Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the rule, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 5682) to exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 a proposed nuclear agreement for cooperation with India.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the conference report to H.R. 5682.

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

Mr. Speaker, the President has said that legislation to permit the establishment of civil nuclear trade with India is essential to establishing a new global partnership between the United States and India. The conference report before this House is the product of more than a year of effort by Members and staff of the House International Relations Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It is based on the separate bills passed overwhelmingly in the House and the Senate and preserves the key provisions of both.

The conferees believe that this report represents a judicious balancing of competing priorities that encompass a broad range of subjects from U.S. policy in South Asia to the highly technical and complex world of nuclear export licenses. It is the product of months of discussions with the administration regarding virtually every section, and the conferees have gone to great lengths to accommodate the administration on its issues of concern.

I would like to express my appreciation for the cooperation of the Committee on Science, the Judiciary, Energy, Government Reform, Armed Services and Rules in helping expedite

the consideration of this conference report. Their cooperation should not be interpreted as having any impact on their rights under the jurisdictional rules and precedents of the House.

I insert for the Record some correspondence related to this issue.

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, December 5, 2006.

Hon. Henry J. Hyde,

Chairman, Committee on International Relations, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Hyde: I write concerning H.R. 5682, the Henry

J. Hyde United States and India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion

Act of 2006, as amended. As you know, the Committee on Energy

and Commerce has jurisdiction over Title II of the amended

text.

I recognize your desire to bring this legislation before

the House in an expeditious manner. Accordingly, I will not

exercise my Committee's right to a full referral on the bill.

By agreeing to waive its consideration of the bill, however,

the Committee on Energy and Commerce does not waive its

jurisdiction over H.R. 5682.

Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Sincerely,

Joe Barton,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the incoming ranking Republican on the International Relations Committee, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Ackerman for a brilliant statement, as well as his cordial sentiments.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation, who has an awful lot to do with the ultimate product that we are voting on today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would ask Mr. Lantos if he needs some additional time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), if that will help, for purposes of control.

Mr. Speaker, I believe I have the right to close the debate, so I am reserving my time. I have no further requests, so I will close.

Mr. Speaker, the arguments that have been made so ably by the gentleman from Massachusetts have been anticipated and, in my judgment, well met by Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Crowley, Ms. Ros- Lehtinen, Mr. Royce, and others, so I will not consume the few moments we have left repeating them; suffice to say this is an excellent step forward. It recognizes the reality, the nuclear reality of India, and is a very progressive step. It is the conference report of the House bill and the Senate bill, both of which passed overwhelmingly, and so it is truly bipartisan and is something that ought to pass.

I would like to take this final opportunity to express, inadequately, I am afraid, my respect and admiration for Mr. Lantos. I congratulate the Democratic Party in selecting him to head the International Relations Committee, because foreign policy is going to be critical in the coming months and the coming years, and the Congress could not be in better hands in that area than it is with Mr. Lantos as chairman of the committee. He brings a grasp of history that is unequaled because he has lived through so much of it, as well as studied with high scholarship. So it is an honor and privilege and experience and an adventure to have served with him for so long and learned so much about foreign policy at his hand.

I also want to say the staffs, both the Democratic and Republican staffs, are superior people.

In Camelot, King Arthur once said we are all of us tiny drops in a vast ocean, but some of them sparkle. Well, we have a lot of sparklers who are staffs of both Republicans and Democrats. Mr. Mooney, Tom Mooney, who is not only my friend and my chief of staff, but a brilliant administrator and student of foreign policy, has been especially helpful. I couldn't begin to express my appreciation to him.

Horace Mann, a great educator, once said a man should be ashamed to die until he has won some victory for humanity. I think every Member of Congress attains a victory for humanity every time Congress is in session and a vote is cast. Democracy is more than simply a set of rules as to how we elect people or how we litigate against each other; it ascribes individual worth to every human being, every member of the human family, and you in Congress are custodians of democracy. That is a very high calling.

To be in Washington as a representative of well over half a million people and to stand in the shadow of Jefferson and Lincoln and Washington is no small thing. I am proud to have had the honor and the privilege to serve with so many people who are so dedicated to the success and the flourishing of this great country.

I thank God for each one of you. My wish is that you all live to be a thousand years old and the last voice you hear will be mine.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 5682) to exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 a proposed nuclear agreement for cooperation with India, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.

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

Mr. Speaker, the administration has strongly requested that the conferees remove from the conference report Senator Harkin's amendment regarding Iran. This motion would instruct the House conferees to ensure that that language was retained in the conference report. This is one item that well-meaning Members can honorably dispute. But there is not enough time remaining to delay passage of this conference report. Therefore, I have no objection to the motion.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of a young friend of mine, Matthew

Vernon Purbaugh. While Matthew does not reside in my district, he and I share a great love of the English language and a great respect of words in general.

Matthew Purbaugh is an amateur published poet; his poem ``Noon'' appeared in the International Society of Poets' 2006 edition. He was awarded ``Outstanding Achievement in Poetry'' and Best Amateur Poet. Matthew was recently invited to submit a new work for ``Who's Who in American Poetry.''

I share his poem ``Words'' with you today.

Words

What is it in a word

That

Can Stir the heart of men

To bring them to do great and

Courageous deeds.?

What is it about words.

That,

Let them have the power

To topple empires of stone and steel?

What is it about words,

That,

Let them have the power

To topple empires of stone and steel?

What is it about words,

That

Let them go deeper than the strongest bullet?

What is it about words,

That

Let them hold sway over men

More than their fate

More than the point of a gun?

What is in words?

That

Lets something we have created

Hold sway over us, more than,

Our deepest fears?

And our greatest, Driving Desires?

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Villa Park Police Department under the direction of Village President Joyce

Stupegia and Chief of Police John J. Payne. The Department is constantly working to find ways to improve the level of service and renew their commitment to be better prepared to handle both manmade and natural emergencies that may arise. The September 11, 2001 attack on New York, as well as other attacks both here and abroad since then, demand that we prepare ourselves for emergency response levels that we had not previously thought necessary.

The outcome of this self-evaluation and the efforts to improve and enhance traditional police service for the community has resulted in many significant accomplishments. These changes have been implemented to create safer neighborhoods and build a more informed and involved public. A number of the community programs were made possible as a result of obtaining various State and Federal grant monies. The Police Department has been fortunate in this, as a number of these programs would not have been possible without these grant programs.

Listed below is a summary of programs that highlight what they have been working on during the last 2 years to develop useful, community orientated law enforcement programs that are relevant to the needs of the community. The members of the department have worked hard as a group to not only put these programs together, but also to see that they remain successful in their continued implementation.

Expansion of the Citizens Police Academy (CPA)--They have enhanced the academy by enrolling citizen graduates into an alumni association that receives ongoing law enforcement educational presentations.

Establishment of a Citizens Voluntary Emergency Response Team--This program educates graduates of our citizen police academy in disaster preparedness, training them in basic disaster response skills. They then have the opportunity to join a roster of volunteers that can be called upon to assist the police department as the need arises.

I.D.O.T. Mini-Alcohol Influence Grant--Received a grant in the amount of $28,000, which allowed the department to substantially increase their enforcement efforts of the impaired driver that included public awareness education as well.

School Emergency Response Plans--Established a working forum to include the police department and all school districts located in Villa Park to establish uniform protocols to follow in case of emergencies.

Inter-operable Communications--Enhanced our inter-communications capability with local schools through radio installations at the local schools allowing for direct contact with patrol officers, as well as with surrounding area police agencies.

School Mentoring Program--Officers volunteered their time to participate in school sponsored mentoring programs to establish better relationships with school age individuals and open up better lines of communication.

National Incident Management System (NIMS)--Completed NIMS training at various levels to be better prepared for the coordinated efforts needed during times of emergency and disasters.

Cultural Sensitivity and Awareness--Provided training to all members of the Police Department to better equip them when interacting with individuals of different cultures.

Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS)--Became members of ILEAS, which is a state wide mutual aid/response system to provide assistance when needed. It was through this program that we sent two officers, a vehicle, and equipment/supplies to assist in Louisiana for two weeks during the Katrina Hurricane aftermath.

Tactical Weapon Acquisitions--Established membership with the Federal LESO surplus equipment acquisition program resulting in being able to upgrade tactical weapons at no cost, allowing for improved emergency response capability by our patrol officers.

Landlord Training Seminars--Established landlord training seminars to better educate landlords in the management of their property. This contributed to the reduction of gang and drug related incidents, and provided landlords with additional resources to improve the upkeep of the properties.

Operation Prom Night--Developed program Operation Prom Night, being an educational presentation; including graphic recreations of accidents to illustrate to high school level students the dangers of drinking and driving.

Senior and Law Enforcement Together (SALT) Group and the Elderly Service Officers Program--The department meets regularly with community seniors to address issues pertinent to senior citizens and continue to educate them as to the scams and dangers that are often directed toward their age group. They also maintain a unit of Elderly Services Officers that involves a select group of specially trained, state certified officers to assist our elderly community. It has a number of facets related to education, crime investigations, service referrals, and well being checks.

IDOT Extra Enforcement Efforts--The Department has been recognized by IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) on numerous occasions for our enforcement efforts to increase the use of passenger restraint systems in vehicles via the Click it or Ticket Campaigns and Seatbelt Enforcement Zones. The department received a $5,000 grant to aid us in this enforcement.

Public Education and Enforcement Research Program (PEERS)--Successful application for grant monies of $32,000 allowed for increased education and enforcement efforts to reduce the frequency of train and pedestrian accidents. The Police Department has been recognized as being a leader in our efforts to reduce the frequency of these types of accidents. Prior to this year the department developed and implemented this program without grant money assistance.

Radio Inter-operability Enhancement Radio Grant--Participated in a competitive grant process which provided the department $40,000 to obtain radio equipment to enhance our radio communications capabilities with other first responder agencies.

Illinois Traffic Safety Challenge Award Recipient--The Villa Park Police Department was recently recognized for its efforts in addressing traffic safety issues by the Illinois Chiefs of Police Association. The department achieved first place in the 26 to 50 sworn officers' category in this highly competitive program. They were also recognized with the prestigious President's Award, which recognizes the best overall agency in the state.

Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists Award (AAIM)--The Department has been recently recognized by AAIM for its impaired driver's enforcement efforts and was the recipient of the Guardian Award. This award is to recognize the highest DUI arrest rate per officer in the state. We have received awards from AAIM consistently for a number of years now.

Roadside Safety Checks--As a part of their traffic safety efforts the Police Department operates Roadside Safety Checks in Villa Park and assists surrounding law enforcement in their safety checks. These are conducted randomly throughout each year.

Child Safety Seat Education Program--The department conducts child safety seat inspections/installations any time a request is made as well through roadside drive-through operations. The officers that manage this program have specific state certification training. This program includes a means to provide seats for those parents that can not afford one.

Night Vision Grant--Obtained a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, in the amount of $6,000, to acquire night vision equipment to enhance enforcement efforts during times of darkness.

Operation 64--The department works regularly with a number of police departments to provide for a coordinated traffic enforcement plan throughout an 11 mile stretch of highway in efforts to reduce the high traffic accident rate.

Mobile Command Center--Acquired a Mobile Command Center through the federal LESO Program surplus acquisition program to provide enhanced emergency responses, and community event operations.

D.A.R.E.--The department has one full time D.A.R.E. program certified officer. D.A.R.E. is a program that we have been very committed to since its inception in 1987 that teaches the dangers of drugs and alcohol to school age children.

Gang Resistance Education and Training Grant (G.R.E.A.T.)--They successfully applied for a grant in the amount of $7,800, which helps them to maintain their longstanding G.R.E.A.T. program providing increased education efforts to assist in reducing gang violence in the community.

Juvenile/Parent Traffic Notification--They are in the process of developing a parental notification system where if a minor (under 18 years of age) receives a traffic ticket, his/her parents are notified of this by certified mail.

NIPAS (Northern Illinois Police Alarm Service)--Unit is comprised of 99 adjoining communities; including Villa Park, that provide highly trained emergency service teams as well as specially trained officers to respond to civil disorders and disasters.

Railroad Safety--The department has initiated Operation Lifesaver. This provides Certified Instructors that teach a recognized course of instruction in the local school districts as well as working with public interest groups. The plan includes enforcement of railroad right-of-way trespass and gate crossing violations.

CIT--Crisis Intervention Teams--They are presently working with Mental Illness health provider groups to formally train selected officers of the department in the handling of mentally disturbed individuals. They will work as a team with the local mental health providers to improve our capabilities in recognizing and handling these types of calls.

Neighborhood Watch Groups--The department has officers assigned to assist residents to set up and maintain neighborhood watch

groups. A large part of the village now has neighborhood watch groups. Their goal is to have a group that every resident can be a part of. These watch groups act as the eyes and ears of their neighbors and the police. This allows them to meet regularly with representatives of the neighborhood to maintain open lines of communication.

Truck Enforcement--One full time officer enforces the laws regarding 2nd Division truck violations.

Major Traffic Crash Investigators--Consists of a team of highly trained officers, who received certification training through Northwestern University Traffic Institute. They are available 24 hours a day for call-out to conduct in-depth investigations on all serious personal injury and fatality crashes.

Major Crimes Task Force--They are a participating member of this multi jurisdictional task force that investigates all major crimes committed within the participant's jurisdictions.

Arson Investigation Unit--Created an Arson Investigation Unit within the police department, consisting of a state certified arson investigator. This unit also participates in a county wide arson task force.

Saved by the Belt Awards--The department recognizes citizens, who are involved in serious traffic accidents, who otherwise might have lost their lives if they had not been wearing their seatbelts.

Community Cultural Program--Local students, whose artwork is considered exceptional, can display their art in public surroundings.

Bulletproof Vest Partnership--The $2,500 competitive federal grant program provided funds to assist in the purchase of bulletproof vests for Law Enforcement Officers.

Tobacco Compliance Check Program--The department was awarded a grant in the amount of $4,290 from the Illinois Liquor Control Commission's Tobacco Program to assist them in policing the sale of tobacco products to minors.

Willowbrook High School Liaison Officer--The department assigns a full time officer to the high school to work directly, on a daily basis, with school administrators and students.

Automated External Defibrillator--The department purchased automated external defibrillators that are utilized on patrol by all officers. These officers are trained in the AED's use and respond to all potential medical emergencies that have the potential for the need of this device.

School Bus Safety Plan--This program has officers randomly follow school buses along their routes taking enforcement action on vehicles that pass in violation of the bus's warning signs. Also, upon receiving vehicle information from school bus drivers on these violations, warning letters are sent out to the vehicles owners.

The Police Department has been both proactive as well as reactive in their efforts to maintain a safe community through both education and enforcement. They are now better prepared to handle emergencies, both man-made and natural, but their work is not done. They will continue to search out new and innovative ways to provide quality services to the residents of Villa Park. While they are proud of these programs and accomplishments, they remain cognizant of the dedication of the many officers that daily provide traditional patrol and investigative services to the Village of Villa Park, Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, on September 19, 2006, I was absent for votes for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted: Vote No. 451, H. Con. Res. 210 Supporting Elimination of Cancer by 2015, ``yea''; Vote No. 452, H. Res. 622 Honoring Filipino World War II Veterans, ``yea''; Vote No. 453, H. Con. Res. 415 Condemning the Repression of the Iranian Baha'i Community, ``yea.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Ehlers. I appreciate your warm, gracious words.

There is a story that goes around in my hometown, Chicago. It says, Bury me when I die in Chicago because I want to stay active in politics after I am gone. This is not the problem we face here, but I thought I would mention that anyway.

I rise in support of H.R. 4844, the Federal Election Integrity Act of 2006, because the election system is the bedrock that our Republic is built on and its security and oversight is of paramount concern. The Constitution places the responsibility within this House to certify Federal elections, and we ``may at any time by law make or alter such regulations.''

It is the law that only U.S. citizens have the right to vote in Federal elections, but our current system does not give State election officials the tools they need to ensure that this requirement is being met, which is why I have introduced this bill.

This bill will help election officials ensure accuracy at the polls on election day. It amends Public Law 103-31, popularly known as the ``motor-voter bill,'' to require voters to show a current official photo ID obtained with proof of their U.S. citizenship before voting. This bill's requirements will extend nationwide for all Federal elections.

H.R. 4844's provisions take effect gradually, allowing voters time to adjust. In 2008, voters will have to show a current official photo ID, and in 2010, they will have to display a photo ID that was obtained by providing proof of their U.S. citizenship. A voter who forgets his ID on election day will be allowed to cast a provisional ballot and will have 48 hours to present an ID to an election official to validate the ballot. Furthermore, and this is so important, voters who cannot afford an ID will be issued a free ID at no cost. That is some kind of poll tax when somebody else pays for it. That is my kind of tax. Funds will be appropriated, they are contemplated by this legislation, to assist States in implementing the providing of a free ID.

Opponents argue requiring a photo ID backed by proof of citizenship erects obstacles to citizen participation. That is certainly not true. This bill is designed to increase participation by ensuring that each legitimate vote will be counted and not be diluted by fraud.

There are many elections in this country every cycle that are decided by just a handful of votes. How can we be certain that these elections, without measures to certify the identity of voters, are not being decided by fraudulent votes?

Opponents often claim that requiring a photo ID is a solution in search of a problem. This argument is erroneous because election officials cannot determine if a problem exists because they do not have the tools to verify voters' identities on election day, nor when they register.

Our laws operate largely on trust, trust that voters are truthful in checking a box certifying that they are U.S. citizens. No documentation is required. Under the current law, all you need to establish your identity when registering to vote by mail is a utility bill or bank statement, documents easily forged and which do not give any indication of citizenship.

Our election system is too important to be safeguarded by mere honesty alone. We must have verification.

Opponents claim that there are strict punishments already in place to deter voter fraud. I agree there are sanctions in place, but they are toothless measures when election officials do not have the tools they need to concretely establish a voter's identity on election day.

Broad popular support exists for this bill. Photo IDs were called for in the 2005 report issued by the bipartisan Commission on Federal Election Reform.

Many States have recognized voter fraud is a problem and passed photo ID laws as protective measures. Arizona

voters recently passed a law requiring valid photo IDs for elections, and 22 States have implemented laws that require all voters to show identification when casting a ballot.

Let me summarize by saying our voting rights were won by Americans who were willing to lay down their lives for the freedom to elect our representatives, and it is our duty to safeguard that freedom. If we do not, our elections become meaningless.

This bill upholds the integrity of this election system for everybody.

Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea is scheduled to visit the United States from September 12-15, 2006, for a summit meeting with President George W. Bush. After meetings in Washington with President Bush and Members of the Congressional Leadership, President Roh will travel to San Francisco.

Mr. Speaker, recently I had the privilege of visiting South Korea and meeting with President Roh and other Korean officials, as well as with U.S. soldiers and members of the diplomatic community. The Korean people treated us with a warmth and hospitality, for which I am deeply grateful.

While in South Korea, I had an opportunity to lay a wreath in tribute to GEN Douglas MacArthur at his statue at Incheon harbor. The statue was erected by the citizens of the city of Incheon to commemorate the General's vital leadership during the Korean war, including his implementation of the daring landing at Incheon in the darkest days of the Korean war. In his farewell address before this Congress in 1951, General MacArthur said:

``Of the nations of the world, Korea alone, up to now, is the sole one which has risked its all against communism. The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the Korean people defies description. They have chosen to risk death rather than slavery.''

Korea and the United States have been allies and friends for more than half a century. Our economic ties are strong. With a per capita income of $14,162, South Korea is the world's eleventh-largest economy and the seventh largest trading partner of the United States, with a trade volume amounting to over $72 billion each year. The United States and South Korea are currently engaged in negotiations that will lead to a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which will further solidify and expand U.S.-Korean economic ties.

With a population of well over 1 million, the Korean-American community has become, in the past century, a vital and important part of the American mosaic. The greater Los Angeles area, with its vibrant Korean-American community, is now one of the world's centers of Korean culture. But Korean-Americans are not only found in California. From Hawaii, east to New York, and from Alaska down to Florida, Korean- Americans are making a critical contribution to the United States in such diverse fields as medicine, education, science, engineering, martial arts, small business enterprises, entrepreneurship, music and the fine arts. America has been enriched by the Korean-American community's many contributions, and its existence has bonded us even closer to the Korean peninsula across the Pacific.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the United States is also a popular destination for travelers from South Korea, whether they are coming here to visit their family members who have become part of the American community, attending U.S. colleges and universities, or meeting with business colleagues in the pursuit of greater trade and investment.

The U.S. consular section at our Embassy in Seoul is the busiest non- immigrant visa issuing post in the world, processing between 1,800 and 2,000 visa applications each day. It is clear that South Koreans want to visit the United States, and they have good reasons for doing so.

There are currently efforts underway to bring South Korea under the umbrella of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which already applies to 27 other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Japan. This program, established in 1986 with the objective of promoting better relations with U.S. allies, also eliminates unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulates the tourism industry, and permits the U.S. Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas.

The South Korean government has made it clear that it intends to meet all of the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Visa Waiver Program. Seoul is working with the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State in a diligent fashion to make sure that relevant South Korean governmental agencies have implemented the most up-to-date passport controls, using biometric and other technologies to prevent fraud and abuse. Mr. Speaker, I am almost certain that the Republic of Korea's entry into the Visa Waiver Program will be one of the topics discussed by President Roh and President Bush during their summit meeting this month.

There are, of course, other issues that certainly will be discussed at the White House by

President Bush and President Roh, including the free trade negotiations, North Korean nuclear weapons development, and South Korea's active participation in the global War on Terrorism and its contributions to the war effort in Iraq. The United States and South Korea have enjoyed a long and productive alliance, which, based on blood ties forged in the Korean War, will deepen into the indefinite future.

The frequent meetings of U.S. and Korean leaders are a clear manifestation of the close relationship shared by our two countries. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to welcome the President of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, to the United States as he visits Washington, D.C. and the Golden State of California. I invite all Members of the House to join me in offering President Roh our best wishes and hospitality as he visits our Nation's Capital.

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

It has been 5 years since the world watched the impossible happen, and yet it is difficult to believe that the days and months have passed so quickly. The calendar's relentless progress gradually consigns all mortal events to the past, whether tragedies or triumphs. But we would deceive ourselves were we to believe that the consequences of those events will fade as well, for we will continue to live with them all of our lives.

Modern communications have brought us many new and wonderful things, but they have also made possible the communal experience of tragedy. In this new age, distance will no longer spare us, nor can an absence of personal ties insulate us from sorrow. All who witnessed the events of September 11 still bear the scars of seeing inconceivable images and impossible events unfold in real time. But our own experiences, however painful, can't compare with those of the innocents who bore the horror directly, nor with those of their families and friends who were suddenly and violently severed from their former lives and from the touch of those deeply loved.

We Americans are practical. Instead of resigning ourselves to the difficulties of life, we instinctively seek to identify problems in order to focus our efforts and move towards solutions. And over the past 5 years we have done so. We have come to know our enemies and direct our determination and resources to uncovering their hiding places and their plans. We are deeply engaged in designing and implementing measures to destroy their ability to harm us. The challenge is an entirely new one for us, but one which gains in clarity with each day. I hope all of us now are aware that in addition to our successes, we must prepare for the likelihood of failures in a struggle that may have no end.

By infusing purpose, action can thus fill many voids. But the need remains to understand what happened and to comprehend the meaning of the events of that day. Here, words give way to silence, for reflection is the predicate to understanding.

Our modern rational world once promised, in time, to reveal all secrets to us. But can we still cling to that belief now that we have been confronted with things we thought long past, vanquished and erased from the world by reason and light?

The modern world has seen many efforts to eliminate God from our lives, but we have not been able to eliminate evil. The last century was unparalleled in human history in its celebration of the savagery that human beings can wreak upon one another. We had hoped that we might escape that fate in this century, but now we know that we will not. We have been forcibly awakened from our dreams of an earthly heaven by the bitter knowledge that evil still roams freely in our world.

We can't allow ourselves to be paralyzed with despair or fear, but neither can we permit our natural optimism to shield us from the realities of the world. If there is any useful thing to be drawn from this terrible experience, it is that we have been given an unmistakable warning that in this new century unknown and fearsome challenges await us, challenges that will impose the severest tests on our national character.

Knowing this, we have a duty to prepare ourselves to defend not only lives and those of our children, not only our beloved country, not even our freedoms, but civilization itself.

We are Rome, beset by new barbarians who are driven and sustained by their savage hatred of us, of our happiness and our success of the promise America represents for the world. For our enemies have no aim but destruction. Nothing to offer but a forced march back to a bleak and dismal past. Theirs is a world without light, their all- encompassing hatred a repudiation of any saving grace. Their victory would impose a new Dark Age. But this time, perhaps an endless one. They are enemies of the future itself.

As we resolve ourselves to our task, as we grieve for all those linked to us by tragedy, we may also see ourselves more truly and thereby understand that our great strengths are interwoven with many fragile things. The threats we face have given us a greater sense of how rare and wonderful is the world we have made, and of our responsibility to protect it from the storms outside. For we need but shield our eyes, lay down our burden, and it will vanish into air, a world in which those we remember today were once allowed to be innocents.

It is for these reasons that we remember our 3,000 fellow citizens who, asking nothing other than to live their lives in peace, were brutally murdered by men without conscience or mercy. We remember because, in Lincoln's phrase, ``the mystic chords of memory'' forever bind us to the victims and the heroes of September 11 and to all Americans, from the honored past to the living present. We remember because to forget them would be to betray our own selves and our duty to the generations to come.

May those who died in the attacks of September 11, 2001, rest in the mercy of God. May those of us who remain be steadfast, courageous, and live lives worthy of their great sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McHenry).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon).

Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, President Roh Moo-hyun of the Republic of Korea is scheduled to visit the United States from September 12 to 15, 2006, for a summit meeting with President George W. Bush. After meetings in Washington with President Bush and Members of the congressional leadership, President Roh will travel to San Francisco.

Mr. Speaker, recently I had the privilege of visiting South Korea and meeting with President Roh and other Korean officials, as well as with U.S. soldiers and members of the diplomatic community. The Korean people treated us with warmth and hospitality, for which I am deeply grateful.

While in South Korea, I had an opportunity to lay a wreath in tribute to GEN Douglas MacArthur at his statue at Incheon harbor. The statue was erected by the citizens of the City of Incheon to commemorate the General's vital leadership during the Korean war, including his implementation of the daring landing at Incheon in the darkest days of the Korean War. In his farewell address before this Congress in 1951, General MacArthur said: ``Of the nations of the world, Korea alone, up to now, is the sole one which has risked its all against communism. The magnificence of the courage and fortitude of the Korean people defies description. They have chosen to risk death rather than slavery.''

Korea and the United States have been allies and friends for more than half a century. Our economic ties are strong. With a per capita income of $14,162, South Korea is the world's 11th-largest economy and the 7th largest trading partner of the United States, with a trade volume amounting to over $72 billion each year. The United States and South Korea are currently engaged in negotiations that will lead to a U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement, which will further solidify and expand U.S.-Korean economic ties.

With a population of well over one million, the Korean-American community has become, in the past century, a vital and important part of the American mosaic. The greater Los Angeles area, with its vibrant Korean-American community, is now one of the world's centers of Korean culture. But Korean-Americans are not only found in California. From Hawaii, east to New York, and from Alaska down to Florida, Korean- Americans are making a critical contribution to the United States in such diverse fields as medicine, education, science, engineering, martial arts, small business enterprises, entrepreneurship, music and the fine arts. America has been enriched by the Korean-American community's many contributions, and its existence has bonded us even closer to the Korean peninsula across the Pacific.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the United States is also a popular destination for travelers from South Korea, whether they are coming here to visit their family members who have become part of the American community, attending U.S. colleges and universities, or meeting with business colleagues in the pursuit of greater trade and investment.

The U.S. consular section at our embassy in Seoul is the busiest non- immigrant visa issuing post in the world, processing between 1,800 and 2,000 visa applications each day. It is clear that South Koreans want to visit the United States, and they have good reasons for doing so.

There are currently efforts underway to bring South Korea under the umbrella of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which already applies to 27 other countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Japan. This program, established in 1986 with the objective of promoting better relations with U.S. allies, also eliminates unnecessary barriers to travel, stimulates the tourism industry, and permits the U.S. Department of State to focus consular resources in other areas.

The South Korean Government has made it clear that it intends to meet all of the statutory and regulatory requirements of the Visa Waiver Program. Seoul is working with the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State in a diligent fashion to make sure that relevant South Korean governmental agencies have implemented the most up-to-date passport controls, using biometric and other technologies to prevent fraud and abuse. Mr. Speaker, I am almost certain that the Republic of Korea's entry into the Visa Waiver Program will be one of the topics discussed by President Roh and President Bush during their summit meeting this month.

There are, of course, other issues that certainly will be discussed at the White House by President Bush and President Roh, including the free trade negotiations, North Korean nuclear weapons development, and South Korea's active participation in the global war on terrorism and its contributions to the war effort in Iraq. The United States and South Korea have enjoyed a long and productive alliance, which, based on blood ties forged in the Korean war, will deepen into the indefinite future.

The frequent meetings of U.S. and Korean leaders are a clear manifestation of the close relationship shared by our two countries. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, let me take this opportunity to welcome the president of the Republic of Korea, Roh Moo-hyun, to the United States as he visits Washington, DC, and the golden State of California. I invite all Members of the House to join me in offering President Roh our best wishes and hospitality as he visits our Nation's Capital.

Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to congratulate The Hospitality and Information Service, THIS, of Washington, DC, on its 45th anniversary. Since 1961, THIS volunteers have welcomed diplomats and their families to Washington, providing friendship, assistance and an understanding of Washington and the United States.

THIS was organized in 1961 at the suggestion of Angie Biddle, then Chief of Protocol, to help the hundreds of newly arrived diplomats and their families adjust to Washington. THIS is a private, 501(c)(3) non- profit volunteer organization that receives financial support from its volunteers, the Meridian International Center, and corporations. Its sponsors include members of the President's Cabinet or their spouses, and the spouse of the Mayor of the District of Columbia.

In 1961, there were 101 embassies with 1,200 diplomatic families. Today, embassies total more than 170, with 4,000 diplomats and families in Washington. The 400 volunteers of THIS provide a variety of services and programs to help diplomats and their families

learn about Washington through English and seven foreign conversation groups and a book club. Programs include forums for discussion of issues that are worldwide in scope, such as health, human rights and education. We also have programs on government affairs, performing arts, art and architecture, and American history, among others.

In today's difficult world, THIS is a beacon of light, holding out the arm of friendship without expecting anything in return. THIS has made a difference in the lives of so many diplomats, and I would like to share with you a few comments from some grateful recipients:

``THIS has enriched my stay in the United States by enhancing my fundamental understanding of the culture and society.''--Pakistan

``I would like to thank THIS for the wonderful work that you do and for your warm and friendly attention.''--Miriam Barak, Israel

``I express both my pleasure and my gratitude to the THIS organization as a whole. THIS is a wonderful vehicle by which the best of America is portrayed. Such an organization can only be an influential force for good.''--Ann Robinson, Great Britain

``THIS is a fantastic organization. It makes me feel very welcomed and comfortable . . . THIS has given me a better understanding of U.S. life and society and also has given me some new good American friends.''--Ingela Beiming, Sweden

``THIS is a window that opens Washington for us and lets us experience and know it. It opens opportunities to meet different people.''--Marilia Bulhoes, Brazil

Congratulations, THIS, on 45 splendid years. May you enjoy many more.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill, H.R. 5682.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 5682, the U.S.- India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act of 2006, which the Committee on International Relations ordered reported by a vote of 37-5 on June 28. This, therefore, is truly a bipartisan effort.

This bill is based on the administration's original proposal, H.R. 4974, which Mr. Lantos and I introduced last fall at the request of Secretary Rice. Current law does not permit civil nuclear trade with India. That legislation would have authorized the President to waive a number of provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, to allow him to negotiate an agreement establishing civil nuclear cooperation with India.

This agreement will permit the U.S. to sell technology to India for nuclear power development. In return, India will open up for inspection its civilian nuclear program to international inspections and also agree not to test nuclear weapons and abide by nuclear export controls.

H.R. 5682 takes the President's bill as a starting point and amends it in several key ways. The most important of these is that the process of congressional consideration has been reversed, meaning that the agreement cannot go into effect unless Congress approves it. This seemingly small change actually has great ramifications for the role of Congress as it ensures that we will retain a substantive role in the negotiation and implementation of this historic and far-reaching agreement.

Other major improvements in this bill include strengthening the conditions which the President must certify. The original, vague generalities have been made more specific and require a number of conditions to have already been met instead of being open-ended. The most important of these include:

That India has provided the United States and the International Atomic Energy Agency with a credible plan to separate its civilian and military facilities;

India has concluded a safeguards agreement with the IAEA regarding its civilian nuclear facilities;

India and the IAEA are making ``substantial progress'' toward concluding an Additional Protocol, which is a set of enhanced safeguards and inspection measures that the United States is urging all countries to negotiate for themselves;

India and the United States are working toward a multilateral Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty;

India is working with the United States to prevent the spread of enrichment and reprocessing technology;

India is taking steps to secure its nuclear and other sensitive materials and technology through enhanced export control legislation and harmonizing its export control laws, regulations and procedures with international standards; and the Nuclear Suppliers Group, also known as the NSG, has voted to change its guidelines to allow civil nuclear trade with India.

As many of you know, the NSG is a voluntary group of countries that export nuclear materials and technology and that coordinate their export policies regarding other countries. Currently, those guidelines do not permit nuclear trade with India.

In addition, the legislation requires detailed annual reports on the implementation of the U.S.-India agreement and on U.S. nonproliferation policy with respect to South Asia. There are also sections on Sense of Congress and Statements of Policy that, although containing many useful provisions, I will not take the time to describe in detail now.

Taken together, the committee believes that this bill represents a judicious balancing of competing priorities and will help lay the foundation for an historic rapprochement between the United States and India, while also protecting the global nonproliferation regime.

Having described the major components of the bill, let me take a brief moment to address some of the arguments made by supporters and opponents.

I have yet to hear any objection raised by any Member regarding the desirability of improving U.S.-India relations in general. She is the largest democracy in the world, with 1.1 billion people.

The announcement on July 18 of last year by President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Singh of a new global partnership between our two countries has been almost universally praised in this country and is rightly regarded as an historic achievement and one that is long overdue.

That partnership embraces many elements, from combating the AIDS epidemic to collaboration on scientific research to closer cooperation and ensuring stability in South Asia and other regions. Among other benefits, the agreement on nuclear cooperation that this bill will make possible will help India address its pressing energy needs by allowing it to build several nuclear reactors to supply electricity and lessening the need for petroleum.

A major argument in favor, however, is that a closer relationship with India is needed to offset the rising power of China. There is much to this view, and it is clear that the U.S. will need to draw upon new resources to handle the challenges of this new century.

In the end, this is a good deal for both the U.S. and India. While the world has known that India possesses nuclear weapons, India has not had a seat at the table of nuclear stakeholders. The agreement calls for the U.S. to sell technology to India for nuclear power development. In return, India will open its 14 civilian nuclear reactors to international inspections, agree not to test nuclear weapons and abide by nuclear export controls. This brings India into the mainstream with other accountable countries, giving rise to the same benefits and responsibilities as such other countries.

It is important to note that this deal would improve international nuclear security and at the same time expand relations between the U.S. and one of the most important emerging nations in the world. It will enable India to make energy cheaper, cleaner and more accountable. It would create more customers for U.S. firms and, in the end, both countries will benefit.

I urge support of this important legislation.

I want to acknowledge the indispensable collaboration of Mr. Lantos and his marvelous staff, matched only in talent and zeal by my marvelous staff. This is truly a product of very desirable bipartisanship, and I thank them and salute them for their contribution.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).

Mr. Chairman, this is a killer amendment. If you vote for it, you vote to kill this entire initiative, because this imposes limits on India's nuclear weapons program, but India already possesses nuclear weapons and is extremely unlikely to give them up. Recognizing this fact is recognizing reality.

This is a restriction imposed by the Sherman amendment that we impose on no other nuclear power, with the exception of North Korea, which may have nuclear weapons. This, as I have said, is a deal killer. Both India has said so and the administration has said so, and a vote for this amendment is a vote to kill the agreement.

So, with respect, I urge defeat of this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I announce my difficulty in opposing my good

friends, Mr. Berman and Mrs. Tauscher. They are both very learned in this field.

However, this amendment is very similar to Mr. Sherman's amendment and should be defeated for virtually the same reasons. India already possesses nuclear weapons, and is very unlikely to dispose of them or be divested of them.

This is a restriction that the U.S. imposes on no other nuclear power. Therefore, instead of proliferating good will it would proliferate bad will to impose this on India.

This is the proverbial deal killer, as the Sherman amendment was. A vote for this amendment is a vote to kill the agreement even if the bill passes. So, with considerable regret I must urge the defeat of this amendment

I was simply going to suggest to my good friend, Mr. Berman, that while you are looking for patterns of conduct, think of the Libya example. Mr. Khadaffi might just turn in all their weapons. That is entirely possible.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 384 on the Watt amendment, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

personal explanation

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 921) condemning the recent attacks against the State of Israel, holding terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for such attacks, supporting Israel's right to defend itself, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the time for debate on this measure be extended for 80 additional minutes to be equally divided.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 30 minutes of my time to the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and I ask unanimous consent that he may be permitted to control that time.

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 such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the world is witnessing yet another violent episode in the global struggle between civilization and terror.

The cowardly and deadly attacks on Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah have resulted in a vigorous response by Israel. We shouldn't be surprised. A history of precarious existence in a violent region has persuaded most Israelis that wishful thinking carries deadly costs and has convinced them that their survival depends upon their own willingness to act. And so Israel has acted.

As a result, Israel is now the subject of criticism around the world. The standard condemnations will be uttered, the familiar demands expressed. Israel will once again be excoriated for self-defense by governments that cannot be bothered to assist others or which are even the sources of threats themselves.

Instead of offering help to halt these terrorist attacks, too many of the world's governments will yet again demonstrate their irrelevance to the region's problems or to any possible solution by restricting their contributions to making disparaging comments from the sidelines. We can be certain that terrorism writ large is likely to be verbally assaulted. But were verbal disapprovals as deadly a weapon as are missiles and bombs, the violence and slaughter that are the chosen instruments of the terrorists would be quickly eliminated.

At best, a moral equivalence between the terrorist attacks and Israel's response will be asserted. But it is profoundly immoral to equate assault with defense, to erase the bright line between the deliberate killing of innocents and a determination to protect those innocents.

Were we in the position of the Israelis, how would we ourselves react if missiles were launched from Cuba and rained down on Miami? Any government that would allow terrorists to attack its citizens and do nothing in response but protest or beg for mercy would betray its most sacred trust.

Instead, we should take encouragement from Israel's courageous example and hope that others sleeping in their protective cocoons awake and finally see that this conflict holds enormous stakes for us all. Israel must win its battle against terrorism, or we all will lose.

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

Mr. Speaker, on June 27 and 28, 2006, I was absent for several votes for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted: Vote Nos. 319, ``yes''; 320, ``yes''; 321, ``yes''; 326, ``no''; 327, ``no''; 328, ``no''; 329, ``yes''; 330, ``no''; 331, ``no''; 332, ``no''; 333, ``no''; 334, ``no''; 335, ``no''; 336, ``no''; 337, ``no''; 338, ``no''; 339, ``no''; 340, ``no''; 341, ``no''; 342, ``no''; 343, ``no''; 344, ``no''; 345, ``no''; 346, ``no.''