Susan attended California State University Fullerton where she graduated as a member of the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society. In 1997, she married Gordon Bowers, a Captain with the Burbank Police Department. After a successful corporate career in manufacturing, she joined the Burbank Chamber of Commerce in 2000 as Executive Director/CEO, where she remained until her retirement in 2003. Currently, Susan divides her time between volunteering, organizational management consulting, and spending time with her children, Melanie, Bryan, Jeff, stepsons Matt and Michael, three grandchildren, and Lamont Duverne, for whom she and Gordon are the primary caregivers.

The consummate volunteer, Susan has three areas of community service that she passionately supports: leadership, literacy and education. She has served on numerous city and school committees, including the Civic Pride Committee, the Workforce Investment Board, the Burbank Unified School District Strategic Planning Committee, the Burbank Unified School District Partnership Program, and the Verdugo School-To-Career Committee. In addition, Mrs. Bowers was a founder and director of the Burbank Community Foundation, a Board Director of the Burbank Boys and Girls Club, and with her husband Gordon, was a mentor at Elmwood Achievement Center.

Mrs. Bowers currently serves on the Board of Leadership Burbank, the Woodbury University President's Advisory Board, Burbank's Library Board of Trustees, the Measure L Committee for Burbank libraries and the La Providencia Guild. In addition, Susan is a Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church of Burbank.

Susan has received many awards, including the 2001 Community Support Award by Work Training Programs, Inc. and an honorary membership in the Woodbury University School of Business Honor Society. In 2003 she received a key to the City from Mayor Stacey Murphy for her contributions to the Burbank Chamber of Commerce.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring a remarkable woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Susan Bowers. The entire community joins me in thanking Susan Bowers for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Armenian Relief Society Western Region as it celebrates its 20th anniversary of serving communities in the United States.

Founded in 1910, the Armenian Relief Society brought together the existing women's groups into a cohesive nationwide organization with the main goal of serving the needs of the victims of the Armenian genocide. As an independent non-government and nonsectarian organization, the Armenian Relief Society serves the social and educational needs of Armenian communities throughout the world, seeking to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation as well as bringing humanitarian aid to all communities in distress--Armenian and non-Armenian alike.

In response to the growing needs of the communities, the ARSWR was established as a region in 1984. The 26 chapters of the Western Region have an extensive program of service to the community such as assisting newly arrived immigrants with clarification of legal matters, translation, preparation of documents, employment, distribution of food and other necessities and financial aid, serving over 50,000 clients annually. In an effort to enhance the education of the society's members and encourage their involvement in public service, the ARS sponsors many educational programs such as summer camps, Saturday schools, numerous scholarships, and cultural activities including lectures, concerts and art exhibitions. One of the most successful programs has been the ``Sponsor a Child'' program through which the Western Region currently sponsors over 1000 children.

The ARSWR has been able to meet and fulfill its challenges for 20 years because of a base of dedicated grassroots supporters, volunteers and donors. It is this partnership that has made such growth and impact possible and will continue to do so in the 21st century.

It is my distinct honor to recognize the Armenian Relief Society Western Region's innumerable accomplishments over the years. I ask all members to join me in congratulating ARS Western Region's 20 years of myriad of cultural and social contributions to all aspects of the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2714, the State Justice Institute Reauthorization Act--legislation to reauthorize appropriations for the State Justice Institute through FY 2008.

Founded by Congress more than a decade ago, the State Justice Institute (SJI) was established to support efforts to improve the quality of justice in State courts, facilitate better coordination between State and Federal courts, and foster innovative, efficient solutions to common problems faced by all courts. About one-third of all SJI grants are devoted to educating state judges on how to improve the operations of their courts. The remaining grants are devoted to technology projects such as efforts to improve recordkeeping.

The Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, Ronald M. George, has relayed to me the important work done by the State Justice Institute, and I know his views are shared by a great many of the nation's top judges. In a 2002 report, the Attorney General of the United States also noted that the Institute has been effective and has complied with its statutory mission. In addition, he observed that support for state court innovation and improvement is a federal interest.

As a Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on the Judicial Branch, I recognize the importance of working in Congress to ensure that we maintain a strong and vibrant court system in our country.

The last time that Congress reauthorized the State Justice Institute was in 1992. In the interim, the Appropriations Committee has continued to fund the important work of the Institute, and I have urged appropriators to support such funding to allow the Institute to continue its fine work. It is now time for Congress to act and to reauthorize this important program that will continue to improve the administration of justice in our courts.

Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Committee on International Relations and the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and as a friend of the Chinese people, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this resolution.

In the three decades since President Nixon made his historic trip to China, that country has undergone a remarkable transformation that all of us in this House should applaud.

Gone are the Red Guards, the mass rallies, and the ubiquitous Mao Suits. Today's, young Chinese enjoy a far better standard of living than their parents. They are often dressed in stylish western fashions. They have access to western movies, books, and the Internet. Bicycles, once the primary means of transportation for millions of urban Chinese, are being replaced by scooters, motorcycles and growing numbers of cars.

But, Mr. Speaker, there is one area where the China of 2004 is little changed from the China of 1972: the Chinese government's persistent and systematic abuse of the human rights of its citizens. Even as we deepen and broaden the commercial, diplomatic, and cultural ties with China, the United States must not sacrifice its commitment to freedom, democracy, the rule of law, human rights and religious freedom.

Chinese prisons, labor camps, and psychiatric hospitals are filled with political prisoners. Fifteen years after the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananment Square, many protesters remain in prison and Beijing has continued its efforts to extinguish expressions of protest or criticism and have detained and sentenced scores of Chinese citizens associated with attempts to organize peaceful protests, to expose corruption, to preserve their ethnic minority identity, and to use the Internet for the free exchange of ideas.

China's persecution of religious minorities has been especially cruel. China's small Christian population has been subject to persecution and many Catholic and Protestant leaders have been imprisoned or placed under house arrest. Practitioners of Falun Gong, which Chinese authorities denounce as an illegal cult, have been singled out for especially harsh treatment. Some Falun Gong adherents have been tortured to death in Chinese prisons; others have been sent to reeducation camps that have changed little since the days of the Cultural Revolution.

Beijing's obsession with eradicating the Falun Gong has not been confined to China. The FBI is investigating possible links between the Chinese government and attacks upon Falun Gong practitioners here in the United States.

The Chinese government has continued its brutal repression of Tibet. The whereabouts of the boy identified by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama are unknown. Tibetans caught displaying photos of this child or of the Dalai Lama face fines or imprisonment. Tibetan prisoners have been executed without due process and others remain on death row. Beijing continues to move ethnic Chinese citizens into Tibet in order to dilute and gradually extinguish the cultural and social identity of the Tibetan people.

During the December 2002 session of the United States-China Bilateral Human Rights Dialogue, Beijing agreed to invite, without conditions, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, the United Nations Special Rapporteurs on Religious Intolerance and Torture, and the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to visit China. None of these visits have taken place and, in the case of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, two agreed upon trips were canceled because of unacceptable conditions placed on the visit by the Government of the People's Republic of China, including refusing the Commission entry into Hong Kong.

China's refusal to live up to its promises to cooperate with American and United Nations human rights representatives is especially troubling as the United States decision not to introduce a resolution calling upon the People's Republic of China to end its human rights violations in China at last year's session of United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva was based, in part, on the belief that the aforementioned agreements signaled a good faith commitment on the part of Chinese officials to improve human rights practice in China.

In fact, since the last session of the United States-China Bilateral Human Rights Dialogue, a number of very troubling incidents have occurred, including: arrests of democracy advocates; the detention and torture of 18 Tibetans who were forcibly repatriated from Nepal with the cooperation of Chinese officials, in contravention of international law; ongoing forced repatriation of North Korean nationals, who upon return to North Korea will face almost certain arrest, torture, or even death; arrest and sentencing of Internet essayists and labor protesters; and the continued refusal to allow access by United States diplomats and family members of the accused to the trials of those detained for political or religious activities.

China's continued abysmal human rights record has convinced me that Beijing will not take the necessary steps to improve its human rights record absent the external pressure and exposure of a U.S.-sponsored resolution in Geneva. The late Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously said, ``Sunlight is the best disinfectant.'' The Chinese leadership will doubtless resist our efforts to open the shutters to allow that light to illuminate its repression, but I believe that China will be better for it in the end. The Chinese government would do well to remember that the eyes of the world will be focused on China in four years' time when Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympic Games. For China, readying itself to host the world must mean more than building an Olympic Village and sporting venues. China must also rise to meet the aspirations of the Olympic movement by dismantling the systems of repression that stifle dissent, free expression, and religious observance.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Mekhitarist Fathers' Armenian School. On Saturday, February 28, 2004, members of the Armenian community in Southern California will gather to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Mekhitarist Fathers' Armenian School.

The school is the pride of the Armenian community. Its impressive curriculum, dedicated faculty and administration, quality extracurricular activities, devoted parents, alumni and committed Trustees serve as strong pillars of this unique educational institution.

The Mekhitarist Fathers' Armenian school was established in 1979 with dreams of rearing and educating young Armenians about their past. Yet they taught their pupils to appreciate their new home in America and establish respectable, productive and thriving communities as well as the importance of making lasting contributions to society.

In 1998, when the school had prospered to more than 350 students, they leased a campus in La Crescenta. The school was facing unlimited difficulties. Mekhitarist Fathers had a very short time to find a home for those whose educational responsibilities were put upon their shoulders. They proved without a doubt that despite insurmountable obstacles, they fulfilled their seemingly impossible responsibility toward this community when they purchased their own land on Foothill Boulevard, in Tujunga.

Today, the number of students has dropped due to obstacles that the school has had to overcome. Yet, that is what has made this institution stronger. As Fr. Augustine Szekula said, ``It is the very existence of nurturing Armenian schools in the Diaspora that supports and indeed, enables our Mother country [Armenia] to exist, and for our rich Armenian cultural heritage to continue to flourish with dignity and grace.''

It is my distinct honor to recognize the Mekhitarist Fathers' Armenian School's invaluable service to the community and congratulate them upon their 25th anniversary.