Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 2216, a bill originally introduced by Representative Cox of California, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the time.

I rise to strongly condemn the statements made by Iran's so-called President and to call on the international community at the United Nations to take swift action to compel Iran to change its destructive behavior.

I rise in support of this resolution, and I thank Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos and our leadership for bringing this important measure before this House this morning.

Earlier this week, Iran's so-called President called for Israel to be wiped off the map and for a new wave of Palestinian attacks to destroy the Jewish State.

He further stated that anybody who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the Islamic nations' fury, while any Islamic leader who recognizes the Zionist regime means that he is acknowledging the surrender and the defeat of the Islamic world.

Nations throughout the world have condemned the regime's comments, but the international community needs to do more.

The Iranian leadership has a history of calling for the wholesale destruction of Israel. On December 14, 2001, the current president of Iran's Expediency Council and the former Iranian President Rafsanjani threatened Israel with nuclear attack saying that the use of even one nuclear bomb inside Israel will destroy everything in Israel, while it will merely harm the Islamic world.

Iran's behavior is a threat to peace and security and, as such, runs contrary to the United Nations Charter and the spirit of an organization built upon the ashes of the Second World War.

In calling for the destruction of Israel, Iran, a U.N. member state, stands in grave breach of the U.N. Charter which stipulates that member states must foster peaceful relations with one another.

My colleagues and I are circulating letters to Secretary Rice and U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan calling not only for Iran to be censured, as this resolution rightfully does, but for the U.N. Security Council to recommend expulsion of Iran from the United Nations system.

I support this resolution before us because it calls for all civilized nations to consider measures to deny Iran the means to carry out its threats and to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

However, Mr. Speaker, we need to do more to secure concrete actions from our allies. We need to leverage all of our political, diplomatic, and economic tools to ensure that Iran does not cross the nuclear threshold, that it stops its chemical and biological weapons program, that it ends its sponsorship of terror and it stops oppressing its own people.

H.R. 282, the Iran Freedom Support Act, which I introduced with my distinguished colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), provides a comprehensive, multi-tiered, non-military approach to the Iranian threat. The legislation has 325 co-sponsors, and I urge that it be acted upon before the House adjourns this year.

Mr. Speaker, Iran is the full ticket. It is not just Israel's problem. It constitutes a clear and present danger to regional and global security and must elicit a clear and comprehensive response.

The time has come for Congress and the international community to hold Iran accountable for its destructive behavior. I urge my colleagues to render their strong support for this resolution, but we must do more. We must also pass H.R. 282. It seeks to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its unacceptable behavior and to contain the threat by denying Tehran the resources to engage in its sponsorship of terrorism worldwide, its development of long-range missiles, and chemical, biological and possibly nuclear weapons, and its repression of the Iranian people.

I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution, but also to pass H.R. 282.

Congress of the United States,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC, October 25, 2005.

Hon. Henry J. Hyde,

Chairman, Committee on International Relations, U.S. House of

Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Hyde: I would like to take this opportunity

to respectfully request that H.R. 282 be scheduled for mark-

up by the Committee next month (November 2005).

H.R. 282, seeks to hold the Iranian regime accountable for

its unacceptable behavior and to contain the threat by

denying Tehran the resources to engage in its sponsorship of

terrorism worldwide, its development of longer-range missiles

and chemical, biological, and, possibly, nuclear weapons and

its repression of the Iranian peeople.

General Background

Mr. Chairman, almost three years of negotiations between

the E3-EU countries and the Iranian regime have yet to yield

a permanent suspension of enrichment activities and a

dismantling of Iran's nuclear program. On the contrary Iran,

in August of this year, resumed its nuclear efforts removing

the IAEA seals on the uranium conversion plant at Isfahan

and, in September, Iran began to transfer more of its nuclear

program under military control.

Referral of the Iran case to the UN Security Council,

should that occur, would not necessarily yield any concrete

steps to contain or halt Iran's nuclear pursuits.

Lastly, the E3-EU/Iran negotiations fail to address other

critical issues of great importance to U.S. national security

interests

such as Iran's sponsorship of terrorist activities, including

in Iraq, while H.R. 282 seeks to cover the range of U.S.

policy priorities.

Procedural Background

On April 13, 2005, the Subcommittee on the Middle East and

Central Asia held a mark-up session to consider H.R. 282. The

legislation was amended and adopted by unanimous consent and

forwarded by voice vote to Full Committee for action.

My Subcommittee Staff Director has worked with your staff

on the full Committee to seek input from the Administration,

having met with NSC and State officials on May 25, 2005 and

on June 27, 2005. At the June 27th meeting, a written line

in/line out was promised ``in the next couple of weeks.'' In

mid-July, a deadline of July 22nd was given to the NSC to

provide a line in/line out to the Committee but it was not

met.

On September 28, 2005, I met with , who asked for more

time before calling for a Full Committee mark-up of H.R. 282.

I agreed to wait a few weeks.

It has now been a month since that meeting and the Russian

Federation remains opposed to referral of the Iran case to

the UN Security Council and insists on ``Iran's lawful right

to a peaceful nuclear energy program.'' Further, the position

of the EU now appears to be focused merely on convincing

Tehran to ``resume talks'' and ``resume suspension.''

In the interim, Iran inches closer to crossing the nuclear

threshold.

Status of H.R. 282

Mr. Chairman, H.R. 282 provides critical leverage for the

Administration to use to compel greater action from U.S.

allies who, months ago, were asked by the U.S. to consider

individual sanctions on Iran for its breaches and, instead,

continue their multibillion dollar investments in Iran's

energy sector.

H.R. 282 is in keeping with U.S. efforts to address the

multiple threats posed by the Iranian regime, as well as with

the U.S. strategy to bring freedom and democratic governance

to the people of the Middle East.

H.R. 282 currently enjoys the support of 325 co-sponsors,

including:

Members of the Republican and Democrat Leadership

Three-fourths of the Members of the Committee on

International Relations (22 out of 27 GOP/17 of 23 DEM)

7 Full Committee Chairs and 8 Ranking Members

49 of 65 Members of the Committee on Armed Services

17 of 21 Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on

Intelligence

25 of 34 Members of the Committee on Homeland Security

42 of 66 Members of the Committee on Appropriations

Committee Action Requested

Mr. Chairman, you have exerted Congressional oversight and

the Committee's jurisdiction on a range of important issues

such as the U.S.-India nuclear deal and the amendment to the

Iran Nonproliferation Act, despite Administration concerns.

In that vein, I ask for your assistance and respectfully

request that you immediately schedule H.R. 282--the Iran

Freedom Support Act--for mark-up.

Sincerely,

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,

Chair, Subcommittee on the

Middle East and Central Asia.

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the Congressional Hispanic Conference to recognize the Century Council and Nickelodeon for their creation of an innovative new program to educate middle school kids about underaged drinking.

The Century Council is a national not-for-profit organization funded by America's leading distillers to develop and implement programs designed to combat drunk driving and underaged drinking.

The Congressional Hispanic Conference has teamed up with Century Council and Nickelodeon to launch Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Do Not Mix. The program helps adults and children communicate early and often about this important issue in a format and a language designed specifically for them.

I commend the Century Council and Nickelodeon for giving Hispanic parents and children across the Nation such a valuable communications tool to initiate these critically important discussions regarding the dangers of alcohol.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate National Spina Bifida Awareness Month and to pay tribute to the more than 250,000 Americans in the Spina Bifida Community. There are an estimated 70,000 people in the United States who are currently living with Spina Bifida, the most common permanently disabling birth defect.

The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBAA) is an organization that has helped those affected by this debilitating disease for over 30 years and is the Nation's only organization solely dedicated to advocating on behalf of the Spina Bifida community. With almost 60 chapters in more than 125 communities, the SBAA brings families together to answer questions, voice concerns, and lend support to one another.

Together the SBAA and various local SBA Florida chapters work tirelessly to help the families of those living with Spina Bifida meet the challenges and enjoy the rewards of raising their children. I would like to thank the local chapters of SBAA in my State of Florida for all they have done and all that they will continue to do. The chapters in my State are a partner in the SB Hurricane Emergency Life Support Program established by the SBAA to distribute vitally needed supplies and assistance to Spina Bifida victims of the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.

The exact cause of Spina Bifida is not known, but research has shown that if a woman takes 400 mcg of folic acid every day before she becomes pregnant, she reduces her risk of having a baby with Spina Bifida or another neural tube defect by as much as 70%. Although the exact cause remains unknown, genetics and environment are believed to play a role. Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect that happens in the first month of pregnancy when the spinal column doesn't close completely. Every day, an average of 8 babies are affected by Spina Bifida or a similar birth defect of the brain and spine, contributing to the 3,000 babies born annually with the disease.

With proper medical and family care people affected by Spina Bifida can live productive lives with the help of braces and/or a wheelchair. The key to a better life for Americans who live with Spina Bifida is research. Our goals are to develop new mechanisms for treatment, understanding and the prevention of Spina Bifida.

I am proud to be a member of the Congressional Spina Bifida Caucus and hope that all of my colleagues will join me in working to

spread awareness about this disease. I encourage you all to join the caucus so that together we can improve the quality of life of those living with Spina Bifida.

I again wish to thank the SBAA and its chapters for all of their hard work to prevent and reduce suffering for those individuals living with Spina Bifida throughout this Nation. We all owe a great debt to the SBAA for what they have done.

Mr. Speaker, this evening, many of my colleagues, with the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), who will be our leader, will be rising tonight on the floor to speak in strong support of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Violence against women is a horrific epidemic that continues to plague our world; and as a wife, as a mother, and a female Member of Congress, I realize the profound responsibility that all of us have to work together with our colleagues to pass legislation that would speak to the very heart of each and every woman.

As a result, thanks to the leadership of the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), we have consistently supported legislation that protects women from the grave attacks on human rights that they face.

It is vital to understand that to promote the welfare of women is also to support the subsistence of mankind.

Domestic violence is not just a woman's issue. It is a national issue that demands our utmost attention and it demands to be a priority. Legislation passed in 1994 and reauthorized in the year 2000 will expire on September 30 of this year, crippling the fight to protect women from domestic abuse. The programs funded by the Violence Against Women Act have had a profound impact on many women who are victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Sexual violence in our colleges and universities has reached epidemic proportions. It is appalling to imagine that when our precious children go to school to learn they are at risk for violence. This bill would provide additional funding for the training of campus law enforcement and campus judicial boards so that universities can focus on the critical task of educating our students.

Violence against women creates significant barriers to equity for women. The Violence Against Women Act would authorize critical programs and develop new services that respond to the needs of our communities. This bill recognizes the importance of cooperation between local law enforcement agencies and the courts and court-related personnel.

Violence against women cuts across racial and ethnic lines. In fact, minority women often face additional hardships which could in turn delay the healing process. Therefore, effective community developed programs that incorporate culturally specific services can break down some of these barriers that often isolate survivors. This bill provides support to local law enforcement, prosecutors, and to victim assistance programs to both stop violence against women and help the survivors so that they can start a new life.

We have to continue to work together to ensure that a culture of equality is cultivated, where the woman's role is increasingly recognized within society. Women make an indispensable contribution to the growth of our culture and their extraordinary presence permeates every aspect of our society. Without the contribution of women, society is less alive, culturally impoverished, and peace is made less stable.

As Vice Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Women's Caucus, I have consistently fought to protect women from domestic and sexual abuse, and I am so glad that we are joined not only by my colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), but the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito), who has been a leader in our women's caucus on this issue.

So we are talking about American women here, not Republican women, not Democrat women, but American women. The Violence Against Women Act is too important an issue for it to be left to partisan politics.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize that FEMA's immediate focus is to provide relief for the victims in the Gulf States, but I take this time to ask the agency to reconsider its decision to deny South Florida individual assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. As my Florida colleagues and I stated in a letter to the FEMA director, he has the authority to provide such assistance and I urge him promptly to do so.

I commend our Governor, Jeb Bush, for his efforts in deploying personnel and equipment to the impacted States, and I especially applaud his strong actions against price gouging. Members of Florida's extensive team of emergency response vessel crews, search and rescue teams, National Guardsmen and emergency management officials will continue to deploy from Florida to support operations in the impacted areas. These efforts represent Florida's largest State-to-State assistance in history. South Florida was devastated by Hurricane Andrew 13 years ago. We understand how long it will take for these Gulf State victims to recover economically, physically, and emotionally.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to speak about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.

I come from an area and a State that knows first hand the tragedy and suffering that can be caused by a hurricane of the magnitude of Katrina.

It is therefore from within this deep understanding that we extend our thoughts and prayers to all whose lives have been affected by this deadly disaster.

I fully support providing all the necessary assistance and funding and emphasize the need to use every available resource to aid all the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

I recognize that FEMA's immediate focus is to provide relief for the victims in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, but ask FEMA to reconsider its decision to deny South Florida Individual Assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

As my colleagues and I stated in a letter to Undersecretary Michael Brown, FEMA has the authority to provide such individual assistance and should promptly exercise such authority.

I am pleased that the State of Florida has responded so quickly to New Orleans and Mississippi.

The State has deployed personnel, equipment and commodities to Mississippi to aid response and recovery from the overwhelming impact of Hurricane Katrina.

In the hours and days after the catastrophic storm, Governor Jeb Bush pledged the support of Florida to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour.

I must commend Governor Bush for his outstanding efforts, especially for taking strong action against price gougers, and for expressing his solidarity with the people so severely impacted in Mississippi and Louisiana.

Resources from Florida were mobilized through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Tons of food and money collected in South Florida are ready to be sent to ravaged Gulf Coast States.

Florida's State Emergency Response Team is supporting local officials and federal responders with search and rescue missions and emergency management operations in Mississippi.

Members of Florida's extensive team of emergency response vessel crews, search and rescue teams, National Guardsmen and emergency management officials will continue to deploy as needed to support operations in the impacted area.

These efforts represent Florida's largest State-to-State assistance in history.

I extend my most heartfelt gratitude to all those who have joined in efforts to provide assistance, especially all volunteers, representatives of the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the National Guard, the Reserves, Emergency and law enforcement personnel, and Department of Health medical assistance resources.

Hurricance Katrina, and the devastating after-effects, has severely impacted many staff and Members of our own Congressional Community.

Specifically, the coastal districts of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi were most hard hit. Staff and Members from these areas have been personally affected and in some cases their district offices were either severely damaged or destroyed.

Although my home State of Florida, and especially my Congressional district in South Florida, were hit hard by Hurricane Katrina, we were fortunate that the damage was not as severe as was initially anticipated.

Yet, the damage incurred has serious long-term ramifications for the welfare of our State.

Thousands of constituents have suffered severe damage to their home and property, in addition to enduring power outages and lack of communications.

The Florida agriculture community was one of the hardest hit. Katrina's unexpected jog south caught many South Miami-Dade nurseries and groves unprepared.

As the agricultural community reels, the farmers, growers, and laborers who depend on the industry for their livelihood are tense with uncertainty.

Katrina's high waters and heavy winds inundated acres of agriculture.

Crop loss in Miami has been estimated at $427 million and economic loss is estimated at $691 million.

This loss will have far reaching effects as Miami-Dade's billion dollar agricultural industry is second to tourism as the areas top source of income.

It is clear that this is a nationwide issue that requires a nationwide response.

Our country's strength has always derived from the character, courage, and compassion of our people and, together, we will help each other through this difficult period and prevail over the devastation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of a Resolution which I cosponsored, and which was introduced today, recognizing the establishment of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, Poland. This museum celebrates 900 years of Jewish life in Poland and commemorates the millions of Polish Jews killed during World War II.

The Holocaust proved to be one of the most horrendous offenses against humanity. In total, an estimated 6,000,000 Jews, more than 60 percent of the pre-World War II Jewish population of Europe, were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators in Poland and throughout Europe.

As the epicenter for European Jewish culture and arts, Poland was home to 3.3 million Jews prior to World War II. The Nazis established their largest concentration camp in Poland at Auschwitz, At a minimum, 1.3 million people were deported to the camp between 1940 and 1945, and at least 1.1 million were murdered there.

I applaud and commend the Government of Poland's support of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw, and its commitment to Holocaust education. In addition, the philanthropic efforts by a number of companies and organizations cannot be ignored.

Mr. Speaker, we must never forget the tragic events that led up to the Holocaust and we must urge all countries and all peoples to strengthen their efforts to fight against racism, anti-Semitism and intolerance around the globe.

If we do not remain committed to teaching the lessons of the Holocaust for future generations, then history will be doomed to repeat

itself. The Museum of the History of Polish Jews serves as an important element to ensure future generations will remember the 900 years of Jewish culture in Poland and their sacrifices.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Steve Sauls, an extraordinary advocate for the students and the school of Florida International University in my hometown of Miami.

As an experienced member of the administration and leadership at the university, Steve has worked incredibly hard to promote the needs and the interests necessary to make FIU the fine institution that it is today.

Steve is retiring from his current position as vice president of government affairs for the university after 14 wonderful and productive years and has accepted a job as vice president of corporate relations in a private sector firm. I know that Steve will be immensely missed at the university, my alma mater, and will leave a void that will be difficult to fill. I have no doubt that Steve will continue to lead and excel in his new position, and I wish him all the best and FIU all the best in the years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 383) encouraging the Transitional National Assembly of Iraq to adopt a constitution that grants women equal rights under the law and to work to protect such rights.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within 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 this important resolution. It supports the full participation of Iraqi women in the political, in the economic, and in the social life of a free Iraq on the path to democratic governance.

Today Iraq stands in stark contrast to Iraq under Saddam Hussein. While Saddam Hussein's brutal regime indiscriminately slaughtered Iraqis, the women were among the most vulnerable. The notorious Fedayeen beheaded women in public, dumping their severed heads at their families' footsteps. The regime used widespread rape to extract confessions from the detainees. Saddam Hussein's legacy of terror knew no boundaries.

In assessing the progress achieved and the U.S. contributions to the empowerment of Iraqi women, I look to leaders such as Dr. Khuzai, who served as a member of the Iraqi Governing Council and the National Council on Women. After being prisoners in their own country for 35 years, Dr. Khuzai said, ``For the Iraqi women, the morale is so high that you can't even understand it unless you go and see. We will be grateful forever.''

I was fortunate, Mr. Speaker, to have the opportunity to visit Iraq as part of an historic all-female congressional delegation. We met with women from all sectors and all educational backgrounds, and the message we heard from all of these women was very clear, that they want a say, they want a role, they want to participate, and they want us to help them get there.

To achieve this end, the U.S. is helping Iraqi women reintegrate themselves into Iraqi society and to the outside world. The administration embarked on the Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative to train Iraqi women in the skills and practices of democratic public life. It also established the U.S. Iraqi Women's Network, helping to mobilize the private sector in the United States and to link important resources here to critical needs on the ground.

The administration continues to provide assistance and sponsors programs that help Iraqi women develop in multiple areas, from literacy programs and vocational training to human rights education and election training.

Recently we saw the fruits of our efforts as countless Iraqi women went to the polls to have their voices heard.

The resolution that we are considering here today, Mr. Speaker, highlights the many advances of the status of women in Iraq since Saddam's deposition, and particularly the fact that women today lead the Iraqi Ministries of Displacement and Migration, Telecommunications, Municipalities and Public Works, Environment, Science and Technology, and Women's Affairs.

However, as with every incipient democracy, particularly in a country that does not have a history of democratic governance to pull from or a regional basis of cooperation or comparison, much more needs to be done. It is, therefore, important for the United States Congress to express support for the Iraqi constitutional process and share the wisdom of our own experience by underscoring the importance of securing equal rights for women in Iraq, in their bill of rights, and the overall constitutional framework.

This resolution does just that, Mr. Speaker, and I thank my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger) for introducing this important measure, and all of our other colleagues who have worked on this, and I highlight the assistance of the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), the gentleman from California (Ranking Member Lantos), and the leadership in bringing it to the floor today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), the author of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne), who has been a true leader on Iraq issues, on democratic governance, on women's issues in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to my good friend, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 384) condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on July 23, 2005, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 384.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is highly regrettable that the House must once again be in the position of having to express its outrage at yet another terrorist incident. Again, that incident is linked to a terrible distortion or perversion of Islam, a perversion that resulted in the killing of scores of Egyptians and their foreign guests, including an American, at Sharm el-Sheikh last weekend.

Two weeks ago we were sharing in the loss of scores of British citizens after the treacherous attacks in London. Today through this resolution we share in the mourning of Egyptians. Our feeling of sympathy is common to both peoples who share with us, most of all, our humanity, and whom we mourn just as we mourn all others who are lost in terrorists attacks around the world.

Despite our differences with certain policies pursued by the Government of Egypt, the killing of innocents must be strongly condemned, and we stand ready to support Egyptian authorities in bringing to justice those responsible for the recent attacks. We must unite with the Government and the people of Egypt to help fight a common enemy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Government Reform.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time; but before yielding back my time, I would like to express my personal best wishes to Danielle Simonetta, who is back here, and who will end her exceptional service with the House this week. With her warm good spirits and a depth of managerial skills, she has conducted the legislative agenda on this side of the aisle, frequently under tremendous pressure from many quarters, though not, of course, from Members.

I know I speak for Members on both sides of the aisle when I say, Thank you, Danielle. We are going to miss you, and we welcome you back to our congressional family at any time.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for yielding me this time and for his great leadership on this important issue.

America is the beacon of hope, the beacon of freedom and hope and opportunity for so many people. It was the beacon of hope and opportunity for my family when we came over from Cuba. America spreads democracy to every corner of the world. We stand firm in the belief that every person is entitled to the freedom that we in the United States are so fortunate to enjoy. Open trade and free markets with democracies play key roles in sustaining that vision.

This House tonight will demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the spread of democracy by passing CAFTA. Some countries in this region were riddled with internal strife and political instability. I know. I represent many of those people who escaped from that internal strife in their countries. Although many of them have traveled a long way toward democracy in their homelands, now their homelands have arrived. They have democracies, and they are flourishing. But they need our help.

CAFTA will be a critical tool in maintaining this momentum towards a prosperous future. Not only will it promote expanded development and openness in the region; CAFTA will also create new opportunities, economic opportunities, jobs and growth, by eliminating tariffs, by promoting transparency, and by opening markets to U.S. products going abroad.

We have a commitment to work together to promote civil society, the rule of law, and to spread democracy throughout the world; and CAFTA-DR will help us achieve that commitment.

(The gentlewoman from Florida spoke in Spanish.)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend one of our colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox). Tomorrow he will go before the Senate Committee on Financial Services, Housing, and Urban Affairs to have his nomination considered for the Securities and Exchange Commission, and I would like to extend congratulations to him and his family. I have every confidence that in his new capacity, Chris will do an excellent job.

Chris has made such a positive and lasting impression during his tenure here in the House, and he will be sorely missed.

Since 1988, Chris has made countless contributions, especially as the first chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security. In this capacity, he oversaw a momentous and much-needed reorganization of the Nation's security authority.

I feel privileged to have worked with such a distinguished Member of Congress, and I wish him continued success in all of his future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time of the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter).

Mr. Speaker, as the House prepares to take up the Central American Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, CAFTA-DR, this week, I urge my colleagues to render their full support for this measure.

This is an agreement that is not solely about trade, but also about saving lives and furthering the spread of democracy in the world. Passing CAFTA-DR has many positive and far-reaching implications. It promotes U.S. national security objectives in our own backyard by opening markets and fostering economic development, which are the critical weapons in fighting the conditions that breed instability and terrorism. By supporting CAFTA-DR, we will be giving the people of the countries included under the agreement the hope for change and for progress.

CAFTA-DR is not only vitally important to the future of the Central American nations and to the Dominican Republic, but to our own economic well-being and overall strategic considerations. By expanding exports, by lowering the trade deficit, CAFTA-DR creates jobs. Today nearly 80 percent of the products from Central America and the Dominican Republic and 99 percent of the agricultural products already enter the United States duty free. America's markets are already open. But Americans who wish to sell to Central America and the DR, on the other hand, face high tariffs. CAFTA-DR eliminates those foreign taxes, opening the region's markets to goods, services and farm products from the United States.

U.S. investors have invested billions of dollars overseas, stimulating trade. U.S. investors must be treated fairly in foreign markets like Central America if the system is to work fairly. The passage of CAFTA-DR in my home State of Florida would have far-reaching positive implications. Collectively the countries of CAFTA-DR are Florida's largest export destinations. Even individually CAFTA-DR markets are important trading partners for my home State of Florida. CAFTA-DR would provide enhanced market access to the Dominican Republic and to Central America as it will boost opportunities for Florida exporters throughout the region, providing new market access for the State's products.

CAFTA-DR will further obligate our trading partners to bring their laws and their regulations up to U.S. standards in areas such as the regulation of services, investments, intellectual

property, telecommunications, procurement, and e-commerce. Establishing a level playing field helps U.S. businesses to compete. Concurrently CAFTA-DR will help strengthen the rule of law and promote transparency against all sectors. In doing so, it would help deny criminal elements and other unsavory characters of the corrupt structures that they could manipulate for anything from money laundering to terrorist financing.

As such, CAFTA-DR also serves to promote democratic governments, thus advancing stability and consolidating freely elected governments that are our allies in the war on drugs and the international war on terror.

By strengthening our allies, our neighboring countries, we are helping to stabilize and strengthen our own Nation. In passing CAFTA- DR, we are helping to ensure that the countries it includes will have the opportunity to fight threats to their democratic institutions that feed off discontent, poverty, and disenfranchisement.

On the other hand, failure to pass CAFTA-DR in Congress will only serve to cripple our efforts in freezing out narcoterrorist gangs and others who threaten our hemispheric stability.

Finally, CAFTA-DR would also allow Central America to thrive by exporting goods through trade rather than exporting people through illegal immigration. Opportunities would also increase access to new technologies and educational opportunities that are going to afford small and medium businesses the ability to expand and diversify. It would open the door to more private investment, to a qualitative and quantitative improvement in the job market, and higher economic growth, government revenue and increased social spending.

In summary, Mr. Speaker, adoption of CAFTA-DR will not only advance our own economic objectives, further our efforts to combat the war on terror and narcotrafficking, but also will strengthen our mission of strengthening and spreading democracy.

I look forward to the passage of CAFTA-DR. A vote for CAFTA-DR is a vote for our U.S. national security.

Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I would like to rise in strong support of the Rohrabacher amendment arguing that our facility in Guantanamo is essential to the defense of the U.S. and our coalition partners.

Mr. Chairman, the Guantanamo Bay facility currently houses some of the elite of our enemy's crop in the war against terror, including enemy combatants ranging from terrorist trainers and recruiters to bombmakers to would-be suicide bombers and terrorist financiers.

Guantanamo provides a strategic interrogation center where these enemy combatants can be questioned and where the results of the interrogations have produced information that has saved the lives of U.S. and coalition forces in the field, as well as has thwarted threats posed to innocent civilians in this country and indeed throughout the world.

Through the detainees held at this facility, we have learned about the detonation systems used in roadside bombs in Iraq, bombs that have been used by the insurgency to kill our troops and innocent Iraqi citizens. Detainees include some of Osama bin Laden's personal bodyguards and one of the suspected 20 hijackers in the 9/11 attacks.

Closing Guantanamo Bay, as some of our colleagues have suggested, will not relieve the United States of needing a facility to house and interrogate suspected terrorists. Should Guantanamo close, the government would have to relocate those functions. Furthermore, given the history of al Qaeda and the jihadists, the closure of Guantanamo would provide an enormous boost in morale to the terrorists and their supporters.

Finally, detainees held at Guantanamo pose a significant threat to Americans, to U.S. allies and civilians in their home countries. There are reports of detainees released from Guantanamo, returned to their home countries, only to resume terrorist activities and attacks against the U.S., our allies, and innocent civilians.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues strongly to support the Rohrabacher amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I did not arrive at the decision to offer this amendment lightly. I discussed it with former staffers and current interns who have served recently in both civilian and military capacities in Iraq. I discussed the situation with my husband, Dexter, a decorated Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat and awarded a Purple Heart. But it was my talks with my

stepson Dougie, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, who is being deployed to Iraq in just 1 week, that had the most profound effect. He helped me to fully comprehend the importance of our mission in Iraq and the impact of what we say here and do here with the impact it has at home and on our Armed Forces serving abroad.

Mr. Chairman, our mission is just. It has far-reaching strategic and political ramifications. It is helping to further U.S. security and foreign policy goals throughout the region. For these reasons, and most importantly for my stepson, Dougie Lehtinen, his financee, Lindsay Nelson, who is also a Marine officer who will ship out to Iraq also in a week, and to all of the members in our proud U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq, I am offering this amendment and I ask my colleagues to render their full support for it.

Iraq is one of the epicenters of the U.S. comprehensive strategy to fight terrorism worldwide. Our ability to project major armed forces to the very heart of the Middle East provides the United States and our allies in the war against terrorism the wherewithal to directly address the tactical and the ideological challenges of Islamic extremism.

Our presence in Iraq further strengthens our leverage against current and emerging threats and it increases the deterrent value of U.S. power.

Finally, through the promotion of incipient Iraqi democracy, we can continue our concerted efforts to counter root causes of Islamist extremist and terrorism in the region. The terrorists are fighting for their survival because freedom threatens them. Democratic governments deny terrorists the weapons, the funds and sanctuary they need in order to survive. Democracy denies them new recruits.

Terrorism mastermind al-Zarqawi acknowledged that coalition forces were having success and that Iraqi sovereignty and democratic governance would thwart their plans. In a February 17, 2004 letter to an al Qaeda operative, al-Zarqawi said, ``Our enemy is growing stronger day by day. By God, this is suffocation. We will be on the roads again.''

One of Osama bin Laden's closest associates wrote in a book published in December 2003 that ``democracy is a far more dangerous threat,'' adding that it makes Muslims refuse to take part in jihad.

The continuing presence of U.S. and coalition forces must be determined by the achievements of concrete objectives, not by arbitrary dates on the calendar. Some may argue that my amendment sets the threshold too high by stating that ``calls for an early withdrawal are counterproductive to security aims of the United States and to the hopes of the Iraqi people.''

However, as we have repeatedly argued in this Chamber, words matter. What we say here to condemn human rights violations, incitement and anti-semitism or expressing support for pro-democracy advocates throughout the world has a tremendous positive impact. In stark contrast, incessant calls for an established date for withdrawal from Iraq has a negative effect. They diminish the morale of the troops and serve to embolden the enemy.

Do we want to send a message to the terrorists that their war of attrition is succeeding, that their commitment to violence, to hatred, and to terror is greater than our commitment to a democratic Iraq, to spreading freedom and fighting tyranny?

The amendment before us seeks to restate our commitment to the successful completion of our mission in Iraq. It establishes as U.S. policy the pursuit of transfer of responsibility for security to Iraqi forces, but cautions against withdrawing prematurely, calling for withdrawal to take place when U.S. national security and foreign policy goals relating to Iraq have been or are about to be achieved. Is this asking too much?

Let us not waver on our commitment to our mission in Iraq. The Iraqi people have not wavered. Our men and women in uniform are not wavering. In fact, this weekend we saw newspaper stories reporting that soldiers are reenlisting at rates ahead of the Army's targets. Army officials say this is due in part to a renewed sense of purpose in fighting terrorism.

Let us demonstrate to our forces that just as our Nation stood behind the greatest generation during World War II as they fought against tyranny, so too do we stand behind our forces in Iraq, a new great generation of heroes whose actions will not only help to make the world safer, but will alter the political landscape towards the irreversible path of freedom and democracy.

I ask my colleagues to support our troops. I ask my colleagues to support the Iraqi people. I ask my colleagues to fight the good fight for freedom and for democracy. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I did not arrive at the decision to offer this amendment lightly.

I arrived at this decision after listening to a former staffer of mine, who recently returned from Iraq, and one of my current interns who served with the United States Army in Iraq.

I arrived at this decision after discussing the situation in Iraq with my husband, Dexter, a decorated Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat and awarded a Purple Heart.

But it was my talks with my stepson Dougie, a first lieutenant in the U.S Marine Corps, that had the most profound effect on me and helped me fully comprehend the importance of the mission that our men and women in the armed forces are embarked on in Iraq.

My stepson, Dougie, is on his way to perform his duty in Iraq.

To him, it is not an obligation. It is an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve his Nation, to contribute to the freedom of the Iraqi people, to confront the terrorists, and, perhaps, most importantly, to fight tyranny as the ``Greatest Generation'' did during World War II.

Our mission is just. It has far-reaching, long-term, strategic and political ramifications. It is helping to further U.S. security and foreign policy goals throughout the region.

For these reasons and, most importantly, for my stepson Doug Lehtinen, his fiancee Lindsay Nelson, who is also a Marine officer who will ship out to Iraq in a week, and all the members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving in Iraq, I am offering this amendment and I ask my colleagues to render their full support for it.

Simply stated, we cannot afford to yield a victory to the terrorists in Iraq and throughout the region.

Iraq is one of the epicenters of the U.S. comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism worldwide--a strategy that includes: killing and disrupting terrorists abroad, confronting theocratic and autocratic regimes that harbor terrorists and facilitate terrorist attacks, and promote economic reform and democracy as a means to address the grievances of people throughout the region that have been manipulated and turned against us by the dictatorial regimes that permeate the region.

Our ability to project major armed forces to the very heart of the Middle East provides the United States and our allies in the war against terrorism, the wherewithal to directly address the tactical and ideological challenge of Islamist extremism.

Our presence in Iraq further strengthens our leverage against current and emerging threats and increases the deterrent value of U.S. power.

Finally, through the promotion of an incipient Iraqi democracy, we can continue our concerted effort to counter root causes of Islamist extremism and terrorism in the region.

The objective is for the U.S. to proactively engage and support reformers and assist in developing within the Middle East a bastion of stable, free-market democratic societies.

We are engaged in a struggle between moderation and extremism.

The terrorists are fighting for their survival. Freedom threatens the terrorists.

Terrorist mastermind al Zarqawi acknowledged that coalition forces were having success and that Iraqi sovereignty and democratic governance would thwart their plans.

In this February 17, 2004 letter to al-Qaeda operatives, al Zarqawi said: ``Our enemy is growing stronger day after day . . . By God, this is suffocation! We will be on the roads again.''

He further said: ``we are racing time . . . If the government is successful and takes control of the country, we just have to pack up and go somewhere else again, where we can raise the flag again or die . . .''

Democratic governments deny terrorists the funds, weapons, and sanctuary that they need to survive. Democracy and freedom deny recruits.

One of Osama bin Laden's closest associates wrote in a book published in September 2003 that ``a far more dangerous threat'' is ``secularist democracy.''

He cautions against democracy's ``seduction'' as it drives Muslims to ``refuse to take part in Jihad.''

This is a clear illustration of how our efforts in Iraq are serving our long-term goals of spreading democracy as an antidote to extremism and terrorism.

Success does not come without challenges. Creating new and effective political and security institutions in Iraq takes time.

The task before us is not insurmountable, but, if rushed, we do risk failure for lack of persistence.

The continuing presence of U.S. and Coalition forces must be determined by the achievement of concrete objectives, not by arbitrary dates on the calendar.

The process of, and criteria governing, the withdrawal of U.S. and Coalition forces from Iraq must be performance-based, not chronologically-based.

Some may argue that my amendment sets the threshold too high by stating that ``calls for early withdrawal of United States and coalition forces are counterproductive to security aims of the United States and the hopes of the Iraqi people.''

I respectfully disagree. As we have repeatedly argued in this Chamber and in the International Relations Committee--words matter.

What we say in this Chamber through resolutions condemning human rights violations, for example, or condemning incitement and anti- Semitism, or expressing support for pro-democracy advocates throughout the world, have a tremendous positive impact.

These statements and measures serve to empower those who toil for freedom throughout the world.

In stark contrast, incessant calls for an established date for withdrawal from Iraq have a negative effect. They serve to embolden the enemy and the terrorists.

Do we want to send a message to the terrorists that their war of attrition is succeeding? That we are weakening in our resolve?

That the terrorists' commitment to violence, hatred, and terror is greater than our commitment to a democratic Iraq, to spreading freedom, and to combating the forces of evil and tyranny?

Many of our coalition allies in Iraq understand the importance of completing our mission there--allies such as Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and the Ukraine who understand the lessons of history and want to take steps to prevent any people from having to experience the suffering that they endured under German occupation and Soviet communist rule.

My colleagues, this amendment does not question anyone's patriotism.

In fact, the amendment before you is a modified text which includes recommendations from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.

This amendment seeks to re-state our commitment to successful completion of our mission in Iraq.

It establishes as U.S. policy the pursuit of a transfer of responsibility for Iraqi security to Iraqi forces, and cautions against withdrawing prematurely, calling for withdrawal to take place when U.S. national security and foreign policy goals relating to Iraq have been or are about to be achieved.

Is this asking too much--considering our goals are to combat those seeking to export their extremist, terrorist ideologies; those who seek to deny the Iraqi people their freedom; those who threaten global peace and security?

Let us not waiver on our commitment to our mission in Iraq.

The Iraqi people have not wavered.

Our men and women in uniform are not wavering.

In fact, this weekend saw newspaper stories reporting that ``soldiers are re-enlisting at rates ahead of the Army's targets.''

Army officials say that this is due, in part, to a ``renewed sense of purpose in fighting terrorism.''

Let us demonstrate to our forces that, just as our nation stood behind the ``Greatest Generation'' during World War II as they fought the evil pursuits of a tyrannical ruler, so too do we stand behind our forces in Iraq--a new great generation of heroes--whose actions in Iraq will not only help make the world safer in the long-term, but will alter the political landscape toward the irreversible path of freedom and democracy.

I ask my colleagues to support our troops.

I ask my colleagues to support the Iraqi people.

I ask my colleagues to fight the good fight for freedom and democracy.

I ask my colleagues to support this amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Green).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul).

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Investigation and Oversight of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Conaway), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Barrett).

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), one of our subcommittee chairmen of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere.

Mr. Chairman, it is my real pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman of the House International Relations Committee.

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

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

Mr. Chairman, I echo the sentiments of my good friend from California (Mr. Lantos) in praising the strong bipartisan show of support for our Armed Forces in this debate, and I thank the chairman for his great leadership and guidance throughout the years.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the distinguished majority leader and a staunch defender of human rights and a supporter of our fighting men and women who wear the proud uniform of the United States and our coalition partners.

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.