Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Kim Williams Clark, an accomplished attorney, educator, and community leader.

Kim Williams Clark earned her B.S. in criminal justice from John Jay College, and earned her law degree from Rutgers University at Camden with the distinguished honor of receiving a Dean's list award. Daughter to community advocate Bessie L. Williams and former worker with Board of Education Jesse E. Williams, Kim currently serves as dean of the Office of Institutional Advancement at the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University. In this capacity, she builds corporate and foundation support, and creates new partnerships geared toward increasing funding for university projects, student centered initiatives, and external outreach.

Prior to her work with Long Island University, Kim Williams Clark served as associate dean of the Center for Continuing Education and Professional Development at Georgetown University. In addition, she also served as special advisor to the provost, director of institutional advancement and paralegal studies at the Brooklyn campus of Long Island University. During her career, she has organized resources and built alliances with government agencies and generated millions of dollars to support youth programming and urban community development. Coupled with this, she has maintained a law office in the New York City's financial district with a concentration in family and non-profit law, where she dedicates much of her time to representing indigent persons.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Kim is a member of numerous boards and councils including, the Carver Bank Scholarship Board, Greater New York and District of Columbia Chapters of the Links, Inc., and Coney Island and Crown Heights Neighborhood Advisory Board(s). Her many accomplishments have not gone unnoticed for Kim Williams Clark received the Trailblazer Award from New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery of the 18th District. In December 2007, New Canaan Baptist Church and Congressman Edolphus Towns will present her with the Community Service Award.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the impressive achievements of Kim Williams Clark for her commitment to the Brooklyn community.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a great individual of high morals, ethics, and integrity.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Jesse L. Blanding. Jesse was born in Lugoff, South Carolina to Bergegard and Mazie Blanding. He is 1 of 7 children, 2 boys and 5 girls.

Jesse was educated in the Lugoff School System, graduating from Jackson High School in 1962. Upon his graduation, he obtained a job with the City of Columbia as a laborer. He eventually worked his way up to machinist and later, bricklayer.

Jesse relocated to New York City gaining employment at Standard Plating where he was able to display his willingness to work hard. It all paid off when he received a promotion to foreman. After 5 years, he went to work for the Nice Fuel Oil Company. After 3 years he left Nice Fuel and went to work for Wally Fuel where he stayed for 17 years.

Jesse is a busy member of New Canaan Baptist Church. He has worked as the bus driver and maintenance person for New Canaan's bus company. Jesse's memberships in various ministries include: former president of the Male Chorus, Chairman of the Musician's Appreciation Committee, and membership in the South Carolina Club. He is instrumental in the renovation of New Canaan and its day to day upkeep.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the hard work and achievements of Jesse Blanding.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this kind and tenacious man.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the work and achievements of Paul Ajlouny. Paul was born in 1959 in Detroit, Michigan. He moved to Hempstead, Long Island in 1965.

Paul graduated from Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York in 1977. He earned a Bachelor's of Science Degree from American University of Beirut with a double major of Biology and Chemistry, graduating with honors. Afterwards he attended American University of Beirut's Medical School.

Paul became Vice-President of Export for Omar International Grain and Trading Company in 1983. In 1989, he left there and became a Hospital Administrator. Following his stint at the hospital, he decided to return to college and enrolled in St. John's Law School. He graduated from St. John's in 1999.

Paul now has a private practice specializing in personal injury law. His firm serves poor and disadvantaged clients throughout the Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens. He is a member of the Nassau County Bar Association; the Trial Lawyers of America; The New York State Bar Association; and the American Bar Association.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Paul Ajlouny, Esq. for his contributions to our community and for providing his legal expertise to those who need it most.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Paul Ajlouny.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to William B. Jones. Dr. Jones is dedicated to the study of science, as he has worked endlessly to contribute his time and attention to the medical field.

Dr. Jones was educated at Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later went on to attend Georgetown Medical School in Washington, DC, where he became a Medical Doctor.

Dr. Jones is fortuned with the impressive opportunity to have a private practice in Hempstead, New York. He is also the Chairman for the Department of PM&R at Island Medical Center, and Resident Physician at the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, New York.

Dr. Jones is a busy member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports & Occupational Rehabilitation; The New York State Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; Nassau Medical Association; American Medical Association; and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the hard work and achievements of William B. Jones, MD. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this kind and tenacious man.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mrs. Sarah V. Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy has served the Brooklyn community as an outstanding citizen and advocate for fair work ethics and job security.

Sarah, born in Brooklyn, NY to the Rev. Febber and Hattie Ruth Kennedy, at Coney Island Hospital is the seventh of ten siblings. She was educated in the New York City public school system. Sarah attended Clara Barton High School where she majored in Cosmetology. After graduation she continued her education by attending Brooklyn College where she majored in Early Childhood Development.

Upon completion of her studies, Sarah found employment at P.S. 80 as a Kindergarten teacher. Sarah taught for 3 years and then moved on to the New York City Housing Authority. There, Sarah worked for a grassroot federally- funded poverty program for approximately 8 to 10 years. Sarah later went on to serve as a Social Health Technician in Psychology at Coney Island Hospital and also began her involvement with DC37's Local 420 union under the leadership of the late James Butler. Sarah made it a point to become involved with the union and became the Local 420's Chapter Chairperson. As the chapter's chairperson, Sarah was instrumental in fighting for union members to receive respect, fair work ethics, and job security. Her role in the Local 420's campaign for equality assisted in preventing the closing of Coney Island Hospital by the former Mayor Giuliani.

Sarah's many accomplishments and achievements as the Local 420's Chapter Chairperson helped to catapult her into the esteemed position of being the first ever Executive Vice President for DC37, Local 420.

Madam Speaker, I would once again like to recognize the impressive achievements of Mrs. Sarah V. Kennedy. The dedication and contributions that Sarah Kennedy has given to the Brooklyn community are greatly appreciated and continue to constructively develop our district.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this extraordinary woman and the great things that she stands for.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. DeCosta Headley. Mr. Headley has served the Brooklyn community as an advocate for social service programs and making a progressive change in our district.

Mr. Headley graduated from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a B.A. in Behavioral Science. He resides in East New York with his wife and two daughters.

Mr. Headley's philanthropic activities are well known throughout the East New York/Brownsville communities. He has served on various local community planning boards; and was the founder of the community's first local development corporation, resulting in over 3,000 new jobs. Mr. Headley was also the founder of the Federation of Block Associations for East New York. He spent several years as a social worker, and in the late 1970s became the executive director of numerous group homes for at-risk youth within the East New York/Brownsville communities. Among Mr. Headley's notable achievements is the Federation of Addiction Agencies, which was established to provide a drug-free treatment program in East New York and Brownsville.

As a successful entrepreneur, Mr. Headley is President of Diversified Inch By Inch, Inc., one of the city's top African-American general contracting firms. Always in the forefront of serving his community, Mr. Headley's company has built local medical and dental facilities for Oxford Health Plans, Brookdale Hospital & Medical Center, and Interfaith Medical Center. Mr. Headley has enhanced his entrepreneurial spirit by aiding local churches within the five boroughs acquire land for the use of building senior citizen housing and youth centers.

For over 16 years, DeCosta Headley served as District Leader for the 40th Assembly District in the East New York section of Kings County. Throughout his career, Mr. Headley has dedicated himself to enhancing the quality of life for his constituents. Those efforts have resulted in college scholarships, employment opportunities, affordable housing, and increased public services. Now retired from the position, he continues to play an active role in the political landscape of Brooklyn, by successfully operating the campaigns of candidates seeking seats on the city, state, and federal levels of government within and outside the state of New York. Mr. Headley's efforts have led him to receive several community awards including: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Foundation Award and the Mayor's Award for Community Service.

Madam Speaker, I would once again like to recognize the impressive achievements and contributions that Mr. DeCosta Headley has made to the Brooklyn Community. The dedication that Mr. Headley has displayed throughout his career continues to constructively develop our district.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this remarkable man and the great things that he stands for.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Elijah T. Green of Bushwick, New York.

Mr. Green is currently enrolled in high school at Eastern Brooklyn Congregation for

Public Service in Bushwick, New York. He previously attended PS 297, Abraham Stockton School, and IS 33, Mark Hopkins Intermediate School, located in Bedford Stuyvesant.

Mr. Green was born February 15, 1991 and 7 short years ago joined and was baptized, in June of 2000, at New Canaan Baptist Church. Since joining New Canaan Mr. Green has been actively involved with five ministries; the RJL Youth Choir, the Junior Male Chorus, the Usher Board, the Pulpit Nurses, and the anniversary Committee.

Mr. Green credits Rev. Richard J. Lawson, who has taught him the meaning of respect, leadership, devotion, pride, and most of all how to be a young man of God. Mr. Green believes that a man's steps are ordered by God.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Mr. Green for his contribution to his church and community.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this wonderful young man.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute and to honor our Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Yvonne J. Graham. Yvonne was born and raised in Jamaica, West Indies. She moved to New York in 1979. Yvonne has a Bachelor's Degree in Health Administration and Community Health from St. Joseph's College and a Master's Degree in Public Health from Hunter College. She also completed the Executive Program in Business Administration at Columbia University School of Business and more recently, an Honorary Doctorate of Law Degree that was conferred on her by her alma mater St. Joseph's College. Yvonne, also a registered nurse, has worked in the emergency room of Brookdale Hospital.

Yvonne has been a pioneer and a champion in the area of public health for more than 20 years. Before accepting her post as Brooklyn's Deputy Borough President, Yvonne founded and was Executive Director of the Caribbean Women's Health Association which provides comprehensive, culturally-sensitive health care, immigration, and social support services to diverse communities. Her vision was critical to the 2005 founding of Brooklyn's first Center on Health Disparities which is working to reduce cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, infant mortality, asthma, and diabetes among minority communities. The center is an innovative partnership with the Borough President's Office, SUNY Downstate Medical Center and the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health.

Yvonne has led the effort to increase the number of women in leadership positions in government, business, and industry by spearheading the Women's Leadership Initiative. This is a partnership between academic institutions, government agencies, community-based organizations, and the private sector that brings women together for dialogue and networking.

Yvonne was instrumental in the co-naming of Flatbush's Nostrand Avenue in honor of Haitian revolutionary hero Toussaint L'Ouverture. She served on the Mayor's Committee on Immigration; the New York City HIV Planning Council; and the Mayor's Commission on the Status of Women.

Yvonne has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors for her achievements in community service, including YWCA's Women of Distinction Award; National Association of Black Social Workers' Public Citizen of the Year Award; the Marcus Garvey Medal of Honor; and the Frederick Douglass Medal of Honor just to name a few.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham for her many accomplishments and all of her efforts to ensure that our most vulnerable citizens have access to healthcare.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Yvonne J. Graham.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Officer Anthony Saunders of the 79th Precinct. Officer Saunders was born in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and is the second of 4 children. Officer Saunders has been married for 13 years to his wife Michelle, and from that union they have 3 beautiful children.

Officer Saunders was appointed to the New York City Police Department on July 5, 1989. He was assigned to the field training unit in South East Queens where he performed foot patrol duties within the confines of the 100th, 101st, 105th, 106th, and 113th Precincts. In October of 1991, he was transferred to the 45th Precinct in the Bronx where he served as a patrolman on the midnight shift for approximately 2 years with ``above standards'' evaluations. In 1993, Officer Saunders was transferred back home to the 79th Precinct where he has performed numerous duties to include the Conditions Unit, the Grand Larceny Auto Unit, the Domestic Violence Unit, and the Street Narcotics and Anti- Crime Units.

After 12 years on patrol in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, Officer Saunders was assigned to the Community Affairs Unit and for the past 3 years his experience and expertise has resulted in improving community relations by helping to encourage and foster a strong partnership between the community and the 79th Precinct. Officer Saunders collaborates with local officials; community-based organizations, schools, and houses of worship in Bedford Stuyvesant. He plays an active role in organizing parades, demonstrations, rallies, and various community events.

Madam Speaker, I would also like to recognize that Officer Saunders has been instrumental in closing the gap between the community and the New York City Police Department.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this outstanding officer of the New York City Police Department.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Aaron S. Bell, a recent high-school graduate, and role model. He graduated from Springfield Gardens High School in Springfield Gardens, Queens, New York in 2006, with honors. He was on the Principal's Honor Roll for 4 consecutive years. He was also selected for the Principal's Leadership Program. Mr. Bell served as a Peer-Regents Tutor. He was a 2-year 3rd Grade Teacher for a day, under the Junior Achievement Program, and was a major contributor to the formation of the SAT Prep and Peer Math Clubs. He considers his greatest high school achievement was graduating with a ``Regents-Advanced Diploma.''

Mr. Bell was born on December 22, 1988 at Long Island Hospital College in Brooklyn, New York, to proud parents, Steven and Robin Bell. He is their third child, and the sibling of Steven L. Bell Jr., and Shakima M. Bell.

As of December 22nd, Mr. Bell will hit the 19-year mark, as a member of the New Canaan Baptist Church. He has served on the Junior Usher Board/Usher Board #2, and as a student of the Christian Education Ministry. He has also been a faithful member of the Sunbeam, Junior Male Chorus, RJL Youth choirs, and the Youth Praise Team.

Mr. Bell has participated in and remains active as a member of the All Starts Project, Inc. He began as a student in the Development School for Youth sector, a corporate business training program, which provides corporate hands-on-training by business executives and professionals.

After graduating in the Fall of 2005, from the Development School for Youth, Mr. Bell became an active volunteer and participant in many corporate-sponsored luncheons, galas and conferences, as a host to some of New York's Top Corporation executives, such as Ernst & Young, Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch, Winston & Strawn LLP, Latham & Watkins LLP, and many others. Currently, he is a new staff member of the Productions Team for the All Stars Project, Inc.'s Talent Show Network.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize Aaron S. Bell for his achievement as a young scholar, and dedicated community youth leader.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this very industrious individual.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the very distinguished, Dr. W. Ruth Whitney. Dr. Whitney is married to the Reverend Dr. Curtis L. Whitney, and is the First Lady of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church in Brooklyn, New York. She is also a proud mother and grandmother.

Dr. Whitney received her Bachelor of Science Degree from the New York State University at Old Westbury. She earned her Masters Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University, located in Garden City, Long Island.

Dr. Whitney is an active community servant in the borough of Brooklyn, where she resides. Dr. Whitney's outstanding leadership propelled her to the forefront of movements that promote positive change and development to enhance the quality of life in many diverse communities throughout the Nation. New York Newsday named her ``Outstanding Personality of the Week'' in 1992. She received the ``Woman of Distinction Award'', presented to her by New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery in 2001. She establishes programs for Christian education and Christian leadership throughout the Nation.

Dr. Whitney is the Assistant Dean of the Interdenominational Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows; Vice-President (Kings County), Ministers' Wives and Ministers' Widows Fellowship of Eastern Baptist Association; First-Vice President, New York State Interdenominational Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows; Vice President, Empire State Convention Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows; Member of the National Black Alcoholism Council, Inc.; Member of Lefferts Gardens Civic Association of Brooklyn, NY, Inc; and Co-Instructor for class: ``Marriage & Family for Couples'', at the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. Dr. Whitney is also Dean, Empire Baptist State Convention Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows; President, Eastern Baptist Association of Ministers' Wives & Widows, Fellowship of New York; President, Baptist Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows of Greater New York & Vicinity; Assistant Secretary, Empire State Convention Ministers' Wives & Ministers' Widows; Founder, New Members Ministry, Mt. Sinai Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY;

and Advisory Council Member, New York Organ Donor Network--Saving lives through organ and tissue donation.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the impressive achievements of Dr. Whitney for her contribution to the betterment of communities throughout Brooklyn, New York.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the very distinguished Dr. W. Ruth Whitney.

Madam Speaker, on November 3, Sikhs from up and down the East Coast gathered here in Washington to protest the 23rd anniversary of the Delhi massacres. Over 20,000 Sikhs were killed in that massacre, which followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Sikh police officers were locked in their barracks to keep them from interfering with the massacre. State TV and radio called for ``blood for blood,'' inciting the people to kill more Sikhs.

This was a massive atrocity by the Indian regime against the Sikhs. It made it clear that the Indian government had no intention of treating the Sikhs like people in a free and democratic country ought to be treated. Instead, they chose to inflict mass terror on their Sikh citizens. This is not the way a democratic government acts, Madam Speaker. It is the action of a terrorist regime. India should be declared a terrorist regime for acts like this, for creating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and for its ongoing subversion of Pakistan by sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Sindh, as reported in the January 2, 2002 Washington Times.

Sikhs in attendance at the demonstration raised slogans in support of Khalistan as well as slogans in opposition to the massacre. As you know, the Sikhs declared their independence from India on October 7, 1987. Khalistan is their country, but it remains occupied by over half a million Indian forces. I would like to know why ``the world's largest democracy'' insists on maintaining authoritarian control of Khalistan instead of allowing the people there to have a free and fair vote on its status. This congress should put itself on record in support of such a vote, as well as the plebiscite that was promised to the Kashmiri people in 1948 and has never occurred. Nagalim, too, seeks its independence from India. The Nagas should also be granted the right to vote on their status. What would be wrong with that, if India is the democracy it says it is? And if India is the democracy it says it is, then why are so many peoples trying to get out from under its rule?

In addition to demanding that India allow the right to self- determination (which is the essence of democracy), we should demand that basic human rights be observed in ``the world's largest democracy.'' The Delhi massacre is just one example of how basic human rights are ignored there. The murders of over 250,000 Sikhs, over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, more 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Gujarat, more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, and tens of thousands of other minorities, including Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and others speak loudly on the lack of human rights in India. So does the fact that Amnesty International has not been allowed into Punjab since 1984. This situation cannot continue.

We should cut off our aid and trade with India until it allows basic human rights, including but not limited to the right to self- determination, to all people under its rule.

Madam Speaker, the Council of Khalistan issued an excellent and informative press release on the Delhi massacres and the demonstration that was held this month. I recommend it to all my colleagues and I would like to place it in the Record at this time.

Sikhs Remember Delhi Massacres With Very Successful Demonstration

Washington, D.C., November 13, 2007.--Sikhs from around the

East Coast gathered by the Gandhi statue at the Indian

Embassy in Washington, DC on November 3 to commemorate the

Delhi massacres of November 1984 in which over 20,000 Sikhs

were murdered while the police were locked in their barracks

and the state-run television and radio called for more Sikh

blood.

The rally was attended by Sikhs from Philadelphia,

including Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, S. Karj Singh, and S.

Dharam Singh, as well as Sikhs from New Jersey, Baltimore,

Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, and other locations. New

York Sikhs led by Sardar Avtar Singh Pannu also participated.

The attendees spoke, carried signs, and chanted slogans.

Slogans included ``Khalistan Zindabad'' (``Long live

Khalistan''), ``India free Khalistan'', ``India stop killing

minorities'', ``India free Kashmir'', ``India free Christian

Nagaland'', and others.

The Delhi massacres were a brutal chapter in India's

repression of the Sikhs, according to Dr. Gurmit Singh

Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, which is

leading the demonstration. ``This brutal, government-inspired

massacre clarified that there is no place in India for

Sikhs,'' Dr. Aulakh said. On October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation

declared its independence from India, naming its new country

Khalistan. In the twenty years since then, India has

continued its illegal occupation of Khalistan and stepped up

the repression of the Sikhs while the Sikh Nation has

continued to work to achieve its birthright.

History shows that multinational states such as India are

doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-Hungary, India's

longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia,

and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is

a polyglot like those countries, thrown together for the

convenience of the British colonialists. It is doomed to

break up as they did.

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, over 89,000

Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of

Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, and others. The Indian

Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs

``worse than a genocide.''

Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh

Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of

Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested,

tortured, and murdered, and then their bodies were declared

unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police

custody. His body was not given to his family.

The police never released the body of former Jathedar of

the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh

Ghotna murdered him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial

for the Jathedar Kaunke murder. No one has been brought to

justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh

Khalra.

According to a report by the Movement Against State

Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political

prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in

illegal custody since 1984! Tens of thousands of other

minorities are also being held as political prisoners,

according to Amnesty International. We demand the immediate

release of all these political prisoners.

``Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the

repression and lift the standard of living for the people of

Punjab,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the

Council of Khalistan. ``Democracies don't commit genocide. As

Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht,

said, `If a Sikh is not for Khalistan, he is not a Sikh',''

Dr. Aulakh noted. ``We must continue to press for our God-

given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without political

power, religions cannot flourish and nations perish.''

Madam Speaker, this month marks the 538th birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. As you may know, Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in what is now West Punjab. Every year, Sikhs from around the world gather in Nankana Sahib, where

Guru Nanak was born, to honor him. Let me take this opportunity to honor Guru Nanak also and to congratulate the Sikhs of the world on this important occasion.

Guru Nanak stood up to tyranny. He worked to liberate his people from the tyranny of the Moghul ruler Babar. Today, Sikhs suffer under oppression from Hindu rulers who have murdered over a quarter of a million of them and hold more than 52,000 as political prisoners. They also killed over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. This oppression is no more acceptable than the oppression of Guru Nanak's time.

Sikhs can honor Guru Nanak by standing up to India to secure their own freedom and helping the other minorities secure theirs too. Freedom is the longing of every human heart. God intends for everyone to be free.

We are the primary power in today's world, Madam Speaker. We can use our influence to support the cause of freedom in South Asia. By doing so, we can honor Guru Nanak and all those who have worked for freedom around the world.

The time has come to let India know that if it is going to proclaim itself a democracy, it must act like one. That means allowing everyone, including minorities, to exercise their most basic human rights. Freedom is the birthright of all people. If India will not do so, it should be placed back on the list of nations that do not respect religious freedom, as it was at one time, and the appropriate sanctions should be imposed. In addition, unless India is willing to live up to its democratic principles, we should stop our aid to India in all forms.

Acting like a democracy also means recognizing the right of self- determination. Self-determination is the essence of democracy. Where is the vote on the status of Kashmir that India promised a mere 59 years ago? Does it take 59 years to set up a free and fair vote? Khalistan, the Sikh homeland, declared itself independent 20 years ago. Where is the vote on its status? And what of the Nagas and all the people simply seeking the freedom to rule themselves? The United States carries a lot of weight in the world. If we are serious about spreading democracy, we should work to bring about self-determination for all the peoples and nations of the subcontinent. That would help all people shake off oppression and live in dignity and prosperity, and it is the right thing to do.

Madam Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's open letter regarding the birthday of Guru Nanak into the Record.

Congratulations to the Khalsa Panth on the Parkash Devas of Guru Nanak

Dear Khalsa Panth: As you know, this month marks the

birthday (Parkash Devas) of the first Sikh Guru; Guru Nanak,

founder of the Sikh religion. Congratulations to the Sikh

Nation on this momentous occasion.

This year marks the 538th anniversary of the birth of Guru

Nanak. He was born in 1469 and departed this world for his

heavenly abode in 1539. Guru Nanak was the founder of the

Sikh religion. (``Mary Sikha Jagat Witch Nanak Nirmal Panth

Chalaya.'') On November 24 in Nankana Sahib, now in West

Punjab, Sikhs from around the world will celebrate this

occasion. Last year, over 10,000 showed up for the

celebration. Crowds enthusiastically raised slogans of

``Khalistan Zindabad!'' The Sangat showed great devotion and

reverence on this pious occasion.

Guru Nanak confronted Babar, the Moghul ruler of the time

and called him a Jabbar (oppressor) and spoke out against the

tyranny of the rulers of that time. He was even imprisoned by

Babar, along with his followers. Today, Sikhs face similar

oppression by the Hindu rulers of India.

Just as Guru Nanak spoke out against the Moghul tyrant

Babar, we must work to free our Sikh brothers and sisters

from the oppression of the Brahmins. It is incumbent on us to

achieve freedom for Khalistan, as is our birthright. As

former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Professor Darshan Singh has

said, ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh.''

India has murdered over 250,000 of our Sikh brothers and

sisters, as well as more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland,

over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, and tens of thousands of other

minorities. More than 52,000 Sikhs (and tens of thousands of

other minorities) are being held as political prisoners. In

1994, the U.S. State Department reported that the Indian

government had paid over 41,000 cash bounties for killing

Sikhs.

A MASR report quotes the Punjab Civil Magistracy as writing

``if we add up the figures of the last few years the number

of innocent persons killed would run into lakhs [hundreds of

thousands.]'' The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian

government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' Guru

Nanak did not tolerate oppression; he struggled against it

wherever it reared its ugly head. We must be good followers

of Guru Nanak by doing the same today. India is also

destroying Sikhs economically. The Indian government fixes

the price for fertilizer very high and the price for

produce very low so Sikh farmers can't even get the cost

of production for their crops. This year it fixed the

wheat price at Rs 750 per quintal. Even Badal demanded Rs

1000 per quintal. If Punjab farmers could sell their

produce across the border in Pakistan and the Middle East,

they could easily get close to Rs 1,500 per quintal and

would be able to make a living.

India diverts Punajb's river water, its natural resource,

to neighboring Haryana and Rajasthan without any

compensation. India seeks to destroy the Sikh Nation

religiously, economically, and politically. Guru Nanak would

not permit them to do so. We must show the spirit of Guru

Nanak and reclaim our sovereignty.

Guru Nanak travelled extensively, to the Middle East, where

he visited Baghdad, and throughout India, along with his two

companions, one Hindu, one Muslim. He spread his message of

truthfulness, respect for the rights of individuals, earning

an honest living, sharing with the needy, and praying to

Almighty God. He was revered by Hindus and Muslims alike.

When he left this world, his body was not found. The sheet

covering his body was torn in two. The Hindus cremated it and

the Muslims buried it, each according to their customs.

Overcoming oppression in today's world will earn the Sikhs of

today similar respect. We must not accept India's tyrannical

rule over our homeland.

Guru Nanak is remembered as Baba Nanak Shah Faqir, Hindu Da

Guru, Mussleman Da Pir. He preached the equality of the

entire human race, including gender equality. To this day,

these are cornerstones of the Sikh religion. But our Sikh

brethren in Punjab, Khalistan do not get to experience

equality. Instead, they are subjected to the worst kind of

oppression by the Indian regime.

India is on the verge of disintegration. Kashmir is about

to separate from India. As L.K. Advani said, ``If Kashmir

goes, India goes.'' History shows that multinational states

such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-

Hungary, India's longtime friend the Soviet Union,

Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point.

India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those

countries, thrown together for the convenience of the British

colonialists. It is doomed to break up as they did.

Currently, there are 17 freedom movements within India's

borders. It has 18 official languages. Montenegro, which has

less than a million people, has become a sovereign country

and a member of the United Nations. Now it is the time for

the Sikh Nation of Punjab, Khalistan to become independent.

The sooner the better.

Guru Nanak gave the Sikhs our identity. We can honor him by

reclaiming the freedom that is our birthright: ``Raj Bina Na

Dharam Chaley Hain, Dharam Bina Sab Dale Male Hain.''

(``Without political power, a religion cannot flourish and

without religion, people are oppressed and persecuted.'') Let

us stand up for the ideals of Guru Nanak and defend the

integrity of the Sikh religion and the Sikh Nation.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh

President,

Council of Khalistan.

Madam Speaker, I would like to call my colleagues' attention to an outstanding letter written by Claiborne E. Reeder, RPh, PhD, to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach, expressing grave concern about recent FDA actions which adversely affect the compounding of medications for individual patients which is an important part of the practice of pharmacy. With 35 years of experience as a Pharmacist and educator, Dr. Reeder is a distinguished professor of Pharmacoeconomics and a nationally recognized leader in his field. In his letter, he urges Commissioner von Eschenbach to reconsider the FDA's position on compounding and comply with the federal ruling in Medical Center Pharmacy v. Gonzales which recognizes that the practice of Pharmacy is rightfully governed by the respective State Boards of Pharmacy.

Madam Speaker, I am entering Dr. Reeder's letter into the Record.

Columbia, SC,

October 19, 2007.

Andrew C. von Eschenbach,

Food and Drug Administration,

Office of the Commissioner,

Rockville, MD.

Dear Commissioner von Eschenbach: I am writing to express

my concerns about the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA)

recent actions regarding compounded medications prepared for

individual patients as part of the practice of pharmacy. The

agency's position on compounding medications, coupled with

its actions against several compounding pharmacies and its

intervention and influence on recent Centers for Medicare and

Medicaid Services (CMS) policies on compounded medications,

establishes a dangerous precedent that will affect patient

access to needed medications. Compounding medicines is an

essential component of the practice of pharmacy that provides

physicians with the opportunity to provide patients with

medicines that are prepared to the specific needs of the

individual. Compounding and preparing medications pursuant to

a valid prescription or physician's drug order has always

been and should continue to be a professional prerogative

that is governed by the pharmacy regulatory boards within

each state. Governance of the practice of pharmacy is a state

responsibility and should not be a matter for federal

intervention,

Ignoring the recent Federal court decision Medical Center

Pharmacy v. Gonzales, 451 F. Supp.2d 854, 865 (W.D. Tex.

2006), the FDA reasserted its legal position ``that all

compounded drugs are unapproved new, and therefore illegal,

drugs under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)''.

Contrary to the FDA's position, the Federal Court held that

``compounded drugs, when created for an individual patient

pursuant to a prescription from a licensed practitioner, were

implicitly exempt from the new drug definitions contained in

the Act''. The Federal Court seems to understand the issue

very clearly and recognizes that medications compounded for

individual patients pursuant to a valid prescription are not

``new drugs'' and are therefore not under the purview of the

FDCA or the FDA.

As a pharmacist/educator with 35 years of experience, I

appreciate the FDA's concern for quality, safety and efficacy

of medicines. That said, I also know that pharmacists are

educated and trained in the ``art and science'' of pharmacy

which includes compounding medicines for patients who need

them. The broad interpretation ``that all compounded drugs

are unapproved new, and therefore illegal drugs'' is a

very slippery slope of regulatory intrusion on the

practice of pharmacy as is FDA's practice of exercising

its enforcement discretion through reliance on the 2002

Compliance Policy Guide, Section 460.200. Many patients

have medication needs that are unmet by commercially

available products. Patients often require a particular

strength or dosage form of a drug that is not available on

the market. Also, commercially available products may

contain additives or excipients to which the patient is

allergic or intolerant. To declare compounded medications

illegal is to deny these patients access to needed

medicines.

Compounding medicines is not limited to the typical

community environment. Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities,

and specialty pharmacy providers prepare medications to order

as part of their daily practice. Do the FDA and CMS positions

mean that preparation of parenteral and enteral solutions as

well as other extemporaneous products, within these settings

is no longer legal? If not, then a disparity is created.

To further illustrate the consequences of the Agency's

position on compounding, CMS, without explanation or medical

rationale, reversed its long standing policy on inhalation

medications by excluding compounded inhalation medications

for Medicare beneficiaries stating that they were no longer

``medically necessary''. This new CMS policy, based on FDA's

position, may have far-reaching and serious consequences fur

Medicare beneficiaries who rely on nebulizer medications.

Eliminating compounding will severely restrict access to

these and other critical medications for Medicare

beneficiaries. Moreover, the policy will limit physicians'

abilities to prescribe the medicines in the strengths,

formulations, and routes of administration that are best for

patient care.

I am asking that the FDA to reconsider its position and

comply with the Federal court ruling. The practice of

pharmacy is governed by the respective state Boards of

Pharmacy through the powers granted by their legislatures.

Compounding is an integral part of the practice of pharmacy

and should thus fall under the governance of the profession

at the state level.

Thank you for considering my comments in this matter. If

you or anyone at the FDA would like to discuss this issue in

more detail, I would be delighted to do so.

Sincerely,

Claiborne E. Reeder,

Distinguished Professor of Pharmacoeconomics.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional and caring woman on this day of her retirement, Elizabeth Shell Carr. Elizabeth Carr, a New York licensed Clinical Social Worker, spent her first years in Virginia with the Harlem Veteran's Center as a Military Sexual Trauma Counselor for combat and non-combat veterans.

Elizabeth Carr recalls one of her most gratifying experiences as the organizer of a successful SPA Treatment Day which included breakfast, lunch, and the dissemination of information by the Mayor's Office of Veteran Affairs. Nearly 50 women attended, each of them receiving a gift, as well as a certificate of appreciation from New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery for their service to our country.

For the past 2 years, Elizabeth Carr enjoyed working closer to home at Brooklyn's VA Medical Center. She is a former member of the Social Work Education committee, assisted with annual programs for ``Women in Government'' and Black History Month at the VA. She received a monetary performance award for her outstanding contribution to the Employee Assistance Program.

Elizabeth Carr is a clinician with more than 25 years experience in health and mental health. She was previously employed with St. Luke's Roosevelt Medical Center and was also an adjunct professor of Graduate Social Work at both Columbia University and New York University.

Elizabeth Carr is a long time resident of the Willoughby Walk Cooperative Apartments in Brooklyn. She is proud of her close knit community and is actively involved. She has served many years as floor captain within the co-op. She is also active in her church, Emmanuel Baptist. She was co-editor of the church newspaper, member and chairperson for the Missions and Benevolence Ministry, and committee member for the church and cooperative's commemorative anniversaries in both 2006 and 2007.

Elizabeth Carr has many plans for this new phase of her life including completing a journal and a book of poetry, visiting family and friends, and traveling.

Madam Speaker, Elizabeth Shell Carr has given a lot to America's veterans, her church, and her community. I would like to recognize all of her accomplishments and achievements and congratulate her on her retirement.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this wonderful woman.