Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 151) expressing the sense of Congress that China release democratic activist Liu Xiaobo from imprisonment, as amended.

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

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

This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that China should immediately release democratic activist Liu Xiaobo from prison. I would like to thank my friend Mr. Minnick of Idaho for sponsoring this important resolution that allows Congress to stand in solidarity with Mr. Liu and to express support for the democratic ideals he is fighting for.

Last December, Chinese police hauled away Mr. Liu, a writer, former university professor, and a veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen protests just hours after the circulation of an online petition he helped organize. Called Charter 08, this petition calls for greater development of human rights and reform of the Chinese political system.

Charter 08 has more than 300 original signers, representing a broad cross-section of Chinese society, including not only dissidents and public intellectuals, but also workers, farmers, entrepreneurs, professionals, local officials, and others. The petition was circulated widely online and accumulated more than 8,000 signatures throughout China before the Chinese Government shut down the Web site.

Charter 08 was conceived and written in conscious admiration of Charter 77, a document issued in 1977 by dissidents in Czechoslovakia. The Chinese document calls for an end to some features of China's current political system, including replacing one-party rule with a system based on human rights and democracy. The courageous Chinese citizens who have signed the charter are bravely declaring that the status quo in China is unacceptable and unsustainable.

Instead of thoughtfully addressing the ideas raised by the petition and responding to the dissidents, the Chinese Government has sought to silence their voices by harassing, intimidating, and arresting them.

Chinese authorities violated Chinese law in the handling of Mr. Liu's case, holding him incommunicado beyond the legal time limit at an undisclosed location and denying him access to his family or lawyers. In June, Mr. Liu was charged with subversion. He could face up to 15 years in jail.

The Chinese Government seems unaware of the irony of its actions, since its efforts to quash Charter 08 only underscore China's failure to uphold the very principles that the charter advances.

I strongly support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I'm pleased to yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of this very important resolution, the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Minnick).

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the

concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 51) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 51, a resolution introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi), recognizing the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. On December 1, 1959, 12 countries, including the United States and the former Soviet Union, signed the Antarctic Treaty here in Washington, D.C. The treaty, which was created to govern activities in Antarctica, has been widely seen as a success. The treaty's preamble states: ``It is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord.''

As a result of the treaty, the Antarctic was the first space in which the international community agreed to preclude acts or activities to assert, support or deny a claim to territorial sovereignty. This exclusion led to the peaceful and scientific exploration of the continent without geopolitical competition. In celebration of the 50th anniversary, the Smithsonian Institution will host the Antarctic Treaty Summit between November 30 and December 2 in Washington. This gathering will raise awareness of the treaty's accomplishments, provide a forum for a broad cross section of civil society to examine lessons learned from the treaty and discuss how they can be applied globally.

I commend Mr. Tiberi for sponsoring this timely resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1707) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2010 through 2014 to promote an enhanced strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 3 minutes.

I rise in strong support of the bill. The United States has an enormous stake in the security and stability of Pakistan. We can't allow al Qaeda or any other terrorist group that threatens our national security interests to operate with impunity in the tribal regions or any other part of Pakistan, nor can we permit the Pakistani state and its nuclear arsenal to be taken over by the Taliban.

To help prevent this nightmare scenario, we need to forge a true strategic partnership with Pakistan and its people, strengthen Pakistan's democratic government, and work to make Pakistan a source of stability in a volatile region.

I'm pleased to bring to the floor S. 1707, the Enhanced Partnership With Pakistan Act of 2009, a bicameral, bipartisan compromise between H.R. 1886 and the original Senate version of this legislation. As in the House bill we passed in June, S. 1707 provides funding to strengthen the capacity of Pakistan's democratic institutions, including its Parliament, judicial system and law enforcement agencies. It calls for increased assistance to Pakistan's public education system with an emphasis on access for women and girls.

S. 1707 also provides critical security assistance to help the Government of Pakistan in its fight against the extremists that threaten the national security of both Pakistan and the United States. Finally, the compromise text requires that beginning in fiscal year 2011, military assistance may only be provided to Pakistan if the President determines that the Government of Pakistan is continuing to cooperate with the United States in preventing a proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and has both demonstrated a sustained commitment to combating terrorist groups and has made significant efforts towards that end.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to quote from the letter from Secretary of Defense Gates and Admiral Mullen in reference to this legislation. This is a letter sent last Friday: ``This bill would support U.S. national security interests in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Department of Defense strongly supports moving this bill to final passage by the House and Senate as expeditiously as possible.'' Or as Secretary Clinton said just yesterday, this bill ``will be an essential tool in support of our national security interests.''

I want to congratulate Senators Kerry and Lugar, the sponsors of this bill, for their hard work and determination in passing it. And I thank them for the open and cooperative spirit that they and their staff showed in crafting this bicameral, bipartisan compromise. I also want to thank my good friend from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) and my good friend from my home State of California (Mr. Royce) for their support in crafting this legislation and supporting the compromise. I particularly want to thank the ranking member of the committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for her contributions and her help in reaching this point in passing this legislation.

Following is an explanation of the S. 1707, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009. The text reflects an agreement reached by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on the text of S. 962, based on the text contained in the bill as passed by the Senate, and the text of H.R. 1886, as contained in titles I to III of Division B of H.R. 2410 and passed by the House of Representatives.

Summary

S. 1707, the Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of

2009, establishes a legislative foundation for a sustained

partnership between the United States and Pakistan, based on

a shared commitment to strengthening democracy and the rule

of law, improving the living conditions of the people of

Pakistan through sustainable economic development, and

combating terrorism and violent extremism. S. 962 seeks to

transform the relationship between the United States and

Pakistan into a deeper, broader, long-term strategic

engagement. The legislation aims to properly balance the

relationship between United States and Pakistan by

acknowledging and supporting the national security interests

of the United States as well as Pakistan's economic and

geopolitical interests. United States assistance for Pakistan

enhances our mutual security while helping to build economic

and political stability in a country that is both regionally

and strategically important. Economic assistance is as

critical an element to stabilizing Pakistan as strengthening

the capacity of the Pakistan military to counter terrorism,

especially for projects that provide direct and concrete

benefit to Pakistani citizens as a whole. The overall level

of economic assistance authorized would be raised

substantially by this legislation, with the bulk of this aid

intended for projects such as schools, roads, medical

clinics, and infrastructure development.

Section-by-Section Analysis

Sec. 1. Short Title; Table of Contents

The Amendment maintains the title of S. 962 as the Enhanced

Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009 and contains an amended

table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions

Section 2 contains definitions for the Act, drawing from

provisions in both S. 962 and Division B of H.R. 2410.

Sec. 3. Findings

Section 3 combines findings from both S. 962 and Division B

of H.R. 2410.

Sec. 4. Statement of Principles

Section 4 maintains the structure of Division B of H.R.

2410's Section 4, Declaration of Principles, and draws upon

S. 962's Statement of Policy. The Section is intended to

describe the principles for which the U.S.-Pakistan

relationship is governed. It includes the expectations of

Congress with regard to the bilateral relationship.

Title I--Democratic, Economic, and Development Assistance for Pakistan

Sec. 101. Purposes of Assistance

Subsection (a) provides for the purposes of assistance

until title I. The central purpose of assistance under title

I is to demonstrate unequivocally the long-term commitment of

the United States to the people of Pakistan. The specific

purposes in section 101 draw from both S. 962 and Division B

of H.R. 2410: (1) to support the consolidation of democratic

institutions; (2) to support the expansion of rule of law,

build the capacity of government institutions, and promote

respect for internationally-recognized human rights,

including building the capacity of law enforcement forces in

Pakistan to combat terrorism and violent militancy and

expeditiously investigate, arrest, and prosecute alleged

criminals, consistent with the rule of law and due process;

(3) to promote economic freedoms and sustainable economic

development in order to improve the living conditions of the

people of Pakistan, especially in areas of direct interest

and importance to their daily lives and to strengthen

regional ties by offering assistance for issues of mutual and

social concern; (4) to support investments in people,

including increasing literacy, expanding opportunities for

vocational training as well as broad-based general

baccalaureate education, helping achieve an appropriate

national curriculum for schools across Pakistan, increasing

access to basic health care, including services for women to

address Pakistan's high maternal mortality rates, providing

assistance to those displaced in ongoing counterinsurgency

operations; and (5) to strengthen public diplomacy, including

expanding people-to-people engagement between the United

States and Pakistan through increased educational, technical,

and cultural exchanges and other methods.

Subsection (b) includes further detail regarding programs

which Congress believes should be implemented to satisfy the

purposes described in subsection (a). In the area of

fortifying democratic institutions, programs should include

support for the establishment of constituency offices and

support for efforts by the Government of Pakistan to promote

local experimentation with methods of transition from the

Frontier Crimes Regulation, considered outdated by most

Pakistanis, to other governing codes. In the area of

enhancement and strengthening of the judicial system and law

enforcement, programs should include support for a more

responsive and sufficiently staffed bench and professional

training of judges, public defenders, and prosecutors;

support for strengthening the role of civilian law

enforcement agencies, such as the Intelligence Bureau in the

Ministry of Interior, with enhanced coordination with

judicial processes, enhanced forensics capability, data

collection and analysis, financial intelligence functions,

and maintenance of data systems to track terrorist or

criminal activity; support for the development of an elite

rapid reaction police force; and support for the improving

counterterrorism and counterinsurgency coordination

between local government officials, the police,

paramilitary, and military leaders.

In the area of support to increase local capacity, programs

should include support to governmental institutions at all

levels through providing technical assistance to all

ministries to improve transparency and the ability to respond

to the needs of the people of Pakistan; support for the

promotion of fiscal and personnel management, including

revenue tracking and expenditure systems; support for

training and education to local nongovernmental and civil

society organizations on ways to identify and improve the

delivery of services to the people of Pakistan; and support

for promoting local ownership and participation, including

encouraging communities to contribute a percentage of the

value of United States projects and activities carried out

under this title in the form of labor, in-kind materials, or

other provisions.

In the area of supporting economic freedom and economic

development and supporting investments in people, the

Department of State should work with the Department of Labor

to provide educational remediation to victims of the worst

forms of child labor. In addition, programs on microfinance

and microenterprise activities should include programs to

improve the lives of women aimed at addressing the root

causes of exploitative child labor and to enable their

children to attend school.

In the area of public education more generally, programs

should include support for schools that incorporate basic

subjects, such as math, science, literature, and history;

important additional training in human rights awareness, and

where appropriate basic agricultural education and training

as well as support for civic education programs focused on

political participation, democratic governance and

institutions, and tolerance of diverse ethnic and religious

groups; where appropriate funding to the Government of

Pakistan to use to improve teacher salaries and to recruit

and train teachers and administrators, as well as develop

formalized salary scales with merit-based increases;

construction and maintenance of libraries and public schools,

including water and sanitation, perimeter walls where

necessary, and consideration for recreation areas; provision

of textbooks and other learning materials as well as food

assistance for student meals where warranted; and provision

of software to educational institutions and students at the

lowest possible cost, specifically targeting universities

that specialize in information technology, liberal arts, and

women's colleges and women's secondary schools. It is

intended that programs continue to enable and expand

institutions of higher education in partnership with the

Pakistan government and other private-public partnerships,

specifically for non-sectarian, co-educational institutions

such as Forman College in Lahore. It is further intended that

an assessment of American Universities abroad be made to

determine the value and opportunity for such an institution

in Pakistan at this time.

In the areas of support for human rights, programs should

include support for programs designed to end traditional

practices and punishments that are inconsistent with

internationally recognized human rights' norms and

protections, such as honor killings and other forms of cruel

and unusual punishments; and technical, legal, and law

enforcement assistance for the investigation of past

disappearances of individuals in Pakistan and the development

of national database of such individuals. In the area of

support for healthcare efforts, programs should include

support for the repairing and building of healthcare

infrastructure, including purchase of equipment and training

of health professionals, to ensure adequate access to

healthcare for Pakistan's population, especially among poor,

marginalized, and disadvantaged segments; and promotion of

efforts by the Government of Pakistan to reduce maternal

mortality, including through the provision of maternal and

newborn health services and development of community-based

skilled birth attendants.

Subsection (c) provides that no less than $150,000,000

should be made available for police professionalization,

equipping, and training for fiscal year 2010; authorizes up

to $10,000,000 for each fiscal year for administrative

expenses of civilian department and agencies in the U.S.

Government in connection with title I assistance; encourages

the President to use Pakistani organizations, including the

use of host country contracts, to work with local leaders to

provide assistance associated with this section; requires

direct expenditures be paramount in providing assistance;

provides that a Chief of Mission Fund of up to $5,000,000 for

each fiscal year may be made available to address the urgent

needs or opportunities on the ground, as determined by the

Secretary of State; and expresses the Sense of Congress that

counterinsurgency operations being carried out by the

Government of Pakistan should be designed to minimize

civilian casualties and collateral damage to the people of

Pakistan and to provide security for the delivery of

humanitarian assistance to the affected population, that the

Administrator of the United States Agency for International

Development should support the development objectives, and

that the United States should have a coordinated strategic

communications strategy.

Subsection (d) mandates the President to notify Congress no

later than 15 days before obligating any assistance under

title I to budget support.

Section 102. Authorization of Appropriations

Subsection (a) authorizes $1,500,000,000 of assistance to

Pakistan for fiscal years 2010 through 2014.

Subsection (b) restricts the availability of such funds to

the submission of the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report no

later than 60 days after the enactment of this Act to

Congress. It further restricts that no more than $750,000,000

of the amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization in

subsection (a) may be available each year thereafter until

the President's Special Representative to Afghanistan and

Pakistan certifies that there is reasonable progress achieved

in the principal objectives of the United States assistance,

as outlined in the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report.

Subsection (c) allows the Secretary of State to waive the

limitations of subsection

(b) if the Secretary determines and certifies that it is in

the national security interests of the United States to do

so.

Subsection (d) expresses the Sense of Congress that there

should be authorized to be appropriated up to $1,500,000,000

for each fiscal years 2015 through 2019 for the purpose of

providing assistance to Pakistan, contingent upon an

improving political and economic climate in Pakistan.

It should also be noted that bilateral assistance is not

the only mechanism for supporting Pakistan's economic and

political situation. To the extent that Pakistan continues to

evolve toward civilian control of the government and to

develop and implement comprehensive economic reform programs,

the President should take the lead in mobilizing

international financial institutions, in particular the

International Monetary Fund and affiliated institutions in

the World Bank group, to provide timely and appropriate

resources to help Pakistan. The President should also, in

conjunction with other governments and international

financial institutions (including the International Monetary

Fund), support the implementation of a plan by the Government

of Pakistan to attack structural economic problems, address

pressing social problems, carry out comprehensive economic

reform, and relieve immediate and urgent balance of payments

requirements in Pakistan. Finally, the President should

provide leadership in supporting multilateral agreements to

provide government-to-government loans for currency

stabilization in Pakistan if the loans can reduce inflation

and thereby foster conditions necessary for the effective

implementation of economic reforms.

Section 103. Auditing

Subsection (a) explains that the Inspectors General of the

Department of State, the United States Agency for

International Development, and other federal departments

other than the Department of Defense, shall audit,

investigate, and oversee the obligation and expenditure of

such amounts in this title. It is appropriate and essential

that the significant increase in assistance be matched with

sufficient oversight and accountability. The Inspectors

General of the respective agencies are expected to achieve a

higher level of coordination and cooperation in their

oversight. Congress expects the Secretary of State in

consultation with other U.S. government agencies to ensure

oversight efforts and support for those efforts are no less

robust than those for the Special Inspectors General created

for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Subsection (b) authorizes the aforementioned Inspectors

General to establish in-country presence through field

offices in Pakistan, as necessary.

Subsection (c) authorizes up to $30,000,000 for each fiscal

year to be made available for auditing, in addition to

amounts otherwise available for such purposes.

Title II--Security Assistance

Title II draws from title II of Division B of H.R. 2410 and

sections 5 and 6 of S. 962.

Sec. 201. Purposes of Assistance

Section 201 declares the purposes for which U.S. security

assistance to Pakistan is to be used. It provides that U.S.

security assistance to Pakistan be used (1) to support

Pakistan's paramount national security need to fight and win

the ongoing counterinsurgency within its borders in

accordance with its national security interests; (2) to work

with the Government of Pakistan to improve Pakistan's border

security and control and help prevent any Pakistani territory

from being used as a base or conduit for terrorist attacks in

Pakistan, or elsewhere; (3) to work in close cooperation with

the Government of Pakistan to coordinate action against

extremist and terrorist targets; and (4) to help strengthen

the institutions of democratic governance and promote control

of military institutions by a democratically elected civilian

government.

Section 202. Authorization of Military Assistance

Subsection (a) authorizes such sums as may be necessary for

fiscal years 2010 to 2014 for International Military

Education and Training (IMET) programs for Pakistan,

including expanded IMET. Subsection (a)(2) provides that a

``substantial amount'' of such funds should be used to pay

for courses of study and training in counterinsurgency and

civil-military relations. For this purpose, a substantial

amount should be considered approximately 30 percent.

Subsection (b)(1) authorizes such sums as may be necessary

for fiscal years 2010 to 2014 for Foreign Military Financing

(FMF). Subsection (b)(2)(A) provides that a significant

portion of such amounts shall be used for the purchase of

defense articles, defense services, and military education

and training for activities relating to counterinsurgency and

counterterrorism operations in Pakistan. For purposes of this

subsection, such articles, services and education and

training may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Aviation maintenance and logistics support for United

States-origin and United States-supported rotary wing

aircraft and upgrades to such aircraft to include modern

night vision and targeting capabilities.

Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) ground

and air manned and unmanned platforms, including sustainment.

Command and control capabilities.

Force protection and counter improvised explosive device

capabilities, including protection of vehicles.

Protective equipment, such as body armor and helmets, night

vision goggles, and other individual equipment, including

load-bearing equipment, individual and unit level first aid

equipment, ballistic eye protection, and cold weather

equipment.

Appropriate individual and unit level medical services and

articles for the Pakistan Army, the Pakistan Frontier Corps,

and other appropriate security forces.

Assistance to enable the Pakistani military to distribute

humanitarian assistance and establish a tactical civil-

military operations capability, including a civil affairs

directorate.

Subsection (b)(2)(B) provides that it is the Sense of

Congress that a significant majority of funds made available

to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year should be used

for the purpose described in subparagraph (A). For this

purpose, a significant majority should be considered

approximately 70 percent of the amounts made available

pursuant to the authorization.

Subsection (b)(3) provides that FMF can be provided in

fiscal years 2010 and 2011 notwithstanding any other

provision of law other than sections 3 and section 102 of the

Arms Export Control Act and annual restrictions relating to

assistance to a country that has had a duly-elected head of

government deposed by a military coup. The purpose of this

provision is to allow greater flexibility in the delivery of

FMF in FY2010 and 2011 to Pakistan. This authority

complements flexibility provided in the Pakistan

Counterinsurgency Fund and the Pakistan Counterinsurgency

Capability Fund, both of which will allow the United States

in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 to provide urgent

counterterrorism and counterinsurgency assistance to

Pakistan. The Department is encouraged to use the flexibility

in FMF to likewise ensure rapid delivery of counterterrorism

and counterinsurgency assistance.

Subsection (c) provides that the United States should

facilitate Pakistan's establishment of a program to provide

reconstruction assistance, including through Pakistan's

military, as appropriate, in areas damaged by combat

operations.

Subsection (d) establishes a new exchange program to foster

civilian rule of military institutions. This program would

have civilian and military officials from NATO governments

and from governments determined by the Secretary of State to

be going through a transition to democracy to provide insight

and experience to their counterparts in Pakistan.

Section 203. Limitation on Assistance

Subsection (a) provides that beginning in fiscal year 2011,

no security-related assistance may be provided to Pakistan in

a fiscal year until the Secretary of State, under the

direction of the President, makes the certification required

under subsection (c) for such fiscal year.

Subsection (b) provides that beginning in fiscal year 2012,

no Letter of Offer and Acceptance to sell major defense

equipment to Pakistan may be issued pursuant to the Arms

Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2751 et seq.) and no license to

export major defense equipment to Pakistan may be issued

pursuant to such Act in a fiscal year until the Secretary of

State, under the direction of the President, makes the

certification required under subsection (c) for such fiscal

year.

Subsection (c) provides for a certification by the

Secretary of State, under the direction of the President, to

the appropriate congressional committees on three separate

matters. Paragraph (1) requires a certification that the

Government of Pakistan is continuing to cooperate with the

United States in efforts to dismantle supplier networks

relating to the acquisition of nuclear weapons-related

materials, such as providing relevant information from or

direct access to Pakistani nationals associated with such

networks.

Subsection (c)(2) requires a certification that the

Government of Pakistan during the preceding fiscal year has

demonstrated a sustained commitment to and is making

significant efforts towards combating terrorist groups. In

making this certification, the Secretary shall take into

account the extent to which the Government of Pakistan has

made progress on matters described in subparagraphs (A), (B),

and (C).

Subsection (c)(3) requires a certification that the

security forces of Pakistan are not materially and

substantially subverting the political or judicial processes

of Pakistan.

Subsection (d) provides none of the funds appropriated for

security-related assistance for fiscal year 2010 and each

fiscal year thereafter, or any amounts appropriated to the

Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund established under

the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-

32), may be obligated or expended to make payments relating

to certain contracts described in paragraphs (A), (B), and

(C) of subsection (d)(1), which the Government of Pakistan

has committed to pay for using its own national funds.

Subsection (d)(2) provides for an exception related to

certain construction costs related to such contracts.

Subsection (e) provides that the Secretary of State, under

the direction of the President, may waive the limitations

contained in subsections (a), (b), and (d) for a fiscal year

if the Secretary of State determines that is important to the

national security interests of the United States to do so,

and provides for a notification prior the exercise of the

authority under this subsection.

Subsection (f) includes definitions for this subsection.

Section 204. Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund

This section authorizes the Pakistan Counterinsurgency

Capability Fund (PCCF) and applies to any funds in the PCCF.

It provides, in part, that funds transferred to the Pakistan

Counterinsurgency Fund (PCF), which resides in the Department

of Defense, be merged with the funds in the PCCF, except that

the funds would still be subject to the limitations in

section 203.

Section 205. Requirements for civilian control of certain assistance

This section provides that any direct cash security-related

assistance or non-assistance payments by the United States to

the Government of Pakistan may only be provided or made to

civilian authorities of a civilian government of Pakistan.

It also provides that the Secretary of State, in

coordination with the Secretary of Defense, shall ensure

that civilian authorities of a civilian government of

Pakistan have received a copy of final documentation

provided to the United States related to non-assistance

payments provided or made to the Government of Pakistan.

The purpose of this provision is to support Pakistan's

democratic civilian government and to ensure the increased

transparency of such assistance or payments by requiring

that the civilian authorities have the documentation

related to such assistance or payments and that civilian

authorities actually receive the funds related to such

assistance or payments. It should be noted that subsection

(c), which contains a number of exceptions to the

application of this section, was added in an abundance of

caution to ensure that certain programs were not

interpreted to be included as being affected by subsection

(a). This subsection should not be construed in any way as

defining the meaning or scope of ``security-related

assistance'' (a defined term under the Act) or ``non-

assistance payments.''.

Title III--Strategy, Accountability, Monitoring, and Other Provisions

Title III draws from title III of Division B of H.R. 2410

and section 5 and 8 of S. 962.

Sec. 301. Strategy Reports

S. 962 contained a provision that would require not later

than 45 days after the enactment of this Act the Secretary of

State to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a

report describing United States policy and strategy with

respect to assistance to Pakistan. Division B of H.R. 2410

contained no such requirement. Reflecting the approach in S.

962, section 301(a) requires that not later than 45 days

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of

State shall submit a report describing United States policy

and strategy with respect to assistance to Pakistan. The

report shall include, among other items, a description of

principal objectives of United States assistance to Pakistan

to be provided under title I of this Act; a general

description of the specific programs, projects, and

activities designed to achieve the purposes of section 101

and the respective funding levels for such programs,

projects, and activities for fiscal years 2010 through 2014;

and a plan for program monitoring, operations research, and

impact evaluation research for assistance authorized under

title I of this Act. The purpose of this report is to ensure

proper oversight and accountability over economic assistance

to Pakistan.

H.R. 2410 contained a provision (section 302) that would

require the President to establish and implement a program to

assess the effectiveness of assistance provided under title I

of this Act through impact evaluation research on a selected

set of programmatic interventions, operations research in

areas to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of program

implementation, and monitoring to ensure timely and

transparent delivery of assistance. S. 962 contained no such

provision. That requirement has been included in the

reporting requirement of subsection (a). The monitoring

requirement in the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report is

intended to encourage the President to establish a monitoring

program. The President, in developing performance measurement

methods under the impact evaluation research, operations

research, and program monitoring, should consult with the

appropriate congressional committees as well as the

Government of Pakistan.

Subsection (a)(7) requires an analysis for the suitable

replacement for existing Pakistani helicopters, including

recommendations for sustainment and training. The purpose of

this reporting requirement is to identify and formulate plans

to replace the AH-1F and AH-1S Cobra attack helicopters

currently used by the Government of Pakistan for

counterinsurgency operations.

Subsection (b) requires the President to develop a

comprehensive interagency regional strategy to eliminate

terrorist threats and close safe havens in Pakistan and

submit a report on the strategy to Congress. The report is

premised on the belief that coordination among India,

Pakistan, and Afghanistan, along with countries neighboring

or closely aligned with the region such as Iran and Saudi

Arabia, where appropriate, will be necessary if the United

States is to create a viable strategy for sustainable peace

and security in this critical region. Subsection (c) requires

the President to submit to Congress a report on the strategy

not later than 180 days after the enactment of the Act.

Subparagraph (3)(B) provides that the report shall include

specification of goals and proposed timelines and budgets for

implementation of the strategy.

Subsection (c) mandates that not later than 180 days after

the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of State

shall submit a plan for the proposed use of amounts

authorized for security-related assistance for each of the

fiscal years 2010 through 2014, as well as how funds in the

PCCF fit into such a plan. The purpose of this requirement is

to encourage long-term planning regarding security assistance

to Pakistan and to facilitate Congressional oversight over

such assistance.

Section 302. Monitoring Reports

Subsection (a) provides that not later than 180 days after

the submission of the Pakistan Assistance Strategy Report and

every 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State shall

submit a report that describes the assistance provided under

title I of the Act, along with related assessments of the

extent to which the Government of Pakistan exercises

effective civilian control of the military; whether

assistance provided to Pakistan has directly or indirectly

aided the expansion of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program;

and the counterterrorism efforts undertaken by the Government

of Pakistan.

Subsection (b) provides that the Comptroller General of the

United States shall submit reports that contain a review of,

and comments addressing, the Pakistan Assistance Strategy

Report; recommendations relating to any additional actions

the Comptroller General believes could help improve the

efficiency and effectiveness of United States efforts to meet

the objectives of the Act; a detailed description of the

expenditures made by Pakistan pursuant to grant assistance

under section 23 of the Arms Export Control Act; and an

assessment of the impact of the assistance on the security

and stability of Pakistan. Subsection (b) further requires

the Comptroller General to conduct an independent analysis of

the certification described in section 203(c) and submit a

report containing the results of the independent analysis to

Congress.

Subsection (c) provides that the Secretary of State may

submit the reports required by this section in conjunction

with other reports relating to Pakistan required under other

provisions of law. The intent of this provision is to

streamline the numerous reporting requirements of this Act

and other Acts, including sections 1116 and 1117 of the

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009 (Public Law 111-32).

Reports under these and other provisions of law may be

combined and submitted together as long as all elements of

each report are included, and the timelines for each

provision of law requiring such a report are respected.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to one of the key partners in working through this legislation, the chairman of the Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee, vice chair of the committee, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to a member of the committee, the chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus, and the colleague whom I had the privilege of traveling to Pakistan with earlier this year, Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee of Texas.

(Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland, the author of important legislation that was part of the House bill and unfortunately is not part of the final compromise, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen).

Mr. Speaker, I will yield the gentleman 1 additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman), who is very much the moving party in the language that insists on Pakistani cooperation and on dismantling nonproliferation networks in the final version of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlelady.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Washington, a former member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Smith.

(Mr. SMITH of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time.

First, I would like to just pick up on the theme the gentleman from Washington just stated. This truly is a bill that is in the interests of the American people and the Pakistani people. That's why we're talking about authorizing these kinds of funds.

I can assure you, in the context of a failed state, in the context of a victory by the insurgency in Pakistan, the sum total of this bill is peanuts compared to the costs to America and to the rest of the world in terms of international instability and conflict and war.

We've come a long way on this legislation. I think we've built a broad base of support on a bipartisan basis and with both Houses.

I particularly want to thank some key people on my staff who have worked on this legislation: Jasmeet Ahuja and Daniel Silverberg, as well as the other staff members, David Abramowitz and others who have worked so hard, and on the minority side, Yleem Poblete. And to Jamie McCormick and the others, thank you for all your cooperation and help to get to this point.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to my very good friend, Jay Roth, National Executive Director of the Directors Guild of America, DGA, on the occasion of his recognition by the Government of France with its prestigious ``Chevalier dans l'Ordre de la Legion d'Honneur.''

I enjoy, with Jay, a relationship much deeper than simply that of a politician with the leader of an important guild. He has been--for many years--my wise advisor on issues relating to the creative community, the arts, and all aspects of intellectual property. I have been privileged to know him since his days as a prominent labor lawyer in Los Angeles.

Known for his tenacity and acuity in entertainment and labor law, Jay's experience and knowledge places him in a league of his own. Born and raised in New York City and a graduate of the University of Vermont and Boston University Law School, he practiced labor and entertainment law for 25 years prior to being selected by the DGA's National Board of Directors to guide the Directors Guild of America. As the Managing Partner of Taylor, Roth, Bush & Geffner, he specialized in representing entertainment guilds, labor organizations, and pension, health and welfare funds in entertainment, bankruptcy and transactional matters around the world.

He has skillfully represented all three U.S. Guilds--DGA, Screen Actors Guild, SAG, and Writers Guild of America, WGA,--on many international copyright, bankruptcy, residuals and intellectual property rights issues for 20 years. As counsel, he represented many high-profile industries including the Motion Picture Industry and the Directors Guild/Producer Pension and Health Plans. Among his many clients were the United Teachers of Los Angeles, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

He is widely known for his dedication to the entertainment community, as Treasurer of the Motion Picture & Television Fund and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is also a highly regarded advocate of the labor community, who has served as chair of the Labor Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Associations and as chair of the American Bar Association Airline-Railway Labor Law Committee. He was recently elected a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers, and he is also recognized as a noted lecturer around the world on matters related to entertainment, labor law, and intellectual property rights of directors, writers and actors.

Jay was appropriately recognized for his invaluable contributions to the DGA when he received the Honorary Life Member Award in 2008.

Madam Speaker and distinguished colleagues, I ask you to join me in saluting Jay Roth on the occasion of his recognition from the French Government of the French Legion of Honor.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay respects to the passing of my friend Sylvia Levin who passed peacefully on Thursday, June 25, 2009 at the age of 91. Let this congressional insert serve as a tribute to her memory and celebration of her meaningful life.

Sylvia was born on September 14, 1917, in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up there and in New Jersey. She decided to move to California in the 1940s as a single mother of two. She quickly became accustomed to the southern California lifestyle while working at an aircraft plant, a garment factory, a stall at the original Farmers Market in Los Angeles, and as a beach parking lot attendant in Santa Monica.

Known for her warmth and friendliness, Sylvia's indefatigable enthusiasm and tenacity for politics would give new meaning to the grassroots movement. She was known for signing more than 47,000 people to California's voter rolls and she should be remembered for these invaluable contributions she's made to democracy. For her registration efforts, she received a State Senate resolution from the late Senator Herschel Rosenthal. Further, in 2001, she was befittingly nominated and inducted into California's Voter Participation Hall of Fame. In 2007, on her 90th birthday, the Los Angeles

City Council awarded Levin a commendatory resolution citing her work ``registering voters for decades, her belief in the Constitution and making the Constitution work.'' Her leadership and dedication to furthering our civic responsibility is an example to all.

Sylvia is survived by her son and daughter, Chuck Levin and Susan Levin, and her sisters Dottie Sadowsky and Daisy Neustadt.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Sylvia Levin.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 722) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the terrorist attacks launched against the United States on September 11, 2001.

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

I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution pays homage to the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and recognizes the anniversary as not only a time of solemn commemoration but also as a demonstration of America's great resolve in combating terrorism. It extends our enduring and deeper condolences to the friends, families and loved ones of the innocent victims, and recognizes the heroism of U.S. service men and women who defend our country today. It honors the Nation's first responders and others whose valiant efforts were a credit to their country on that horrible day, and it honors them as they continue to help keep us safe.

It expresses gratitude to the leaders and citizens of other countries who assisted, supported, and stood by the United States in the aftermath of the attack.

In America's modern and fragmented society, collective memories are few. But each of us remembers where we were on 9/11 when we heard the news. We remember the days of unity that followed when we acted together to protect this country from those who were determined to bring us to our knees. We remember the efforts that Congress, the executive branch, and

the American people have made since then to protect our Nation from a real and ongoing threat. And even though 8 years have passed, we must remember that al Qaeda, while under pressure everywhere, remains a serious threat to the United States.

The very al Qaeda leadership responsible for ordering the attacks on September 11 continues to rally those who would do us harm and, along with its Taliban allies, seeks to defeat our troops in Afghanistan.

This is a time when we must transcend partisan politics and stand together to recall a moment when terrorists targeted the very symbols of American strength. Our values and our very foundation were under attack, and yet we persevered, and we will carry on the fight against extremists who seek to do us harm.

In this battle, the global realities of the 21st century require that we use not only our military but all of the tools available to us: economic, financial, diplomatic, and cultural resources to promote a better alternative to extremism and to protect our national security.

Mr. Speaker, none of us will forget what happened 8 years ago. We will always remember the victims of 9/11 and the loved ones who survived them. We will always honor the first responders who lost their lives that day and those in uniform at home and abroad who risk their lives today and every day to defend America.

We will continue to promote our founding principles of freedom and equality and ensure that the lives lost in pursuit of our ideals are never forgotten.

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

I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to a member of our committee, the distinguished Member from New York, Mr. Engel.

I thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Olver, for yielding to me to engage in a colloquy about the importance of ensuring the fairness and objectivity of the FAA's curfew application process.

I am pleased to be joined by my good friend Mr. Schiff who, like me, has many constituents who are greatly affected by nighttime operations at Burbank airport.

Both Burbank Bob Hope Airport and Van Nuys Airport have been actively studying nighttime flight curfews on Stage III aircraft. The Burbank- Glendale-Pasadena Airport Authority has already submitted its completed Part 161 application to the FAA requesting a nighttime curfew.

As both Mr. Schiff and I know, the FAA has been all-too-willing to simply disregard the impact that nighttime flight operations have on communities living by these airports. I have constituents whose sleep is routinely disturbed by aircraft taking off or landing at all hours of the night from Burbank and Van Nuys airports.

I look forward to working with the gentleman and the authorizing committee in the future to ensure that the FAA gives fair consideration to the concerns of those who must live with airport noise day in and out.

I yield, if I may, to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).

I certainly yield to the chairman.

Reclaiming my time, I thank the chairman very much.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 156) condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

I have an amendment at the desk.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the lifetime achievements of Peter V. Ueberroth and his contributions to the Olympic movement and sports in the United States.

Peter is due special commendation for his timely and effective response to the situation sparked by the American-led boycott of the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. That boycott led to 14 Communist countries announcing their intention to boycott the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and organize a rival event called the Friendship Games.

When the Soviet Union announced its boycott of the 1984 Olympic Games just two months before the Games, it threatened to undermine the participation of other countries and create a financial disaster for the Olympic movement. In order to save the Games, Peter Ueberroth personally visited several countries to ensure their participation, including Romania, which became the only Communist country that refused to participate in the Soviet-led boycott.

Despite the Soviet-led boycott, through the efforts to build international good will led by Peter Ueberroth and the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, over 140 nations still participated in the 1984 Olympic Games.

Peter continued to promote the 1984 Olympic Games by initiating the Olympic Torch Relay that began in New York City, crossed 33 states and the District of Columbia and ended in Los Angeles, covering more than 9,000 miles and involving over 3,600 runners that focused the attention of the country and the world on the Games.

The 1984 Olympic Games were a stunning success, featuring athletes such as Carl Lewis, Mary Lou Retton and Michael Jordan, who led the United States team to a record-setting total of 174 medals, including 83 gold medals.

Peter personally secured the revenue to finance the 1984 Olympic Games, raising an unprecedented amount of funds from private sources so that not one cent of municipal funds would be required of the taxpayers of Los Angeles. The 1984 Olympic Games actually concluded with an unprecedented $215 million surplus.

As a result of his efforts in saving the 1984 Olympic Games and restoring the United States as the leader in international sports, Time Magazine named Peter Ueberroth as the 1984 ``Man of the Year,'' noting that he was the ``hero of the Olympics'' and the ``man who brought honor to America.''

Since leading the 1984 Olympic Games, Peter Ueberroth has continued to make contributions to the United States and the world of sports, serving as Commissioner of Major League Baseball, where he led efforts to institute an effective anti-drug campaign.

Following the 2004 reorganization of the United States Olympic Committee, Peter Ueberroth was selected to serve as Chairman of the United States Olympic Committee, revitalizing the United States Olympic Committee and leading the United States to a first-place finish in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

2009 marks the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles Olympic Games held under Peter Ueberroth's leadership and in that spirit, I ask now that my colleagues join me in recognizing, honoring and celebrating the achievements, service and contributions of Peter Ueberroth to the Olympic movement, sports, and the United States of America

Mr. Speaker, I just want everybody to understand the party proposing this motion to recommit is the same party that held the White House for 8 years where our policies and relationships towards the entire Latin American region so degraded our reputation and our effectiveness that they should be embarrassed to make suggestions.

Secondly, I am a great fan of the National Endowment for Democracy. I tell you they don't want this amendment to pass.

Thirdly, the real agenda here, this is an organization that has refused to bring back a member that does not meet the democratic criteria of that organization in great part because of the excellent work of our administration here at the most recent OAS meeting.

And, fourthly, the real agenda here is because some people here don't care that people they like better in a country called Honduras--and I understand why they like them better and in some ways they may be better--are willing to resort to a military coup and a totally antidemocratic approach to changing leadership but don't want to bring that into the debate because they're embarrassed to be associated with a military coup in Honduras. That's the goal of these people.

I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009.

This groundbreaking legislation will help protect our environment and create an estimated 37 million jobs in the United States over the next 20 years by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, implementing a renewable electricity standard, providing incentives for the adoption of energy efficiency measures, and promoting renewable energy technology research and development.

H.R. 2454 also provides assistance to developing countries to help them adapt to the effects of climate change, deploy clean energy technologies, and reduce emissions from deforestation.

Some of the world's poorest countries--including those that have contributed the least to the problem of climate change--will suffer the most immediate and severe consequences of global warming if we don't take action to reverse it.

Many developing countries face the threat of flooding, the loss of arable lands, and the spread of climate-related diseases, such as malaria and cholera.

A recent World Bank study estimated that storm surges resulting from rising sea levels could threaten 52 million people and 29,000 square kilometers of agricultural land in developing coastal countries around the world.

H.R. 2454 will help people in low-income countries prepare for and adapt to climate change by strengthening local planning capacity and promoting the development and implementation of national adaptation programs.

This legislation also provides financial and technical assistance and leverages private sector involvement to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases in developing countries.

This will help reduce the impact of climate change here in the United States and benefit the American economy by encouraging innovation in green technologies and the creation of high quality jobs.

Finally, the bill will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping low-income countries reduce emissions associated with deforestation.

Madam Speaker, the programs on international adaptation, clean technology, forestation as well as provisions for international offsets will all require close collaboration between the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Agency for International Development, and the Department of State.

In international negotiations on framework agreements to carry out these programs, I expect the Department to continue to have responsibility to approve the initiation of such negotiations, consistent with current law and regulations.

I also expect that USAID, which has significant expertise in dealing with a range of environmental activities overseas, will play a central role in planning and helping administer these critical programs.

Madam Speaker, the international provisions in this legislation are crucial for the successful completion of climate change negotiations in Copenhagen later this year.

They will demonstrate to the rest of the world that the United States is truly committed to working cooperatively with other nations to tackle the global challenges of climate change.

I thank my good friends Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey for working closely with me to develop and refine the international provisions in this important legislation, and urge all of my colleagues to vote yes.

I thank my friend for yielding. I have tremendous respect for my friend and colleague from Massachusetts. I know he always has the best interests of the Nation and our armed services at heart. But I must oppose the amendment.

As much as all of us would like to have our brave men and women home

again reunited with their loved ones, we don't have a choice but to keep the troops on the ground in Afghanistan for some period of time. The only way we can succeed in Afghanistan is to create an environment conducive to development and good governance. Our U.S. military is an essential component of that.

Requiring President Obama to develop an ``exit strategy''--only a few months after he increased the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan and launched a new strategy--would raise questions about our commitment to the Afghan people and complicate our efforts to help them create a stable and secure nation in a way that would supersede whatever benefits we could get from the passage of this amendment.

I would ask my colleagues to give the President's plan a chance to work.

Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the Turner amendment to H.R. 2647.

While I appreciate the fact that the gentleman incorporated a number of changes suggested by the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee-- which clearly improved the text--and that this debate is about what kind of a strategic force reduction agreement to have, rather than whether to have one at all, I remain concerned about the timing of this amendment.

It is offered as President Obama is preparing to embark on an important visit to Moscow, where he and Russian President Medvedev will hold a summit to discuss a range of critical issues, including the negotiation of a new agreement on U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces.

Limiting the scope of a future treaty on the eve of these sensitive discussions would make it much more difficult for the President to negotiate an agreement that adequately protects U.S. national security interests.

Indeed, imposing these limits would only give Russian negotiators additional leverage over the United States as these negotiations begin.

Aside from the fact that this amendment undermines the U.S. negotiating posture, the Executive Branch would almost surely declare that this provision infringes on the President's constitutional authority. So we are providing the Russians with leverage on a provision that the President is likely to treat as advisory. I simply don't think this is the right approach.

In a more general sense, the amendment would also undermine the President's efforts to improve relations with Russia, and particularly to increase cooperation with Moscow on preventing Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability.

Mr. Chair, for all of these reasons, I urge my colleagues to oppose the Turner amendment.

Mr. Chair, during House consideration of H.R. 2647, the National Defense Authorization Act I, along with several other Members of Congress, was unavoidably detained in a meeting on immigration policy at the White House with President Obama. Had I been present, I would have voted against the McGovern/Jones/Pingree Amendment, for the McGovern/Sestak/Bishop (GA)/Lewis (GA) Amendment, against the Franks/ Cantor/Sessions/Broun/Roskam Amendment, against the Akin/Forbes Amendment, for the Holt Amendment, and for the Connolly Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it may be in order today for the Speaker to entertain a motion that the House suspend the rules and adopt House Resolution 560.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 560) expressing support for all Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and rule of law, and for other purposes.

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

Every day since Iran's election, the streets of Tehran have been filled with demonstrators, and each day this past week the number seems to be growing. Even state-run media in Iran has put the number of demonstrators in Tehran at ``hundreds of thousands.'' One British newspaper reports that there were a million demonstrators in Tehran yesterday.

What do these demonstrators want? Are they simply in favor of the candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi? Or are they making a more profound statement about the Iranian regime?

Nobody knows exactly. We do know one thing, though: The demonstrators feel their intelligence was insulted and their dignity assaulted by the high-handed manner in which the results of the June 12 election were handled. They want justice. This morning the Supreme Leader offered none.

It is not for us to decide who should run Iran, much less determine the real winner of the June 12 election, but we must reaffirm our strong belief that the Iranian people have a fundamental right to express their views about the future of their country freely and without intimidation.

The Iranian regime is clearly embarrassed by the demonstrations and has not shrunk from using violence to stop them. At least eight demonstrators, and quite likely a number more, have been killed, and hundreds have been injured. The regime has also tried to ban media coverage of the demonstrations. Foreign journalists are consigned to their homes and offices. Several have been expelled from the country. Cell phone coverage has been frequently blocked in order to limit communication among the protesters, and the regime has interfered with the Internet and taken down many opposition Web sites.

We cannot stand silent in the face of this assault on human freedom and dignity. I repeat that we have no interest in interfering in Iran's internal affairs. That era has ended. This resolution affirms the ``universality of individual rights'' as well as ``the importance of democratic and fair elections.'' Beyond that, it simply expresses its solidarity with ``Iranian citizens who embrace the values of freedom, human rights, civil liberties, and the rule of law.'' I don't know how many of the demonstrators fall into that category, but I do know that many of them do.

This resolution also condemns the bloody suppression of freedom. It is not a judgment on who won the Iranian elections; it is an acknowledgment that we cannot remain silent when cherished universal principles are under attack.

Mr. Speaker, I want to just offer my appreciation to our ranking member and to the gentleman from Indiana for working together on a resolution which puts the House of Representatives on the side of the people of Iran, and with that, I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute.

My friend, the ranking member, correctly cited a whole series of very important issues that we and the United

States has with the Government of Iran; and she is correct. Just this quick note about what the gentlelady from Florida pointed out at the end of her comments. The reason I worked to bring this resolution up-- this resolution is not about a recitation of all those issues. It's about an affirmation of something that this House of Representatives has done in places all over the world, whether it is in Tibet or in Cuba or in Eastern Europe or in the Middle East or any other region, to reaffirm our commitment to stand for certain fundamental universal principles involving human rights, participatory democracy and the affirmation of the rights of the people of any country. Today it's about the people of Iran.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my dear friend, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentlelady from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds.

The gentleman for whom I have great respect, the minority whip, spoke about America's moral commitment to speak out on behalf of people yearning for freedom. We have an even higher moral commitment, and that is to do the things that help expand the extent of human freedom around the world. And it is in that context that I know that this House and this administration are pursuing this mission, that higher authority to do the things that produce the greatest likelihood of the expansion of human freedom.

I now yield 2 minutes to a member of the committee, a great Member from the State of Georgia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend from Florida, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Klein.

Mr. Speaker, could I get an assessment or calculation of the remaining time on both sides?

I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to an excellent member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. Speaker, should I by yielding 1 minute of my time to the gentleman from South Carolina at this point?

And then if you yield time, he'll have all his time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Inglis).

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I would just yield myself such time as I may consume to once again thank the minority for working with us, my ranking member, as well as Mr. Pence, particularly to say that my fondest hope is that on these critical kinds of issues we can establish a bipartisan basis for working together.

And then simply to say that there are many American interests in U.S.-Iranian relationships. This resolution is not about American interests. It's about American values, which I believe are universal values: the values of the rule of law, of participatory democracy, about individual liberty, and about justice. And it is on behalf of those universal values, not American interests, that I urge this body to support this resolution.

General Leave

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.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.