Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Kimmie Meissner, who on Saturday, March 25, won the gold medal in Ice Skating at the 2006 World Championships in Calgary, Alberta.

Kimmie was raised in Bel Air, Maryland, just a few miles from my home town of Baltimore. She began skating at age 6, and it was then that she began preparing for competition. With the help of coach Pam Gregory, Kimmie has trained at the University of Delaware Figure Skating Club since she was just 8 years old. In 2004, she won the State Farm Junior U.S. Championships. In 2005, she landed the bronze medal at the U.S. Championships and became just the second U.S. woman ever to land a triple axel.

Last February, Kimmie represented the United States at the Winter Olympics in Torino, placing sixth out of 24 competitors. Along with Sasha Cohen and Emily Hughes, she was part of the trio of Americans to finish in the top 10. Although it was her first Olympics, Kimmie performed beyond all expectations and was confident even in the company of her impressive competition.

On Saturday, however, Kimmie truly shone above all others. Her performance was simply amazing; it featured seven triple jumps, including the only two triple-triple combinations of the day. It earned her a personal best 129.7 points--more than enough to land her first place and win the admiration of thousands of fans. Although she entered the final program in third place, Kimmie did not let that discourage her. Instead, the Fallston High School student whose motto is, ``Do what you enjoy; enjoy what you do,'' surprised everyone by winning the championship. In doing so, she became the first woman to win the World Championships in her first appearance since Oksana Baiul's victory in 1993.

Kimmie's performance was special--and I am certain that it will be remembered by her family, friends and fans for a long time. ESPN has called her victory ``one of the biggest upsets in World Figure Skating Championships history.'' After the event, Kimmie remarked, ``Standing on the podium and watching the flag . . . was such a proud moment for me.'' Mr. Speaker, I want Kimmie to know that she has also made Maryland and the United States proud, and I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating her.

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to the fine, effective work of the Coalition for International Justice as that organization closes its offices this Friday.

Ten years ago, the world allowed genocide to occur in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Shocked by this fact, as well as the associated war crimes and crimes against humanity, many Americans both within government and among the public decided to take action. As scenes of the destruction were broadcast to homes across this country, support grew for holding those responsible for the senseless killing accountable. Some dedicated experts in the field of international justice formed the Coalition, often known as ``CIJ'', to help guide the development of the international tribunal established for that purpose.

While justice remains elusive, not just in the Balkans but elsewhere, the Coalition has been an indispensable part of the progress achieved in the last decade to hold more people accountable for horrible crimes, in Europe, Africa and elsewhere around the globe. The Coalition, in fact, argues not only for responding to crimes already committed but taking necessary actions to stop ongoing atrocities and to prevent future war crimes. This presents a challenge to the international community and its natural tendency to avoid taking bold and decisive action, and reflects the lessons learned from Rwanda that the international community cannot stand by as genocide occurs. I am extremely pleased that CIJ has taken a leadership role in galvanizing the international community to respond to the ongoing genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan.

As the Ranking member of the Helsinki Commission, most of my work with the Coalition for International Justice has been related to what is unfortunately the still unresolved issue of obtaining Serbia's full cooperation with the International Criminal tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), located in The Hague. Despite the democratic ouster of Slobodan Milosevic in late 2000 and his transfer to The Hague in 2001, Belgrade's cooperation with the tribunal has not been good. Despite Serbia's own need to break with a horrible past, and despite the obvious need for surviving victims and families to have some closure, Serbian officials have largely responded only when pressure is applied. Ratko Mladic and Radovan Karadzic, perhaps the two people most directly responsible for the slaughter of thousands of innocent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, remain at large. It has been clear for some time that Mr. Mladic has been protected by the military. Serbia's future integration in Europe is placed at risk by this irresponsible behavior.

The Coalition for International Justice has been indispensable in tracking the developments of the tribunal, as well as following reports of where at-large indictees may be, as well as what access prosecutors have had to evidence and witnesses. The Coalition also has done excellent work in analyzing the work of the tribunal itself. This has been important.

International justice is a relatively new phenomenon, and things have not always developed smoothly. The Coalition has not been an apologist for ICTY or the other war crimes tribunals, and has brought attention to areas where improvement was needed. The Coalition should take great satisfaction that today, 10 years after genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the war crimes chamber of Bosnia's court system now has the ability to handle the emotional and controversial cases from that dark time.

The staff of the Coalition for International Justice has always been outstanding, and has provided critical assistance to myself, my personal staff, and the Helsinki Commission staff that work on these issues. CIJ staff have been more than willing and able to help those of us in Congress who have worked to ensure common concerns about international justice are appropriately reflected in U.S. foreign policy. Board members Mark Ellis, John Heffernan and Jim Hooper were involved from the earliest days, when few were certain justice would even be considered in diplomatic efforts to bring peace and stability to the Balkans. Staff past and present, including Edgar Chen, Stefanie Frease and Eric Witte, provided expertise not only on the work of the tribunals but also on the countries and conflicts the tribunals were created to address. I want to highlight in particular Nina Bang-Jessen, CIJ's Executive Director, who so effectively combined expertise and advocacy. She oversaw the Coalition as it broadened its focus to include not only the former Yugoslavia but Rwanda, Cambodia, Sierra Leone and today, Darfur.

Ongoing humanitarian catastrophes, Mr. Speaker, may frustrate us, but those who have worked at the Coalition for International Justice can take satisfaction knowing they did something about it and advanced the cause of international justice beyond where it otherwise would be. They have saved lives and brought war criminals to justice, and played a role in preventing future crimes against humanity. For that, we owe them our thanks and best wishes.

Madam Speaker, let me thank my friend from California for yielding me this time.

Let me respond to Mr. Camp and invite him to visit communities in my State that talk with working families, where you see median income in America has not increased. Families in my

State are concerned with how they are going to make their budget, how they are going to deal with increased costs of energy, because we don't have an energy policy, how we are going to deal with the increased cost of health care that is being put on their back because we have failed to deal with the health care crisis in this country, how they are going to deal with the cost of education. Your budget took away some of their funds from the Federal Government to help finance their costs of higher education and how they are going to be able to afford college education for their children.

In short, they are falling behind. They are falling behind every month under this administration's economic policies. This motion to instruct is pretty simple. It says to the maximum extent possible, within the scope of conference, and the conference report not increase the deficit or the public debt.

The families in my congressional district are worried about who is going to pay off this debt. They know that the budget deficit this year is unsustainable, and they don't want us to have tax cuts primarily for the wealthy and ask their children and grandchildren to pick up the tab. The deficit this year is projected to be $337 billion. When you add in the Social Security money that we are borrowing, that we shouldn't be borrowing, of another $181 billion, we have a right to be concerned.

Enough is enough. We are getting the money to pay our bills from banks owned by foreign countries that are buying our bonds, not because it is a good investment. They are buying our bonds in order to manipulate currencies that will send more product into America, taking more jobs away from Americans. Enough is enough.

These tax cuts unpaid for, unpaid for, are hurting our economy, hurting our future, and hurting the ability of the typical family in America to be able to deal with economic realities. The average family won't benefit from these tax cuts, but the average family would benefit from fiscal responsibility right here. I urge my colleagues to accept this motion, and let us work for the future of America's families.

Mr. Chairman, from the beginning, the Bush Administration's policy on Iraq has been based on distortions and misjudgments. Prior to the invasion, I fought to prevent this war. I parted with most members of Congress and cast a vote against the resolution authorizing the use of military force in Iraq. The President misled the American people into believing there was a link between Iraq and the terrorist attacks of September 11, and he distorted and misrepresented intelligence data about weapons of mass destruction.

I understand the frustration and heartbreak that have led many Americans to conclude that it is now time for us to remove ourselves from this misguided quagmire and bring our troops home. That is why I have called on the President to change course. America simply cannot continue indefinitely to pay the high costs in both lives and dollars to stay on the same failed course in Iraq.

In December 2005, I voted for H.R. 1815, the FY 2006 Defense Authorization bill, which the President signed into law in January 2006. Section 1227 of that bill, United States Policy on Iraq, states that it is the sense of Congress that ``calendar year 2006 should be a period of significant transition to full Iraq sovereignty, with Iraqi security forces taking the lead for the security of a free and sovereign Iraq, thereby creating the conditions for the phased redeployment of United States forces from Iraq.''

It is time for the President to implement this policy. We have no choice but to approve this spending bill. We cannot put our troops at greater risk. If the President does not heed the intent of Congress and the American people, Congress should take more direct action to bring our troops home promptly and safely. We should not have American troops in the middle of a civil war.

I have repeatedly called for a change in America's policies so that we can bring our troops home as soon as possible. In December 2004, I visited our troops in Iraq. I thanked them for their service and listened to their stories. It was a moving experience for me. I honor the sacrifices they and their families are making each day.

The men and women of our armed forces are demonstrating tremendous dedication to our Nation through their performance in Iraq. These brave soldiers have put their lives in harm's way for our country, and we are forever grateful for their service.

This bill also contains crucial provisions, which I support, that would provide nearly $20 billion for Hurricane Katrina relief, including funds for housing, community planning and development, flood control, and small business loans. In addition, the House should take up H.R. 4197, a comprehensive Hurricane Katrina recovery bill introduced by the Congressional Black Caucus.

I am encouraged that the bill provides more than $500 million to address the ongoing genocide in southern Sudan and Darfur. These funds are critical to meeting the immediate needs of victims of the Darfur crisis, such as shelter, health care, and access to water and sanitation. Sudanese government-backed Arab militias have slaughtered hundreds of thousands of villagers, and they have burned entire villages. Up to two million refugees have fled this genocide to neighboring countries, but the small, poorly-equipped, and underfunded African Union (AU) force cannot offer them adequate protection. This bill provides needed funding to help transition the AU peacekeeping operation to a United Nations mission. It is also encouraging that last week the House International Relations Committee reported out H.R. 3127, the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which I urge the House to take up without delay.

Lastly, I strongly support the inclusion of an amendment adopted by the Appropriations Committee to cancel the planned transfer of U.S. ports to Dubai Ports World, which is owned by the United Arab Emirates. Although the UAE recently agreed to abandon its efforts to take over American ports, this Congress still needs to enact bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee Chairman Clay Shaw, H.R. 4839, the Secure America's Port Operations Act, which would prohibit any foreign-government owned operations at U.S. seaports in the future.

Mr. Chairman, this emergency supplemental is a necessary measure that will provide essential support for our troops in their arduous mission in Iraq, vital funding for the global war on terror, and desperately needed assistance for our own Gulf region and the many Americans who have been uprooted by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a co-sponsor and in support of H. Con. Res. 190, which urges the Russian Federation to ``ensure full protection of freedoms for all religious communities without distinction, whether registered and unregistered, and end the harassment of unregistered religious groups by the security apparatus and other government agencies,'' as well as to ``ensure that law enforcement officials vigorously investigate acts of violence against unregistered religious communities, as well as make certain that authorities are not complicit in such attacks.''

As the Ranking House Member on the Helsinki Commission, I have seen how religious freedoms for minority religious communities throughout the Russian Federation have come under increasing pressure. Throughout that vast country, local officials and government authorities continue to harass and limit the ability of these groups to practice their faith freely. In addition, instances of violence, such as arson attacks, have been alarmingly common in recent years. The Helsinki Commission heard disturbing testimony to this effect in April of last year.

The State Department's International Religious Freedom Report for 2005 reported that some federal agencies and many local authorities continued to restrict the rights of various religious minorities, and the internationally recognized expert on religious liberty in Russia, Larry Uzzell, has written that even in Moscow some 10 Baptist congregations have ceased to exist because local bureaucrats refused to allow rentals or property transfers for the use of worship services.

Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that the religious liberty picture in Russia is deteriorating at a critical time for Russia. Russia is an OSCE participating state and assumes the leadership of the Council of Europe in May of this year. Russia also chairs the G-8 this year. A nation holding such positions should not be a country where members of minority religious groups need to constantly battle with bureaucrats in order to have a place to worship, or to get permission from the local clergy of another faith in order to hold a public gathering, or to wonder if their prayer house will be the target of vandalism.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 190, and I again thank my Helsinki Commission Chairman, Chris Smith, for introducing this resolution, and for his tireless efforts on behalf of religious freedom and liberty around the world. I also join Chairman Smith in commending John Finerty of the Helsinki Commission staff for his decades of service to the Commission, and I especially thank him for assisting me in my interactions with members of the Russian Duma through our OSCE Parliamentary Assembly process.

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

(Mr. CARDIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I agree with the chairman of the committee. I think he has described this legislation accurately; that is, it contains provisions that are technical and miscellaneous in nature, but taken collectively they are very important changes in our trade laws that will help U.S. businesses, farmers, workers and consumers.

Most of the provisions in the bill suspend or reduce import duties on items that are not produced in the United States, and correct instances where Customs has overcharged for import duties. These provisions improve the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturers and provide a benefit to consumers by reducing the price of final products.

I am pleased about the process that was again used in putting together the Miscellaneous Tariff and Trade Act. Beginning in March of 2005, Chairman Shaw invited Members to introduce bills for inclusion in the miscellaneous trade package. In July, Chairman Shaw requested public comments on each of the bills that were introduced. Provisions were then analyzed by the International Trade Commission and by the administration to determine whether there were any domestic producers that would be negatively affected by the bills.

After this process was completed the final package was put together by Members and staff working in a bipartisan fashion.

I would like to thank Chairman Thomas and Chairman Shaw and their staffs for the manner in which this bill is put together. I would urge my colleagues to support the legislation.

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

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

Madam Speaker, one of the most important responsibilities for Congress after the September 11 terrorist attacks is to balance the needs of law enforcement to have effective tools to combat terrorism with the civil liberties and civil rights of Americans.

I am pleased that the Senate bill strengthens the civil liberties protections of the PATRIOT Act, and provides for increased judicial oversight of the Justice Department as it uses these powers.

The bill before us enacts a number of much-needed procedural changes that will enhance judicial oversight of Section 215 orders. Under current law, the recipient of a Section 215 order lacks an explicit statutory right to petition the FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) court to modify or set aside either the production order or the non-disclosure requirement. The conference report provides that recipients have an explicit right to challenge the legality of the Section 215 order in certain FISA courts. This bill further expands the individual's right to challenge the government assertion that a business records search must remain secret.

The legislation also reforms the FBI process used to issue National Security Letters (NSL). Unlike current law, the conference report explicitly permits recipients of NSLs to consult with an attorney to challenge the letter in court. This bill further strengthens individual rights by allowing the recipient of an NSL to consult with an attorney in secret, and does not require the recipient to disclose the name of the attorney to the FBI.

Finally, this bill provides that public, academic, or research libraries that offer Internet access or other electronic research tools are not considered to be electronic communication services, and therefore are not subject to search by an NSL.

Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank Mr. Thomas for the manner in which this legislation has been brought forward, in allowing us to vote on the permanent normal trade relations with the Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, in my capacity as ranking member at the U.S.-Helsinki Commission, I traveled to the Ukraine with my colleague and chairman, Congressman Chris Smith. We made our trip shortly after the historic Orange Revolution, and I was impressed by the commitment of the Ukraine's new leaders to consolidate democracy, promote respect for human rights, and modernize the country's economy.

I also was impressed by the leader's commitment to further integrate Ukraine into the European and Euro-Atlantic community.

I am not the only one to have been impressed by Ukraine's efforts. International organizations such as Freedom House have acknowledged Ukraine's progress of recent years in protecting the political rights and civil liberties of its citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I believe Congress should demonstrate its support for Ukraine's reforms by approving legislation today that would grant Ukraine's permanent normal trade relation status, and, therefore, take it one step closer to becoming a member of the WTO.

The passage of PNTR for Ukraine will also show Congress's support for the efforts of the Yushchenko government to ensure that the upcoming March 26 parliamentary elections will be free and fair. I am pleased that my Helsinki Commission colleague from Florida, Congressman Alcee Hastings, has been appointed as the OSCE PA Special Coordinator for our election observation mission there, and I look forward to reviewing the mission's findings and reports.

So far, the pre-election process, while not completely problem free, has been dramatically different from the period leading up to the fraudulent elections of November 2004, which ignited the Orange Revolution. In the 2004 elections, the Ukraine and government instructed the media about how to cover the elections and systematically abused government resources. In contrast, the upcoming elections are expected to be free and fair.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to take a few moments to comment on the issues of the underlying legislation we are considering today. The issue Congress is formally considering today is whether to withdraw the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine and thereby grant Ukraine permanent normal trade relations status. The Jackson-Vanik amendment, which was adopted in 1975, was intended to provide a way for the United States to deny trade benefits to countries that are denying the rights of its citizens, particularly religious minorities.

Mr. Speaker, in light of the commitment that Ukraine has demonstrated in protecting the rights of religious minorities, I think it is appropriate that we withdraw the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine.

Since independence, each successive Government of Ukraine has demonstrated a consistent commitment to defending the religious and ethnic rights of all of the people of the Ukraine. Current President Victor Yushchenko has continued this unambiguous commitment by pledging to bring minority groups together and reconciling historic conflicts. The International Religious Freedom Report of 2005 published by the United States State Department recognizes, ``President Yushchenko has, since taking office, spoken publicly about his vision of a Ukraine in which religious freedom flourishes and people are genuinely free to worship as they please.''

It must be understood, however, that there remain issues of concern, most notably the return of communal religious property that was confiscated during the Soviet era, and the anti-Semitic activities of Ukraine's largest private university, the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management.

Mr. Speaker, I have raised both of these issues in recent days with the Ambassador from the Ukraine and from other Ukrainian officials, and I have been impressed by their commitment to address these issues. Ukrainian officials have assured me that the

government is committed to continuing its effort to return communal property and that the Government of Ukraine will continue to condemn at the highest levels the anti-Semitic activities of the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management and any other anti-Semitic activities.

Mr. Speaker, given these concerns, I am pleased that the legislation we are considering today highlights the importance of Ukraine's continuing commitment to ensure freedom of religion, respect for minorities, and eliminating intolerance.

Shortly I will yield time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of the International Relations Committee and our leader in Congress on the issue of human rights, democracy and religious freedom. Mr. Lantos is the leader in Congress of our Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, and I want to thank him for working with me, the Helsinki Commission, and the OSCE as we have battled against the rise of anti-Semitism globally, and particularly within the OSCE states.

Ukraine has agreed to certain commitments to fight anti-Semitism, as have all of the 55 participating states of the OSCE. And let me make this crystal clear: today we intend to hold Ukraine to these commitments, including the responsibility to denounce anti-Semitism statements and vigorously enforce hate crime laws and promote diversity and tolerance in school curriculum. I am pleased that section 1, paragraph 4 of the resolution before us references these OSCE commitments.

Let me make a personal reflection here. During my visit to Ukraine last year, I visited two monuments, the Ukraine Famine Memorial, honoring the millions of victims of Stalin's genocidal 1932 and 1933 famine, and Babi Yar, where hundreds of thousands of Jews and others were massacred by the Nazis during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, it was a moving experience for me to lay a wreath at these sites in the Ukraine. These horrific events were a testimony to the cruelty and intolerance of dictatorships, and I do believe that today's independent Ukraine now understands that respect for human rights and a commitment to democracy and tolerance are the best inoculation against the horrors like the famine and Babi Yar.

The United States Government, the Helsinki Commission, and the OSCE look forward to working with a democratic Ukraine as they continue to build their institutions of democracy, establish the rule of law, protect human rights and religious freedom and combat corruption.

I commend Ukraine for its progress in promoting political and economic freedom for its citizens and its integration into the global rules-based economy. I urge my colleagues to join me in demonstrating support for the Ukraine's efforts by voting today to grant the country permanent normal trade status.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), our champion on human rights here in the Congress and our leader in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that each side be given an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me once again thank my friends for bringing this legislation forward. I want to acknowledge again Mr. Lantos and his strong work on behalf of human rights and fighting anti-Semitism, and Mr. Levin who authored a bill on our side for PNTR for Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a letter from the Anti- Defamation League acknowledging the changes that have been made by the leadership of the Ukraine, dated January 25, 2006. The Anti-Defamation League is the premier organization fighting anti-Semitism globally.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Anti-Defamation League

ADL Welcomes Ukraine's Strong Condemnation of University Fomenting

Anti-Semitism

New York, NY, January 25, 2006 . . . The Anti-Defamation

League (ADL) welcomed the statements and actions of the

Ukrainian government to condemn anti-Semitism, and

specifically one of the country's leading institutions of

higher education, which ADL has called a hotbed for anti-

Semitic incitement. Ukraine's Foreign Minister and the

Ministry of Education and Science publicly condemned MAUP

University's anti-Semitic activities and called for ``anti-

incitement laws to be effectively enforced.''

In a letter to Borys Tarasyuk, Ukraine's Foreign Minister,

Barbara B. Balser, ADL

National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director

welcomed his ``strong statement condemning the anti-Semitic

actions of MAUP University as unlawful and wrongful and

proclaiming that `there is no place for any form of anti-

Semitism and xenophobia in the Ukraine.'''

The League leaders also welcomed the statement of the

Ministry of Education and Science accusing MAUP of breaking

Ukrainian law by persistent incompliance with requirements of

state licensing rules for universities and failure to abide

with legally binding procedures of the State Accreditation

Commission.

``We hope the Ukrainian government will continue to condemn

such anti-Semitic activities and ensure anti-incitement laws

will be effectively enforced,'' Ms. Balser and Mr. Foxman

said.

A university with 50,000 students, MAUP has made statements

supporting the President of Iran's denial of the Holocaust

and appeal for Israel's destruction and is a bastion of anti-

Jewish propaganda and incitement in the Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank Mr. Miller for yielding this time.

Mr. Speaker, we do need pension legislation. We need pension legislation that will protect the worker, that will reform the PBGC, the guaranty fund, and will encourage companies to maintain and strengthen their pension plans. The Miller motion to instruct encourages us to be able to accomplish those goals.

Mr. Miller has already talked about the provisions related to the airline industry that is very, very important. He mentioned the fact that we have to help younger workers and lower-wage workers by the refundability, by the savers credit, making permanent, and by dealing with split refunds of taxes.

Let me deal with one provision that Mr. Miller covered very quickly, which I think is important, that is, encouraging companies to continue their defined benefit pension plans. If we put more and more burdens on companies that are well funded, that are in no danger of going into bankruptcy, these companies are going to freeze their plans, they are going to terminate their plans. Why would they stay around in the defined benefit world if we put more and more restrictions and more onerous funding rules that are unnecessary?

The Miller motion is commonsense and asking us to be very careful on new

requirements that we place on plans that are properly funded, plans that present no danger to the guaranteed fund. We are in danger of losing more and more defined benefit plans which are well managed, where the employees are guaranteed a certain annuity payment, and we don't want our legislation to be responsible for the termination of more plans.

I would urge my colleagues to support this motion. I would urge my colleagues to make sure that in the pension legislation that comes out of conference, that we have legislation that, yes, we will protect our workers, and, yes, we will protect the guaranteed fund, but we will also make it easier for companies to maintain and expand pension plans for their employees. That is the best way that we can help provide security for all Americans on their retirement. I urge my colleagues to support the motion.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1777, the Katrina Emergency Assistance Act. This bill would extend jobless unemployment benefits for 165,000 survivors of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita for 13 weeks.

In August, 2005, Hurricane Katrina laid waste to our Gulf Coast region, including the City of New Orleans, and devastated other villages and towns in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The extent of the devastation was unprecedented in our Nation's history. I have

repeatedly expressed my outrage at the failure of our Federal Government to adequately respond to this disaster.

Without this legislation, victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster will lose their unemployment assistance this Saturday. Under current law, Federal emergency unemployment assistance expires 26 weeks after the emergency occurs. Congress must act now to ensure that these victims continue to receive our support as they attempt to rebuild their lives and their communities.

While I support the legislation before us, this is only a first step for Congress. Many of the Katrina survivors have also lost their homes and belongings. They are continuing to look for employment in the region.

Congress needs to take a bold step and enact a comprehensive approach to help the people and the region recover from this natural disaster. I have co-sponsored H.R. 4197, the Hurricane Katrina Recovery, Reclamation, Restoration, Reconstruction and Reunion Act of 2005, introduced by the Congressional Black Caucus. I urge the House leadership to bring up this legislation immediately. This legislation would take important steps toward fully restoring the Gulf Coast and reuniting evacuees with their families. The bill addresses the needs of evacuees in the areas of health, education, housing, community rebuilding, voting rights, business, and financial services.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and again urge the House leadership to immediately allow the House to vote on H.R. 4197, the comprehensive Hurricane Katrina recovery legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 335 and to thank my colleague, Mr. Green, for introducing this resolution. It is important for all of us to honor the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 97th anniversary for the many achievements that highlight their long and distinguished history.

As a native of Baltimore and a lifetime member of the NAACP, this resolution holds special importance for me. The NAACP has been headquartered in Baltimore since 1986, continuing a long tradition of civil rights prominence for the city. Thurgood Marshall, also a son of Baltimore, was one of the NAACP's premier advocates and later our nation's first African American Justice.

Founded in February 1909 by members of the Niagara Movement, the NAACP has been a catalyst for America's evolution. Its founding members included Ida Wells-Barnett, Henry Moscowitz, and William Edward Burghardt DuBois. Their heroic efforts formed the foundation that helped spark the Civil Rights Movement. They and future generations confronted daily the evils of Jim Crow, and challenged more subtle but equally pernicious forms of racial discrimination. The NAACP has led efforts to construct a society based on equality, respect, and understanding between all citizens. Its legislative accomplishments are legendary--the 1957 Civil Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1960 and 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, and the 1968 Fair Housing Rights Act among them.

Over the years, the list of NAACP pioneers has included Walter White, Charles Hamilton Houston, Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, Elaine Jones, and many thousands of other brave freedom fighters. The NAACP challenged school segregation in Brown v. Board of Education, and residential segregation in Buchanan v. Warley. It fought segregation in government institutions, resulting in its eventual repeal. It defeated Supreme Court nominations of those who would deny equal rights. It mobilized voters in the South at a time when the very lives of their volunteers were threatened. And it continues to shine a beacon of light for equal justice.

But the NAACP represents so much more than these landmark laws and court decisions; it represents a voice for change, a clarion call to end the vicious and destructive stereotypes that too often still divide rather than unite our country; and a vehicle for raising of the collective consciousness of America.

Current President and CEO Bruce Gordon leads a strong and vibrant association of more than half a million members, with seven regional offices and hundreds of local branches, united in purpose.

For nearly a century, the NAACP has set the standard for effecting meaningful social change. I am proud to congratulate the NAACP on this 97th anniversary, I look forward to its centennial, and I urge my colleagues to unanimously support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2872, and I want to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio, for his leadership on this bill. It has been a pleasure to work with him in advancing this important legislation. I also want to extend my appreciation to Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member Frank, of the Financial Services Committee, for their support.

This bipartisan bill celebrates the achievements of Louis Braille, who created a system of reading and writing for the blind that has gained widespread acceptance since his death more than one hundred fifty years ago. To mark the 200th anniversary of his birth in 1809, this bill authorizes the minting of $1 coins bearing the image of Braille himself and emphasizing Braille literacy.

I want to particularly express my deep appreciation to the National Federation of the Blind for their vital advocacy for more than 1.3 million blind persons in the United States. Since its inception in 1940, the National Federation for the Blind has worked tirelessly to battle discrimination, increase public awareness, and develop and support technological advances.

The NFP also distributes The Braille Monitor, a monthly news publication, as well as online resources and a quarterly publication for the parents of blind children. With more than 50,000 members and affiliates in every state across America, NFB has led the way in demonstrating its ability to serve the interests of the blind population.

This bill holds special significance for me, as the National Federation of the Blind is headquartered in my Congressional district, in Baltimore, Maryland.

Dr. Marc Maurer, who has served as President of the National Federation of the Blind for 20 years, has shown exemplary leadership of this organization, as has the NFB's First Vice President, Joyce Scanlan, an active member since 1970. Sharon Maneki, President of the Maryland Chapter, has been instrumental in advancing the cause of blind persons throughout our state. I would also like to thank Jesse Hartle of the NFB for his hard work on behalf of the organization.

I am pleased to note that H.R. 2872 is cosponsored by the entire Maryland delegation, as well as by more than 300 members of the House.

The NFB's mission statement declares that ``the real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the misunderstanding and lack of information which exist.'' As part of this mission, the NFB has been campaigning to increase awareness of the Braille system of communication.

The Braille code became dominant in the United States during the 20th century, and it served as a gateway to education for the blind.

In recent years the Braille code has been in declining use among the blind population. It is currently taught to only about ten percent of blind students and is usually not taught at all to the elderly.

The NFB holds as one of its major goals the reintroduction of Braille into education for the blind. Braille readers can read up to 400 words per minute, comparable to the speed of print readers. Braille is also essential for note-taking, mathematics and the study of foreign languages. Moreover, the computerization of Braille allows users to write much more rapidly than in the past.

Commemorating the contributions of Louis Braille is a worthy goal.

Increasing awareness of Braille and broadening opportunities for use as an educational tool are two other pivotal goals that this legislation will help achieve.

I want to thank my colleagues for their resounding support of H.R. 2872 and urge the House to help further the legacy of Louis Braille by voting for this bill.

Madam Speaker, I want to join the United States House of Representatives today in welcoming Colonel Kenneth J. Leinwand, the installation chaplain for Ft. Meade. Colonel Leinwand is the highest- ranking active duty Jewish chaplain in the United States military.

The Colonel has been an active duty Army chaplain since 1977. He has served in Iraq, Desert Storm, Bosnia and Kosovo. From 2002 to 2004 he also served as the command chaplain for all U.S. Army ground forces in Europe. Colonel Leinwand has a deep respect and understanding of the religious plurality that exists in today's military. Throughout his almost 30-year military career, he has provided spiritual comfort and solace to soldiers of all faiths.

Colonel Leinwand has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster.

As installation chaplain for Ft. Meade, Colonel Leinwand has direct authority over four other chaplains and is responsible for all religious programs.

Madam Speaker, Colonel Leinwand has accomplished many firsts in the military as a rabbi and as a chaplain, and it is a great honor to have him with us today. I join the House of Representatives in welcoming him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 341, which condemns the Government of Iran for violating its international nuclear nonproliferation obligations, and expressing support for efforts to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council.

Iran is actively seeking weapons of mass destruction, which poses a threat to the national security of the United States and to the world. Iran has repeatedly violated its obligations to the international community, specifically the 1973 Safeguards Agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA. In 2002 the world learned that Iran was illegally continuing to develop a secret nuclear program, which has led to years of negotiations with the international community. Last August, however, the Iranian government resumed its conversion of uranium. Earlier this month the IAEA voted 27 to 3 to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council for further action. I urge the Security Council to use all the tools at its disposal to pressure Iran to meet its commitments to the IAEA.

The House should additionally take up and pass legislation to strengthen the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, ILSA. The House should pass H.R. 282, the Iran Freedom Support Act, which I have co-sponsored. The bill would strengthen ILSA, provide assistance to pro-democracy groups in Iran, and require that ILSA remain in effect until the President certifies to Congress that Iran has permanently and verifiably dismantled its weapons on mass destruction programs and has committed to combating their proliferation.

I am pleased that the United States has continued to work closely with the international community--including the European Union, Russia, and China--on this urgent matter. I urge the President to keep Congress fully and current informed on this matter, as called for in this resolution. I urge the international community to impose economic sanctions designed to deny Iran the ability to develop nuclear weapons.

We cannot allow a rogue nation such as Iran to obtain nuclear weapons. Iran has actively supported terrorist groups, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Iran has funded suicide bombers in Israel and militant organizations elsewhere. Many of these terrorist groups are seeking weapons of mass destruction, WMD, so that they can kill or injure thousands or even millions of people. The Iranian President has publicly expressed his hope for ``a world without America,'' his desire to ``wipe Israel off the map,'' and has denied the existence of the Holocaust.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.