Floor Statements

I thank Chairman Taylor as well as his excellent staff for allowing all of the Members to participate in the drafting of this amendment and a debate on this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, there is one provision that is very harmful to my home State of Florida. Along with my Florida Members, we will be fighting the Peterson language that is attached to this bill which will allow offshore drilling just 3 miles off our Nation's coastlines.

The Peterson language would overturn a 25-year bipartisan moratorium on such drilling. It is bad for the environment, it is bad for national security, and it is not the answer to our pressing energy needs.

Three miles. That is the distance in which drilling structures could appear off of Florida's shoreline. These structures could blight the coast, damage sensitive habitat, undermine our State's economic future. Last year alone, 85 million people visited Florida, many to experience the national beauty of our sandy beaches and marine habitats.

Offshore drilling would introduce toxins and pollutants into the ocean environment. The Florida delegation will unite to promote the Putnam amendment later today to strip the Peterson language from the bill.

Mr. Chairman, I am so proud to represent the national treasures of the Florida Keys. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary is home to thousands of plants and animal species as well as the world's third largest living coral reef system. Drilling would threaten the health of this national marine sanctuary and undermine our efforts to foster and restore sensitive areas.

Mr. Chairman, I encourage my colleagues' help in making sure that we can protect Florida's coastline and our Nation's ecosystem by adopting the Putnam amendment and rejecting the Peterson language.

Mr. Chairman, I thank again Chairman Taylor for his time and for this opportunity.

Mr. Chairman, I thank our leader, Mr. Putnam, for the time. And along with my colleagues from the Florida delegation, I rise in strong support of the Putnam amendment and in passionate opposition to any amendment, any language which would allow offshore drilling a mere 3 miles from our Nation's coast.

The Peterson language would overturn the current moratorium on drilling, a moratorium which has been in place for over 25 years.

The bipartisan Florida delegation position remains firm, remains strong: oil and gas drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf is dangerous for the economy, is dangerous for the environment, runs contrary to national security interests, and is not an immediate nor a long-term answer to the Nation's growing energy needs.

Drilling 3 miles off a Florida coast, as Mr. Putnam pointed out.

I am so proud to represent the ecological treasures of the Florida Keys. It is a premier destination for ecotourism. Any offshore drilling near this area would place thousands of rare and vulnerable marine plant species in harm's way and could cripple the Keys' tourism economy.

Drilling structures along the gulf coast would be located in the middle of a hurricane zone. So I hope that we strongly oppose the Peterson language by adopting the Putnam language tonight, and I thank the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Reverend Monsignor Emilio Vallina in celebration of his 54 years of service. As a servant of God, he has truly made a difference in the San Juan Bosco Church community in my congressional district of Miami, Florida.

San Juan Bosco Church is fortunate to have an individual who gives so generously of his time and energy to improve our area. It is the perseverance and compassion of people like Monsignor Vallina that help in the development of a stronger south Florida.

After fleeing the tyrannical Castro regime in 1961, Monsignor Emilio has dedicated himself to the teaching and the practice of the Catholic doctrine. His church in East Little Havana welcomes the poor immigrants, the homeless and the lonely.

Monsignor Emilio Vallina deserves commendation for his hard work and his continuous effort to improve the welfare of our community. May God continue to bless you, my friend, Monsignor Emilio Vallina.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim Mr. McHenry's time.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to rise today to honor the 20th anniversary of the television personality Don Francisco and his wildly popular show Sabado Gigante.

This show was created and is still hosted by Mr. Mario Kreutzberger, better known as Don Francisco, and is watched every Saturday evening by, get this, more than 100 million people worldwide.

Don Francisco's Spanish language international television show Sabado Gigante was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's longest-running variety program.

After a successful 24-year run in Chile, the show's operations were

moved to the United States in 1986 when it began airing throughout the Americas, through the prominent U.S.-Spanish television network, Univision.

By 2001, Don Francisco had already been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and The New York Times said he was, quote, ``probably the most popular and best-known Hispanic television personality,'' end quote, and described him as ``a mix of Ed Sullivan, Regis Philbin, Art Linkletter, Bob Barker, Geraldo Rivera and Phil Donahue, with a dash of Oprah Winfrey's civic-mindedness.''

Don Francisco, your commitment to the U.S.-Hispanic community helped bridge the gap between North America and our the Latin American cultures. Your determination taught newcomers the values and the endless opportunities that their adopted country has to offer.

Don Francisco, you have had a long and illustrious career that has spanned many years of service, dedication, hard work and devotion not only for Hispanics, but for all Americans across our country. Your leadership throughout the past years has helped our Hispanic community grow to become one of America's largest-growing populations and the ideals that it stands for have become an intrinsic part of our country.

A stronger and more educated American population contributes to the greatness of this wonderful Nation, making us competitive for this new global economy in this technologically advanced society.

Your commitment to enriching the lives of others is truly commendable. It is the perseverance and the compassion of people like you who continue to help in the development of a stronger, healthier and more successful community for all Hispanics in the United States.

Don Francisco, you have been such an incredible influence for all Americans across the Americas that this tribute is much well deserved. Your personality, your charisma, your willingness to help others and your incredible talent have assured you a prominent place in television history.

I congratulate Don Francisco wholeheartedly, and I wish him the very best. Felicidades, Don Francisco and 20 more years.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 697) congratulating the people and Government of Italy, the Torino Olympic Organizing Committee, the International Olympic Committee, the United States Olympic Committee, the 2006 United States Olympic Team, and all international athletes upon the successful completion of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to request my colleagues' support of House Resolution 697, a resolution congratulating the people and the Government of Italy, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and other individuals and committees from around the world on the successful completion of the 20th Winter Olympic Games, which were held in Turin, Italy.

``Passion Lives Here'' was the slogan for the Italian Winter Games. The world watched the Games from the opening to the closing ceremonies and witnessed the emotion of the event that stems from thousands of athletes and trainers from every corner of the globe participating in a competition that knows no border or political dispute.

For North and South Korea to march together for the first time during a Winter Olympics opening ceremony, although these two countries are still technically at war, the hope for continued progress toward peace among many differing nations was clearly evident.

This is what the spirit of the Olympics means for all of us for a few short

weeks every 4 years. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, since September 11, the entire world has been transformed. Now, unprecedented levels of security are required to protect Olympic athletes and their teams from attacks.

After all, the Olympic Games were once the target of horrifying attacks on athletes by terrorists. This resolution commends our good friends and allies, the people and Government of Italy, for their extraordinary efforts in protecting the world's athletes during these games.

To implement such an extraordinary security measure while also ensuring the fun, passionate Olympic environment is something not many countries can do with such successful orchestration.

Mr. Speaker, the United States Olympic Committee and team should also be congratulated for winning 25 medals during these Winter Games, nine of them gold, second only to the team's record for the number of medals won at the Winter Games that was set during the Salt Lake City games; and the United States Paralympic team ranks seventh among all nations in the number of medals won during the Paralympic Winter Games.

I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to each of our medal winners who shall forever make the United States proud.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 392) recognizing the 58th anniversary of the independence of the State of Israel, as amended.

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

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

This week, we commemorate Israel's Independence Day. Israel's Independence Day comes just days after the Holocaust Remembrance Day, a date set aside for recalling the victims of the Holocaust and for contemplating what can happen to a civilized people when bigotry, hatred and indifference reign.

Following on the heels of the Holocaust Remembrance Day, the commemoration of Israeli Independence is a salute to and a celebration of Jewish perseverance and endurance, of the strength of character of the Jewish people.

On this day, we honor the great people of Israel, who are in constant struggle to safeguard their nation and ensure their survival amidst military attacks from hostile neighbors and prolonged terrorist campaigns.

Throughout its short history, Israelis have fought against incredible odds to reestablish the birthplace of the Jewish people.

Israel has been in a state of war for 58 years, commencing the moment that Israeli independence was declared by David Ben-Gurion. Yet, even at war, Israel's democracy and its vibrant, diverse and free society have remained strong. As democracies and freedom-loving nations, we stand side by side against oppression, terrorism, hatred and intolerance.

Today, Israel is a strong and prosperous nation. Its economy is thriving, and it has been a world leader in scientific discoveries.

The Israeli government has taken unprecedented steps in the past year to reach a peaceful resolution of their conflict with the Palestinians. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon implemented his plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip. Yet Israel still finds itself without a partner for peace, as the Hamas-led PA has shown that they continue to support acts of terrorism against innocent Israeli civilians.

Today, as the State of Israel marks its 58th anniversary, we pay tribute to the strong bonds of friendship between the United States and Israel, and we reiterate our commitment to its security and its stability.

The United States will never waiver. We will never falter in our support for the State of Israel.

We look forward to a date soon when we can celebrate an independent Israeli Jewish State that exists in peace and security and no longer has to fear for its very survival. I hope that all Americans will join us in extending our best wishes and congratulations to the Israeli people and to the Jewish nation.

Mr. Speaker, 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 move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 90) conveying the sympathy of Congress to the families of the young women murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, and encouraging increased United States involvement in bringing an end to these crimes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 90, introduced by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Solis).

The resolution before us respectfully conveys to the families of more than 400 young women who have been murdered in the State of Chihuahua, Mexico, the deepest sympathy of the

United States Congress. It also encourages law enforcement in the United States to seek closer cooperation with Mexican law enforcement authorities to solve these crimes and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Mr. Speaker, the border with Mexico can be a violent place. With drug traffickers, migrant smugglers, and other violent malefactors operating along the border, young women who live and work in the many border communities often fall prey to these violent criminals.

Over the past 12 years, more than 400 murders and disappearances of women have been committed in the cities of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua City. Fifty-five women have been killed in Juarez and Chihuahua City since 2004 alone. Unfortunately, very few of these cases have been resolved and even fewer perpetrators of this violence have been caught and prosecuted. As a result, the violence continues.

Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 90 will hopefully bring much-needed attention to the brutal torture, rapes, and murders committed against women along the U.S.-Mexican border, especially in the State of Chihuahua, and will underscore the need for more cooperative law enforcement in both the United States and Mexico.

Before this resolution was introduced and brought to the floor, too little attention was paid to this important issue. Today, Congress is taking a stand and urging both the United States and Mexico to ensure its people, wherever they may live and work, that they will be secure within their homes and workplaces and that they can live without the fear of violence which is now sweeping our border communities.

Mr. Speaker, it is important that we in Congress continue to encourage our governments to work with Mexico not only to protect the women in Juarez but also to thoroughly investigate these crimes and bring an end to these murders. House Concurrent Resolution 90 would serve as a call to action along the border and would be a constant reminder to both the United States and Mexico that we must do more to protect our citizens against criminal elements and cooperate more on bringing criminals to justice. I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, 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 move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 658) supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 658, expressing support for the goals and ideals of World Water Day. The global celebration of World Water Day is an initiative that grew out of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations General Assembly by resolution designated March 22 of each year as World Water Day.

I want to thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), for introducing this important resolution. Passing this resolution will add to the strong bipartisan support in Congress for fighting global water challenges. This resolution builds upon the accomplishments of this Congress as embodied in the Senator Paul Simon Water For the Poor Act of 2005, Public Law 109-121, introduced by Mr. Blumenauer.

Water-related illnesses claim the life of one child approximately every 8 to 15 seconds, killing up to 5,000 children a day and up to 5 million people every year. The statistics associated with global water issues are shocking. According to the World Health Organization, 1.2 billion people do not have access to safe water, and 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation.

World Water Day helps to raise awareness among international community members about this humanitarian catastrophe which places global development and human security in peril.

This resolution communicates our support for World Water Day. It recognizes the importance of conserving and managing water resources for sustainable development, environmental integrity, and the eradication of poverty and hunger, human health and overall quality of life; and it encourages the people of the United States to observe World Water Day.

Paula Dobriansky, the Under Secretary For Democracy and Global Affairs, recently led the U.S. delegation to the fourth World Water Forum in Mexico City, Mexico. Under Secretary Dobriansky's remarks emphasized the linkages between increased access to safe water and sanitation to improving human development indicators.

The administration has taken some noteworthy actions in response to these challenges. The Water For the Poor and Clean Water For People are initiatives equaling almost $1.5 billion combined are positive contributions that will advance the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and implement the Johannesburg Plan by 2015 to reduce the number of people by one-half who have no access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

I invite my colleagues and staff to learn more about what the private sector and the U.S. Government are doing to meet these challenges this Thursday at an event sponsored by the Rotary Club of Washington and water advocates. This event will focus on safe water and sanitation worldwide and implementing the Senator Simon Water For the Poor Act. The event will take place on Thursday, May 4, at 11 a.m. in the Montpelier Room of the Library of Congress. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this resolution.

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

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

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

Madam Speaker, Iran is the full ticket--a defiant rogue state, defined by the State Department as the world's most active--state sponsor of terrorism. Its ambition to develop weapons of mass destruction capabilities has been deliberate, deceptive, and long in the making.

U.S. policy has to date pursued a patient course of diplomacy including working with our allies, heeding the findings of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and accepting ineffectual incentives.

However, diplomacy does not mean surrender and of the ``constructive engagement'', incentives, and inducements of the Iranian regime have been no more effective than Neville Chamberlain's famous failed policies of appeasement during World War II.

It is time for the U.S. and our allies to undertake the sacrifices required to deny Iran the political legitimacy, technology, materials, and financial resources to pursue its destructive policies--policies that threaten U.S and global security.

It is our hope that H.R. 282 will serve as leverage for cooperation from those allies who claim to be concerned about the growing Iranian threat but who continue to invest billions in Iran's energy sector and continue to assist Iran's nuclear and missile programs.

Ten years ago, the U.S. called on our European allies to take steps to deny Iran the financial resources to nuclear capabilities.

The U.S. also called on Russia and China to cease their support for Iran's nuclear and missile program.

These calls were ignored.

Then, four years ago, the Iran saga within the context of the IAEA begins.

According to multiple IAEA reports Iran's deceptions and breaches of its international obligations have dealt with the most sensitive aspects of the nuclear cycle.

By September of 2004, as Iran resumed large-scale uranium conversion, then Secretary of State Colin Powell called for the Iran case to be referred to the United Nations Security Council for sanctions to be imposed.

That was not to be. The response from the international community was to offer Iran yet more incentives and to increase its investments in Iran's energy sector.

Every step along the way, Iran has demonstrated contempt for the IAEA and has mocked the international community.

In fact, Iran's former nuclear negotiator recently boasted: ``When we were negotiating with the Europeans in Tehran we were still installing some of the equipment at the Isfahan site . . . In reality, by creating a same situation, we could finish Isfahan.''

That is but a microcosm of how concessions and inaction--inaction including the failure to implement U.S. laws such as the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act--have only served to embolden the Iranian regime and increase the threat Iran poses to U.S. national security interests and global stability.

Just in the last few months, Iran: Resumed its nuclear efforts, removing the IAEA seals on uranium conversion plants; announced it could successfully use biotechnology for its nuclear program, thereby improving its capacity to build nuclear weapons; called for Israel to be wiped off the map; Iran's Defense Minister said that it is ``Iran's absolute right to have access to nuclear arms . . .''; Iran is identified by U.S. military commanders as the source of some of the IEDs being used in terrorist attacks in Iraq; Iran's leader announces that Iran would inflict ``harm and pain'' on the U.S.

Just over a week ago, Iran's so-called president announces that Iran has an indigenous capability to enrich uranium and that it continues to pursue a more sophisticated technology, P-2 centrifuges, that could speed Iran's path to nuclear weapons.

Just yesterday, Iran's Grand Ayatollah underscored that Iran would share nuclear technology with other Islamic nations.

This announcement was made during a meeting with Sudan's brutal leader where the Ayatollah praised the Sudanese regime's policies.

This clearly indicates that the Iranian threat is more than just about its nuclear pursuits. This is a repressive regime that denies the Iranian people the most fundamental freedoms.

It is a regime that, since the infamous day in November 1979 when the U.S. embassy was overrun by Iranian radicals and Americans were taken hostage and held for 444 days, has increasingly viewed terrorism as a legitimate means to further its ideological and strategic aims.

Iran provides Hezbollah with funding, safe haven, training, and weapons that have been estimated by some at more than $80 million per year.

Hezbollah has been linked to the 1983 attacks on the U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon.

Hezbollah has also been linked to the bombing of the U.S. Embassy and the Embassy annex, in Beirut in 1984.

Iran is directly linked to the June 1996 truck bombing of the Khobar Towers U.S. military housing complex in Saudi Arabia.

Iran has used Hezbollah to assert a global reach that has extended into the Western Hemisphere. We witnessed the 1992 bombing of the Israeli embassy in Argentina and the July 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center, also in Buenos Aires.

In December 2001, Matthew Levitt, a former FBI counter-terrorism official, detailed the beginning of al-Qaeda's links with Iran.

Levitt noted: ``According to U.S. intelligence reports, Osama bin Laden's operatives approached Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security, MOIS, agents in 1995 and again in 1996, offering to join forces against America.''

He added: ``In fact, phone records obtained by U.S. officials investigating the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania revealed that 10 percent of the calls from the Compact-M satellite phone used by bin Laden and his key lieutenants were to Iran. ``

Testimony from defendants in the Kenya and Tanzania U.S. embassy bombings, indicate that Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah, with Iranian assistance, have had strategic meetings throughout the years in Sudan and elsewhere.

This is just the tip of the iceberg.

There is still time to contain the threat posed by Iran and adopt short and long-term policies that will compel Iran to change its unacceptable behavior.

H.R. 282 provides such a response.

Briefly, this bill: Codifies U.S. sanctions on Iran and requires that they remain in place until Iran has verifiably dismantled its chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons programs; amends the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act, ILSA, including by enlarging the number of entities that would be subject to sanctions, limiting its application to Iran, and eliminating the expiration date of the law; requires that the names of all individuals, governments and companies that have invested a total of at least $20 million in Iran's energy sector be published in the Federal Register; denies U.S. assistance to countries that are invested in Iran's energy sector; authorizes the President to provide U.S. assistance to peaceful prodemocracy and human rights groups in Iran and for independent broadcasts into Iran.

We must use all available political and economic means to truly make Iran pay for its behavior, and to leverage for cooperation from our allies and convince them to deny Iran the resources to continue along this track.

We must act before it is too late and our options are severely limited.

I ask my colleagues to render their overwhelming support to this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Bay of Pigs Veterans Association 2506 Assault Brigade. On April 15 of this year, this brave group of men will observe two monumental events. They will be commemorating the 45th anniversary of the invasion of the Bay of Pigs and the 43rd anniversary of the liberation of the captured members of the 2506 Brigade. The members of the 2506 Brigade came from all walks of life, ages, and backgrounds. The men range from doctors and farmers to students and priests. The oldest was a highly decorated 52-year-old World War II paratrooper and the youngest a 15-year old who lied about his age in order to be a part of the Bay of Pigs Assault Brigade. The 2506 Brigade trained for months with little supplies in preparing for this assault that they hoped would dethrone a cruel and heartless tyrant. These great patriots risked their lives in hopes of freeing their homeland from the tyrannical grip of a brutal dictator. My parents and I were fortunate enough to escape the oppression and persecution of Castro's regime when I was a young girl. Unfortunately, many have not been as lucky and still live in a country that does not recognize the human rights and personal freedoms that we cherish here in the United States. I applaud the efforts of all those who seek to eliminate the cruel dictatorship in Cuba and in its place instill a foundation for democracy and freedom. I along with the men in this distinguished group look forward to the day when Cuba is a free and sovereign nation. I pray that this day will soon come and that the Cuban people still living under Castro's oppressive regime will be able to have the freedom and democracy that was so patriotically fought for by the members of the 2506 Brigade.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 81, which appoints Dr. Phillip Frost as a Citizen Regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. Dr. Frost and his wife Patricia have long been ardent supporters of the arts, especially in my Congressional District of South Florida.

Dr. Frost grew up living above his father's shoe store as a child in Philadelphia. While in college at the University of Pennsylvania, he traveled to Paris for a year to study French Literature. While in Paris, his life long commitment to the arts began.

Dr. Frost came to South Florida to complete a one-year senior residency at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. Fortunately for South Floridians, he has remained for over forty years, In 1966, he joined the faculty of the University of Miami School of Medicine. From there he moved on to Mount Sinai Medical Center in 1972, chairing their Department of Dermatology until 1990.

Dr. Frost's success in medicine translated into business, and he has used his success to enhance the South Florida Community. Dr. Frost has distinguished himself nationally as a business leader. It came as no surprise that in 2001; he received the National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Dr. Frost's contributions to our community in South Florida have been invaluable. Dr. Frost has been a huge supporter of the University of Miami's Music Department, which is now named after he and his wife.

In 1993, Florida International University presented him with an honorary degree for his many contributions in medicine, business, and community service. He also has been a strong advocate of the Miami Art Museum.

I would like to commend Dr. Frost for his dedication to enriching the lives of South Floridians through the arts. I urge my colleagues to support House Joint Resolution 81 and promote Dr. Frost as a Citizen Regent of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Speaker, the Iraqi tribunal recently announced additional charges against Iraq's former dictator. These include genocide, crimes against humanity, and the use of chemical weapons on thousands of innocent civilians.

The new case involves Saddam's role in ``Operation Anfal,'' which resulted in 5,000 men, women and children being murdered through a gas attack on their village.

One of the pieces of evidence to be presented at the trial is a government decree signed by Saddam in 1987 in which he ordered special artillery bombs to kill as many people as possible in the Kurdish area.

This new case clearly shows that the world is indeed a safer place without Saddam Hussein, and it shows the progress being made in Iraq as the Iraqi people are finally able to seek justice through their legal system.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart. On the 13th of this month, the family of Staff Sergeant Marco Silva experienced the tragic loss of a loving father, devoted husband, and courageous soldier. I would like to offer to the Silvas my deepest condolences on their terrible loss.

Staff Sergeant Silva served two tours of duty in Iraq as an Army air assault sniper for the 101st Airborne Division and had been bravely serving and defending our country since 2002.

Staff Sergeant Silva is a true hero, not only to the people of his hometown in Homestead, Florida, but to all who value the sacrifices that are made every day to keep our country safe and to spread democracy.

Staff Sergeant Silva selflessly fought to defend the liberties that we cherish here in the United States. I ask that your thoughts and prayers be with the Silva family during this most difficult time.

Mr. Speaker, I offer congratulations to members of the Cuban-American Jewish Community who have contributed greatly to our Nation. They were elementary school classmates at the Plantel del Centro Israelita de Cuba and graduated from the sixth grade on June 20, 1958. Some of them were part of the Peter--Pedro--Pan Operation, which brought over 14,000 children and teenagers from Cuba who came to this country without their parents, thanks to the generosity of the U.S. Government. These Cuban Jewish children were cared for by the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society, HIAS, which assisted them in finding housing in foster homes and orphanages.

Despite the fact that they all left Cuba after 1959, they have remained in contact since. Most of these individuals will be celebrating their 60th birthday this year and are holding a reunion in Miami. It will be their first gathering as a group since they risked their lives in search of freedom and liberty to come to this great country that warmly accepted them with open arms. They are proud citizens and are very grateful for the opportunities they have enjoyed in this country such as freedom, peace and prosperity, opportunities that our brothers and sisters in Cuba do not enjoy. I am glad to see such a wonderful group of people committed to bringing freedom and democracy to Cuba.

Many members of the Cuban-American Jewish Community have had long and successful careers that span many years of outstanding service, dedication, hard work, devotion, and love for our country. They are successful parents, professionals, businessmen, community leaders and grandparents. I am proud to recognize the Cuban-American Jewish Community for their tireless dedication to

the well being of our South Florida residents. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Cuban-American Jewish Community for their wonderful service to our great Nation.

Below, I have included the names of the individuals that are part of this distinguished group. In parentheses are the married names of the women.

Aliva Lipschitz (Mingel), Aron Lew, Becky Gol (Eshkenazy),

Berta Perelmuter (Faigenblat), Betty Kozolchyk (Savariego),

Cecilia Lurie (Berenthal), David Vainstein, Eli Bick, Enrique

Bekerman, Enrique Goldberg, Zolia Eva Becker (Don), Gela

Arber (Altman), Isidoro Stein, Jacobo Fridzon, Jacobo Rydz,

Jose Kluger, Joseph Roisman, Judy Derechinsky (Feder), Leon

Kopel, Leon Papir, Luis Kosobucki, Luis Lidsky, Luisa Kopel,

Manny Feinstein, Marcos Kerbel, Mark Faigenblat, Moises

Golobovich, Nicky Vaserstein, Perla Radlow (Stein), Polita

Rubinstein (Chyzyk), Rebeca Rosenzweig (Shapiro), Rebecca

Roth (Glinsky), Richard Novigrod, Ruth Silber (Kurkin), Sara

Hochman (Zands), Sarita Zditowsky (Blaugrund), Tere Treibich

(Ben Hain), Toni Rosenberg (Taubenfeld), Vivian Celniker

(Mechaber).

I would also like to recognize the loving memory of those who are no longer with us: Salomon Milner and Alberto Rabinsky.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to call your attention to an extraordinary young woman from South Florida, Arielle Chikovsky.

As a young girl, Arielle learned that she suffered from Ushers Syndrome, a genetic disease which causes the hearing-impaired to lose their eyesight. Yet Arielle has not let her condition detract her from her daily life. Remarkably, last year, at the age of 22, Arielle graduated from law school.

Arielle is a finalist in the American Eagle Live Your Life Essay Contest. If named the winner, she plans to donate the $25,000 reward to Hope for Vision. Hope for Vision is a nonprofit organization dedicated to discovering treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases.

I congratulate Arielle, who sets an example for everyone she encounters, and I support Hope for Vision and its leader, Isaac Lidsky, for their efforts to find a cure for this disease.