Floor Statements

This morning, I attended the funeral of former Congressman and former mayor Ed Koch in New

York City. Ed was larger than life. He was a great mayor of the city of New York, a fantastic Congressman before that, and a personal friend of mine and so many others. It's generally thought that Ed was the one who brought New York City back from the bad days--starting the good days. He was the quintessential mayor of New York, walking up and down the streets when he was mayor, asking people, ``How am I doing?''

I just want to say this body had the good fortune to have had Ed Koch as one of its Members, and New York City had the good fortune to have him as mayor for three terms, and I had the good fortune to have him as my friend. In later years, he and I would meet periodically and go out for lunch at one of the restaurants downtown in mid-Manhattan. Ed would always pick the restaurant and be as feisty as ever. He was a very proud, proud New Yorker, and we are very proud of Congressman and Mayor Ed Koch. I will miss him dearly, as will all of New York and America. May he rest in peace.

I thank my dear friend, Congresswoman Lowey, for yielding to me.

I urge all of our colleagues to support the aid for the Hurricane Sandy victims. You know, we have a lot of disagreements in this Congress. We talk about issues, about spending, about taxing offsets and whatever, but those are issues. Those fights on those issues should be left for another day. It shouldn't be intermixed with the fight to get aid to the Superstorm Sandy victims. They should not be innocent pawns in this fight that we have in Congress.

I've been in this Congress for a while now, and I have voted for aid for all regions of our country, be it Katrina, be it floods and tornados. We didn't even think twice because that is what Americans do. We help our communities, help other Americans when there are natural disasters.

New York is a donor State. We actually send more money to the Federal Government than we get back, and we do it because it's the thing that we have to do. But now it's our turn. Now we need help, and so now we say to the rest of America, please help us the way we helped you in your hour of need.

The constituents in my district, in West Chester and the Bronx, and my former district in Rockland County are hurting very, very much. These are real people with real lives and real difficulties. So I beg my colleagues, please, don't vote for any poison pills that will kill this legislation.

One of the things that's really irksome is when some of my colleagues who stood up and when they had natural disasters in their district begged us for help and we gave it to them now are voting against giving help to the people of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. It's just not right.

We can argue what role the Federal Government should play, whether it's too big or too small or whatever, but no one should argue against the fact that, when Americans are in need, the Federal Government has a role in stepping in and helping them and providing for their needs. That's all we're asking for today.

I urge my colleagues to support all the aid for Hurricane Sandy and to reject any of the amendments that would take it away.

I thank my friend from New York, and I rise in strong support of this legislation.

I must say Tuesday night when I found out that we were not taking this legislation up in the previous Congress, it was the angriest I've been since I've been a Member of Congress.

In the last 20 years, this is the longest that people affected by natural disasters have waited for Congress to provide them the needed relief. It's really not acceptable. I have voted for aid for all areas of the country, wherever there has been a natural disaster. The Northeast now deserves the same. I would remind my colleagues that New York has been a donor State. We give more to the Federal Government than we take back. Now we need help. Politics should not be played with the help that we need.

We should be supporting the entire package. I'm sorry we are not voting for the entire package today. As was mentioned before, we now have to wait for the Senate to pass whatever we pass. This could have been done and gone on Tuesday night, and the aid would have been speeding to the people. This simply is not acceptable, and I hope there's no further delay.

My constituents are suffering. The people of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut are suffering. Congress needs to get out of the way now and send not only this $9.7 billion in flood insurance, but the entire package.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this bill because essentially we have two choices here: We either vote for this bill and we prevent us from going over the cliff, or we go over the cliff. That would certainly wreak havoc with the market and with everything else.

But it never should have come to this. We should have been negotiating and passing a balanced bill. The American people are really fed up with what they see in the dysfunctional Congress. Harry Truman back in 1948 when he was running for President campaigned against the 80th, and he called it the ``do nothing'' 80th Congress. That ``do nothing'' Congress passed three times as many bills as the 112th Congress did. And so here we are at the last minute, and we are rushing to pass this bill. It never should have happened this way.

I commend President Obama and Vice President Biden for protecting the middle class with this and for doing the best that they can; but, my friends and my colleagues, we are going to have to work to meet in a sensible center. We are going to have to not play these brinksmanship games. The American people don't want it.

President Obama won reelection campaigning for the middle class. This keeps those priorities, and we ought to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I have been a Member of this body for 24 years, and I don't think I've ever been as angry as I am tonight. This is unconscionable. In the last debate, I got up, and I said that when President Truman campaigned, he campaigned against the 80th ``do nothing'' Congress, and that ``do nothing'' Congress passed three times as many bills as this current ``do nothing Congress.''

And isn't this a fitting way for this ``do nothing'' Congress to end, by doing

nothing to help the plight of millions of people who are suffering in all of our districts?

This is an absolute disgrace, and the Speaker should hang his head in shame for not allowing this to come up. This is, again, not a Republican or a Democratic issue. It's an American issue.

I have voted for aid for Katrina, for all places all over the country. And for us in the Northeast to be treated this way is absolutely unconscionable. I would ask the Speaker to reconsider, and I would tell you that I have never been angrier than I am right now. I'm usually proud of this House. Tonight, I am ashamed.

Shame on you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 134, as amended; and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, before I get into the substance of the bill, I just want to say a couple of things as we're ending the 112th Congress. In the 113th Congress, I'm about to take over as ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The man I'm replacing, who spoke before me, the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), I just want him to know, which he already does, but I want to say it for the record how much we're going to miss him and what a role model he really is for all of us on the committee, first as chair and then as ranking member. There isn't a person on either side of the aisle who doesn't respect him. There isn't a person who doesn't understand how important he's been to the Congress the many years he has served in Congress, and particularly on the Foreign Affairs Committee. His shoes are going to be very hard to fill. I'm going to try the best I can, but I want him to know, which he already does, but I want to say it for the record that I'm going to

miss him. I'm going to miss him as a friend, and I'm going to miss him as a colleague; and I think the Congress as a whole will miss him because he's one of the best, and I wish him only the very, very best as he moves on to a future endeavor.

Let me also say the gentlewoman from Florida, the current chair of the committee and former ranking member of the committee, she knows the affection I have for her both personally as a friend but also as a colleague, as chair of the committee for the past 2 years and as ranking member for the previous 4. She and I have worked together not only in these past 6 years but for all of the years we've been in Congress, and I think we've been in Congress for almost the exact same time. It's been a pleasure and an honor to work with her, and I continue to look forward to collaborating with her on all these issues of importance to us--we agree on many, many, many things--in the 113th Congress. Madam Chair, I just want to tell you how much we appreciate you on both sides of the aisle.

So let me talk about the bill. I think it's important. I agree with everything the chairwoman said. While the international community is rightfully concerned about Iran's ties to international terrorism and its nuclear weapons program, we cannot forget those who struggle for religious freedom and democracy in Iran.

The Baha'i community has long been the target of religious persecution by the Iranian regime. Much of its informal leadership has been arrested, and many members of the community executed. The Baha'i are not permitted to practice their religion and culture. Their marriages are not recognized. Their dead cannot be buried according to Baha'i law, and their cemeteries are desecrated. In addition, the Baha'i are denied government jobs and business licenses. They are not permitted to enroll in public universities, and Baha'i schoolchildren are frequently harassed by classmates, teachers, and administrators. No human being deserves this type of treatment at the hands of their government.

The social teachings of the Baha'i faith, such as the equality of women and men and the principle of each individual's responsibility to navigate the truth, are impossible for the theocratic leaders of Iran to comprehend. But these are universal values--human values--and they must be protected.

Mr. Speaker, the United States and the international community must not ignore the systematic and violent attacks against the Iranian Baha'i community, and Tehran must be held accountable. By passing this resolution, we shine a light on the persecution of the Baha'i and hopefully move us one step closer to the day that true freedom reaches Iran.

I encourage all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 134, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I have no further speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum

is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 834 and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

This important resolution urges the nations of Europe and the European Union to designate Hezbollah has a terrorist organization and to impose sanctions on it. We know from our experience with Iran that sanctions and, in fact, all diplomacy are most effective when they are multilateral--the more multilateral, the better.

We are particularly strong in such matters when we and our friends and allies in the European Union stand shoulder to shoulder. That's why Europe's seemingly inexplicable refusal to classify Hezbollah as a terrorist group has been so disappointing over the years.

Hezbollah is a charter member of the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list in the United States. It's crimes are legion, spread over many continents, and far too numerous to list here. They begin in the early 1980s with deadly bombings of the U.S. Embassy and the U.S. Marine and French Army barracks in Beirut, and they have continued up to the present day. I still remember Ronald Reagan, President Reagan talking about it after so many of our marines were murdered in Lebanon.

Let me mention just a few of the other lowlights: countless kidnappings of Americans and Europeans in the 1980s and 1990s; the Khobar Towers attack that killed 19 Americans in 1996; the 1992 bombing of the Israeli Embassy and the 1994 bombing of the Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, again, with multiple killings; the murders of Americans in Iraq and the training of other Iraqi militants; and countless assassinations in Lebanon, including, most likely, that of former prime minister Rafik Hariri in 2005. In 2006, Hezbollah's unprovoked murder of three Israeli soldiers caused a war, during which Hezbollah rocketed civilian targets in Lebanon and used Lebanese civilian as human shields.

Over the past 2 years, it has staged attacks from Turkey to Thailand. Today, it has forces in Syria fighting on behalf of Assad and the murderous Assad regime and helping to train Assad's thugs. In addition, this year Hezbollah twice has been directly implicated in terrorism on European Union territory--in Bulgaria, where a suicide bomber killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian, and in Cyprus, where an apparent Hezbollah terrorist attack was thwarted.

The failure of most European nations to designate Hezbollah has been based on the flimsiest of reasons; namely, that Hezbollah provides social services to the Shiite community and participates in electoral politics in Lebanon. In fact, Hezbollah takes a very novel approach to electoral politics--using a militia to intimidate voters into voting for them. By the way, it's a lesson that Hamas has learned very, very well.

But Europe's failure to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist group is not merely a problem because it accords legitimacy to a terrorist organization. Rather, it has important operational consequences as well. The failure to designate makes it more difficult to prosecute cases against Hezbollah crimes committed in Europe. It allows Hezbollah to use EU territories to fund-raise, recruit new members, propagandize, and train. And thus, the freedom Hezbollah enjoys in Europe ultimately affects non-Europeans as well. The European Union obviously will make its own decisions on this matter, but it's hard to escape the conclusion that the EU's failure to designate Hezbollah undermines both Europe's security and ours as well.

The State Department's top counterterrorism official recently said that he's ``cautiously optimistic--at last--about the prospects for an EU designation of the group.'' I hope his optimism is justified. Until it is borne out with an actual terrorist designation, however, it is important that we join the Senate in going on record as urging the European Union to make that designation, which would be so beneficial to the fight against terrorism worldwide and to our own national security.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

I yield the gentleman 1 minute.

I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 193 and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

This resolution calls on the new Government of Egypt to immediately return two kidnapped American children to their father in the United States.

In August of 2009, Colin Bower of Wellesley, Massachusetts, received a terrifying phone call that his two children--Noor and Ramsay, ages 9 and 7 at the time--had been abducted to Egypt by his ex-wife, Mirvat el Nady. Mr. Bower was granted sole legal custody of the children after his divorce.

El Nady lost custody over the children because the Massachusetts courts found her to have a drug addiction which put the safety of the boys at risk. She utilized falsified Egyptian passports to smuggle the children out of the country on an Egypt Air flight and is now wanted by Federal and local officials on charges of kidnapping.

The facts of this case are heartbreaking, and I want to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank), for working so hard on this resolution and trying to reunite Mr. Bower with his children.

The resolution before us asks for three simple things: first, that Egypt bring about the safe return of Noor and Ramsay Bower to their father, Colin Bower, in the United States; secondly, that Egypt immediately stop using its own security forces to aid and abet the continued unlawful retention of these two United States citizens; and, thirdly and finally, it urges Egypt and all other nations to join and fully participate in The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction and to establish procedures to promptly and equitably address the tragedy of child abductions.

During this holiday season, we are reminded that children are our most important and cherished resource, and it is a tragedy for everyone involved when they are taken away and denied access to one of their parents.

Egypt's Government must do better. What the Mubarak and now Morsi governments have done is actively work to make sure Mr. Bower is not part of his children's lives. This is unjust, illegal, tragic, and unacceptable; and sadly, Mr. Speaker, this is but one of 31 separate cases involving American children wrongfully removed from the United States to Egypt.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that all my colleagues join me in supporting this important resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute to again reiterate the fact that I support this bill very strongly and also, since Mr. Frank spoke before me, I want to, as I mentioned before with some of the other people, tell him

how much I appreciate being his colleague through the years and how much not only I will miss him and the Congress will miss him but that the country will miss him. It's been wonderful to call him a colleague, even better for me to call him a friend, and I wish him the best in all future endeavors. Thank you very much, Barney.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill, H.R. 6649, as amended, and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the transfer of decommissioned frigates to four foreign countries. The governments of Turkey, Mexico, and Thailand would each receive by grant two Perry class frigates. That means for free. Taiwan would be authorized to purchase four of the same class of frigates, which they clearly need to protect their territorial waters.

I object to this bill primarily because of Turkey. While I recognize that Turkey is an important NATO ally, I regret that I have to oppose this bill in light of Turkey's problematic behavior and disturbing rhetoric regarding Israel and Cyprus over the past year and a half. For example, in May, with no apparent justification, Turkey sent combat aircraft to intercept an Israeli aircraft that was flying near Cyprus. This could have turned into a significant confrontation between a U.S. NATO ally and the United States' closest ally in the Middle East. Fortunately, it did not.

In September 2011, Turkey announced that it would send warships to escort aid convoys to Gaza. It has not followed through with this threat, but nor has it rescinded it.

Prime Minister Erdogan and Foreign Minister Davutoglu have been famously competing to see who can issue the most vile denunciations of Israel, as we saw, once again, during the recent Gaza crisis. Indeed, their allegations of ``ethnic cleansing'' and ``crimes against humanity,'' quotes from them, topped even the claims of Hamas for stridency and falsehood. Of course, the prime minister called Israel a ``terrorist state.'' Is that the kind of rhetoric we should expect from a NATO ally?

Some people say this should continue because, after all, Turkey is an ally and we need to help them. Well, I look at it the other way. They're a NATO ally, so they have responsibility. And the way they're acting has been anything but responsible. This is not an inconsequential or trivial matter. As many public opinion surveys show, and as is widely acknowledged, Turkey wields enormous influence among Middle Easterners, with the sway to exacerbate or tamp down tensions as it sees fit. For too long, it has been exacerbating these tensions, particularly since the new government--well, it's not new anymore--a government for several years with an Islamist bent has been in.

Moreover, Turkey's longstanding recognition of Hamas has done nothing to moderate that group. It has merely lent legitimacy to a terrorist group and undermined the standing of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. Indeed, in the aftermath of the Gaza hostilities, Turkey's extreme rhetoric and one-sided approach to Israel's conflict with Hamas disqualified it from playing the useful mediating role which should be its natural vocation.

Turkey's unnecessarily harsh anti-Israel rhetoric over the last several years actually did cost the Turks the support of Congress to authorize the transfer of two decommissioned U.S. frigates in the last Congress. It should have that result again in this Congress, and it should be denied.

But Turkey's poisonous rhetoric and menacing behavior towards Israel is not the only reason to oppose this ship transfer, and perhaps not even the most potentially explosive. To cite the other important reason: Turkey has repeatedly threatened Cyprus and its energy explorations. One year ago, Turkey used its naval forces--and, by the way, the very naval forces this bill would enhance--in an effort to harass and intimidate Cyprus and workers employed by the Houston-based Noble Energy company as they sought to explore for offshore natural gas in Cyprus' exclusive economic zone. Prime Minister Erdogan also threatened that Turkey would use force to stop these explorations. Probably because of U.S. opposition, it has not done so, but, again, Turkey has never rescinded the threat. Almost exactly 1 year ago, Turkey conducted a dangerous live-fire

naval exercise in the vicinity of both the Cypriot and Israeli offshore natural gas explorations, which Cyprus and Israel are doing jointly.

The Turkish attitude is epitomized by Turkey's Minister for European Union Affairs, Egemen Bagis, who addressed the issue of Cypriot natural gas exploration last year. This was his warning, and I quote:

This is what we have a navy for. We have trained our marines for this. We have equipped the navy for this. All options are on the table. Anything can be done.

And I want to remind my colleagues that Turkey has continued to occupy the northern part of Cyprus since the 1970s. It's just unacceptable.

Mr. Speaker, I realize that Turkey is an important member of NATO. It accepted radar emplacements for NATO's missile defense initiative, and it is an important element of the solution to several regional problems--notably, Syria--but it has become a major problem for U.S. interests in terms of its relations with Israel and the inflammatory and distinctly unhelpful role it has assumed in the Palestinian issue, as well as its threats against Cyprus.

In the last several years, the once warm relationship between Israel and Turkey has unfortunately frozen over. We would truly like to see a thaw in that relationship, just as we would like to see Turkey respect the sovereign right of every country in the region, like Cyprus, to utilize their natural resources. Until then, I believe we should hold off on sending powerful warships to Turkey and encourage the government in Ankara to take a less belligerent approach to their neighbors.

Early in the next Congress, I would look forward to working with my colleagues on a new ship transfer bill that excludes Turkey, if we can defeat this bill, or appropriately conditions our ship transfer so that the government in Ankara gets the right message.

So I urge my colleagues to reject this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have left?

I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Sarbanes).

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

Mr. Speaker, December 28, 2012 will mark 60 years of marriage for Lorraine (Lipsky) and Elliott Palais. They met at New York University Heights in 1950 and lived in the Bronx after their wedding. Elliott served in the United States Army from 1954-1956. Lorraine was able to accompany him at his assignments, including Salzburg, Austria, and Fort Monmouth, N.J. where she worked in the Adjutant General's Office. They moved to Yonkers in November 1961.

The Palais' are very involved in civic; educational, religious, professional, political, veterans and community activities. Both served as President of Lincoln Park Taxpayers Association where they are now Regents, and as Chairman of the Yonkers Branch of the American Red Cross. Lorraine is President of the Yonkers Police Second Precinct Community Council, serves as Treasurer of an Oil Cooperative and is on the Westchester County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Board.

Elliott is an administrator at Fordham University where he directs the Title VI Programs. He is a former Yonkers City Councilmember and is a member of three veterans Posts (two of which he served as Commander) and Secretary of the Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans Organizations.

Both were awarded the Americanism Award by the Central Committee of Veterans Organizations. They are both members of the Kiwanis Club of East Yonkers. Elliott is an Honorary Kentucky Colonel for his service as a consultant to Western Kentucky University.

They have four children, eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. They attribute their marriage longevity to love, patience, understanding, caring and adversity in sickness and in health.

I am proud to be able to congratulate them for all of their good works for their community and their neighbors. And, like all who believe in love, I especially want to congratulate them on the 60th anniversary of their marriage. They are a shining example to all of us.

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me, and I thank him for doing this Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I have been to Newtown, Connecticut, since I have cousins who live there. It's less than an hour's drive from my congressional district.

Today, we mourn all the people who lost their lives in Newtown on Friday, including 20 elementary school children and six educators.

Over the past few years, we've seen innocent lives tragically lost to gun violence in a supermarket parking lot in Arizona, a shopping mall in Oregon, a movie theater in Colorado, an Army base in Texas, a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, a college campus in Virginia, and now an elementary school in Connecticut. The proliferation of combat-style weapons has spawned these tragedies, and it is long past time that we control them.

The Second Amendment guarantees a right to bear arms, but it does not guarantee an absolute right to military-style, high-caliber, semi- automatic, bulletproof-vest-piercing combat assault rifles with high- capacity magazines to anybody who wants them.

It just does not. And we must not let interest groups persuade us otherwise. We need sensible restrictions. We need sensible gun control legislation. We need them here, and we need them now. Our children are counting on us, and we really need to not let them down.

Today is November 28, 2012, and it is exactly 100 years to the day of Albanian independence--when the people of Albania threw off the shackles of the Ottoman Empire. Now let's look at Albania today-- it's a thriving democracy and it's a member of NATO.

Let's look at the fact that during the fifties and the sixties--for 50 years--

and extending into the seventies, Albania was the worst, brutal Communist dictatorship on the face of the Earth. They broke with the Soviet Union because it wasn't doctrinaire enough, and they broke with China because China wasn't doctrinaire enough. As to the lies they told the Albanian people all these years about Americans, do you know what? The Albanian people never bought it.

It has been my experience as the founder and the chair of the Albanian Issues Caucus here in Congress for 24 years that Albanians are the best friends Americans have anywhere in the world. They love Americans. I am so happy that, today, they celebrate their 100th anniversary.

Albania is a member of NATO, and Kosova is a free and independent nation that we hope one day will be a member of NATO and the European Union for both Albania and Kosova. Albanians around the world, be they in the Balkans, in Serbia, in Macedonia or Montenegro, are all sharing in this wonderful day. As to the great Albanian American community that we have in the United States, particularly in New York, I am just so proud to work with them.

So let's hold up a glass and celebrate this wonderful 100th anniversary, and let's use the Albanian phrase, ``Gezuar''--``Cheers.''

Mr. Speaker, on October 10th, Taiwan will celebrate its' 101st anniversary. This celebration, often referred to as Double 10 Day, is significant for, amidst all the challenges to its continued existence, Taiwan has become one of the world's most advanced and vibrant democracies, and a close ally of the United States.

This progress, coupled with its economic success, has made Taiwan, under the leadership of President Ma-Ying-jeou, a prime example of how the spirit, ingenuity, and diligence of a people can surmount almost any difficulty. Taiwan's high standard of living and its promise of freedom make Taiwan a natural friend and partner of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, additionally, I would like to recognize the service of Jason Yuan, Taiwan's chief diplomat in the U.S. He was recently recalled to Taipei to head up their National Security Council; a promotion in recognition of his outstanding work in building relationships with and understanding the American people. Because our future is so mutually tied, I applaud the Republic of China for its selection of Jason who I am confident will advance the ties between Taiwan and the U.S.

Again, on this October 10th, I would like to join with Taiwanese Americans and the people of Taiwan in commemoration of Taiwan's 101st anniversary and express my hope that the warm ties between our two countries will continue to flourish.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate Sheldon Ohren of Monsey in my district who was elected National Commander of the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. at its 117th Annual National Convention this August. He has served as Commander of the Department of New York and is a life member of PFC Fred Hecht Post 425 in Rockland County.

Mr. Ohren served in the Air Force from April 1952 through January 1956. As an Airman First Class, he was assigned to the 6910th Security Group Headquarters in Landsberg am Lech, Germany, where he served as a cryptographic communications specialist.

After leaving the service, he enrolled at New York University and graduated with a Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations. Afterwards he finished his accounting credits at the City College of New York and in 1965 joined the Internal Revenue Service. Before retiring in 2000 as an Appeals Team Chief, he earned a Master of Science Degree from Pace University and taught at Long Island University.

Mr. Ohren was elected Jr. Vice Commander, Sr. Vice Commander, and ultimately Commander of the JWV Department of New York in 2008. He has worked as a member of the National Executive Committee, the National Court, the Convention Committee, as well as a Special Assistant to the President of the National Museum of American Jewish Military History.

He also serves as Vice-Chairman of the West Point Liaison Committee and attends Oneg Shabbats sponsored by JWV at the Academy, and presents Kiddush Cups and Shabbat Candlesticks to the Jewish graduates. In addition, he represents JWV at local Naturalization ceremonies and presents a copy of the Bill of Rights to the new citizens.

Mr. Ohren is a regular visitor at the VA Hospital in Montrose, NY, and has served as a Docent at the Camp Shanks Museum, the Port of Embarkation during World War II.

In addition to JWV, he has been President and Treasurer of his B'nai B'rith Lodge for 10 years and has been a member of Congregation Shaarey Israel for the past 19 years. He is also a Charter Member of the United States Holocaust Museum and a member of the Holocaust Museum and Study Center in Spring Valley, NY.

He is a Brooklyn native and he and his wife Judy, a Life Member of the Ladies Auxiliary of

Post 425, have three children and five grandchildren.

I congratulate Sheldon Ohren on his election as National Commander and most especially for all of the good work he has done for his community, for our country's veterans, and for the members of our Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution honoring Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Glen Doherty, and Tyrone Woods, four patriotic Americans who lost their lives in a cowardly and despicable attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

On a daily basis, the men and women of the State Department assume great risks in dangerous locations all over the world. They conduct diplomacy, promote democracy, build civil society, educate, mediate, negotiate, and defend U.S. interests worldwide. They are the face of America abroad; and our country is safer, freer, and more prosperous because of what they do.

Ambassador Stevens was one of our best and brightest--and most courageous. He had served in Israel, Egypt, Syria, and Saudi Arabia; but Libya became the centerpiece and defining mission of his career. He was on the ground in Benghazi leading U.S. diplomatic efforts from the earliest days of the revolution. He worked tirelessly on behalf of U.S.-Libyan relations and the well-being of U.S. citizens living in Libya. I am particularly angry that this sickening attack occurred in a country that the U.S., with Chris Stevens in the lead, did so much to liberate.

Ambassador Stevens will be missed for his knowledge of the Middle East, his exemplary commitment to service, his warming and welcoming personality, and his basic human decency.

Sean Smith, a Foreign Service information officer, was a father and 10-year veteran of the U.S. State Department. Prior to arriving in Benghazi, he served in Brussels, Baghdad, Victoria, Montreal, and The Hague.

Glen Doherty was a former Navy SEAL from Boston. He was killed while serving on the Ambassador's security detail and helping to evacuate the wounded.

Tyrone Woods spent two decades as a SEAL, was a father of three, and had worked protecting diplomats in dangerous posts for the past 2 years.

Mr. Speaker, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the dedicated public servants whose lives were lost.

Libya owes the American people a full investigation of this incident, in complete cooperation with U.S. authorities. The killers must be found and brought to justice. I stand by ready to assist in any way I can.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

I have no further speakers. I yield back the balance of my time.