Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Brittany Simpkins, one of Brooklyn's rising stars. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding young woman and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing her impressive service.

Brittany Simpkins is a very active and gifted young woman with a determination to become all that she can be. The daughter of Nanette Simpkins, Ms. Simpkins is a graduate of Fashion Industries High School and she has a deep passion for the creative arts and fashion design. She is wonderfully gifted in that area and has designed fashionable dresses for young ladies. Ms. Simpkins has participated in various modeling assignments and provided assistance to teachers in her school's annual fashion shows. Recently, she did community work with Artmaker, Inc., painting a mural on the wall of one of Bedford Stuyvesant's edifice at Nostrand and Green Avenues in Brooklyn, portraying famous African American women who contributed tremendously to the African American community.

Ms. Simpkins currently attends Baruch College in New York City where she majors in Business/Marketing. As a dedicated member of Berean Baptist Church since the age of 4, she has been active with the choir, Girl Scouts, and the Ministry of Sacred Dance. Ms. Simpkins was recognized by her pastor, congregation and peers as a ``Member of the Week.'' She enjoys working with children from the community and her church home and was employed by Berean's Summer Day Camp as an assistant teacher. She has also been a strong advocate for the cure for breast cancer and has demonstrated her concern by participating in the annual American Cancer Society Breast Cancer Walk-A-Thon.

Ms. Simpkins has received numerous awards, namely an art award from the United Federation of Teachers, as well as an Incentive Award for her academic studies. In addition, she has won several medals participating on the track team. Ms. Simpkins desires to become one of New York's greatest entrepreneurs in fashion design, and she is currently working on her business logo and developing her clientele.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Brittany Simpkins. Her deep commitment to her family and community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Carl Jameson, a distinguished citizen of Brooklyn, NY. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding man and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing his impressive service.

Mr. Jameson retired after 24 years of service as a police officer with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1960 to 1970. While serving, Mr. Jameson was called upon to provide instruction and enlist men in the physical therapy programs. Mr. Jameson was also heavily involved with the All- Marine Judo Team. He toured 22 countries as captain of the team and received his second degree black belt in 1969. For the past 18 years, Mr. Jameson has been participating in the New York State Police Olympics. He has won several bronze and silver medals for cycling and track and field. In 1974, Mr. Jameson started the Union United Methodist Self Defense School. By 1985, he had awarded 150 black belts to students. This community outreach program was started to foster good minds and strong bodies for local youth. Mr. Jameson currently serves as the Imperial director of the Imperial Bicycle Department of the Prince Hall Masonic Temple.

Mr. Jameson is currently employed as a customs enforcement officer with the United States Customs Border Protection. He has also volunteered extensively with the Federal Emergency Management Agency on search and recovery missions. Mr. Jameson has worked in the Disaster Recovery Centers of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Carl Jameson is a product of the New York public school system and he remains a part of the Brooklyn community today. Mr. Jameson received his associate in applied science degree in physical therapy from LaGuardia Community College and his bachelor of arts degree from the College of New Rochelle. He also did post- baccalaureate work at Queens College.

Mr. Jameson is a member of Greater Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, where he serves as a trustee and member of three choirs. Mr. Jameson has been married to his lovely wife Ella for the past 43 years and is the proud father of four.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Carl Jameson. His deep commitment to service and community makes him most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Esmeralda Brown, a distinguished citizen of Brooklyn, New York, and contributor to the world community. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding woman, and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing her impressive service.

As the Resource Center Specialist for Economic and Environmental Justice at the United Methodist Office for the United Nations, Esmeralda Brown deals with issues of concern to the Women's Division constituency in the area of economics, the environment, and development. Ms. Brown has been involved in organizing several workshops and meetings in Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America. Issues discussed include racism, militarization, and the situation of women in the Americas.

Ms. Brown is the chairperson of the United Nation's NGO committee on the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Ms. Brown is also the Southern Co-Chair of the NGO Steering committee to the NGO Commission on Sustainable Development. Ms. Brown holds the chairperson position for the Southern Caucus of NGO's that form part of the Regional and National Networks on Sustainable Development in developing countries of the world. She is also the Economic and Environmental Justice Specialist at the United Methodist Office for the United Nations. Additionally, Ms. Brown is a United Nations representative for the Commission of Human Rights in Central America and the Pan African Movement for the Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).

In 1992, Ms. Brown was co-founder of the Peoples' Alliance for the Earth Summit. This organization did the preparatory work for the Non- Governmental Organizations invited to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Ms. Brown's work has not gone unnoticed. In June 1990, she was honored by the Ecumenical Program for Inter-American Communication and Action (EPICA) in Washington for Outstanding Contributions to the Struggle for Human Rights in Central America.

Esmeralda Brown is a native of Panama, and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Hunter College of the City University of New York.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Esmeralda Brown. Her deep commitment to the international community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of African Lodge 459 No. 63, ardent supporters of the community. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding organization and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing their impressive accomplishments.

African Lodge 459 No. 63 was founded in 1921 from a group of Brooklyn's outstanding young men: Bro. Francis F. Giles, Widow Sons' No. 11, Mr. A.P. Portias, J. Francis Mickens, W.R. Lee, William Odell, Cornelius Moore and Samuel W. Green. Due to their success in Masonic circles, African Lodge 459 No. 63 was granted bona fide Lodge status and on November 19, 1921, they became an integral part of the Masonic Fraternity of the State of New York and the nation. The Lodge is appropriately named after African Lodge 459, the original lodge of the illustrious founder of Masonry among men of color in the United States, Prince Hall.

Down through the years, the Lodge has achieved and maintained a very prominent place in the jurisdiction. It has furnished the fraternity with numerous officers and is currently represented in the Grand Cabinet by R.W. Richard A. Grady, Judge Advocate, R.W. Elwood E. Gregory, District Deputy Grand Lecturer.

With 13 living members and 9 honorary members, their mission as Prince Hall Masons is to serve God through selfless service to others. They strive to give our youth a positive direction and high self- esteem; our elderly the love, respect and attention they deserve; and our poor and down trodden brothers and sisters whatever assistance they can provide. Over the past 84 years, they have raised funds for college scholarships, summer camps, reading clinics, community feeding programs, Christmas gifts for needy and/or hospitalized children, and their Knights of Pythagoras youth group.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the accomplishments of African Lodge 459 No. 63. This groups' deep commitment to love, support and assist one another makes them most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, in the June issue of the International Journal of Sikh Affairs, Dr. Awatar Singh Sekhon reviews a book entitled ``Tabai Ros Jagio,'' which translates into English as ``Details of Fundamentalist Hindus' Attacks on the Sikh Faith,'' by Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke. The book details how the fundamentalist Hindus who run India have been attacking Sikhism and other faiths since the very earliest days of the Indian republic. Despite the fact that the Brahmin caste is only 3 percent of the population, they run Indian society, according to Dr. Udhoke.

Dr. Udhoke details those Sikhs who have supported the Hindu fundamentalists in their effort to enforce Hinduism on the entire population of India. He details those who connived with India on the attack on the Golden Temple, the seat of the Sikh religion. He recorded the brutality of the Brahmins and the Hindu fundamentalists. He writes about how their umbrella organization, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), was founded to support the Fascists in Europe. He describes the RSS as a terrorist organization. India claims to be our ally in the War on Terror, but their preeminent ideology is a brand of Fascism that practices violence against minorities and their neighbors.

We should stop aid and trade with India and we should be vocal and active in supporting self-determination for all the people there. That is how we can help bring freedom to all in the subcontinent.

Mr. Speaker, I highly recommend Dr. Sekhon's excellent review of Dr. Udhoke's excellent book to my colleagues, and I would like to place the review in the Record now.

[From the International Journal of Sikh, Affairs, June 2006]

Book Review

(By Awatar Singh Sekhon)

Title: Tabai Ros Jagio, translation in English Details of

Fundamentalist Hindus' Attack on the Sikh Faith 2005, by Dr.

Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke, is an eye opener. with regard to the

premeditated attacks by the fundamentalist Hindus, belonging

to the Rashtriya Swamsewak Sangh and the members of the

``Sangh Parivar/family'', on the followers of the Sikh Faith.

It was a great pride and pleasure for the reviewer, who is

the Editor in Chief, The International Journal of Sikh

Affairs ISSN 1481-5435, published from Canada, to write a few

words on the publication of Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke. Dr.

Udhoke is a medical professional but is devoting most of his

precious time in recording the much needed events of the Sikh

history of the 20th and 21st centuries. These events pertain

to the persecution of the Sikh youth in particular and for

the present and coming generations of the Sikh faith, the

Guru Khalsa Panth. Dr. Udhoke's first publication, Tabai Ros

Jagio, published in July 2004, was an excellent treatise

relating to the ``Attacks on the Sikh faith, Sikh culture,

Sikh heritage, Sikh pride, Sikh esteem, Guru Granth Sahib

(Holy Scripture of Sikhs), the Sikh identity, and the Sikh

nation, Punjab, Khalistan, struggling for its independence by

peaceful means.'' His book clearly reflects the intimidation

of the Sikhs of their holy and historic homeland, Punjab, by

their traditional and notorious enemy, the fundamentalist

Hindu organizations as well as the politicians of the

preceding and present administrations of the Indian

democracy, its New Delhi administrations of J.L. Nehru to

Manmohan Singh, run primarily by the Brahmins (who are only 3

percent of the total population of India of over a billion

hungry mouths) and about 15 percent pro-Brahmins. This group

has captured more than 80 percent of the total decision-

making jobs of the Indian administration. Dr. Sukhpreet Singh

Udhoke's task at hand was not an easy one, especially when

his, his forefathers, and the Sikhs' holy and historic

homeland is under the occupation of the Sikhs' enemy, the

Brahmins, ``Butchers of our world'', according to the founder

of the Sikh faith, Guru Nanak Sahib.

The Indian administration and their international news

media's term, the ``largest democracy of the world'', India,

made Dr. Udhoke's task highly difficult in describing the

reality and tragedy of the Sikh nation, Punjab, and beyond

the understanding of an ordinary citizen of the Sikhs' holy

and historic homeland.

It is amply clear that the Sikh leaders, of Punjab so to

speak, and most commonly known as the Dastaardhari (turbaned)

Hindus in the Sikh identity, have failed to respond to the

psyche and aspirations of the Sikhs of Punjab, the Sikh

Diaspora and the Sikh nation. Rather, these Dastaardhari

Hindus in the Sikh Identity have fallen into the trap of the

Brahmins and pro-Brahmins. The day in and the day out, the

Sikhs' Darbar Sahib Complex (Golden Temple Complex), which

includes the Supreme Seat of Sikh Polity, Akal Takht Sahib,

Amritsar, and other religious and political places of the

Sikhs, Gurdwaras (Houses of God), are desecrated, to

humiliate the Sikh nation. The saddest moment of the Sikh

history of post-15th August, 1947, is that a Dastaardhari

Hindu in the Sikh Identity, Prakash Singh Badal, his clan and

the Badal faction of Akali Dal were the party for the

desecration of Darbar Sahib Complex. So much so the

custodian, the so-called jathedar, of Akal Takht Sahib,

Vedanti Joginder Singh Saran actively watched the ball game

of his employer, the executive of the Shiromani Gurdwara

Prabhandhak Committee (SGPC), and SGPC's member as well as

the president of the Akali Dal-Badal faction, Prakash

Singh Badal himself. What an unfortunate part of the Sikh

history!

The present and former custodians of the Akal Takht Sahib,

Vedanti Joginder Singh Saran, Puran Singh of Luv and Kush,

Manjit of Kesgarh, Kirpal Singh, etc. failed to provide any

directions to the Sikh Nation, Guru Khalsa Panth or the Sikhs

of Punjab. They however, collaborated with the enemy of the

Guru Khalsa Panth.

Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke, a young Sikh full of energies,

recorded in his book, the brutality of the Sikhs' traditional

enemies, the Brahmins and pro-Brahmins belonging to the

Hindumahasabha (mother of all evils) and its offshoots such

as Swam Sevak Sangh, Jansangh, Rashtriya Swamsewak Sangh

(RSS), a terrorist organization as declared by the United

States administration, Rashtriya Sikh Sangat (formed at the

directions of A. B. Vajpayee and his clique in 1990s) the

``Sangh family'', responsible for anti-non-Brahmin and anti-

non-Hindus activities, and other such organizations, as well

as the activities of the Saffaronized fundamentalist Hindu

organizations Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hanuman Sena, Shiv Sena,

Bajrang Dal, to cite a few. The RSS was formed in support of

the Fascists of Europe. Dr. Udhoke has exposed

Saffaronization of the Sikh history, disrespect and character

assassination of the Sikh Gurus, Guru Nanak Sahib to Sahib

Guru Gobind Singhji, by these organizations and their

supporters. Finally, I wish Dr. Sukhpreet Singh Udhoke, who

is a gifted and prolific writer and speaker all the best. May

the the Almighty Lord shower. His blessings on him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Trudy Hayes- Sargeant, a dedicated citizen of New York. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding woman and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing her impressive service.

A native of the island of Trinidad & Tobago, Trudy Hayes-Sargeant is proud to call New York her home. She serves as a Clinical Technician Assistant with Forest Research Institute and is the CEO/Owner of her own construction firm--Trucomm Construction.

Quoting Maya Angelou, ``If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded,'' Mrs. Hayes-Sargeant dedicates her time to several organizations such as the Canarsie Lions, The American Breast Cancer Society, Pleasantville Senior Sec. Old Boyz, East New York Diagnostic & Treatment Center and the East New York Scholarship Fund.

Mrs. Hayes-Sargeant received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington, D.C. in Computer Information and System Science and holds several Microsoft certifications. She is the loving mother of one son, Jarrell.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Trudy Hayes-Sargeant. Her deep commitment to community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, recently, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh publicly stated that India is the victim of cross-border terror. The Council of Khalistan under the leadership of Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh wrote to Prime Minister Singh and reminded him that India has been sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Sindh, a province of Pakistan, as the Washington Times reported on January 2, 2002 and that it created the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eclam, which our government has identified as a terrorist organization, according to Indian Today, which is the leading news magazine in India.

It has also sponsored domestic terrorism against the minorities within its borders, including murdering a quarter of a million Sikhs and holding another 52,000 as political prisoners; killing Muslims by the tens of thousands in Kashmir, where more than 90,000 have been killed, Gujarat, where between 2,000 and 5,000 died in a massacre pre- planned by the government, and elsewhere; killing Christians throughout the country, including over 300,000 just in Nagaland; and mass killing many other minorities. Yet India proclaims itself the victim of terrorism and proclaims itself a democracy. Well, Mr. Speaker, it certainly doesn't act that way.

The repression and terrorism must be stopped. We should end all aid and trade with India until such time as the repression ends and people enjoy the most basic human rights, and we should throw our full support behind self-determination in Punjab, Khalistan, in Kashmir, in Nagalim, and wherever people are trying to be free. In addition, we should designate India a terrorist state and impose the sanctions that that designation brings.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert the Council of Khalistan's open letter into the Record. It is a frightening record of Indian terrorism.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC, October 10, 2006.

Open Letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh: India Is a

Terrorist State, Not a Victim

Dear Prime Minister Singh: On October 4, you said that

India is it victim of crossborder terrorism. India is a

terrorist state itself and should be subject to the penalties

that are imposed on terrorist states.

On January 2, 2002, the Washington Times reported that

India is supporting cross-border terrorism in Sindh, a

province of Pakistan, the very same kind of thing that Prime

Minister Singh was claiming is victimizing India. In

addition, India's leading newsmagazine, India Today, reported

that the Indan government created the Liberation Tigers of

Tamil Eelam (LTTE), identified by the U.S. government as a

terrorist organization, and its leaders were put up by the

Indian government in the finest hotel in Delhi, How can you

blame Pakistan when India started cross-border terrorism with

its own actions?

The Indian government has committed terrorism against its

own minorities. It has murdered over 250,000 Sikh infants,

children, youth, men, women, and elderly since 1984, as well

as more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000

Mulims in Kashmir, tens of thousands of Christians and

Muslims throughout the country, and tens of thousands of

Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and other

minorities. A report by the Movement Against State Repression

(MASR) 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. Tell the families of

these innocent Sikhs and others that there is no terrorism in

India.

lndian 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, then their bodies were declared

unidentified and secretly cremated. Khalra was murdered in

police custody. His body was not given to his family. No one

has been brought to justice for the kidnapping and murder of

Jaswant Singh Khalra. The only witness to the Khalra

kidnapping, Rajiv Singh Randhawa, has been repeatedly

harassed by the police, including having been arrested for

trying to hand a note to then British Home Secretary Jack

Straw. 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?

The police never released the body of former Jathedar of

the Akal Talkht Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh

Ghotna murdered him, He has never been tried for the Jathedar

Kaunke murder. In 1994, the U.S. State Department reported

that the Indian government had paid over 41,000 cash bounties

for killing Sikhs. The 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.''

Missionary Graham Staines was murdered along with his two

sons, ages 8 and 10, by a mob of militant, fundamentalist

Hindu nationalists who set fire to the jeep, surrounded it,

and chanted ``Victory to Hannuman,'' a Hindu god. Missionary

Joseph Cooper was beaten so badly that he had to spend a week

in an Indian hospital. Then the Indian government threw him

out of the country. None of the people involved has been

tried, The persons who have murdered priests, raped nuns, and

burned Christian churches have not been charged or tried.

Police broke up a Christian religious festival with gunfire.

Recently, militant Hindus from the Bharatiya Janata Yuva (a

youth movement affiliated with the BJP and the Fascist RSS)

attacked the Convent of Loreto and the school there. A

spokesman for the BJP, Mr. H. Dikshit, demanded an

investigation of the school!

The murderers of 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Gujarat have

never been brought to trial. An Indian newspaper reported

that the police were ordered not to get involved in that

massacre, a frightening parallel to the Delhi massacre of

Sikhs in 1984. The most important mosque in India, the Babri

Mosque, was destroyed by militant Hindu fundamentalists who

have never been held responsible for their actions.

It is good that you have admitted the guilt of the Indian

government for the Delhi massacres, in which over 20,000

Sikhs were killed, by apologizing for the massacres, but what

good does it do the Sikh Nation? Where are the apologies for

the Golden Temple attack, the destruction of the Akal Takht,

and the desecration of Darbar Sahib, and the other

atrocities? Where is the compensation for the victims'

families? That operation was yet another act of Indian

domestic terrorism.

The Guru granted sovereignty to the Sikh Nation, saying

``In Grieb Sikhin Ko Deon Patshahi.'' We must remind

ourselves of our heritage by raising slogans of ``Khalistan

Zindabad'' and beginning a Shantmai Morcha to liberate our

homeland, Khalistan. Whoever is honest and dedicated in

leading that Shantmai Morcha deserves our support. Every

rooming and evening we recite, ``Raj Kare Ga Khalsa.'' Now is

the time to act on it. Do we mean what we say every morning

and evening?

The flame of freedom continues to burn blightly in the

heart of the Sikh Nation. No force can suppress it. Recently,

Dal Khalsa and the Shiromani Khalsa Dal announced that they

are uniting for sovereignty for Khalistan. This was met with

chants of ``Khalistan Zindabad.'' The Punjab Legislative

Assembly proclaimed the sovereignty of Punjab when it

cancelled the water agreements. Only by liberating Khalistan

can we put an end to the repression and terrorism against the

Sikh Nation by the Indian regime. Now is the time to

rededicate ourselves to the liberation of Khalistan.

Last year, Sikh farmers were expelled from Uttaranchal

Pradesh and their land was seized. They were beaten up by the

police. Their homes were bulldozed by paratroopers. Their

homes in many cases were built using their life savings and

by their own hands. We condemn this act of state terrorism by

the government of Uttaranchal Pradesh. As you know, Sikhs are

prohibited from buying land in Rajasthan and Himachal

Pradesh. Now Uttaranchal Pradesh joins that list. Yet there

are no restrictions on land ownership in Punjab by non-Sikhs.

People from anywhere can buy land in Punjab, including people

from Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. India is trying to

subvert Khalistan's independence by overrunning Punjab with

non-Sikhs while keeping Sikhs from escaping the brutal

repression in Punjab. It is incumbent on the Sikh diaspora to

free Khalistan. We must redouble our efforts. That is the

only way to keep these atrocities from continuing and to

protect the Sikh Nation and the Sikh religion.

The Akali Dal conspired with the Indian government in 1984

to invade the Golden Temple to murder Sant Bhindranwale and

20,000 other Sikhs during June 1984 in Punjab. Among those

who conspired with the government, according to Chakravyuh:

Web of Indian Secularism, were Dr. Chohan, Ganga Singh

Dhillon, and Didar Singh Bains

It appears the Indian regime is even willing to arrest its

own agents to suppress the movement for Khalistan! Now Badal

and Chief Minister Amarinder Singh have been accusing each

other of being tied in with ``terrorists.'' These leaders

view support for Khalistan as terrorism, as the Indian

government does. They have shown where their loyalties lie.

How will these so-called Sikh leaders account for themselves?

Remember the words of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht

Professor Darshan Singh: ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he

is not a Sikh.''

Sikhs will never get any justice from Delhi. Ever since

independence, India has mistreated the Sikh Nation, starting

with Patel's memo calling Sikhs ``a criminal tribe.'' What a

shame for Home Minister Patel and the Indian government to

issue this memorandum when the Sikh Nation gave over 80

percent of the sacrifices to free India. There is no place

for Sikhs in supposedly secular, supposedly democratic India.

Our moment of freedom is closer than ever. Sikhs will

continue to work to make certain that we shake ourselves

loose from the yoke of Indian oppression and liberate our

homeland, Khalistan, so that all Sikhs may live lives of

prosperity, freedom, and dignity.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President,

Council of Khalistan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Ruth D. Hunt, a distinguished citizen of Brooklyn, NY. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding woman and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing her impressive service.

Ruth D. Hunt is the director of Marketing and Outreach for the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation North Brooklyn Health Network. She has greatly improved the public image of the network, expanded partnerships and promoted health services. Last year, Ms. Hunt coordinated and provided over 300 community outreach health events in Brooklyn and screened over 15,000 participants.

Ms. Hunt is an accomplished manager and developer. She has an extensive background in special events planning, fundraising and has coordinated major events with the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the Doll League, Inc: Women and AIDS Resource Network, Meharry Alumni Association and the National Association of Health Services Executives. Ms. Hunt has also had an extensive career in fashion. She has modeled professionally for more than 100 New York City fashion designers and manufacturers and has graced countless runways, showrooms and trade- shows. She founded Ruth Hunt Associates in 1988. The mission of the company is to help build self-esteem by teaching clients how to look, act and speak their best to achieve career advancement.

Ms. Hunt is most proud of working with Rachel Robinson during the inception of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. She served as the foundation coordinator and implemented the production of four major Jazz concerts. Under the guidance of her mentor, Mrs. Robinson, Ms. Hunt administered and creatively established the historical collection of Jackie Robinson's life and career. This collection later became a traveling exhibition that was sponsored by the Coca-Cola Company.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Ruth D. Hunt. Her deep commitment to her community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Patricia Williams, a community leader and entrepreneur. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding woman and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing her impressive service.

Born to the Honorable Kathryn Williams and the late James Williams, Patricia Williams credits living and growing up in evolving neighborhoods like Harlem, Bedford Stuyvesant and East New York as an inspiration to work for social and economical change.

Ms. Williams knows hard work is an investment. She currently is the President/CEO of Ecotech Enterprises, Inc., a firm she established to provide consultant services to government agencies, private sector corporations, and small, minority-owned business enterprises. In the past, Ms. Williams provided community outreach and event planning for the Brooklyn Museum of Art Construction Project. She has delivered bottom line services such as marketing and sales to well known small businesses and she provides fundraising and workshop development assistance to several non-profits. Ms. Williams has been called upon as a panelist and guest speaker on numerous occasions and is considered an authority on business development.

Prior to starting her own consulting firm, Ms. Williams was executive Director of the Minority Business Opportunity Center under the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency where she provided business services to more than 70,000 minority/women-owned and small businesses. As senior Administrator of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity for Morse Diesel International, she successfully implemented policies to ensure 100 million dollars of contracting opportunities for minority-owned and small businesses where she exceeded labor force and contracting goals set for women and minority skilled workers at JFK Airport's Terminal 4 construction project. She was Senior Employment Specialist and Career Development Instructor for Non-Traditional Community College, Operations Manager for Madison Avenue firm Durham Temporaries Inc., and has several years of experience at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Finance Division.

Ms. Williams attended John Jay College where she majored in Criminal Justice and Labor Law. Her work has not gone unnoticed. Ms. Williams has been recognized by several government agencies and community organizations. She is also the recipient of the Columbia University Non-Profit Executive Management Scholarship. Ms. Williams is the proud mother of two, Leah and John.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Patricia Williams. Her deep commitment to her community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 864, the STOP Underage Drinking Act. First and foremost, I would like to thank the sponsors--Mrs. Roybal-Allard and Mr. Osborne--for their diligence over the years on this issue and am pleased to see their work pay off today. Keeping alcohol out of the hands of America's youth is of the utmost importance and this bill will ensure that the federal government is doing its part, working hand-in-hand with private industry and other public interest groups while strengthening the intent of congress that states have the primary jurisdiction to regulate the sale, production and distribution of alcohol under the 21st amendment.

Alcohol, Mr. Speaker, has always been regarded as a unique product throughout American history. No one would suggest that it is the same as a flat screen television or ball bearings. No, alcohol can have tangible societal costs--from underage drinking, drunken driving deaths, and other issues stemming from overconsumption. Be it through the tax law or the 21st amendment, Congress has never intended alcohol to be just another consumer good--as evidenced by the unique regulatory model put in place after prohibition was repealed. We have always placed this distinction on the product, because of the societal dangers involved--not consumer irresponsibility. Because of these concerns, it is of the utmost importance for us to keep alcohol away from children. We need to prevent abuse in our communities and detach the stigma associated with these challenges so that we can meet them head on.

As we confront underage drinking today and the responsibility issues that go along with them, we must also face the reality that while the federal government is well-suited to coordinate national ad campaigns and other valuable research studies; we must understand that states should and do have the primary jurisdiction to regulate the distribution, production and sale of alcohol under the 21st amendment.

States and their individual regulatory models are our best ally and the people's best ally in the fight against underage drinking. We in Brooklyn do not want Boise's laws and they probably do not want ours either under the guise of Big Brother knows best.

In addition to the programs which are authorized in this bill, I hope this will serve to put groups who look to dismantle our regulatory system on notice that Congress will continue to utilize its bully pulpit to advance best practices and responsibility from the industry and the public.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the sponsors of H.R. 864 and laud their efforts and urge my colleagues to pass this much-needed legislation into law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Benita A. Allison, a distinguished citizen of Brooklyn, New York. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding woman and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing her many accomplishments.

Born to the late Lamonias Smith-Ody and William Smith, Benita A. Allison remains a part of the Brooklyn community today. Ms. Allison is a product of the New York public school system and has received certificates from Brooklyn College and New York University.

Ms. Allison has had many firsts in her career and life, among them; she was the first Black woman to be an Institutional Stock Trader for a major bank in New York City. She was accepted in one of the first classes that included woman of color to enter and graduate from the New York City Police Academy as a New York City Police Officer where she served 18 months.

Ms. Allison has been very involved in the community. She represents her church, 1st Baptist Church of Crown Heights, as a ``Mission Advocate''. Ms. Allison holds numerous memberships and sits on many community boards. She sits on the Economic Development Board of Community Board 8 and is a member of the Service Corp of Retired Executives. Ms. Allison is a lifetime member of Church Women United in Brooklyn and is a past member of the National Council of Negro Women (Flatbush Section). Ms. Allison served as a Regional Resource Consultant for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she was responsible for providing capacity building services to the minority community/faith based HIV/AIDS population. She has also served on the Mental Health Advisory Board for Brookdale University Hospital in Brooklyn, New York and the Pastoral Care HIV/AIDS Advisory Board for Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn.

Since 2003, Ms. Allison has worked as a Parent Coordinator for New York City Department of Education. As a Parent Coordinator she works and partners with community organizations to assist parents and families with such issues as housing, employment, adult training and education. She has held workshops to address such topics as adult education training, immigration and conflict mediation.

Ms. Allison's work has not gone unnoticed and has earned her recognition from the New York City Conference of Mayors, the New Jersey HIV Care Network and Barber-Scotia College.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Benita A. Allison. Her deep commitment to her family and community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the jazz musician, Wayne C. Wiltshire, distinguished artist of the music industry. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding artist and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing his impressive accomplishments.

Wayne C. Wiltshire has spent his entire 33 year career trying to improve access to healthcare for thousands of New Yorkers. First, as administrator for Emergency and Ambulatory Care Services at Cumberland Hospital and then as Associate Executive Director at Woodhull Hospital, which he helped open in 1982. Mr. Wiltshire then returned to renovate the new Cumberland D&TC, and served as their first Executive Director for 8 years. He later was transferred to Bellevue Hospital where he served for 5 years as the hospital's first African-American Associate Executive Director for Psychiatry and Emergency Services. During this time, Mr. Wiltshire was also an adjunct professor at St. Joseph's College in Brooklyn and owned his own ambulette service--Health Link, Incorporated with his father Cuthbert Wiltshire and brother David Wiltshire. With a Master's Degree in Community Health from LID and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Politics from Shaw University, Mr. Wiltshire, a Canarsie High School graduate, is currently the Chief Executive Officer for the Paul J. Cooper Center for Human Services, Inc., formerly the Brownsville-Oceanhill Mental Health Service.

Mr. Wiltshire celebrated his twenty-first wedding anniversary in July with his wife Donna, who is also a twenty-nine year health professional. They have four children--Marc, Ngina, Kelli-Lin and Victor. From Fort Greene to Williamsburg, and now Brownsville, Mr. Wiltshire has helped shape the health care landscape of Brooklyn, which has helped improve access to health care for thousands of New Yorkers.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the accomplishments of Wayne C. Wiltshire. His commitment to improving healthcare access makes him most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the Austrian Consulate in New York as they honor one of my district's outstanding human rights groups, The Rav Tov International Jewish Rescue Organization.

Founded in 1973, at the behest of the former Grand Rabbi of Satmar, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of blessed memory, in 1973, Rav Tov was initially established to rescue the persecuted Jewish community living in the former Soviet Union. Rabbi Teitelbaum, himself a survivor of the Holocaust, saw his family perish at the hands of the Nazis. He envisioned Rav Tov as the protective shield for the global Jewish community living in tyrannical regimes.

Rav Tov's heroic accomplishments of rescuing and resettling Soviet Jewry was only possible with the unflinching cooperation and support of the Austrian government, which hosted the refugees as they waited for their final resettlement. It is estimated that 367,000 Jews stayed in Vienna between 1968-1989 rebuilding their often shattered lives in free countries. Following the fall of the Soviet Union, the focus of Rav Tov's and Austrian efforts have been to save other endangered Jewish communities that still exist around the world.

As a result of the enduring bonds between Rav Tov and the Austrian government, the Austrian Federal President, Dr. Heinz Fischer, has decided to confer the prestigious Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold to Rabbi David Niederman, Rav Tov's Chief Executive for over three decades, which will be presented to him at a ceremony today at the Austrian Consulate in New York. This wonderful event is not only a testament to the resolve of the Austrian government in saving Jews in peril, but a celebration of the strong relationship between the United States and Austria.

Mr. Speaker, as Rav Tov's representative in Congress, I have been privileged to work with them and the Austrian government on many pressing issues facing Jews in danger. I would like to particularly make mention of Austria's New York Consul General Brigitta Blaha and the Deputy Consul General Andreas Launer for their tireless work on Rav Tov's behalf. I encourage all of my colleagues to join me today in commending the Austrian government and Rav Tov for their phenomenal partnership in rescuing Jews around the world living in fear and danger.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Tanya Rand, a distinguished citizen of Brooklyn, New York. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding woman and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing her impressive service.

Born to Natalie and Caesar Campbell in Brooklyn, New York, Tanya Rand remains a part of the Clinton Hill community today. Ms. Rand is a product of the New York public school system and currently attends New York Technical College where she is working towards a Bachelor's degree in Technology.

In 1992, Ms. Rand joined the Health and Hospital Corporation as a part-time receptionist/clerk at one of Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center's off sites. While with the Health and Hospital Corporation, Ms. Rand has enjoyed numerous promotions. She has worked in the Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center Chemical Dependency Department, the Office of the Director of Community Affairs, and the North Brooklyn Health Network Community. Ms. Rand's many talents did not go unnoticed. In 2004, Tanya was asked to manage the Community Affairs Office and became the liaison to both the Community Advisory Board and Auxiliary Board for Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center.

Ms. Rand is the proud mother of two children, Lindsey Marie, age 17, and Jassiem Jahi, age 13. Although Ms. Rand was busy with her job and raising two children, she also found time to be active in her children's education and her community. She was PTA President for the District 13 PTA Council and was recognized as a ``Parent on the Move''. The Board of Education changed and her children moved on to different schools, but Ms. Rand still found time to help parents that were in need of support. She also helps in the political arena. Most Brooklyn elected officials know they can count on Ms. Rand whenever they call on her.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Tanya Rand. Her deep commitment to her family and community makes her most worthy of our recognition today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Hector B. Fernandez, an accomplished professional and model citizen of New York. It behooves us to pay tribute to this outstanding man and I hope my colleagues will join me in recognizing his impressive service.

Hector B. Fernandez was born in the Dominican Republic to Mercedes and Benjamin Fernandez. At the age of 7, his family immigrated to the United States and settled in the borough of Manhattan, New York. He was reared in a traditional Latino home where hard work and education is valued and rigorously enforced.

Mr. Fernandez received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Metropolitan College of New York and has over 25 years of professional experience with the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation and local not-for-profit organizations. He has dedicated the past 20 years of his life to serving individuals and their families afflicted with the illness of addiction. His strong convictions and compassionate nature serves him well in supporting those individuals that are less fortunate.

As the Addiction Program Administrator for Chemical Dependency Services in the Department of Psychiatry at the North Brooklyn Health Network, Mr. Fernandez is responsible for planning, creating and delivering innovative programs and initiatives. He is driven by the affirmations of the successes and accomplishments of those he serves. One of his strongest attributes is his ability to build and sustain relationships with key stakeholders to increase the quality of services and resources at Woodhull Medical Center. His determination to succeed is supported by his team of staff as they collectively develop ideas and strategies for the clients and the community at large.

Mr. Fernandez is a certified New York State Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor, and he has been recognized for his exemplary work ethic by the North Brooklyn Health Network Department of Social Work. His success is built on a strong family nucleus consisting of his wife Nancy, and three children of whom he is very proud: Jeremy, Natalie and Xavier.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that it is incumbent on this body to recognize the work of Hector B. Fernandez. His deep commitment to family and community makes him most worthy of our recognition today.