Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time.

Mr. Chairman, I voted for the first PATRIOT Act, and I strongly supported the creation of the Homeland Security Department and have voted for every large increase in intelligence, homeland security funding, and defense funding.

But I am very troubled here. I am very troubled by the fact that we are

eliminating the sunsets. I am very troubled by the fact that the administration and the leadership here are just going full steam ahead without listening to the very sincere problems that many of us have with the erosion of civil liberties. I do not think we should be trying to save our freedom by killing the safeguards that keep our liberties. These are very serious issues.

The FBI can get a court order to demand confidential medical and financial records and gag their doctor or banker from telling them. They can even search people's homes and not tell them until weeks or months later. We have had many colleagues talk about the problems with library records and bookstore records. These are very serious civil liberties problems.

And it is not on the abstract. There are people like me who support a strong defense. There are people like me who support strong intelligence and homeland security funding. But this is a balancing act, and my fear is that we have gone too far.

The administration should listen to us, have a moderate bill, have sunsets, and then we could all vote for this bill.

Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose the Franks amendment. The language that was adopted was adopted unanimously by the Committee on International Relations in a bipartisan way; and with all due respect to my colleague from Arizona, his amendment addresses a problem which does not exist.

The gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Franks) is trying to strike a reporting requirement. This has nothing to do with the financial status of Kosova, Serbia, Montenegro, or anywhere else. As the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) said right now, consular and visa services are not offered at the United States office in Pristina. The section the Committee on International Relations bipartisanly and unanimously adopted merely asked the State Department to submit a report describing the possibility of providing consular and visa services at the United States offices in Pristina, Kosova to the residents of Kosova. That is all it does. It is very hard for people who live in Pristina and in Kosova to go to other countries, particularly old people, to get a visa. And as far as Kosova or Kosovo, there are 12 other provisions, and I have them here, in United States law that mention Kosova with an ``a.'' So for the gentleman from Arizona to say that this somehow changes existing law is just not true. This body has passed 12 and has now signed into law parts of the law where it says ``Kosova.''

So I think we should not upset the apple cart and change the unanimous wishes of the Committee on International Relations.

I yield to the gentleman from North Dakota.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I would just add again this language was unanimously passed by the Committee on International Relations with bipartisan support and no dissension. It was part of an en bloc amendment, and it is not controversial. With all due respect to the gentleman from Arizona, this is not something that should be overturned.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to update you and our colleagues on the efforts to combat the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa industry. In the United States, we spend approximately $13 billion per year consuming over 3 billion pounds of chocolate. Most Americans are completely unaware that their chocolate is tainted with slave labor.

Four years ago, the House overwhelmingly passed an amendment I offered to the FY02 Agriculture Appropriations to provide funds to the FDA to label cocoa products as being made free of child slave labor. I had learned about this heinous situation from a series of articles run by Knight-Ridder. With ease, reporters were able to locate children working the fields of the Ivory Coast who had been trafficked in from Mali and Burkina Faso.

In an interview, one of these boys, Aly Diabate, told how he was sold into slavery when he was barely 4 feet tall. He said, ``Some of the bags were taller than me. It took two people to put the bag on my head. And when you didn't hurry, you were beaten. The beatings were a part of my life. Anytime they loaded you with bags and you fell while carrying them, nobody helped you. Instead, they beat you and beat you until you picked it up again.''

One of the farmers, Dote Coulibay, explained that if a boy tries to escape ``If I let them go, I am losing money, because I spent money for them.'' Coulibay tells the boys ``If you try to escape, I'll catch you and beat you.''

I was so pleased and proud that my amendment passed, because I knew that it would lead to a great effort to end this horrible situation. I found a natural ally in my friend from Iowa, Senator Tom Harkin, who has for many years championed the rights of children around the globe.

Working with Senator Harkin, we engaged in discussions with the world's cocoa industry--always holding out the prospect of even stronger legislative language. Those negotiations led to an agreement that has become known as the Harkin-Engel Protocol. It is a voluntary agreement, signed by the leaders of the cocoa industry, including Hershey Food Corporation, Nestle, Mars, and Archer Daniels Midland Company.

Many called this an historic effort--an industry had agreed to take responsibility for the labor conditions on the farms, which they do not own.

The Protocol set out a series of deadlines--aggressive ones to be sure--that industry needed to meet to live up to its obligations. Industry met deadlines to reach out to and sign working agreements with NGOs who have expertise in this area. Industry created a foundation, called the International Cocoa Initiative, which is just now beginning its work to support social protection programs in West Africa.

However, the last deadline and most difficult will not be met. That deadline sought the development of credible, mutually acceptable, voluntary, industry-wide standards of public certification that cocoa beans and their derivative products have been grown and/or processed without any of the worst forms of child labor by July 1, 2005. However, this Friday an industry-wide child labor monitoring system will not be in place.

Industry has taken some positive steps to address the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa industry. These include the creation of the International Cocoa Initiative foundation, which is now beginning to form partnerships with NGOs to provide social protection programs in West Africa. They have also begun to educate farmers about the proper role of child labor through the ``farmer field schools'' that are run to help farmers produce a better crop.

Efforts have also been undertaken by the governments of the Ivory Coast and Ghana. The Ivory Coast is funding a small pilot child labor monitoring and protection program in Oume. Ghana has worked with the International Labor Organization and the West Africa Commercial Agriculture Program, WACAP, to Combat Hazardous and Exploitive Child Labor that identified more than 650 children working in the ``worst forms of child labor.'' WACAP covered less than 10 percent of the cocoa growing regions of Ghana--thus, tens of thousands of children could be in danger.

Over the last four years, I and my partners in this effort have learned much. Most importantly, we learned that it is vital for there to be social protection programs in place when children are found in these terrible circumstances. If there is not, there is a strong possibility that the child will be trafficked into a different industry, such as domestic servitude or sexual slavery.

Last week, Senator Harkin and I sat down with representatives of the cocoa industry. As a result of that meeting, I am comfortable that the industry is committed to moving forward even though I am disappointed that the original deadline was not met. Within the framework of the Protocol, I and my partners will work closely with industry to eliminate the worst forms of child labor. As we move beyond the original deadline, industry has assured me they will redouble their efforts to have a child labor monitoring system put in place and social protection programs as well. Industry has committed at least $15 million toward covering 50 percent of the growing areas of West Africa by the end of 2008.

The sad fact is that this is an international problem involving millions of slaves today. The U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons estimates that 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year. They also estimate that as many as 15,000 people are trafficked into the United States. Thus, all the nations of the Earth continue to suffer this tragedy and we must all work together to see it finally put to an end.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I must report that we have made progress in combating the worst forms of child labor in the cocoa industry. However, we have much, much more to do.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 71, supporting the establishment of a Caribbean American Heritage Month. I urge the approval of this resolution to support the Caribbean Americans who have contributed immensely to American society throughout our history. They overcame slavery and colonialism to fight for their independence, and emigrated to American colonies as early as 1619.

The countless number of influential figures in American history who are of Caribbean heritage indicates the need to set aside a designated time to celebrate their contribution to our country. Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States and the first Secretary of the Treasury, James Weldon Johnson, the writer of the Black National Anthem, Colin Powell, the first African-American Secretary of State, Marion Jones, an Olympic gold medalist, Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American Congresswoman and first African- American woman candidate for President are only a few. These key figures in our history have left their marks on an array of fields; politics, art, music, business, government, and more.

A large number of my constituents are of Caribbean heritage, including Haitian, Jamaican, Dominican, and others. Our community has benefited greatly from their presence and involvement. I advocate establishing a Caribbean-American Heritage month to highlight my own constituents as well as Caribbean Americans all over the United States. I support a month with appropriate ceremonies, celebrations, and activities for a people who have suffered through years of slavery in past centuries and who have come to America to share with the rest of the world their dreams of freedom.

Mr. Speaker, this is an important resolution and I therefore strongly urge its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 155, urging Albania to hold its July 3 parliamentary elections in accordance with international standards. I would also like to thank the lead sponsor, Chris Smith, for his work on this legislation. These elections are not only important as Albania works to develop its democratic system, but they will set the tone for the Balkan nation in the months and years ahead.

The United States and Albania have strong ties that go well beyond government relations. For that reason, we believe it is very important to support the people of Albania and their right to choose their elected representatives freely and fairly.

In the 15 years since Albania's brutal communist dictatorship came to an end, the country has struggled in its transition. While some elections have been problematic, there have been improvements over time, and now the country has a real chance to achieve the same international election standards that the United States, Canada and all of Europe adopted in 1990. Between now and election day, the real issue is whether the authorities, political parties and other stakeholders have the will to abide by the laws, regulations and a code of conduct. The active U.S. congressional interest expressed in this resolution can encourage all involved to do the right thing.

A good election process will have enormous benefits for Albania. Domestically, it will enable the next government to take stronger measures to address the official corruption and combat the organized crime which together thwart stronger economic recovery. Internationally, it will enable Albania to take the next steps to joining NATO and the European Union. Supporting Albanian elections today will only strengthen our relations in the future.

I will be in Albania for the July 3rd elections and will lead a National Albanian American Council delegation which will monitor that the polling and counting will be done in accordance with international standards. This resolution will help make the case for a good election.

As the lead Democratic sponsor of this resolution, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 155.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my Democratic colleagues in support of protecting our Nation's intellectual property. For decades the theft of music and movies has been commonplace. But, with the explosion of the Internet, the theft of copyright material has become a crisis.

Just today, the Supreme Court, in an unanimous decision, stepped forward and protected Intellectual Property. In MGM v Grokster, the Supreme Court struck a fine balance that must exist to ensure consumers' rights and protect music and video content. The Court clearly stated that ``the record is replete with evidence that from the moment Grokster and Streamcast began to distribute free software, each one clearly voiced the objective that recipients use it to download copyrighted works,

and each took active steps to encourage infringement.'' Neither of these programs offered themselves as legitimate devices such as a VCR. A great majority of users knew and intended to subvert copyright and deny not just the record and movie companies' compensation, but take money out of the pockets of songwriters, studio personnel, camera men and make-up artists.

We are also undertaking an effort to move to digital television. In the future, if the Congress does not act, copying and uploading a broadcast show will be all too easy. Many of us have worked on the ``Broadcast Flag,'' which is a technology that will allow consumers to continue to record a show for later viewing, but prevent the mass redistribution. The Federal Communications Commission had instituted a rule to this end, but the federal courts found the FCC lacked such authority. Thus, it falls on us in Congress to continue to update our laws in the digital era to stop copyright infringement. I hope we can do so quickly or, I fear, the best entertainment will be moved to cable and satellite and be unaffordable to some Americans.

I thank Mr. Hoyer and Mr. Schiff for arranging this effort and applaud all of my colleagues' commitment to the protection of one of our Nation's most valuable assets.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am offering this amendment and I will withdraw it because of a scoring problem, but I did want to bring this to the committee's attention. Today over 1 million individuals in the United States are infected with HIV, including about 406,000 with AIDS. New York City is one of the national epicenters of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, with over 110,000 people infected with HIV. Over 30 percent of those infected in New York City are women, and 75 percent are from minority groups. These devastating numbers are ones that my constituents are all too familiar with.

Like many of our colleagues, I was deeply disappointed that the critical AIDS drug assistance programs, known as ADAPs, only received a $10 million increase in this year's Labor-HHS appropriations bill. There is no question of the need for ADAPs. They have become a cornerstone of the Ryan White CARE Act since advances in drug treatments like antiretroviral therapies have had a profound effect on extending the quality and length of life of those infected with HIV/

Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Yes.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. Chairman, for the balance of my time I would like my friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Regula), the chairman of the subcommittee, to engage me in a brief colloquy.

Mr. Chairman, as I mentioned before, I intend to withdraw this amendment, but I hope this is an issue with which we can work as this bill moves through

the process. Ryan White funds and the AIDS Drug Assistance Programs provide critical assistance to our communities and our States, and they need further flexibility to expend expiring Ryan White CARE Act funds. I would ask the chairman if he would work with me in this regard.

I yield to the gentleman from Ohio.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for his attention.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge that full funding for Title VII health professions programs be restored in the FY 2006 Labor- HHS Bill. The elimination of funding for valuable programs such as the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and the Health Education and Training Center (HETC) would have an immediate, damaging impact on medical education, care, and research, especially in the State of New York.

Title VII authorizes grants for important programs designed to address problems such as recruitment and retention of providers for health centers, shortages in nursing and allied health, and the under- representation of minorities in the health care professions. These healthcare training programs are the only federal programs designed to increase the supply of primary medical care providers and public health professionals in underserved areas, such as inner cities and rural regions throughout the country. In addition, these programs seek to train more health professionals in fields experiencing shortages, improve the geographic distribution of health care personnel, and enhance minority representation in the pool of practicing health professionals.

New York has benefited greatly from Title VII health professions programs. In FY 2005, New York institutions received over $20 million in Title VII programs. However, continual annual budget cuts pose a great risk to health care in the state of New York. Without federal funding, the AHEC system will be greatly hindered in its ability to address the problems of access to health care, diversity of the health care workforce, and recruitment and retention of health care professionals in medically underserved areas. For these reasons I support the restoration of funding for Title VII health professions programs through the FY 2006 Labor-HHS Appropriations bill.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jeffrey Reisenauer on his receipt of the Congressional Award Gold Medal. As you know, this distinction is the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions, and Mr. Reisenauer is a well-deserving recipient of this award.

Through hard work and commitment, Jeffrey has become a leader in his community. Mr. Reisenauer, 19 years old, acknowledges the significant effect that the Boy Scouts has had on his life. Jeffrey has stated, ``The skills and

values you learn can bring lifelong benefit[s].'' Jeffrey has certainly amassed a number of such skills, as a high school varsity athlete, and captain of his high school ice hockey team. He has also passed the benefit of his skills and work ethic along to younger athletes, by coaching youth roller hockey teams, and by assisting with player development clinics.

Mr. Reisenauer has demonstrated his ability to tackle life's challenges by training for, and embarking on a 16-day backpacking trek through the southwestern United States. This experience, at the Boy Scout High Adventure Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico, was best summed up by Mr. Reisenauer in his own words. ``You learn to go beyond what you think are your physical and mental limits. It was the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life.''

By applying the principles of dedication, hard work, and commitment, Jeffrey Reisenauer has become a shining example for others to follow. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Jeffrey Reisenauer on his accomplishments and on his receipt of the Congressional Award Gold Medal.

Mr. Speaker, the tragedy of September 11 casts a long shadow that still haunts our lives. Our buildings will be replaced, our streets repaved, the infrastructure repaired. But the people we lost, and the promise they had for us, can never be anything but a loss. They leave a vacuum in us that cannot be filled.

John Collins was a firefighter when he died for us, a policeman who protected us before that, and always a generous and caring son, a loving brother, and a good friend, companion, and neighbor.

He was also generous. He knew that when hard times came on someone, it was not always their fault and he would help in any way he could. He was a key part of the Skehill Foundation, an annual softball tournament that has raised more than $100,000 in scholarship money for several schools in the Kingsbridge/Riverdale area. As a police officer, friends tell of his often buying groceries for the people in his precinct or sneakers for their children.

On a personal note, John was, like my father, an Ironworker, a group I have known, loved, and admired since I was a boy and my father took me to work.

John Collins lived here and so it is appropriate that this memento of him be placed here. It is said that a man never truly dies as long as he is remembered. This small tribute will help us to remember that a true man, a hero, walked among us here, helping us in dozens of ways that, perhaps, we took for granted because he did it so effortlessly.

I want to borrow some words from a remembrance of John Collins by Karen Donnelly that so eloquently tells of our grief:

We all, have given pieces of ourselves to each other. We

have taken from each other. This is bravery; this is courage.

If we had not ventured out into life with both arms wide, we

would not know this grief. If we had not courageously given,

and taken, friendship from each other, we would have no

memories of immeasurable joy and happiness. To know this

sadness is our right. We have earned it. We are courageous

enough to accept life's rewards, knowing we risk this almost

unbearable, profound grief.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in very strong opposition to this amendment.

I want to come clean and say that I have an extremely large sugar refinery in my district, so I have followed the sugar industry throughout the course of my career in the House of Representatives.

It is very easy to hoist up a straw man and say that they are the root of all evil. But remember the old series ``Dragnet'' where they said, ``Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts''?

The facts are that this is an agriculture bill, not a farm bill. Congress made promises to farmers in the 2002 farm bill, and sugar farmers made decisions based on these promises. Sugar is not receiving special treatment. All U.S. commodities covered under this farm bill receive loans from the Federal Government, and loan levels for farmers have remained unchanged for 20 years. Sugar policy, unlike other farm policies, operates at no cost to the taxpayers, that is, no cost to the taxpayers. In fact, sugar prices in the United States are low by world standards.

So America's sugar farmers cost taxpayers nothing, provide U.S. consumers with prices that are lower than the rest of the world, and open their market to imports more than other countries.

This northeasterner from New York absolutely opposes this amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for an important conference taking place today--the Conference on the Deepening Crisis for Haitians. This conference will bring together members of the Haitian American community, the academic sector, non-governmental organizations, and representatives from the U.S. and Haitian governments to discuss key issues facing Haitians.

While Haiti has recently celebrated more than 200 years of independence from French colonial rule, the citizens of the island remain vulnerable to poverty, poor health, and political chaos. Tumultuous events in the past year and a half consisted of violent uprisings, the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, massive floods in May displacing tens of thousands, and Tropical Storm Jeanne in September leading to more than 3,000 deaths in the ensuing floods. Sadly, Haiti has not been able to recover from these recent disasters and many Haitians are living in terrible conditions. This is why I have urged Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to grant Temporary Protected Status to Haitian nationals living in the United States. With thousands of people killed in the natural disasters and hundreds of thousands left homeless, Haiti is temporarily unable to handle the return of nationals. Haitians already in the U.S. should be allowed to remain in peace and security in the U.S. while the island recovers.

Today, the Organization of American States General Assembly is meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Organization's Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulza, has pledged to raise the subject of Haiti at the OAS during the session. While this is a welcome sign, it is the least of what will be needed if Haiti is to emerge from its deepening crisis. The international community and the United States must get serious about finding a way out of the expanding abyss so that Haiti can once again move forward.

We all would like to see a brighter future for Haiti, and I hope this conference will serve to explore many views. Respect for human rights, freedom, and the rule of law must be established in the poorest nation in our hemisphere. Our Haitian constituents and their relatives are counting on us to help bring Haiti out of its volatile situation. I am pleased to support the Conference on the Deepening Crisis for Haitians, and I commend the Conference for hosting this dialogue.

Mr. Speaker, this Memorial Day we will once again mark a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving our Nation. Memorial Day is a single day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. While we should remember their sacrifice every day, a special honor is reserved for Memorial Day.

More than a million American service members died in the wars and conflicts this Nation fought since the first colonial minutemen took up arms in 1775 to fight for independence. Each soldier who died during those many battles was a loved one cherished by family and friends. Each was a loss to the community and the Nation.

While this Nation can never fully repay those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, I believe the United States must continue to do more to honor our brave soldiers, veterans and our military families. Their sacrifices are the foundation of our Nation's freedom.

During my years in Congress, I have consistently given high priority to the interests of our country's veterans. I feel strongly that protecting veterans' rights and benefits is the least we can do for those who have devoted years of their lives in service to our Nation. Only by providing the best possible resources and facilities and fully compensating veterans for disabilities, can we repay the dedication of service personnel who sacrificed for their country.

One area in which adequate funding is absolutely necessary for veterans is health care. The lack of sufficient resources in our VA hospitals has reduced the ability of medical professionals to provide quality care. Our budget should be a reflection of our national priorities and yet this year the House Leadership cut veterans healthcare by $13.5 billion.

It is critical that we fulfill our moral obligation to honor our Nation's veterans with the health, education and retirement benefits they have earned through their service. I have joined my colleagues in introducing a new GI bill, endorsed by the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans, to improve benefits for men and women in uniform today and provide long overdue benefits for the veterans and military retirees who have already served. It will help members of the National Guard and Reserve, as their service in Iraq and Afghanistan has been above the call of duty, and will improve veterans' health care by increasing resources, bolstering mental health care for returning soldiers and blocking prescription drug co-payment increases.

So, on this Memorial Day, let us never forget that we in this country owe a great debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives so that we could live free. We can start to pay that debt by remembering what they did and what they stood for, and by promoting policies that honor their service and reflect the values of our grateful Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Anthony Athanas, who passed away last Friday in Massachusetts at the age of 93. Anthony Athanas was a prominent Albanian American, the founder and president of the Anthony's fine family of restaurants, and one of the most illustrious business personalities in Boston.

Anthony Athanas was an institution in the Albanian American community. Not only was he an Honorary Consul of the Republic of Albania in Massachusetts, Anthony Athanas was a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the National Albanian American Council (NAAC). He was the community's senior statesman, a winner of the NAAC Lifetime Achievement Award.

In 1999, he and I were members of an historic joint Congressional and Albanian/American delegation to Kosova, Albania, and Macedonia right after the Kosovar war. Anthony told me this was one of the most extraordinary trips he ever took. Upon arriving in Kosova, he kissed the ground and said he never thought he would see the day Kosova would be free. Yet, during this trip, he told a gathering crowd of more than 3000 people in Vranoc, a town which was 80 percent burned by the Serb army, ``Today you are free; tomorrow you will become an independent nation.'' All his life he wanted to visit a free Kosova. It was an honor to be with him when he finally saw it with his own eyes.

Anthony Athanas was born in Albania in 1911 and came to the United States at the age of 5, where he settled with his parents in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His first jobs were peddling fruits and vegetables from a cart, selling newspapers, and lighting wood and coal ovens in restaurant kitchens. He worked his way through various positions in restaurants and hotels throughout New England and New York, gaining invaluable knowledge from chefs, managers and owners. In 1937, he opened his first restaurant, Anthony's Hawthorne, in Lynn, Massachusetts. In the following years, Anthony opened several other successful restaurants.

In 1963, Anthony Athanas opened what would become his flagship restaurant, Anthony's Pier 4, on a Boston Harbor pier. The restaurant was an instant success, garnering acclaim and awards from around the world. Through the years, the restaurant has hosted heads of government, United States presidents, religious leaders, notable artists and writers, athletes, and a virtual who's who from the entertainment world.

Anthony Athanas also served on the Boards of several prominent organizations, including the National Restaurant Association, and was awarded a number of honorary degrees and doctorates.

Anthony Athanas personified the American dream. From humble beginnings in Albania, he rose through the ranks to become a successful businessman, a national role model, and a vocal advocate for Albanian issues. He serves as an example to us all of the kind of achievement and success possible for those who are capable and willing to strive for something better. He will sorely be missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on the occasion of his first anniversary of his second presidential term. He was re-elected to president of the Republic of China last year.

A number of my colleagues and the American public have taken notice of Taiwan's political and economic achievements during the last two decades. A recent Business Week online article says ``the global economy couldn't function without it (Taiwan). But can it really find peace with China?'' I agree with the article's assessment of Taiwan's importance to the information and technology industry in the world. The revenues of Taiwan's 25 key tech companies should reach $12 billion this year. The article goes on to say that if a shooting war starts across the Taiwan Strait, the damage to the world economy would be equivalent to a ``nuclear bomb going off' and the information and technology supply could be severely compromised.

Hence peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are in everyone's best interest. Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian is a man of impressive leadership skills who has made it clear over and over again that he would like to resolve the difficulties between Taipei and Beijing at the negotiating table rather than the battlefield. Unfortunately his call for Beijing to resume cross strait dialogue with Taipei without preconditions on either side has so far been rejected by China.

It is regrettable that the Chinese leadership has refused to even talk with President Chen, the duly elected president of Taiwan. If real progress is going to be made in reducing tensions between China and Taiwan, it should be based on a genuine dialogue between the elected Taiwanese government and the established Chinese leadership.

In this respect I concur with Assistant Secretary of State Randal Shriver's statement that ``Dialogue is better than no dialogue at all, and we think talking is better than no talking . . . the leaders in Beijing will ultimately have to talk to the elected leaders of Taiwan.

So, once again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commemorate the first anniversary of the election of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to his second term and offer my hopes that real dialogue across the Taiwan Straits, without preconditions, will begin someday soon.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for yielding time to me. And I rise in support of H.R. 2520, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005. This act, combined with H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, will go a long way towards helping millions of Americans who suffer from debilitating health conditions.

I wholeheartedly support umbilical stem cell research, but also support embryonic stem cell research. As anyone who suffers from diabetes, Parkinson's disease, ALS, or a host of other health problems knows, one possible treatment is the use of stem cells to help regrow the tissues affected by their ailments.

Scientists have stated that embryonic stem cells provide the best opportunity for devising unique treatments of these serious diseases since, unlike adult stem cells, they may be induced to develop into any type of cell. Adult stem cells are also problematic, as they are difficult to identify, purify and grow, and simply may not exist for certain diseased tissues that need to be replaced.

Please understand that I do not discount the promise of adult stem cell research or cord blood research, but I agree with the National Institutes of Health that we must carefully study all types of adult and embryonic stem cells. In their words, ``Given the enormous promise of stem cell therapies for so many devastating diseases, NIH believes that it is important to simultaneously pursue all lines of research.'' Our loved ones deserve science's best hope for the future.

Now, I want to say something. This is not about cloning. I oppose cloning of human beings. This is about the use of embryonic stem cells which would have been discarded anyway.

I want to repeat that. This is about the use of embryonic stem cells which would have been discarded anyway. It has been estimated that there are currently 400,000 frozen IVF embryos, which would be destroyed if they are not donated for research.

I would never condone the donation of embryos to science without the informed, written consent of donors and strict regulations prohibiting financial remuneration for potential donors. Our Nation's scientific research must adhere to the highest ethical standards. But it is important that we do embryonic stem cell research. We are falling behind other countries, and this is not what ought to be happening.

President Bush has limited Federal funding of stem cell research to only those stem cell lines that existed prior to August of 2001. But unfortunately, only 22 cell lines are available for study, which prevents scientists from having access to important genetic cell diversity. Simply put, if it continues, that would not be ethical. Please support both bills.