Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of the resolution, this Member wishes to add his strong support for H. Res. 25, which supports efforts to encourage more individuals to become mentors. In addition to raising awareness, a key provision is to commend those who give their time and talents to support mentoring initiatives.

This Member would like to commend the distinguished gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Boehner], the Chairman of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Miller], the ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for bringing this important resolution to the House Floor today; this issue is very timely as January 2003 is National Mentoring Month. This Member would also like to commend the distinguished gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Osborne] for sponsoring H. Res. 25 and for his personal interest in establishing mentoring opportunities nationwide.

Many children throughout the United States face difficult situations--and when matched with a caring and responsible adult, positive results ensue. Research has shown that mentoring benefits young people in a positive manner by increasing school attendance, improving rates of secondary school graduation and college attendance, decreasing involvement with drugs and alcohol, and reducing violent behavior.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this Member urges his colleagues to support H. Res. 25.

Mr. Speaker, this Member wishes to commend to his colleagues three editorials from the Omaha World-Herald.

First, the editorial from the December 11, 2002, edition of the paper, entitled ``Kurds set an impressive example,'' correctly commends the economic, political, and social progress made by the Kurds in northern Iraq despite Saddam Hussein's concerted and well-documented efforts to annihilate Iraq's Kurdish population.

Second, the editorial from the December 16, 2002, edition of the Omaha World-Herald, entitled ``Behind Mexico's farm woes,'' encourages Mexico to pursue new farm policies which fully utilize market opportunities created through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rather than simply continuing to blame U.S. farm subsidies for Mexico's continued ag sector problems.

Finally, the editorial from the January 2, 2003, edition of the paper, entitled ``Open trade, open meetings,'' offers support for U.S. proposals to increase transparency within the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Kurds Set an Impressive Example

The Kurdish area of Iraq shows the progress that is

possible once a dictator is freed from a dictator's rule.

U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel visited that zone last week, and he was

on the mark in saying the Kurdish area has the potential to

serve as a model for what a post-Saddam Iraq could become.

Saddam Hussein's regime devastated the Kurd's territory in

the 1980s but lost its grip on the area in 1991 as a result

of the Gulf War. Economic development began to surge there in

1996, when the United Nations began channeling a set portion

of Iraq's oil revenues to the Kurds. Saddam's government is

able to short-circuit or delay various development projects,

but the Kurds have still made impressive progress.

Here is how Barham Salih, prime minister of the Kurdistan

Regional Government, described that improvement, in an

opinion essay this week in The Washington Post:

``In 11 years we have rebuilt some 4,000 villages, set up

two universities and opened more than 2,700 schools.

Protected by U.S. and British air power, we have created an

environment of freedom unique in Iraqi history, in which

Kurds, Turkomens, Assyrian

Christians and Arabs enjoy cultural and political rights. My

home city of Sulaimani alone has more than 130 media outlets,

including 13 TV stations and dozens of newspapers--as well as

unrestricted access to the Internet and satellite TV.''

The currency in Kurdish-controlled areas is worth more than

100 times its counterpart in the rest of Iraq, the San

Francisco Chronicle notes. A Chronicle article described the

area's newly paved highways as well as new hotels and open-

air restaurants.

The child mortality rate among the Kurds, the Chronicle

points out, is about 45 percent less than that for the rest

of Iraq. Such a contrast strongly suggests that Saddam's

decisions in allocating medical resources are a major factor

in bringing misery to average Iraqis.

The Kurds' progress shouldn't be exaggerated. Many Kurds

eke out only a modest living, and the area's political system

still needs to achieve the orderliness and relative comity

associated with democratic systems.

On balance, though, the Kurds' achievement after only a few

years offers tremendous hope. In certain respects, it can be

a role model not just for Iraq but for many countries in that

part of the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the legislation. I am very pleased to say that it is a 1-year extension, only because it is important that we address the reforms that are necessary for our own constituents and for some of the very important matters brought to us by the managers of the National Flood Insurance Program and FEMA.

During most of my time here in Congress, I have been working on reform legislation for the flood insurance program. I would say it is overdue. With Mr. Kennedy from Massachusetts, we often tried to make some reforms. We were successful in part. In recent years, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) and I have been working on this subject. We have reintroduced legislation today.

We were happy to work with Mr. Bentsen, the former Member from Texas, and we look forward to working with all Members, such as the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Baker), who has played a key role and has had a great interest in this subject. This is important legislation which the chairman has identified for work this year, so I hope their input will come to us.

Mr. Speaker, again, I rise in strong support of the legislation and urge its passage.