Floor Statements

I thank my friend, Chairman Berman, for letting me speak; and I strongly support the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act. I am a proud cosponsor of the bill. This is a bipartisan bill, as you can hear, and should be passed.

Last fall, the world learned of the secret Iranian nuclear enrichment facility near the city of Qom. If there was ever any doubt that Iran was trying to build nuclear weapons, this revelation dispelled any shred of that doubt. We need strong sanctions on Iran to halt their development of nuclear weapons. Iran must not be allowed to have a nuclear bomb.

I commend President Obama and Secretary Clinton for achieving a strong fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran and for bringing Russia and China on board.

As chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I would like to call attention to the fact that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at one time agreed to provide 20,000 barrels per day of refined gasoline to Iran and to invest in the Iranian natural gas sector. Iran is an importer of refined gas, and this bill will hit them where it hurts in their energy and financial sectors.

I would like to also express my support for section 110 of the bill which requires a report on other energy imports into Iran. The U.S. and Brazil are the world's largest ethanol producers, and I am glad to hear from Brazil's private ethanol producers that they have no plans to supply ethanol to Iran for blending into gasoline as they prefer to build a global export market, anchored by the large U.S. and European markets. That's why this bill is so important. We must continue to monitor this area as ethanol imports could undermine energy sanctions on Iran.

The U.S., our allies, and the U.N. have recognized that a nuclear- armed Iran would be a danger not only to our ally, Israel, but also to the entire Middle East and the nuclear nonproliferation regime and is unacceptable. When Ahmadinejad says he wants to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth, he means it. When he calls the U.S. the great Satan, he means it. We need this bill to hit them where it hurts, and I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill today.

I thank the gentlewoman from California, my good friend, Congresswoman Matsui, and I thank the gentleman, Mr. Whitfield, for his kind remarks.

Madam Speaker, I stand here in support of my legislation, H.R. 3993, the Calling Card Consumer Protection Act.

I want to thank my good friends Chairman Waxman, who is the chairman of our Energy and Commerce Committee; Bobby Rush, who is the chairman of the Consumer Protection Subcommittee; as well as Joe Barton and George Radanovich, who are the ranking members of the full committee and subcommittee.

As my colleagues have mentioned, calling cards are an invaluable resource for a number of people who make frequent long distance or overseas calls. Students, members of the Armed Forces, and those whose families live outside of the country regularly use these cards to call home. The cards are also popular among people who either choose not to subscribe to long distance telephone services or who cannot afford them. They are a necessary tool for keeping in touch with

friends or with family members. Calling cards that provide the services that the companies advertise can save consumers a great deal of money when they call home.

Unfortunately, as my colleagues have mentioned, as we see all too often, a number of unscrupulous companies are failing to keep their advertised terms. I first learned of this issue about 3 years ago when I heard from a number of constituents who said that their prepaid calling cards were not delivering the number of minutes that they advertised. In fact, many were not even close to delivering the promised number of minutes.

When I heard about these problems, I purchased a calling card to investigate the problem for myself. What shocked me--although, it should come as no surprise to anybody now--is that I found the exact same problems my constituents were having. One of those companies promised me a certain number of minutes, and I found that it was a complete fabrication. I did not receive even close to the number of minutes that the card advertised. This is when I decided to introduce my legislation to ban this practice.

I have read studies conducted by States' attorneys general as well as by independent groups showing that many calling cards provide far fewer minutes than are advertised. One study by the Hispanic Institute found, on average, that the caller only received about 60 percent of the minutes guaranteed by the card. I recently read that the prepaid calling card industry takes in $4 billion a year in revenue. If the cards are only providing 60 percent of the minutes, each one of us can do the math.

This deception is costing consumers and honest companies hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Calling card fraud harms segments of the population which are among the most vulnerable to being victimized by unscrupulous companies only seeking to make quick profits. Companies will target poor, minority, and immigrant populations, and they don't stop there. They have even preyed upon our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is unconscionable.

As was mentioned, there are so many ways that they use fraudulent terms. There are different fees. If you call and don't get anyone home, there is a fee. If you call and someone hangs up, there is a fee. There are all kinds of hidden fees in terms of what time you can call and what day you can call. It just gets ridiculous.

In an article in BusinessWeek magazine, the author detailed one example of a company that marketed toward Spanish-speaking consumers. It had packaging with Spanish language information, but the fine print that detailed all the various fees they would charge the user was in English. When confronted about this deception, the company simply said, ``We're in America.'' They had the audacity to claim that, even when they put Spanish language advertisements in markets with Spanish- speaking consumers, they could hide all of their fees in English.

This legislation will put a stop to a number of deceptive practices employed by unscrupulous companies. It would simply require calling cards and advertisements to include the clear disclosure of all terms, conditions, and fees in the language in which the calling card is advertised. Just like the nutrition information on a box of cereal, consumers should be able to quickly and easily compare two products side by side.

I would strongly encourage all Members to support this bipartisan and, as Mr. Whitfield pointed out, well-thought-out legislation. I thank everyone for marking up this legislation today.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ron Gettelfinger for his tremendous leadership and to congratulate him on the good work he has done representing the members of the United Auto Workers (UAW). Ron served the UAW as President, Vice President, and as a member of the Local 862. I wish him all the best retirement has to offer.

Since 1964, Ron Gettelfinger has been a proud member of the UAW, and served as President since 2002. During this time he advanced the rights of working men and women by securing fair wages, better working conditions, and fairer trade deals. Ron Gettelfinger also guided the UAW through the tough times of the past several years, when the auto industry was struggling and our nation's economy was in a deep recession. He made sure that his workers were treated fairly during these difficult times.

As the son of a lifelong iron worker, I am a strong supporter of a worker's right to engage in collective bargaining through membership in labor unions. I have, and will continue to assist them in achieving common goals such as fair wages, safe workplaces and enhanced job opportunities.

I ask my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Ron Gettelfinger and wishing him all the best in his retirement.

I thank the gentleman, and I will be brief. I rise in support of everything that my colleagues have said.

The U.S.-Israel relationship is a special relationship, and it's a relationship that needs to be strengthened. The United States is Israel's only true friend. In fact, when you look at the United Nations or the so-called Human Rights Council in the United Nations, it's really a kangaroo court stacked up against Israel. No wonder Israel doesn't accept what the so-called ``international body'' says about them, because they can never do anything right. They're always condemned no matter what they try, no matter what they do.

My colleagues have pointed out that Israel, like every other sovereign nation, has the right to defend itself, that Israel has at least twice seized large caches of arms aboard Iranian ships bound for Hamas and Hezbollah, and a blockade is an appropriate security measure when employed in the face of hostility such as that directed by Hamas against Israel.

Hamas doesn't recognize Israel's right to exist, has vowed to destroy Israel, won't abide by any agreements that have been signed by Israel and the previous Palestinian governments, and so Israel has to make sure that terrorist attacks don't come from Gaza into Israel as they have for such a long time. As my colleagues have pointed out, Israel has offered to inspect the flotillas and let all the humanitarian aid on the flotillas go to Gaza, but these people on the flotilla were obviously not interested in delivering humanitarian aid. They were interested in provoking a violent reaction from Israel.

I just want to stand in support of the U.S.-Israel relationship, a strong relationship. Israel is our best friend and ally in the Middle East. Hopefully, soon there will be a solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, two states side by side living in peace and harmony, a Palestinian state and an Israeli Jewish state. That is something that we all strive to work for.

I want to thank Mr. Weiner for organizing this. I want to thank Mr. Hoyer, our majority leader, for always being a stalwart. I want to thank Mr. Akin for giving us the opportunity to speak. When it comes to Israel, this Congress is united with strong bipartisan support, and we're going to keep it that way.

Thank you.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the bicentennial of the Republic of Argentina. On May 25, 1810, the Argentine people declared their independence from Spain and since that time, their nation has become an important regional and global actor.

I feel a personal connection to the nation of Argentina. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I have had the privilege to lead two official congressional delegations to Argentina. I am always welcomed with a warmth and respect that speaks to the character of the Argentine people. President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is a distinguished leader whose service to her people is impressive. Likewise, Argentina's Ambassador to the United States Hector Timmerman and his excellent team work hard on a daily basis to advance the Argentine cause here in the United States.

In many ways, the United States and Argentina share much more than a hemisphere; we share common values of freedom, equality and a commitment to democracy that transcend national borders. Our nations have also worked closely on issues pertaining to regional security, and Argentina has established itself as a leading voice in the areas of nuclear non-proliferation and counterterrorism. I welcome this cooperation and I look forward to our continued collaboration on these vital fronts.

I hope you will join me in commemorating the 200th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Argentina. May our two nations grow closer and may our shared values grow ever stronger.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 284 I was detained at a luncheon honoring the President of Mexico, since I am Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Committee of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and was unable to get back to the vote on time. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1067) to support stabilization and lasting peace in northern Uganda and areas affected by the Lord's Resistance Army through development of a regional strategy to support multilateral efforts to successfully protect civilians and eliminate the threat posed by the Lord's Resistance Army and to authorize funds for humanitarian relief and reconstruction, reconciliation, and transitional justice, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the bill and yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Senate bill under consideration today is a companion to H.R. 2478, legislation authored by the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern). I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Mr. McGovern, for championing the cause of the people of northern Uganda who have been victimized for over two decades by the Lord's Resistance Army, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the Secretary of State.

Mr. Speaker, it is almost impossible to describe the horrors that the Lord's Resistance Army, also known as the LRA, has perpetrated on the people of northern Uganda and, more recently, in several neighboring countries.

Joseph Kony, the LRA leader, has led a militia group responsible for the slaughter of thousands of people and the displacement of over 2 million others since it was formed in 1986.

The LRA is most notorious for abducting young children, an estimated 30,000, over the past two decades, and forcing them into armed service and sexual servitude. While claiming to represent the legitimate grievances of the Ocholi people of northern Uganda, Kony has exploited those grievances to justify what only can be described as madness in his pursuit of power.

The Ugandan war is now the longest running war in Africa, longer than the conflict in Sudan. During the course of this war, the LRA has been responsible for widespread human rights violations, including murder, abduction, mutilation, sexual enslavement of women and children, and forcing children to participate in killing of Ugandans, often family members and neighbors.

The LRA shows no mercy for the young. Boys are kidnapped and turned into soldiers. Girls are kidnapped and used as sex slaves. And to terrorize communities, the LRA often amputates limbs and disfigures bodies as so-called lessons learned for those willing to resist.

The Ugandan government and the LRA began peace negotiations in 2006, and signed an agreement in August of that year which provided for hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people to return home in safety. A final peace agreement was reached in 2008, but Kony refused to sign, and the LRA subsequently launched new attacks on civilians in eastern Congo.

Despite the LRA leader's refusal to sign the agreement, the Ugandan government has made a commitment to carry out reconstruction plans for northern Uganda, and to implement those mechanisms of the final peace agreement not conditioned on the compliance of the LRA.

Mr. Speaker, the United States Government is a friend to the people of northern Uganda, and it is in our interest to help rid Uganda and central Africa of the LRA. This bill authorizes the President to provide additional assistance to respond to the humanitarian needs of populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, and Central African Republic affected by LRA activity.

It further authorizes the President to support efforts by the people of northern Uganda and the government of Uganda to promote transitional justice and reconciliation on both local and national levels.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that we pass this legislation today to draw attention to the LRA's reign of terror and to demonstrate our support for the people of Uganda. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts, the vice chairman of the Rules Committee, Mr. McGovern.

The gentleman from New Jersey is correct.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1303) recognizing the close friendship and historical ties between the United Kingdom and the United States, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of this resolution that recognizes the special relationship and historical ties between the United Kingdom and the United States. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank my good friend, Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart from Florida, for introducing this measure.

The United Kingdom and the United States have a long history born of shared values and experiences. British legal and philosophical traditions have greatly influenced American practices while both our nations remain committed to human rights, rule of law, and good governance. Our economies are deeply intertwined, as became particularly evident during the global financial crisis. Indeed, Britain is the largest single investor in our economy, while we are the largest source of foreign direct investment in theirs.

Our two nations also share a proud military history. British and American soldiers have stood shoulder to shoulder throughout the major conflicts of the last 100 years. Together we confronted the challenges of Nazism and communism, while today we are fighting together against the scourge of international terrorism. We remain grateful for Britain's active participation in the military and reconstruction efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In recent months, some in Britain have begun to question this ``special relationship,'' a phrase coined by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1945. As is in the case of all relationships, the dynamic link between the U.S. and the U.K. has evolved over time. However, it is clear that our relationship is unique, vitally important and must continue to be nurtured. The United Kingdom remains an essential ally, a valuable partner and a true friend. All British Prime Ministers and American Presidents have forged effective working relationships in order to confront together the challenges facing the present day.

On May 6, just a little while ago, the British people went to the polls. Yesterday we watched the political drama unfold as a coalition agreement was reached between the Conservative and Liberal Democratic Parties. The United States congratulates and stands ready to foster a strong relationship with Britain's new Prime Minister, David Cameron. This postelection period is an opportune moment to reflect upon the strong ties that bind our nations, to celebrate our friendship, and to recommit ourselves to continued cooperation in the future. Much work needs to be done, and the United States has no better partner in the world than the United Kingdom.

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

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would yield 30 seconds to myself to say that anyone who has gone to the United Kingdom, you feel this special relationship as we mentioned on both sides of the aisle. You feel the camaraderie and you do feel the special bond. I would say tongue in cheek, if we look at the British coalition together, they put together a coalition of liberal Democrats and conservatives; and I would say to the gentlewoman from Florida, if we could do that more often, we may learn a lot more from the British.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1143) commending the Community of Democracies for its achievements since it was founded in 2000, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution that commends the Community of Democracies for its many achievements since the organization's founding a decade ago, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I wish to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), for his leadership in introducing this measure and bringing it forward for our consideration today.

Mr. Speaker, in January 1999, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told the Los Angeles Times that her highest priority before leaving office was to create a global community of democracies. That objective became a reality in June 2000 when she, along with then- Polish Foreign Minister Geremek, convened ministerial delegations from 106 countries in Warsaw to sign a declaration entitled ``Toward a Community of Democracies.''

This declaration sought to demonstrate methods of support to countries that strive for freedom and democracy. It also established a global, intergovernmental coalition of democratic countries that are committed to promoting democratic rules and strengthening democratic institutions around the world.

I think it is somewhat ironic that this inaugural meeting was in Warsaw, because we know Warsaw has had a long history of being occupied and not being free. Since Warsaw, ministerial conferences have been held in Seoul, Korea; Santiago, Chile; Bamako, Mali; and Lisbon, Portugal. In addition, a Permanent Secretariat was established in Warsaw in order to strengthen the institution and further its mission of democracy promotion.

In early July, on the 10th anniversary of the organization's founding, the Community of Democracies will meet in Krakow, Poland to relaunch the Community and adopt a work program to advance democracy worldwide. This gathering, which will be hosted by Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski, will undoubtedly be one of the most prominent international gatherings of democracy decision-makers this year.

It is fitting that this meeting once again will be held in Poland, not only because it was the location of the Community's founding and a real success story of post-Cold War democratization efforts, but also because the world is grieving with the Polish people following the tragic loss of their President in the plane crash.

As the United States is one of the founding members of the Community and a participant in its convening group, it is appropriate that the House adopt this resolution that commends the Community of Democracies for its achievements and wishes it much success in its upcoming conference.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), the author of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1155) commending the progress made by anti- tuberculosis programs, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this is my resolution, and I am proud to be the lead sponsor of it. And I rise today in honor of this resolution to fight tuberculosis, which I introduced with my good friends from Texas, Ted Poe and Gene Green.

House Resolution 1155 seeks to commend the progress made by U.S. anti-tuberculosis programs at the CDC, USAID, NIH and Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and to reaffirm the House's historic commitment to global TB control made through the Lantos-Hyde Act enacted 2 years ago. My own legislation, the Stop Tuberculosis Now Act, was folded into the PEPFAR reauthorization, and I remain grateful to Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen, the gentlewoman from Florida, for their strong support of this significant investment in tuberculosis control. The chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, Mr. Payne, is also to be commended for his commitment to tuberculosis control as well.

Mr. Speaker, TB is the second leading global infectious disease killer behind HIV-AIDS, claiming approximately 1.8 million lives each year.

TB is the leading killer of people with HIV-AIDS. TB control must be strengthened as part of a comprehensive approach to women's health. TB is the third leading killer of adult women globally, and women who develop the disease are more likely to die from it than men. The risk of premature birth or having a low birth weight baby double for women with TB, and those who receive a late diagnosis are four times as likely to die in childbirth.

Mr. Speaker, about half a million people fall ill each year with multidrug-resistant TB, but the World Health Organization estimates that less than 5 percent are receiving appropriate treatment, which is one of the factors fueling the spread of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Although the number of TB cases in the United States is declining, the nature of this infectious disease presents a persistent public health threat to the United States. Tuberculosis is a significant public health program for the border States of California, Texas, New York, Florida and others.

Drug-resistant TB poses a particular challenge to domestic TB control owing to the high costs of treatment and intensive health care resources required. Treatment costs for multidrug-resistant TB range from $100,000 to $300,000 per person, which can cause a significant strain on State public health budgets. In 2008, 107 cases of MDR-TB were reported in the United States. Of particular concern is that four extensively drug-resistant TB cases were reported, double the number from 2007.

H. Res. 1155 calls attention to the critical need for public and private reinvestment into research to develop new TB diagnostics, drugs and vaccines to replace antiquated technologies that hinder our progress against tuberculosis.

Although drugs, diagnostics, and vaccines for TB exist, these technologies are increasingly inadequate for controlling the global epidemic. The most commonly used TB diagnostic in the world, sputum microscopy, is more than 100 years old and lacks sensitivity to detect TB in most HIV-AIDS patients and in children. The TB vaccine, BCG, provides some protection to children, but has little or no effect in preventing pulmonary TB in adults. We will never defeat TB without a public and private research investment into new tuberculosis tools.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H. Res. 1155, to be on record in supporting the global fight against tuberculosis.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, before I yield back the balance of my time, I want to thank my good friend, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, who has partnered with me in so much good legislation through the years. And I really do appreciate her support.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts, and I second what he said about this bill being a win for all.

I'm sorry there is so much negativity on the other side of the aisle about this bill. This bill takes care of our energy needs and at the same time creates a bold effort to create jobs and to improve the economy.

We cannot rest. Too many Americans are unemployed, and in particular, middle class Americans are still hurting. We must remain focused on revitalizing our economy, and this bill helps to do that.

A smart and effective way to generate jobs is through home retrofits. We can incentivize consumers to weatherize their homes and put our idle contractors and construction workers to work. In turn, many households would save substantial money by weatherizing their homes.

So this Home Star program is a good one. I encourage my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, stop with the negativity. Let's move on together.

Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2499, the Puerto Rico Democracy Act.

Puerto Rico is home to nearly 4 million Americans.

It has been a U.S. territory for 112 years and its residents have been U.S. citizens since 1917.

Puerto Ricans have contributed much to the basic fabric of this country in times of peace and war.

Its residents have served as high government officials and leaders from all walks of life.

More than one million Puerto Ricans live in my home state of New York, and according to the latest numbers, more than 60,000 live in my congressional district.

I am, therefore, proud to call myself a cosponsor of the bipartisan Puerto Rico Democracy Act.

I know that the question of the status of Puerto Rico has been difficult for many years, but that is precisely why we must address it today.

Under the current status, residents of Puerto Rico are bound by federal law, but cannot vote for president and do not have voting representation in Congress.

Since joining the American family over a century ago, the Island's residents have never been given the opportunity to express their views--in the context of a fair and orderly vote sponsored by Congress--as to whether Puerto Rico should remain a U.S. territory or should seek a non-territorial status.

H.R. 2499 allows the government of Puerto Rico to conduct plebiscites to ask voters if they wish to maintain the current status or have a different status.

I support this bill because it finally creates a fair process to allow the people of Puerto Rico to decide their own future for themselves.

Self-determination is a basic principle of the United States, and Puerto Ricans deserve no less.

Finally, I would like to congratulate the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Pierluisi, for his excellent work, and I appreciate the efforts of members on both sides of the aisle who helped bring the Puerto Rico Democracy Act to the floor today.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2499.

Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas, Mr. Chair, I rise today as a cosponsor and to speak in strong support of H.R. 2499, The Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2009, which establishes a just and fair way for Puerto Ricans to decide their relationship with the United States.

Puerto Rico has been a U.S. territory for 111 years and its residents have been U.S. citizens since 1917. Puerto Ricans have contributed immeasurably to the life of this nation in times of peace and war and have served as U.S. government officials, ambassadors, federal judges and military officers.

The island is home to nearly 4 million Americans who are subject to federal taxes as determined by law, pay income taxes on income from outside the island, as well as other taxes such as Social Security and Medicare.

Yet Puerto Ricans today still cannot vote for President of the United States and do not have full voting representation in Congress. I believe it is time for the people of Puerto Rico to decide their fate after over 100 years of political uncertainty.

H.R. 2499 would identify Puerto Rico's political status options and authorize a plebiscite process in which voters could express their preferences among those options. This bill will finally give them the opportunity to determine their relationship with the U.S. in the context of a fair, neutral and democratic process sponsored by Congress.

We must ensure that the views of all Puerto Ricans are heard on this fundamental question without excluding or favoring any status option. As a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, I support a fair and impartial process of self-determination for the people of Puerto Rico.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the First Lady of the Republic of Albania, Dr. Liri Berisha, and to welcome her once again to the United States.

Dr. Liri Berisha, a devoted mother and a diligent pediatrician, became the very first First Lady in the history of democratic Albania in 1992 when her husband, Sali Berisha, was elected President of the Republic. Throughout her husband's 5 years in office and since his election in 2005 as Prime Minister, Dr. Berisha has been distinguished for her involvement in public life and commitment to people in need.

Among her many endeavors, I strongly commend the First Lady for her dedication to the women and children of Albania. Dr. Berisha is Honorary President of the UNICEF office in Albania. She actively promotes efforts to expand education and healthcare to marginalized women and children and is an outspoken voice against human trafficking. In 2009, the Women's Information Network named Dr. Berisha ``Woman of the Year'' for ``her commitment to make the world a better place for women and all citizens''.

In 2008, Dr. Berisha founded the Mother Teresa Cultural Foundation which commemorates its namesake as a symbol of hope and human dignity. This week, the First Lady joins us on Capitol Hill to honor the 100th anniversary of the birth of Mother Teresa with a reception and special exhibition. As the Chair of the Congressional Albanian Issues Caucus, I look forward to participating in this celebration and again welcoming the distinguished First Lady of Albania to the United States.

Madam Speaker, Harold and Florence were both born in Charleston, South Carolina where Florence attended the prestigious Avery Institute and graduated from Burke High School in that city. Florence moved to New York City where she attended Washington Business Institute. During his high school years at Burke High School in Charleston, Harold Payne excelled in athletics, in particular baseball and basketball. He was a star member of the Burke High School Senior Basketball team which won the South Carolina State Championship in 1949. Harold obtained a tryout with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953. Harold later attended Bronx Community College.

Mrs. Payne's professional pursuits took her to various organizations including the New York Telephone Company, Jujamcyn Theatres, Fine Arts Pillows Inc. as well as a private attorney, Donnaree Banton, Esq. In 1997, I asked Florence to work for me. She fulfilled her dream of helping other on a daily basis.

Harold served in the Army during the Korean conflict in the 8th Army Honor Guard. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant and in 1956 began a career with the United States Postal Service while simultaneously working as a paraprofessional for 17 years with the NYC Board of Education. After 34 years with the Postal Service, Harold retired and became Director of the Tilden Towers Senior Citizens Center. It is there that he fulfilled his dream of serving his community. He retired from Tilden Towers Senior Center in January of this year.

Both Harold and Florence donate time to charitable and civic organizations, it being their belief that one must give back to the community in a meaningful way. This they did by actively participating in many endeavors including: the Office of Black Ministry for the Catholic Archdiocese of New York, the Parent Teacher Association of Public School 16, NIA: A Minority Women's Professional Network, The Incarcerated Mothers Program, the Food Pantry at the Edenwald-Gun Hill Neighborhood Center and other worthwhile endeavors.

They are most proud of their 50 year commitment to one another in addition to their role as parents and grandparents. The Paynes met each other through Florence's late sister Anna and her husband, Henry. On April 23, 1960, the Paynes were married in St. Aloysius Church in Harlem. They set up residence in the Bronx and have lived there for their entire married life. They are the loving parents of Lisa and Harold Jr. with a son-in-law, Terrance. They are also the proud grandparents of granddaughter Yiesha Danielle and grandson Malcolm.

I ask everyone who believes in love to join me in celebrating Harold and Florence's Golden Wedding anniversary and in wishing them every happiness.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding to me. I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her strong voice.

And, boy, if there was ever anything that's bipartisan, it's this resolution. The one good thing that Iran has done is brought us all together because we realize that the Iranian threat to the world is the world's biggest threat.

Iran remains the leading sponsor of terrorism around the world; and, as was mentioned before, the President of Iran, Ahmadinejad, has threatened to wipe Israel from the face of the Earth.

But the threat is not to Israel alone. It's to Europe, it's to the United States, it's to the entire world; and the entire world must speak with one voice.

I'm a proud cosponsor of H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, and I want to commend Chairman Berman for this initiative, and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as well.

Only a few short months ago, the world learned of the secret Iranian nuclear enrichment facility near the city of Qom. If there was ever any doubt that Iran was trying to build nuclear weapons, this revelation dispelled any shred of that doubt. The facility was kept secret from the IAEA, the International Atomic Energy Agency. It was built deep in a mountain on a protected military base. This is precisely how a country conceals a nuclear weapons program and defies U.N. Security Council resolutions, not how it develops peaceful energy technologies.

However, although Iran is a leading producer of crude oil, it has limited refining capacity. And this bill will increase leverage against Iran by penalizing companies that export refined petroleum products to Iran or finance Iran's domestic refueling capabilities. It's my hope that the administration will apply these additional sanctions to make absolutely clear to the Iranian regime that the world will not accept its nuclear ambitions.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I'd also like to raise one additional concern which arose at my October hearing on Iran's role in the Western Hemisphere. Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez recently agreed to provide 20,000 barrels per day of refined gasoline to Iran. It's anyone's guess as to whether this will be implemented, but the deal may be covered by the bill we are considering today. While some question whether Venezuela has the ability to provide gasoline to Iran since it imports some gasoline to meet its own demand, Chavez is clearly approaching a perilous area. I hope Chavez reconsiders this unwise step. And we must consider and keep focusing on Iran in the Western Hemisphere as well.

The U.S., our allies and the U.N. Security Council have recognized that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a danger to our ally, Israel, the Middle East, the nuclear proliferation regime and to the entire world. The Iranian regime is brutal to its own population, murders its own citizens, represses people who want to demonstrate against its stolen election, and it's time for us to stand up.

So I'm glad, in a bipartisan voice this morning, we say ``no'' to Iran; ``no'' to nuclear weapons for Iran; ``yes'' to support the underlying bill.