Howard L. Berman

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 145, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank the sponsor of this legislation, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for her leadership on this issue and for her work in addressing the North Korean threat.

Earlier this month, North Korea carried out a missile launch using ballistic missile technology in direct defiance of the international community. This important resolution condemns North Korea's launch, and it calls on the North to live up to its commitments, to adhere to its international obligations and to deal peacefully with its neighbors.

North Korea's missile launch is a blatant violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions 1718 and 1874, and we urge the Security Council to take strong and concerted action to demonstrate that Pyongyang's actions are completely unacceptable. In particular, we call on China and Russia to work constructively with other members of the Council to show that the international community is united in condemning North Korea's provocative behavior.

North Korea is only further isolating itself with its irresponsible action, and the development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons will never bring the real security and acceptance by the international community that the regime so desperately wants. Instead of pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into its so-called space program, nuclear programs, and massive military, North Korea should instead work to feed its own citizens and improve its dismal economy.

We must continue to remain vigilant in the face of North Korean provocations and fully committed to the security of our allies in the region, so I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3331, the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank Senator Kerry and my colleague from New Jersey, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Sires, for their hard work on this legislation.

This bill ensures American families adopting children will be protected from unethical and fraudulent practices by international adoption agencies. For years, conflicting country-by-country standards have plagued the international adoption process, causing harm to adoptive children and families.

The bill would expand accreditation standards to cover all international adoptions. Presently, those standards apply only to adoptions from countries that are parties to the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, known as the Hague Convention.

Accreditation standards help prevent the sale of children, thwart fraudulent financial practices, and ensure transparency in fees and the adoption process. They also encourage agencies to employ staff with professional qualifications and training.

This is a commonsense bill that should have been enacted long ago. Less than half of all families adopting internationally are protected by the Hague Adoption Convention process, and we want to make sure that we protect all families that open their homes and hearts to children in need of loving families. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I don't see the one individual who asked to join me in speaking on this, so I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in support of S. 2318. I want to join my chairman in commending the author of this legislation, Senator Kerry, and my friend and colleague, Ed Royce, the incoming chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who authored the House version of this bill and fought long and hard for it.

The chairman has described the legislation and the existing law. The bill makes two key changes in existing law. They're small, but they're very important modifications to the rewards program.

It would authorize payments for the arrest or conviction of those engaged in transnational criminal activity, including intellectual property, piracy, money laundering, trafficking in persons and arms trafficking.

Transnational organized crime poses a growing threat to U.S. economic and national security interests. According to U.N. estimates, these criminal enterprises generate hundreds of billions of dollars in illicit revenues every year. Expanding the rewards program to cover this activity is manifestly in our interest.

Second, this legislation would expand the universe of individuals targeted for their involvement in gross violations of international humanitarian law, including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. Specifically, this bill would cover all individuals indicted by international tribunals for violations of international humanitarian law, not just those indicted by the existing tribunals for Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and the former Yugoslavia. The change is strongly supported by the Departments of Defense and State.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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