Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, next Saturday, September 29th, the Miami chapter of the Friends of St. Jude will celebrate its fifth annual ``It's All About the Kids'' event in Miami. Friends of St. Jude is a group of young professionals dedicated to the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital--advancing treatment and prevention in the fight against childhood cancer.

This year, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital marks its 50th anniversary. Since its opening, St. Jude has made many important discoveries on treatment for children with deadly diseases like cancer, and has saved countless lives worldwide. The doctors and researchers at St. Jude are some of the world's best, and have continued to work together to find better treatments all the time--sharing their discoveries with the global medical community. In 50 years, St. Jude has grown into one of the premier pediatric treatment and research facilities. And they have provided all of their services at no cost to their patients and their families. It is for this reason that the Friends of St. Jude is dedicated to helping St. Jude Children's Research Hospital continue its legacy, and why the Friends of St. Jude of Miami has been such a great resource.

The Miami chapter of Friends of St. Jude is the organization's largest chapter--with over 350 members--and has done tremendous work on behalf of St. Jude's. This year's ``It's All About the Kids'' event will be hosted by six-time Emmy award winning journalist and co-anchor of the news-magazine show Primer Impacto, Pamela Silva Conde and ABC Sports anchor Will Manso. The event will have a distinctive Miami flare, and will feature entertainment from local star, and official Miami Heat DJ, DJ Irie and the Culture Live Band.

Mr. Speaker, these bright and talented individuals gather in a common interest and devote their time, talents and energy volunteering for such a great cause, and they truly deserve praise and recognition for their efforts. On behalf of the entire South Florida community, and all of the patients and families of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, I would like to thank the Friends of St. Jude Executive Committee: Jeb Bush Jr.-Chairman, Anibal Garcia, Carlos A. Musibay, Cristal Cole, Cristina Musibay Diaz, Javier Milian, Magda Rodriguez, Sofia Holtzman; and I would also like to recognize the host committee: Anna Del Rio Chong, Briana Guerra, Clara Pablo, Desiree Valls, Diana Delgado, Florencia Contesse, Gloria Ordaz, Laura Socorro-Santoni, Lourdes Milian, Luly Valls, Mayrelis Valle, Nicole Perez, Nicole Valls, Olga Garrido, Pamela Silva Conde, Silvia Camps, Suzanne Schmidt and, of course, Wendy Grant.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 786) honoring the four United States public servants who died in Libya and condemning the attacks on United States diplomatic facilities in Libya, Egypt, and Yemen.

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.

I want to thank Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Leader Pelosi, and Mr. Hoyer for spearheading this critical resolution about the recent terrorist attacks.

Our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glenn Doherty, and all of those injured in the attack. Our condolences must also go out to the entire U.S. diplomatic corps.

On the 11th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001, radical Islamists attacked the United States mission in Benghazi, and our Ambassador and three other State Department personnel were murdered. Concurrently, in Cairo, our Embassy was assaulted by a mob of extremists who breached its walls and desecrated our American flag.

Since that fateful day, Mr. Speaker, we have witnessed a dramatic escalation of anti-American protests and actions throughout the region, from assaulting the Embassy in Tunis to the attack on peacekeepers in the Sinai.

The premise that the violence and the protests are solely based on that obscure, hateful video is patently false. Rather, it is symptomatic of a broader effort by our enemies in the region to foment hatred of the U.S. Yet the hesitation on the part of this administration and the schizophrenia in response to this latest crisis is a cause for concern.

The U.S. has nothing for which to apologize, including the exercise of freedom of expression. Surrendering our principles before an unruly mob or violent extremists will only embolden the likes of al Qaeda and reinforce the notion that more attacks against the United States will change core American policies and American principles.

The perpetrators of the attacks must be held accountable by our allies in the region, and the administration must take the lead. There is no excuse whatsoever for attacking diplomatic missions and murdering diplomats. The administration must place the governments on notice that their conduct during this crisis will determine the nature of our relations moving forward.

The Libyan and Yemeni Governments have both apologized for and strongly condemned the attacks on U.S. diplomatic posts in their host countries. They have been fully cooperating with us. By contrast, the Egyptian Government took over a day to issue a weak statement discouraging violence against foreign embassies, but it was, alas, too little, too late.

This cannot happen again, and Congress will be closely monitoring the ongoing protests and reassessing our assistance packages and our approaches based on the responses of the governments to assaults on our embassies and our institutions.

The lack of a firm response will undermine our U.S. interests in the region. We must clearly articulate and implement a policy that rewards our allies, encourages moderate forces within the region, and punishes our enemies.

At this critical moment, Mr. Speaker, the United States must reaffirm support for our friends and allies and clearly differentiate them from our enemies.

The United States must continue to stand up for American values and stand with the voices of moderation.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to yield 1 minute to our esteemed majority leader, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to reinforce a few points. First, our thoughts and our prayers are with the families of the American diplomats murdered in Libya as we stand with them in this difficult time.

Secondly, there is no excuse whatsoever for attacking diplomatic missions and murdering diplomats.

Third, the U.S. has nothing for which to apologize. Let us not apologize for the exercise of freedom of expression. The perpetrators of these attacks must be held accountable.

Finally, the United States Congress will be reassessing our assistance packages based on the responses of the various affected governments to assaults on our embassies and our institutions. Nothing can justify the terrorist attacks carried out against our fellow Americans, our diplomatic posts, and our U.S. interests around the world.

The Americans killed were committed to helping the Libyan people, committed to help them secure a better, more stable, more peaceful future. Yet, radicals, the radicals who seek to hijack such freedom, security, and prosperity from the people of the Middle East and in North Africa, those who deny their own people basic human rights and universal freedoms, answered our dedication and our commitment of these courageous Americans by burning our mission and killing our diplomats.

So let us be clear: no apologies are needed. Nothing justifies these violent actions.

And to the people throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and throughout the world who are oppressed, the United States and our personnel overseas stand with you. We stand for freedom, despite the threats from extremist elements.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3783) to provide for a comprehensive strategy to counter Iran's growing presence and hostile activity in the Western Hemisphere, 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 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 today of H.R. 3783, the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012, a bill introduced by my good friend, Mr. Duncan, an esteemed member of our Foreign Affairs Committee. I would like to thank him for his hard work on the issues addressed in this important bill.

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 threat to U.S. national security posed by Iran and Iranian-sponsored activities in the Western Hemisphere. One month later, this bipartisan measure was unanimously adopted by our Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, as we have witnessed in the last few weeks, the violence perpetrated by extremists in the Middle East against our embassies and our consulates undermines our foreign policy objectives, and we must prevent these vicious attacks from occurring in our region.

Let us not forget that 18 years ago, Iranian so-called diplomats readily partnered with Hezbollah, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, to carry out a deadly attack against the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Iran has only increased its subversive action since then, and over the past decade the regime has increased diplomatic and economic ties between Iran and the radical regimes in Latin America.

Iran's Ahmadinejad made two trips to Latin America this year to visit his fellow tyrants: the Castro brothers in Cuba, Ortega in Nicaragua, Correa in Ecuador, Chavez in Venezuela, and Morales in Bolivia.

In an attempt to promote its extremist propaganda, the Iranian regime recently launched a Spanish television network to reach a larger international audience centered in the Western Hemisphere. More embassies and cultural centers have opened 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 the Qods Force operatives, a designated foreign terrorist organization and an arm of the Revolutionary Guard of Iran.

According to media reports, Hezbollah, which is Iran's proxy, has established a training base in Nicaragua. It is also concerning that the Ortega regime in Nicaragua does not require any visas for Iranian officials to enter the country, which can then become the gateway to enter the United States through our southern border. Ten days ago, there were news reports stating that several alleged Hezbollah members were arrested in Mexico. Iran has worked tirelessly to promote its extremist ideologies and support efforts to undermine the democratic governments throughout the region.

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

This legislation calls for the administration to develop a plan to secure the U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico and to prevent operatives from entering the United States. It also calls for a plan to isolate Iran and its proxies from their sources of financial support, and it addresses efforts by foreign persons, entities, and governments in the region that may be assisting Iran in evading sanctions.

Lastly, it develops a plan to protect U.S. interests and assets in our Western Hemisphere, including embassies, consulates, businesses, and cultural organizations. We must ensure that the United States is actively monitoring this threat and that it takes appropriate steps to counter the Iranian regime's agenda in our hemisphere. I strongly support the passage of this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I proudly yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Duncan), a member of our House Committee on Foreign Affairs as well as a member of the Homeland Security and Natural Resources Committees. More importantly, he is the author of this bill today.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Turner), a member on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Veterans' Affairs, and Homeland Security Committee.

Mr. Speaker, at this time we 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. 526) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect toward the establishment of a democratic and prosperous Republic of Georgia and the establishment of a peaceful and just resolution to the conflict with Georgia's internationally recognized borders, 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.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

In the last decade, the Republic of Georgia has worked hard to implement a series of political, economic, and social reform aimed at establishing a democratic and prosperous society. These changes have often been difficult and even controversial, but the Georgian Government and its people must be commended for continuing to move forward. However, there is still much to be done.

Soon, in the next few months, there will be parliamentary and presidential elections. Much is riding on these elections being perceived to be free and fair and conducted in full compliance with international democratic standards. The U.S. strongly supports Georgia's membership in NATO, and the alliance has repeatedly stated that the Republic of Georgia will one day be welcomed as a full member.

Free and fair elections, Mr. Speaker, are fundamental to further progress toward Georgia's joining NATO. Nevertheless, Georgia is already contributing greatly to the alliance, particularly to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, where it is the second largest non-NATO contributor.

Georgia's deployed forces in Afghanistan number over 800 troops, and these do not have restrictions on their engagement in combat, which is not the case with so many other allies. Georgia has done this even as its own security situation remains precarious, given the ongoing presence by Russian troops in several regions in Georgia.

Until Russia fulfills the conditions in its 2008 cease-fire agreement, the instability and conflict it has deliberately

created will, unfortunately, continue. Russia's aggression against Georgia poses a threat to the security of the entire region. This resolution, therefore, sends a strong message that Russian actions and continued military presence in these areas are unacceptable and must end immediately.

I therefore urge my colleagues to join me in support of this important resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Shuster), who is the chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, a member of the Armed Services Committee, and, more importantly, the author of the measure before us.

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

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H. Res. 526, which calls for the establishment of a democratic and prosperous Republic of Georgia and a peaceful and just resolution of Georgia's conflict with its breakaway regions, Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Our country has always backed Georgia's territorial integrity. After Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia, Moscow essentially truncated Georgia by recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Tellingly, no other OSCE state--not even former Soviet republics economically dependent on Russia--has followed Moscow's example, understanding well the danger of the precedent. Secretary Clinton has designated Russia's policy in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as ``occupation.'' Indeed, Moscow has pursued the ongoing militarization of these regions, which are clearly Georgian territory.

In a remarkable admission, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on August 8 that Russia had a contingency plan as early as 2006-2007 for war with Georgia and that Moscow had even trained militiamen in South Ossetia. As Georgia's Foreign Ministry notes, Putin's acknowledgement contradicts ``Russia's earlier assertions that its 2008 military attack was in response to a surprise attack from Georgia and that its invasion was meant to prevent genocide and protect Russian citizens. It also underscores the premeditated nature of the invasion and highlights Moscow's utter disregard for international law.''

The United States will continue to back Georgia's territorial integrity. I stand with Georgia's Government in calling on Russia to remove its occupying forces and pledge not to use force against Georgia. I also note with concern the troubling military exercises Russia has scheduled to coincide with Georgia's parliamentary elections in October in a blatant attempt at intimidation.

The upcoming election will be a critical moment in Georgia's democratic development. I hope the OSCE will be able to assess the election as free and fair. The United States stands ready to help Georgia progress towards democracy, as H. Res. 526 demonstrates.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I bring news to the U.S. Congress that, last month, on Monday, August 6, the South Florida community and the Munoz family lost a courageous and strong woman: Milagros ``Millie'' Munoz.

I have twice previously come to the floor to speak of Millie, and the debilitating disorder from which she suffered: Dystonia. Millie was a remarkable woman described by all who knew her as ``the sweetest person,'' who was strong even in the face of the inescapable pains of dystonia. Through all of it--her pain; her rigorous physical therapy sessions--Millie always greeted everyone with that warm, unmistakable smile of hers.

As a Member of Congress, it is my duty to help call attention to, and raise awareness of disorders such as dystonia to the American public. Together we can work together and call for additional research, with the hope that one day a cure may be found.

Right now, dystonia is a virtually unknown condition that stems from major neurological diseases. It causes the involuntary spasm and contraction of muscles that robs those affected of the freedom to move. The condition is often misdiagnosed; Millie herself was often told by doctors that ``it was all in her head.'' It was only until her friend and doctor, Cynthia Gonzalez, astutely recognized Millie's symptoms as dystonia, that her mind could be put at ease.

Millie's case stands as an example of why more Americans should be aware of dystonia; so that more can be done to prevent it and others like Millie don't have to suffer unnecessarily in the future. People should know her story so that Millie's courage in the face of adversity does not get forgotten.

Millie may be gone, but her courage and resilience will be her lasting legacy. All of our hearts are a little heavier this week in South Florida as we honor and remember Milagros ``Millie'' Munoz. We should not mourn the loss of a life, but rather celebrate the memory of a life lived.

Mr. Speaker, her passing is not the end, but the beginning of a new future; a future where others need not suffer from disorders like dystonia. And we here in Congress can help facilitate that future.

Mr. Speaker, next week, Monday, September 17th is Constitution Day.

This day marks the 225th anniversary of the adoption of the United States Constitution by our Founding Fathers.

On that day in 1787 the members of the Constitutional Convention of Philadelphia reached a watershed moment, collectively adopting the Constitution that embodies the ideals of a new nation and a free people.

Over the course of this upcoming week, Americans from all walks of life will gather to commemorate this sacred document by collectively reading the Constitution in Constitution Day events nationwide.

Tomorrow, at 5:30 p.m. at the Miami History Museum on West Flagler Street, local law firm Higer, Lichter & Givner, in conjunction with History Miami, will host students, veterans, business and community leaders, and all who wish to join, as they gather together to read and honor the Constitution.

This is a wonderful tradition, and I strongly encourage everyone to take part in this important event.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1410) to promote freedom and democracy in Vietnam, 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 materials into the Record on this measure.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1410, the Vietnam Human Rights Act. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam remains a gross human rights violator even as its trade with the U.S. grows. The people of Vietnam continue to be oppressed by their Communist jailers, unable to change their government or enjoy any semblance of the rule of law. Indeed, the most recent elections of May 2011 were neither free nor fair. Much like those living under the ruthless Castro regime in my native Cuba, Vietnamese citizens are subject to brutal treatment from police, inhumane prison conditions, and denial of the right to a fair and speedy trial.

The judicial system is plagued by endemic corruption and inefficiency, and the Communist government has increasingly limited privacy rights and freedoms of the press, speech, assembly, movement, and association. Freedom of religion is subject to interpretation by Communist authorities, with significant problems occurring at provincial and village levels.

Violence and discrimination against women, as well as trafficking in persons, continue to torment the population. The sexual exploitation of children, as well as hate crimes and discrimination based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, and HIV/AIDS status, all persist. As is the case with all Communist regimes, police often act with impunity. Cowardly hiding this egregious brutality from the civilized world, the Communist government prohibits independent human rights organizations from operating within its borders. All of this occurs while the U.S. continues to broaden trade with the Vietnamese dictators, completing a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, or TIFA, in 2007.

We have increased our trade with Vietnam every year and have held a trade deficit with Vietnam every year since 1997. Mr. Speaker, that is not the message that we should send to these thugs. We should not reward this Communist dictatorship until the Government of Vietnam has made substantial progress respecting political freedoms, media freedoms, and religion freedoms.

Vietnam must also protect its minorities, give access to U.S. refugee programs, act to end trafficking in persons, and release its approximately 4,000 political prisoners.

I urge my colleagues to join me in showing our solidarity and support for the people of Vietnam by passing this important bill today.

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

Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased to yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, who is the author of this important bill.

I yield the gentleman an additional minute.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of our Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade of our Committee on Foreign Affairs.

I would like to ask Mr. Berman if he has any other requests for time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, our Nation has always served as a beacon of hope for all who are oppressed and suffer under regimes such as the one in Vietnam, which has shown a blatant disregard for fundamental human rights and universal freedoms. We must continue to serve as such a beacon. We must not waver in our commitment to standing with the oppressed and not with their oppressors. This bill serves as an important guidepost in doing that.

The Vietnam regime continues its oppression. On August 5, they arrested about 30 peaceful demonstrators who were protesting China's activities in the South China Sea. It included the arrest of an 81- year-old activist. Also, the threatened trial of three well-known human rights bloggers has been further postponed, thus extending their unjust legal limbo.

This human rights legislation is long overdue. It contains a provision prohibiting an increase in nonhumanitarian assistance to the Government of Vietnam unless certain human rights benchmarks are met. Of course, it has a Presidential waiver, but it authorizes the President to provide assistance through appropriate nongovernmental organizations and the Human Rights Defenders Fund for the support of individuals and organizations that are promoting internationally recognized human rights in Vietnam. This is an American principle. This should be a universal principle of human rights and respect for minority rights.

I hope that our colleagues will join us in passing Mr. Smith's bill. The time for it is long overdue. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1464) to develop a strategy for assisting stateless children from North Korea, and for other purposes.

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

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 1464, the North Korean Refugee Adoption Act, of which I am a proud cosponsor.

I want to thank my good friend from California (Mr. Royce), who is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade on our Foreign Affairs Committee and who is a longtime advocate on North Korean human rights and refugee issues, for introducing this important bill.

We are all too keenly aware of the extreme repression, the malnutrition, and the poverty suffered by so many inside North Korea today. Those threats often take the greatest toll on children.

Imagine what happens when a child's natural protectors--parents--are no longer in the picture. Imagine what happens when that child is born or orphaned inside China when the child lacks legal status or dependable access to social services: malnutrition, abuse, exploitation, lack of education. These are the horrors that are faced by orphans of North Korean origin who are effectively stateless and without protection.

Mr. Speaker, the United States is home to the largest ethnic Korean population outside of Northeast Asia, and many of the nearly 2 million Americans of Korean descent have family ties to North Korea. Numerous American families would like to provide caring homes to these stateless North Korean orphans. H.R. 1464 is a responsible first step toward making that possible.

This bill does not ignore the unique challenges involved with ensuring that North Korean adoptees are genuine orphans and not fraudulent victims of trafficking. It does not change U.S. immigration law, nor the legal standards for adoption. It does not reduce the need for China to begin abiding by its refugee convention obligations to vulnerable North Koreans within its borders. And it does not diminish our commitment to assisting intact refugee families or to reunifying families that are separated.

What it does do, Mr. Speaker, is require that our State Department take a broad look at the diplomatic and documentation challenges facing American families who would like to adopt North Korean orphans and report to Congress on potential strategies to address them.

Doing the right thing is not always easy.

I especially want to applaud those adoptive parents, both past and future, who invest their own lives and homes to provide loving families for some of the world's most endangered children. H.R. 1464 is a welcome step forward, Mr. Speaker, and deserves our unanimous support.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased to yield 6 minutes to the other gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, and the author of this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I think Mr. Royce did a wonderful job in summing up our bipartisan position.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 484) calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to respect basic human rights and cease abusing vague national security provisions such as articles 79 and 88 of the Vietnamese penal code, which are often the pretext to arrest and detain citizens who peacefully advocate for religious and political freedom, 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.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 484, a bipartisan resolution of Loretta Sanchez, a bill of which I am a cosponsor.

This resolution calls on the Vietnamese authorities to ``respect basic human rights and cease abusing vague national security provisions such as articles 79 and 88 of the Vietnamese penal code.'' These draconian legal measures are often used to arrest and detain citizens who peacefully advocate for political and religious freedom.

When the Bush administration signed the bilateral trade agreement with Vietnam in the year 2006, which paved the way for Vietnam joining the World Trade Organization the next year, the Congress was assured that trade liberalization with Hanoi would lead, inevitably, to political liberalization.

This proved, however, to be as spurious a promise as one made by the Clinton administration, which vowed that the liberalization of trade would open the door to democracy and human rights in China. The siren song that trade is the panacea for ending totalitarian oppression is directly contradicted by reports of deteriorating human rights conditions in both Vietnam and China.

As Hanoi comes increasingly to Washington seeking strategic support for its dispute with the Chinese in the South China Sea, one can only ask, why are we not using Hanoi's concerns in the South China Sea as leverage to win greater concessions on the dismal human rights conditions in Vietnam?

Why would we even consider helping Vietnam against Chinese bullying as long as Hanoi holds behind bars United States citizen Dr. Quan. Dr. Quan is a mathematician, and he has been detained in Vietnam since he returned there for a family visit in April.

This resolution spells out in great detail how Hanoi makes use of the security provisions contained in articles 79 and 88 to continue to detain such noted democracy advocates as Father Ly.

Article 88's provision regarding propaganda against the State gives Hanoi great leeway in detaining and imprisoning human rights activists, writers, those who advocate for democracy, journalists, Internet bloggers, the list goes on.

The repeal of articles 79 and 88, and the release of all political prisoners, as called for in this important resolution, would represent first steps away from the continued totalitarian oppression of the Vietnamese regime. Our State Department should not put concern for human rights and the protection of the rights of U.S. citizens on a back burner while we pursue commercial and strategic opportunities with the leaders in Hanoi.

We in Washington must be of one voice in strongly condemning the continuing crackdown on human rights and democracy in Vietnam. We should also remember that without the rule of law, it is not only democracy advocates who are put at risk, but also those whose special contracts will prove to be worthless pieces of paper.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to give their strong and unwavering support for this resolution.

With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my good friend from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

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

Just in closing, I would hope some of these impassioned speakers on behalf of respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law for the people of Vietnam, as meritorious as they are, I hope that they're extended to my native homeland of Cuba as well. May we hear those voices on the House floor calling for those same characteristics for the people of Cuba.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 17) expressing the sense of Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

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 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who has a strong interest

in this issue related to Taiwan's status in the International Civil Aviation Organization.

Mr. Speaker, I will make some remarks, and then I will also yield back the remainder of our time.

I rise in strong support of this important resolution which calls upon the International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, to grant meaningful participation for Taiwan.

Is there any doubt in a post-September 11th world that air traffic safety constitutes one of the first lines of defense against those who would do harm to the United States or to our friends and allies? Are not the people of Taiwan deserving of the same level of protection against air assault as provided to the other peoples whose governments participate in ICAO?

The Taipei flight information region, under the jurisdiction of Taiwan, covers an airspace of 176,000 square nautical miles. Taiwan's main international airport is recognized as the eighth largest in the world in cargo traffic and the 18th in the number of international passengers who make use of its services.

Can there be any doubt, therefore, that Taiwan, which provides air safety control services for well over 1,350,000 flights annually needs meaningful participation in the international organization responsible for air safety and security?

Beijing, like some haughty overlord, condescendingly informed Taipei and the U.N. system in the year 2009 that it would allow, at least temporarily, Taiwan's participation in the World Health Assembly. Meaningful participation in international organizations for Taiwan represents too important an issue to be determined only by the whims of Beijing.

It is time to open the door to Taiwan's constructive and meaningful participation in ICAO, and that time is now.

The State Department, as this resolution suggests, should assume a leading role in providing an action plan to ensure that this happened as quickly as possible. We owe this, Mr. Speaker, to the people of Taiwan. We owe this to ensure as well for the air safety of those American passengers flying over the skies of the western Pacific.

And here I am not speaking just in theoretical terms, Mr. Speaker. Let us not forget that it was less than three decades ago when, due to a tragic confusion in air communications, a Soviet military fighter shot down a Korean Air Lines civilian flight as it left western Pacific and flew inadvertently over Soviet territory. As we know, this resulted in the death of all 269 people on board, including a Member of this House, Congressman Larry McDonald of Georgia's Seventh District. The Congressman was traveling to Seoul to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the United States-South Korea Mutual Defense Treaty.

So air safety control is, therefore, a very serious matter. Taiwan needs meaningful participation in ICAO not only for the safety and security in the air of its own citizens but also for all of the peoples of the vibrant Asia Pacific region.

ICAO will be holding its 12th Air Navigations Conference in November, and Taiwan should be, must be represented there in Montreal.

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge that my colleagues join Mr. Berman and me in expressing their overwhelming support for this important resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Captain Emiliano Tellado of the United States Army for his dedication and service to our Nation. Captain Tellado recently moved on from his assignment as a Congressional Liaison for the Army to become the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Land Command Stand Up Team Special Initiatives Group Leader.

A native of Puerto Rico, Captain Tellado graduated from Norwich University and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and International Studies. Following his graduation from Norwich University in May 2003, Captain Tellado was commissioned in the Field Artillery branch. His first assignment was with 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Light, where he served as a Fire Direction Officer and Platoon Leader. During that time he deployed as part of Combined Joint Task Force-76 to Afghanistan from March 2006 to November 2007. Upon his arrival he was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, Light, where he served as a Battalion Fire Support Officer and a Rifle Company Commander, deploying for a second time.

For his second deployment, Captain Tellado deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of the ``Surge'' from November 2007 to January 2009. Throughout his deployments Captain Tellado led soldiers in combat at both the platoon and company level in Afghanistan and Iraq. His awards and decorations are as extensive as they are impressive, and include: Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Badge, Ranger Tab, and Parachutist Badge.

After transferring command in August, he attended the Field Artillery Captains Career Course. Upon completion, Captain Tellado was selected for the prestigious Army Congressional Fellowship Program, where, as part of the Program, he earned his Master's in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University.

This Master's would serve him well, as Captain Tellado was then chosen to serve as a Defense Department Fellow on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He utilized the skills he learned from his Master's program, together with his extensive deployment experience, to provide expert advice on Middle East and South Asian affairs.

In January 2011, he arrived in the House Army Liaison Division where he assumed his

duties as a Legislative Liaison and continued to honorably serve as a conduit between the Army and Congress.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work closely with Captain Tellado over the last few years of his decorated career, both as a Fellow for the Foreign Affairs Committee, and as a Legislative Liaison for Congress to the Army. On behalf of a grateful Nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Captain Tellado for dedicating his life in service to his country.

For all he and his wife have given, and continue to give to our country, we are in their debt. We wish him and his wife Sindia Luz Tellado all the best as they continue their journey together, wherever that may lead them.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 750) providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 1905, with an amendment.

Mr. Speaker, by prior agreement with the gentleman from California, who will do the same, I would like to yield 5 minutes of my time to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich) and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control those 5 minutes.

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 on the measure under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I have spoken on this floor many times about the Iranian threat and the need for action to stop it, but ultimately we will all be judged by a simple question: Did we stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapons capability? If the answer is ``no,'' if we fail, then nothing else matters. If we fail, it would be of no comfort to the American people whose security and future would be put in danger. If we fail, it would be of no comfort to our ally, Israel, whose very existence would be put in danger.

History is full of avoidable tragedies, of foolish countries that have allowed their enemies to prepare to destroy them. The entire world now is fully aware of Iran's true intention. Now is the time to take a stand. As Sir Winston Churchill said:

You ask, What is our aim? I can answer with one word:

victory. For without victory, there is no survival.

To get us on that path to victory, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to render their full support to the Iran Threat Reduction and the Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, a bicameral, bipartisan agreement that represents the strongest set of sanctions ever put in place against the regime in Tehran. It blacklists virtually all of Iran's energy, financial, and transportation sectors, and cuts off companies that keep doing business with Iran from access to our markets in the United States.

This legislation also imposes sanctions to prevent Iran from repatriating any proceeds from its oil sales, depriving the Iranian regime of 80 percent of its hard currency earnings and half of the funds that support its budget. This bill also imposes tough new sanctions on the National Iranian Oil Company, the National Iranian Tanker Company, and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It also targets Iran's use of barter transactions to bypass sanctions, the provisions of insurance to Iran's energy sector. It also targets provisions of specialized financial messaging services to the Central Bank of Iran.

Mr. Speaker, in 1995, the late former Secretary of State, Warren Christopher said:

In terms of its organization, programs, procurement, and

covert activities, Iran is pursuing the classic route to

nuclear weapons, which has been followed by almost all states

that have recently sought a nuclear capability.

That was in 1995.

Secretary Christopher added:

There is no room for complacency.

Congress passed the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act in '96. That law, now called the Iran Sanctions Act, sought to target Iran's economic lifeline--its energy sector--and denied Tehran the financial resources to pursue its nuclear ambitions, to sponsor violent Islamic groups, and to dominate the region.

Regrettably, just a couple years after enactment of that law, the Clinton administration issued a blanket waiver of energy sector sanctions that has been continued by successive administrations.

In 1996, U.S. concerns were not shared by our allies in Europe and Asia, who argued that trade, dialogue, and engagement toward the Iranian regime would succeed in moderating Tehran's behavior. This allowed the Iranian threat to flourish.

However, Congress continued to develop new legislative countermeasures in the form of the Iran Freedom Support Act of 2006 and the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 to address these Iranian threats and to hold the regime accountable for its human rights violations, for its state sponsorship of violent extremists, and for its pursuit of a nuclear capability.

We have analyzed Iranian reaction and behavior in response to these new sanctions. We have looked at what steps our allies have undertaken and considered the actions, or the paralysis, of the United Nations. But most importantly, Mr. Speaker, we have intensified our response as the Iranian threat has evolved and grown.

We know that ``the price of freedom is eternal vigilance.'' But far more than vigilance is needed in this case.

Which brings us to the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act, which we are considering today. This bipartisan, bicameral agreement seeks to tighten the choke hold on the regime beyond anything that has been done before. It sends a clear message that the American people, through their elected representatives, are fully committed to using every economic and political lever at their disposal to prevent Iran from crossing the nuclear threshold.

Through this bill, we declare that the Iranian energy sector is off limits, and it blacklists any related unauthorized dealings. It will undermine Iran's ability to repatriate the revenues it receives from the sale of crude oil, depriving Iran of hard currency earnings and funds needed to sustain its nuclear program. It prevents the purchasing of Iranian sovereign debt, thereby further limiting the regime's ability to finance its illicit activities. It also expands sanctions against Iranian and Syrian officials for human rights abuses, particularly those facilitated by computer and network disruption, monitoring, and tracking by those governments.

Yet we should be under no illusions, Mr. Speaker, that this legislation is a magic wand that we wave, and we will resolve the problem overnight. Sanctions have helped to knock the regime off balance. But unless the executive branch fully implements these measures immediately, the regime is likely to regain its footing and further speed up its nuclear march. So let us act now to stop that march.

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

Mr. Speaker, the threat posed by the Iranian regime is not just a threat to the United States, or to our allies, or to the Iranian people.

The Iranian regime is also a threat to the Syrian people, because of Iran's close ties and assistance, including weapons that have helped the regime in Syria to slaughter thousands.

Like Iran, Syria is a state sponsor of terrorism that poses a threat to the U.S., to our ally Israel, and to other responsible nations.

I hope to be back on the House floor in the near future with the Syria Freedom Support Act to address the totality of the Syrian threat, but today we stand ready to hold the Assad regime accountable for its gross human rights violations.

Today, we seek to ensure that neither of these brutal regimes has access to resources that would enable them to perpetuate their cruelty.

Those allies who, 16 years ago, wanted to engage and continue business as usual with Iran and who, until just a few years ago, were proposing expanded trade agreements with the Assad regime in Syria, have awaken to take a stand against the threatening activities of these pariah states.

Congress must carry out its responsibility to the American people and overwhelmingly adopt the bicameral, bipartisan agreement we are considering today.

I urge the President to quickly sign it into law and immediately and fully implement the sanctions it contains.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Turner), a member of our Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I'd like to yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), who is our subcommittee chairman on Middle East and South Asia of our Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Dold), an esteemed member of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to close.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

I will retain my time to close, so if Mr. Kucinich could wrap up his part of the debate, we can conclude.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time.

I would like to recognize the commitment, the dedication and tireless efforts of the members of our House Foreign Affairs Committee family, particularly of our staff director, Dr. Yleem Poblete, who Ranking Member Berman once described as driving a hard bargain. Just ask her hubby, Jason. Also, thanks to Matt Zweig and Ari Fridman.

Thanks to Chairman Johnson of the Senate Banking Committee and to his staff, particularly Colin McGinnis, Patrick Grant and Steve Kroll, as well as Ranking Member Shelby and his staff.

A strong and warm thanks and big hug to my good friend Mr. Berman-- the ranking member--and to his staff, particularly Shanna Winters, Alan Makovsky and Ed Rice, as well as minority staff director Richard Kessler.

I would like to thank Senators Menendez and Mark Kirk and the critical Representatives, Deutch, Sherman and Dold.

Let's stop Iran before it's too late. Let's pass this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, July 30, 2012.

Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Rayburn, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Ros-Lehtinen: I write concerning the House-

Senate negotiations on H.R. 1905, an Act to strengthen Iran

sanctions laws for the purpose of compelling Iran to abandon

its pursuit of nuclear weapons and other threatening

activities, and for other purposes. I understand the House

and Senate have reached an agreement on provisions related to

an Energy Information Administration report on Iran's natural

gas sector.

I wanted to notify you that the Committee on Energy and

Commerce will forgo action on this House-Senate compromise

language so that the bill may proceed expeditiously to the

House floor for consideration. This is done with the

understanding that the Committee is not waiving any of its

jurisdiction on this or similar legislation.

I would appreciate your response confirming this

understanding with respect to this provision of the House-

Senate compromise to H.R. 1905, and I ask that a copy of our

exchange of letters on this matter be included in the

Congressional Record during its consideration on the House

floor.

Sincerely,

Fred Upton,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride, admiration, and affection that I rise to recognize Dr. Virgilio Beato Nunez, an outstanding member of the south Florida medical community, on his very well-deserved retirement.

In his 69 years of medical practice, he has improved the lives of countless individuals and has enjoyed a career of many achievements. Dr. Beato is a great example of the patriotism and dedication that we see throughout our Nation, and also to his profession.

Forced to flee from the oppressive Communist regime of Fidel Castro, Dr. Beato began his new life and his career in Miami. He then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where in 1974 he was elected vice president of the American Heart Association. In 1977, Dr. Beato moved back to Miami, where he helped many struggling young doctors who had moved to freedom in the United States.

He has received many awards, including a proclamation by the city of Miami naming ``Dr. Virgilio Beato Day,'' and a congressional recognition in 2006 for his many contributions to the medical field.

Congratulations to Dr. Beato on his retirement, and I wish him all the best in this new, exciting chapter in his life.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to be removed as a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 131.