Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 845, a resolution recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. I

proudly introduced this resolution with my colleague and fellow co- chair of the Everglades Caucus, Representative Mario Diaz-Balart.

I applaud Representative Diaz-Balart for his commitment to working together to preserve and restore the Everglades.

I thank the chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources, Representative Nick Rahall, a true champion of protecting our Nation's natural resources, especially our majestic national parks, for his support for protecting Florida's environment.

I also would like to thank the ranking member of the Committee, Representative Don Young, for his support as well.

The bipartisan support this resolution enjoys is reminiscent of the past and present bipartisan support Everglades restoration efforts enjoy.

Today we honor the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. The park, which spans 3 million acres of wetlands, is habitat to many endangered species and is an international center for business, agriculture, and tourism.

Our work to restore the Everglades is the largest restoration effort of its kind in history.

As a fifth generation Floridian and great grandson of a Creek Indian, my passion for these majestic wetlands extends back to my birth.

I have seen species that have since become endangered, and a living ecosystem that has since been degraded by management and development activities.

Regrettably, since the passage of landmark legislation in 2000, restoration efforts in Congress have been mired. Now the Everglades is paying a hefty price for Federal delays. Expected project completion timeframes have been shifted, and the restoration price tags increased.

With new perspectives and new priorities, Congress is again reaffirming our commitment to the Everglades.

Just last November, Congress overrode a President Bush veto and passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, authorizing $1.8 billion in Everglades restoration funding.

As we pause to celebrate the anniversary of the Everglades National Park today, we enhance our vigilant efforts to restore the park to the pristine ecosystem it once was.

I thank the leadership of the House for their work on this bill, and urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 807, a resolution honoring the life of Marjory Stoneman Douglas, champion of the Florida Everglades and founder of Florida's environmental movement. I am proud to have introduced this resolution with my colleague and good friend, Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. I share Representative Ros-Lehtinen's desire to recognize and commemorate the significance of Marjory Stoneman Douglas's lifelong work to promote awareness of the need to protect and conserve Florida and the entire Nation's natural resources.

As co-chair of the Everglades Caucus, I particularly share Ms. Douglas's passionate commitment to restoring the River of Grass to the pristine ecosystem it once was.

Ms. Douglas deserves much credit for raising awareness of the importance of these majestic wetlands and making restoration efforts a national priority. In 1947 she wrote the infamous book, ``The Everglades: River of Grass,'' which helped draw national attention to the Everglades. This book is responsible for initiating public support for President Harry Truman's 1947 declaration officially protecting the Everglades as a national park. Today, this book serves a the ``bible'' for all Everglades supporters and environmental activists around the world.

Ms. Douglas is also responsible for founding the Friends of the Everglades, an educational and advocacy group dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Everglades. Through the group's ecosystem conservation efforts, Ms. Douglas's legacy lives on.

This resolution enjoys bipartisan support from every Member of the Florida delegation. The support this resolution enjoys indicates the respect our delegation has for Ms. Douglas's lifelong work and the impact of her contributions on the entire State of Florida.

I am proud to join Representative Ros-Lehtinen in introducing this bipartisan resolution and pledge to carry on Ms. Douglas's legacy effort by continuing to champion Everglades restoration efforts in Congress.

I urge my colleagues to adopt this excellent resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory and life of Mrs. Leah Galante Schad, a woman who devoted over 40 years of her life to protecting Florida's Everglades and a driving force in the American environmental movement. Her contributions helped bring about a new era in our country in which organizers, activists, and politicians worked together to implement courses of action that would improve our environment and our lives. After her recent passing, I am moved to reflect on her accomplishments and legacy as we strive to enact environmental policies for our districts, States, and Nation.

A native of Kentucky, Leah Schad became active in Florida's environmental movement shortly after she moved to the State in 1961. In the following decades, Mrs. Schad would become renowned for her fierce determination and uncompromising will to improve Florida's Everglades and wildlife, earning her the title of ``The Grand Dame of Environmentalism.'' Realize, this title was not given to Mrs. Schad arbitrarily. As a board member of the National Audubon Society and the South Florida Water Management District, chairwoman of the Florida Audubon Society, and president and treasurer of the Audubon Society of the Everglades, Leah Schad had the audacity to successfully challenge decades of environmental mismanagement and to lead the effort to leave the earth in better shape than when we got it.

Without doubt, Mrs. Schad's passion and persistence inspired communities, organizations, and elected officials to engage in efforts to preserve and improve our environment. She received numerous awards for her decades of service including: the Florida Audubon Society's Chapter President of the Year Award in 1979, the Women's Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches Award in 1997, and the American Diabetes Society Valor Award in 2002. However, those who knew and admired Mrs. Schad understood that she worked in pursuit of a greater reward.

Mrs. Schad fought for environmental protection and restoration in Florida despite the people and institutions that threatened her mission and the cancer that threatened her life. Although we in Congress have made enormous environmental progress, our battle is far from over. Leah Galante Schad's struggles and successes remind us that we must confront adversity to ensure that we achieve our goal of comprehensive environmental restoration and protection.

Madam Speaker, in 1907 President Theodore Roosevelt told Congress, ``The conservation of our natural resources and their proper use constitute the fundamental problem which underlies almost every other problem of our national life.'' As we reflect on the life and legacy of Mrs. Leah Galante Schad, we must enhance our efforts to restore the Everglades and other national treasures to their natural state. I urge my colleagues to continue the work of Leah Galante Schad, and other pioneers who fought to ensure that our Nation's unique habitats and wildlife are preserved for the enjoyment of the present generation and for generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 974 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from Texas, Representative Sessions. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I also ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials into the Record.

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

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 974 provides a structured rule for consideration of H.R. 3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of 2007. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate controlled by the Committee on Financial Services. The rule makes in order two amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying this resolution. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.

Mr. Speaker, I am especially pleased that the rule makes in order an amendment offered by my colleague from Florida, Representative Kendrick Meek. His amendment ensures that in extreme cases where HUD is forced to take over control of a housing authority, it must honor any and all existing agreements between the local housing authority and tenant associations. This amendment is needed in south Florida and throughout the country, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, the skyrocketing number of foreclosures and the lack of affordable housing are some of the greatest financial problems our Nation faces today. In Broward County, the county in which I live in Florida, foreclosure rates tripled in 2007 alone. It is obvious this situation has grown beyond a crisis and extends into our entire economy.

One group of service providers that is suffering significantly from this economic crisis is our public housing authorities. For this reason I support this rule and underlying legislation that will provide flexibility to public housing authorities during our Nation's housing crisis so that they are able to sufficiently meet the needs of our constituents.

There are approximately 3,300 individual public housing authorities in the United States serving 1.2 million households. Low- and middle- income individuals and families making between 50 percent and 80 percent of the median income level in their community are eligible for Federal assistance. Without this assistance, literally millions of people would be homeless or in some cases even worse. Despite this known reality, HUD recently issued a ruling which will result in funding cuts for over 800 housing authorities throughout the country. If the House does not act, then 26 percent of the housing authorities in the United States will lose significant funding because of HUD's decision. To make up for the anticipated funding shortfalls, the underlying legislation gives housing authorities the flexibility to transfer funds from their capital to operational accounts. This move will ensure that housing authorities will not be forced to close down existing public housing units because of HUD's short-sightedness.

Finally and importantly, the legislation also reaffirms the role that tenants play in determining where they live and how those communities are governed.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately, the problems addressed in this legislation are not the only obstacles public housing authorities have been forced to deal with over the last 7 years. As my colleagues know, the current administration has a long record of failing to meet America's low- and middle-income housing needs. For example, funding shortfalls have become regular staples in the President's public housing budgets, while the administration continues to neglect the more than $18 billion backlog in deferred maintenance for public housing units, allowing the deterioration of public housing units to the point that many of them are completely uninhabitable. This is simply unacceptable.

In my district some housing units are literally falling apart. Roofs are leaking and in some instances even caving in. Appliances are broken and decades, not years, old. Units are deteriorating, unattractive, and lacking in some of the most basic amenities. Even more is that security in many of the public housing communities has been consistently disappearing. Residents in some public housing units in my congressional district alone are literally afraid to leave their homes.

Yes, we are working to address these and other public housing issues. But we will not be able to fully address these issues if the underlying legislation does not pass.

Mr. Speaker, this housing bill was reported out favorably by the Financial Services Committee, the whole committee, by voice vote. The minority members of the committee did not offer any amendments during markup, and not one Republican amendment was submitted to the Rules Committee.

It is my sincere hope that the House will pass this rule and underlying bill with that same overwhelming bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to support this rule and the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of 2007 as we work to improve public housing throughout America.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am hard put to move hurriedly, so I will yield myself such time as I may consume. I am also hard put, Mr. Speaker, to restrain myself and not get involved with the ongoing discussion and the numerous ads that I saw during the previous recess that were very much in error concerning the House of Representatives' actions on the FISA legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I served for 7 years on the House Select Committee on Intelligence. I find it hard to believe that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, or that anyone, would believe that the distinguished Chair of the Intelligence Committee, Silvestre Reyes, the distinguished Chair of the Judiciary Committee, John Conyers, the distinguished Chair of the Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson, their counterparts in the United States Senate, all combined would want to put this Nation in jeopardy in any way.

Enough of the fearmongering. Enough of making people think that something is going to happen that is not going to happen. The simple truth is that there will be legislation that will be legislation fashioned by the House and by the United States Senate and not by the United States Senate and not by this administration without those of us who have actual concerns about the United States Constitution having our say in that regard.

Civil liberties and civil rights are critical to America, and the foundational aspects of our country allow full airing before conclusions are made by people that have oriented the most secretive administration that I know of in the history of this country.

I won't go much further on that score on the previous question, Mr. Speaker. I return now to what we have heard about why we must pass this rule and the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act, which we are here about today. It is nice to have the nuances. It is nice to have the process. It is nice to have the procedural opportunities that the minority takes, and correctly they can bring up those matters which are not on the agenda today. I can assure my friends on the other side that the Speaker of the House of Representatives and those in this body, including the Blue Dogs, will address FISA legislation, and it will be appropriately undertaken to protect every American, every American's civil liberties and civil rights, and more important, to protect the Constitution of the United States of America.

Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve an opportunity to improve their lives. Transitional public housing opportunities have served this purpose for decades, nurturing families and yielding such leaders as some of us who serve in this Congress. Public housing authorities must be empowered to effectively and flexibly manage their assets with appropriate tenant oversight. My colleague on the other side mentioned private sector tools. I am fascinated by the notion that the private sector, which all of us respect, has been so careful with all of their management. If their management has been so successful, why is it, then, that there is a housing crisis in this Nation with reference to foreclosure?

This morning, Mr. Speaker, and I take the liberty of doing this because occasionally we come to the floor and talk about different matters, but a distant cousin of mine in Fort Worth, Texas, called me. Her name is Sharon Samuels. And Sharon shared her story with me about her involvement with her mortgage company, Countrywide. She has been in her home since 1993, she said, and in addition, thereto, had never taken out any of her equity out of her home. She has three children, all of them that she has managed to educate. And she was pursued by Countrywide to enter into a mortgage set of circumstances that has now led from her mortgage rising from $1,100 to $2,200 and foreclosure proceedings going forward without any forbearance or opportunity for her to do anything

other than lose all of her assets that she had developed during the years since 1993. I mention that because that is the private sector that has put an individual in a home, in a position of being in need of this kind of stuff that we are talking about here today. Hardworking Americans families should not suffer as a result of HUD's failed policies.

I applaud my colleagues for joining together in this effort that will benefit the low-income families, the elderly and the disabled Americans who live in public housing. This bill has been endorsed by all the groups that represent not only public housing administrators and agencies but also tenant advocacy groups. The bill is supported by the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, the Public Housing Authorities Directors Association, the National Association of Housing and Development Officials, National Housing Law Project, and the National Training and Information Center.

But guess who doesn't support it? Some people on the other side of the aisle who had an opportunity in the Financial Services Committee to offer amendments if they so choose, and they chose not to do so, and yet they will come here today and say that we are lacking on our side of the aisle in providing the necessary standards and providing the necessary tools for people to live in public housing.

Mr. Speaker, 15 years ago, I ran for the United States Congress, and among the things that I said was I would try to improve public housing in my congressional district and throughout this Nation. I don't feel that I have succeeded. Twelve of those years have been spent under Republic administrations that were controlled by Republicans, 12 years in the House, 8 years just now, ending soon, happily, in November so that these $18 billion backlogs and so that housing won't collapse and fall down around people.

This is the same administration that didn't answer in New Orleans. But what have we done? In the limited time that we are here, and I continue to hear criticism about what we have not done. What we have done in the House, we passed the section 8 voucher reform program that increases the number of families, veterans, and seniors that are able to afford safe homes by adding 20,000 new vouchers. We did expand the Homeownership Act of 2007 that allows the population of borrowers to have access to the Federal Housing Administration. In this House we have passed the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007, which creates a fund to use and build more affordable housing for low- income families and families who have lost their homes to foreclosure.

They keep saying that the agenda isn't good. We passed the Housing Finance Reform Act and expanded the size of loans that can be issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. We passed the Mortgage Reform and Anti- Predatory Lending Act that increases transparency and heightens standards to keep brokers from practicing predatory lending. Save us from these people who argue that asset management is a landmark program change now several years in the making? You bet it is.

What I don't understand is why is it poor people are always the ones that have to take it right on the chin every time this Nation gets itself in a crisis. The National Training and Information Center sponsored by La Raza; the Center for Community Change; the Chicago Rehab Network; Cleveland Housing Tenant Association; Fall River Housing Joint Tenants Council; Legal Aid Justice Center; Miami Workers Center, all sorts of organizations. I will include all of the letters of all of the organizations I have for the Record.

National Training

and Information Center,

Chicago, IL, February 7, 2008.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Speaker of the House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Madam Speaker, The undersigned 150 democratic

grassroots resident organizing groups and allies would like

to convey our strong support for protecting the rights of

public housing residents to organize, as delineated in H.R.

3521, the Public Housing Asset Management Improvement Act of

2007. As the transition to a system of asset management is

one of the most significant shifts facing the administration

of public housing in many years, it is more important than

ever that public housing residents are involved in the

decisionmaking processes at the local and national levels.

In April of 2007, the National Training & Information

Center (NTIC) submitted a letter to Congress endorsed by

local, statewide, and national organizations in protest of

recent attempts to undermine the efforts of resident and

community organizations to participate in the decisions

around public housing that impact their communities and their

lives. One of those attempts was a notice by HUD on March 1,

2007 to streamline the process to waive 24 CFR 964, which

outlines the rights of residents to organize, for PHAs

transitioning to asset management. Section 4 of H.R. 3521 is

critical in order to ensure that the congressionally

sanctioned rights to organize for public housing residents

are protected.

The NTIC network is of the perspective that residents must

be central to the discourse around policies that impact

them--both at the local and national level. Section 4 of this

bill will ensure that the voices of public housing residents

are not lost in the implementation of asset management. Over

the past year, NTIC has brought together public housing

residents and allies from 38 cities to identify the most

pressing areas for reform of public housing policy. The right

to organize and meaningful resident participation are among

the highest priorities for residents across the country. In

order to make asset management work for everyone, it is

critical that residents are involved in decisions around its

implementation.

The undersigned 150 local, statewide, and national

organizations would like to convey our support for the

principles outlined in Section 4 of H.R. 3521. Namely, we

feel strongly that residents should have a right to organize

in public housing and should be meaningfully and

substantively involved in the decisions that impact their

lives--both at the local and national level. Specifically, it

is critical that the rights bestowed by 24 CFR 964 not be

undermined by the transition to asset management. We hope

that we can rely on your support for these principles.

Access Living--Chicago, IL.

Annapolis Tenant Task Force--Boston, MA.

Beacon Glen Resident Association--Cincinnati, OH.

Bethel New Life--Chicago, IL.

Bethune Village Resident Council--Daytona Beach, FL.

Border Fair Housing & Economic Justice Center--El Paso,

Texas

Bowen Homes Resident Association--Atlanta, GA.

Cabrini Green Rowhouse Council--Chicago, IL.

California Coalition for Rural Housing--California State

Center for Community Change--National

Central Advisory Council--Chicago, IL.

Central Illinois Organizing Project--Central Illinois

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless--Chicago, IL.

Chicago Rehab Network--Chicago, IL.

Cleveland Housing Resident Association--Cleveland, TN.

Clinton Springs Resident Association--Cincinnati, OH.

Coalition to Protect Public Housing--Chicago, IL.

Communities United for Action--Cincinnati, OH.

Community Voices Heard--New York, NY.

Connecticut Legal Services--Connecticut State

Consumer Action--National

Crossroads Urban Center--Salt Lake City, UT.

Detroit United Organizing for Power--Detroit, MI.

District of Columbia Grassroots Empowerment Project--

Washington, DC.

Empower DC--Washington, DC.

Empowering & Strengthening Ohio's People--Cleveland, OH.

Erie Tenant Council--Erie, PA.

Everywhere & Now Public Housing Residents Organizing

Nationally Together--National

Fall River Housing Joint Tenants Council Inc.--Fall River,

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Madam Chairman, I rise today with my good friend from California, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, to offer an amendment to the College Opportunity and Affordability Act. I certainly commend the Chair and ranking member for all of their efforts on this measure.

Madam Chairman, gang violence is a cycle that poisons many of our districts and deprives many of our youth from pursuing productive educational opportunities. Many who have been engaged in gang activity unfortunately return to the same streets after they serve time in our juvenile justice system, and the cycle begins again. Only holistic partnerships that engage entire communities are going to break this cycle of gang activity.

To meet this need, I introduced the Path to Success Act July 6 of last year. Our amendment today reflects the content of the Path to Success Act and will authorize a nationwide program through the Department of Education to promote public and private community- centered partnerships aimed at reducing gang violence.

Madam Chairman, our amendment will establish a program that is set up to the task of disrupting the juvenile justice pipeline. It will give former gang members a chance to attend college and be engaged positively in their communities. Through educational and vocational training opportunities at community colleges as well as partnerships with law enforcement for pro-active gang prevention efforts, our amendment will give former gang members hope for the future while taking juvenile justice in a new direction.

Also the American Psychological Association, the American Association of Community Colleges agree with the need for this new direction and have endorsed our amendment.

I urge our colleagues to support this amendment.

I reserve the balance of my time.

At this time, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague from California, the original cosponsor of this measure, Ms. Linda Sanchez.

At this time, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to my very good friend from Virginia, Representative Scott.

Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my full support for H. Res. 942, a resolution that recognizes Black History Month as a time to acknowledge the many contributions that African Americans have made in our Nation's history and as a time for all Americans to fully understand the events and struggles that shaped our great Nation.

When Aristotle said, ``If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development,'' he suggested that we cannot fully know what something is if we do not know its past. This certainly holds true for our country. Knowing our Nation's history does more than tell us who we were; it tells us who we are. And if we look honestly at our past successes and mistakes, it tells us what we can become.

Unfortunately, the long practice of omitting, abbreviating, and misrepresenting African Americans in American history has resulted in an incomplete and skewed story of our country's history. Fortunately, the social change of the civil rights movement inspired a change in the way that America told and understood its history. It became clear that American history--like America's schools and lunch counters--needed to be integrated.

Over the years, Black History Month has become a chance to realize our rich diversity by studying the artistic, scientific, and political contributions that African Americans have made to the United States and the rest of the world. Realize Black history is American history, and February should not be the only time that we acknowledge the contributions of African American men, women, and children in U.S. history. African Americans have played a key role in just about every single moment in American history, and it is high time that our history books reflect that.

Driven by my commitment to the human and civil rights of all, I have worked hard to ensure that all people--regardless of their nationality, sexual orientation, gender, or race--have access to their most basic rights. My experiences in and before I came to this body have taught me that all people have influenced our country's greatness. It is critically important that these contributions are acknowledged and retold.

Mr. Speaker, as we observe and celebrate the contributions of African Americans in America we must not forget that we are making history as we speak. We are living in an historical era in which extraordinary people from all walks of life are seeking opportunities that were previously not available to them. Outstanding Americans such as Barrington Irving, the youngest and first person of African descent to fly around the world, teach us that we can achieve great things in this land of opportunity as long as we have the will and drive. As we all know, for the first time in history, the two contending candidates for the Democratic nominee for President are a black man and a woman.

As we reflect on the numerous contributions and experiences of African Americans in this country, we must be cognizant of how we as a modern multi-ethnic and multicultural nation deal with the issues of our time. How we do this will determine how future generations will view us in the history books. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, last month, I chaired a Helsinki Commission briefing with a delegation of leading political opposition figures and democratic activists from Belarus. The briefing was entitled, ``The Future Belarus: Democracy or Dictatorship'' and focused on the prospects for change in a country located in the heart of Europe that has Europe's worst track record with respect to human rights and democracy. Unfortunately, developments since the delegation's visit to Washington have been deeply discouraging and do not bode well for Belarus' democratic future.

One of the young people who testified at the briefing, 19-year-old Zmitser Fedaruk, spoke eloquently of the dangers that young human rights activists face in Belarus. His words were prophetic, as a few days later, back in Belarus, he was beaten and knocked unconscious by riot policemen, then rushed by ambulance to the hospital. Just last week, the Minsk district prosecutor's office in Minsk refused to open an investigation into Zmitser's beating.

A day earlier, my friend Anatoly Lebedka, one of Belarus' staunchest defenders of democratic rights, who also testified before the Commission, was roughed up by Belarusian police as well. It was far from the first time that this leader of the democratic opposition had been beaten up or repressed by the Lukashenka regime. On January 4, the Lukashenka regime banned Anatoly from travelling abroad in what was obviously a politically-motivated decision. Today, Anatoly is in jail serving a 15-day sentence, along with several dozen other pro-democracy and small business advocates who participated in a January 10 protest against restrictions on activities of small businesses. Some of the activists--mostly young people--received injuries during their arrest. Tatyana Tsishkevch, who was severely beaten during her arrest and presented her bloodstained jacket in court, received a 20-day sentence. Arsien Pakhomau, a freelance photo correspondent for ``Nasha Niva'' weekly--one of the very few remaining independent publications in Belarus--was also

sentenced to 15 days' administrative arrest. On the day of the protest, a number of websites that cover social and economic affairs in Belarus, such as Charter '97 and Radio Liberty, were partially or fully blocked by the authorities.

These most recent repressive actions follow the sentencing of opposition activist Artur Finkevich to 18 months in prison; the arbitrary use of judicial power to put out of business independent newspapers such as ``Novi Chas''; steps to liquidate the opposition Belarusian Communist Party; and the fining of Baptist pastor Yuri Kravchuk for unregistered religious activity. Belarus is the only country in Europe with compulsory registration before religious activity can take place.

Unfortunately, the indications in just the first few weeks of this New Year are not encouraging. Lukashenka's presidential administration has recently rejected the opposition's proposal to hold talks on the upcoming 2008 parliamentary elections, refusing an offer by the Belarusian opposition to consider joint proposals on conducting parliamentary elections in accordance with democratic standards.

Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and as someone who has long been involved in the OSCE process to promote security, cooperation, democracy and human rights among the 56 OSCE countries, including Belarus, I am deeply disappointed in the Belarusian Government's continual flaunting of freely undertaken OSCE commitments. It is my strong hope that Mr. Lukashenka will cease the self-imposed isolation of his country--threatening, most recently, to expel U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart--and will give serious thought to the offers of cooperation that have come from the United States and the European Union if Belarus releases political prisoners and displays respect for basic democratic norms. In the meantime, the Lukashenka regime can be assured that my colleagues and I on the Helsinki Commission are determined to stand by Anatoly Lebedka, Dzmitri Fedaruk and all those in Belarus--young and old--bravely struggling for freedom, democracy and respect for human rights.

Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, otherwise called the Helsinki Commission, I rise to introduce a resolution which condemns in the strongest terms, the terrorist bombing of the Algerian Supreme Court and United Nations offices in Algiers, Algeria on December 11, 2007.

These deplorable attacks upon civilian targets took the lives of 37 people, including 17 United Nations employees, and injured numerous others. As a consequence of the destruction of the United Nations Development Programme office and the damage to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees office in Algiers, the capacity of the world body to carry out its operations in Algiers has been seriously diminished.

We subsequently learned that the December 11 attacks were the work of al-Qaeda in the Maghreb, a North African affiliate of al-Qaeda. This same organization claimed responsibility for several previous attacks in Algeria and Morocco, using tactics similar to those employed by their al-Qaeda brethren in Iraq, where they indiscriminately wreak upon civilians and military targets. These inhumane attacks are intended to sow insecurity and divisiveness, and, as in Iraq, can impede progress in the social and economic spheres.

The attacks illuminate al-Qaeda's determination to continue to spread its destructive aims globally by perpetuating violence against innocent civilians. But they should also reinforce the imperative of the community of civilized nations to stamp out terrorism in all its forms.

Algeria is a Mediterranean Partner of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), within whose ambit the Helsinki Commission carries out its mandate. The OSCE has among its highest priorities a commitment to combating terrorism, and the Algerian Government has been unwavering in its efforts to defeat terrorism, a goal that the United States shares.

Through our recent experience with terrorism, Americans understand the pain now suffered by the Algerian people for the loss of so many innocent lives and the injury of numerous others. Today, we affirm our support for the people and Government of Algeria in their continued struggle against extremism and violence.

That is why, together with my good friend Congressman Bill Delahunt, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, I am introducing today's resolution, which condemns the senseless acts of violence against the Algerian people and the United Nations on December 11. This resolution also expresses our profound sympathy for the victims of the bombings; the support of the U.S. House of Representatives for the Algerian people in their continued efforts to secure peace for their nation; and support for the Algerian authorities in bringing the perpetrators of the attacks to justice. Chairman Delahunt's commitment to advancing peace, human rights, and security are laudable and long-standing. I am deeply proud to work with him on this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Environmental Justice Access and Implementation Act of 2007. I am pleased to stand with my friends Representatives Hilda Solis, Keith Ellison and John Conyers for the environmental health of all communities by reintroducing this legislation updated from its previous introduction as H.R. 1648 in the 109th Congress. Once again, this bill will seek to direct federal agencies to establish offices of environmental justice, integrate environmental justice into the core missions of Federal agencies, and establish community technology centers to increase access to information about environmental hazards.

Since the late 1970s and early 1980s, environmental injustices against communities of color and lower-income families have been identified throughout the Nation. Coupled with decades of thorough research acknowledging ``environmental racism'' and encouraging the pursuit of ``environmental justice,'' a tremendous movement has emerged.

Recently, the United Church of Christ report ``Toxic Wastes and Race at Twenty: 1987-2007'' was released, synthesizing decades of environmental justice movement developments. This groundbreaking document chronicles the experiences of many communities throughout our Nation disadvantaged by environmental burdens. This report and other research demonstrate that federal agencies need to put their money where there mouth is to meet the expectations of Executive Order 12898, Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low Income Populations, which was signed by former President Clinton on February 11, 1994. Our communities deserve access to information about the hazards of their immediate environment and have waited well over a decade for the goals set forth by the Executive Order to be met.

Madam Speaker, I first introduced this legislation with a number of my colleagues in 2005 and eventually garnered the support of 67 cosponsors. To once again meet these goals and better compliment other legislative initiatives to achieve environmental justice, I have made a few key updates to this legislation in consultation with many stakeholders. Updates to this legislation include authorization of $1,000,000 annually for each established office of environmental justice in relevant agencies, as well as reporting requirements to increase the effectiveness of federal agency implementation and ensure proper Congressional oversight. This legislation has also been updated to refine criteria for the development of community technology centers, which will increase the accessibility of information about environmental hazards in many communities.

For over a decade, agencies have been mandated to examine the impact of their policies on the environmental health of minority and low- income communities. Once we give those mandates true legal standing, we will be able to turn those mandates into action that directly serves our communities. We must legislate accountability and conscience in our permitting processes and environmental action to reduce the burden on low-income populations and communities of color. I am confident that the provisions of the Environmental Justice Access and Implementation Act will do just that.

Madam Speaker, in closing, I encourage my colleagues to support this necessary legislation and look forward to its expedient passage.

Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 859 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Washington, Representative Hastings. All time yielded during consideration of the rule is for the purposes of debate only.

General Leave

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record.

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

Madam Speaker, I am going to submit my full statement for the Record and abbreviate it. I, however, wish to commend Chairman Reyes for the leadership on this bill. Under his leadership, and that of many others, consideration of this intelligence bill has been one of the most open intelligence authorization bills that we've seen. There may be some who will disagree with some of the report's content, but there should be none who disagree with the openness of the process.

Madam Speaker, over the past week, as we debate the CIA's destruction of videotapes of past interrogations, the Nation has realized the importance of congressional oversight of the intelligence community.

For far too long, Congress has been silent as a partner in the unchecked actions of this administration. In neglecting to do our jobs, we were failing the people of America.

With this new majority Congress, we are again conducting the necessary oversight of the executive branch. With this bill, we are fulfilling our responsibility to give the intelligence community the tools it needs to succeed.

One thing that I think Members will be particularly interested in is that interrogation techniques put forth in this measure are limited to those of the Army Field Manual, making it clear that harsh or aggressive interrogation techniques are prohibited.

I participated in the conference myself, Madam Speaker, and I saw the development of this report that we have here. I would like to take a moment of personal privilege to say that I took the liberty of leaving the Select Committee on Intelligence with the hope of returning in the successive year. It is my great hope that all of the Members of that committee and the tremendous staff that work under awesome pressure know how much I and others in Congress appreciate their work.

Madam Speaker, this rule provides for consideration of the Intelligence Authorization Act conference report under the standard rule for conference reports. As the chairman of the Intelligence Committee noted here on the floor yesterday, Madam Speaker, Members wishing to view the classified portions of the conference report can do so in H-405 of the Capitol.

Madam Speaker, this rule provides for consideration of the Intelligence Authorization Act Conference report under the standard rule for conference reports.

As the chairman of the Intelligence Committee noted here on the floor yesterday, Madam Speaker, Members wishing to view the classified portions of the Conference Report can do so in H-405 of the Capitol.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to come to the floor today in strong support of the underlying Intelligence Authorization Conference Report for Fiscal Year 2008.

As a member of the Conference and a signatory of its Report, I take great pride in being a part of a Majority which has successfully completed its work on the Intelligence Authorization bill after the previous Majority failed to do so for the last 3 years.

I commend Chairman Reyes for his leadership on this bill. Under the Chairman's leadership, and that of many others, consideration of this intelligence bill has been one of the most open intelligence authorization bills that we've seen.

There may be some who will disagree with some of the Report's content. But there should be none who disagree with the openness of the process.

During the original consideration of this bill by the House in May, the House adopted multiple bipartisan amendments.

For example, the gentleman from Michigan, Representative Rogers and I offered an amendment which took aggressive steps to limit the growth of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The two of us share concerns that the Director of National Intelligence has grown without constraint and is adding an additional level of bureaucracy without providing the coordination that we hoped to see when we passed the Intelligence Reform Act.

This Conference Report addresses our concerns in a positive manner. Most importantly, so has the Committee, as it has held multiple hearings on the subject since May.

There were also amendments offered and adopted by the conferees that are included in the conference agreement. Indeed, every amendment adopted by the conferees, including the one offered by Ranking Member Hoekstra, enjoyed bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, over the past week, as we debate the CPA's destruction of videotapes of past interrogations, the Nation has realized the importance of Congressional oversight of the intelligence community.

For far too long, Congress was a silent partner in the un-checked actions of this Administration. In neglecting to do our jobs, we were failing the American people.

With this new Majority, Congress is again conducting the necessary oversight of the Executive Branch. With this bill, we are fulfilling our responsibility to give the intelligence community the tools it needs to succeed.

In response to growing concerns here in Congress and throughout the public, this bill takes significant steps to address interrogation and detention programs. It limits interrogation techniques to those in the Army Field Manual, making it clear that harsh or aggressive interrogation techniques are prohibited.

It requires that the intelligence community report to Congress on compliance with the Military Commissions Act and the Detainee Treatment Act.

The American people should know that we have asked the Administration to provide us with all Department of Justice legal opinions about interrogation and detention programs--opinions which are sorely needed given the CIA's decision to destroy videotapes of interrogations.

This Conference Report also increases Congressional oversight ability by strengthening the inspectors general of the intelligence community.

The Report requires the CIA Inspector General to audit all covert action programs every three years. And it also requires the DNI to provide Congress a comprehensive listing of all special access programs.

Members of the Intelligence Committee are concerned, with good cause, that the intelligence community has not been keeping us fully informed of all their activities.

With this new Majority, the critical oversight which has been lacking for the last six years is finally being conducted. And unlike in the past, it is being done in an inclusive and bipartisan manner.

Madam Speaker, the underlying Conference Report provides the necessary reforms and funding to ensure that America's intelligence community continues to pave the way in effective counter surveillance, human intelligence collection, and analysis.

I urge my colleagues support for the rule and the underlying Conference Report.

Madam Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to inquire of the gentleman if he has any remaining speakers. I am the last speaker for our side.

I will reserve my time until the gentleman has closed for his side and has yielded back his time.

Madam Speaker, if we have learned anything from the failures of the war in Iraq, it is that reliable intelligence is critical to ensuring America's national security. The terrorist attacks of September 11, combined with the continuing threats fueled by extremism, radicalism, hopelessness and poverty underscore the importance of this legislation.

The new Democratic majority is working every day to ensure that we congratulate our intelligence community for its successes but also hold it accountable for its failures. This report is a strong step in the right direction, and it enjoys bipartisan support. I am proud of our product and hope that my colleagues will agree. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and the underlying conference report.

The material previously referred to by Mr. Hastings of Washington is as follows:

Amendment to H. Res. 859 Offered by Mr. Hastings of Washington

At the end of the resolution, add the following:

Sec. 2. That immediately upon the adoption of this

resolution the House shall, without intervention of any point

of order, consider the resolution (H. Res. 479) to amend the

Rules of the House of Representatives to provide for

enforcement of clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House

of Representatives. The resolution shall be considered as

read. The previous question shall he considered as ordered on

the resolution to final

adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of

the question except: (1) one hour of debate equally divided

and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of

the Committee on Rules; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time and move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pleasure to commemorate the achievements of Captain Antonio Barrington Irving, the youngest pilot and first person of African descent to fly solo around the world.

I thank Chairmen Oberstar and Costellos and Ranking Member Petri and the distinguished staff for their support and willingness to expedite the consideration of this resolution.

Since we introduced H. Res. 661, my good friend, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Meek) and I have been joined by a bipartisan coalition of 43 cosponsors who also share our desire to encourage youth to pursue careers in aviation. It is our hope that recognizing Barrington Irving's achievement will encourage many more youth to reach for the same skies in which he made history.

Barrington Irving was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1983, and soon after moved to Miami, Florida. When he was 15 years old, he met Captain Gary Robinson, a Jamaican airline pilot who became a lifelong mentor, inspiring him to fly one day himself.

Enduring the challenges of growing up in inner-city Miami, Irving never let his dreams of becoming a pilot be stifled. He worked miscellaneous jobs to save for lessons, and eventually earned a joint Air Force-Florida Memorial University flight awareness scholarship to study aviation and take professional flying lessons.

Barrington took tremendous steps to pursue his dream in aviation while still a student at Florida Memorial University.

Mr. Oberstar, I am sure that a colleague of yours and a mentor of mine when I first came to Congress would be very proud of this young man, William Lehman, who at one time was in the same position as yourself as Chair of Transportation, developed the program at Florida Memorial University which allowed for a significant number of youngsters to achieve status as captains in aviation, many of whom have gone on to become commercial airline pilots and military pilots, and I am sure that Alabama Bill, as some of us know him, would be proud today.

The reason I mention it is this program, when Carrie Meek came to Congress, Kendrick's mother, she continued the efforts on this program, as did Kendrick and others. I guess it comes under the heading ``earmark,'' perhaps. And if that is the case, then I continuously urge my colleagues to review the status of things when responsible acts are taking place and they are being made to sound irresponsible because they are identified as earmarks. We need to be very cautious in this institution in that regard because we ignore a lot of time opportunities like in this particular case.

This young man contacted many companies and convinced the aircraft manufacturer Columbia to provide him with a plane to fly around the world if he could secure donations and the components.

After successfully securing donations, Barrington embarked on a 24,600-mile flight around the world from Opa Locka, Florida on March 23, 2007. Only 23 years of age, he was still a senior, majoring in aerospace, that program that I talked about that Bill Lehman helped to develop at Florida Memorial University, and he was a senior at the time he began this flight.

He traveled the world as an ambassador of aviation, teaching young people in 27 cities around the world about opportunities in aviation and the importance of academics. He returned from his journey on June 27, 2007, concluding his flight at the same small airport from where he began in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Mr. Speaker and Mr. Chairman, this young man embodied the perseverance and dedication necessary to truly pursue one's dreams.

Barrington Irving deserves praise not only for his achievement, but for the continued community contributions of Experience Aviation, Inc., a nonprofit organization he founded to address the shortage of youth pursuing careers in aviation.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Petri and the staff as we work on many initiatives to come that will reprioritize opportunities in aviation for our youth and promote achievement in all fields of human endeavor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today with my good friends and original cosponsors of this important resolution, Representatives Robert Wexler, chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Mark Kirk to introduce a resolution expressing gratitude to all of the member states of the International Commission of the International Tracing Service (ITS) on ratifying the May 2006 Agreement to grant open access to vast Holocaust and other World War II-related archives located in Bad Arolsen, Germany.

I am thankful for their bipartisan leadership, not only on this issue to open the Bad Arolsen archives, but on wider issues of anti-Semitism in general.

This legislation is the culmination of longstanding efforts I have made with Representatives Wexler, Ros-Lehtinen, Kirk, and others to release these crucial Holocaust records.

Madam Speaker, November 28, 2007, was a historic moment in time when for the first time in 62 years, Holocaust survivors, their descendants, researchers, and the public were allowed open access to the International Tracing Service (ITS) archives in Bad Arolsen, Germany, the largest closed Holocaust-era archives in the world.

These significant archives contain 50 million records on the fates of some 17.5 million individual victims of Nazi brutality. Everything from lists of the names of Holocaust concentration camp victims murdered on Hitler's birthday to death camp prisoners' personal affect cards are included in these records, and each holds an important place in the memory of a victim.

Until earlier this year, when Holocaust survivors requested information from the ITS, they were shamefully often provided with letters written entirely in German with incomplete or misinformation about the horrors they had experienced. Often survivors passed away prior to ever being provided the truth about their experiences under Nazi persecution. Until only 2 weeks ago, these historic materials were held secret from researchers and research institutions and the general public.

In today's world, filled with growing international intolerance including anti-Semitism, hate, racial bigotry, xenophobia, and religious discrimination, it could not be more urgent and critical to allow for unfettered access to these archives.

The ultimate release of these documents serves to further delegitimize international leaders who insist on spewing Holocaust denial and other anti-Semitic rhetoric.

Allowing for open access to these historical records also contributes to the world's collective memory of the Holocaust atrocities and ensures that these historic documents will be preserved and shared with future generations when survivors are no longer among us.

I am thankful for the efforts made by the Holocaust Memorial Museum, the State Department, survivor groups, and this body of Congress to pressure the member states of the International Tracing Service to ratify the 1955 Bonn Accords and throw open the doors of these archives.

The new leadership of the International Committee of the Red Cross at the ITS should also be commended for their efforts to provide more expeditious and comprehensive responses to survivors and their descendants. A year ago, the ITS faced a 140,000 backlog of survivor and others' inquiries. Today, the ITS has reduced the requests to less than half of that amount and is committed to processing incoming requests within 8 weeks.

Our collaborative bipartisan efforts have truly paid off. I am most appreciative that the remaining European ITS member states ultimately recognized the justifiable and moral importance of combating modern day anti-Semitism with the release of these archives.

This resolution serves to commend all parties who assisted in opening the archives and increasing their accessibility to all. Finally, remaining survivors and researchers alike will be able to view these tremendously important documents and hopefully find closure on one of the darkest moments in history. Our efforts send a robust message to the world that the atrocities and murders of the Holocaust victims shall forever remain at the forefront of our collective and individual memories.

May we never forget the horrors of the Holocaust and view this historic moment as a constant reminder of what happens when humanity is silenced and evil permitted to wage war on the innocent.

I ask for my colleagues' support and urge the swift passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to introduce significant bipartisan legislation with my colleague and fellow co-chair of the Everglades Caucus, Representative Mario Diaz- Balart to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park.

For years, Representative Diaz-Balart and I have been working together to preserve and restore the Everglades, and I am pleased to be introducing this resolution with him.

Sixty years ago tomorrow, President Harry S. Truman dedicated Everglades National Park. Today, this vast subtropical wilderness in the United States is habitat to many endangered species as well as an international center for business, agriculture, and tourism.

Everglades National Park has been designated an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance in recognition of its significance to all the people of the world.

Over time, however, management and development activities have destroyed our nations' majestic wetlands. Today the River of Grass is only half of its original size.

Sadly, the ecosystem's tree islands and mangroves have been largely destroyed and its estuaries have become barren.

In response to threats to this pristine ecosystem, in 2000, Congress passed an ambitious restoration plan called the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). In

doing so, we commit the Federal government to become an equal partner with the State of Florida to restore the Everglades and protect the River of Grass.

Regrettably, since the passage of this legislation, restoration efforts in Congress have been mired. For 7 years under Republican rule, Congress failed to afford Everglades revitalization efforts the priority they deserved and failed to properly fund restoration programs.

As a result of Congress' delays in authorizing financing and developmental pressures in South Florida, the costs of repairing the Everglades have drastically soared.

Today we have a new Congress with new priorities. This Democratic Congress has worked relentlessly--in a bipartisan fashion--to keep the Federal government's end of the bargain and restore its commitment to the River of Grass.

Just last month, Congress overrode a President Bush veto and passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2007, authorizing $1.8 billion in Everglades restoration funding, including funding the two long awaited and critical projects: the Indian River Lagoon and the Picayune Strand.

As we pause to celebrate the anniversary of the Everglades National Park tomorrow, we enhance our vigilant efforts to restore and conserve the Park to the pristine ecosystem it once was.

As Marjory Stoneman Douglas wrote in The Everglades: River of Grass, ``There is a balance in man also, one which has set against his greed and his inertia and his foolishness. . . . Perhaps even in this last hour, in a new relation of usefulness and beauty, the vast magnificent, subtle and unique region of the Everglades may not be utterly lost.''

Today, I rise to ensure that these majestic wetlands will forever be remembered, preserved and protected for all future generations of Americans to enjoy.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 11 o'clock and 53 minutes p.m.), the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, December 6, 2007, at 10 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, which has exercised unprecedented leadership in the global fight to combat trafficking in human beings, I rise in support of H.R. 3887, the Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007.

From our earliest awareness of this cruel phenomenon which enslaves an estimated 27 million victims, the Commission has led in the effort to mobilize nations to implement effective measures to combat human trafficking. My fellow Commissioner and former Chairman of the Commission, Representative Chris Smith is among those who has led the effort to bring an end to this modern day form of slavery, authoring the trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations.

Today, the Commission continues its work to support efforts to combat this global crime within the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Most recently, the Commission conducted an oversight hearing last October 11, to explore the progress made in combating human trafficking and the adequacy of resources dedicated to identifying victims of trafficking for forced labor, an area that we believe would benefit from additional resources and attention.

The reauthorization bill that we are taking action on today marks another important milestone in preventing the inhumane practice of human trafficking, protecting trafficking victims, and prosecuting the criminals that perpetrate these crimes.

In addition to bolstering the resources needed to continue various anti-trafficking programs, H.R. 3887, which I cosponsored, would strengthen mechanisms for fighting human trafficking overseas, through the provision of capacity building support to foreign governments to bolster investigative mechanisms and legal protective frameworks for immigrant populations and migrant workers. Importantly, the measure would also address the transnational nature of human trafficking by providing increased support and protection for refugees and internally displaced populations. This legislation also seeks to improve transparency and evaluation of trafficking programs, and would designate governments that remain on the special watch list for 2 consecutive years among those whose efforts to combat trafficking are inadequate.

This reauthorization bill will improve mechanisms to better identify and protect trafficking victims, while increasing accountability on the part of governments in their anti-trafficking efforts. It takes a comprehensive approach to a gross criminal exploitation, and I urge my colleagues to support the legislation.