Floor Statements

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, House Resolution 1538, which condemns the deadly suicide attacks that took place in Kampala, Uganda on July 11, 2010.

In the past, some Members have questioned the accuracy of reported links between al Qaeda and al-Shabaab insurgents. Some claim that it is operationally focused solely upon Somalia and, thus, poses no tangible threat to Americans, our allies, or our interests. Unfortunately, the attacks that rocked Uganda on July 11, 2010 provided indisputable evidence that those assumptions were dangerously wrong. Scores were killed, including an American who worked with the advocacy group Invisible Children.

This senseless act of violence should serve as a wake-up call to U.S. officials on the need to vigorously address the threat of Islamist extremism wherever it lurks, which extends far beyond the Middle East. Many more lives are at stake.

The 1998 East Africa Embassy attacks exposed, and the July 11 Kampala attacks affirmed, that the United States cannot afford to ignore the activities of extremist groups in Africa as they attempt to expand their influence to bolster their ranks and spread their dangerous ideology. We must work vigilantly and cooperatively with other responsible nations to disrupt the operations of extremist groups and hold accountable their regional sponsors.

Over 18 months ago, Mr. Speaker, I introduced a resolution, H. Con. Res. 16, which brings sorely needed attention to the threat of Islamist extremism in Africa. It is alarming that even after these tragic attacks I have not been able to get the majority to bring this resolution to the floor.

I understand that Attorney General Holder is currently in Uganda attending the African Union Summit, attempting to impress upon the AU heads of state the imperative of confronting violent extremists on the continent. He is highlighting many of the issues that I have been attempting to address for 1\1/2\ years. Isn't it time for this body to take this threat seriously?

So, Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to consider H. Con. Res. 16 while supporting this important resolution before us, House Resolution 1538.

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

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

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a strong and proud original cosponsor of H.R. 5138, the International Megan's Law of 2010.

The innocence of childhood is a sacred trust that deserves to be protected always and everywhere. Sexual crimes against children are especially deplorable because they violate that trust, rob children of their childhoods and, in some cases, begin a cycle of abuse that ruins multiple lives by turning victims into future abusers.

In recent decades, Mr. Speaker, we have grown in our understanding of these crimes and of the compulsions of their perpetrators, so our laws have also evolved to better protect the young. In most cases, convicted offenders who pose risks to children are required to register in the localities in which they reside.

Just 2 months ago, my home State of Florida enacted additional safeguards, barring predators from loitering near schools and other places where children congregate. But right now, such protections do not effectively extend beyond national borders, and so an alarming number of child predators use the anonymity that comes with international travel to help them find new victims.

Far away from the jurisdictions in which their crimes are known, these offenders enter unsuspecting communities to groom and exploit young boys and girls. This heartbreaking pattern occurs all around the world. It can involve something as simple as illicit travel to a known sex tourism destination, such as Cuba, where that brutal regime remains classified by our State Department as a tier 3 entity that fails to meet even the minimum standards for combating human trafficking. Or it can entail a ruse as sophisticated as establishing a front charity or an orphanage in economically depressed areas, such as southeast Asia, to secure ready access to vulnerable children.

These criminals are ruthless in their hunt for new victims, but as things stand today, no country, including the United States, receives adequate warning when dangerous child predators are coming to visit. Thus, many crimes remain undeterred and undetected, and many young lives are permanently scarred as a result. The International Megan's Law will help protect the children of the world from these dangers in two major ways:

First, it will establish a system for providing advance notice to officials when a sex offender who poses a high risk to children is traveling to their country.

Second, it will require U.S. child sex offenders who live overseas to register and periodically reverify their presence with local U.S. diplomatic or consular missions.

This bill also grants the State Department clear authority to restrict the passports of convicted child sex offenders so that they cannot jump from country to country indefinitely to avoid returning to the U.S.

While the bill is simple in its basic concept, it provides a carefully constructed mechanism to ensure that the full range of operational, legal, and constitutional interests are protected.

I want to thank my colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his leadership on this bill, which is the culmination of years of research, field visits and consultations with U.S. and foreign law enforcement officials.

Child predators do not become less dangerous when they cross international borders. They must not be allowed to use their passports as a disguise.

I urge my colleagues to support this basic protection of our children.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the author of this bill, and I ask unanimous consent that he control the time.

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

I believe that this dangerous resolution is less about U.S. policy toward Pakistan than it is about Afghanistan and a back-door attempt to force U.S. withdrawal from that country. Because our success in Afghanistan is directly linked to our effort in Pakistan, withdraw from the latter, and you may bring defeat in both.

In response to the September 11 attacks, Congress authorized the President to use all necessary and appropriate force against the perpetrators of those attacks, including against those who harbored such organizations or persons in order to prevent future acts of international terrorism against the United States.

But al Qaeda and its allies in Pakistan fit that description precisely. Our wonderful U.S. personnel in Afghanistan are there to train and support Pakistani military and security forces to enable them to battle their own insurgencies, including al Qaeda and other threats.

Much of this training is not combat related, but instead is focused on helping Pakistan undertake civil, military operations aimed at establishing stable and effective civilian authority in areas that are now off limits and serve as safe havens for extremist groups.

Far from withdrawing, we must work with Pakistan to do more against the militant networks in that country that use it and neighboring Afghanistan as a launching pad from which to direct attacks against us and our allies. The adoption of this resolution would undo our efforts to accomplish these goals and build trust and credibility with Pakistani leaders and the Pakistani people that will help provide for long-term stability and advance our long-term interests.

Mr. Speaker, removing our personnel from Pakistan would present al Qaeda with a gift that it desperately needs and convince it and the world that it is winning the fight, thereby inevitably enhancing its prestige, confidence, ambitions, resources, and recruits. If this resolution were adopted, it would make it more difficult, and perhaps impossible, for General Petraeus to effectively implement the strategy that he is pursuing in Afghanistan and that is being carried out by our brave men and women serving there.

Some will focus on the information reportedly contained in the many thousands of classified U.S. documents related to the conflict against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan, that is, on a reckless and irresponsible act which compromises U.S. security as justification for this resolution.

Some of those documents reflect the legacy of mistrust between the United States and Pakistan as well as between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a legacy which we are even now trying to overcome through enhanced dialogue.

I am gravely concerned that those leaked documents may have put in jeopardy coalition troops and our military missions. As National Security Adviser General James Jones has warned, the leaks could ``put the lives of Americans and our partners at risk and threaten our national security.''

But we would be compounding the risk and further undermining our efforts against radical Islamic militants in Pakistan and in Afghanistan if this Congress would take this knee-jerk approach to our national security and military strategy by adopting this resolution before us.

Instead, we must remain focused on our mission, on success, on prevailing against the global jihadist network. These Islamist radicals in Pakistan and Afghanistan, who seek to destabilize our allies and attack our Nation and our interest, are driven and are focused on carrying out their deadly mission.

We must, in turn, demonstrate that we possess the strength of character, the commitment, the wherewithal to counter al Qaeda, the Taliban and other enemies at every turn. We must not be looking at any opportunity or excuse to seek an immediate withdrawal from the epicenter of violent extremism, as Pakistan and Afghanistan have been described.

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I strongly urge my colleagues to vote against this dangerous measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon), the ranking member on the Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia.

I yield myself the balance of my time.

We all know that the U.S. relationship with Pakistan is one of the most complex and critically important in the world. While significant challenges remain, the U.S. and Pakistan have deepened mutual cooperation against insurgent groups. Counterterrorism cooperation has led to significant losses to al Qaeda's relationship and leadership within Pakistan, with more than half of al Qaeda's senior leaders being killed or captured.

The Pakistani military has undertaken offensives in Swat and South Waziristan, putting sustained pressure on violent militant groups. The U.S. and Pakistan have also commenced a strategic dialogue, which has expanded cooperation on a wide range of critical issues.

Even with these positive trends, the U.S. must continue to press the Pakistani Government, particularly its

military and intelligence services, to continue their strategic shift against extremists and stay on the offensive.

Mr. Speaker, the U.S. needs to maintain steadiness in purpose in Pakistan, and I therefore urge the defeat of this dangerous resolution.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate a great artist from my congressional district, Ricardo Pau-Llosa. Ricardo is a man of many talents. He is a poet, critic, curator, professor, and collector. Yet his generosity and desire to give back is what stands him apart from others.

Ricardo has graciously opened his personal art collection for an important exhibition that will take place soon. This August, the University of Notre Dame's Snite Museum of Art will open an exhibition of contemporary Latin American artwork. He has also been invited by the Museum of the Americas at the OAS to give a talk on the significance and themes of the exhibition.

Ricardo has been a renowned art critic for many years. He has been a senior editor of Art International, North American editor for Southward Art, and a contributor and adviser to the encyclopedic Dictionary of Art.

Ricardo is a frequent lecturer at major art museums such as the Art Institute of Chicago. He has published six books of poems and has been published in many literary magazines.

Ricardo, thank you for opening up your collection to us all in the hopes of educating and inspiring others. You are truly a renaissance man. Congratulations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with families throughout my community in south Florida who have an autistic adult. There are many challenges faced by families with autistic adults. Regardless of any challenge, however, families are often the strongest support unit that an autistic adult will ever know.

Autism impairs social interactions and communication skills with others. Parents of autistic children always worry about the difficult transition into adulthood. While some autistic children will grow up to function in society, others will need some level of professional help throughout their lives.

As anyone with an autistic family member knows, early detection can make a positive difference in managing and understanding this serious disorder. We must continue to encourage autism awareness and make every effort to fight this devastating disorder by finding a cure through better research.

Mr. Speaker, last week, as we know, BP announced that it had capped the oil well, and that for the first time in more than 80 days oil had stopped gushing intot he Gulf of Mexico. While last week's announcement was cause for relief among many, I have since urged cautious optimism. Much work remains to be done to address the worst environmental disaster that this country has seen in recent memory.

BP is still responsible for ensuring that every last drop of oil is removed from the gulf. BP still has a financial responsibility to those residents in the gulf coast, particularly in my congressional district of the Florida Keys, who remain financially devastated from the public perception, however false it may be, of tar ball-covered beaches and oil-soaked fish.

Despite promises of improvement, however, the BP claims process has not improved. I support legislation introduced by my friend, Congressman Charlie Melancon, to tax-exempt BP claims checks. It is the least we can do for those small business owners who continue to suffer to this day, mom and pop fishing charters. They must provide years' worth of financial data in order to prove the possibility of economic injury as a result of the spill.

Of course, this data does not truly explain the current hardship. For years, Keys fishermen have struggled with hurricanes, tropical storms, unnecessary fishing closures, and a sluggish tourist economy. This year, 2010, was supposed to represent the light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, the gulf oil spill has dashed those hopes. Charter boat captains in the Keys have lost more than half of their businesses this summer due to the oil spill perception.

My constituent, an Islamorada charter boat captain, Larry Wren, was denied financial compensation by BP. Captain Wren provided all the necessary tax documents, proof of cancellations, and even his trip logs from the past few years. After being informed that he was eligible for assistance, BP claims officials have reversed their position. BP says it will no longer pay the claim because oil has yet to reach the Florida Keys' shoreline, if it ever will.

I say shame on BP. BP must be held to task. The company's responsibility to all financially impacted gulf coast residents and businesses will not go away once the relief well is completed.

Now, earlier today, I voted on legislation to increase Federal research on the potential hazards posed by technologies used to counter the oil spill. I have long voiced my concerns about the use of chemical dispersants in such a sensitive marine ecosystem. BP contends that the chemical it is using to break down the oil is safe, but the fact remains that this dispersant has never been used in such vast quantities.

Keys commercial fishermen, whose season kicks off later this year, are also concerned about the long-term consequences of dispersants on the overall health of the fishery. Members of the environmental community are also worried about the potential harm caused by these chemicals on our already fragile coral reefs.

As BP works toward a permanent fix to the leak in the Gulf of Mexico, it is essential that Congress and all Federal agencies continue to place pressure on this oil giant to address both the environmental and the financial aspects of this disaster.

Madam Speaker, on July 20, 1974, a heavily armed Turkish invasion force landed on the beaches of its sovereign, independent neighbor--Cyprus.

While ostensibly on a peaceful mission to restore order, the Turkish military carried out a brutal campaign against Greek Cypriots, called ``Operation Atilla''.

Over five thousand Greek Cypriots were estimated to have been killed; an additional sixteen hundred Greek Cypriots were reported missing; and over two hundred thousand Greek Cypriots were evicted from their homes, never to return.

Demetris Drakos, who was a child during the invasion, recently recalled his impressions to the BBC: ``Fear and confusion as the Turks invaded, running out under the cover of night with nothing but the clothes on our backs, leaving behind our ancestral homes, our lives and in some cases our loved ones.''

Subsequently, as part of an ``ethnic cleansing''-style campaign, as some have deemed it, the occupying Turkish forces converted churches to mosques and brought Turkish squatters to settle in homes from which Greek Cypriots had been forced to flee.

The violent military occupation that began in July 1974 and the subsequent illegal actions by Turkey on Cyprus have been repeatedly criticized by the international community.

The United Nations Security Council has passed seventy-five separate resolutions calling for Turkey to allow Greek Cypriots to return to their homes and to withdraw its troops from Cyprus.

In 1976, 1983 and again in 2009, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey was illegally occupying Cyprus and must return all seized properties to their Greek Cypriot owners.

Turkey continues to ignore such condemnations of its actions.

While both the United States and the United Kingdom have unequivocally stated their support for a Cypriot-authored solution for the reunification of the country with a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation enjoying a single sovereignty and citizenship, to date no similar commitments or comments have been issued by the Turkish government.

Turkey has a moral obligation to grant the Turkish Cypriot community full autonomy in the reunification negotiations and to clearly commit to abiding by any terms agreed upon in a Cypriot reunification agreement.

Above all, Turkey must withdraw its occupation troops from Cyprus.

Those actions would go farther toward achieving peace and stability in Cyprus than all the rhetoric of good intentions we have heard over and again from Ankara.

On this 36th anniversary, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Cypriot efforts to establish a lasting, peaceful solution to the conflict that has ravaged their country and divided their people for far too long.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an outstanding constituent and a dedicated public servant, Ana Sotorrio, who will be retiring after 30 years of public service.

As the associate aviation director for Miami-Dade County, Ana has worked tirelessly to ensure that Miami International Airport remains one of the finest airports in the world.

As a recipient of the International Women in Business award, Ana must be commended for receiving this distinguished and prestigious award last year. Her exceptional leadership in promoting and enhancing trade and international business between Miami International Airport and the Americas is truly inspiring.

In addition, Ana's advocacy on Capitol Hill helped Miami International Airport become the Nation's number one international cargo airport and the number two international passenger airport.

Ana, enjoy your well-deserved retirement and your extra time with family and friends.

Mr. Speaker, speaking of wonderful people who deserve our congratulations, I would like to recognize all of the caring teachers in my South Florida community and commend them for their wonderful contributions to the development of our children.

As a woman who has been on all sides of our education system, as a student, as a former Florida certified teacher, as a recipient of a doctorate from the University of Miami in education, and as a proud parent and grandmother, I truly know how instrumental and exceptional a teacher can be.

Teachers have the power to intrigue and open whole new horizons and vistas for our youth, setting them on a positive path with high hopes and expectations for the future. A teacher can inspire a child in a specific subject matter such as math, science, art, or history, and fundamentally alter, often focusing, their enthusiasm. And there are few greater rewards than the satisfaction gained from instilling a lifelong love of learning in a child.

Fulfilling this great responsibility takes a tremendous degree of perseverance and commitment from our teachers. Our educators' unwavering dedication gives our students the ambition to achieve one of the most important aspects of life's endeavors: love of learning. These teachers are driven to present each and every child with the opportunities that they so rightfully deserve.

Certainly South Florida and the Keys, areas that I represent, are fortunate to have many outstanding educators such as the ones that I have described. Educators who are willing to do everything possible to ensure that our students are the best in our great Nation. Their commitment to our community and to our students is exemplary, and we are forever grateful for their services.

It was our teachers many years ago who gave us, the legislators, the foundations and the directions that we needed to get ahead. Each person in this great elected body is testimony to the talent and commitment of their hardworking teachers along the way. I am certainly grateful for the support I received while in school, and I'm sure that I would not be the same person without it. And I will forever be a product of the Florida public education system.

I graduated from West Miami Middle School, Southwest Miami Senior High School. I have an associate of arts degree from Miami-Dade College, a master's and a bachelor's degree from Florida International University in education--all public institutions.

As an older adult, as I mentioned, I completed a doctorate in education from the University of Miami. But even if I had finished my education at the high school level, other than family, there has been no greater influence on who all of us are than our teachers.

Through the mentoring of our teachers, students are provided with near limitless potential and possibilities. Teachers make sure that children can be creative with their minds. They get their minds on a task. And this education will allow them to accomplish the many great things that they want

to achieve throughout their lifetimes. This continues to be my guiding principle, inspired in me by my many great teachers, allowing me to work tirelessly for my community. Today's students will undoubtedly be inspired to even greater heights with unwavering commitment to bettering our community and our country.

For the professionalism and care that our teachers have shown in the pursuit of this most noble of professions, I thank each of them from the bottom of my heart. They have shaped the lives of countless students, and we are truly privileged to have such wonderful individuals taking on this great challenge.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I will submit in the Congressional Record the names of the teachers who have received awards for excellence in education throughout South Florida and the Florida Keys in this past school year.

From Centennial Middle School: Frederic Gabriel, Teacher of

the Year.

From Citrus Grove Elementary School: Edward Slater, Teacher

of the Year; Jonny Junes, Rookie Teacher of the Year.

From Coconut Grove Elementary School: Emely Yanes, Teacher

of the Year.

From Coral Shores High: Nancy Ellsworth, District Teacher

of the Year.

From Excelsior Language Academy: Ms. Reagan Weissenberg,

Teacher of the Year.

From Fairlawn Elementary Community School: Ileana Estrella,

Teacher of the Year.

From Gerald Adams Elementary: Gloria Pascual, Teacher of

the Year; Michael Sommer, Inclusion Teacher of the Year.

From Glynn Archer Elementary: Terri Sims, Inclusion Teacher

of the Year; Lottie Edwards, Teacher of the Year; Jalynn

Frazier, Beginning Teacher of the Year.

From Horace O'Bryant Middle School: Christina Beza,

Beginning Teacher of the Year; Kristen Condella, Inclusion

Teacher of the Year; Stephanie Manaher, Teacher of the Year.

From Henry M. Flagler Elementary School: Marielena Lago,

Teacher of the Year.

From Kensington Park Elementary School: Maria D. Reinoso,

Teacher of the Year; Kendra Ceasar, Rookie Teacher of the

Year.

From Key Largo School: Laura Lietaert, Teacher of the Year;

Eva Brown, Elementary School Inclusion Teacher of the Year;

Nicole Elliot, Middle School Inclusion Teacher of the Year.

From Key West High School: Dina Kinnune, Inclusion Teacher

of the Year; Rebecca Provost, Teacher of the Year.

From Kinloch Park Elementary School: Felicia Fina, Teacher

of the Year.

From Marathon Middle/High School: Andrea Rapach, Beginning

Teacher of the Year; Mike Lettau, Teacher of the Year.

From Merrick Educational Center: Maude Weiss, Teacher of

the Year; Krista Caballero, Beginning Teacher of the Year;

Lydia Chico, Paraprofessional of the Year.

From Miami Lakes K-8 Center: Ada Romeu, Teacher of the

Year; Amy Castillo, Rookie Teacher of the Year; Rosy Calvo,

Miami-Dade Public Schools District Principal of the Year.

From Plantation Key School: Barbara Berry, Teacher of the

Year; Amy Bence, Inclusion Teacher of the Year.

From Poinciana Elementary: Jessica Eden Lockwood, Inclusion

Teacher of the Year; Martha Wyker, Teacher of the Year.

From Ruth Owens Kruse' Educational Center: Dr. Ana Menedez-

Londono, Teacher of the Year; Mr. Luis Farach,

Paraprofessional of the Year.

From Sigsbee Elementary: Ellie Riley, Inclusion Teacher of

the Year; Lynly Hill, Teacher of the Year; Callie Hubble,

Beginning Teacher of the Year.

From South Dade Middle School: Ronald Dennis, Teacher of

the Year; Susana Skinner, Rookie Teacher of the Year.

From Somerset Academy Silver Palms: Adreia Da Costa, Young

Student Teacher of the Year; Alejandra Guzman, Middle and

High School Teacher of the Year.

From South Florida Autisim Charter School: German Garcia,

Teacher of the Year; Roxana Rojas, Teacher Assistant of the

Year.

From Stanley Switlike Elementary: Suzanne Terpos, Teacher

of the Year; Erin Voelliger, Inclusion Teacher of the Year.

From Sunny Isles Beach Community School: Ms. Christine

Peck, Teacher of the Year; Rose Belizaire, Rookie Teacher of

the Year.

From Sylvania Heights Elementary School: Anna-Maria Losada,

Teacher of the Year.

From Vineland K-8 Center: Ms. Laurie Sharron, Teacher of

the Year.

Mr. Speaker, everyone is asking, ``Where are the jobs?'' When will the liberal leadership in the House take action to get us out of this perpetual economic slump and have a plan to provide the jobs that American families need?

Unemployment nationally remains high at 9.5 percent for June, with the U.S. economy losing 125,000 jobs in that month alone. South Florida's unemployment rate has steadily increased to 12.8 percent. To add insult to injury, in my congressional district, we're still reeling from the perception of the gulf oil spill in our area. BP might have temporarily sealed the leak, but the damage has been done to south Florida's tourism economy. Commercial fishermen, charter boat captains, mom-and-pop restaurants, they're all feeling the economic pinch.

It is time to take a proven approach of providing tax relief, regulatory relief for families and small businesses, while reducing the debt, which is delaying future economic growth.

Madam Speaker, the United States must stand by our commitment to humanitarian protection for the residents of Camp Ashraf in Iraq.

When we transferred responsibility for the security of Ashraf to the Iraqi Government, we sought and we were provided with Iraqi assurances that the residents would, in fact, be treated humanely and would be safe from any actions against their lives and well-being. However, Madam Speaker, repeated conduct by the Iraqi security forces has called these guarantees into question.

Camp Ashraf residents are in jeopardy. We must ensure that the Iraqi Government adheres to its obligations.

I call on the majority here in the House to bring House Resolution 704 to the floor for immediate consideration.

Further, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees must take all necessary and appropriate steps to extend Camp Ashraf's residents the humanitarian protections to which they are entitled. There is no time to waste, Madam Speaker.

Madam Speaker, this past Sunday thousands gathered around the world to commemorate the grim anniversary of the deadly attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center of Buenos Aires, Argentina. I was particularly honored to participate in a special ceremony in Miami, organized by the American Jewish Committee and Aventura Chabad, to share in this solemn occasion and recommit ourselves to holding the Iranian regime accountable for such death and destruction.

Sixteen years ago on Sunday the world saw firsthand the ruthless cruelty of the Iranian regime and the extent to which it would export its violent extremist views and activities worldwide. The Government of Argentina found that this heinous attack was organized by some of the highest past and present leaders of the Iranian regime. The state prosecutor of Argentina found that these Iranian leaders had turned to Hezbollah to carry out the regime's murderous adventures.

At a ceremony in Buenos Aires this weekend, a relative of one of the victims told the crowd, and I quote, ``We accuse Iran of being behind the death of my brother, of your friends, of your neighbors; a country that denies the Holocaust, and even threatens to erase another country of the world with nuclear weapons, with the consent of Russia and Brazil; a country which shakes hands with Venezuela.''

Madam Speaker, we must remain mindful that the same murderous ideology, and even some of the same perpetrators that spawned the AMIA attack then remain part of the Iranian regime today. Iran's current defense minister was issued an international arrest warrant by Interpol in 2007 based on his involvement in the AMIA attack. The Government of Argentina also found several former Iranian embassy officials to be responsible for the AMIA attack, showing us that Iran is more than willing to use its embassies abroad as tools of its extremist goals.

The ongoing ``diplomatic'' infiltration of Iran into the Western Hemisphere presents a direct threat to U.S. national security interests. The Argentine prosecutor reportedly concluded that the primary reason that Argentina was the chosen target of the AMIA attack was the Argentine Government's, quote, ``unilateral decision to terminate the nuclear materials and technology supply agreements that had been concluded some years previously between Argentina and Iran.''

Sixteen years later, we face an Iranian regime on the verge of obtaining nuclear weapons capabilities and seeking support for its nefarious agenda. This rogue state is stepping up its military, political, and economic cooperation with countries around the world, particularly in Latin America. A Defense Department report this April stated that the elite core of Iran's Revolutionary Guard is, quote, ``well established in the Middle East and north Africa, and recent years have witnessed an increased presence in Latin America, particularly Venezuela.''

Similarly, there have been press reports in Nicaragua that Iranian operatives have allegedly been moving in and out of the country using diplomatic cover. And the relationship between the Cuban and Iranian regimes is longstanding. The United States must work together with our democratic allies to address all facets of the Iranian threat, which goes well beyond the nuclear program and extends well past the Middle East.

With this in mind, I was proud to recently introduce, along with many of my House colleagues in a bipartisan way, House Concurrent Resolution 295, to both condemn the heinous AMIA attack in Buenos Aires and to serve as a reminder of the danger that Iran and its proxies pose to all freedom-loving people.

The members of the global jihadist network sponsored by Tehran have demonstrated time and time again, in word and in action, that they will stop at nothing to target and destroy the State of Israel, its interests overseas, and the Jewish people wherever they may be. It is more important than ever for our government and our Nation to stand unequivocally with Israel and against the growing threats to Israel's security and her very existence.

Madam Speaker, as the massive Federal spending and overregulating continue, so does the ongoing economic crisis. The Labor Department reported this week that job openings dropped in May from the previous month and layoffs edged up. Businesses added a net total of only 83,000 jobs in June and 33,000 in May, after average net gains of 200,000 in March and April.

A major reason for this weak hiring is that small businesses, which create about 60 percent of new jobs, are having trouble getting the credit they need to expand and hire more workers. Meanwhile, in the middle of this recession, the liberal leadership in the House is about to unload another 2,500 pages of hundreds of new regulations on the very businesses that provide credit.

Madam Speaker, we need to act now to reverse course, to lower the tax burden on small firms and simplify the regulations in order to encourage job creation, and we need it now.

Madam Speaker, over a year ago, more than 3,000 veterans in the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center were notified that they could have been exposed to life-threatening diseases like HIV and hepatitis because the Miami VA was not properly sterilizing its equipment for colonoscopies. These are veterans who went in for routine screenings, who put

their trust in the medical professionals at the VA, and could have been possibly infected with any number of viruses. Our veterans who sacrificed so much for our country deserve better than this.

When this matter first came to light last year, immediate hearings into the matter were called. My colleagues and I were told multiple times that every veteran who underwent a colonoscopy during the risk period would be contacted and would be tested. During followup site visits at the Miami VA, I was again personally assured that the VA had informed every impacted veteran. Most importantly, both local and national VA officials were certain that real positive changes had been made to restore accountability and trust. Now, Madam Speaker, 1 year later, we find out that an additional 79 veterans might have been exposed to these life-threatening viruses but were, in fact, never notified of their risk.

Now, we are blessed to have excellent doctors, excellent nurses, excellent health care professionals working at the Miami VA, and I'm sure that they are saddened by this repeated problem. I thank this dedicated group of health care professionals for caring so deeply about our veterans. They should not be faulted for the problems of a few.

This most recent mistake was only discovered by the Miami VA when one of the veterans, himself, came forward. He wondered why the hospital had not contacted him about his colonoscopy which was performed during the risk period. Without his coming forward, these 79 potentially impacted patients could have easily gone completely unnoticed.

HIV and hepatitis are much more easily treated, and survivability is greatly enhanced, obviously, if the diseases are caught early. The failure of some in the Miami VA to identify those veterans is near unfathomable when considering the supposed microscope that the VA had promised they would be held under.

Yet 79 of the veterans still fell through the cracks. Nationally, the VA has promised to deliver on its pledge of greater management accountability and trust. The VA must follow basic procedures to protect its patients and implement a process for examining its faults and resolving them.

The Miami VA is again contacting every single patient who may have been exposed so that he can be tested and, if need be, treated. The VA must make sure that this tragedy is never repeated and that accountability and oversight are restored.

Our country is deeply indebted to the sacrifices made by our courageous men and woman who have served in our Armed Forces. We owe it to them to make sure that they are taken care of upon their return home.

This terrible mistake that led our veterans to being potentially impacted with life-threatening diseases cannot be repeated. To restore that lost credibility, the VA must enact new procedures to ensure that similar problems never occur in the future and make sure that there are proper mechanisms in place to resolve any issues that do arise.

I know that the Miami VA health care professionals have a lot of work ahead of them to rebuild the trust, and they will do so. They will re- establish that bond between each veteran and the most excellent Miami VA center.

Our veterans know that they deserve to know what went wrong and, more importantly, that it will never happen to a fellow veteran from here on out.

Mr. Speaker, when will this House leadership take action to get us out of this perpetual economic slump and provide the economic growth that we need to create the jobs that American families need?

Unemployment nationally remains high at 9.5 percent for June, with the U.S. economy losing 125,000 jobs in that month alone. In my area of south Florida, our unemployment rate is steadily increasing to 12.3 percent.

It is time for the administration and the liberal House leadership to take a proven approach of providing tax relief for working families and small businesses while reducing the debt, which is delaying future economic growth.

Lowering the tax burden on small firms, simplifying the Tax Code, that will encourage job creation. I also support extending the $8,000 first time Homebuyer Tax Credit, which has done so much to help revive our slow housing industry in south Florida.

Let's act now. It is overdue.

Madam Speaker, today marks the anniversary of the horrific 13th of March tugboat massacre, in which 41 Cubans lost their lives at the hands of the Cuban regime's Coast Guard.

Risking their lives to escape from the brutal oppression of the Castro tyranny, the victims and the survivors of that attack 16 years ago symbolize the ongoing struggle of the Cuban people to be free.

This anniversary serves to remind the world that the same callous dictatorship that rammed the small tugboat and turned water cannons on innocent Cuban men, women and children so that they could fall and drown to death is the same dictatorship in power today.

This is a regime that trades political prisoners like baseball cards to manipulate public opinion and advance its brutal agenda. Do not be fooled. These are not releases. They are forced exile; means by which the tyrannical rulers in Havana seek to eliminate their opponents. And in forcibly removing them, the regime, yet again, is violating the fundamental rights of these prisoners of conscience.

Having spent years in Castro's dungeons for having the courage to stand up for the basic liberties of the Cuban people, now these brave individuals will be banished from their homeland, courtesy of the dictatorship and its accomplice, the Spanish government.

Faced with this prospect, nearly a dozen of the prisoners of conscience reported to have made the list have already expressed their refusal to leave the island upon release, including Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, a 2007 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Years ago Dr. Biscet wrote to his fellow comrades, his countrymen, of ``a movement of complacency,'' to use his words, a movement that, and I quote him, ``tries to make Cubans devoted to freedom believe that they should applaud and be content with receiving limited doses of freedom, a movement which suggests that we Cubans do not deserve total freedom, but only small tokens of it. This movement of low expectations speculates that other fragments of freedom and democracy will automatically follow it.''

While some will use this latest farce to reward the Cuban regime, those who truly support freedom and democracy will heed the wise words of Dr. Biscet.

It is no coincidence that this latest scheme promptly follows recent legislative efforts to provide an economic lifeline to the Cuban dictatorship. It is no coincidence that Fidel Castro chose this weekend to make his first public appearance in years, or to do a television interview on the Middle East to praise the enemies of freedom while attacking our democratic ally, Israel.

But this is not the first time that the regime has used political prisoners as pawns in its pursuit of infinite power. In 1978, the regime released 3,600 political prisoners in exchange for the Carter administration's easing of sanctions on the regime. Then 26 were released for Jesse Jackson in 1984, three for Bill Richardson in 1996, another one for former President Jimmy Carter in 2002, and 80 for Pope John Paul II in 1998.

No sooner were these political prisoners freed than the cells once again were then filled with those seeking freedom from Castro's tyranny.

With a recent visit from Syria's dictator and longlasting ties with fellow state sponsor of terrorism, Iran, the tyrants of those rogue states are likely sharing trade secrets on how to best manipulate foreign nations to serve their own nefarious purposes.

Syria, like Iran, is seeking nuclear capabilities, other nonconventional weapons, ballistic missiles, and it actively supports Islamic extremists.

Similarly, Cuba provides safe haven to known extremists from around the world and continues to publicly defend violent organizations such as the FARC in Colombia.

The anti-American, anti-democratic, anti-freedom agenda that these dictators have in common presents a threat to our U.S. national security interests.

Let us not be fooled, Madam Speaker.

For the sake of all those who have been victims of the Cuban tyranny--including Americans like Alan Gross and the members of Brothers to the Rescue murdered by Castro's thugs in February 1996--the United States must not, and cannot, fall for this latest facade by the Castro regime: Until all political prisoners are liberated; all political parties, labor

unions, independent media are allowed to operate freely; and, all Cuban people are able to fully exercise their universal rights, maximum pressure must be exerted on the Cuban tyranny.