Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, there are encouraging developments in the fight for freedom for minorities in India. It looks like the people of Nagaland are making progress in their negotiations with India to achieve autonomy. This is a potentially significant development that will begin, at long last, the unraveling of the web of Indian oppression. Can Kashmir and Khalistan be far behind?

To add to this, the fire of freedom continues to burn as brightly as ever in Punjab, Khalistan. On December 7, a Sikh leader named Simranjit Singh Mann, who is a former Member of India's Parliament and has held events right here in the Capitol and met many Members of Congress, again spoke out for independence for the Sikh homeland, Khalistan. Mr. Mann put his party, the Akali Dal, Amritsar, on record for independence. He pledged that he would lead a peaceful movement for independence, which he said was a dream of the Sikh people that ``will be materialized one day.'' It looks like that day is getting closer.

The government of Punjab acted last year to cancel all water agreements with the other states in India, by which Punjab's water was being diverted to those other states. In so doing, they declared the sovereignty of the state of Punjab. Imagine that, Mr. Speaker. They are openly claiming their sovereignty. This is good to see.

Mr. Speaker, when India became independent, the Sikhs were supposed to get an independent state in Punjab. But the Indian leaders assured them they would have ``the glow of freedom'' there, so they stayed with India. Well, that ``glow of freedom'' has taken the lives of over 250,000 Sikhs as well as over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 89,000 Kashmiri Muslims, and tens of thousands of other minority people. It has resulted in 52,268 Sikhs being held as political prisoners under a repressive law called TADA that expired in 1995. It is time for real freedom for the Sikhs, the Nagas, the Kashmiris, and all people in the subcontinent.

The essence of democracy is self-determination. If India wants to be treated as a democracy, it must allow self-determination and all other rights to all its citizens. We should not provide any money to India until it does. In 1948, India promised to hold a plebiscite to let the people of Kashmir decide their status. It's now 56 years later and they are still waiting. Similarly, the demand for self-determination in Khalistan, in Nagaland, and elsewhere has been met with nothing but violent resistance. Is that democracy, Mr. Speaker? Is that freedom?

The Tribune, a newspaper in Chandigarh, Punjab, carried excellent coverage of Mr. Mann's remarks in its December 8 issue. I would like to place that article in the Record at this time for the information of my colleagues.

[From the (Chandigarh, India) Tribune, Dec. 8, 2004]

Mann Reverts to Sovereign Punjab Theme

Ludhiana, Dec. 7.--Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) supremo

Simranjit Singh Mann yesterday reverted to the theme of

sovereign Punjab, declaring that his party would launch a

peaceful movement to realise this dream. He said his party

had never given up the demand for a separate and sovereign

Punjab as the Sikhs' was a separate nationality, foundations

of which had been laid down by Guru Gobind Singh himself.

Mr. Mann, who was here to preside over a meeting of the

party office-bearers at Gurdwara Akalgarh, said to ensure

lasting peace in South Asia in the face of deep hostility

between ``Hindu civilisation (India) and Muslim civilisation

(Pakistan)'', it was in the interest of the people of the

region to create a neutral and buffer sovereign state.

He maintained that the foundations for a separate sovereign

Sikh state had been laid down by Guru Gobind Singh and Banda

Singh Bahadur followed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. This dream

was furthered by ``Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale'' and

``would be materialised one day''. He said since both

Pakistan and India had nuclear weapons, it was necessary that

some buffer state should be created so that the two countries

did not come face to face with each other.

Mr. Mann refused to give the geographical outline of the

``sovereign state'' envisioned by him. He evaded an answer to

a question whether it included the part of the state which is

now with Pakistan.

Welcoming the close cooperation between the Pakistani

Punjab and the Indian Punjab, Mr. Mann claimed it was he who

had initiated this move by demanding way back in 1990 that

the border between the two Punjabs should be opened up for

the people to cross over.

To a question on the demand of the Dal Khalsa that ban on

cow slaughter in Punjab should go, Mr. Mann said he or his

organisation had nothing to do with that organisation (Dal

Khalsa). At the same time, he said, he or his party would not

like to hurt the sentiments of a majority of people as

``Hindus held the cow to be sacred and their sentiments

should be respected''.

Mr. Mann also accused Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash

Singh Badal of having connived with Hindu organisations in

demolishing the Babri mosque. He alleged that Mr. Badal had

sent a special jatha, led by Mr. Avtar Singh Hit, to Ayodhaya

on December 6, 1992, to join the kar sevaks for demolishing

the Babri mosque.

Mr. Speaker, on January 26, India celebrated its Republic Day, the anniversary of the adoption of its constitution. On that day a group of Sikh activists raised the Sikh flag at a Gurdwara in the city of Amritsar in accordance with Sikh tradition. For this, complaints were issued against 35 Sikhs and 31 have been arrested.

Now eleven of them have had their bail denied, keeping them in detention. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ruled that speaking out for Khalistan is not a crime, yet they are charged with ``sedition'' and ``making inflammatory speeches'' for raising a flag and speaking out for freedom for the Sikh homeland.

Mr. Speaker, what kind of democracy is this? The Movement Against State Repression (MASR) was already reporting that India held 52,268 political prisoners. These activists add 11 to that number.

This is just the latest illustration that exercising your freedom of speech can be a very dangerous thing in India if you are a minority. India has a pattern of repression. It has killed over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, thousands of other Christians and Muslims throughout the country, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits (the aboriginal people of South Asia), Manipuris, Tamils, and others. The U.S. State Department reported in 1994 that the Indian government had paid over 41,000 cash bounties to police officers for killing Sikhs. One such bounty went to an officer who killed a three-year-old boy.

We must not just sit and watch while a country that proclaims itself ``the world's largest democracy'' tramples on the most basic of democratic freedoms, such as the freedom to speak out and to hold a peaceful demonstration. That is not the hallmark of a democracy. It is the hallmark of a police state.

The time has come to let India know that we are watching and to let them know that this is unacceptable.

There are steps that we can take to support the rights of all people in south Asia. It is time that we take these steps. They include cutting off our aid and trade with India and putting the Congress on record in support of self-determination for the Sikhs of Punjab, Khalistan, the Christian people of Nagaland, the Kashmiris, and all the people of South Asia who are seeking freedom. Only by exercising their right to self-determination, which is the essence of democracy, can the people there finally live in freedom, peace, and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's very informative press release on the denial of bail to these Sikh activists into the Record at this time.

[From Council of Khalistan]

Bail Denied for 11 Sikhs Arrested for Hoisting Sikh Flag in Amritsar--

Is This Democracy, Freedom of Speech?

Eleven Sikhs who were arrested for raising the Sikh flag on

Republic Day, January 26, have been denied bail. Thirty-five

Sikhs were charged and 31 are being held. They raised the

saffron flag of Khalsa Raj at Gurdwara Shaheed Ganj in

Amritsar. They have been charged with sedition and ``making

inflammatory speeches.'' Khalsa Raj Party President Dr.

Jagjit Singh Chohan said that they had raised the flag

according to Sikh tradion.

Punjab Pradesh Congress Party President Hanspal said, ``We

will not allow them to raise their heads for Khalistan.''

Maninder Singh Bitta, President of the All-India Youth

Congress, demanded that Dr. Chohan and others be deported to

Pakistan, claiming they are Pakistani agents. Former Chief

Minister Badal said, ``We will not permit the militancy to

raise its head again.''

``How can India call itself democratic when it suppresses a

basic right like freedom of speech?,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh

Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, which leads

the Sikh struggle for freedom. ``The Punjab and Haryana High

Court has already ruled in the case of the late Colonel

Partap Singh that speaking in support of freedom for

Khalistan is not a crime,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``How can these

activists be arrested for something that is not a crime?''

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, over 90,000

Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of

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

Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders

of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' According to a report by

the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs

and tens of thousands of other minorities are being held as

political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some

have been in illegal custody since 1984! We demand the

immediate release of all these political prisoners.

``The Sikh Nation is indebted to the leaders of Dal Khalsa

who raised the Sikh flag, including Harcharan Singh Dhami,

President, Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, General Secretary, Satnam

Singh Paonta Sahib, and others,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``We

praise Dr. Chohan for his remarks. But how can Sikhs like

Badal, Hanspal, Bitta, and others call themselves Sikhs when

they deny the Sikh aspirations for freedom? Clearly, they are

doing the bidding of the Indian government, which controls

them.''

The Sikh Nation declared its independence from India on

October 7, 1987 and formed the Council of Khalistan at that

time to lead the struggle for independence. When India became

independent, Sikhs were equal partners in the transfer of

power and were to receive their own state, but the weak and

ignorant Sikh leaders of the time were tricked into staying

with India on the promise that they would have ``the glow of

freedom'' and no law affecting the Sikhs would pass without

their consent. Sikhs ruled an independent and sovereign

Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and again from 1765 to 1849 and were

recognized by most of the countries of the world at that

time. Sikhs do not accept the Indian constitution. No Sikh

representative has ever signed it.

Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh

Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of

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

tortured, and murdered, 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 police never released the body of

former Jathedar of the Akal Takht 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 pad over

41,000 cash bounties for killing Sikhs.

India is not one country; it is a polyglot thrown together

for the convenience of the British colonialists. It is doomed

to break up as they did. Last year, the Punjab Legislative

Assembly passed a bill cancelling the government's daylight

robbery of Punjab river water. The Assembly explicitly stated

the sovereignty of Punjab.

``I urge the international community to help us free

Khalistan from Indian occupation,'' Dr. Aulakh said.

``Freedom is the birthright of all people and nations,'' he

said. ``The arrest and denial of bail for these activists for

raising the Sikh flag and making speeches shows that there is

no freedom for Sikhs within India,'' he said. ``As Professor

Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, `If

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

noted. ``We must continue to press for freedom,'' he said.

``Without political power, religions cannot flourish and

nations perish. A sovereign Khalistan is essential for the

survival of the Sikh religion and the Sikh Nation.''

Madam Speaker, many people indicated earlier on that the blacks did not have the intelligence to be able to be involved in aviation; and, of course, after a short period of time, they were proven wrong. I think about some of our great leaders who actually were a part of the Tuskegee Airmen. I think about Percy Sutton who was a great leader in the New York area and, of course, has done so many things for people. I think it came from his involvement with the Tuskegee Airmen and his being involved in Tuskegee University. Then Rosco Brown, who was known as one of the world's greatest educators, a person who headed one of our universities for a period of time; and I think about how all of them were involved with the Tuskegee Airmen.

So there was no question about it. There were many that were qualified to do it, and they did a magnificent job. Their performance was unmatched, and I am so proud that this House today is recognizing them.

I just want to say to the people who actually brought forth this resolution, I want to commend them on H. Con.

Res. 26, because I think the time has come when we recognize the outstanding work of the Tuskegee Airmen. We should not just do it during the month of February because, first of all, when we think about their accomplishments, February is the shortest month of all. That within itself is sort of selfish. But the point is I think we need to do it 365 days a year, and if there is a leap year, we need to do it 366 days, because the job that they did and the things that they did on behalf of this country is something that we should continue to talk about daily.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume. I want to thank my colleague, of course, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who has really distinguished herself in this body as a real leader for introducing this bill. This bill has the bipartisan support of 52 cosponsors and deserves the support of all the Members of the House.

Mr. Speaker, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was held on February 7 in cities and towns all over this country, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and New Orleans, New York of course, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and many, many, more. This annual observance was created to encourage African Americans across the United States to get educated, get tested, and get involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Now, some people may wonder, why is it necessary to have a day to reach out to the African American? And let me indicate to those that raise that question that I wish it was not necessary to have this kind of targeted outreach effort. But, unfortunately, it is not only necessary; it is vital to us that we do this. It is just so important.

It is of vital importance because every day in this country 72 African Americans are infected with HIV. According to the Centers For Disease Control, African Americans make up approximately 13 percent of the population of the United States, but they represent 40 percent of the total AIDS cases reported in this country. In 2003, CDC revealed that more African Americans were reported to have AIDS than any other racial or ethnic group. In my own congressional district, the largely African American neighborhoods of Ft. Greene and East New York continue to experience the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in New York City.

In the United States, nearly 406,000 people were living with AIDS at the end of 2003, and African Americans accounted for half of these AIDS cases. Among women, rates of HIV/AIDS diagnosis in African American women are 19 times higher than those of white women and five times higher than those of Hispanic women. Sadly, African Americans also suffer the vast majority of deaths caused by AIDS, accounting for more than half of all U.S. AIDS-related deaths in 2003.

While these statistics are tragic, we must never shrug our shoulders and say nothing can be done.

We must remember HIV/AIDS is totally preventable. So in the face of this immense human tragedy, we cannot give up. We must embrace the opportunity to encourage people to get educated, get tested, and get involved in the fight against AIDS. We must never forget that apathy and silence lead to ignorance, and ignorance leads to death. Members of this Congress must stand together to break the silence and reject the ignorance which is leading to the death of ordinary people in countless communities all over this land.

Mr. Speaker, we must not only use the well of the House as a forum; we must, as I said, we must use our budget process to provide the necessary funding for this as well. That is why I hope that this body will move expeditiously on the reauthorization of the Ryan

White CARE Act. Down through the years, this act has provided the primary source for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. We need to ensure that these funds will continue to be available to meet the needs of those who are affected by this disease.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to remember, more funding will save many more lives and stop the spread of

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, how much time do we have left?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

(Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen).

(Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that I really appreciate the work of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) and all the other Members that worked on this, including the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Health, the chairman of the full committee and of course the ranking member of the full committee and all of the staff for all of the work they have done.

This is an area that we really need to focus on. We need to work together on this issue to be able to see what we can do to bring it under control. It has been said over and over again that this is a disease that can be dealt with. The only thing we have to do is put some resources there and also work together. I think if we do that, we can bring this horrible disease under control.

I want to thank all of those who worked so hard to make us focus on this because this is something that we cannot ignore. Some things you can ignore and they will go away. If we ignore this, it is going to get bigger and bigger and bigger. The time is now to put the resources behind it and deal with it.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this past Wednesday, January 26, was India's Republic Day, the anniversary of the adoption of their constitution. It is a very important day in India's calendar. The Indian constitution is supposed to guarantee freedom for everyone and ensure everyone full human rights and democratic freedoms. However, in practice, it has not worked that way in the 58 years that India has been independent. I salute the ideals of the Indian constitution, but I cannot urge India strongly enough to start living up to them.

Independent India has been no picnic for the minorities of India. They have suffered severe repression. Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and others have suffered greatly at the hands of democratic, secular India. That is why Sikhs in Washington, London, and even Amritsar protested on Republic Day. In Amritsar, the Sikh organization Dal Khalsa hoisted the Sikh flag and distributed flyers saying that the Indian flag ``is not our flag'' and the Indian constitution ``is not our constitution.'' No Sikh representative has ever signed the Indian constitution.

Over a quarter of a million Sikh have been murdered at the hands of the Indian government, along with over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland and still more Christians elsewhere. Priests have been murdered throughout the country, nuns have been raped, churches have been burned, Christian schools and prayer halls have been vandalized. By now, the burning death of missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons and the beating of missionary Joseph Cooper are well known. In recent days, evangelist Benny Hinn

had to travel under heavy security after being attacked and vandalized.

Over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims have been murdered, along with thousands of Muslims in other parts of the country. Recently, according to the BBC, the Indian government finally admitted that Muslims in Gujarat did not set the train fire that led to the massacre of 5,000 of them, a massacre that a policeman told an Indian newspaper was planned in advance by the Indian government.

India forced Untouchables out of a refugee camp after the tsunami, according to Yahoo! News. The Washington Post reported that they were being given only the leftover food of Brahmins and India has refused all efforts by the international community to come and help them. Even though the very Indian constitution that Republic Day celebrates outlawed the caste system, it is alive and well to this day.

Mr. Speaker, these are just the latest examples of the repression of minorities that continues to occur while India celebrates its secular, democratic constitution. This is unacceptable. In the President's recent Inaugural Address, he spoke about extending freedom to all the world. India is one place where that effort needs to be carried out before the country, a multinational, polyglot empire like Austria- Hungary, the Soviet Union, or Yugoslavia, falls apart. We must do whatever we can to ensure freedom and peace for all in the subcontinent.

The best things we can do are to stop our aid and trade with India until human rights are respected and the violent repression ceases and to put ourselves on record in support of a free and fair plebiscite in Punjab, Khalistan, in Kashmir (as promised in 1948), in Nagaland, and throughout the minority areas of the subcontinent.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I would like to place an article about Dal Khalsa's protest in Amritsar and a press release about the Council of Khalistan's protest here in Washington into the Record.

Council of Khalistan,

Washington, DC.

Sikhs Mark Indian Republic Day by Protesting Genocide, Repression

Washington, DC, January 26, 2005.--Sikhs from all over the

East Coast came to Washington today to mark Indian Republic

Day by protesting the genocide and repression against the

Sikhs and other minorities. They raised slogans such as

``India out of Khalistan'' and carried signs such as ``India:

Democracy for Brahmins, Tyranny for Minorities.'' The

demonstration was organized by the Council of Khalistan,

which leads the struggle to establish a sovereign,

independent Khalistan free from Indian occupation. On October

7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared its independence from

India, naming its new country Khalistan. The Council of

Khalistan was established at that time to lead the peaceful,

democratic, nonviolent movement to liberate Khalistan from

Indian oppression. It is the government pro tempore of

Khalistan, the Sikh homeland.

Republic Day is the anniversary of the adoption of India's

constitution, which is supposed to ensure a secular,

democratic government. But the Indian government has murdered

over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 Christians

since 1948, over 89,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and

tens of thousands of Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits,

Bodos, and others. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian

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

According to a report by the Movement Against State

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

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

illegal custody since 1984! Tens of thousands of other

minorities are also being held as political prisoners,

according to Amnesty International. We demand the immediate

release of all these political prisoners.

Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh

Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of

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

tortured, and murdered, 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 police never released the body of

former Jathedar of the Akal Takht 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.

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. 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. 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.

``Is Jaswant Singh Khalra celebrating? Is Jathedar Kaunke

celebrating? Is Graham Staines celebrating?,'' Dr. Aulakh

asked. ``How can a democracy celebrate the kind of violent

repression that claimed their lives?''

When India became Independent, Sikhs were equal partners in

the transfer of power and were to receive their own state,

but the weak and ignorant Sikh leaders of the time were

tricked into staying with India on the promise that they

would have ``the glow of freedom'' and no law affecting the

Sikhs would pass without their consent. Sikhs ruled an

independent and sovereign Punjab from 1710 to 1716 and again

from 1765 to 1849 and were recognized by most of the

countries of the world at that time. No Sikh representative

has ever signed the Indian constitution.

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. Last year, the Punjab Legislative

Assembly passed a bill annulling all water agreements with

the Indian government, preventing the government's daylight

robbery of Punjab river water. Punjab needs its river water

for its crops. In the bill, the Assembly explicitly stated

the sovereignty of Punjab. Political leaders in Punjab have

again called for an Independent Khalistan.

``This shows that the drive for freedom is still alive in

Punjab,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``It is clear that India does not

accept Sikhs,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``The Indian government

continues to persecute and kill our Sikh brethren,'' he said.

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

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

Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted.

``We must continue to press for our God-given birthright of

freedom,'' he said. ``Without political power, religions

cannot flourish and nations perish. A sovereign Khalistan is

essential for the survival of the Sikh religion.''

Mr. Speaker, recently the Council of Khalistan issued a new year's message to the Sikh Nation. It is worth reading. My colleagues and the people should find it very informative. In the letter, the Council of Khalistan called again for the liberation of Khalistan. They noted the progress that has been made towards that goal in 2004 and the rising support among the political leadership in Punjab. They commended those leaders who have moved the Sikh homeland closer to freedom and criticized those who have supported India's brutal occupation of Khalistan in which

over 250,000 Sikhs have been murdered and over 52,000 held as political prisoners without charge or trial, illegally. Some have been held since 1984.

In addition, more than 89,000 Kashmiri Muslims, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, Muslims and Christians throughout India, and other minorities such as Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and others are also being treated to brutal oppression by the Indian government. According to Amnesty International, tens of thousands of these minorities are being held as political prisoners.

Freedom is the birthright of everyone and self-determination is the cornerstone and essence of democracy. Yet India, which proclaims itself democratic and secular, will not allow the free expression of the democratic will of the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and the other areas seeking their freedom. Instead, it continues to hold them in subjugation by brutal force. India promised to hold a plebiscite on the status of Kashmir in 1948. It has never done so. Instead, it kills in massive numbers to hold onto its empire. But history tells us that multinational, polyglot empires such as India are doomed to fall apart.

America is a beacon of freedom for the world. That is why so many people come from around the world to America. How often America has sent its troops to fight for freedom. Sometimes we may have made errors in judgment or strategy, but the intent is always to promote freedom. Can we not at least take peaceful, moderate measures to promote freedom in South Asia?

Mr. Speaker, we must stand for freedom. We must do what we can. We should stop all aid to India, except direct aid to tsunami victims, until such time as all the political prisoners are released. We must stop the aid until democratic values prevail all through India and everyone within its borders can freely exercise his or her rights without fear of reprisals from the government. We must demand a free and fair plebiscite on the political status of Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and all those lands seeking their freedom from India. That will help bring freedom, peace, and stability to the subcontinent.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's new year message into the Record at this time.

May Guru Bless the Khalsa Panth in 2005 With Freedom, Happiness, Unity, and Prosperity--Freedom Lies in the Heart of the Sikh Nation; No Force

Can Suppress It

(By Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh)

Happy New Year to you and your family and the Khalsa Panth.

May 2005 be your best year ever. I wish you health, joy, and

prosperity in the new year.

The flame of freedom continues to burn brightly in the

heart of the Sikh Nation. No force can suppress it. All the

political leaders in Punjab are recognizing it. Punjab's

Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, was declared a hero

of the Sikh Nation for asserting Punjab's sovereignty and

preserving Punjab's natural resource, its river water, for

the use of Punjab farmers by cancelling Punjab's water

agreements. As recently as December 7, former Member of

Parliament Simranjit Singh Mann again reverted to public

support of Khalistan. He pledged that his party will lead a

peaceful movement to liberate Khalistan. Obviously, Mr. Mann

is aware of the rising support of our cause. Mann joins

Sardar Atinder Pal Singh, Sardar D.S. Gill of the

International Human Rights Organization, and other Sikh

leaders in Punjab in supporting freedom for Khalistan openly.

Jagjit Singh, President of Dal Khalsa, was quoted in the

Deccan Herald as saying that ``the Indian government can

never suppress the movement. Sikh aspirations can only be met

when they have a separate state.'' There is no other choice

for the Sikh nation but a sovereign, independent Khalistan.

Every Sikh leader must come out openly for Khalistan. We

salute those Sikh leaders in Punjab who have done so and urge

more Sikh leaders to join the cause.

Any organization that sincerely supports Khalistan deserves

the support of the Sikh Nation. However, the Sikh Nation

needs leadership that is honest, sincere, consistent, and

dedicated to the cause of Sikh freedom. Leaders like Dr.

Jagjit Singh Chohan, Harchand Singh Longowal, Didar Bains,

Ganga Singh Dhillon, the Akali Dal leadership, and others who

were complicit in the attack on the Golden Temple cannot be

trusted by the Sikh Nation. The evidence against them is

clear in Chakravyuh: Web of Indian Secularism. The Sikh

Nation cannot believe that these leaders will not betray the

cause of Khalistan, just as they betrayed the Sikh Nation in

1984. We must be careful if we are to continue to move the

cause of freedom for Khalistan forward in 2005 as we did in

2004.

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. If Sikhs will

not even protect the sanctity of the Golden Temple, how can

the Sikh Nation survive as a nation?

The Akali Dal has lost all its credibility. The Badal

government was so corrupt openly and no Akali leader would

come forward and tell Badal and his wife to stop this

unparallelled corruption.

The Council of Khalistan has stood strongly and

consistently for liberating our homeland, Khalistan, from

Indian occupation. For over 18 years we have led this fight

while others were trying to divert the resources and the

attention of the Sikh Nation away from the issue of freedom

in a sovereign, independent Khalistan. Yet Khalistan is the

only way that Sikhs will be able to live in freedom, peace,

prosperity, and dignity. It is time to start a Shantmai

Morcha to liberate Khalistan from Indian occupation.

Never forget that the Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib are

under the control of the Indian government, the same Indian

government that has murdered over a quarter of a million

Sikhs in the past twenty years. The Jathedar of the Akal

Takht and the head granthi of Darbar Sahib toe the line that

the Indian government tells them. They are not appointed by

the Khalsa Panth. The SGPC, which appoints them, does not

represent the Sikh Nation anymore. They have become the

puppets of the Indian government and have lost credibility

with the Sikh Nation. Otherwise they would behave like a real

Jathedar, Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke, rather than like

Indian government puppet Jathedar Aroor Singh, who gave a

Siropa to General Dyer for the massacre of Sikhs and others

at Jalianawa Bagh. These institutions will remain under the

control of the Indian regime until we free the Sikh homeland,

Punjab, Khalistan, from Indian occupation and oppression and

sever our relations with the New Delhi government.

The Sikhs in Punjab have suffered enormous repression at

the hands of the Indian regime in the last 25 years. Over

50,000 Sikh youth were picked up from their houses, tortured,

murdered in police custody, then secretly cremated as

``unidentified bodies.'' Their remains were never even given

to their families! More than a quarter of a million Sikhs

have been murdered at the hands of the Indian government.

Another 52,268 are being held as political prisoners. Some

have been in illegal custody since 1984! Even now, the

capital of Punjab, Chandigarh, has not been handed over to

Punjab, but remains a Union Territory. How can Sikhs have any

freedom living under a government that would do these things?

Sikhs will never get any justice from Delhi. The leaders in

Delhi are only interested in imposing Hindu sovereignty over

all the minorities to advance their own careers and their own

power. Ever since independence, India has mistreated the Sikh

Nation, starting with Patel's memo labelling 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.

How can Sikhs continue to live in such a country? There is

no place for Sikhs in supposedly secular, supposedly

democratic India. Let us work to make certain that 2005 is

the Sikh Nation's most blessed year by making sure it is the

year 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.

Mr. Speaker, on December 8, the Tribune newspaper out of Chandigarh, Punjab reported that a former Member of Parliament, Simranjit Singh Mann, had endorsed sovereignty for the Sikh homeland, Khalistan. His endorsement is part of a rising tide that includes the Punjab government declaring its sovereignty when it ended its water agreements with the other states in India.

I note that Mr. Mann said that the Sikhs are a separate nation and promised to lead a movement to liberate Khalistan. I hope that he keeps his promise. My friend Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan and an invaluable resource for information about South Asian affairs, has been saying the same things for several years. It seems that India's oppression that killed a quarter of a million Sikhs and keeps more than 52,000 of them as political prisoners has failed to dampen the desire and enthusiasm of the Sikhs for their own sovereign, independent country. I salute Mr. Mann's position. It is important for leaders in Punjab to speak out strongly for Khalistan. We can help from here, but the effort must be won in Punjab, Khalistan itself.

Mr. Speaker, all peoples are entitled to live in freedom. The Sikhs of Punjab, Khalistan made their choice on October 7, 1987 when they declared their independence from India, calling their new country Khalistan. India, which proudly claims to be democratic, refuses even to hold a free and fair vote on the question, just as India has never kept its promise of 1948 to hold a plebiscite on the future of Kashmir. How can a country do these things and claim to be democratic? Self- determination is the essence of democracy.

A new Congress gives us a new opportunity to take a stand for freedom in South Asia and around the world. We should stop all U.S. aid to India until it allows full democratic rights and full human rights to all people living within its borders and we should strongly support a free and fair plebiscite in Punjab, Khalistan, in Nagaland, in Kashmir, and wherever people seek their freedom on the question of independence. By promoting such a plebiscite, we promote democracy and human rights for all people in that troubled region.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to insert the Council of Khalistan's press release on Mr. Mann's remarks into the Record at this time.

Mann Reverts To Supporting Khalistan

Washington, DC, December 10, 2004--Once again, former MP

Simranjit Singh Mann, leader of the Shiromani Alkali Dal

(Amritsar), has staked out a position in support of a

sovereign, independent Khalistan. Speaking in Ludhiana on

December 7 at a meeting of his party, Mann said that the SAD

(Amritsar) would launch a peaceful movement to achieve a

separate and sovereign Sikh state, according to the December

8 issue of The Tribune (Chandigarh.) Mann claimed that his

party had never given up this position.

Mann reminded his party that Sikhs are a separate

nationality. He said that the foundation for an independent

Khalistan was laid by Guru Gobind Singh and furthered by Sant

Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and that this dream ``will be

materialized one day.'' Guru Gobind Singh gave sovereignty to

the Sikh Nation (``In grieb Sikhin ko deon patshahi.'') Sikhs

are a separate nation. Sikhs ruled Punjab up to 1849 when the

British conquered the subcontinent. Mann noted that it is in

the interests of all the people in the region to have a

buffer state between India and Pakistan to help ensure

lasting peace in South Asia, given the deep hostility between

``Hindu civilization and Muslim civilization.''

Mann's remarks show that the desire for Khalistan remains

strong in the Sikhs of Punjab, said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh,

President of the Council of Khalistan, which leads the Sikh

struggle for independence. Dr. Aulakh also cited the actions

taken by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, such as declaring

Punjab's sovereignty in stopping all water agreements between

Punjab and other states, as moving toward this goal. On

October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared its independence

from India, naming its new country Khalistan. The Council of

Khalistan was established at that time to lead the peaceful,

democratic, nonviolent movement to liberate Khalistan from

Indian oppression.

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. Recently, the Punjab Legislative

Assembly passed a bill annulling all water agreements with

the Indian government, preventing the government's daylight

robbery of Punjab river water. Punjab needs its river water

for its crops. In the bill, the Assembly explicitly stated

the sovereignty of Punjab.

The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since

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

Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of

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

Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs

``worse than a genocide.''

Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh

Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of

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

tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared

unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police

custody. His body was not given to his family.

The police never released the body of former Jathedar of

the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh

Ghotna murdered him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial

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

justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh

Khalra.

According to a report by the Movement Against State

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

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

illegal custody since 1984! Tens of thousands of other

minorities are also being held as political prisoners,

according to Amnesty International. We demand the immediate

release of all these political prisoners.

``It is encouraging that Mr. Mann has comeback to demanding

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

Council of Khalistan. ``This is another step forward for the

movement to liberate our homeland from Indian oppression.''

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

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

Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted. ``We must continue to press for

our God-given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without

political power, religions cannot flourish and nations

perish. A sovereign Khalistan is essential for the survival

of the Sikh religion.''

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise to mourn the passing of my predecessor and mentor, former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.

As the first African-American woman elected to Congress and the first African-American to seriously run for the office of the Presidency, Shirley was a trailblazer who opened the doors of opportunity for generations of women and minority politicians.

Her advocacy for the education of the disadvantaged, Title IX, and early childhood education established her as one of the foremost education policymakers during her seven terms in Congress. But her legacy did not end there. Unmatched as a voice for social justice, Shirley fought for the interests of groups like veterans, Haitian refugees and day workers.

A gifted orator, Shirley's ``unbought and unbossed'' political style allowed her to make friends and political alliances on both sides of the aisle. She was truly one in a million and I am honored to have been part of her Brooklyn political circle and to have worked along side her throughout her political career. Anyone who came in contact with Shirley Chisholm was forever changed for the better; she is one soul on this earth who is truly irreplaceable and she will be sorely missed by all of those who knew and loved her.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents, I wish to extend to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian my congratulations on the occasion of the Republic of China's National Day which was celebrated on October 10th.

Under President Chen's leadership, Taiwan's economy continues to grow and people continue to enjoy high standards of living. To bolster Taiwan's economy, President Chen has improved Taiwan's trade relations with the People's Republic of China. Moreover, President Chen continues to work for an early breakthrough in Taiwan's dialogue with the PRC.

In the meantime, Taiwan's relationship with the United States is becoming ever stronger. Bilateral trade between Taiwan and the United States topped $65 billion last year and Taiwan is our eighth largest trading partner. Taiwan and the United States share many values in common such as attachment to freedom; democracy and human rights.

I would like to personally thank President Chen for his support of our war against global terrorism and developmental assistance to a number of African nations.

To President Chen I say ``good luck and good fortune''. I remain hopeful that our relations will continue to be strengthened in 2005. Certainly, the able leadership of Ambassador David Lee has helped to further our relations with the government and people of Taiwan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Ramona Williams for her dedication to strengthening early education for our children and volunteer efforts to strengthen our community.

Ramona is a life-long resident of the Bedford Stuyvesant community of Brooklyn and does not plan to move. She attended Public School 297, which her two younger children attend now. She graduated from J.H.S 126 and Eli Whitney High School. She has three beautiful children: Jessica, 14, Vanessa, 9, and Jerome, 5, each of whom have a dream of greatness.

Following her high school graduation, Ramona began work as a substitute teacher at Round Table Child Care Center, eventually becoming a head teacher. She enjoys creating curriculum and cultural activities for her students and assisting parents in helping their children. After 16 years of empowering her students, her personal horizon expanded and she accepted a position as Parent Coordinator for Mark Hopkins Intermediate School 33. Ramona works closely with the principal, P.T.A. and as a liaison between the community and school.

As a single parent raising three children and working full time, Ramona finds it important to further her education and has enrolled at the College of New Rochelle pursuing a Bachelors of Social Work. She is a member of the Greater Free Gift Baptist Church Inc., where the pastor is the Rev. William Raymond Whitaker, Jr., Th.M, whom she thanks for his spiritual leadership and wisdom.

Ramona's concern for her church and community has led her to focus on fundraising and organizing outreach events for teenagers, which included finding them summer employment. She also sings in the Tabernacle Choir. Forever thankful in all areas of her life, personal and community, she is grateful for those who inspire her as she strives to make this a better place for others. Her unconditional love and thanks goes to her parents and siblings, and the sparkles in her eyes-- Jessica, Vanessa, and Jerome (``Jay'').

Mr. Speaker, Ramona Williams has been a leader in our community through her consistent efforts to improve the quality of education for all of our children. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Phyllis Sherard for her dedication to educating our youth and strengthening our community.

One of the best kept secrets about Phyllis is that she was actually born in Norfolk, Virginia, arriving in New York via North Carolina at the age of four. In spite of this, she boastfully claims to be an authentic product of Brooklyn, having resided in this wonderful borough of New York all of her life.

As the eldest of six siblings, her parents instilled values and traits in her that have become her trademarks. Many people describe her as a born leader who is capable, responsible, compassionate, dependable, and motivational. No matter how high or wide the obstacles, Phyllis' attitude is always, ``We can handle it!''

In 1985, Phyllis joined the NYC Board of Education. She always wanted to teach but was encouraged to pursue commercial studies while in high school. However, through her experiences, she realized how important it is to get involved in the education of our children. Following the path that she now says was her destiny, she joined the staff of Project 17-- the Drug Prevention Education Program in Community School District 17. Initially, she had second thoughts about the position because she had to take a cut in pay. That was 20 years ago and needless to say, it has been the most fulfilling work of her life. The position opened doors for Phyllis to work with thousands of children, directing, intervening, and changing paths for so many children and their parents. Because of her ability and commitment, she was selected to serve as the Special Assistant to the Superintendent for Parent Involvement.

Phyllis is most proud of implementing The First Clergy Conference, a series of Saturday African American Studies for parents, The Cultural Awareness Summer Program for children, the Christmas Toy Drive, Family Literacy Program, Computer Literacy for Parents, youth conferences, and a general equivalency program for young mothers, as well as working with parents to coordinate the first math, science, & technology parent conference. She currently directs drug prevention education programs for Region Six, which is comprised of 109 schools. This has been the most challenging experience for her. She has also implemented an evening counseling program for at-risk students and their families.

Phyllis is a graduate of Long Island University, where she earned a B.A. in Political Science and a Masters degree in Supervision and Administration. She is the proud mother of Darryn and Jade-Lynn and the proud grandmother of grandson, Darryn Scott.

Mr. Speaker, Phyllis Sherard has been instrumental in strengthening the educational experience for children in our community. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Hilma Shannon, who through hard work and determination has realized her dream to teach in the United States, serving a vital role in the education of our diverse community.

Hilma was born in the Republic of Panama in the City of Colon to Enos Williams and Lillian Francis. Her education in Panama consisted of training in elementary education in

both high school and college. She taught school in Panama for 7 years. In 1971, Hilma married and, now, has one daughter, Gavianna. In 1974, she immigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn. Her first job was at the Ace of Suede Leather Cleaners where she worked for 10 years.

Hilma's command of the English language needed a lot of work and with the assistance of her daughter, she read and studied constantly to improve her grammar, diction, and general ability to communicate in English. In 1984, she applied for a job with the New York Board of Education to fulfill her dream of teaching again. She was assigned to work as an educational assistant in 1985 at Walt Whitman I.S. 246. Her work included visits to the homes of students who were chronic absentees to encourage their consistent attendance. She took advantage of the Board of Education's Career Ladder program to become a teacher, graduating in 1989 from the College of New Rochelle with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Education and Psychology. In addition, she completed a Masters in Guidance and Counseling and an Advanced Certificate in Guidance and Counseling. Upon completing both degrees she received the prestigious Lester Crow Award and was offered an adjunct position in the Guidance Graduate program.

In 1992, Hilma was assigned to Abraham Lincoln High School as a Bilingual Spanish Guidance Counselor and is there today. She has worked with students from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. She coordinates ``La Herencia Hispana (Lincoln's 1st Spanish Club), the Young Scholars program, The Choice Program, the Liberty Partnerships program with Kingsborough Community College just to name a few. At Lincoln High School, she has also taught Art Appreciation in the after- school program in addition to serving as a full-time Guidance counselor. She participates in Lincoln's Key Club-European Exchange program traveling with the club members to Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, and recently to Denmark.

Lastly, Hilma is a Jehovah Witness and dedicates time to helping others understand the Bible. She is the proud grandmother of grandson Kumar, and the mother-in-law of Jerome.

Mr. Speaker, Hilma Shannon serves as an inspiration to us all through her accomplishments and commitment to educating our children. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Robert Santiago for his dedication to strengthening our neighborhoods and improving the lives of our citizens through his work in various community based organizations.

Robert was born in Brooklyn to Norberto and Heriberta Santiago first generation immigrant parents who migrated from Puerto Rico during the mid 1940's. He attended P.S. 285 and 67, Sands JHS 265 and graduated from Eastern District High School. He graduated with honors from Queens College where he majored in Political Science with a minor in Spanish. After a year at the University of Illinois, College of Law, he returned to New York to complete his studies not realizing the journey would take an additional 10 years. He eventually graduated from Rutgers University School of Law in 1986. In between, Robert became an Army officer, did his masters work at Long Island University in economics and found time to raise a family of three sons.

Briefly practicing law in Fort Greene, he discovered that his true calling was elsewhere. His employment varied from working in several different New York City agencies to owner and operator of several business ventures.

Through the auspices of Colony South Brooklyn Houses, Robert as director of educational programs was able to increase the amount of funding for their educational and day care programs. Educational programs he helped begin for at-risk and homeless youngsters residing in East New York and Brownsville communities remain successful and continue to operate today. He has also served as a consultant on various projects related to community school building and educational development in post-secondary education.

Presently, Robert serves as the executive director of Highland Park Community Development Corporation, a community based organization with a mandate to develop programs and projects that will help improve the quality of life in the northern Brooklyn communities in the areas of education, housing, safety, and economic development.

Mr. Speaker, the record is clear that Robert Santiago has been a leader in our community through his consistent efforts to improve the quality of life of those in need. As such, he is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Joelle Bailey for her accomplishments in the field of business and efforts to improve the manners of all people in our community.

Joelle has over 20 years experience in catering, event planning and the restaurant business. Little did she know that a position at Essence Magazine would serve as the impetus for her to enter the food and hospitality industry. At a very young age, Joelle's mom Marie felt very strongly about manners and etiquette and instilled those values in Joelle and her sister Yves. Joelle has taken these values and

turned them into a lifetime mission not only for herself but to assist and instruct others in these areas.

Joelle has learned through some of the best working positions at the Vista Hilton, Marriot and Plaza Hotels and LSG Sky Chefs. She received her formal training at the French Culinary Institute and Sky Chefs. By 1994, she opened Classic Catering which is a full service event planning and catering business that caught the attention of the New York Times, Daily News, NY Post, 98.7 KISS FM and WOR 710. In June 2004, Joelle was featured in the Daily News' ``Spotlight On Great People'' by Clem Richardson. Publicity aside, Joelle is pleased that her clients and guests approve of her fabulous catering and cooking skills. Currently, Joelle writes several columns, sharing her knowledge on entertaining, etiquette and menu and recipe suggestions. Some of Joelle's most memorable clients have included: The New York Urban League, Diana Ross, Mt. Sinai Hospital, Russell Simmons, Suzanne Taylor, The United Way, Bill Cosby, Children's Television Network, Jackie Robinson Foundation, New York Bar Association, New York University, Columbia University and many more.

Joelle shares her love for young people by teaching courses in the art of etiquette, table manners, sophistication, food, nutrition and basic ``101'' cooking skills. She teaches these classes for the community in different schools and also in her home. Each event is sponsored with her own personal finances. Adults are welcome as well. Additionally, her very own etiquette/cookbook will be launched next year and a food show is in the works.

On her son Issiah's 3rd birthday March 27, 2004 Joelle launched a not-for-profit foundation called Issiah W. Simms Foundation to help children improve their etiquette and manners. Eight years ago, Joelle realized that she was not satisfied with the etiquette and manners of today's children, teens and even adults. For her, there was a major state of emergency existing in society that needed to be addressed. This concern led her to form the Issiah W. Simms Foundation.

Joelle is fortunate to have wonderful and insightful parents Hubert and Marie Valbrun, mentors (stepmother, Rosette Waynne), teachers and friends who are supportive of her work. She has a degree in Liberal Arts from Pace University and an MBA from Liberty University. She dreams of opening a finishing school that would be free to her Brooklyn community.

Mr. Speaker, Joelle Bailey has been a leader in our community through her entrepreneurial accomplishments and efforts to create a more civil society. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable person.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Keyona Davis for her academic and extracurricular accomplishments as well as her commitment to the church and civic organizations.

Keyona was born and raised in the borough of Brooklyn. She is the second daughter of Brenda and John Davis. Currently, she is a senior at the Brooklyn High School of the Arts, where she maintains a 3.0 grade point average and has been continuously on the Honor Roll. She is now enrolled in a Sociology course at New York City Technical College. Keyona is featured in ``Who's Who Among American High School Students.''

Keyona has been involved in many extra curricular activities that have helped shaped her to become the young woman she is today. For 2 years, she participated in a teen dance company that performed in competitions including the Eastern Dance Association, International Dance Challenge, and ESPN's own dance competition. She is a member of the Berean Baptist Church's Ministry of Sacred Dance where dance is used to present God's message. Keyona is a Girl Scout of the Greater New York area where she has acquired skills to assist in planning various scout activities and setting an example for young girls and her peers. Keyona gives back to her community by donating clothing and volunteering at her church's annual Thanksgiving feed the homeless program.

As an independent young woman, Keyona has had many jobs since the age of 14. She was a camp counselor at the Professional Center for the Arts Dance Camp, clerical assistant at the Office of Children and Family Services, and at the New York State Child Support Office in 2002. She is currently a Senior Operations Specialist at Chase Bank. These employment experiences have helped Keyona grow mentally and gain an understanding of being a positive part of the workforce.

After graduation this June, Keyona plans to be a pre-law student at a 4-year university. A long-term goal has always been to become a prosecutor and a part-time dance teacher. Iyanla Vanzant once said, ``Faith and fearlessness fuel your dreams!'' Keyona tries to live by this motto with her strong focus and dedication to things she loves.

Mr. Speaker, Keyona Davis, through her accomplishments and maturity, serves as an outstanding role model for all of our young people in the community. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable young lady.