Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the tireless efforts of the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade, a nonprofit organization based in the district I so proudly represent.

Over the last 20 years, this inspiring organization has been committed to creating programs and initiatives through which all girls and women can prosper and become leaders in our community and, indeed, our Nation.

Additionally, the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade is devoted to fostering awareness about sexually exploited children through its grantee partner, the Kristi House, an organization dedicated to helping children and families recover from abuse and to bring to justice those who violate them.

Each year we set aside May 25 as a day when we reflect on sexually exploited and missing children and renew our efforts to make child protection a national priority.

I thank the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade for its work to eradicate the sexual exploitation of children and to break the cycle of abuse through direct prevention and therapy and by spreading awareness of the damage inflicted upon innocent children.

It is through the actions of compassionate members of our community, like the Women's Fund and Kristi House, that will stop these injustices against the most vulnerable of our society, our children.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today to call attention to the devastating impact that harassment and bullying have on LGBT students around our country. Bullying affects LGBT teens every day in emotional, psychological, and physical ways, and can even lead to suicide. Statistics show that 30 percent of LGBT youth attempt suicide near the age of 15.

While tomorrow has been designated as National Day of Silence, bullies do not stop when the calendar turns. We must all work together if we hope to deter and defeat bullying. I would like to take a moment of silence in honor of those who are harassed and those who have passed away due to this repeated and aggressive behavior.

Mr. Speaker, my dad was and will always be the wind beneath my wings. His passing leaves in us a loss that is eternal and deep. `Abu Kiki' as we lovingly called him was the center, the foundation of us all, and the one person who kept us grounded and confident in the path our lives had taken. If there is one comfort we feel during this time of unequaled sorrow is that we are confident that my dad is once again reunited with his beloved and cherished soul mate, Amanda Ros.

Today I can look at my life and the lives of my brother Henry and my dad's adult grandchildren with joy and fulfillment. And I can do that because Abu Kiki worked hard to instill in us ageless ideals of fairness and doing always what was right.

My dad was a prolific writer and well-known historian. He was working on his 20th book, a biography of Antonio Maceo, when he died of respiratory complications at South Miami Hospital late Wednesday night. He authored 19 other books on Cuban history and local politics that are an important source of information for other historians, academics and scholars. All who shared my father's life knew that he was happiest when he was busy doing research and writing his books. His beloved library was a meeting ground for our family and he kept a detailed log of all the articles and pictures that told the story of my family's life and of his cherished books.

For 65 years, Enrique and Amanda Ros, shared a wonderful life together and they did it by way of love and hard work. They raised two children who have families of their own, founded and expanded a successful family business for over 30 years (Ros-Forwarding), and labored both as one in noble endeavors to re-establish democracy to our beloved Cuba. They were in love and it showed through their actions.

In the name of all of us in the Ros and Lehtinen families we would like to ask his friends and everyone else to not be despondent but rather to come together and celebrate his long and fulfilled life. That is what my dad

would have wanted. I know my brother and I shall terribly miss him, but we know that this is not a goodbye but rather a time apart before we are reunited once again next to our creator.

Mr. Speaker, today, on the 34th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, I want to take a moment to recognize this landmark legislation, the special relationship that exists between the United States and Taiwan, and the exceptional work by this Congress to reinforce the bond between our peoples. Yesterday also marked another important date in U.S. Taiwan relations: the 11th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus. Since April 9, 2002, the Taiwan Caucus has grown into one of the most prominent caucuses in Congress with almost 140 current members, and has led the way in strengthening diplomatic, security, and economic relations between our two nations.

Since this Congress came together 34 years ago to pass the Taiwan Relations Act, the legislation has constituted the cornerstone of our unique relationship with one of the world's most vibrant democracies. For 30 years, the United States recognized the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the legitimate representative of the Chinese people. Yet, in 1979, the Carter administration switched sides and recognized the People's Republic of China, and at the same time derecognized the Republic of China (Taiwan). In an effort to counter this act of injustice, a unified United States Congress came together to pass the Taiwan Relations Act. To this day, our great nations continue to prosper through mutually beneficial trade relations, shared security interests, and the policies codified by the Taiwan Relations Act.

Mr. Speaker, while recognizing the accomplishments of the Taiwan Relations Act, we must also recognize the need to strengthen our commitment to Taiwan through expanded diplomatic, security, and trade ties. Earlier this year, I was proud to introduce, with my colleagues, the co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart, John Carter, Albio Sires, Gerald Connolly, the Taiwan Policy Act, which seeks to accomplish these goals. If enacted, our proposed legislation would permit Taiwan's leaders to meet with U.S. officials in all executive branches, authorize the transfer of decommissioned Perry class guided missile frigates, and support the sale of F16 C/D fighter jets to the Armed Forces of Taiwan. With the growing antagonism of North Korea and the ever expanding territorial ambitions of China, our alliance with the democratic nation of Taiwan is even more important.

In 2012, as our 11th largest trading partner, 16th largest export market, and 11th largest import market, Taiwan and the United States shared in $63.2 billion in total trade. It is clear that Taiwan is already a close and valuable trade partner for the United States but there is more work to be done. We are glad that TIFA talks were resumed and that the most recent round was concluded in a satisfying fashion. As a next step, our U.S. Trade Representative should begin negotiations on a Bilateral Investment Agreement. A free trade agreement with Taiwan should be our ultimate goal and it is my hope that we can begin negotiations in the near future. The United States should also support Taiwan receiving observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization.

We, as a nation, are fortunate to have Taiwan as an ally, friend, and one of our largest trading partners. Taiwan is a nation we truly can depend upon; a people who share the same dreams and aspirations as we do here in the United States. Today, we remember our predecessors here in the United States Congress who created the Taiwan Relations Act, as well as the founding members of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, who have helped the relationship between our two nations blossom into an enduring partnership.

Every March we commemorate National Women's History Month, a time in which we highlight the many contributions of women who have shaped our great Nation. While we celebrate the tremendous achievements of pioneers who have paved the way, it is important to remember the young girls who need an encouraging environment so that they can grow up to become strong women of character. Education is key to make this happen.

Education is not simply a means to an end but, rather, a vital tool that can help overcome poverty, ignorance, and so much more. However, one in four girls in America does not finish high school, and the dropout rate is even higher for Hispanic teens. Nearly four in ten Hispanic girls will drop out of high school this year. This is alarming.

Mr. Speaker, let's stop this high school dropout rate for all teen girls, and I ask that we renew our commitment to put literacy on our national agenda. Literacy is paramount in the struggle for self- empowerment and education.

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, April 9, Hoerbiger Corporation of America will celebrate its 50th anniversary. A well- known and highly respected south Florida-based company, Hoerbiger provides many hardworking Americans with high quality manufacturing jobs in our south Florida community.

I commend this innovative corporation for its half decade of business prowess, its commitment to sustainable businesses practices, its fairness to its employees and generosity to our community.

Since 1963, Hoerbiger's focus on quality and innovation has established it as an industry leader, much to the credit of its founder, Hubert Wagner. The legacy of success continues with the expert guidance of its current president, Hannes Hunschofsky.

This exemplary corporation and community partner has accomplished much over the years, and I am pleased that it calls south Florida home. Congratulations to each and every one at Hoerbiger for achieving this exciting milestone, and I wish you many more years of success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Judge Poe's House Resolution 89, condemning the terrorist attack on February 9, 2013, at Camp Liberty in Iraq and requesting the prompt and safe return of the residents to Camp Ashraf.

This attack has demonstrated that the living conditions of the residents are being threatened and their safety is in jeopardy.

The United States needs to help facilitate the return of the residents for their own protection to Camp Ashraf, located also in Iraq, where they have safer facilities and a better infrastructure that may sustain future attacks--yes, future attacks. According to press reports, Mr. Speaker, the Iranian Quds Force intends to attack Camp Liberty again with rockets and mortars.

Mr. Speaker, time is of the essence. I urge the U.S. House of Representatives to debate the Poe bill on the floor immediately due to the urgent humanitarian situation that the residents are facing.

Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased to recognize Women of Tomorrow, a community organization that encourages and empowers at-risk high school girls to develop to their fullest potential. This south Florida-based organization was founded in 1997 by Jennifer Valoppi and is now in 43 Florida and 13 Michigan cities, helping 2,500 girls in over 100 high schools.

Women of Tomorrow has a bright future and will expand and connect girls across the country to mentoring scholarship opportunities. It's celebrating 16 years of teaching professional and personal skills.

Over 90 percent of the young ladies mentored by Women of Tomorrow improve their grade point average, graduate from high school, pursue higher education, and improve their self-esteem immensely.

The mentors and supporters of Women of Tomorrow work tirelessly to help teens, and I congratulate them on their Sweet 16.

I thank our esteemed chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as our ranking member, my good friend, Mr. Engel of New York.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, authored by Mr. Royce and Mr. Engel, condemning North Korea for its most recent nuclear test.

Kim Jong Un, like his father and his grandfather before him, continues to thumb his nose at the United States, at South Korea, and Japan--indeed, the international community as a whole--by flagrantly violating U.N. Security Council resolutions. Pyongyang continues to pursue its goals of nuclear armament while leaving its citizens malnourished, starving, and suffering from diseases.

Without an appropriate response, North Korea will continue to launch rockets, as it did this past December, will continue to conduct nuclear tests, and will continue to undermine U.S. national security interests, as well as threaten our allies in the region. It is clear that North Korea is not now, nor has it ever been, an honest broker and has never lived up to its international obligations.

The time for engagement has long since passed, Mr. Speaker. Kim Jong Un has made his priorities clear: to obtain a nuclear weapon and to support, finance, and equip rogue regimes such as Iran and Syria. Such support to these state sponsors of terrorism should be more than enough for us in the United States to redesignate North Korea on the terrorist list.

I introduced a bipartisan bill earlier this week, the North Korea Sanctions and Diplomatic Nonrecognition Act of 2013, that would do exactly that. This is a critical moment for our allies in Asia, and the United States must reaffirm our unwavering support to our allies, South Korea and Japan.

I urge my colleagues to join us in condemning North Korea for its repeated provocations and violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

I thank the gentleman for the time.

So, therefore, I call upon the administration to take appropriate action necessary and stand in solidarity with our South Korean and Japanese allies as they continue to live under the increasing threat of a nuclear North Korea.

I thank the chairman and the ranking member for their leadership on this issue, and our Foreign Affairs Committee will continue to pursue this terrible, vexing problem doggedly.

Section 3:

``If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President-elect shall have died, the Vice President- elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term, or if the President-elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President- elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President-elect nor a Vice President-elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 1464) to develop a strategy for assisting stateless children from North Korea, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendments thereto, and concur in the Senate amendments.

Mr. Speaker, I send to the desk a privileged concurrent resolution and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 145) calling for universal condemnation of the North Korean missile launch of December 12, 2012, as amended.

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise to support this strongly bipartisan measure which condemns the latest provocation by North Korea. Pyongyang has once again flagrantly violated past United Nations Security Council resolutions and the assurances given to Six-Party partners.

I would also like to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to sincerely congratulate President-elect Park for her victory in South Korea's hard-fought presidential election.

The Republic of Korea is one of our Nation's closest friends in Asia. Ours is a steadfast alliance forged in the crucible of war. Two decades ago, with all eyes on Europe, the United States prematurely celebrated victory over communism and an end to the Cold War. But in 1989, the same year the Berlin Wall fell, tanks rolled into Tiananmen Square, crushing, in a bloody massacre, the democracy movement of the Chinese people. So while communism fell in Europe, it was revitalized in the world's most populous nation and preserved in North Korea and in my native homeland of Cuba.

Pyongyang's recent missile launch awakens America to the fact that the shadow of communism still casts a long shadow over Asia. North Korea's expanding nuclear and missile proliferation threaten not only our allies in the Pacific, but potentially our own people as well. In Asia, the Cold War never ended, and the United States and South Korean forces stand guard together on this last frontier.

Attempts to engage Pyongyang over the past 4 years have been met with repeated provocations: the kidnapping of two American journalists, repeated missile launches, one more nuclear test, the sinking of a South Korean naval vessel with the loss of 46 lives, and the shelling of a South Korean island.

How much more should we endure before we say, Enough is enough?

Sweet-talking Pyongyang only seems to inspire further belligerence. Our extended hand is met not only with a clenched fist but a fist grasping a knife. Those who had hoped for openness and reform from this new generation of the Kim dynasty saw their dreams go up in smoke on a North Korean launch pad. The only answer appears to be a coordinated, firm, international strategy in which current sanctions are reinforced and strengthened. This, of course, requires the cooperation of Beijing, a U.N. Security Council permanent member who deceptively seems to tell one thing to Washington and yet another to Pyongyang.

Press articles hailed the fact that China, in anticipation of the recent launch, had begun inspecting cargo on North Korean ships in search of contraband. The question this raises is: Why has China not been inspecting North Korean ships since 2006, as was first called for in a U.N. resolution, which was reinforced by another resolution in the year 2009? If U.N. member states would only enforce the sanctions currently on the books, North Korea would be unable to ignore the international community and the civilized world.

The time for coordinated international action is now. The time, in fact, is long overdue.

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

I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade and the chairman-designate of the full committee in the next Congress. I thank

him for his leadership on this and many of the issues that are facing our Foreign Affairs Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 134) condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material into the Record on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 134 introduced by my good friend and colleague from Illinois (Mr. Dold).

House Resolution 134 condemns the Iranian regime's persecution of Iran's Baha'i minority. Baha'is are the largest non-Muslim minority in Iran, numbering over 300,000 members in Iran alone. This resolution marks the 12th congressional action urging the Iranian regime to end its persecution of the Baha'i minority. And still, Baha'is do not have the freedom to practice their religion. In fact, restrictions on Baha'is extend far beyond their religious practices to further restrict their civil rights and human rights. Many members of the Baha'i faith living in Iran are even subject to harassment, to persecution by the regime, and others with extensive reports of confiscation of property, restrictions on travel, and raids on Baha'i homes and businesses. The Iranian Government continues to arrest and detain Baha'is based on their religious beliefs, with at least 60 cases logged last year alone.

The members of the national leadership of the Baha'i in Iran, arrested in 2008 and unfairly tried with minimal access to their defense attorneys, are now serving a 20-year sentence for crimes, crimes including insulting religious sanctities and propaganda against the regime. The government maintains possession of many Baha'i properties that were seized following the 1979 revolution, including holy places, cemeteries, and historical sites. Many of those properties have now been destroyed.

Baha'is are barred from leadership positions in the government and are only permitted to enroll in schools if they do not identify themselves to be Baha'i and are required to identify as members of another religion in order to register for their entrance examinations. Many Baha'is are denied admission to the universities, and even those who are admitted may face expulsion due to their faith.

The Baha'i Institute for Higher Education, established after Baha'is were barred from attending other universities, was declared illegal this year and six educators from that institute are currently imprisoned in Iran.

These are just a fraction of the injustices that the Baha'is face at the hands of the Iranian regime. The regime has sought to make life as a Baha'i in Iran simply unlivable. They seek to take away aspects of everyday life that you and I would consider fundamental, inalienable rights.

This resolution draws attention to their plight and calls on the Iranian regime to end its campaign of abuse against the Baha'is. It condemns the Iranian regime for the persecution of the Baha'is and calls on the regime to immediately release the Baha'is that it wrongfully holds in captivity, including the seven Baha'i leaders and the six Baha'i educators; and it calls for the President and the Secretary to publicly express the same sentiments.

Finally, the resolution urges the President and the Secretary of State to use measures already enacted into law under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to sanction Iranian officials responsible for human rights violations against Baha'is and others.

Mr. Speaker, I was a co-author of that legislation, and those measures are not here for show. They are there to punish those responsible for these egregious crimes and deter future human rights violations. It is therefore time for the administration to walk the walk and hold the Iranian regime officials--from the so-called ``supreme leader'' and Ahmadinejad on down--responsible for their violations of the human rights of the Baha'is and other Iranians.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from New York for those kind words. Mr. Engel is a true mensch. That's a good thing.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold), a member of the Financial Services Committee, the Tom Lantos Congressional Human Rights Committee, and the author of this measure, whom we will miss greatly.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 834) urging the governments of Europe and the European Union to designate Hizballah as a terrorist organization and impose sanctions, and urging the President to provide information about Hizballah to the European allies of the United States and to support the Government of Bulgaria in investigating the July 18, 2012, terrorist attack in Burgas.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to insert extraneous material into the Record on this measure.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 834, introduced by my good friend and colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

The resolution before the House condemns the ongoing violence perpetrated by Hezbollah. It urges the European Union to classify Hezbollah as a designated terrorist organization.

Now, in March of 2005, the House voted on a similar resolution urging the European Union to add Hezbollah as a designated foreign terrorist organization; yet here we are again, Mr. Speaker, nearly 8 years later, calling for the EU to take this long overdue action.

As the purveyor of one of the most expansive extremist networks in the world, Hezbollah has engaged in nearly three decades of attacks against Americans, Europeans, Israeli civilians, in addition to plots and attacks on nearly every continent. Among the most egregious examples of Hezbollah attacks against innocent civilians abroad were its bombings of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in March 1992 and the Jewish Cultural Center in Buenos Aires in 1994.

Hezbollah has never missed an opportunity to target innocent civilians, especially innocent Israelis, as the 2006 conflict in southern Lebanon illustrated, while using innocent Lebanese as human shields. Hezbollah has even turned its weapons on Syrians and against other Lebanese, as the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has uncovered. And most recently, Mr. Speaker, Hezbollah attacked innocent Israeli and Bulgarian civilians in Burgas, Bulgaria.

Mr. Speaker, given Hezbollah's long and grisly record, it is no surprise that many of our allies--from Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand--have designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, because that is what it is.

In this respect, it defies comprehension that our allies in the European Union continue to purposely omit Hezbollah from their list of designated terrorist organizations. The logic of the European Union's decisionmaking on this matter is, at best, baffling, particularly against the backdrop of our mutual efforts to address the threats of Hezbollah patrons Iran and Syria.

By simply designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and stating the obvious, the European Union could deprive Hezbollah of access to millions of dollars in European banks and other financial institutions, while making an enormous contribution to regional stability, saving hundreds of lives that would otherwise be Hezbollah's future victims.

Again, I strongly support this Kelly resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

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

I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly), an esteemed member of our House Foreign Affairs Committee and the author of this bill.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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