Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 193) calling on the new Government of Egypt to honor the rule of law and immediately return Noor and Ramsay Bower to the United States, as amended.

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.

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

Mr. Speaker, 3\1/2\ years ago, Colin Bower's two sons, Noor and Ramsay, were abducted from the United States by their mother in violation of the custody ruling given by the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The boys' mother used forged passports to remove the boys from the United States and take them to her native land of Egypt, despite the fact that a court ruling stipulated that she was not to remove them from Massachusetts. Last I checked, Egypt was not in Red Sox country.

One of the objectives of the Hague Convention, Mr. Speaker, on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction--of which Egypt and the United States are members--is to ensure that custody rights and access under the law of one contracting state are respected in the others. That means helping to bring Noor and Ramsay home to their father.

The resolution is not calling for anything extraordinary. We are simply appealing to the Egyptian Government to uphold its responsibilities and return these two boys to their rightful home.

I would like to thank my colleague from Massachusetts (Mr. Frank) for working so diligently to secure the safe and speedy return of these boys to their dad. This bipartisan measure deserves our unanimous support.

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

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I also will miss Mr. Frank for his friendship and his great insight on many of the issues, and I thank him so much for caring deeply about constituents in his district, and we will continue to fight on their behalf.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6649) to provide for the transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign recipients, 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.

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

I rise in support of H.R. 6649, the Naval Transfer Act of 2012, as amended.

According to the Secretary of the Navy, authority to transfer surplus vessels is an important element of the U.S. strategy for decommissioned ships. It enables our Navy to manage its inventory while strengthening ties with our key security partners and with allies by transferring ships that meet key operational requirements.

This legislation authorizes the transfer of 10 decommissioned Oliver Hazard Perry class guided missile frigates to Mexico, to Thailand, to Turkey and Taiwan. Six of the 10 vessels would be authorized for transfer on a grant basis as excess defense articles under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act.

Mexico, Thailand, and Turkey would each receive two frigates. With respect to Turkey, I remain greatly concerned with the deterioration in that country's relations with, and policy toward, the democratic Jewish state and our ally, the State of Israel.

Since the 2010 flotilla incident--a crisis on the high seas that triggered a tailspin in Turkish-Israeli relations--we have witnessed a Turkey that is increasingly hostile toward Israel.

From its recall of its Ambassador to Israel, its attempts to marginalize Israel in other international fora, and its continued occupation of Cyprus to the embrace of the Muslim Brotherhood and its offshoots, current Turkish policy is unacceptable. I will continue to challenge those and take steps to ensure, for example, that Turkey is sanctioned for its activities regarding the Iranian regime.

But, Mr. Speaker, the proposed transfer that we're talking about today is not validation of the current Turkish policy in the region. It is about our Nation's long-term national security interests. That is what this bill is all about. Turkey is a NATO ally that we need to continue participating in joint anti-piracy operations, for which they would use these frigates. It has even commanded the Combined Joint Task Force 151, fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden and along the Somali coast, protecting American citizens who are traveling in that volatile region.

Additionally, in light of the deteriorating security environment in Syria and Turkey's critical role in that arena, the Department of Defense feels that it was necessary for our foreign policy priorities and security objectives that Turkey receive these transfers.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, in 2010, the last time that Congress authorized such naval transfers, we approved the grant transfer of three OSPREY class mine-hunter coastal ships to Greece, but no transfers to Turkey.

Lastly, these transfers are job creators here at home. Each frigate transferred will require 40 to $80 million of repair and refurbishment. This represents economic benefit to the United States through labor and services during the transfer process, as well as the potential for millions more in follow-on services, equipment, and training. According to estimates from U.S. sources, each frigate transfer creates or sustains approximately 100 shipyard jobs and 50 services jobs in the U.S. for approximately 6 months. Performing this ship transfer work in domestic shipyards that perform U.S. Navy overhauls and repairs lowers the cost of U.S. Navy maintenance by spreading costs over a wider base. The end result is an overall lower cost to our U.S. Navy and thus for the American taxpayer.

The alternative to foreign ship transfers for ships no longer required by the U.S. Navy is to place the decommissioned ships into cold storage or have them be sunk. Navy funding is required for both the storage and the sinking option.

Turning to the other four frigates, Mr. Speaker, these would be authorized for transfer to our close friends and ally, Taiwan. The transfer of these four frigates is not only a symbol of our enduring commitment to a secure and democratic Taiwan but will also provide the island with additional capabilities to conduct maritime security operations in the Taiwan Strait.

The legislation also requires that any expense incurred by the U.S. in connection with a transfer authorized by this bill shall be charged to the recipient.

Mr. Speaker, passage of this bill will help advance United States foreign policy interests and our broader national security requirements. Therefore, I urge adoption, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida, my colleague, Mr. Bilirakis, an esteemed member on our Committee of Foreign Affairs.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, in a snapshot, this is the background to this bill and the inclusion of Turkey. I'd like to explain this.

These are DOD requests for our U.S. national security interests. Turkey is a NATO ally that DOD needs to continue participating in joint anti-piracy operations for which they would use these frigates. In light of the deteriorating situation regarding Syria and Turkey's critical role, DOD insisted that it was timely to do this transfer. Now, just a few years ago, in 2010, Congress authorized the grant transfer of three Osprey class minehunter coastal ships to Greece-- Osprey MHC-51, Blackhawk MHC-58, and Shrike MHC-62.

So today's bill, Mr. Speaker, maintains the Turkey-Greece balance. This lowers costs to our U.S. Navy, as they won't have to deal with decommissioned frigates. This bill creates U.S. jobs, as the mammoth portion of maintenance work is done here in the United States.

On the issue of granting to Thailand, to Mexico, to Turkey versus the selling of the ships to Taiwan, this is what our U.S. Navy says:

The determining factor on the grant or sale of extra

defense articles is always what is in the best interest of

the United States. Granting the hull does not make it free to

the receiving nation. Among the types of extra defense

articles that are granted to partner nations, ships are

unique in that there is always a significant refurbishment

cost paid by the receiving nation. The current legislation

requires the refurbishment of the hulls here in the United

States. This is approximately $60 million per hull; though

with Turkey our experience has been that they will spend even

more. Because of the high cost of refurbishment, we always

try to grant the hulls.

Both Armed Services Committee Chairman McKeon and Intelligence Committee Chairman Rogers support this bill with the inclusion of Turkey.

Mr. Speaker, when our military officials tell me that they need these specific transfers, including to Turkey, because it is in our Nation's security interests and it advances our priorities, I believe that all of us here should take note. I trust our U.S. military when it comes to the operational needs and joint military and anti-piracy activities. This is why Turkey was included--and not at the last minute under the cover of night.

No, quite the contrary. For almost 2 weeks, the text of this bill has been posted not just for our fellow colleagues to review but for all of the American people to review at their leisure. This bill is a standard bill that is done at the end of each Congress. Two years ago, as I stated, under a different majority, a similar annual transfer bill was considered at the end of the session.

So, in short, Mr. Speaker, this bill helps our ally Taiwan. It advances our U.S. national security interests, and it reduces costs to our Navy. It creates jobs for Americans right here at home, and I hope that our colleagues see it as such.

With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3331) to provide for universal intercountry adoption accreditation standards, and for other purposes.

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

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

I rise in support of S. 3331, the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012. This bipartisan bill, which recently received unanimous consideration in the Senate, is the Senate-side companion to H.R. 6027, which is the bipartisan House bill introduced by my good friend from New Jersey (Mr. Sires).

This bill requires that all intercountry adoption providers in the U.S. meet the same accreditation standards regardless of whether the adoption is from a Hague Convention signatory country.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would like to direct attention to yet another outrage perpetrated by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, one that he has knowingly directed at innocent Russian children awaiting adoption. His action was a shameful response to legislation overwhelmingly adopted by the Congress that targets Russian officials engaged in human rights abuses, specifically those regarding Sergei Magnitsky.

Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer killed in prison after having uncovered massive government corruption, including senior officials in Putin's regime. Instead of prosecuting those

criminals, Putin has instead cruelly chosen to target Russian orphans by banning adoptions by Americans.

Tens of thousands of Russian children have been adopted by families in this country, who have given these innocents the love and protection they otherwise likely would have never known. Now, countless numbers may be condemned to tragic lives, knowingly sacrificed by Vladimir Putin in a sickening effort to show the world just how tough he is. Is there any additional proof needed of the despicable nature of this man and his regime?

I call upon President Obama to tell Putin that the U.S. cannot and will not engage in a business-as-usual relationship with a regime so utterly devoid of humanity, a regime that deliberately tears apart the lives of its own children by depriving them the love of those Americans who wish only to give these innocents a family and a better future.

Let those in the administration who turn their eyes from this outrage explain to these orphans why they must be sacrificed for the sake of good relations with the Putin regime.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and we are ready to yield back once the gentleman from California yields back.

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3159) to direct the President, in consultation with the Department of State, United States Agency for International Development, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the Department of Defense, to establish guidelines for United States foreign assistance programs, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 3159 introduced by my good friend from Texas, Judge Poe.

This bill stands for the simple proposition that consistent evaluation and transparency will improve the effectiveness of U.S. development assistance around the world. H.R. 3159 will require the President to establish guidelines for measurable goals, monitoring, and evaluation plans that can be applied with reasonable consistency to all overseas development assistance.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3159, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas, Judge Poe, an esteemed member of our Foreign Affairs Committee and the author of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2318) to authorize the Secretary of State to pay a reward to combat transnational organized crime and for information concerning foreign nationals wanted by international criminal tribunals, and for other purposes.

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

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

I rise in strong support of S. 2318, the Department of State Rewards Program Update and Technical Corrections Act of 2012. This bipartisan bill is Senator Kerry's Senate companion to H.R. 4077, the House bill introduced 2 months prior by my good friend from California (Mr. Royce).

Since the 1980s, the State Department has had authority to offer rewards leading to the arrests and convictions for international narcotics trafficking, acts of terrorism, and war crimes. These reward programs have proven to be effective tools for disrupting and dismantling terrorist cells and drug cartels around the world, enjoying both high-profile and quiet successes in locating many dangerous individuals, including Ramzi Yousef, one of the perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center attack, Saddam Hussein's sons, and narcotrafficking commanders of the FARC in Colombia.

This bill is a critical tool in our ongoing efforts to locate Joseph Kony, the murderous head of the predatory Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, in Central Africa. This bill is a responsible, bipartisan bill that will significantly enhance our ability to fight transnational organized crime and grave human rights abuses. I urge unanimous support.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I 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 author of the original House-side version of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the joint resolution (S.J. Res. 44) granting the consent of Congress to the State and Province Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding.

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 joint resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support today of S.J. Res. 44, ``Granting the Consent of Congress to the State and Province Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding'', a bill introduced by Senator Kohl of Wisconsin.

This bill is non-controversial and passed the Senate in September under unanimous consent with the full support of the National Emergency Management Association.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, this legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.

S.J. Res. 44 gives our northern states the ability to enter into an agreement with Canadian provinces to facilitate cross border emergency management assistance through mutual aid.

The purpose of this legislation is to provide mutual assistance among entities that have entered into these agreements for the management of any emergency or disaster when requested.

This bill will allow states to coordinate relief efforts with their Canadian counterparts in order to better respond to any disaster that may impact both jurisdictions.

Mr. Speaker, my Congressional district is very familiar with the financial and emotional impact that a natural disaster can cause to our communities.

We must ensure that we leverage all of our resources to better prepare, coordinate, and respond to any such disasters when they arise.

I strongly support the passage of this legislation and look forward to the President signing it into law.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet tomorrow at 9 a.m. for morning-hour debate and 10 a.m. for legislative business.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to call attention to the plight of the United States Marine veteran, Jon Hammar, who has been unjustly jailed in a Mexican prison since August. Jon is an American hero and a patriot.

After tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan, including time in Fallujah, Jon began to suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome. In order to help cope with PTSD, Jon and a friend embarked upon a surfing trip to Costa Rica. However, when they got to Mexico, Jon was arrested after receiving inaccurate information from our own Customs and Border Patrol agents. Since then, Jon has been languishing in his own personal hell. He was beaten by other inmates, his parents were being extorted, and he has been chained to his bed.

I'm asking my fellow Members of Congress to join me and over 50 of our colleagues to urge our State Department and the Mexican authorities to resolve this matter immediately and bring Jon Hammar home for Christmas. Please call our congressional office to sign these important letters.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 3783) to provide for a comprehensive strategy to counter Iran's growing hostile presence and activity in the Western Hemisphere, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 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 today of H.R. 3783, as amended, the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012, a bill introduced by my good friend from South Carolina and a member of our Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Duncan, who is here with us.

In September, the House acted and passed the Duncan bill overwhelmingly, and last week the Senate further reiterated its strong bipartisan and bicameral support for the bill and the need to address Iran's increased presence in the Western Hemisphere.

In February, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Ahmadinejad's Tour of Tyrants and Iran's Agenda in the Western Hemisphere'' in order to examine the growing threat posed by Iran and its proxies to U.S. national security interests in the Western Hemisphere, a threat that first became evident 18 years ago with the deadly assault on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Eighteen years ago, so-called Iranian diplomats readily partnered with Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, to carry out the AMIA attack. Since then, Tehran has only increased its subversive actions, as well as its diplomatic and economic relations with radical regimes in Latin America.

Iran's Ahmadinejad made two trips to Latin America this year in an attempt to garner support from his fellow tyrants, the Castro brothers in Cuba, Ortega in Nicaragua, Correa in Ecuador, Chavez in Venezuela, and Morales in Bolivia. Just last week, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Europe and the Americas finished a similar tour around Latin America seeking support for a nuclear Iran.

The Pentagon's Southern Command, SOUTHCOM, underscores that Iran continues to expand its influence throughout the region, opening more embassies and more cultural centers in Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Colombia, Chile, and Uruguay, in addition to its existing diplomatic missions in Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela.

According to a U.S. intelligence analyst, these diplomatic missions are simply fronts for Iran to carry out its nefarious activities in the region and a potential platform to increase the presence of Quds Force operatives, a designated foreign terrorist organization and an arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guard.

Iran is not only an enemy of the United States but also of our allies. In the recent conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, the Iranian regime has time and again displayed its brazen disregard for peace by wanting to resupply the Hamas terrorist organization in Lebanon to continue their deadly rocket barrage on our greatest ally, the democratic Jewish State of Israel.

One state sponsor of terrorism after another continues to receive the royal treatment from these tyrants of Latin America. Last month, Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister also visited the regimes of Venezuela, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Ecuador.

After that trip, news reports indicated that Assad, a close ally of the Iranian regime, and an enabler for their Hezbollah branch, may be seeking political asylum in one of these countries as the situation in Syria continues to rapidly deteriorate.

Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow these violent actors a safe haven to conduct their evil schemes, and the presence of these individuals only reaffirms the significant threat posed by Iran and its proxies to the United States and to the hemisphere.

H.R. 3783 requires that the Secretary of State outline a U.S. Government-wide strategy to combat the aggressive actions of Iran and its proxies, such as Hezbollah in the Western Hemisphere, toward a comprehensive policy stance that protects the security interests of the United States.

We must do everything we can to isolate Iran and its proxies from sources of financial assistance in the hemisphere, as well as prevent entities from possibly helping Iran to evade sanctions. We must ensure that the U.S. is actively monitoring this threat and takes appropriate steps to counter the Iranian regime's agenda in our hemisphere.

I strongly support passage of this legislation, and I look forward to the President signing it into law.

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

I am so honored to yield 3 minutes to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan).

I yield such time as he may consume to the incoming chairman of our Foreign Affairs Committee, the esteemed gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who is currently the chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

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

Thank you so much. And I thank the gentleman for arranging this for us.

And I also rise to commemorate the 34 years of Jay Pierson's career as a member of the Republican cloakroom, the Republican floor staff, the Speaker's Office. He's held many positions.

But the 113th Congress, Mr. Speaker, will suffer due to his retirement, and Members on both sides of the aisle will certainly feel his absence.

By the time I came to the U.S. House of Representatives, Jay was already a seasoned veteran of the archaic world of House parliamentary procedures. To this day, never far from Jay's side is his Jefferson's Manual of Rules, with its well-marked pages and notes written in the margins.

His historical expertise and institutional knowledge will not easily be replicated. Precious few know this House better, and what we are losing is substantial.

But Jay is far more than just a fountain of institutional knowledge; he is a familiar and comforting figure here on the floor, even though many of us still don't recognize him without his iconic mustache. I still see it in his face, John Bolton style.

But Jay is renowned for his personable nature, for his grace, for his patience, for his helpful nature. Jay's energy and vitality are hard to match, as is his deep love of classical music that is always coming from his office.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate for having had the privilege of working with Jay Pierson over these many years. And I thank you, Jay, for your service, but most especially, for your friendship. You are a true professional, and your shoes will be hard to fill.

And not only do I no longer leave my papers on our chairs because I have grown to admire your fastidious nature, but I now find myself chastising other Members who absentmindedly leave papers behind. So you taught me well, Jay. You taught us all well.

Godspeed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise here to ask for the immediate release of U.S. Marine Jon Hammar, who has been unreasonably imprisoned by Mexican authorities since August, where, for a time, he was actually being shackled to his bed.

Lance Corporal Hammar is an outstanding young American combat veteran who clearly took every reasonable step to ensure that he was safely and legally transporting the antique firearm that he inherited from his great-grandfather. He spoke with our own Customs and Border Patrol agents, who assured him that he would be fine as long as he registered it with Mexican authorities.

Once in Mexico, Jon attempted to register his old-fashioned Sears and Roebuck shotgun and was immediately arrested as if he were a gunrunner.

I am calling on our State Department to act swiftly to get Jon released, and I am calling on our Department of Homeland Security to explain how their agents could have given Jon this wrong instruction.

Jon has suffered enough. Let's bring him home to his family, where he rightly belongs, in time for Christmas.

I thank the gentleman from Indiana for the time.

I plan to vote for this bill, H.R. 6156, even though I remain strongly opposed to granting Russia permanent normal trade relations, or PNTR, at this time, and I would like to explain the reasons why.

Those who argue for granting Russia PNTR, which has, until now, been prevented by what is known as the Jackson-Vanik amendment, focus on the supposed bilateral trade benefits; but the issue that concerns me and many Members is not trade, but human rights.

Advocates of repeal say that the Jackson-Vanik amendment is outdated and purely symbolic and, therefore, should be disregarded. But in the area of human rights, Madam Speaker, symbols can have a very great importance.

Over the years, Jackson-Vanik has become a sign of the continuing U.S. commitment to human rights in Russia and elsewhere. Repealing the amendment could very well be interpreted as an indication that our commitment is now weakening. This would be a terrible signal to send at a time when Vladimir Putin is in the process of imposing ever-tighter restrictions on all opposition to his regime, especially democratic activists and any others who dare to defy the authorities.

I also oppose granting Russia PNTR at this time because it is but one more concession by the United States in pursuit of the President's failed reset of relations with Moscow, which among other measures includes the one-sided New START Treaty, the retrenching of NATO's planned missile defense system against Iranian missiles, and Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization. And now Moscow is being given PNTR even as it pursues policies in Iran and elsewhere that undermine U.S. interests.

Nevertheless, despite my objections, I will vote for the bill because it is the only way of securing passage for H.R. 4405, the Magnitsky Act, which has been incorporated into this bill as title IV.

By requiring the President to publicly identify and impose sanctions on human rights violators in Russia, especially those involved in the death of Sergei Magnitsky and the subsequent coverup, this legislation will make clear that the U.S. remains fully committed to advancing democracy and human rights in that country. These are more than just symbolic steps. The proof comes from the threats by the

Kremlin of retaliation if Congress dares to act because the regime fears that senior officials will be publicly implicated.

The administration tried very hard to prevent the Magnitsky Act from moving forward and gave way only when faced with overwhelming bipartisan support for it in both the House and the Senate, making it a precondition for passage of PNTR.

In particular, the administration has tried to remove a requirement that the list of officials and others be made public and has pushed hard to be allowed to keep some of those names classified. But keeping the names secret is exactly what the Kremlin hopes to do. Therefore, although the legislation does allow the President to put the names of some violators on a classified list, this exception can only be used when the President determines that it is vital to U.S. national security interests, and he must justify such action to us in the Congress.

So, to erase any doubt, let me state for the record that the clear intent of Congress is that this exception will be used only in rare cases, and that misuse by the administration will quickly prompt a strong response.

Let me close by saying, Madam Speaker, that on this third anniversary of the death of Sergei Magnitsky, while in police custody, we in Congress are united in our support for those fighting for democracy and human rights in Russia, and will stand with them in this time of repression until they have triumphed and their country has taken its rightful place among the democracies of the world.

Mr. Speaker, on Monday October 1st, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) hosted their First Annual Trade and International Affairs Symposium, which highlighted the contributions of the U.S. Hispanic community to the global economy. To culminate the day of activities, CHLI honored two important figures from Latin America during the Global Leadership Salon Dinner: Alvaro Uribe, former President of Colombia, and Mexican businessman Ricardo Salinas, President and CEO of Grupo Salinas.

Alvaro Uribe started his career in public service as a Senator of Colombia, making great strides in increasing community participation in government decisions. Then, he became Governor of Antioquia, where he cut government spending and allocated more funding to the education system to improve schools. During his tenure as Governor, 40,000 people received training in the peaceful negotiation of conflict; and, with community cooperation, the number of kidnapping cases fell dramatically. In 2002, Mr. Uribe became President of Colombia and our country's staunchest ally in Latin America. With his integrity and courage, Uribe fought the extremist forces within his country and led an aggressive campaign to root out drug traffickers. Colombia strengthened its democracy, improved its judicial system, protected human rights, and enhanced the way of life for all Colombians. Mr. Uribe reaffirmed his commitment to the U.S. by negotiating the U.S.- Colombia Free Trade Agreement, a critical alliance that benefits the security and economic interests of both nations. It is no wonder that in 2009, President George W. Bush honored Alvaro Uribe with the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom for his meritorious contributions to our country. To this day, Mr. Uribe remains a great friend of the causes of freedom, democracy, and human rights in Latin America; and a strong partner of the United States.

Ricardo Salinas has been a pioneer in breaking down walls of competition in key industries in both Mexico and the rest of Latin America. While his business achievements are admirable, his philanthropic work is perhaps even more laudable. Ricardo has been an outspoken entrepreneur who has dedicated his business career to promoting education, health and human rights among the communities he serves. Through Fundacion Azteca, Ricardo has raised millions of dollars for important charities in Mexico. Following the steps of Fundacion Azteca, Ricardo founded Fundacion Azteca America, an organization that works to promote the well-being of the Hispanic community in the United States. As part of their work, Fundacion Azteca America has developed a series of social campaigns such as establishing educational programs for young Hispanic students to access quality education; improving civic engagement; and learning about financial responsibility. The organization has also been a staunch supporter of comprehensive immigration reform.

Mr. Speaker, as we continue to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, I am honored to have these two significant leaders from the Western Hemisphere in our nation's capital. I would also like to thank CHLI for their vision of advancing the Hispanic community's diversity of thought in the United States and beyond.

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize the Girl Scouts Council of Tropical Florida, an organization dedicated to empowering girls so that they can become exemplary leaders of our community by building courage, confidence, and character.

On August 1, 1963 the Girl Scout Council of Dade County merged with the Florida Keys Girl Scout Council to develop into the Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida, now enriching the lives of more than 20,000 girls and 3,600 adults from Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

Girl Scouts Council of Florida has prepared numerous activities throughout South Florida to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, a movement that started in Georgia with only 18 girls and that has grown to more than 3.2 million members nationwide.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Board of Directors: Irela Bague, Wanda Hewitt, Lilian A. Walby, Alice N. Bravo, Georgia McLean, Nancy Pastroff, Maria D. Tejera, Lilly Monzon Aguirre, Carolann Baldyga, Guillermo ``Bill'' Cruz, Elvira Dopico, Melissa A. Dunn, Frank Fernandez, Lourdes Fernandez, Maria I. Gonzalez, Johnette Hardiman, Althea Harris, Jenny Arias May, Joyce Ann Hanks Moorehead, Grace O'Donnell, Jack Plunkett, Jr., Lisa D. Sparks, Margarita Villoch, Margarita Weidener, Peggy Wingard, and Mary Young; the Council Nominating Committee:

Grace O'Donnell, Sheryl Alonso, Carlos Arboleya, Sallie C. Byrd, Gail Ash Dotson, Ellen Siegel, and Margarita Villoch; and the Executive Management: Sally Boggess, Patsy Schmidt-Cozier, Pauline Russell, Lance Balding, Luisa Lander, Julia Onnie-Hay, Eva Berbrick, Ansley Ross, Maria Santos, and Ana Delgado, for being part of this national celebration, and I commend the hard work they put forth to make a long- lasting impact on our community and environment, while cultivating strong values in its members.