Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, we are currently engaged in a detailed and comprehensive review of the United Nations, the system it has, with the goal of providing reforms that are going to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in all U.N. operations. A critical component of this effort must include measures to ensure that Israel is afforded equal treatment and representation while addressing the anti- Israeli and anti-Semitic component that is pervasive in many U.N. bodies and its affiliated agencies.

The 1975 United Nations resolution equating Zionism, the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, to racism stands out as an example of this bias and outright bigotry. While this was the most notorious illustration of its anti-Jewish sentiment at the U.N. there are many, many others.

During the 1991 session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, for example, the Syrian representative to the U.N. repeated the Damascus blood libel that Jews killed Christian children to use their blood to make Matzoth. In 1997, the Palestinian representative charged that the Israeli Government had injected 300 Palestinian children with the HIV virus.

The goals of the 2001 U.N. World Conference Against Racism were undermined by hateful anti-Jewish rhetoric and anti-Israeli political agendas, prompting both Israel and the United States to withdraw their delegations from the conference.

In the United Nations General Assembly, we must look no further than the over 20 resolutions introduced by the Palestinian delegation each and every year against Israel, challenging Israel's policies and her very right to exist. During the 59th session of the U.N. General Assembly for 2004, close to 30 percent of all resolutions considered by this body were measures condemning Israel in some fashion.

At the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, there is an entire agenda item, item 8, that is dedicated to attacking and criticizing Israel. Countries that are gross human rights violators, such as Libya, Indonesia, and Egypt, have introduced resolutions under this category that criticize Israel for alleged human rights abuses in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

An additional resolution was introduced at this year's Human Rights Commission regarding what was termed as the Palestinian right of self- determination for the Palestinians, as well as another one on Israel and Lebanon. Yet there was not a single measure on the Syrian regime's gross violations of the rights of the Syrian and the Lebanese people or on the deplorable acts committed by the Iranian regime against its people.

Israel is a democracy and yet its sovereignty and its right to defend itself are frequently called into question in the United Nations system. The ruling last summer by the International Court of Justice on Israel's security fence is a case in point. Not only was Israel's inherent right to self-defense branded illegitimate by the United Nations, but terrorists and suicide bombers remain uncensored.

In addition, the failure of the U.N. system in fulfilling its mandate is illustrated by the limitations placed on Israel's membership. Israel is denied the ability to serve or run for leadership positions in multiple U.N. bodies and its affiliated agencies. While Israel was accepted as a temporary member of the Western European and Others Group, it is not allowed to present candidacies for open seats in any U.N. body and is not able to compete for major U.N. bodies.

Israel is excluded from consultations at the U.N. offices in Geneva, Nairobi, Rome and Vienna. By contrast, there is a separate ``U.N. Division For Palestinian Rights,'' a ``Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, a U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and Personal Representative to the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority,'' and ``NGO Network on the Question of Palestine.''

There is also an entire agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, specifically designated for Palestinian refugees at a cost of over $400 million in the year 2004, yet all other refugees and internally displaced persons throughout the world are covered by the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner For Refugees.

Mr. Speaker, I include the remainder of my statement for the Record, and close by saying any effort at reforming the United Nations must include an end to the anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment that has infected the U.N. organization for far too long.

I held a hearing last week to evaluate United Nations programs related to the Middle East, with special emphasis on the anti-Israel discrimination and anti-Semitic attacks.

It became abundantly clear that any U.N. reform efforts must address this imbalance and bias in favor of rogue states and individual groups.

In turn, the discrimination against Israel in the United Nations must be brought to an immediate end.

I have undertaken various initiatives to correct this injustice and ensure full membership and participation for Israel in all U.N. forums.

Most recently, I introduced H. Res. 54: calling on the United Nations to hold countries accountable for anti-Semitic statements and anti- Israeli incitement and calling for U.N. entities, such as UNESCO, to develop and implement Holocaust education programs throughout the world as part of an effort to combat such religious intolerance and anti- Israeli bias.

I ask my colleagues to render their support to these efforts and to co-sponsor this resolution.

The goals enshrined in the U.N. Charter--the promotion of international peace and security, and the respect for fundamental human rights--have never been more significant for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, which was founded on the ashes of the Holocaust.

Mr. Speaker, I am greatly humbled to follow such internationally recognized human rights leaders as the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), my good friend, and my equally wonderful friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). I am honored to be in their presence.

And we stand here today, Mr. Speaker, 2 years after a cruel, despotic, and vicious act by one of the most cowardly and evil men in the world, Fidel Castro, the unlawful arrest of over 70 peaceful dissidents on the island of Cuba.

The arrest of these innocent men and women are promulgated by a culture of fear, Mr. Speaker, one that has banned libraries, one that has banned books, one that maintains a system of remote and unmonitored gulags for prisoners of conscience, one that forbids independent labor unions, one that causes the systematic mistreatment of religious believers, one that mandates the summary execution of independent journalists and conscientious objectors.

This important resolution before us demands that the Cuban regime release all political prisoners, legalize all political parties, labor unions and the press, and hold free elections. In other words, to be afforded their basic freedoms.

Further, it calls for the European Union, as well as other countries and international organizations, to pressure the Cuban regime to improve its deplorable human rights record.

As we convene in this great Hall of democracy, many in Cuba continue to be dragged down stairs, strapped to chairs and beaten for wanting one thing and one thing only, freedom, and with that, the freedom to express their thoughts and their ability to exercise their basic universally held human rights.

In passing this legislation, Mr. Speaker, we are once again in the Congress reaffirming our commitment to the brave people of the island of Cuba, especially those 75 men and women who were cruelly arrested for advocating peacefully in favor of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights.

I commend my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), as well as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith),

for this bill, and wholeheartedly support this legislation. And I ask my colleagues to vote in favor of it today.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the employees and management of ASTAR Air Cargo, which is headquartered in my congressional district in Miami.

In April, the U.S. Air Force Air Mobility Command presented awards to 102 ASTAR Air Cargo employees who operated missions for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The all-American ASTAR team was put together by John Dasburg, the Chairman, CEO, and President who is a Vietnam veteran. ASTAR is dedicated to providing superior service, and the U.S. military has chosen to recognize that publicly.

U.S. Air Force Major General Mark Volcheff, Director of Operations of the Air Mobility Command, presented the awards to the ASTAR employees.

These awards highlight the dedication of ASTAR employees who are devoted to serving our country in a time of war. Eight loadmasters and three pilots will receive the Aerial Achievement Medals for meritorious achievement during cargo flight missions. These individuals--Harrow Clyde, Thomas Coleman, Anthony Estrella, Steven Garrett, Frank Haidet, Frank Richmond, Philippe Verbrugghen, John Winters, Captain Stan Kahan, First Officer James Huddleston, and Second Officer Bernard Richardson-- are being honored for flying at least seven missions during the conflicts. In addition to those medals, the Air Force will present 91 Certificates of Appreciation to ASTAR operations and maintenance employees who performed critical functions in support of those missions.

The Air Mobility Command provides strategic airlift and aerial refueling for all of America's armed forces. The individuals honored displayed commendable efforts in the missions. Without their dedication, such missions would not be possible.

ASTAR flies Department of Defense missions and charters for the Air Mobility Command. The awards presented demonstrate that, in addition to ASTAR's regularly scheduled and special air charter services, ASTAR is committed to supporting U.S. Armed Forces missions and troops in harm's way. ASTAR is also a participant in the United States Civil Reserve Air Fleet program supporting our national defense.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend and recognize the work of the health professionals who practice in medical laboratories. In Florida, we will be commemorating the ``Medical Laboratory Week'' from April 25 to April 29 of 2005.

These professionals include laboratory technicians, medical technologists, cytotechnologists, histotechnologists, pathologists, and phlebotomists. They are well educated and highly trained professionals who are an integral part of our healthcare system and vital for the provision of medical testing.

These professionals serve our communities with great dedication and perform an invaluable work that is essential for the diagnosis of medical conditions and monitoring of treatment. Their work is a great contribution to our society and serves to improve the quality of care that our patients receive and deserve.

Please join me in recognizing the professionals who work in laboratory medicine, who have an honorable profession and help to provide exceptional patient care in Florida and in our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight the accomplishments that we have been able to achieve in Afghanistan, thanks to the dedicated and courageous service of our men and women in uniform. These Marines, sailors, airmen, and soldiers exemplify the best of what our country has to offer. By risking, and sometimes giving, their lives, they have allowed the 30 million people of Afghanistan to live in peace and prosperity, free from the fear and tyranny of the Taliban.

By liberating Afghanistan, our fighting men and women also ensured that al Qaeda would no longer be allowed to operate with impunity in what was then a failed state. In a brilliantly waged campaign, our Special Forces brought the fight to our enemies. By utilizing local resistance forces and at times even charging into battle on horseback, they liberated this beautiful country from a menacing dictatorship.

What the Afghans, with the help of the U.S. and our Coalition forces, were subsequently able to achieve is nothing less than a miracle. On October 9, 2004, barely less than 2 years since the fall of the Taliban, Afghanistan held the first democratic elections in its history, overwhelmingly electing Hamid Karzai as its President. Afghanistan is now scheduled to hold another election on September 18 to select its first parliament.

These two elections, coming less than a year apart, are even more impressive given that this country has been at war for the better part of the last 30 years. First, fighting a Soviet invasion, and later, a civil war between the different mujahideen.

I could not find better words than those of a reporter of the Associated Press to describe the presidential election in Afghanistan when he wrote: ``After a generation of conflict, Afghans are slowly emerging from darkness. In the afterglow of last fall's presidential election, there is hope in Kabul.''

In this country of 30 million people, more than 10 million registered to vote, 41 percent of them women, these elections were monitored by more than 5,400 independent observers from groups such as the EU, the OSCE, the U.S., and the U.N., giving further validity to these historic elections.

The hard work of our men and women in uniform does not stop there. They have worked closely with our allies to train a national Afghan army so that their people and their hard-fought democracy can be protected. Almost 19,000 soldiers now serve in the Afghan national army with another 3,400 being trained by our troops. These soldiers are being deployed to all corners of the country.

The United States has also trained more than 25,000 police officers, and other countries have assisted as well. Germany, for example, has trained nearly 6,000 border and national police. Our U.S. Armed Forces have also trained 120 judges, lawyers, and court personnel. Ensuring the rule of law that it would be protected in this nation that has known only war and tyranny is miraculous.

The U.S. military has also helped to rehabilitate more than 7,500 canals, underground irrigation tunnels, reservoirs, and dams to increase agricultural output in this arid country. These policies have resulted in an 82 percent increase in wheat production.

Our U.S. military forces were also able to assist in the demining and paving of the very important Kabul-Kandahar highway, ahead of schedule, as well as rehabilitating 74 bridges and tunnels.

These accomplishments have led to a 30 percent growth in the Afghan economy from 2002 to 2003 and an estimated 16 percent growth from 2003 to 2004. These policies have led to 2.4 million refugees returning to Afghanistan from neighboring countries after many years of being displaced by war. Another 600,000 internally displaced individuals have also been able to return home.

Mr. Speaker, I could stand before this body for hours to speak about our success in Afghanistan and the positive difference that our U.S. military troops have made in this country. I understand their sacrifices and those of their families. My own husband, retired Lieutenant Dexter Lehtinen, was a platoon leader in Vietnam until a grenade almost took his life. The scars on his face are constant reminders of the price so many Americans have paid for our freedom and the price that so many more continue to pay.

As my stepson, Aviator First Lieutenant Douglas Lehtinen, prepares to deploy Iraq, I cannot help but think about the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. While nothing can replace those who were lost and although the scars will never disappear, those acts of bravery have not been in vain.

May God bless our men and women in uniform and may God bless America.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the men and women of our Armed Forces for the courage and the dedication that they have so bravely displayed while liberating and securing Iraq from tyranny and terrorism. Through their hard work and dedication, these Marines, sailors, airmen, and soldiers have succeeded in defeating terrorism and giving birth to a new democracy in the Middle East, one that will serve as a model for the entire region.

Every day, U.S. forces transfer more security responsibilities to Iraqis, giving them the tools that they need to secure their nation. Today, there are more than 150,000 Iraqi security forces who have been trained and equipped by the United States and our coalition forces. Iraqis now patrol Baghdad's hotspots, parts of Mosul, Fallujah, and Saddam's hometown of Tikrit.

Every week, between 1,500 and 3,000 new Iraqi security forces enter active duty, joining the U.S. and coalition forces in our joint battle against terrorism. By liberating Iraq, our fighting men and women showed the world that terrorism and tyranny would no longer be tolerated.

After 9/11, President Bush decided to take the fight to the terrorists; and, once again, our Armed Forces answered the call to service. Ever since, U.S. and coalition forces have spectacularly defeated Saddam's tyrannical regime and transformed Iraq for the better. Those who were once oppressed now rule Iraq, holding the highest offices of a democracy.

Having accomplished the great task of liberating the Iraqi people from the scourge of terrorism, our forces have remained in Iraq to assist in rebuilding the country. Our men and women in the military have built schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure to improve the lives of ordinary Iraqi citizens. They have restored electricity and water to the Iraqis who have suffered from three wars in one generation. Roads and bridges are being repaired to increase commerce. Our soldiers have been able to accomplish this and so much more, even though murdering terrorist gangs try at every turn to thwart their progress.

The valor and the courage of our Armed Forces in the face of this enemy have been critical to the reconstruction of Iraq. This was exemplified by the recent visit of our Deputy Secretary of State to the once-terrorist stronghold of Fallujah.

I am proud that my stepson, Aviator First Lieutenant Douglas Lehtinen, is preparing to deploy to Iraq. He will join the thousands of U.S. soldiers who are bravely fighting to guarantee that future generations of Iraqis will not have to suffer under tyranny.

Some of these soldiers, such as my husband, retired First Lieutenant Dexter Lehtinen, as a platoon leader in Vietnam, have paid dearly for the freedom that so many of us take for granted. My husband, Dexter, was wounded by a grenade that almost took his life. Instead, today he carries the scars of battle to remind us that while freedom may not be free, it is always worth fighting for.

I am proud that my stepson, Dougie, chose to volunteer and to protect the country that we all love so much from those who desire to destroy it. To all the brave men and women who have, do, and will continue to serve our Armed Forces, thank you on behalf of a grateful Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the passing of a good friend, Bill Lehman, retired Member of Congress and a faithful servant of the Great State of Florida.

In 1972, Bill ran for Congress and got the overwhelming majority of the vote and kept getting reelected easily until his retirement. As chairman of the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Bill Lehman was a relentless advocate for the needs of the citizens of Miami-Dade County.

Bill was an avid supporter of human rights also, demonstrating his ability to not only fight for the constituents in his district, but also for people throughout the world. He served his country as a Congressman, school board chairman, and was a beloved teacher, husband, father, and grandfather.

During my first term in Congress in 1989, I saw firsthand the tremendous love that Bill had for his constituents and the admiration that the people of south Florida had for him.

Mr. Speaker, I join the people of Miami-Dade, the State of Florida, and our country in honoring the exemplary life of a great statesman, Congressman Bill Lehman. May he rest in peace.

Madam Speaker, in most schools an underage child is prohibited from attending a school field trip without first obtaining parental authorization, yet nothing forbids this child from being taken across State lines in disregard of State laws for the purpose of undergoing a life-altering procedure, an abortion.

Please note these documents from a local school district in which it is required to have extensive information and parental authorization for a simple field trip or for a release for disbursement of medication, a total of eight pages for a field trip or for giving an aspirin, even brought from the child's home. But for an abortion, nothing is required.

My legislation, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, CIANA, would make it a Federal offense to transport an underage child across State lines in circumvention of State and local parental notification laws for the purpose of having an abortion. It will also require that, in a State without a parental notification requirement, abortion providers be required to notify a parent.

Today, CIANA will be marked up by the House Committee on the Judiciary. I hope we can pass the bill in the House quickly to protect our underage girls.

Mr. Speaker, in a country that espouses the importance of protecting the inherent rights of every person, abortion denies the rights of our most innocent and vulnerable members, our children.

As legislators, we have the great responsibility to strive to uphold the truths upon which our great country was founded, especially that every individual is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Abortion is not a sign that women are ``free to choose.'' It is a sign that women have been abandoned.

They have not had the support and care that they so desperately need. Rather, abortion is the only option offered.

Abortion is one of the greatest scourges of our time. It is a sign that we have not met the needs of women. Women deserve better than abortion. It is a crime against humanity which not only takes the innocent life of a child but also profoundly alters the life of the mother. Women possess dignity and intrinsic beauty, and abortion tears them apart at the very core of their being.

I am proud to have had the opportunity to join with such dynamic pro- life women as Patricia Heaton, the costar of the TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. She is an outspoken advocate for women and for the protection of the rights of the unborn. This past week, I met with Patricia while she was in Washington meeting with Members of Congress and staff members discussing the crucial need that we have as a society to strive to address the real challenges facing pregnant women and promoting women-centered solutions to significantly reduce abortion and protect women's health.

I am pleased to be associated with organizations that work to increase public awareness of the devastation that abortion brings to women, men and their families. These organizations ensure that the emotional and physical pain of abortion will no longer be shrouded in secrecy and silence but rather exposed and healed.

This past year, the pro-life movement has enjoyed many major victories in Congress. We have seen the passage of legislation protecting the sanctity of life and addressing the critical needs of women. The Partial Birth Abortion Ban was signed into law by President Bush. The Unborn Victims of Violence Act also passed the House.

I have worked together with my colleagues here in Congress and with President Bush to defend the intrinsic rights of all citizens, especially the most defenseless. I am pleased to note that today the House Committee on the Judiciary held a markup of my bill, H.R. 748, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, CIANA. It was referred favorably as amended out of committee by a 20 to 13 margin and should be brought to the floor for a vote soon.

This critical legislation makes it a Federal offense to knowingly transport a minor across a State line with the intent that she obtain an abortion in circumvention of a State's parental consent or parental notification law. CIANA also requires that a parent or, if necessary, a legal guardian be notified pursuant to a default Federal parental notification rule when a minor crosses State lines to obtain an abortion, unless one of several carefully drawn exceptions is met.

A minor who is forbidden to drink alcohol, to stay past a certain hour or to get her ears pierced without parental consent is certainly not prepared to make a life-altering, hazardous and potentially fatal decision such as obtaining an abortion without the consultation or the consent of at least one parent.

My legislation will close a loophole that allows adults not only to help minors break State laws by obtaining an abortion without parental consent but is also, unfortunately, contributing to ending the life of an innocent child. We will close that loophole.

I am hopeful that in this 109th session of Congress we will be successful in securing the rights of parents once and for all, and I encourage my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.

We have a great responsibility as a Nation to maintain a true reverence for vulnerable human life and to continue to build a culture of life. I will continue to work to ensure that the precious gift of life and the dignity of womanhood are promoted and protected at every level.

Mr. Speaker, last week I was blessed to travel with a group of my colleagues to Rome to attend the funeral mass of his Holiness, Pope John Paul II, one of the greatest defenders of human life the world has ever known.

Pope John Paul II was a man of profound holiness, profound peace, and profound love. He not only served the Catholic Church as the Vicar of Christ on Earth, but also reached out and touched people of all faiths as he fought valiantly to liberate the oppressed, especially in his native Eastern Europe where he contributed significantly to the fall of communism.

Of all of his accomplishments, I am most appreciative of his unwavering commitments to the defense and protection of all human life, especially the most defenseless, the unborn.

The Pope came to Miami in September of 1987. I had just given birth to my youngest daughter, Patricia Marie, and so I wanted to be present to hear and see him at Tropical Park, which is located in my old State senate district, but the doctors told me I could not attend. However, as I watched on TV, I remember thinking how fitting it was that I would be holding my newborn baby in my arms while watching the staunchest defender of human life praying and saying mass in my hometown. It was a feeling I have never and I shall never forget.

The Holy Father can never imagine how he touched, in a most profound way, all those who heard and saw him wherever he traveled with his goodness and fierce protection for the sanctity of life.

In his letter, The Gospel of Life, John Paul II vigorously reaffirmed the value of human life and at the same time presents a pressing appeal addressed to each and every person to respect, protect, love and serve life, every human life.

He writes, ``Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize in the natural law the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end and can affirm the right of every human being to have this primary good respected to the highest degree.

``Upon the recognition of this right,'' he continued, ``every human community and the political community itself are founded.''

And as a wife and as a mother of two teenage daughters, I also seek to defend and protect the sanctity of an innocent human life; and to that end I have introduced the bill, House Resolution 748, the Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act, CIANA, which currently has 127 cosponsors and which will be marked up in the House Committee on the Judiciary tomorrow.

This legislation makes it a Federal offense to knowingly transport a minor across a State line with the intent that she obtain an abortion in circumvention of a State's parental consent or parental notification law. CIANA also requires that a parent or, if necessary, a legal guardian be notified pursuant to a default Federal parental notification rule when a minor crosses State lines to obtain an abortion unless one of several carefully drawn exceptions are met.

A minor who is forbidden to drink alcohol, to stay out past a certain hour or to get her ears pierced without a parental consent is certainly not prepared to make a life-altering, hazardous and potentially fatal decision such as an abortion without the consultation or consent of at least one parent.

My legislation will close a loophole that allows adults not only help minors break States' laws by obtaining an abortion without parental consent but also contributes to ending the life of an innocent child.

I am hopeful that in this 109th session of Congress we will be successful in securing the rights of parents. As an ardent advocate for human rights for all, especially those suffering political and religious persecution, I join our Holy Father in his desire to see a world where all may live and work together in a spirit of peace, mutual respect and solidarity and where the sanctity of human life is preserved at each and every level.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the wonderful work of The Foundation Fighting Blindness, The National Eye Institute and Prevent Blindness America, and I want to commend all patients affected by vision impairment and blindness for their perseverance and courage.

I want to express my admiration for Betti and Carlos Lidsky, who are the National Trustees of The Foundation Fighting Blindness, and whose lovely family has been affected by a degenerative eye disease. They are great examples of perseverance and commitment to the cause of fighting blindness and are outstanding national leaders.

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Vision Caucus, I join my colleagues in the constant effort to help individuals who suffer from vision loss.

My home state of Florida has the highest proportion of senior citizens in the United States, and it ranks fifth regarding the number of people at highest risk of developing blinding eye disease.

Vision impairment is a very significant health problem in our nation, despite being a preventable condition in half of the cases. It has been estimated that the cases of vision impairment and blindness can double by the year 2030 if there is no intervention.

We, as a society, have a profound responsibility to intervene and to take action in order to enrich the lives of those currently suffering vision impairment and to prevent others from developing visual problems in the future.

We must continue to raise public awareness about the dimension of this problem, and to encourage prevention. In addition, we need to improve access to quality vision care, treatment, and rehabilitation services. We need to support continued education, research, and advocacy efforts.

We have had tremendous breakthroughs in research leading to improvements in the treatment of certain visual conditions, which improve the quality of life for many visually impaired patients. More research can be done, and we will enjoy more success. The National Eye Institute has been committed to promoting research since its creation in 1968, and we are grateful to its scientists for their achievements in the advancement of research for new treatments and cures.

I ask my colleagues to join me in commending those who work tirelessly to fight blindness in America.

Mr. Speaker, today I stand in this great Chamber of democracy to adopt a Cuban political prisoner. Although this idea may seem like an idea that has no effect, it actually has a profound and everlasting impact on those who are enslaved.

Three years ago, Castro, whom we know to be an evil dictator who abuses the human rights of his people, swept the streets of Cuba and imprisoned over 70 innocent men and women who were calling for democracy on the island.

One of these victims is Lester Gonzales Penton. This young man who will turn 28 next week was sentenced to 20 years and is currently held in one of Castro's most shameful prisons, Kilo 7.

I am honored to adopt Lester, and I urge my colleagues to join me in adopting these courageous, peaceful activists, activists who sit in squalid jails for crimes we consider to be some of the most sacred rights: freedom, democracy, and freedom of expression.

We stand here today to honor these heroic souls and demand their release. I invite my colleagues to join us at noon today at HC-7 to hear more about our Adopt a Cuban Political Prisoner Campaign.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 32) expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the occupation of the Republic of Lebanon by the Syrian Arab Republic, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes of my time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and ask unanimous consent he be permitted to control the time.

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. Con. Res. 32, expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the occupation of the Republic of Lebanon by the Syrian Arab Republic.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the leadership for bringing this important resolution before the House today at a time when hundreds of thousands of Lebanese are flocking to the streets issuing cries for freedom. It is critical that the United States Congress reaffirm its commitment to the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty and independence and specifically acknowledge the plight that Lebanon has endured as a captive nation. House Concurrent Resolution 32 does exactly that, Mr. Speaker.

For too long Lebanon has been denied its independence by the regime in Damascus, a regime that has imposed its will upon the Lebanese people through electoral intimidation, through political persecution, through assassination of opposition leaders and brutal military force. But the Lebanese people's desire to be free and sovereign could not be silenced and could not be repressed any longer.

The protests that have followed the Valentine's Day bombing in Beirut that killed former Prime Minister Hariri ushered in an immediate demand from a unifiable and diverse Lebanese opposition for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon. The streets of Beirut earlier this week boasted the largest anti-Syrian demonstration in Lebanese history and possibly the largest pro-democracy rally in Middle East history in response to the Syrian and Iranian-sponsored Hezbollah rally a week earlier.

For the first time, a number of moderate Shiites joined the Druze, Sunnis and Christian groups whose anger and grief over the brutal tactics of the Syrian occupiers and their Lebanese collaborators have galvanized them into action, into a coordinated effort to reclaim Lebanon's sovereignty.

House Concurrent Resolution 32 clearly articulates the threat to U.S. national security interests and to regional stability posed by Syria's presence in Lebanon. And the threat is not limited to Syrian intelligence and military, but to its terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, which uses Lebanese territory as a launching pad for attacks against Israel and a training ground for terrorists targeting U.S. and other Western interests.

Thus, at a time when this body has clearly articulated our stand regarding Hezbollah just a few days ago, let us underscore that we will not tolerate an appeasement of Hezbollah in Lebanon.

House Concurrent Resolution 32 builds on recent developments and calls for the President to instruct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to present and secure support for a Security Council resolution classifying Lebanon as a captive nation.

It calls for the President, pursuant to existing law, to freeze all assets in the U.S. belonging to Lebanese Government officials who are found to support and aid in Syria's occupation of Lebanon.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, it calls for the United States policy to include support for the independent human rights and pro-democracy advocates in Lebanon and for the full restoration of sovereign democratic rule there.

The resolution underscores the U.S. position against Syria's brutal occupation of Lebanon and U.S. policy about holding state sponsors of terrorism accountable for their actions. Calling for Syria to depart from Lebanon once and for all is in keeping with the post-9/11 approach of forcing terrorists out of their caves and placing them on the run. The U.S. position on Syrian withdrawal forces the terrorists to retreat to their own soil; and in doing so, it seeks to limit their impact so that freedom and democracy can flourish once again in Lebanon and throughout the region.

The Lebanese people have had enough, and they will not allow their territory to continue to be used as a staging ground for terrorists and their state sponsors. Let us stand with the Lebanese people and overwhelmingly adopt this resolution.

I strongly urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 32 and send a clear message to the Syrian terrorist regime to get out of Lebanon. Not to the border; not to the Bekaa Valley. Completely out.

God willing, as our Arab-speaking Lebanese brothers and sisters would say, inshallah, we will soon witness a free, independent, sovereign, and democratic Lebanon.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Yleem Poblete and Paul Ostburg Sanz, long and dedicated, hardworking members, staffers on our committee on these measures and the work of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia.

I would like to thank Chairman Hyde of the International Relations Committee, for understanding the need to support the Lebanese people at this critical time, and moving this resolution quickly through the Committee.

I would also like to commend our leadership for their commitment to freedom and democracy for all the people of the Middle East.

Lastly, I must make special mention of the efforts and cooperation of our Subcommittee Ranking Member, Gary Ackerman, and especially our Full Committee Ranking Member, Tom Lantos.

Tom Lantos has experienced first hand what happens when one appeases dictators and ignores the oppression of human beings. We cannot stand idly by and allow Syria to continue to deny the Lebanese people their rights and their nation.

Thanks to the cooperation of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, we are able to send a clear and unified message to both the Syrian oppressors and to the Lebanese people. As we did with the Syrian Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration, we have an opportunity today, by supporting H. Con. Res. 32, to demonstrate a united front and show that freedom transcends party lines, geographic borders, and language barriers.

When it comes to freedom and democracy, the U.S. is speaking with one voice, as the Lebanese people are speaking with one voice.

In so doing, we become one with our brothers and sisters in Lebanon as they seek to remove the shackles of Syrian tyranny and occupation.

I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, as so many of the viewers of C-SPAN know by now, we are here today in great sadness but also in great joy that we celebrate a wonderful life exemplified by Tillie Fowler. We came together last week when we announced the unexpected death of Tillie Fowler, who passed away at the age of 62; but she made such a strong imprint on the lives of so many and on the lives of this House.

Tillie, as we have heard, was a fiercely loyal, dedicated public servant from our home State of Florida, a true crusader for the citizens of our State and especially for all who served in our Armed Forces, the men and women in uniform. She fought hard, especially for the women serving in the military so that they would be treated fairly, so that they would be free from sexual harassment, so they would be free from discrimination. During her four terms in Congress, Tillie became the highest-

ranking woman in the House leadership.

She possessed a quiet tenacity. She had the grace and the strength to rise above partisan differences and to continuously reach across the aisle in a true spirit of unity, as we just heard from my good friend from California (Mrs. Capps) who really showed that in a very clear way. Tillie was an outstanding member of our Florida team. She was a true asset to our community. I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to have served in the House of Representatives with her.

I think it is most appropriate, Mr. Speaker, as we commemorate this week, which is the Stop Violence Against Women Week, that we celebrate Tillie's life and Tillie's work here in Congress, because through her tireless efforts, she worked to protect women from all types of injustices. During her short tenure in Congress, she and I worked together on a number of important women's issues, such as breast cancer research, the protection of our environment, the security of our women, so many issues that we were involved with.

All of us in the House extend our heartfelt condolences to Tillie's beloved husband, Buck; to their two beautiful daughters, Tillie and Elizabeth; and to the rest of her loving family. Our thoughts and our prayers are with all of you during this difficult time.

Thank you, Tillie, for your gentle leadership. You were a true friend to me, to our Florida community, to all whose lives you touched. You will be greatly missed. Our country is safer today because of Tillie's hard work, and the women who are serving in the U.S. Armed Forces are better protected because of your efforts, Tillie. Tillie leaves a strong legacy of service with honor, and it was my honor to call her my friend.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to recognize the efforts of the Eating Disorders Coalition and its affiliated organizations for promoting awareness regarding the need for education, prevention, and treatment of eating disorders. They are commemorating the ``National Eating Disorders Awareness Week'' from February 27 to March 5th of 2005, and they have been devoted over the years to educate the community and offer help and support to our population to promote the well-being of patients with eating disorders.

Eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating disorder, and impact millions of Americans each year. The consequences of these disorders could be devastating to the physical and mental health of those afflicted. Although eating disorders affect mainly females, males can be affected by these disorders. We need to educate the general population to recognize the problem and teach them how to seek adequate help. Prevention should start at an early age, and the best method of prevention should be education and the promotion of healthy eating habits and self-esteem.

Please join the efforts of all those who work hard to fight these serious medical conditions, and recognize the important work that the Eating Disorders Coalition and its affiliated organizations do on a daily basis to promote the health of patients with eating disorders.