Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Brooklyn resident Deborah Battle Pointer. Deborah Battle Pointer is a true child of the Diaspora with Carolinian, Jamaican and Black Foot Indian roots. She was born and raised in Connecticut and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from SUNY Cortland and a Master's Degree in Education from Cambridge College. The issues of access and equality for all have been important cornerstones in her academic career. For the past 30 years, she has worked in higher education, and served her community as a volunteer while maintaining her involvement in the creative arts.

Deborah was the first Associate Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Cornell University, the first black woman to hold the position of Director of Admissions at Columbia University's School of Engineering and former Director of Financial Aid at both Columbia College and SUNY Downstate Medical Center. While residing in Ithaca, New York, she was elected to the Ithaca School Board where she served two terms.

Ms. Pointer is a co-founder and Co-Executive Producer of ``Russell Simmons Presents Def Poetry,'' a television series shown on the Home Box Office cable network. She was also an Executive Consultant to the Broadway hit show, Def Poetry. The television series aired for the first time in December of 2001 and continues to be a hit on HBO today. Deborah and other Executive Producers of Def Poetry were recognized with a Peabody Award for Excellence in Television for the HBO program and received a Tony Award for the Broadway production in 2003.

In October of 2001, under the company name Bone Bristle Entertainment LLC, Deborah and her business partners created a poetry anthology published by Random House, ``Bum Rush the Page.'' The anthology features works of 200 poets and has sold more than 15,000 copies. She has recently published a children's picture book, ``I Am Hip-Hop'' through her non-profit organization Healium Inc. founded by Deborah Pointer and Ronald Grant. Healium Inc. is dedicated to the efforts of ending child abuse.

Deborah is currently a consultant to the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the Children's Hospital at Downstate where she is involved in development and community outreach. She is also one of a few African-American Christmas and Kwanzaa ornament designers and was featured as an Editor's Choice in ``Decorative Gifts and Accessories'' magazine.

Ms. Pointer has authored several magazine articles on financing and college education

and has worked on a series of videotapes on financial aid for students. The videotapes aired on Public Broadcasting Stations in the New York tri-state area. For many years she was a consultant to ESPN on selecting the High School Athlete of the Year. Deborah is currently a member of the Brooklyn Borough President's Task Force on BCAT, President of the Rutland Road Block Association and a member of numerous other organizations.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the impressive achievements of Deborah Battle Pointer and her commitment to the children of Brooklyn, New York. I also want to thank Ms. Pointer for sharing her gifts with the rest of us.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Brooklyn, New York resident, Ms. Claudette Audige. Claudette Audige was born on December 7, 1962, in Kingston, Jamaica. She has been a resident of New York for more than 21 years. Ms. Audige is the wife of Andre Audige and the mother of 3 beautiful children, Chase, Chad and Jodie.

Claudette Audige has been an experienced loan consultant for more than 20 years. She is noted for her wisdom and compassion for encouraging home ownership. She has inspired and helped many people to save their homes as well as purchase a home.

Most of Mrs. Audige's extensive community involvement has been with young people. She was a counselor at Good Samaritan Church, in the Bronx, and St. Michaels, in Sheldon, New York. Her community activities include participation in the McDonald's sing along concert series, a drug awareness campaign, and the neighborhood gang violence awareness program. The assistance she provides for children goes beyond the call of duty since she works closely with the youth in her community.

She is sensitive to the needs of homeowners and it is out of that compassion that led her to become a financial consultant. In addition, the high rate of housing foreclosures among her friends and family was another incentive for her to embark on this profession. Claudette gives workshops to new homeowners and advises them of their financial status. Due to her own past financial hardships, she has developed a flair for assisting people to accumulate wealth through the power of prayer and financial wisdom. Financial empowerment guides and motivates Mrs. Audige to teach others to accumulate wealth and prosperity.

This extraordinary woman goes above and beyond the call of duty and is commendable to the standards befitting the praised, virtuous woman described in Proverbs.

Her motto is ``if I can help someone let not my living be in vain.'' Claudette Audige strives to educate the young and the old to possess the knowledge of financial wisdom. She believes that everyone can own a home with the proper education.

Madam Speaker. I would also like to recognize the impressive works of Claudette Audige as well as her commitment to the Brooklyn community.

Madam Speaker. I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this wonderful woman for all that she does for current and prospective homeowners.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Brooklyn resident Ay'Tasha T. Hanton. Ms. Hanton is the proud daughter of Edna M. Fulton, and Willie E. Hanton Sr., stepdaughter of Maudine Hanton, who she affectionately calls ``Mom.'' Ay'Tasha was born in New York City as the only daughter of seven children. Ay'Tasha's father expired when she was 1\1/2\ years old. Without the relationship of her father, she faced many challenges. With the loving support of her mother, family and friends, she matured into a strong, independent woman.

A nine-year employee of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, Ay'Tasha has extensive knowledge in Finance Administration, Policy and Procedures, Performance Improvement, Graphic Design, Community Affairs and Healthcare Administration. In April of 1998, her career in health care began when she became the Coordinating Manager of Chemical Dependency Outpatient Services and the Mental Health Geriatric Program at Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center serving the Fort Greene Community. As an Assistant to the Sr. Associate Director, Ay'Tasha worked diligently to aide the Chemical Dependency patients who strived daily to maintain sobriety from their addictions. She also worked attentively to aide the Geriatric population as they faced the uneasiness of Mental Health.

In October of 2005, Ay'Tasha was reassigned as the NYS OASAS (Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services) Administrator of Chemical Dependency Inpatient and Outpatient Services at Woodhull Medical

Center, where she studied the communities' statistics.

Recognizing her statistical talents, Ay'Tasha was given additional responsibilities by the Associate Executive Director of the Division of Chemical Dependency for the North Brooklyn Health Network in the newly established Performance Improvement Department, helping the Assistant Director in strategizing ways to support the population suffering from substance abuse addictions.

Her most recent opportunity towards climbing the corporate ladder came in March of 2006 when she was assigned to assist the Associate Director of Psychiatry in restructuring Woodhull's Psychiatric Emergency Department. As the Administrative Manager of Psych ED, Consultation and Liaison Services and the Chemical Dependency Inpatient Detoxification Units, Ay'Tasha is also faced with the daily challenge of aiding the Psychiatric patients as well as encouraging, mentoring and challenging her staff to heightened levels, while advocating for the Williamsburg and Bedford Stuyvesant communities.

Throughout her HHC career under the umbrella of the Department of Psychiatry, Ay'Tasha has been a member of many committees such as Cumberland's Open Access Team, Billing/Finance, Information Technology and Community Affairs.

Ay'Tasha's walls are lined with many awards, certificates, and presentations as a testament of her hard work. She has also received extensive continuing education in Healthcare Professionalism such as Managerial, Administrative Assistant, Graphic Design, and the list continues. Ay'Tasha's most heartfelt accomplishment is her Associate of Arts Degree in Biblical Studies from Bethel Bible Institute. Ay'Tasha is presently seeking her Bachelors Degree in Health Administration.

Ay'Tasha understands the importance of children. She nurtures her nieces, nephews, godchildren and a host of other youth. Not only is she an inspiration to children, Ay'Tasha mentors young women in her community. Ay'Tasha encompasses the true identity of a role model in today's society.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the impressive achievements of Ay'Tasha T. Hanton for her commitment to her community.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this wonderful person and the great things she has done.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Aida T. Wilson. Aida T. Wilson was born in Panama City in the Republic of Panama. She is the eldest of five children born to Olga and Charles Tyrell. After completing high school at Santa Familia School for Dressmaking in Panama City, she was immediately employed by Maloul Brothers for five years in Colon, City of Panama.

Ms. Wilson migrated to the United States in 1956 and immediately began to further her education by attending several adult education programs while employed as a seamstress. She was later employed by one of New York City's most prestigious department stores Lord and Taylor. After serving in several positions she became their Merchandising Auditor. She retired in 1994 after 37 years of service with the company. Following one year of retirement, she was hired to work on a part-time basis at Community Board 5 in East New York as a Community Service Aide and has maintained this position for the past 11 years.

Ms. Wilson has been a communicant of St. Laurence Church RC for the past 30 years. She has served on their Board of Trustees; as member and past President of the Laurencian Guild (Rosary Society); Chairperson of the Liturgy Committee; Treasurer of the Church AARP Chapter; and presently a Lector at Sunday Masses and a member of the Parish Pastoral Planning Committee. Mrs. Wilson is an active member and Past President of the Brooklyn New Lots Lions Club and Part District Treasurer for the Lions of District 20 K1 (Brooklyn and Queens). For her lionistic activism, she has been recognized with many awards and citations including the Distinguished Service Award for Community Service, Lion of the Year, Knights of the Blind Award and the highest recognition by an association, The Melvin Jones Fellowship.

Aida Wilson is married to Lloyd G. Wilson, (retired MTA Motorman). This union brought forth a son Rodney, and a daughter Sharon who have blessed them with six grandchildren: Tyrell and Cherrell Wilson, Jazine Miller, Eryka, Elissa, and Jessica Hill. A step granddaughter Kristin Reid Hill, son-in-law Eric Hill and daughter-in-law Angela A. Wilson.

Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize this pillar of our community for all of her good works and kind gestures.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Aida T. Wilson.

Madam Speaker, a delegation headed by the Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), The Honorable Hee-Beom Lee, will visit Washington during the week of March 12 for a series of meetings with business leaders, government officials, members of this House, the Senate, journalists, and members of the Korean-American community in the metropolitan area. The purpose of the delegation's visit is to commemorate the U.S.-Korea business and trade relationship as well as support the progress of talks designed to lead to a Free Trade Agreement between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

Founded in 1946 with 105 members, KITA now represents more than 80,000 Korean businesses seeking to sell their products and services overseas, and in turn buying products and services from foreign countries. KITA, which owns office buildings in Washington and New York City, participates in the World Trade Centers Association, which has more than 300 members in 101 countries. It works closely with virtually all World Trade Centers to promote trade by providing facilities and services on a reciprocal basis.

In addition, to promote bilateral economic cooperation, KITA sponsors the Korea-U.S. Economic Council, the Korea-Japan Industry and Trade Committee, and the Korea-Hong Kong Business Roundtable.

In its efforts to promote freer trade, not only between the U.S. and Korea, but around the world, KITA organizes various functions and events to enhance mutual understanding on trade issues, seeking to resolve private-sector trade disputes through dialogue. It also works together with its overseas counterparts and international economic organizations to provide member firms with opportunities to interact fully with the international community.

Moreover, KITA places special emphasis on developing and maintaining cooperative relationships with overseas trade promotion organizations as well as major international organizations to facilitate trade and investment on a reciprocal basis. These cooperation activities include trade information exchange, organizing trade promotional events, joint research, and provision of facilities.

Barely half a century ago, the Republic of Korea was an impoverished casualty of imperialism and war; it has now grown to be the 12th- largest trading nation in the world. Korea is also the largest trading partner of the United States, with over $70 billion in business between our countries each year. Credit for such remarkable development belongs in large part to the efforts of the Korea International Trade Association.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to extend their good wishes to Chairman Hee-Beom Lee, and welcome the delegation of the Korea International Trade Association as it visits Washington, D.C. I hope you join me in wishing them a pleasant and productive stay in our Nation's Capital.

Madam Speaker, recently elections were held in Punjab. The voters turned out the Congress Party government and restored the Shiromani Akali Dal to power. This means that Parkash Singh Badal returns as Chief Minister.

The Congress Party claims to be secular, but the fact is that it presided over the massacre of Sikhs that took the lives of over a quarter of a million Sikhs. It was the party that carried out the military attack on the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the center and seat of the Sikh religion. On the other hand, the Akali Dal has historically been the pro-Sikh party. However, during the tenure of Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Punjab did reclaim its water rights and cancel the agreements that allowed diversion of that water to other states. The bill implementing the cancellation explicitly declared the sovereignty of Punjab.

As you know, Madam Speaker, Punjab, Khalistan declared its independence on October 7, 1987.

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, has written to Chief Minister Badal urging him to keep his campaign promises of a better economic life for Punjab fanners, of clean government, and to reclaim the capital city of Chandigarh for Punjab. He also urged Mr. Badal to declare again the independence of Punjab, Khalistan and to work for a free and fair vote.

The essence of democracy is the right to self-determination. As such, a free and fair vote on the issue of independence is called for if India still wishes to be looked upon as the democracy it claims to be. The Indian government is sending out its sycophants to spin the Punjab elections as having ``debunked'' the Khalistan movement, but in fact, quite the opposite is the truth of the matter.

I call on this Congress to stand up for freedom and join in urging the Punjab Legislative Assembly to declare independence again, and to urge India to allow a free and fair plebiscite on the matter of independence for Khalistan, for the Christians of Nagaland, and for Kaslunir, as promised in 1948, as well as all others who seek their freedom. I also call for a stop to American aid and trade with India until basic human lights are respected and everyone there is allowed to live in freedom, dignity, prosperity, and security.

Madam Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's letter to Chief Minister Badal into the Record at this time with the permission of the House.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, February 28, 2007.

Hon. Paraksh Singh Badal,

Chief Minister of Punjab, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.

Dear Chief Minister Badal: Congratulations on your victory

in the Punjab elections and your return as Chief Minister.

You promised the return of clean government to Punjab. That

would be a welcome relief for the people of Punjab. You also

promised free electricity and Rs4 per kilo for wheat flour

and Rs20 per kilo for lentils for the poor. We

welcome these promises and urge you to implement them as soon

as possible.

I call upon you to get Chandigarh back for Punjab. As you

know, Punjab built Chandigarh to be its capital and it

rightfully belongs to Punjab. It is time to get it back.

We also urge you to maintain. Captain Amarinder Singh's

water policy. His government cancelled the unfair agreements

that allowed the diversion of Punjab's water to nonriparian

states. In that bill, the Legislative Assembly explicitly

declared the sovereignty of Punjab. Unfortunately, the

Congress Party, which presided over the massacre of Sikhs, is

an anti-Sikh party. The Akali Dal has historically been the

pro-Sikh party. Yours is the party that called on the Sikh

Nation to prepare ourselves for ``the long struggle to

liberate Khalistan.'' You are presiding over a Sikh political

and religious institution that controls the gurdwaras in

Punjab. Remember that Professor Darshan Singh, an Akali and

former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, has said, ``If a Sikh is

not for Khalistan, he is not a Sikh.''

Each morning and evening, we pray, ``Raj Kare Ga Khalsa,''

the Khalsa shall rule. Do you say this prayer sincerely? Wil1

Delhi let you implement the new price structure you promised?

They have done everything in their power to keep the Sikhs

oppressed, including imposing President's rule on Punjab nine

times. They have been responsible for the murders of a

quarter of a million Sikhs, according to figures compiled by

the Punjab State Magistracy and published in The Politics of

Genocide by Inderjit Singh Jaijee. The Movement Against State

Repression reports that over 52,000 Sikhs are being held as

political prisoners without charge or trial, some since 1984!

The late General Narinder Singh said that ``Punjab is a

police state.''

You have promised to end ``the dark and corrupt legacy of

despotic dictatorship.'' There is only one way to do so. That

is to declare the sovereign independence of Khalistan. The

Legislative Assembly can do this and should do it. This would

elevate you immediately from Chief Minister to Prime

Minister. Self-determination is the essence of democracy. Why

can't India do the democratic thing and allow the people of

Punjab, Khalistan to vote in a free and fair plebiscite on

the question of independence? What are they afraid of?

Again I congratulate you and urge you to work to end the

oppression of Sikhs and keep the interests of the Sikh Nation

foremost in your mind as you embark upon your term as Chief

Minister. I urge you to work to regain the sovereignty that

is our birthright.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President, Council of Khalistan.

Madam Speaker, the Council of Khalistan recently issued a press release on the elections in Punjab and the victory of the Shiromani Akali Dal. Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, noted the unfortunate cycle between the Congress party, which was primarily responsible for the genocide against Sikhs, and the Shiromani Akali Dal, which is in coalition with the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is the political arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Singh (RSS), an organization formed in support of the Fascists of Europe which has been responsible for acts of violence against minorities. The RSS also published a booklet on how to implicate minorities such as Sikhs, Christians, and others in false criminal cases. An alternative to these two parties is sorely needed. The Sikh nation needs leaders who are committed to protecting their interests.

As you know, Madam Speaker, former President Bill Clinton, in his foreword to Madeline Albright's book, wrote that 38 Sikhs in Chithisinghpora were murdered while he was visiting by Hindu militants. New York Times reporter Barry Bearak has concluded that the Indian government's forces were responsible. Although the killers dressed as ``militants,'' they spoke to each other in the language of the Indian army. It appears that this is just another of the many incidents where either the Indian military or its paid ``Black Cats'' paramilitary units have been caught carrying out terrorist incidents in the guise of alleged ``militants.''

Remember that according to India Today, India's leading news magazine, it was the lndian government itself that created the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, identified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization.

Madam Speaker, the essence of democracy is the right to self- determination. It is time for India to end the repression of its minorities and allow them to exercise their basic democratic right to a free and fair vote on the question of independence. This Congress should put itself on record demanding that India do so. Further, we should cut off our aid to India and our trade with that country until full human rights, including the right to self-determinatlon, are enjoyed by all the people there.

Madam Speaker, I request permission to place the Council of Khalistan's press release on the Punjab ejections into the Record at this time.

[From the Council of Khalistan--Press Release]

Akali Dal Wins Punjab Elections--Must Put Interests of Sikh Nation

First--Khalistan Is the Only Solution

Washington, DC., Feb. 28, 2007.--The Shlromani Akali Dal,

under the leadership of Parkash Singh Badal, won the state

elections for the Punjab Legislative Assembly, winning 48 of

117 seats to 44 for the Congress party, 19 for the Bharatiya

Janata Party, 5 Independents. and one seat still to be

elected. Since the Akalls and the BJP are coalition partners,

this puts the Akall coalition back in charge with a 67-seat

majority. As a reward, the BJP got the position of Deputy

Chief Minister.

``It is sad that the people of Punjab are re-enacting the

cycle of choosing between the Congress Party, which presided

over the massacre of Sikhs and the Akalis, whose coalition

partner, the BJP, wants to wipe out the Sikhs and all

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

Council of Khalistan. ``Captain Amarinder Singh is to be

given credit for doing some pro-Sikh things like cancelling

the water agreements that permitted the diversion of Punjab's

water to non-riparian states,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``But he is

still trapped by the Congress Party. Badal, who presided over

the most corrupt government in Punjab's history, has pledged

clean government. He has promised free electricity for Punjab

farmers and Rs4 per kilo for wheat flour and Rs20 per kilo

for lentils to the poor. Let's see if he keeps his word, Dr.

Aulakh said.

``Radal is the head of a Sikh religious and political body.

His party controls the Gurdwaras in Punjab. That's where he

got the money to buy the alcohol for his election,'' Dr.

Aulakh said. He noted that the BJP, the Akalls' coalition

partner, is the political arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak

Sangh (RSS). a pro-Fascist organization that has worked to

eliminate minorities from India. ``Is Badal on the side of

the Sikhs or the RSS?'' Dr. Aulakh asked. He called on the

Badal government to get Chandigarh back for Punjab. ``Punjab

built Chandigarh to be its capital. It properly belongs to

us. The government of Punjab should be pressing to get our

capital back,'' he said.

``Remember that the Akalls once called on the Sikh Nation

to carry out `the long struggle to liberate Khalistan,' ''

Dr. Aulakh said. ``These elections show why we must liberate

Khalistan from Indian occupation and oppression,'' said Dr.

Aulakh. ``That is the only way for Sikhs to protect ourselves

from India's brutality. Elections under the Indian

constitution will only perpetuate it. The only way that the

repression will stop and Sikhs will live in freedom, dignity,

and prosperity is to liberate Khalistan,'' said Dr. Aulakh.

``As Professor Darshan Singh, former Jathedar of the Akal

Takht, said, `If a Sikh is not a Khallstani, he is not a

Sikh.','' Dr. Aulakh said.

After human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra exposed

the Indian government's policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in

which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and

murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and

secretly cremated, the police kidnapped him. Khalra was

murdered in police custody. No one has been brought to

justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh

Khalra. Rajiv Singh Randhawa, who was the only witness to the

Khalra kidnapping, has been repeatedly subjected to police

harassment. This includes being arrested for trying to hand a

piece of paper to then-British Home Secretary Jack Straw in

front of the Golden Temple. The police never released the

body of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh Kaunke

after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna murdered him. He was never

punished for this crime.

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

government had paid over 41,000 cash bounties for killing

Sikhs. A report by the Movement Against State Repression

(MASR) 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.'' The

MASR report states that 52,268 Sikhs are being held as

political prisoners in India without charge or trial, mostly

under a repressive law known as the ``Terrorist and

Disruptive Activities Act'' (TADA), which expired in 1995.

Many have been in illegal custody since 1984. There has been

no list published of those who were acquitted under TADA and

those who are still rotting in Indian jails. Tens of

thousands of other minorities are also being held as

political prisoners, according to Amnesty International. Last

year, 35 Sikhs were charged and arrested in Punjab for making

speeches in support of Khalistan and raising the Khalistani

flag. ``How can making speeches and raising a flag be

considered crimes in a democratic society?'' asked Dr.

Aulakh.

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. There is

nothing in common in the culture of a Hindu living in Bengal

and one in Tamil Nadu, let alone between them and the

minority nations of South Asia,'' Dr. Aulakh said.

``Freedom is the God-given right of every nation and every

human being,'' said Dr. Aulakh. He noted that the Indian

government was already spinning the results. ``Their wholly-

owned U.S. Congressman, Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) has

already portrayed the elections as a rejection of Khalistan,

even though the voters defeated the Congress Party, which is

against Khalistan,' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Congressman Pallone

sounds like he is being compensated by the Indian regime,''

Dr. Aulakh noted. ``Sikhs must be allowed to have a free and

fair plebiscite on the issue of Khalistan. In a democracy,

you cannot continue to rule against the wishes of the

people,'' he said. ``The essence of democracy is the right to

self-determination. Currently, there are 17 freedom movements

within India's borders. It has 16 official languages. It

cannot hold

together for very long,'' he said. ``We hope that India's

breakup will be peaceful like Czechoslovakia's, not violent

like Yugoslavia's,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Earlier this year,

Montenegro, which is less than a million people, became a

sovereign country and a member of the United Nations,'' he

said. ``Now it is the time for the Sikh Nation of Punjab,

Khalistan to become independent. We must free Khalistan

now.''

Madam Speaker, recently, Dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon, Managing Editor of the

International Journal of Sikh Affairs, wrote to President Bush about the dangerous situation in India, where democratic rights for minorities are under continuing threat. He also published the letter in his magazine.

Dr. Sekhon noted that the interests of the United States and its allies, such as Canada, are likely to be damaged by continuing close cooperation with India. As he observed, although India proudly portrays itself as ``the world's largest democracy,'' it is a country where, as he writes, ``democracy has been used to deny freedom, national and human rights, and basic human dignity to the majority.'' That majority includes Christians, Sikhs, Muslims, Dalits, and other minorities.

He notes that in India, the Brahmin class, which is 15 percent of the population, uses the most brutal oppression to suppress and rule the minorities. The caste system is still rigorously enforced, despite being made illegal in 1950. It is used to keep the people down, backed by violent repression. He notes that in 1948, the Indian government promised the people of Kashmir a plebiscite on their status. Punjab was promised sovereignty at the time of Indian independence. Those promises have not been kept and any effort to claim what was promised has been met with brutality that has resulted in the murders of over 250,000 Sikhs, over 300,000 Christian Nagas, over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, Muslims and Christians elsewhere in the country, and tens of thousands of other minorities. Yet our policymakers insist on treating India both as a democratic country and as an ally, despite its longstanding and still current friendship with Russia, as well as its coziness with the mullahs of Iran, to whom it has sold heavy water and other components.

Dr. Sekhon cites the attack on the Golden Temple as another example of India's effort to eliminate the minorities and subsume them into a Hindu state.

Madam Speaker, I call on all my colleagues, especially those who are promoters of India, to read this devastating letter. It is quite damaging to India and it is right on target. It will give you essential information on the lack of basic liberties in that country.

We can makce a difference, Madam Speaker. Instead of cozying up to India and trying to cut deals with them in the name of stability, it is time to stop our aid and our trade to pressure India to allow all its people to enjoy basic human rights. And it is time to put the U.S. Congress on record in support of self-determination for all the peoples and nations of the subcontinent through a free and fair plebiscite on their status. Isn't that the fair and responsible way to handle questions like this? Isn't that the way democracies do it? Why is India afraid of real democracy?

Madam Speaker, I would like to insert Dr. Sekhon's excellent letter into the record. Again, I urge eveyone to read it. It will prove very informative.

International Journal of

Sikh Affairs,

January 24, 2007.

Hon. George W. Bush,

President, United States of America,

The White House, Washington, DC.

south asia: interests, permanent allies, world peace and the role of

the united states in the region

I am a citizen of Canada and a member of the Canadian Sikh

community. I retired from service in public health as a

microbiologist, research scientist, administrator and

academic a few years ago. I am now active in work for human

rights. These rights are not peculiar to a people or country;

they protect the entire human race. I am expressing below my

concerns over the likelihood of damage to long-term interests

of the United States of America, its allies, the NATO forces,

Canada in particular. The pain of sufferings families of

North America, in Europe, the Middle East and South Asia is

hard to ignore. The irony is that the more the U.S. tried to

ameliorate conditions, the worse they have become.

The people of North America know very well the objectives

of the United States (U.S.) and the hurdles faced in leading

the world during much of the 20th and in the current 21st

centuries. The people of the U.S. and their elected leaders

have devoted a lot of time, money and precious resources in

manpower and management for the good of the mankind to make

the world better and safer. Despite all the good intentions

of the democratic world it has been struggling to find a

basis for lasting world peace. I believe that the long-term

interests of the United States and the world at large are

complementary. The U.S. leadership is good for the world.

Yet, increasingly fewer people believe that to be true. Is

there anything amiss?

I firmly believe that the United States and its allies

eagerly want to prevent the sufferings of friendly peoples

whose governments they have influence over. While we find the

stern hand of the U.S. military operating against enemies,

there is little effort to impose the same principles of human

freedom and dignity on ``friends''. Much of South Asia is

democratic; India boasts of being the largest democracy in

the world. Yet it is in India--more than anywhere else--where

democracy has been used to deny freedom, national and human

rights, and basic human dignity to the majority. As the Hon.

Dana Rohrabacher, (R-Cal) had said as far as the minorities

(the Sikhs, Muslims in general, Muslims of the

Internationally Disputed Areas of Jammu and Kashmir,

Christians, Dalits, Adivasasis or the indigenous native

people, and other non-Hindu, non-Brahmin) are concerned,

India is a Nazi Germany for them (Tim Phares 2006 Int J Sikh

Affairs 16(1),40-42 ISSN 1481-5435).

Congressman Rohrabacher's assessment is accurate and well

justified; it can be the focal point of a new beginning with

India. The question is: how could a country, which is the

world's largest democracy, sustain caste apartheid and

pogroms against minorities without facing recrimination? It

is done by mis-definition and misrepresentation the world is

too busy to try and unravel. India is not a nation and has

not even tried to become a nation during the 60 years that it

has been ``free''. It has relied entirely on brute military

force to crush any people that demanded its rights. The fact

is the Muslims are a majority in Jammu and Kashmir, the Sikhs

are a majority in the Punjab and Hill tribes of Assam are

mostly Christian. The People of Jammu and Kashmir were

promised a plebiscite that was endorsed by the United

Nations. The Sikhs were promised their separate state

Khalistan by the Congress leaders in exchange for rejecting

Pakistan's offer of the same. The Tribal peoples of Assam

were also promised ``freedom'' if they sided with the

Congress Party against the British. Now that these peoples

demand what was promised, India has unleashed the most

diabolical genocide and an international campaign to demonize

their stuggle. The British Raj lasted as long as it did

because it was founded on recognition of India as multiple

nations. How can a country call itself a democracy when it

discards its very foundation--the right of national self-

determination?

India aspires for its leaders--M.K. Ghandi and J.L. Nehru--

to be recognized with other great leaders of the democratic

world like George Washington, Franklin D Roosevelt, Abraham

Lincoln, J.F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and William Jefferson

Clinton. But it cannot even begin to secure that position

until it can show that they stood up for the oppressed within

the country and without. India has invaded each one its

neighbours, overtly or covertly; if it gave in to any demand,

it sought to hurt twice as much elsewhere. The Untouchables

or Dalits--who are a majority in several states of India and

constitute 65 % of its population--were promised

``reservation'' of seats in the parliament, in education and

jobs. Even after 60 years, it is still denied to backward

castes and to Muslims. India uses ``democracy'' as means to

fudge issues and deny rights by never ending arguments in

circles. That is the experience of the people in the country

and neighbours who live in dread of roads being closed or

rivers being diverted.

The devious policies and broken promises is the hallmark of

India today. The Sikhs have been the worst victims. They

founded the first secular and sovereign state in South Asia

by Sikh monarch Ranjit Singh in 1799 that was ``annexed'' by

treaty to the British Empire on 14th March, 1849. In June

1984, the Darbar Sahib Complex which includes the Supreme

Seat of Sikh Polity, The Akal Takht Sahib, Amritsar

(mistakenly known as Golden Temple of Amritsar), which is the

Vatican of the Sikh faith, was assaulted by the Indian Army

killing 20,000 devotees who were inside the temple and their

leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was martyred. When the

Sikh guards of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi avenged the

assault assassinating her, the worst pogrom was unleashed

upon the Sikhs all over India that resulted in 250,000

Sikhs--mostly young men and their families--who were

mercilessly killed, Indian diplomats talk about the tradition

of non-violence in India of which Mahatma Gandhi is

considered to be a universal symbol. But the truth is that

India is violent but only to the weak; when confronted with

strong and powerful the Brahmin response is obsequious

folding of hands. This manner of greeting appears to be show

of humillty. But it is actually a statement that the person

being greeted is of low birth and is untouchable.

On 15th of August 1947, the British handed over political

power to the ``unelected'' Hindu leadership. But the Hindus/

Brahmins (neither a religion nor a culture) were only 15 % of

the population; how could they be the successors of the

British Empire in India. Once installed in power, they

have relied on a combination of hate (for people of

foreign faiths or of low birth), guile and stratagem far

mor complex than any Machiavelli. The record of their rule

over India speaks eloquently how Hindus/Brahmins have been

master-mind in persecution of faith minorities and the low

caste majority of native peoples who are deemed to be

inferior by birth in their unique faith. Through Article

25 of the Indian Constitution 1950, the Sikh, the

Buddhists and Jains and all the Untouchables, all of who

are victims of oppression and apartheid, are denied their

separate identity and deemed to be Hindus. The Sikh faith

founded by Guru Nanak Sahib was a rebellion to reject the

caste ``apartheid'' enforced by the Hindus of Brahmin

caste. The irony is that when freedom came, the Sikhs were

declared to be Hindus (long haired Hindus) albeit of the

renegade variety, against the teachings of its founder,

Guru Nanak Sahib, and the Sikhs' Holy Scripture, Adi Guru

Granth Sahib. It is difficult to portray

the anger, revulsion and frustration felt by the Sikhs in

this unwelcome embrace of Hinduism (which is neither a

religion nor a culture according to the verdict of Punjab

and Haryana High Court, 1984). Brahmin rule in post-15th

August, 1947, India has interest only in maintaining the

apartheid system; its objective is the prosperity of urban

dwelling upper castes--the so called 200 million middle

class.

Suave Indian diplomats routinely underlines that the USA

and India are natural allies. Even American politicians and

diplomats have started to harp on the same theme. It is time,

this was questioned. What makes them natural allies? During

the years of the Cold War, India was the friend of The Soviet

Union, not of America. Why? It is because both were

internally and internationlly imperialist. Now, India needs

an imperial patron to underpin its own imperious. It needs

the U.S. Is that the role the USA sees for itself in the

world? As supporter of local imperialists? Surely the power

and prestige of the USA is such that it must aim higher:

obtain lasting universal peace and harmony; amity between

faiths; unfettered democracy; free trade. Tied to apron

strings of India, the USA is bound to drift into petty

machinations to deny freedom to some and equality to all.

lndia's imperialism is founded on delaying tactics and

betrayal. All the problems in the South Asian region are

product of Brahmin spin or stratagem. The media makes wild

forecasts of India of the future. It is supposed to be a huge

market for consumer goods. Whose? Peoples' Republic of China?

Some people have become very rich in India. Diaspora

Indians are clever and are also becoming rich. But for the

majority, India is a hellhole and will always remain so.

Caste based India has structural, infrastructual and social

problems that it cannot overcome until it abandons its

``poverty imperialism''. However, India is country of 1.1

billion people who deserve better. If India allowed the right

of self-determination to the Sikhs, to the peoples of Jammu

and Kashmir and Assam, it would still be the second largest

country with population more than all of Europe. However, it

would no longer need to maintain hostility with neighbouring

states and would be in a position to remove strife, tension

and hate from its social scene. India must give the native

peoples their national rights and create autonomous states of

India that would facilitate a compact of states within each

the interplay of diverse ethnic and caste interests would

create grass root harmony.

For the United States to articulate its interests in far

off lands and develop mechanisms to secure those interests,

its diplomats and politicians have to be conversant with the

history and customs of those lands. Historically, the Sikhs

of Punjab and the people of Afghanistan have never been

``subservient'' to any foreign ruler. That was true in the

19th Century as it is today. There are nearly 20

nations within the ``Indian union'', which are struggling

to regain their lost sovereignty and independence ever

since the British Indian Empire was hurriedly partitioned

in 1947. The end of the British Empire marked the end of

the imperial era in the whole world. India's efforts to

build and expand its empire are the biggest threat to

peace and stability of Asia. Consider Mr. President, if 20

or so nations, including the Sikhs of Punjab, Christians

of Nagaland, the tribal people of Assam and Manipur, the

south Indian states most notably Tamil Nadu, were to

become ``sovereign'' states, what a huge change for the

better it would be for the region and the world. That is

the only way to replace the polity of hate and oppression

with polities of peace and harmony underpinned by secure

undefended borders. Large is not fashionable; not just for

women.

I hope I have given some points to ponder. The USA can lead

the world with a global vision. There are not many regions

where so much is old and archaic ready to crumble and hit

dust. Many Americans are fond of India but they do not know

why? The present rulers of India would like your help in

building their empire. But that is not the best interest of

the people of India. India is one country that needs benign

intervention to dismantle the social and political structures

to be replaced by structures founded on national self-

determination. That would be good for business; that would be

good for world peace; that is the calling of greatness.

Best wishes and warmest regards.

Sincerely,

Awatar Singh Sekhon,

Ph.D, FlBA, RM (CCM), Associate Professor (Retired), Medical

Microbiology and Immunology; Director (Former), National

Centre for Human Mycotic Diseases Canada; Managing Editor and

Acting Editor in Chief.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey for yielding time to me, and to say that I thank the leadership of this House. I thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi and I thank Ike Skelton for bringing this resolution forward.

You know, I served in the military, and I have great admiration and respect for the military, and I also cannot understand why people are saying that if you support this resolution you are not supporting the troops. I can't make that connection because I support the troops, but I must admit I also support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, 4 years have passed since this administration began its ill-fated war in Iraq. No weapons of mass destruction have been found, no coalition of nations has fought in the war, and the American people are still waiting for a plan for a real war against terrorism.

Though Saddam Hussein is now dead, this fact alone has not been worth nearly $400 billion in taxpayer funds, the loss of 3,000 lives, and 26,000 casualties. What message does this send to the American people? I have been hearing this all day long coming from the minority side.

Let me tell you what the message is that we are sending to the American people: That our priorities are upside down, and we need to fix them.

I have opposed this war from the very beginning, because I was concerned that we would come to this point where we would spend all the money on the war and not have the resources to do the things to keep our Nation and to make our Nation strong.

Almost all the speakers on the other side expressed their support for the troops. I want you to know that on this side we also express our support for the troops. This administration has asked us to cut funding for children, for children's health insurance. We were asked to cut critical funds for Medicaid and Medicare, a loss of dollars that may cripple our public health system. Many of our hospitals are actually closing, and we are asked to provide token funding so No Child Left Behind becomes ``most children now are left behind.''

This war and its budgetary requirements are squeezing the American people, and I say that enough is enough. But, no, the administration is asking

for 20,000 more combat troops and approximately 15,000 support troops. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that it will cost approximately $13 billion.

This administration has had troop surges in the past; this is not new. What is different about this troop surge? It is more of the same, just more targets we are sending.

In October, the administration sent more combat troops into Baghdad to attempt to end the growing violence; however, the violence in Baghdad has only grown worse. Now the United States military is caught up in a very violent civil war, something they are neither trained nor equipped to deal with. Sending additional troops to Iraq actually makes things worse for Iraqi civilians and for our troops.

Our military is already stretched too thin. Many soldiers are doing two and three and four tours of duty. The administration now plans to send additional troops into a city almost the size of New York City, and they may have to go house to house in order to keep warring sides from killing each other.

What message does this send to the American people when we tell them we have no more money for children's health insurance, no more money for Medicaid, no more money for Medicare, no more money for senior programs and no more money for children's education? And how do you think the American people will react to more fatalities and more wounded? How long will Congress keep supporting a war that has nothing to do with ending terrorism?

I ask the question tonight, how long will this administration keep ignoring the real needs of the American people? It is time for America to withdraw from Iraq and focus on the real business of the American people: better health care, more jobs, education for all of our children. We should not send an additional 21,500 troops. That only means we are sending additional targets into the area.

Will the gentleman yield?

Let me say to you that I read the resolution, and I don't know how you can arrive at that conclusion.

Mr. Speaker, it is becoming clear day by day that the President's troop escalation plan is not in the best interest of this Nation.

First, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said the President's troop escalation plan would take substantially more troops and more money than the President has suggested.

The President says 21,500 troops are needed; the CBO says 48,000 troops are necessary to conduct the mission. The President says it will cost about $5.6 billion, but CBO says that the number could be four times higher than that.

Second, the administration's intelligence agencies concluded last week that violence would continue in Iraq for at least another 18 months, but the President says his plan will calm the violence in 6 months.

And, third, Pentagon officials admitted last week that they do not have enough armored vehicles, armored kits and other equipment needed to protect these additional troops.

Mr. Speaker, after hearing these three different facts, how can anyone believe the President's troop escalation plan is in the best interests of this country?

On that note, I yield back.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking you for allowing me to speak on this resolution.

Fraud and abuse is very prevalent, and, of course, we need to do something about it. So I would like to say to the committee members that too long have we allowed this fraud and abuse to go without speaking out on it in the fashion that we should.

People are being abused. Family members are being abused as a result of fraud and abuse. So I think that we need to send a message to those that are out there who are doing these kind of things to say that we will not sit back and allow you to do this.

We have people that are taking another person's identity and going out, making bills and creating problems and creating situations where the person's credit is bad, and when they begin to move forward to try to do something on behalf of their family,

they can't do it because somebody else has done some things that they should not have done and make this family have to suffer.

So I would like to just thank the sponsors of this resolution, and to say to you that I think it will draw the attention of those who might not be fully aware of what is going on. I think it will let law enforcement also know that the Members of the United States Congress are very concerned about these issues.

And I would like to salute the sponsors. I would like to salute the Energy and Commerce Committee for bringing this resolution forward so quickly because the time is now that we must send a statement, make a statement to let people know that we are not going to sit back and let them do these kind of things to create problems for people.

So I would say to you, on that note, I look forward to working with the committee to see what we can do to further dramatize and to highlight this very serious situation.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 35) supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, this is a healing moment in the long struggle for full and fair recognition for the African American victims of HIV and AIDS. I am proud that the Congress and our Nation continues to recognize the changing face of the HIV and AIDS. And I urge you to unanimously support this resolution.

In the previous Congress, we spent much time and energy on the issue of HIV and AIDS, and rightfully so. I am glad that the Nation and the Congress have come together today to support a House resolution that recognizes the importance of supporting awareness in African American communities across this Nation.

This is a special moment for me, because the HIV/AIDS crisis has hit the national African American community, and my own district in Brooklyn, New York has been hit real hard. So it is critical for Congress today to say to the Nation that this issue at this time is important, just as we did in the last session when we included for the first time the Minority AIDS Initiative in the Ryan White reauthorization.

I am particularly pleased that today's Congress is recognizing the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. The importance of prevention and testing in African American communities is very, very important, the need for full and equitable treatment of the disease in communities of color.

My colleagues will speak to other aspects of the resolution. However, we are united in our support for strengthening the public health infrastructure to assist African American communities in fighting this epidemic.

I urge my colleagues to vote for this critical resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would be happy to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who has been fighting on this issue from the day that she arrived in the United States Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), who has really been involved in this issue, and I have worked very closely with her.

Mr. Speaker, how much time is remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I must admit I don't plan to take it all.

But let me just say I would like to thank the staff members. I would like to thank the leadership of the committees, who, of course, have been very involved in this issue because this is a very serious issue.

People are dying because of the fact that we are not paying enough attention to this disease. So I want to thank people like Congresswoman Barbara Lee from California, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, and, of course, many others who have been there in the forefront indicating the fact that the time to do something is now.

This resolution sort of highlights how important this issue is and that we must begin to address it. So I am hoping that the Members of the United States Congress will join us in supporting this resolution and not only that but to help us get information out to people.

People need to be tested but not only to be tested. When they are tested, they need to have treatment. It is one

thing to test; it is another thing to have treatment. Just a test to be testing does not make a lot of sense. But when you test and then you have a treatment program and you get education out, then it makes a lot of sense.

I would be delighted to yield to the gentlewoman from California.

No doubt about it. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, let me say that I think that we need to involve our churches in this battle. Not only our churches but also our 501(c)(3) organizations. They need to be involved in this as well because we are talking about life and death. And the fact is that if we get involved, I think that we can begin to turn this around.

Right now we are not winning the battle, and I think that we need to win. In order to win, we have to get all the soldiers involved. And I think that the church is crucial. They need to be involved in this issue. So we need to try to get the word out to them and hope that they will respond in a major kind of way because people are dying that really don't have to die if we get this information to them.

I would be delighted to yield to the gentlewoman from California.

Mr. Speaker, reclaiming my time, let me say that I want to salute both of you. Ron Dellums, when he was here in the Congress, Ron, of course, was really in the forefront of the fighting to get additional resources for AIDS patients and AIDS victims, and, of course, now you have picked it up and Congresswoman Maxine Waters from California. I want to let you know that we really appreciate your voices, and I want to let you know that I look forward to working with you in the days and months ahead to make certain that we get this information out to people that need to have this information because a lot of people don't know, and if they don't know, then they don't do anything about it. So I want to say to you thank you for helping to get the word out to make certain that they do know. I want to thank both of you for your hard work in this effort.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in the name of fairness and justice. American families who rely on the Federal minimum wage are struggling to make ends meet. Over the last decade, our poorest-paid workers have faced rapidly rising costs in health care, energy, and college while the minimum wage has remained the same.

H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007, would increase the Federal minimum to $7.25 an hour. At $5.15 per hour, the current Federal minimum, a person working 40 hours per week makes $10,712 per year, about $5,000 below the poverty line for a family of three. I ask you, can you imagine taking care of your family much less yourself with that? In addition, millions of workers paid just a dollar or two more than the minimum also live in poverty. An increase to $7.25 will have a spillover effect that could raise wages for many of those workers. Ladies and gentlemen, the time for an increase is long overdue.

Critics claim that increasing the minimum wage will have a negative effect on the economy, but after the last minimum wage increase in 1997, the economy enjoyed its strongest growth in more than three decades. This Congress was elected in a large part because our economy has not benefited the working poor as much as those at the high end of the pay scale. H.R. 2 is a first step and I encourage my colleagues to support the bill.

Madam, Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority as they host the New York Metropolitan Area Founders Day Celebration on January 13, 2007. The Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter has been outstanding in its service of the Brooklyn community for over 50 years and I am privileged to have such a dedicated group of individuals in my district.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 collegiate women at Howard University. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders was in 1913 at the Women's Suffrage March in Washington

Madam Speaker, just before the new Congress convened, many of us celebrated Christmas with families and friends. I hope that every one of my colleagues, old and new, had a very happy Christmas and holiday season. But Christmas is another anniversary also for the Christians of India. Since Christmas 1998, 8 years now, India has been focusing its persecution in large measure on Christians.

In September, the convent and school of Loreto were violently attacked by the violent Hindu organization the Bharatiya Janata Yuva, a youth arm of the BJP, which is the political arm of the RSS, a Fascist organization that published a book on how to get minorities, including Christians, falsely implicated in criminal cases. A BJP spokesman demanded a high-level inquiry into the school, according to the Tribune newspaper of Chandigarh, saying it engaged in ``irrational behavior.'' As I noted at the time of the attack, apparently, being a Catholic is irrational behavior and ``unscientific activity'' in the world of Hindu militants.

Over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland have been murdered in India. Nuns have been raped, priests have been murdered, Christian schools and prayer halls have been attacked. Laws have been passed requiring the permission of the Hindu regime before one may be baptized. Christians have faced jail time, as well as threats and physical violence, just for sharing their faith.

Missionary Graham Staines was sleeping in his jeep with his two young sons when they were surrounded by a mob chanting ``Victory to Hannuman,'' a Hindu god. The mob then burned Staines and his sons to death. Missionary Joseph Cooper of Pennsylvania was beaten so severely that he had to spend a week in an Indian hospital. Then the Indian government threw him out of the country. Police gunfire broke up a Christian religious festival on the theme ``Jesus is the answer.'' Is this the secularism that India is so proud of?

It would be bad enough if Christians were the only ones suffering. But they are not. Sikhs, Muslims, Dalits, and others have also felt the lash of Indian repression. The time has come for freedom in the subcontinent. The time has come for the persecution to end.

Madam Speaker, there is a way to help bring freedom and secularism to the people of south Asia. We should end all U.S. aid and trade with India until everyone within its jurisdiction enjoys full human rights there. And now that we have a new Congress, we should go on record in support of freedom everywhere in South Asia. There is no better time

than now. If we can help to stop the persecution we have a duty to do so.

I would like to place an article from the website of the Bible League into the Record at this time, Madame Speaker. It has further details about the persecution of Christians.

``He Heard Our Fears and Prayers''

Nearly two years after the establishment of anti-conversion

laws, Indian Christians are celebrating the effects of their

repeal. Only time will tell the long-term blessings of this

legal change, but several resulting miracles have already

taken place. In the first month alone, a group of 50 Indian

church planters reports having baptized over 1,200 new

Christians!

Christians throughout India were stunned when the pro-Hindu

government was overturned in the Spring 2004 national

election, and several state governments annulled local anti-

conversion laws.

Said one local Bible League-trained Christian, ``I praise

God for enabling us to spread the Gospel in our country. He

heard our fears and prayers regarding the election. God gave

us an extra bonus when He made our state government remove

the anti-conversion law which was in force until now.

Hallelujah!''

undeterred by fear

Indian Christians have faced many hardships in sharing the

Gospel. Bible League-trained Christians in India report that

they or fellow believers have faced threats, physical

attacks, and jail time for sharing their faith.

Baptisms, in particular, became a significant challenge for

local churches. Under the anti-conversion laws, anyone who

chose to become baptized was legally obligated to seek

permission from the government, as well as provide them with

the name of the person performing the baptism. Fearing

repercussions, many new Christians did not make this outward

profession of faith until after the laws were repealed.

Still, thousands of Indians were undeterred in their faith.

A local Bible League-trained Christian, while under the anti-

conversion law, wrote, ``We continue to encourage Christians

through the Word of God. We remind them of the promises

(Matthew 28:20) and the testimonies of the great martyrs. We

are encouraged to fulfill the Great Commission of Christ,

regardless of what happens to us. We are prepared for

imprisonment, punishment, and even death for the sake of

Christ.''

relying on God's faithfulness

Continue to pray for the Church in India. The repeal of

state anti-conversion laws has been a tremendous miracle--but

challenges still remain. One state continues to uphold anti-

conversion laws, and persecution persists throughout the

country.

Yet God has been faithful to His children in India, and

they are recognizing Him as their Savior by the thousands.

Praise God for increasing opportunities to share His Word

with the lost.

the great commission--Matthew 28:19-20

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and

of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I

have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the

very end of the age.