Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues to send a strong message to the Cuban government that the United States will not forget those people who are languishing in Cuban prisons for the so- called crime of speaking out against the injustices perpetrated by the Castro regime. We cannot ignore Castro and we cannot relieve the pressure on the regime. We owe it to the thousands of Cubans languishing in jails to further open the eyes of the world community to the true evils of the Castro regime.

I rise to bring to light the injustices against a 61-year old scholar, intellectual, and decent free-thinking man--Hector Palacios Ruiz. Director of the unofficial Centro de Estudios Sociales, Center of Social Studies, and secretary of the reporting committee of the ``Todos Unidos,'' ``All United,'' coalition, Hector Palacios was detained on March 20, 2003 and subsequently tried in Havana. He was convicted under Castro's barbaric Penal Code and sentenced to 25 years in prison.

And what were Hector Palacios' crimes? He was accused, among other activities, of having in his home an independent library containing books the Cuban government claims are ``subversive and counterrevolutionary.''

Hector Palacios's wife, Gisela, was refused permission to visit him in May and threatened with imprisonment if she participated in public demonstrations on his behalf.

Before the crackdown in 2003, Hector Palacios was arrested in 1994, 1997 and 1999 for his activism and his courage to speak out against the crimes and injustices of the Castro regime. The persecution of this brave Cuban man is an outrage. Thrown behind bars, Hector Palacios and other political activists are feared by the Castro regime which outlaws freedom and truth. The brutality must stop. Freedom for Cuba's political prisoners must be our goal.

Mr. Speaker, on March 12, 2003, Serbia's Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic was brutally assassinated in broad day light on the streets of Belgrade, Serbia.

As Serbia's first democratically-elected, non-communist Prime Minister following the fall of Slobodan Milosevic, Zoran Djindjic brought to his office and the people of Serbia more than democracy and freedom--he brought with him the hopes and dreams of the Serbian people. Under the oppressive rule of tyrannical dictators and autocrats, the Serbian people were emotionally and physically battered and scarred by years of ethnic civil-war and bombings. Prime Minister Djindjic promised them a better future filled with peace and prosperity.

Along with other democratic allies, and anti-war protesters, Zoran Djindjic effectively protested and toppled the corrupt regime of Slobodan Milosevic through a steadfast, determined, yet peaceful process.

Along with his fellow reformers, Mr. Djindjic created the Democratic Party, and led it to a series of successful electoral victories, ultimately culminating in Mr. Djindjic's ascension to the post of Prime Minister of Serbia on January 25, 2001.

During his 2 years in office, Prime Minister Djindjic worked tirelessly to shed the image of a ``backward'' Serbia. Under his effective leadership, Prime Minister Djindjic systematically realigned Serbia with the Western ideals of democracy, reform and capitalism.

Through a heroic and selfless act of courage, Prime Minister Djindjic arrested and extradited the man he helped remove from power, and sent Slobodan Milosevic, and his fellow fugitive war criminals to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia at The Hague (ICTY) where they were indicted and tried.

Prime Minister Djindjic went to great lengths to bring foreign investment and capital back into Serbia's economy by embracing free market concepts, thus laying the groundwork for Serbia's long-term fiscal security and prosperity.

In addition, Prime Minister Djindjic advanced Serbia's relationship with the Trans-Atlantic community. By centering Serbia's foreign policy initiatives, Prime Minister Djindjic has positioned Serbia to become a working and peaceful member of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Mr. Djindjic worked relentlessly to improve the lives of everyday Serbs through economic development, structural and political reform, and an open, and peaceful foreign policy.

Unfortunately for the people of Serbia, Mr. Djindjic's work was cut short by an assassin's bullet outside his office on March 12, 2003.

So, on this day, let the House of Representatives remember the life and work of Mr. Zoran Djindjic, Prime Minister of Serbia, and let us hope and pray for a better and more prosperous future for the people of Serbia, and the whole Balkan region.

Mr. Speaker, across America you can find people who make a difference in their community. Usually in quiet unassuming ways every day they help change the lives of people with whom they work and the neighborhoods they call home. Tonight, I rise to pay tribute to one such person, an outstanding and unforgettable woman from Indianapolis, Judy Guerra. Living by the very simple credo, ``you get what you give'' Judy has made such a tremendous difference in her community.

A mother of two, grandmother to seven, and a successful businesswoman, Judy truly embodies the spirit of community service and friendship that we strive to live by. Whether its sponsoring a local girls little league team, or opening her restaurants for fundraisers for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, the Children's Bureau of Indianapolis, Butler University's Armed Forces Scholarship fund or just the local Christmas food drive, if there is a need, Judy unselfishly and tirelessly gives of herself to meet the challenge headon.

Judy Guerra does not belong to St. Joan of Arc or Christ the King Church but they are the lucky beneficiaries of her generous donations. Why? Because these churches are located in her neighborhood and giving back to all sectors of the community resonates deep within this Hoosier. When senior citizens on fixed incomes visit Judy's ``Just Judy's'' restaurant it's not unusual for them to receive a larger than normal serving of soup or extra sandwich to accompany the friendly service with a smile. If a local family finds themselves fallen upon hard times they know their troubles can be left at the door as Judy and her daughters will welcome them with open arms and perhaps a sampling of the day's ``new recipes.'' And what makes every small act of concern and each gesture of kindness so remarkable is that they are simply second nature to Judy, as unconscious as breathing. As her friend Maureen Cox said to me in an e-mail, ``If there is a national award for generosity, Judy Guerra is our person,'' and I heartily agree.

Mr. Speaker, Judy Guerra is an amazing woman, an ordinary person who reaches beyond herself in every way to bring hope, and opportunity, friendship and caring to everyone around her. I am proud to call her a fellow Hoosier and privileged to honor her here today.

Mr. Speaker, for years a number of distinguished Members of this House have come to the Floor of this Chamber every April to commemorate the so-called Armenian Genocide--the exact details of which are still very much under debate today almost 90 years after the events. Ironically and tragically, none of these Members has ever once mentioned the ethnic cleansing carried out by the Armenians during the Armenia-Azerbaijan war which ended a mere decade ago.

Khojaly was a little known small town in Azerbaijan until February 1992. Today it no longer exists, and for people of Azerbaijan and the region, the word ``Khojaly'' has become synonymous with pain, sorrow, and cruelty. On February 26, 1992, the world ended for the people of Khojaly when Armenian troops supported by a Russian infantry regiment did not just attack the town but they razed it to the ground. In the process the Armenians brutally murdered 613 people, annihilated whole families, captured 1275 people, left 1,000 civilians maimed or crippled, and another 150 people unaccounted for in their wake.

Memorial, a Russian human rights group, reported that ``scores of the corpses bore traces of profanation. Doctors on a hospital train in Agdam noted no less than four corpses that had been scalped and one that had been beheaded. . . . and one case of live scalping:''

Various other witnesses reported horrifying details of the massacre. The late Azerbaijani journalist Chingiz Mustafayev, who was the first to film the aftermath of the massacre, wrote an account of what he saw. He said, ``Some children were found with severed ears; the skin had been cut from the left side of an elderly woman's face; and men had been scalped.''

Human Rights Watch called the tragedy at the time ``the largest massacre to date in the conflict.''

The New York Times wrote about ``truckloads of bodies'' and described acts of ``scalping.''

This savage cruelty against innocent women, children and the elderly is unfathomable in and of itself but the senseless brutality did not stop with Khojaly. Khojaly was simply the first. In fact, the level of brutality and the unprecedented atrocities committed at Khojaly set a pattern of destruction and ethnic cleansing that Armenian troops would adhere to for the remainder of the war. On November 29, 1993, Newsweek quoted a senior US Government official as saying ``What we see now is a systematic destruction of every village in their (the Armenians) way. It's vandalism.''

This year, as they have every year since the massacre, the leaders of Azerbaijan's Christian, Jewish, and Muslim communities issue appeals on the eve of commemoration of the massacre of Khojaly urging the international community to condemn the February 26, 1992 bloodshed, facilitate liberation of the occupied territories and repatriation of the displaced communities.

And every year, those residents of Khojaly, who survived the massacre--many still scattered among one million refugees and displaced persons in camps around Azerbaijan--appeal with pain and hope to the international community to hold Armenia responsible for this crime.

I am pleased to say that on January 25, 2005 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe overwhelmingly adopted a resolution highlighting that ``considerable parts of Azerbaijan's territory are still occupied by the Armenian forces and separatist forces are still in control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.'' It also expressed concern that the military action between 1988 and 1994 and the widespread ethnic hostilities which preceded it, ``led to large-scale ethnic expulsion and the creation of mono-ethnic areas which resemble the terrible concept of ethnic cleansing.''

Mr. Speaker, this is not the ringing condemnation that the survivors of Khojaly deserve but it is an important first step by an international community that has too long been silent on this issue. Congress should take the next step and I hope my colleagues will join me in standing with Azerbaijanis as they commemorate the tragedy of Khojaly. The world should know and remember.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn the killing of Dorothy Stang. She was caught in the crossfire at a settlement of landless peasants established on a state-run development reserve near the town of Anapu, about 1,300 miles north of Rio de Janeiro.

On Saturday February 12, 2005, Dorothy Stang, a 74-year-old American nun, was murdered in Brazil. She was shot four times at point-blank range.

She had been working and living in the region for more than three decades. Ms. Stang was bringing the word of God to the poor and downtrodden, while championing the environmental and human rights of Brazil's impoverished and landless peasants. She had spent

decades fighting illegal loggers and ranchers in the jungle.

Tragically, nine days before her death, Dorothy Stang warned Brazil's Human Rights Minister that she and farmers faced constant death threats and needed protection. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has launched a federal investigation into the case and called a special cabinet meeting.

Dozens of land activists are killed each year in Brazil as they confront militias armed and paid by landowners. Few cases are solved in rural areas, where local police forces are often allied with the landowners.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on the government of Brazil to work toward a permanent end to the violence and to disarm and disband all illicit armed militia. I call upon the government of Brazil to implement judicial and police reforms to stem the rising violence, and take immediate measures to protect human rights defenders and land activists from death threats.

President Lula's investigation into this case must be transparent and the perpetrators of this murder must be brought to justice.

Mr. Speaker, tonight I stand up to do something which some of my colleagues might at first glance think is unusual; namely I intend to praise the Hollywood establishment, and more precisely, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Normally when Members come to the Floor to talk about Hollywood, it is to discuss how out of touch Hollywood is with mainstream American values, but tonight I would like to commend Hollywood for doing something right. In a few short weeks are the Academy Awards, and this year there is a very special nominee in the category of documentary short subject; a concise film entitled: ``Autism is a World.''

This groundbreaking documentary gives viewers a front row seat into a week in the life of an extraordinary woman, Sue Rubin, as she confronts the day-to-day challenges of living with autism. The film's story chronicles Sue's journey to overcome her autism and a false childhood diagnosis of mental retardation to become a highly intelligent college junior--with an IQ of 133--and a tireless disabled rights activist. But Sue is not only the star of the film she is also the film's writer--she wrote the entire screenplay through facilitated communication, a process by which a facilitator supports the hand or arm of a communicatively impaired person while using a keyboard or typing device. Joining forces with Oscar award winning director, Gerardine Wurzburg, and Syracuse University Professor Douglas Biklen, founder of the Facilitated Communication Institute at Syracuse University, these three gifted individuals created a powerful film that tugs at the heart strings and at the same time challenges all the commonly held perceptions and stereotypes of autism.

Sue Rubin is truly an exceptional young woman. From the very beginning she never allowed herself to fall victim to her disability; and since the age of 13--when she was first able to show her true intelligence and express herself to the world through facilitated communication--she has used her experience to educate others about autism, and has been a shining example to her fellow students at Whittier College in California where she excels as a history major. She has also traveled throughout the United States to speak out publicly in support of the autism community and facilitated communication.

Medical research has not unlocked all the answers to autism and its causes, but through films like ``Autism is a World,'' and the incredible efforts of individuals like Sue Rubin,

Douglas Biklen and Gerardine Wurzburg to reshape the way we think about autistic individuals we will hopefully come to realize that individuals afflicted with autism have so much to offer the world. I congratulate Sue Rubin and thank her for this courageous film; it is an excellent contribution to this year's Academy Awards. I wish everyone associated with this film the best of luck on Oscar night.

Mr. Speaker, the Status Quo in the Taiwan Straits is under threat. This has far less to do with unilateral steps being taken by Taiwan and much more to do with People's Republic of China's (PRC) decision to apparently leave its ``Good Neighbor'' policy by the wayside, and embark on a new campaign to promote its economic and military ambitions across the Straits and throughout the region.

For several months now, based on speeches by Jiang Zemin, it appears that China is in the process of drafting a so-called Anti-Secession Law which obligates the People's Liberation Army to use military force to annex Taiwan if Beijing believes Taiwanese rhetoric or actions are moving the Island towards independence.

The prospect of a lifting of the European Union's arms embargo against China, together with the drafting of this Anti-Secession Law, and the publication of a PRC white paper last year entitled, ``China's National Defense in 2004,'' calling Taiwan's independence advocates the ``biggest immediate threat to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity,'' are alarming items in and of themselves, but taken as a whole they represent a disturbing trend in China's thinking about the situation in the Taiwan Straits.

Officials at the State Department and our friends in Taiwan are extremely uneasy to say the least over these signals of a change in China's posture towards Taiwan--and with good reason. Saber rattling by the PRC is nothing new, but this Anti-Secession Law represents a dangerous new dimension.

If enacted, this Anti-Secession Law will create the legal grounds for Beijing to punish anyone speaking or acting against reunification of Taiwan and China. Moreover, the law will permit, in fact it will compel, Chinese leaders to use force against Taiwan if China considers Taiwanese leaders are engaging in so-called separatist activities.

The Law clearly undermines efforts to enhance the goodwill that has grown-up across the Straits in recent years spawned by deep socio- cultural ties, and the increasing economic interdependence between Taiwan and the Mainland. If this Anti-Secession Law is enacted, the response from the Taiwanese will

be predictable; military tension will rise accordingly in the Taiwan Strait and regional peace and stability will be affected. This cannot be in the best interests of any country, especially those in the region.

Mr. Speaker, since 9/11 there has been a heightened recognition of the benefits of cooperation with Beijing on security issues in the region; ranging from eliminating the North Korean nuclear threat, to stabilizing the Taiwan Strait, and countering global terrorism. A security crisis over Taiwan is something we all must work to avert. But, China's proposed Anti-Secession Law is a bad law with serious consequences for future relations between China and Taiwan, as well as regional stability. I hope the Chinese Government will reconsider their actions and return to the ``Good Neighbor'' policy that has worked so effectively for so long.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 4 or 5 years, I have, as chairman of the Committee on Government Reform and chairman of the Subcommittee on Health and Human Rights, held a number of hearings regarding mercury in vaccines and what kind of an impact it had on children.

When we first started having the hearings, we were concerned that there was an epidemic of autism and other

neurological disorders in children, and we found from scientists who testified before the committee over the years that there was no doubt that one of the major contributing factors to neurological problems, including autism among children, was the mercury in vaccines under the title of Thimerosal, which is a preservative.

Thimerosal is a preservative which contains 50 percent ethyl mercury, and as children got more and more vaccinations, as many as 30 now before they start in the first grade, the incidence of neurological disorders, autism and other childhood mental problems, grew dramatically. It used to be 1 in 10,000 children were autistic, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Now it is 1 in 150. We have an absolute epidemic of autism.

The pharmaceutical companies for years have said that there is no correlation between the mercury in vaccines and the autism and other neurological childhood disorders, and things like Alzheimer's in adults. But this past week on the front page of the Los Angeles Times there was a very, very long article, and I want to read to you, Mr. Speaker, some of the things that were in that article.

The title of the article was ``'91 Memo Warned of Mercury in Vaccines and Shots.'' '91 was the year. The March 1991 memo, obtained by the Times, shows that nearly a decade before our Federal health agency first publicly disclosed the potential dangers of mercury in vaccines, senior executives from Merck & Company, a major pharmaceutical company, were already aware that infants were getting an elevated dose of mercury in vaccinations containing the widely used preservative Thimerosal, a preservative containing nearly 50 percent mercury by weight.

In fact, the memo clearly states, ``If eight doses of Thimerosal- containing vaccine were given in the first 6 months of life, the mercury given, say to an average-size infant of 12 pounds, would be 87 times the daily allowance of mercury for a baby of that size.'' Eighty- seven times.

The memo further states, ``It is reasonable to conclude that Thimerosal should be removed from single-dose vials when it can be removed, especially where use in infants and young children is anticipated.''

At the time this memo was written, U.S. health authorities were recommending an aggressive expansion of the immunization schedule for children in their first 6 months of life, adding five new shots to the schedule. And many of these shots, as well as shots already included in the vaccine immunization schedule, contained mercury and Thimerosal.

What did the pharmaceutical company do after learning this? They did nothing. Absolutely nothing. It took 8 years before they started removing Thimerosal from any of the children's vaccines.

It is criminal, it is criminal in my opinion, that this sort of thing takes place. Mercury in any vaccination, whether it is a child's vaccination or an adult vaccination, should be removed. Mercury is one of the most toxic substances on Earth. It is toxic to the neurological system of adults and, especially, infants, and yet children have been getting as many as 30 vaccinations before they start in the first grade of school; and we have an absolute epidemic of neurological problems, including autism.

Mr. Speaker, I will submit this article for the Record. I am going to send a ``Dear Colleague'' around to all of my colleagues, and I hope everybody, and my good friend the gentlewoman from California has been working with me on this for a long time, I hope that everybody will pay attention and talk to their pharmaceutical representatives and get mercury out of all vaccinations, but especially every childhood vaccination. The future of America depends on that, because these children are going to grow up, they are going to become dependent upon the taxpayer and it is going to cost all of us trillions of dollars if we do not deal with the problem now.

[From the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 8, 2005]

'91 Memo Warned of Mercury in Shots

(By Myron Levin)

A memo from Merck & Co. shows that, nearly a decade before

the first public disclosure, senior executives were concerned

that infants were getting an elevated dose of mercury in

vaccinations containing a widely use sterilizing agent.

The March 1991 memo, obtained by The Times, said that 6-

month-old children who received their shots on schedule would

get a mercury dose up to 87 times higher than guidelines for

the maximum daily consumption of mercury from fish.

``When viewed in this way, the mercury load appears rather

large,'' said the memo from Dr. Maurice R. Hilleman, an

internationally renowned vaccinologist. It was written to the

president of Merck's vaccine division.

The memo was prepared at a time when U.S. health

authorities was aggressively expanding their immunization

schedule by adding five new shots for children in their first

six months. Many of these shots, as well as some

previously included on the vaccine schedule, contained

thimerosal, an antibacterial compound that is nearly 50%

ethyl mercury, a neurotoxin.

Federal health officials disclosed for the first time in

1999 that many infants were being exposed to mercury above

health guidelines through routine vaccinations. The

announcement followed a review by the U.S. Food and Drug

Administration that was described at the time as a first

effort to assess the cumulative mercury dose.

But the Merck memo shows that at least one major

manufacturer was aware of the concern much earlier.

``The key issue is whether thimerosal, in the amount given

with the vaccine, does or does not constitute a safety

hazard,'' the memo said. ``However, perception of hazard may

be equally important.''

Merck officials would not discuss the contents of the memo,

citing pending litigation.

Separately, the drug giant is trying to fend off a legal

onslaught over Vioxx, the popular painkiller it introduced in

1999. The company, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., faces

hundreds of lawsuits claiming that the drug caused heart

problems and that Merck concealed the risks. Merck, which in

September pulled Vioxx off the market, has denied the

allegations.

The legacy of thimerosal, meanwhile, also is causing

problems for Merck and other drug companies.

More than 4,200 claims have been filed in a special federal

tribunal, the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, by parents

asserting that their children suffered autism or other

neurodevelopmental disorders from mercury in vaccines. A

handful of similar claims are awaiting trial in civil courts.

The plaintiffs cite various scientific studies that they say

prove the dangers of thimerosal, including at the levels

found in vaccines.

Thimerosal has been largely removed from pediatric vaccines

in recent years in what health officials have described as a

precautionary measure. (This has been accomplished as drug

makers have voluntarily switched from multi-dose vials of

vaccine, which require a chemical preservative like

thimerosal, to single-dose containers.)

In September, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation

prohibiting vaccines with more than trace amounts of

thimerosal from being given to babies and pregnant women.

Iowa has a similar ban.

For their part, Merck and other vaccine makers, along with

many government health officials and scientists, say there is

no credible evidence of harm from the amounts of mercury once

widely present in kids' shots. They cite a report in May by a

committee of the national Institute of Medicine concluding

that the evidence ``favors rejection of a causal

relationship'' between vaccines and autism.

The seven-page Merck memo was provided to The Times by

James A. Moody, a Washington lawyer who works with parent

groups on vaccine safety issues. He said he obtained it from

a whistle-blower whom he would not name.

The memo provides the ``first hard evidence that the

companies knew--or at least Merck knew--that the children

were getting significantly more mercury'' than the generally

accepted dose, the lawyer said.

He also provided a copy to attorneys for Vera Easter, a

Texas woman who blames thimerosal for the condition of her 7-

year-old son, Jordan, who is autistic and mentally retarded.

The Easter lawsuit is pending in U.S. District Court for the

Eastern District of Texas. The defendants include Merck;

rival vaccine makers GlaxoSmithKline, Aventis Pasteur Inc.

and Wyeth; and thimerosal developer Eli Lilly & Co.

Easter's lawyer, Andy Waters, described the memo as

``incredibly damning and incredibly significant.'' After

receiving it in the fall, he confronted Merck lawyers about

why he hadn't seen it earlier.

In a letter to Waters in October, Merck attorneys said they

had in fact made available 32 boxes of records, but that the

copying service hired by the plaintiffs for some reason had

failed to copy several of the boxes--including the one with

the Hilleman memo.

``The memo,'' said company spokeswoman Mary Elizabeth

Blake, ``was produced voluntarily by Merck in the ordinary

course of discovery proceedings.''

Hilleman is a former senior vice president of Merck who

developed numerous vaccines for the company. A 1999 profile

in the Philadelphia Inquirer said that ``it is no

exaggeration to assert, as many scientists do, that Maurice

Hilleman has saved more lives than any other living

scientist.''

Hilleman, 85, currently director of the Merck Institute for

Vaccinology, had officially retired and was a consultant to

Merck

when he wrote the '91 memo. He declined to be interviewed.

The memo was sent to Dr. Gordon Douglas, then head of

Merck's vaccine division and now a consultant for the Vaccine

Research Center at the National Institutes of Health. Douglas

also declined to comment.

The memo stated that regulators in several countries had

raised concerns about thimerosal, including in Sweden, where

the chemical was being removed from vaccines.

``The public awareness has been raised by the sequential

wave of experiences in Sweden including mercury exposure from

additives, fish, contaminated air, bird deaths from eating

mercury-treated seed grains, dental amalgam leakage, mercury

allergy, etc.,'' the memo said.

It noted that Sweden had set a daily maximum allowance of

mercury from fish of 30 micrograms for a 160-pound adult,

roughly the same guideline used by the FDA. Adjusting for the

body weight of infants, Hilleman calculated that babies who

received their shots on schedule could get 87 times the

mercury allowance.

The Swedish and FDA guidelines work out to about four-

tenths of a microgram of mercury per kilogram of body weight.

A stricter standard of one-tenth of a microgram per kilogram

has been adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency and

endorsed by the National Research Council.

These standards are based on methyl mercury, the type found

in fish and airborne emissions from power plants. Though

toxic, the ethyl mercury in thimerosal may be less hazardous

than methyl mercury, some scientists say, because it is more

quickly purged from the body.

``It appears essentially impossible, based on current

information, to ascertain whether thimerosal in vaccines

constitutes or does not constitute a significant addition to

the normal daily input of mercury from diverse sources,'' the

memo said.

``It is reasonable to conclude'' that it should be

eliminated where possible, he said, ``especially where use in

infants and young children is anticipated.''

In the U.S., however, thimerosal continued to be added

throughout the '90s to a number of widely used pediatric

vaccines for hepatitis B, bacterial meningitis, diphtheria,

whooping cough and tetanus.

It was added to multi-dose vials of vaccine to prevent

contamination from repeated insertion of needles to extract

the medicine. It was not needed in single-dose vials, but

most doctors and clinic preferred to order vaccine in multi-

dose containers because of the lower cost and easier storage.

The Hilleman memo said that unlike regulators in Sweden and

some other countries, ``the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

. . . does not have this concern for thimerosal.''

A turning point came in 1997 when Congress passed a bill

ordering an FDA review of mercury ingredients in food and

drugs.

Completed in 1999, the review revealed the high level of

mercury exposure from pediatric vaccines and raised a furor.

In e-mails later released at a congressional hearing, an FDA

official said health authorities could be criticized for

``being `asleep at the switch' for decades by allowing a

potentially hazardous compound to remain in many childhood

vaccines, and not forcing manufacturers to exclude it from

new products.''

It would not have taken a rocket science'' to add up the

amount of exposure as the prescribed number of shots was

increasing, one of the e-mails said.

While asserting that there was no proof of harm, the U.S.

Public Health Service in July 1999 called on manufacturers to

go mercury-free by switching to single-dose vials. Soon

after, Merck introduced a mercury-free version of its

hepatitis B vaccine, replacing the only thimerosal-containing

vaccine it was still marketing at the time, a company

spokesman said.

By 2002, thimerosal had been eliminated or reduced to trace

levels in nearly all childhood vaccines. One exception is the

pediatric flu vaccine made by Aventis and still sold mainly

in multidose vials.

Mr. Speaker, you know, when Ronald Reagan was President, he told a story of the difference between an optimist and a pessimist. And he used the example of two little boys who were put into a room full of horse manure. And the one little boy started crying very viciously, very seriously, because there were not any toys in the room. And the other little boy was digging around happy as a lark.

And they asked him, why are you so happy? And he said, with all of this horse manure in here, there has got to be a pony here somewhere.

The reason Reagan told that story was because he wanted people to realize that optimism is something that everybody should try to acquire in their lives and look at the positive things. And during his administration, he was so optimistic that he changed the whole attitude of the American people and made the 8 years of his administration a real success.

I would like to contrast that, if you will, with what we have seen in the last couple of days. Sixty percent of the people of Iraq went to the polls to vote knowing that some of them might be killed. A lot of people wonder if that would happen here in America.

In America we have what, 30, 40, 50 percent of the people vote if we are very lucky, and we do not have any guns pointed at anybody. And yet in Iraq these people knew their lives were in jeopardy, and they still put their finger in that ink and held it up for the people to see in the cameras so they could take pictures, because they were proud that they had a chance to show their freedom.

They were optimistic, very optimistic like Ronald Reagan talked about, for the future of Iraq. And yet last night when I watched the news, I watched several of the major news networks, and I will not go into their names tonight, but it is the same people that you hear all the time.

They were once again pointing out all of the things that went wrong in Iraq during the elections, and all of the problems that lay ahead of us, and how this is just a first step in a long series of steps that have to be taken; and they were not celebrating at all this tremendous step toward democracy and freedom that took place in one of the toughest spots in the whole wide world.

And I would just like to say to my friends in the media, that was a great thing that happened. Sixty percent of the people who lived under a tyrannical leader for years and years, who suffered torture and heartache for decades, finally had a chance to vote; and even though they were doing it with guns being pointed in their direction, people being blown up, and people being beheaded, they took the chance and went and voted, 60 percent of them. They are optimists. And I just wish the national media would realize it and become optimistic themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I was regrettably delayed in my return to Washington, DC, and therefore unable to be on the House floor for rollcall votes 10, 11, 12, and 13.

Had I been here I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote 10, ``no'' on rollcall vote 11, ``no'' on rollcall vote 12, and ``aye'' on rollcall vote 13.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the observance of America's first annual National Folic Acid Awareness Week which began this past Monday January 24, 2005. The theme of National Folic Acid Awareness Week--``Folic Acid: You Don't Know What You're Missing!'' is especially timely given the increasing popularity of low or no-carbohydrate diets. Since 1998, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has required the addition of folic acid to enriched breads, cereals, flours, pastas, rice and other grain products. Consequently, people, particularly women, on these low-carb diets may in fact not be getting the appropriate daily allowance of the essential vitamins and minerals necessary for health and well being.

Folic Acid--a B-vitamin--is in particular critical for proper cell growth, and it has been scientifically proven to prevent certain birth defects of the brain and spine called Neural

Tube Defects (NTD), which occurs very early in pregnancy, before most women even know they are pregnant. The most common NTDs are Spina Bifida, lack of closure in the spinal column, and Anencephaly, a condition where only a portion of the brain forms. Seventy thousand people are living with Spina Bifida today; it is the most common permanently disabling condition in America. Children born with Spina Bifida suffer from a myriad of problems, including: paralysis, fluid on the brain, learning difficulties and depression. Those affected with Anencephaly are usually stillborn or die soon after birth.

It is sobering to think that as much as seventy percent of the incidence of NTDs could be prevented if women of childbearing age simply took a 400 microgram pill of folic acid every day. I am hopeful that programs like the National Folic Acid Awareness Week which stress the importance of a healthy diet combined with a daily folic acid pill, we can prevent many of the 2,500 to 3,000 babies born every year with NTDs.

As an added bonus, emerging research also indicates that folic acid might reduce the risk of other birth defects such as cleft lip, cleft palate and heart defects. It might even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and colon, cervical, and breast cancer. So taking adequate amounts of folic acid can in fact be beneficial for men and woman of all ages.

Mr. Speaker, the most precious of our American treasures is our children. I believe it is incumbent upon us policy makers to encourage not only those we know and love, but all Americans, to eat foods rich in folic acid such as, bananas, fresh spinach, and orange juice. We owe it to future generations to do all we can to give them a head start on a healthy life devoid of pain and suffering. So I ask my colleagues to join me in promoting the message of National Folic Acid Awareness Week, and to make the commitment to work, not only this week but every week, to encourage all Americans to take folic acid, and help eradicate neural tube defects forever.

Mr. Speaker, I was regrettably delayed in my return to Washington, DC, and therefore unable to be on the House Floor for rollcall votes 8 and 9.

Had I been here I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 8, on H. Con. Res. 16--Congratulating the people of the Ukraine for conducting a democratic, transparent, and fair runoff presidential election on December 26, 2004, and congratulating Victor Yushchenko on his election as President of Ukraine and his commitment to democracy and reform.

The voice of the Ukrainian people spoke loudly on December 26th as Ukrainians united and re-affirmed their commitment to reform, democracy, and further Trans-Atlantic cooperation with their selection of Mr. Yushchenko as President. The peaceful, orange-clad demonstrators who rallied throughout Ukraine and helped achieve this historic moment should be an inspiration to all of us. And Mr. Yushchenko's peaceful inauguration, and smooth transition to power, displays yet another positive sign for a bright future for the Ukrainians and sets an exceptional example of the power of freedom and democracy for the entire region.

As a senior Member of the House International Relations Committee, I extend my personal congratulations to Mr. Yushchenko and wish him all the best as he works to bring Ukraine into the community of democratic nations. As freedom and democracy descends on Ukraine, I hope that their peaceful transition to a modern democratic country will serve as a further catalyst for the growing international movement to bring liberty to all peoples of the world that still suffer in the shadows of tyranny and dictatorship.

Madam Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' for rollcall vote 9, on H. Res. 39--Commending countries and organizations for marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, and urging a strengthening of the fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, and anti-Semitism.

Over 6 million Jews were exterminated in Nazi camps, and millions of others including Poles, Soviet prisoners, Romanies, members of the Resistance, and clergymen were among those killed, imprisoned or used as slave labor within the confines of these brutal camps. It is estimated that between 1.2 and 1.6 million of these victims perished at Auschwitz alone; and--as a result--no single word in modern language has a deeper symbolic meaning for pure evil than the word Auschwitz.

Auschwitz symbolizes the dark side of human nature, and serves as a lasting reminder that our civilized world must remain forever vigilant in the defense of human rights and human dignity. For Jewish people throughout the world, Auschwitz is a reminder of an unprecedented tragedy, the extreme expression of Hitler's Nazi regime's hatred of the Jewish people and their determined attempt to annihilate the Jews through genocide.

By passing this bill tonight, and through the numerous ways other countries and organizations have marked the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we collectively and emphatically demonstrate the world's awareness of the terrible wounds inflicted by the heinous crimes committed at the hands of Hitler's evil regime, and the need to keep the memory of these tragic events alive so as to protect the victims from suffering a second great tragedy--that of being forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, We have all seen the horrific images, and read the news reports about the tsunami that devastated South and Southeast Asia; and they

speak volumes about the great burden this natural disaster has placed on the people of at least eleven nations. During this difficult period, I know that all Americans stand in support of the nations and people affected by this unfortunate series of events, and stand united in our determination to assist these people in rebuilding their shattered lives. President Bush has pledged the support of the United States government, and our federal agencies and military personnel are doing everything possible to be of the utmost assistance, and fulfill that pledge. Likewise the American people are responding with overwhelming charity and generosity.

Indeed, this horrible catastrophe has created a virtual global army of compassion, and I rise today to recognize and applaud the leadership and generosity of a small portion of that army, namely the country of Equatorial Guinea, for their generous donation of $200,000 toward the Tsunami Relief Efforts.

The government of Equatorial Guinea has faced many challenges in restoring order to a country that has been ravaged and neglected for decades. While the country still faces many struggles, such as rebuilding the country's schools, hospitals and infrastructure, Equatorial Guinea is the first African country to make a financial donation to the Tsunami relief effort.

I am pleased to see President Teodoro Obiang Nguema's humanitarian spirit which has served the people of Equatorial Guinea so well, has spilled over to aid the many thousands in need in Southeastern Asia. I fervently hope that Equatorial Guinea's neighboring countries will soon follow the example set by President Nguema and offer any assistance possible to those who have been affected so greatly by this tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his kind remarks.

Mr. Speaker, this is a very solemn occasion on which we meet here tonight: 150,000 people have perished in an unforeseen disaster that took place a little over a week ago. The world has joined hands to try to help these people who suffered in Indonesia and the entire region.

The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) and I are co-chairmen of the Indonesian Caucus, and we have been working with people in the Indonesian Government because they have moved so rapidly towards democracy and the things that we believe in in this country. It is tragic at this moment in history that they have suffered, along with Sri Lanka, India, and the rest of that region, so heavily because of this horrible tragedy that occurred just a short time ago. President Bush has responded. This country has responded to the tune of $350 million, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) have just recently stated. That is great. Our military has responded very rapidly. That is important as well.

But the American people, if I were able to talk to them tonight, could respond in an equal fashion. If I were allowed, Mr. Speaker, and I know I am not allowed to speak directly to the American people, but if I were, I would say, if they want to make contributions to help our government help the people of that region, they could contact and make contributions through www.usafreedomcorps.gov. I know I cannot say that because we are not able to make that kind of a plea from the well to the American people. But if I could, I would once again ask them to make contributions through www.usafreedomcorps.gov because that would help augment what the United States Government is trying to do to help the people of this region.

As many as 5 million people, as many as the people in the whole State of Indiana, could adversely be affected if they do not get the resources necessary to help with the potential health problems and the infrastructure problems that occur over there. We want to make sure that the world tragedy that has occurred in that region does not get any worse, and the best way to do that is to make sure the resources they need get there as quickly as possible.

We are doing our part as a government, but the American people and the rest of the people could help as well if they choose to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for bringing this resolution forward tonight, along with the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach). We really appreciate what our government and the President is trying to do. The President has appointed former President Bush and President Clinton to head up an effort to raise additional resources. We appreciate that, and we urge the American people to help as well in any way that they can.