Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to congratulate the Director and Board of Trustees of The Newark Public Library, and Dr. Sibyl E. Moses, guest curator, on the occasion of the opening of the Library's Black History Month exhibition entitled ``The Creativity and Imagination of African American Women Writers in New Jersey.'' As the representative from the 10th Congressional District, I am very proud of my long affiliation with the library and the valuable services they render to our community.

The exhibition at Newark Public Library celebrates the diversity and richness of published works created by African American women in New Jersey. The exhibition documents an important aspect of New Jersey's cultural history, and brings this information together in one place and at one time, for the people of Newark and for all residents of New Jersey. I applaud The Newark Public Library for interpreting their collections for all to see.

I also commend Sibyl E. Moses, the guest curator, for her achievements and many years of commitment and service to the people of New Jersey. She is an outstanding citizen, whose leadership is recognized nationally and internationally in the field of library and information science. For more than 20 years, she has identified, preserved, and promoted an awareness of books published by African American women in New Jersey. Her book, African American Women Writers in New Jersey, 1836-2000: A Biographical Dictionary and Bibliographic Guide (Rutgers University Press), upon which this exhibition is based,

won recognition from the American Association for State and Local History and by The New Jersey Center for the Book.

I am pleased to join all those in attendance at the opening of the exhibition, in wishing the Director and Board of Trustees of The Newark Public Library, and Dr. Sibyl E. Moses, continued success for the work they are doing to preserve and promote an awareness of African American history in New Jersey.

Madam Speaker, to the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, let me once again commend him for the outstanding work that he is doing as the chairman, but in his

many years as a member of the International Relations Committee then and the Foreign Affairs Committee now. We really appreciate his work.

Let me say to the gentleman from New Jersey, I had the opportunity to work with him in the last 2 years on our subcommittee, and I commend him for bringing forth so many of the human rights issues, and it has really been a pleasure working with him, and also on this H. Con. Res. 20, the gentleman, Mr. Smith from New Jersey.

Earlier this week, we witnessed a breakthrough in the peace process in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein agreed to the legitimacy of the police service there, and in doing so, they made a strong statement about their future in the north of Ireland. They chose peace over violence and the rule of law over chaos.

I have had the privilege of visiting Northern Ireland on a number of occasions. I was there to monitor the parades, and I was lucky enough to accompany President Clinton on a trip there. In each case, I saw great things along with terrible things, but always the hope of the people that one day there would be peace and understanding in their great country.

Thanks to no small part to Special Envoy George Mitchell and efforts that we as a nation should be proud of, the 20th century saw the cessation of violence and the beginning of political equality. The Good Friday Agreement stands as a breakthrough, a powerful statement, and a revelation of that hope that there was always there and that would not be overshadowed by violence and death. The good people continued to push forward.

In 1989, Patrick Finucane became a victim of that violence. He was murdered by paramilitary soldiers, gunned down in front of his wife and his children. It was a brutal act perpetrated by men in a time of great contention, violence, and fear. It was a small, sad episode in a larger battle between two sides unwilling to compromise, unwilling to talk, each fearful of each other. Northern Ireland is a different place now. There is peace. And with that peace, the initial signs of trust and cooperation because for any peace to work there must be trust that must be followed by cooperation.

It is in this spirit that I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 20. The peace of Northern Ireland depends in no small part on openness and cooperation. Only a full independent and just examination of the past can lead to a peaceful trust in the future. This investigation should begin. And with that, I commend Sinn Fein and Gerry Adams.

Madam Speaker, President Bush's dangerous plan to escalate the war in Iraq will not make Americans more secure. In fact, it will only lead to more bloodshed and violence. The plan faces significant bipartisan opposition in both Chambers of Congress and is opposed by a vast majority of people in this country.

Some Republicans are belatedly calling for benchmarks to measure progress in Iraq, even as they stand by the President's plan to escalate the war. Democrats were calling for benchmarks for success in Iraq years ago, but our pleas fell on deaf ears.

As an early and staunch opponent to this war, I have watched as every single prediction this administration has made has been proven wrong, from the duration of the war, the reception we would receive, the costs, the number of casualties and the existence of weapons of mass destruction, all wrong.

The loss of more young men and women is too high a price to pay for

this gamble. Let's support our troops by bringing them home and letting Iraqis shoulder responsibilities which should be theirs.

Madam Speaker, I would like to say a word or two about the Democracy Assistance Act. Let me commend the chairman and the ranking member for bringing this very important legislation up for reenactment.

I had the opportunity to travel with the Democracy Assistance Commission, and was very impressed with the work that they were doing. I traveled to Lebanon with them, and I think we were the last group there before the war broke out. And we saw glimmers of hope with the parliament at that time. And so there was great interest in moving democracy forward.

Our leaders at that time, Chairman Dreier and Cochairman Price did an outstanding job meeting with all party leaders. We then had the opportunity to visit South Africa and Liberia.

In all of the countries we attended there was a tremendous amount of interest in our leadership of the Congress being there. I understand that there are possibilities for Haiti and perhaps Colombia and other countries throughout the world to be assisted by this very important commission.

And so I would just like to add my voice to the importance of the Congress, the parliament, legislator-to-legislator, in attempting to bring democracy throughout the world.

Madam Speaker, over the last week we've heard that President Bush is finally going to admit tonight what most of us have known for years--that global warming is actually occurring and that we as a Nation need to take action.

Tonight's expected pronouncement from the President is welcome news, but it does not excuse the administration's past record on global warming.

Over the last six years, the Bush administration has served as a major roadblock to reversing dangerous warming trends. The President walked away from international efforts to help reduce this growing danger to our planet, refusing to actually lead on this critically important issue.

In my home State of New Jersey, we are proud of the fact that former Governor Richard J. Codey took decisive action over a year ago to strengthen our State's efforts to combat global warming by classifying carbon dioxide as an air contaminant. This action made New Jersey one of the first States in the Nation to take such a step. By contrast, the Bush administration has been in constant denial about environmental dangers to our planet.

I hope President Bush provides more than just lip service on global warming as he addresses the Nation tonight. After all, the President has pledged to reduce our dependence on foreign oil every year since he took office, while his policies have consistently made the problem worse.

Last year was the hottest ever recorded in our Nation's history. Our planet simply cannot afford more inaction from this administration. I hope that the President is serious about joining us in producing policies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The time for action is long overdue.

Madam Speaker, over the last week, we have heard that President Bush is finally going to admit tonight what most of us have known for many years, that global warming is actually occurring and that we as a Nation need to take action.

Tonight's expected pronouncement from the President is welcome news, but it does not excuse the administration's past record on global warming. Over the last 6 years the Bush administration has served as a major roadblock to reversing dangerous warming trends. The President walked away from international efforts to help reduce the growing danger to our planet, refusing to actually lead on this critically important issue.

In my home State of New Jersey, we are proud of the fact that former Governor Richard J. Codey took decisive action over a year ago to strengthen our State's efforts to combat global warming by classifying carbon dioxide as an air contaminant. This action made New Jersey one of the first States in the Union to take such a step. By contrast, the Bush administration has been in constant denial that environmental dangers to our planet exist. So, therefore, we hope that the Nation will take this seriously.

Mr. Speaker, as a former teacher and as a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I am concerned by the fact that as the need for post-high school education increases in our country, so has the high price of attending college. Tuition fees at public universities have increased 41 percent after inflation since the year 2000.

A recent report highlighted my home State of New Jersey as having the highest college costs in the Nation for 4-year public institutions. Including tuition and room and board, it costs an average of $17,515 to attend a public 4-year university or college in New Jersey, about $5,600 over the national average. Because of these skyrocketing costs, many students and their families must take out student loans.

Unfortunately, thanks to the policies of the Bush administration in the past and of a Republican-controlled Congress, interest rates have increased as funding to college programs have been cut. Now this Congress has a chance to pursue a positive course by broadening college opportunities for all American students.

A Democratic bill coming before the House today, as part of the 100- hour agenda, will cut interest rates for the student loans, and, so, therefore, I ask, Mr. Speaker, that as our economy becomes more important day by day, it is important that we have a workforce that will be able to appreciate lower costs. This legislation will give more college-bound teens the ability to afford college, and that is why it should receive strong bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentleman from California, chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, for bringing forth this very important resolution dealing with the equal employment opportunities in the military.

I think that it is great that we are finally recognizing these 21 brave men who had the courage to stand up and say that enough is enough. In many instances, workers are intimidated by the surroundings, by worrying about their positions, worrying about having action taken against them; and so it is always great when people decide it is time to step forward and do the right thing.

Dr. King said, in his march on Washington that there was a promissory note that was sent out by America to the, at that time, the Negroes, and that the check came back, the promissory note, marked ``insufficient funds.'' And this was a part of the insufficient funds, people willing to work, but being denied. As a matter of fact, when World War II began, that infamous December 7 surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, our country was caught off guard; we did not have the build-up, the military wherewithal, we did not have the weapons, we did not have the ships, we did not have the tanks.

And there then became a move to try to catch up to the enemy because they were preparing for war and we were not. However, blacks were not allowed to work in the factories that were producing or tried to catch up. It actually took President Roosevelt at that time to encourage U.S. businesses, even though they were short of manpower because the draft had come in, they would not hire blacks, even though it meant that we could not prepare and produce the equipment that we needed. And so sometimes racial discrimination really makes no sense at all.

I agree with the gentlemen from California and from Minnesota who said that there have been big changes, things are different now. I would like to once again thank the gentleman from California for bringing forth this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 39) commending the University of Florida Gators for their victory in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and for winning the national college football championship, as amended.

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

Let me begin by thanking my colleague, Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, for introducing this resolution, and also to congratulate her and her fellow alumni for the Gators' win last week in the 2006 Bowl Championship Series.

A week ago Monday marked the University of Florida's second national football championship when they defeated Ohio State University Buckeyes. College football fans, student athletes and the general public were treated to an exciting national championship game, an end to the college football season.

I want to extend my congratulations to head coach Urban Meyer, athletic director Jeremy N. Foley, University of Florida president J. Bernard Machen, and Florida's student athletes for attaining the unprecedented achievement of holding concurrent Division I national championships in football and men's basketball.

I also want to extend my congratulations to the Ohio State University Buckeyes and their student athletes for a great season. Ohio State won all of their games during the regular season and produced the 2006 Heisman trophy winner, Troy Smith. Winning concurrent championships has brought national acclaim to the University of Florida, and I know the fans of the university will remember this very special moment for many years to come.

It takes a great deal to assemble a world-class football team. It takes dedication of the young men who are playing on the team. It takes support from the alumni. It takes patient and accomplished coaching. It takes support from the community. A winning football team can bring an entire community together. It brings pride to the individuals on the team, but it brings joint pride to the community in general.

And so although many people say why is so much emphasis put on sports, I think that it is one of the tools that brings us together that has the esprit de corps that makes America great. As a former, simply, high school coach, I know the hard work and the time and effort and the sacrifice, really, that it takes for the players, that it takes for the coaches being away from their families, their children, away on weekends. It is a real sacrifice. And so I once again commend the university and once again say, to have the number one football and number one basketball team in the country in the same year is a great achievement.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

I appreciate the gentleman's support for this resolution.

Madam Speaker, as we indicated, the unique victory in that very important game tied in with the fact that their men's basketball team exceeded themselves in the Final Four and won the championship game of the NCAA college men's basketball, combined with this outstanding effort for the football team shows that the University of Florida, in addition to having great academic programs, preparing young Americans for the future, dealing with the current challenges to keep America strong, to keep America on the cutting edge, to keep America ahead for technology and for other technological advances, we really are very pleased that this university stands head and shoulders.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would thank all of the speakers who participated. I think it is really a great achievement, and I want to commend the sponsor of this resolution, Representative Wasserman Schultz, for her outstanding leadership and how much she has done to support that great athletic institution. I would wish the Gators success in the future as they have done in the past.

General Leave

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members have 5 legislative days to insert materials relevant to H. Res. 39, and the previous bill, H. Con. Res. 31.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 43) commending the Boise State University Broncos football team for winning the 2007 Fiesta Bowl and completing an undefeated season.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for 5 legislative days during which Members may insert into the Record any material relevant to H. Res. 43.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to commend the Boise State University Broncos' victory over the mighty Oklahoma Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

For all of you who watched the game, you know it was an exciting game from start to finish, and anyone who was not a fan of the Sooners had no choice but to cheer for the underdog Boise State as the game progressed into the second half and overtime.

Every player for the Broncos should be commended for their effort throughout the game, and head coach, Chris Peterson, should be commended for making risky calls and preparing his team, a decided underdog, for success and for victory.

Since the Bowl Championship Series began in the 1998-1999 college football season, only two teams from non-BCS conferences have been invited to BCS games. Following the 2004 season, the Utah Utes from the Mountain West Conference defeated the Pittsburgh Panthers in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl, and now the Boise State Broncos from the Western Athletic Conference have become the second non-BCS team to win a BCS game, winning one of the most exciting games ever played.

Boise State's success should not be a shock to anyone who has followed this team over the past 5 years. Their victory in the Fiesta Bowl completes an undefeated season and their second 13-win season in the past 4 years.

Over the past 5 years, they have an astounding 58 wins and only seven losses. There are very few teams during that span of time to have experienced a modicum of success that this State University in Idaho has experienced.

I also want to congratulate the Oklahoma Sooners for battling their way back in this very exciting ball game. They fell behind by 18 early in the second half, but showed tremendous poise and character by coming back in the game and even taking the lead very late in the game.

However, after it was all said and done, the Broncos, led by quarterback Jared Zabransky, executed a tremendous hook and ladder for a touchdown to send the game in overtime. In overtime, Boise State, down one, went for a two-point conversion, and called the patriotic Statue of Liberty play, run by Ivan Johnson, to complete the 43-42 victory.

I congratulate Boise State University's president, Dr. Bob Kustra, Coach Chris Peterson, and the Boise State University's football team for a wonderful season and for being the only undefeated major division college football team in the Nation.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Simpson). And there is no question that he has every right to be very proud of the Boise State Broncos.

As a matter of fact, I think that because it is a small school, because it is a school that is not the perennial schools that finish up top, say, the last 50 years, for the last 8 or 10 years Boise State has had a difficult time trying to prove its worth. Even though they beat top contenders, they will say it was a fluke; it was some mistake, it was just by luck. And I think that by their continuing winning, by them moving up and winning the national championship, I believe that they will finally have the naysayers saying that this is really an outstanding team.

We found the same situation in the great State of New Jersey, where Rutgers University, a State university that has had a terrible football program for years and years and years, although it played one of the first football games in the country in 1897 against Princeton, when Princeton and Rutgers played. They have now, finally, been able to, after last year wasn't a fluke, this year losing only two games and going to a major bowl.

Athletes from New Jersey now are staying in New Jersey, and that is what made the difference. New Jersey athletes have made other States' teams great, and now that they are staying in the State, we will certainly expect to see Rutgers University, perhaps, play Boise State next year for the national championship.

So with that, Madam Speaker, I, again, congratulate the Boise State Broncos.

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

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I stand in strong support of the passage of H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, which would help nearly 13 million American workers and their families by increasing the Federal minimum wage by $2.10 an hour. Let me thank the chairman, George Miller, for bringing this very important legislation to the floor.

The intent of the bill is to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour, but let me just say this: When I hear naysayers say that this will eliminate jobs, back in 1994, when New Jersey had the highest minimum wage in the country, we compared the job growth of low-income jobs in New Jersey to those in Pennsylvania. Not only was there no negative impact on low-income jobs in New Jersey, but actually during that period of time, in the middle nineties, the minimum wage jobs in New Jersey grew at a higher rate than they did in Pennsylvania, which proved that the increase in the minimum wage did not run jobs out of the area. That was done by the American Economic Review.

Just recently, a survey was taken that showed that 83 percent of Americans support an increase of $2 or more in the minimum wage, and a survey this week from the Associated Press found that 80 percent of Americans support an increase in the rate. So there has been consistent support from the public in the United States of America. That is why we going in a new direction.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the participants in The Linkages to Life Program of the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., which has as its service area Essex, Hudson, Bergen and Passaic counties in the fine state of New Jersey. Each year, for the past 5 years, Links, Inc., and Roche form a major lifesaving or life-altering function by conducting the Linkages to Life program in houses of worship. Today approximately 93,000 people are awaiting transplant surgery, and 25 percent of the people awaiting transplants are of African descent.

Nationwide, we reserve the second weekend in November each year to emphasize the need for life-saving and life-altering blood, organ and tissue donation in houses of worship throughout the United States of America. The National Trends and Services Facet of the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., chaired by Beverly McQueary Smith, a past president of the National Bar Association, and a native and resident of Jersey City, New Jersey spearheaded this year's effort on behalf of the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc.

Links, Inc., is built on a foundation of friendship and service. Sarah Scott and Margaret Hawkins founded it on November 9, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today, it contains a network of over 10,000 Black women. Gloria P. Watson, the principal at Dionne Warwick Institute in East Orange, New Jersey, is the current president of The North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., established in June 1949. The Motto for Links, Inc., this year under the leadership of National President Gwendolyn B. Lee, Ph.D. is ``Seizing the Opportunity to Provide World Class Leadership, Friendship and Service.'' The members of the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., exemplify that motto.

By way of background let me first say that the United States Department of Health and Human Services started to coordinate National Organ Donor Sabbath in 1996, and November 10-12, 2006 marked the 10th anniversary celebration of the National Donor Sabbath program.

My friend Beverly McQueary Smith, who worked on my first campaign many years ago, was blessed with a hardworking and diligent committee. The members of the National Trends and Services Facet include:

Jessica L. Morse, who works for Community Agencies Corporation of New Jersey in Newark;

Dr. Paulette Stanford who promotes HIV and AIDS prevention and awareness at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey;

Dr. Montrae Calhoun Thomas, a pediatrician in Orange, NJ and the first lady of Pilgrim Baptist Church, and last, but certainly not least,

The Honorable Shirley Tolentino, a judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey sitting in Hudson County, a former president of the National Association of Women Judges, and a former president of the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., organized this year's Linkages to Life program at Pilgrim Baptist Church on 34 Hudson Street in Newark, New Jersey.

Linkages to Life focuses on educating people of African descent about the importance of blood, tissue and organ donation, and Linkages to Life is a 5-year partnership between Roche and Links, Inc., which resulted in the publication of a pamphlet, ``Can We Talk?''

The Reverend Clarence Thomas, the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, agreed to allow members of the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., to worship with and to present its Linkages to Life Program on National Donor Sabbath to the members of Pilgrim Baptist Church. He delivered a powerful sermon on organ donation.

Dr. Dorian J. Wilson, a transplant surgeon and a native of Jersey City, and member of the faculty at The University of Medicine and Dentistry spoke at the Linkages to Life program at Pilgrim Baptist Church.

Leslie and Laureen Britton, Kevin and Tawanna Waters, and the Honorable Mumtaz Bari-Brown, an administrative law judge in the city of Newark and also a member of the North Jersey Chapter of the Links Inc., discussed the impact of organ and tissue donation on their lives. Garry Branch spoke in his choir robe about how he learned that he needed a kidney transplant. Other members of the congregation talked about their decisions to donate organs of their loved ones.

Former Chapter President, Leanora Logan serves as the Eastern Area Representative for National Trends and Services, who returned from a meeting in Virginia to bring greetings at the Linkages to Life program. Attendees recognized the hard work of the representatives from Ketchum Marketing including Katie Donnelly, Nichole Rothkopf, Adam Pawluk and Amy Losak of Link Victoria Dent's office. They thanked Gail Safian and Ellen Lambert of Roche for providing the brochures and organ donor cards for the Linkages to Life Program.

The North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., thank Newark City Council President Mildred C. Crump and her counsel, Victoria F. Pratt for making sure that members of the City Council provided proclamations to Pilgrim Baptist Church and the North Jersey Chapter of the Links, Inc., during the service.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the hard work of people who work in and serve my congressional district. Their work was reported by the New York Times, The Houston Chronicle, The Record, News 12 NJ, and also aired on The Today Show. This body should acknowledge their willingness to help let my constituents know how important it is to donate blood, tissue and organs.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today to recognize a highly valued citizen of my home city of Newark, New Jersey. John Arthur Thomas celebrates his 80th Birthday on December 6, 2006. He has been married for fifty four years to Elizabeth Lee Nowlin. In addition, he is the father of two wonderful daughters and grandfather of two grandsons and triplet granddaughters. He has dedicated his life, for almost five decades, to educational and political development throughout the state of New Jersey.

Mr. Thomas, who is devoted to service, has established himself as an innovative member of his community. From marching with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the March on Washington to serving as Chairman of the Urban League of Hudson County, he has proven his dedication to service and leadership.

One of his leadership positions, that had a profound impact in my development during my high school years, was as the assistant football coach in Newark, New Jersey. Continuing with his commitment to sports, he currently serves as co-chair in the Newark Athlete Hall of Fame Annual Dinner held in Newark.

In the 60's Mr. Thomas was the founder of the ``Crispus Attucks Day Parade'' celebrating Black History.

The parade is currently titled, ``The African American Black Heritage Day Parade'' and is the largest African American heritage parade in the state.

Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues here in the U.S. House of Representatives to join me in honoring John Arthur Thomas, who becomes 80 years young on December 6, 2006, for his tireless work for the Newark community. He is a paragon of true virtue through his selfless dedication to the betterment of others. I am proud to have him in my Congressional district and wish him never-ending success in his future endeavors.

Madam Speaker, as a strong opponent of the war in Iraq from the very beginning, I welcome the change in leadership at the Department of Defense. After years of hearing shifting rationales for the preemptive military strike launched by the Bush administration, the American public deserves a realistic evaluation of the conflict which has cost thousands of American and Iraqi lives.

It was sobering to hear Robert Gates, the nominee for Secretary of Defense, acknowledge yesterday that we are not winning the war in Iraq despite repeated reassurances to the contrary by the former Defense Secretary. Those of us who made the case in October of 2002 that we should not rush to war until the weapons inspectors had completed their work are deeply saddened that this unnecessary war has taken such a heavy toll and diminished the standing of the United States around the world.

I look forward to examining the recommendations of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group so that we can try to find our way out of this quagmire that was created by the rush to war based on faulty or, even worse, deliberately distorted intelligence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Democratic Pacific Union's (DPU) upcoming international symposium on democracy and congress this December 8 through 10 in Taipei, Taiwan. DPU, a non- governmental organization was founded in 2005 in Taipei to enhance dialogue and exchanges among members of parliaments from countries around the Pacific Rim.

This year's symposium will feature a number of panels on democracy, parliamentary procedures, presidential and congressional elections with participants from Mexico, Canada, the United States, Honduras, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of China. I encourage my colleagues to attend this important symposium.

Taiwan has a special relationship with us. Our commitment to Taiwan's security, as stated in the Taiwan Relations Act, has enabled Taiwan to serve as a beacon of democracy in the Pacific region and beyond.

I also offer my congratulations to Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu for putting this symposium together.