Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, my mother is 83 and not in the best of health. When I see what is being proposed in this House, health care agendas that take away from seniors like her, I get a cold shiver down my spine. Medicare and Medicare Advantage are lifelines for many elderly Americans, especially in my area of south Florida.

How can this House justify $162 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage? Why in this economic recession are we limiting the choices for seniors or causing many to lose their current health care coverage? For seniors in my congressional district, cuts to Medicare Advantage would be disastrous.

The Congressional Budget Office says that Medicare prescription drug premiums will increase by 20 percent because of the Democrat plan. I know, and my constituents know, that seniors simply cannot afford this.

The health care reform bill makes it tougher on seniors to get the coverage and the treatment they deserve after a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice. Of course we need health care reform, but reform should not be on the backs of our seniors.

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased and honored to yield such time as he may consume to my good friend from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), an esteemed member of our Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of this important resolution.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, it is my great honor to rise in support of this important resolution put forth by my good friend from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis). I thank him for his leadership.

This resolution welcomes the Ecumenical Patriarch on his visit to the United States, which is coming up this November. Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader for over 300 million Orthodox believers around the world, millions of whom live right here in the United States.

As the leader of the oldest and second largest church in the world, the Patriarch has been an inspirational advocate for peace and religious tolerance. In fact, the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul has been an iconic symbol for religious co-existence since 1453, when the Muslim ruler and the Patriarch at that time signed an accord for the continuation of the Orthodox Church in what became a predominantly Muslim country.

Today, Patriarch Bartholomew continues to reach out to leaders of various religious faiths to encourage dialogue and understanding. In fact, following the horrendous attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, Patriarch Bartholomew convened an interfaith conference with representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions--a conference that resulted in the first condemnation by Muslim leaders of those terrorist attacks. Patriarch Bartholomew has also been a global leader in efforts to protect our environment. He has sponsored symposia with international environmental leaders on initiatives to protect our clean oceans and to protect our rivers.

Despite his many contributions and the commitment to peace and understanding, the Ecumenical Patriarch continues to endure restrictions imposed by the Turkish Government. The prohibitions on the Patriarchate's right to own property and its right to determine for itself the requirements for Patriarchal succession must end. The closing of the theological school in Halki must be reversed. Such actions restrict the religious freedom of millions of Orthodox believers, and they threaten the future of the Patriarchate, itself.

I am pleased that this resolution clearly states the need for the lifting of these bureaucratic restrictions on the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and on the occasion of the Patriarch's visit to the United States, we again call on the Turkish Government to end them.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time on this important resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, on July 31 of this year, the Iranian regime detained three U.S. citizens--Joshua Fattal, Shane Bauer and Sarah Shourd--who were hiking in northern Iraq and who allegedly strayed across the border by accident. Almost 3 full months later, Iran still holds them captive. This case should alert us once again to the true nature of the Iranian regime.

Almost 30 years ago, on November 4, 1979, this regime took 53 American hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, and it held them for 444 days. Three decades later, this is a regime that continues to hold American citizens hostage. This is a regime that remains the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world--from Beirut to Buenos Aires. This is a regime that continues to support Iraqi and Afghan violent Islamist groups, which are responsible for the deaths of Americans. This is a regime that openly seeks to wipe out our ally, the democratic, Jewish State of Israel, off the map, and it acts accordingly. This is a regime that continues to relentlessly pursue unconventional weapons and the missiles to carry them.

Using conventional means, Iran has inflicted considerable damage on U.S. citizens, on our interests and on our allies during its 30-year war against America.

I strongly support Senate Concurrent Resolution 45, which draws attention to the fact that Iran continues to hold U.S. citizens hostage. The regime must release these young Americans immediately and unconditionally, and the United States and other responsible nations must fully recognize the nature of the regime, and they need to apply every form of economic and political pressure in our arsenal--now, not later--to compel the regime to abandon its dangerous course.

Madam Speaker, with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution commemorating the 2,560th anniversary of the birth of that sage of Chinese culture, the philosopher Confucius.

Confucius is not only revered in his native China but also in Taiwan, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Confucius is best remembered for his promotion of social harmony and his emphasis on the virtues of education. His teachings have long provided an ethical guidepost for millions of people living throughout East and Southeast Asia.

Confucius is another philosopher who taught us the golden rule: ``Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.'' Confucius also taught that the path to both virtue and success is led through the discipline of study. His famous saying that ``a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step'' encouraged his disciples never to give up no matter what the hardships.

Inspired by him, thousands of Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese scholars and scientists have made enormous contributions to the world's pool of knowledge. Young American scholars, drawn from these Asian communities influenced by Confucianism, have made impressive contributions to the mosaic of American life in the fields of science, law, medicine, engineering, music, and art.

So it is fitting today to pass this resolution honoring the birthday of a man who has been called ``China's greatest teacher.''

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to represent one of the most beautiful, most diverse regions in our country, south Florida. Sadly,

though, our local paradise, well known for its sunny weather, its world-class beaches, its artistic style, also is one of the areas hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We are continually confronted with the challenge of providing adequate and timely treatment to those impacted by this terrible disease.

The number of people suffering from HIV/AIDS in south Florida has increased immensely over the past few years. We have over 32,000 people currently diagnosed in my home county of Miami-Dade, and it ranks second among large metropolitan areas for people living with AIDS. On top of this, Florida ranks third in the Nation on the number of AIDS cases. These individuals need our assistance in fighting this terrible disease.

There are wonderful programs designed to mitigate the terrible consequences of HIV/AIDS. One of the most innovative, one of the most effective is the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Program. This program funds HIV/AIDS treatment for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured people. Ryan White provides funding to cities, to States, as well as directly to select clinics and care providers for core medical and support services.

In 2009, my home State of Florida received over $209 million in funding through Ryan White to assist countless low-income Americans living with HIV/AIDS. This life-saving program was set to expire this month. Thankfully, Mr. Speaker, this amazing program was granted a 3- year extension through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act, and I thank my colleagues for this.

With strong bipartisan support, this bill was overwhelmingly approved. I voted for and the House passed this legislation, and we should all be proud of that. Passage assures the continuity of this vital program. It will allow us to help States, communities, and families cope with the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic while creating a support system for those dealing with the disease.

I am constantly working to improve the quality and the availability of care for persons with HIV/AIDS and their families and their support system. It is my mission to promote awareness and education so that each day we can help assure that fewer people will be afflicted with this disease.

I have seen firsthand the impact this disease has had on so many individual lives and families in my community, and I know that extending this important program is not just a priority, but a necessity.

The Ryan White program is the largest federally funded program in the United States for people living with HIV/AIDS. It has been the largest supplier of services for those living with HIV/AIDS in the United States as well.

As a payer of last resort, the Ryan White Act offers a method of payment for treatment unlike Medicare or Medicaid. In the United States, over 500,000 people a year benefit from the Ryan White program. I know that through the extension of Ryan White, we can--indeed, we will--save and improve the lives of countless individuals in my congressional district and throughout our great country of the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 817, supporting the goals and ideals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Domestic abuse is a terrible and often hidden problem that plagues our Nation and affects millions of families every year. In my congressional district of south Florida, extraordinary groups such as Teens Against Domestic Abuse, or TADA, are working to raise awareness about domestic abuse.

TADA is Florida's first teen antidomestic violence advocacy group. Their commendable efforts, including working with the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade County, will be hosting an event called, ``Break the Silence; Break the Cycle'' on November 5 in Miami. This event will highlight the spreading frequency of domestic violence throughout the U.S. and how all socioeconomic and ethnic groups are impacted by this crisis.

TADA strives to educate children and teens about the prevalence of domestic abuse in all types of relationships. I encourage everyone in south Florida to show their support on Thursday, November 5.

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a long-overdue markup of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. Some of our colleagues are focusing exclusively on Iran's nuclear ambition, as it was the nuclear program in itself that was the catalyst for the concern.

But if Iran were comprised of a responsible, democratic government, would we be as apprehensive about their nuclear activities? Of course not. But we are talking about an Iranian regime which just this year conducted two missile tests and continues to work on the range of its missiles and on enabling them to carry a nuclear payload. We are talking about a regime whose leaders throughout the years have made it abundantly clear that they will stop at nothing to destroy the Jewish State of Israel. We are talking about an Iran which for nearly three decades has been designated by our U.S. Department of State as the world's leading state sponsor of global terrorism. The clerical regime is fomenting bloodshed and promoting chaos in the West Bank and Gaza and Lebanon and the Persian Gulf, as well as in Iraq, where it is actively assisting in the murder of our U.S. soldiers.

On the battlefields of Afghanistan, Iran is also playing a deadly subversive role. As early as 2002, allegations emerged that Iran was supporting insurgent groups in Afghanistan, including its former archenemy, the Taliban. However, the first significant report of Iranian weapons in Afghanistan came in April of 2007. Then-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, announced: ``We have intercepted weapons in Afghanistan headed for the Taliban that were made in Iran.''

Since 2007, several large shipments have been seized near the Iranian border. U.S. officials say that Iranian-made weapons have been found in Afghanistan and used by Taliban-led insurgents. These weapons have included Tehran's signature roadside bomb, the explosively formed penetrator, EFP, AK-47s, as well as C-4 plastic explosives and mortars.

On August 29 of this year, just a few days before General McChrystal submitted his request to this administration, Afghan and NATO forces uncovered a weapons collection in Herat with EFPs, Iranian-made rockets and dozens of blocks of Iranian C-4 plastic explosives.

In the August 2009 declassified, leaked version of his assessment, General Stanley McChrystal stated that: ``Iran plays an ambiguous role in Afghanistan, providing developmental assistance and political support to the Afghan government while the Iranian Qods force is reportedly training fighters for certain Taliban groups and providing other forms of military assistance to insurgents.''

We cannot allow Iran to undermine U.S. efforts and kill our soldiers in Afghanistan. We cannot allow Iran to return Afghanistan to the status of a failed state and pave the way for attacks against the West using Afghanistan as its launching pad. We cannot allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons capabilities which threaten the United States and our allies.

If we are to be vigilant in protecting the lives of our men and women--military and civilian--in Afghanistan, we must increase the pressure on the Iranian regime and impose immediate sanctions on Iran. This should be our first option.

We don't have the luxury of time, to wait for an eventual Iranian response to U.S. diplomatic overtures. We cannot wait for the U.N. Security Council to come around. We cannot wait for our European and other allies to decide to do the right thing. The United States must lead by example. It is time to cut off the Iranian regimes's economic lifeline. As such, we should not stop at this week's Foreign Affairs Committee markup.

I urge the majority to bring the strongest possible form of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act to the floor next week for a vote, followed by quick Senate action so that it gets to the President's desk before the end of the year. We must do this now.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the wonderful work of the YMCA of Greater Miami and the addition of its new chief development officer, Pat Morris.

Every day, YMCAs across the country help improve our communities and provide positive programs for youth and adults. Over the past year alone, the YMCA of Greater Miami has cared for 4,700 children. The Miami Y has coached and instructed more than 3,650 children in sports, held summer programs for more than 2,900 kids, and mentored over 100 teens.

The YMCA of Greater Miami is working with other community groups to build affordable homes for families and seniors and will open a brand- new preschool in the near future.

With the help of Pat Morris, the YMCA of Greater Miami will continue to foster positive growth in our neighborhoods.

I congratulate my good friend, Pat, for his position as chief development officer. He has dedicated himself to helping our south Florida community, first as cofounder of the community service organization Hands On Miami and now as a member of the YMCA team.

Congrats to the YMCA of Greater Miami, and I wish the agency continued success as they improve the lives of all of our neighbors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reaffirm my long- standing support for the Colombian people, the Colombian-American community in south Florida, and to urge my colleagues to approve the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement as soon as possible.

Colombia is one of our strongest allies in the fight against extremism and drug trafficking, not only in our hemisphere, but around the world.

When I was first elected, Colombia was under siege. Leftist rebel groups and drug cartels such as the FARC and the Medellin and Cali Cartels had taken over large areas of that country. Colombians were prisoners in their own land, fearful for their lives, and watching their country descend further into chaos and darkness. Now, however, after many years of bravery and sacrifice, the Colombian people and its government have taken back their country, and each year Colombia becomes more secure and more prosperous. Colombians have continued to do so despite the unrelenting attack and assault by known FARC sympathizers and supporters of Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro to derail Colombia's progress. Well, the government and the people in Colombia have persevered.

At a time when U.S. interests throughout the hemisphere are under attack, Colombia has remained a steadfast ally, an indispensable partner in ensuring our security and freedom in the region. The pending U.S.-Colombia

Defense Cooperation Agreement will further strengthen that alliance and will serve as a major boost to our joint efforts to fight narcotraffickers and leftist rebels.

In discussing this agreement last month, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton highlighted, ``This agreement ensures that appropriate protections are in place for our servicemembers. It will allow us to continue working together to meet the challenges posed by narcotraffickers, terrorists, and other illegal armed groups in Colombia.''

Together, the U.S. and Colombia have had enormous success in battling those groups, but much more remains to be done. This agreement will ensure that we are fully equipped to do so.

The United States and Colombia also share growing economic ties. The U.S. is the largest source of foreign investment in Colombia, which has quadrupled over the past 7 years. My own district in Miami, Florida, had nearly $6 billion in total trade with Colombia in 1 year alone.

Colombia is Miami's number one trading partner in volume and second leading international market. But although U.S.-Colombian economic ties are strong, we have only just begun to tap their potential. That will require passage of the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Unfortunately, the free trade agreement has been in limbo for 3 years, largely because of partisan opposition. But opponents fail to understand that the primary purpose of this trade pact is to eliminate Colombia's barriers to U.S. goods. Colombia would immediately eliminate a majority of its tariffs on U.S. exports, with all remaining tariffs eventually phasing out gradually. More exports means more sales, which means more jobs here in the U.S. The benefits would be felt immediately.

The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that U.S. exports to Colombia would quickly increase by over $1 billion, and that's not even counting a major increase in service-related exports.

Given today's difficult economic climate, with so many hardworking Americans striving to make ends meet, it is unbelievable that Congress continues to refuse to take the simple step to expand trade and create jobs in this country.

But there is more at stake, Mr. Speaker. By strengthening Colombia's ability to fight drug traffickers and fight leftist guerrillas, and by demonstrating that the U.S. will stand by its loyal ally, passage of this trade agreement will advance U.S. security and economic interests not only in that country, but throughout the hemisphere. That is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to approve the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement and to do so as soon as possible.

Again, I would like to commend the people of Colombia for their remarkable progress that they have achieved and express my ongoing support for the strong ties between our countries. We are blessed in south Florida to have a wonderful, robust, patriotic, American-loving, Colombian-American community. They have, indeed, enriched our area.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, for his leadership on the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased that today and tomorrow the House is debating the Coast Guard Authorization Act. The U.S. Coast Guard has over 42,000 men and women serving in active duty. These proud individuals are tasked with 11 specific missions ranging from coastal security to drug interdiction and marine safety. It is our duty to ensure that they are fully funded and equipped to carry out these responsibilities.

As the Representative of south Florida and the Keys, I know just how important their mission is. My congressional district contains over 265 miles of U.S. coastline and includes the largest coral reef system in the continental United States. Two of the largest Coast Guard sectors in the U.S., Sector Miami, commanded by Captain James O. Fitton, and Sector Key West, commanded by Captain Pat DeQuattro, are located in my congressional district.

The men and women serving these Coast Guard sectors play key roles in fighting the flow of illegal drugs to our country. They deny smugglers the use of air and maritime routes into our country, and in fiscal year 2009, the U.S. Coast Guard seized 29,485 pounds of cocaine. But determined drug smugglers are using very sophisticated ships and technologies, and it will become increasingly difficult to prevent their illegal activities without providing the Coast Guard the fundamental resources that it needs. South Florida is an all-too- convenient transit hub for many of these smuggling operations, and I commend our local Coast Guard sectors for their ongoing efforts to fight the flow of illegal drugs into our neighborhoods.

As my constituents well know, the Coast Guard also saves thousands of lives every year. According to the latest statistics published by the Coast Guard, in 2008, Coast Guard Search and Rescue responded to 24,000 cases and saved 4,000 lives. Sector Miami responded to 858 Search and Rescue cases this year, with 1,410 lives saved and over $12 million in property saved.

This year, Sector Miami also established the Coast Guard's first Cruise Ship Center of Expertise. This center provides a unique partnership between the Coast Guard and the cruise ship industry so that they're better able to meet the compliance with international safety standards as well as maritime security and environmental standards.

Ensuring that the brave men and women have the tools that they need in the Coast Guard to effectively patrol our coasts is one of my priorities. In Sector Key West, this past year alone, the Coast Guard was able to respond to 300 law enforcement cases as well as 645 rescue and search cases. At this sector, also, many treasured natural wonders are contained there, and they also responded to 152 pollution reports in the protection of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Sector Key West was also instrumental in coordinating with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, and the State and local agencies in the successful artificial reefing of the 520-foot ex-USS Vandenberg. This was the second largest ship to become an artificial reef in the

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support swift passage of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act.

As you know, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Program is an innovative and effective program that funds HIV/AIDS treatment for low- income, uninsured, and underinsured people. The program provides funding to cities, States, as well as directly to select clinics and care providers for core medical and support services.

In 2009 alone, my home State of Florida received over $209 million in funding through Ryan White to assist countless low-income Americans living with HIV/AIDS.

And while HIV/AIDS is certainly a global and national epidemic, for my congressional district and all of south Florida it is an intensely local one. We know firsthand its impact on individual lives and families in our community.

Miami-Dade County ranks second among large metropolitan areas for people living with AIDS. There are over 32,000 people living with AIDS in Miami-Dade alone. And nearly 12,000 have HIV that has yet to progress to AIDS. These are just the cases we know about.

The fight against HIV/AIDS has many elements, but I cannot stress enough how important the Ryan White Program is within this greater undertaking.

While our commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS must be both proactive as well as reactive:

Proactive in working together to halt the growth of this epidemic through our efforts at prevention and awareness;

Reactive in our providing of care and treatment earlier in the course of the disease;

Ryan White demonstrates that we must not, and we will not, ever forget about those already afflicted with this terrible disease.

We all recognize the tremendous results that the Ryan White Program has had on providing care for those suffering from HIV/AIDS in the United States. Extending this important program is not just a priority, but a necessity.

I know that through programs such as Ryan White we can, and will, save and improve the lives of countless individuals in my Congressional District and throughout the United States.

I again urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this beneficial bill and look forward to the day when we can call the fight against HIV/AIDS won.

Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to recognize the important work of the Heart Association of Miami-Dade and its October 29 Go Red for Women Executive Women's Breakfast.

The National Go Red for Women Campaign, to be held in February, was started in the year 2004 to raise awareness for this critical disease. As the leading cause of death in women, every year 8.6 million women around the world die from heart disease. Unfortunately, many women do not realize that heart disease accounts for nearly one-third of all deaths in women. Through prevention, this number will be greatly reduced.

The Go Red for Women Campaign advocates awareness and prevention for this disease that affects so many of our grandmothers, our mothers, our aunts, and our daughters. With the continued efforts of the Go Red for Women Campaign and our local south Florida chapter of the American Heart Association, we can ensure that fewer women--and men--fall victim to heart disease.

I encourage all of south Florida to attend Miami-Dade's Go Red for Women Executive Women's Breakfast in October and get involved with the Go Red for Women Campaign in February.

Madam Speaker, after 9 months of struggling to find its footing, the administration has finally unveiled its long-awaited policy toward Sudan. The policy looks remarkably familiar, and it has some merits. Unfortunately, those merits are overshadowed by the prospect of offering incentives and political legitimacy to one of the most manipulative and murderous regimes on the planet.

The administration's desire to bring peace and development to Sudan is without doubt, but the desire to strike a conciliatory tone without first requiring that the Butcher from Khartoum unclench his fist and meet certain conditions has placed the U.S. in a position of weakness against a regime that has proven time and time again that it only responds to concrete pressure.

This man, General Bashir, is a war criminal; and he is responsible for the deaths of over 2 million people. This regime, rooted in radical ideology, is responsible for the ongoing genocide which has claimed 300,000 lives and has displaced 3 million more. This cabal will never be a part of a real solution to the crisis in Darfur, and it must not be treated by the U.S. as a legitimate partner for peace.

There is no shortage of urgent priorities in Sudan, Madam Speaker. In formulating a comprehensive strategy, we must focus on improving humanitarian access and supporting the deployment of a fully equipped peacekeeping mission with robust rules of engagement to ensure civilian protection in Darfur;

also, finding a lasting political solution to the crisis in Darfur so that the people languishing in camps can go home;

thirdly, ensuring that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement is fully implemented while fostering genuine reconciliation among southerners;

fourthly, resolving outstanding issues relating to contested areas, including a demarcation on the north-south border;

also, seeing free, fair and transparent elections in April of 2010, a referendum in 2011 and the results of each being respected.

We need to balance our efforts in Darfur with those in southern Sudan so that we do not sacrifice one region for the other. The conflicts in Darfur and in southern Sudan are linked, and they need to be treated that way.

Critically, the United States needs a comprehensive Sudan policy with the wisdom, the foresight and the teeth necessary to advance our own national security interests while facilitating viable peace efforts in Sudan. I don't doubt the administration has tried to accomplish this, but it is difficult to imagine a policy which presumes that the tiger will change its stripes simply because we asked. This is foolish at best and dangerous at worst.

The President's special envoy was all too quick to embrace as a policy victory the reintroduction of the three nongovernmental organizations that have been expelled from Sudan, but let's keep in mind the situation was created by the callous actions of Khartoum in the first place and that the campaign of intimidation and obstruction against NGOs continues unabated.

In rolling out this policy, Secretary Clinton stated, ``Assessment of progress and decisions regarding incentives and disincentives will be based on verifiable changes in conditions on the ground.''

Ambassador Susan Rice then warned that there would be ``significant consequences'' for those who failed to live up to their promises and that there would be ``no rewards'' for the status quo.

It will be incumbent upon Congress to hold the administration to these pledges. In the interim, the U.S. must maintain strong sanctions on the Sudanese regime. U.S. leaders must refuse to be duped by empty gestures and window dressing designed to make us forget about the horror which has taken place in Darfur and beyond.

Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to congratulate Dave and Julie Ziska for 28 years of service to the Boy Scouts of south Florida. This year, the many individuals and families who have been enriched by the Ziskas gather together in Miami as Dave and Julie receive the 2009 Distinguished Citizen Award from the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Boy Scouts of America is an outstanding organization that fosters strong ideals in young men and helps build leaders for the future. With the Ziskas' amazing service and support, the Boy Scouts of south Florida has been able to successfully accomplish this mission. Dave and Julie Ziska have not only had a profound impact on the Boy Scouts but also on the families of the Scouts and the entire south Florida community.

The Ziska's guidance and goodwill over the past 28 years has encouraged many young men to become active in Scouting. In fact, 207 young men attained the distinct and high honor of being Eagle Scouts with their help.

I congratulate and recognize Dave and Julie Ziska for their commendable service to the Boy Scouts of America and to the Boy Scouts of south Florida.

Congratulations.

Madam Speaker, I rise tonight to once again express my strong support for the elections scheduled to take place in Honduras on November 29. Though much of the recent news coming out of Honduras has been focused on the current round of talks between the representatives of Manuel Zelaya and the current Honduran Government, one thing has remained constant through it all: The Honduran elections that are scheduled to take place on November 29.

The most recent talks began with both sides agreeing that the elections should proceed ahead as planned. Predictably, however, now that Zelaya is realizing that he won't be able to jump back into his throne of power as easily as he expected, he and his supporters have started to call for boycotts and nonrecognition of the elections. Not surprisingly, Zelaya's ALBA fan club, headed by Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, got together this weekend in Bolivia. The ALBA league of oppressors and dictators-in-waiting issued a statement stating that neither the Honduran electoral process nor its outcomes should

be recognized by the international community unless Zelaya has been restored to power.

The United States must have no part in these efforts. They are undermining and delegitimizing the Honduran election. We have got to make sure that we recognize the validity of this process, and we should say to the world that we must recognize the free will of the Honduran people to express their desires in the ballot box.

The United States cannot play wingman to tyrants who dismiss fundamental civil liberties and forsake constitutional commitment. We should be proud of our democratic standards and not fear standing alone, if necessary, against those who work against the freedom agenda.

Despite tremendous world pressure and punishment, the people of Honduras have remained true to their democracy and their constitution. And the November 29 elections are just one more testament to their unwavering commitment.

Tomorrow I will be hosting a Members briefing, open to all Members, Republicans and Democrats, with the members of the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal. This will afford an opportunity for Members from both sides of the aisle to discuss the measures being undertaken in Honduras to ensure that the November elections proceed as scheduled. I invite all of my colleagues again to please join us for this important discussion. Although we may have differing views regarding the approach that the United States has taken to the situation in Honduras, I'm hopeful that free, fair, clean and transparent elections is the way that we can all unite.

This is a concept that all Americans should agree. U.S. policy has historically recognized and even encouraged the implementation of elections as a necessary step to moving forward from an untenable political situation. Just this past August, as a matter of fact, Secretary of State Clinton visited Angola, where she emphasized repeatedly the importance of holding timely, free, and fair presidential elections in Angola.

Each year, the United States spends millions and millions of our tax dollars to support elections through our democratic form of government and to make sure that we promote governance programs around the world. So why, then, does the U.S. commitment to and support of elections fade away when it comes to Honduras? It should not. It must not.

A stable, secure, democratic Honduras is what is in the best interest of the United States. This election that will take place on November 29 offers us the perfect opportunity for this to happen--free, fair, democratic elections. I urge the State Department to encourage international observers to participate in these upcoming elections, and I encourage my fellow colleagues to go to Honduras for themselves. Go now and go for the elections. See for yourselves what we are dealing with and the impact that the U.S. policy is having on a democratic ally, a friend of the United States.

Again, I welcome all of my colleagues to join me tomorrow for a briefing with members of the Honduran Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Let democracy take root once again in Honduras.