Floor Statements

I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, this resolution condemns the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and reaffirms the commitment of the United States to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan.

I would like to commend the author Mr. Ackerman and the distinguished chairman of our committee Mr. Lantos for their leadership in introducing this timely resolution.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the people of the United States and the Congress, this resolution expresses our sympathy for the people of Pakistan on the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Bhutto last December 27. It should be noted that, in the immediate aftermath of the attack, both the President and Secretary of State Rice immediately extended condolences to the Bhutto family and the family of others who were killed and wounded on that horrible day. And, as so many observers have noted, Ms. Bhutto's death is a great loss to Pakistan. As Secretary Rice stated, she was a woman of great courage with an impressive commitment to democracy and to the future of Pakistan itself.

Madam Speaker, as President Bush has emphasized, the perpetrators of this terrible crime must be brought to justice. In this regard, the Congress joins with the administration in welcoming the government of Pakistan's decision to accept British assistance to the investigation into Ms. Bhutto's death. We all hope that their actions to ensure a credible and transparent investigation of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Bhutto's death will help to restore calm, contribute to the conditions needed for a free and fair election to take place, and bring the perpetrators of her death to justice.

The assassination of the former Prime Minister and the apparent attempt to destabilize Pakistan remind us again how consequential this relationship is to American national interests and our own homeland security. It is vital that we continue to seek to forge an enduring relationship and partnership with a democratic, stable, and prosperous Pakistan that remains a strong partner in the campaign against Islamic militants and which maintains responsible control over its nuclear weapons technology.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) be permitted to manage the remainder of my time.

With that, I urge support for the resolution and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Bachus and Mr. Frank for their leadership on this critical issue. And I am proud to rise in strong support of the bill before us, Senate bill 2271, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act. The timing of this bill is critical, Mr. Speaker, because as we speak, the United Nations is engaged in yet another effort to convince the regime in Khartoum to stop its foot-dragging and finally facilitate the deployment of a robust United Nations-African Union hybrid peacekeeping force in Darfur. It has been 4 months since this force was approved by the United Nations Security Council, 4 months. And according to the timeline set by Security Council Resolution 1769, the hybrid mission is expected to take over full operational control from the overextended and underresourced African Union peacekeeping mission at the end of this month. But here we are more than halfway through this month, and the chances of this happening appear bleaker than ever.

True to form, Khartoum has reneged on its promises and effectively blocked international efforts to get a credible peacekeeping mission deployed to Darfur. First, they rejected the deployment of non-African forces into Darfur. Then they failed to provide land for bases. Then they imposed onerous restrictions on air travel for the mission. And, finally, they resorted to impounding critical U.N. communications equipment and insisted that they have the right to jam the peacekeeping mission's communications for what they called ``security purposes.''

Never before have I seen a country being given ostensibly a veto over the selection of peacekeeping troops to be deployed pursuant to a binding chapter 7 resolution. Never before have I encountered a regime with the audacity to suggest that it has the right to jam U.N. communications so that it can continue conducting attacks in violation of a cease-fire agreement against the very people the peacekeeping mission has been sent to protect. This is completely unacceptable.

In response to the Khartoum regime's continued games, the United States representative to the U.N. has once again referenced the need for the imposition of broader Security Council sanctions against Sudan. This is a welcome development, and I urge all members of the Security Council, including China, to follow suit and to finally impose crippling sanctions against the murderous regime in Khartoum.

But given the inability of the U.N. to take effective action against Khartoum, I am not holding my breath. Instead, let's encourage our colleagues today to join us in an effort to inflict real financial pain upon the genocidal regime by supporting the bill before us, Senate bill 2271, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act. It allows

State and local governments to divest from companies whose business dealings directly benefit Khartoum while providing safe harbor for fund managers who choose to divest.

I thank Mr. Bachus and Mr. Frank again for their leadership on this issue, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important bill before us.

General Leave

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

Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor, I rise in favor of the bill before us, H.R. 3887, the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act. This was introduced by the chairman of our committee, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Lantos; and it remains one of the premier issues facing us today, Mr. Speaker.

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery. It is a major source of revenue for international criminal syndicates, and it is a grave abuse against human dignity. Hundreds of thousands of people are trafficked across international borders every year. It is estimated that 80 percent of those are women, and half are children. Millions more are trafficked into sexual servitude and forced labor within their own countries.

In Iran, children are trafficked into sexual slavery and forced into involuntary servitude as beggars and day laborers. In Syria, women trafficked from South and Southeast Asia are forced to work as domestic servants, and women from Eastern Europe and Iraq are forced into prostitution. In China, up to 90 percent of North Korean refugee women fall prey to traffickers who sell them into sexual slavery. In our own hemisphere, Mr. Speaker, Cuba has been shamefully promoted as a destination for sex tourism that exploits large numbers of Cuban children.

The dehumanization and the brutality suffered by trafficking victims are nearly incomprehensible. I am proud that the Congress has helped turn this former non-issue into a priority for our United States Government and an issue, indeed, of international concern.

The enactment of the original Trafficking Victims Protection Act 7 years ago was a watershed event. I want to commend the author of that act and the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Chris Smith, whose leadership on these issues has been central to the progress that we have made so far.

While there have been some signs of improvement, such as a larger number of countries that have enacted anti-trafficking legislation, other problems remain widespread. The number of countries, for example, listed in tier three, that is the most problematic category in the State Department's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, has actually increased from 12 countries to 16 since last year. Some of the governments with the worst records, such as Burma, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Venezuela, continue to resist making even basic efforts to protect vulnerable children and women.

A number of problem countries like Russia and China sit on the tier two ``Watch List'' year after year after year without further consequences, even though that category was originally created as a warning that countries are about to slip into the tier three category.

The bill before us today, Mr. Speaker, will not only reauthorize key aspects of prior trafficking legislation but it will also enhance our international anti-trafficking efforts, our domestic law enforcement and victim assistance activities, and efforts to fight the use of child soldiers worldwide. It will improve our Nation's victim-centered approach to fight human trafficking by strengthening each of the so- called ``Three P's,'' prevention, protection, prosecution.

I want to commend the author of this bill again, Mr. Speaker, Chairman Lantos, and my fellow cosponsors for the perseverance and the compromise that they have invested in ensuring that this bill receive wide bipartisan support throughout consideration by the three committees of jurisdiction: Foreign Affairs, Judiciary, and Energy and Commerce. The revised text before us today also has been endorsed by an impressively broad array of organizations and experts from across the political spectrum.

The William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007 is a vital weapon in our fight against the heartbreaking scourge of human trafficking, and it deserves our full support.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren), an esteemed member of the Judiciary Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry), a hardworking and esteemed member of our Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 7\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the author of the original Trafficking Victims Protection Act and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) control the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, this year, members of the conservation community, Keys residents, and nature enthusiasts celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the National Key Deer Refuge. This federally protected area is home to the imperiled tropical hardwood hammock and 22 endangered and threatened species of plants and animals, five of which are found nowhere else on the planet.

As the Member of Congress representing all four of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges, I am well aware of the vital role these refuges play in preserving our natural habitats, promoting scientific research and technology, and educating our communities as to the importance of conserving endangered and threatened fish, wildlife and plants.

Of the endangered and threatened species in the area, the Key Deer have tremendously

benefited from the creation of the Refuge. Thanks largely to the incredible efforts of local leaders, volunteers, and the dedicated Refuge staff--especially Jack Watson and Anne Morkill--the Key Deer population has been rescued from almost certain extinction.

While much has been accomplished in the last 50 years, a great task still lies ahead. The call to protect our natural habitats should be a responsibility shared by all members of our community. The Refuge's new administration building a structure rebuilt following the devastating storms of 2005--will play an important role in further educating the public as to the importance of this area to our Keys ecosystem but our global ecology, as well.

I look forward to working with you all to accomplish yet another successful 50 years of wildlife conservation on the National Key Deer Refuge. By working together, we can ensure that our Refuge remains a staple of Keys conservation efforts and an area for future generations to explore and enjoy.

I thank the gentleman from California for the time.

I am extremely pleased, Mr. Speaker, that we are considering the Peru Free Trade Agreement tonight. The decision to move forward with legislation that expands our commercial relations with Peru signals the importance that this agreement holds for U.S. economic and security interests in the Andean region and, in fact, in Latin America as a whole. The benefits to both of our countries are significant.

By removing barriers on our exports to Peru, this agreement will add $2.1 billion per year to our U.S. economy. The positive impact will be felt across the country. With almost one-fifth of the total bilateral merchandise trade between the U.S. and Peru moving through my home State of Florida, I know firsthand the importance of this agreement for our home State economies and our constituents.

Within the first year of the agreement's implementation, Florida's total economic output is estimated to rise by $143 million and total earnings for Florida's workers are estimated to be $35 million higher than in the absence of this free trade agreement. The benefits that Peru currently enjoys under the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act only stand to multiply under passage of this FTA. By enhancing these opportunities for economic growth via the free trade agreement, the U.S. is strengthening legal economies that provide viable alternatives to illicit drug production. More than mere trade deals, these agreements are a major factor in defining the future of U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere and our commitment to a strong, stable, democratic neighbor.

Therefore, although we are focused tonight, Mr. Speaker, on the agreement with Peru, we cannot lose sight of its importance within the broader regional context of the pending agreements with Colombia and Panama. For example, recent studies show that if the Colombian Free Trade Agreement is not approved and those with Peru and Panama are, Colombia's GDP will be hurt by over 2 percent. Reinforcing Colombia's economy is a prerequisite to its ability to continue to fight the drug lords and the FARC terrorists. President Uribe of Colombia has committed himself and his country to the principles of a secure, more democratic society amidst a growing tide of authoritarian regimes in the region. And there will be a significant cost to the American economy from the failure to approve the Colombian Free Trade Agreement. Over 600,000 jobs in the United States are estimated to depend on exports to Colombia, jobs that will be put at risk if that trade agreement is not approved.

Each of the trade agreements is an important element in our twin goals of ensuring our continued economic growth and reinforcing our allies in the region.

I strongly support passage of this bipartisan agreement, and I urge my colleagues to do as well.

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

Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony that was held for His Holiness the Dalai Lama earlier this month served to remind us all once again that the Chinese leadership has a long way to go before it becomes a responsible stakeholder in the international community.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the callous disregard of Beijing of its international treaty obligations with regard to refugees, both North Korean and Tibetan.

The international press has reported incidents of Chinese border guards shooting and killing both North Korean and Tibetan refugees as they sought to flee China. These reprehensible acts must stop at once.

Earlier this month, Beijing demonstrated once again its continued contempt for the international refugee conventions. Chinese police entered the South Korean international school in Beijing to drag North Korean refugees from their hiding places. North Korean refugees had sought sanctuary there.

In the process, the Chinese police roughed up South Korean diplomats who were sent by their government to assist these refugees.

I call on Beijing to act in accordance with the international refugee conventions that it has signed and to end the disrespect that it has shown toward the diplomats of a major ally of the United States.

This resolution, put forward by my good friend, Ed Royce of California, is particularly timely and essential with the approach of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Olympic hosts should not include oppressors of refugees.

The forced repatriation of North Korean refugees is both irresponsible and immoral. If ever there was a refugee population who faced the immediate threat of persecution upon return to their homeland, it is the tens of thousands of North Korean refugees now hiding in China.

The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, must also do a much better job in holding Beijing accountable for its reckless disregard of its obligations. If Beijing does not begin to address this urgent issue in a

responsible way, then there should be dire consequences.

Television viewers around the world next summer could possibly see on their screens the scene of a North Korean woman with her baby seeking safe haven in an athletes' dormitory at the Olympic village as Chinese police ruthlessly pursue her.

This resolution, therefore, Mr. Speaker, is of vital importance for the reaffirmation of our commitment to the protection of refugees and, most importantly, for the North Korean refugees themselves.

I rise in strong support of Mr. Royce's resolution, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author and the sponsor of this resolution, Mr. Royce of California.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 573, which commends the efforts of the American people and advocacy groups to confront genocide in Darfur, Sudan. As the resolution notes, there has been no other grassroots advocacy effort in the United States aimed at addressing mass atrocities and human rights abuses in Africa that has been conducted with as much vigor since the anti-apartheid movement of the 1980s and 1990s.

Mass demonstrations and protest marches have been organized. Days of prayer have been observed by churches, synagogues and mosques across the country. Countless fund-raisers for humanitarian relief have been conducted.

In my own district, school children as young as the first grade joined in an effort to collect hundreds of toys for the children of Darfur, which I had the opportunity to deliver while I visited that war-torn region. I am extremely proud of the contributions that these children made and all the people in my community, for it helped bring some joy to the youngest victims of a modern-day genocide.

Advocacy efforts on the Hill have also been extremely effective. Congressional offices have been inundated by phone calls, letters and visits by individuals committed to making a difference. It is due in no small part to the efforts of these groups that this body has considered 10 separate bills and resolutions which seek to address conditions in Darfur this year, including three that will be considered today alone.

I commend the efforts of those who have dedicated so much of their time and energy to raising awareness about the carnage that continues to unfold in Darfur, and I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.

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.

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

I rise in support of the resolution by my good friend, Ms. DeLauro, H. Resolution 726, which calls on the international community to take immediate steps to respond to and to halt acts of rape and sexual violence, all of which are occurring in Darfur, eastern Chad, and the Central African Republic.

I would like to thank the chairman of our committee, Mr. Lantos; and, of course, the lead sponsor, my friend Ms. DeLauro for their flexibility in accommodating concerns raised prior to the introduction and then during the committee consideration with regard to nonessential health issues and the International Criminal Court.

With those issues addressed in the amendment before us, we now have a strong resolution that effectively focuses much-needed attention on the

horrific reality that has befallen women and young girls in Darfur without contradicting our U.S. policy.

Since the beginning of this conflict, Mr. Speaker, Sudanese Armed Forces, janjaweed militias, and other rebel factions have used rape as a weapon of war. Despite the conclusions of the Darfur Peace Agreement and the deployment of peacekeepers, these attacks have continued unabated.

The pattern of rape and sexual violence is widespread and systematic, and it seems that no one is spared. Elderly women, pregnant mothers, even girls as young as 10 years of age have fallen victim to the rapist thugs who attack with immunity. This is a horrific practice that must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

I fully support efforts to provide essential health and psychosocial services to these women and girls as well as efforts to hold those responsible for such attacks accountable for their actions. I strongly support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend Ms. DeLauro for introducing this resolution.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be a cosponsor of House Resolution 740, which condemns the horrible and cowardly attacks that occurred last month in Haskanita. According to reports, as we've heard, up to 1,000 heavily armed rebels believed to be associated with the Sudan Liberation Army ambushed the small base that had been occupied

by the African Union peacekeeping mission on September 29 of this year. Ten AU peacekeepers were killed, including seven Nigerian soldiers and three unarmed military observers and civilian police officers from Mali, Senegal, and Botswana. Seven others were wounded, and 50 peacekeepers went missing. This was the worst attack against the AU, African Union, mission since it first deployed in July of 2004.

Khartoum deployed its forces to secure the area on October 6. Three days later, the entire village was found burned to the ground. Though Khartoum has not publicly claimed responsibility, there is little doubt about who burned the village. The initial attack against the African Union peacekeepers and the subsequent burning of the small base must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

It is outrageous that rebels would attack those who had been sent to secure the peace in Darfur, particularly as the international community prepares to deploy a much larger hybrid United Nations/African Union peacekeeping mission to the region. It is equally outrageous, Mr. Speaker, that the Sudanese armed forces would seek retribution for the initial attack by burning the village to the ground and leaving an estimated 150,000 people homeless as a result.

It must be made clear to all parties to the conflict, the regime in Khartoum, its armed proxies, and the various rebel forces alike, that the ongoing attacks against peacekeeping forces, humanitarian operations, and civilian populations in Darfur are completely unacceptable.

Those who are truly interested in peace in Darfur must stop these senseless attacks, fully commit themselves to a binding cease-fire agreement, and rigorously pursue a political settlement. Failure to do so will send a clear signal to the international community about who is and who is not interested in peace.

And let there be no doubt that the United States has done much to alleviate the suffering in this war-torn region. The United States has provided more than $2 billion in humanitarian assistance and assistance to the African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur. The U.S. has also led the debate at the U.N. Security Council to get a larger, more capable United Nations/African Union hybrid peacekeeping mission approved and deployed.

We have built and maintained the camps for the African Union forces, and we will continue to expand those camps until the U.N. takes over. We have also provided air lift for troops, and will fund 25 percent of all peacekeeping costs.

We have a dedicated special envoy who has led international efforts to bring peace to Darfur. We have funded and supported critical peace talks. We have imposed comprehensive sanctions against Khartoum. Meanwhile, China and Russia continue to allow their business interests in Sudan to override their concern for human rights. Both have failed to take meaningful action at the United Nations and have blocked consideration of sanctions against Khartoum.

So all obstructionists to peace in Darfur, regardless of their association, must ultimately be held to account. It is particularly appropriate that we are considering this resolution as Darfur peace talks are getting under way in Tripoli, Libya because, despite the best of intentions, the international community cannot impose peace on Darfur. The burden is on the Sudanese themselves to find a lasting political settlement. The time for Khartoum and the rebel factions to roll up their sleeves and get to work toward that end is long overdue. And, frankly, the people of Darfur deserve better.

I thank the sponsor, Ms. Jackson-Lee, for introducing this important and timely measure. I urge the support of all of my colleagues.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 747, which recognizes the significance of the festival of Diwali.

I want to extend my appreciation to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson) for his leadership on this issue and so many issues that are affecting U.S. relations with India and Indian Americans.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues know because of our previous speaker, Diwali is a major, multi-cultural festival celebrated in India and everywhere around the world. Although often referred to as a Hindu festival, Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists also observe it.

Known as the Festival of Lights, it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for mankind.

Diwali is celebrated for 5 consecutive days in October or November, and it is one of the most popular and eagerly awaited festivals in India. This celebration presents all of us with the opportunity to reflect on the many ways in which people, history and traditions of India, and elsewhere in South Asia, have contributed to the rich cultural mosaic that is the United States of America. It also reminds us again that America's extraordinary diversity is one of our Nation's most enduring strengths.

I was proud to sponsor a similar resolution in the 109th Congress, House Resolution 584, which also recognizes the significance of this important festival of Diwali.

So with that, Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this resolution.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2671, to designate the United States Courthouse located at 301 North Miami Avenue in my district of Miami, Florida, as the C. Clyde Atkins United States Courthouse.

I would like to commend my Florida colleagues for working together in a bipartisan manner to bring this bill to the floor today. I also want to thank our Florida Senators, Bill Nelson and Mel Martinez, for taking the lead and introducing this bill in the Senate.

As the author of this legislation, I am pleased that this bill would take the next step toward ensuring that we can properly pay tribute to one of Florida's great jurists by naming the courthouse in Miami in honor of the stellar career of Judge Atkins.

After receiving his law degree from the University of Florida in 1936, C. Clyde Atkins worked as a distinguished attorney and held prestigious posts such as the president of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association, as well as president of the Florida Bar. In 1966, Atkins was nominated to the bench by President Lyndon Johnson. The late Judge Atkins brought tremendous honor to the legal profession through his dedicated service as a United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida from 1966 until his death in 1999 at the age of 84.

Judge Atkins was committed to the administration of the rule of law without consideration of race, creed, or national origin.

He was recognized for his devotion to equality by the National Conference of Christians and Jews and the Anti-Defamation League, to name just a few, Madam Speaker.

Judge Atkins was the first Catholic to be appointed to the bench in the Southern District of Florida.

His faith to his church was recognized by Pope Paul VI through his selection of Judge Atkins as a Knight of St. Gregory.

Judge Atkins was a fair and capable judge and rendered important decisions in the area of civil liberties and civil rights.

Judge Atkins declared that segregation in Miami-Dade County public schools was intolerable. He ruled that homelessness was not a crime and affirmed that freedom of expression was a constitutional right.

Judge Atkins was a man of principles who had the utmost respect for the rule of law.

Therefore, I ask my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

The C. Clyde Atkins United States Courthouse at 301 North Miami Avenue in Miami will serve as a lasting tribute to the incredible life and great accomplishments of this distinguished man.

Madam Speaker, finding an internationally- acknowledged name for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) is an issue that threatens the peace of the Balkans and the stability of the region.

Particularly troubling is the ongoing insensitivity displayed by officials of FYROM with respect to provocative propaganda and rhetoric that is offensive to Greece.

The latest example of this occurred on September 25, when Dr. Srgjan Kerim, President of the United Nations General Assembly and a native of FYROM, introduced to the Assembly, FYROM's President as ``President of the Republic of Macedonia.''

Resolution of this issue could bring substantial stability to the region and pave the way for further integration of FYROM into the international community.

I would therefore like to bring to the House's attention excerpts from the following article that appeared in the September 27, 2007 issue of The National Interest by His Excellency Alexandros P. Mallias, Ambassador of Greece to the United States.

When U.N. General Assembly president H.E. Dr. Srgjan Kerim,

a native of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

(FYROM), introduced on September 25 the president of his home

country, Mr. Branko Crvenkovski, he implied that the national

interest of FYROM prevails over his duties to the UN body. He

therefore addressed Mr. Crvenkovksi as the ``President of the

Republic of Macedonia.''

Some people may think that what happened in the UN

constitutes a minor or isolated incident. Nevertheless, this

is not the case--this has deeper roots both on a regional and

international level. Challenging UN resolutions and decisions

and ignoring commitments undertaken through international

agreements, as FYROM has systematically done by violating the

US-brokered Interim Accord with Greece, is a bad precedent.

This is a violation of the principle of good-neighborly

relations and puts sustained regional stability in jeopardy.

Dr. Kerim, obviously acting under instructions from his

government, has irreparably damaged his standing and

credibility as president of the General Assembly. He did not

respect the resolutions of the body over which he is

presiding nor of the Security Council of the United Nations,

the organization he has been called upon to serve.

The actions of Dr. Kerim and FYROM are a clear indication

of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's lack of

respect for international law and international institutions.

They are also a blunt violation of the US-brokered Interim

Accord.

Many Americans may think this is a minor issue. But the

history of the region, not to mention of Europe as a whole,

demonstrates that whenever irredentist claims are left

unaddressed, the seeds of future conflicts are sown. Europe

today is governed by the rule of law; the completion of the

European project in the Balkans--and the extension of a zone

of peace and prosperity--rest upon the willingness of

governments to live up to their international commitments.

Obligations are like a tapestry; even pulling on what might

appear to outsiders to be a small and insignificant thread

can end up unraveling the entire work. We have too much

invested in the stability of the region to allow this to

happen.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Representative Roskam for introducing H. Res. 605, in support of Gold Star Mothers. Gold Star Mothers is a tremendous organization that honors our nation's brave sons and daughters in the Armed Services that have made the ultimate sacrifice. Gold Star Mother's outreach and volunteer efforts help to bring comfort and solace to family members and loved ones during their time of need. My stepson Doug and his wife Lindsay continue to serve overseas in the Marines so I greatly appreciate the support and devotion the Gold Star Mothers have for our Armed Forces and Veterans. I am also proud to have Georgianna C. Krell, a past and future National President of Gold Star Mothers from my Congressional District. Georgianna's son PFC Bruce Carter was killed defending our nation on August 7th 1969 in Vietnam. Private Carter was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in battle. It is with great pleasure that I have been working with Georgianna to have our local VA hospital in Miami renamed after her son and I look forward to my continued relationship with Georgianna and Gold Star Mothers to honor our nation's heroes.

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

Mr. Speaker, today is a day of contrast. Today as we stand here in this hallowed Chamber of democracy discussing the threat that Iran poses to the United States and, indeed, to global security, to its own people as well, Iran's leader will later be spewing his venomous rhetoric before the United Nations General Assembly.

Last year, the leader of the Iranian regime called for Israel to be wiped off the map and for a new wave of Palestinian attacks to destroy the Jewish state. He further stated that anyone who recognizes Israel will burn in the fire of the fury of Islamic nations.

This is not the first time that the Iranian leadership has called for the destruction of Israel. On December 14, 2001, former Iranian leader Rafsanjani threatened Israel with nuclear attack, saying that the use of even one nuclear bomb inside Israel would destroy that country while it would do little harm to the Islamic world.

Given the Iranian regime's history of acting on its declarations, we should be under no illusions regarding its intentions. And its intentions are to get a nuclear weapon. In fact, they are even taking out advertisements about it.

Let me show you this very revealing ad that appeared in the May issue of the Economist. As they say, ``a picture is worth a thousand words.'' Even as the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that ``gaps remain in the agency's knowledge with respect to the scope and content of Iran's centrifuge program . . . including the role of the military in Iran's nuclear program . . .'' and voiced concern regarding ``undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran,'' and even as additional sanctions were being considered against Iran by the United Nations Security Council, this request for proposals for two new large nuclear plants appeared in a major western magazine. And let me point out that the ad clearly identifies the name of the bank, a European bank. For the record, it is Austria Bank Creditansalt, with the account number clearly evident in the advertisement.

Mr. Speaker, for over 5 years, Iran has been manipulating the international community, buying time to expand and to hide its nuclear program, and it is making rapid progress. The International Atomic Energy Agency report of August 30 of this year stated that Iran is running almost 2,000 centrifuges with as many more being tested or under construction, indicating that it has already overcome many of the roadblocks to manufacturing nuclear fuel, including weapons-grade material.

The estimate of the International Atomic Energy Agency, however, may be too conservative. Iranian leader Ahmadinejad put the number of centrifuges at 3,000 and said that the program was making great strides. His comments underscored his regime's intense focus on its nuclear weapons program and should increase our focus and our sense of urgency.

When thinking of the consequences of an Iranian nuclear bomb, we must always remember that Iran is the number one state sponsor of terrorism, supplying weapons, funding, training and sanctuary to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas that have murdered countless civilians and threatens our allies in the region and elsewhere; that Iran continues to supply Shiite Islamic groups in Iraq with money, training and weapons that fuel sectarian violence; that Iran is responsible for the deaths of U.S. troops by providing the resources and the materials used for improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, and other much more powerful weapons; that Iran is also supplying the Taliban with weapons to use against our troops serving in Afghanistan.

My daughter-in-law is proudly wearing our Nation's uniform right now in Afghanistan, and Iran's work is a danger to her and all of our sons and daughters serving overseas.

However, Tehran's pursuit of these destructive policies has one weakness, namely, its dependence on the revenue derived from energy exports. For that reason, the U.S. has targeted Iran's energy sector, attempting to starve it of its foreign investment. U.S. law prohibits American firms from investing in Iran, but foreign entities continue to do so. To address that problem, my distinguished colleague, my good friend from California, the chairman of our committee, Mr. Lantos, and I introduced the Iran Freedom Support Act, which was enacted into law in September of last year.

This legislation under consideration today, however, H.R. 1400, builds upon that foundation, reiterates the application of the Iran Sanctions Act, ISA, to parent companies of foreign subsidiaries that engage in activities that ISA would prohibit for U.S. entities. Like its predecessors, the Iraq Freedom Support Act and H.R. 957, this bill before us, H.R. 1400, expands the application of the Iran Sanctions Act to any financial institution, insurer, underwriter, guarantor, or other business organization including any foreign subsidiary of the foregoing. Mr. Speaker, this bill enlarges the scope of the ISA sanctions to include the sale of oil or liquefied natural gas tankers.

In addition, the bill before us states the sense of Congress that the United States should prevent foreign banks from providing export credits to foreign entities seeking to invest in Iran's energy sector. And in line with the Iran Freedom Support Act, which urged the President to instruct the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. to push for United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran, this bill before us commends the U.N. Security Council for its previous action and urges additional action.

H.R. 1400 also restricts U.S. nuclear cooperation with any country that helps Iran's nuclear program or transfers advanced conventional weapons or missiles to Iran. This puts countries seeking to maintain good relations with the U.S. on notice that we will not allow ourselves to be used as indirect purveyors of nuclear assistance to Iran.

Finally, let me emphasize, Mr. Speaker, that this bill speaks directly to the people of Iran. The regime in Tehran continues its brutal crackdown on human rights advocates, on religious and ethnic minorities, on opponents in the universities and the press, and on dissidents in general. And to address their plight, the bill before us expresses the unwavering support of the American people for the tens of millions of Iranians suffering under a brutal medieval regime.

We must always remember that we share a common enemy, the regime in Tehran, and a common goal, which is freedom.

Mr. Speaker, thank you for this time. But I mostly want to thank the chairman of our committee, Mr. Lantos, for his leadership on this issue, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support its adoption.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield 6 minutes to Mr. Pence, the ranking member on the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia of our Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 3 minutes to Mr. Shays of the National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), the cochair of the Congressional Iran Working Group.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again thank the chairman, Mr. Lantos.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 548. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York, my good friend, Mr. Ackerman, for introducing this important resolution, and for Chairman Lantos of our Foreign Affairs Committee for bringing it before the floor today.

With the execution last Wednesday of an anti-Syrian Lebanese parliamentarian in a Christian suburb of Beirut, and the announcement today that the Lebanese Parliament will delay until next month the election of a new Lebanese president due to a Hezbollah-led opposition boycott, both Syria and Iran are now one step closer to their strategic goal of once again dominating Lebanon.

Four anti-Syrian parliamentarians are all that stand in the way of the detestable efforts of pro-Syrian forces within Lebanon to impose their presidential candidate on all of Lebanon and deny Lebanon its true sovereignty. They will undoubtedly use the time afforded by the delay in the presidential election to effectively finish the job they started in the wake of the coalition's March 14 electoral victory.

And what is the goal of these pro-Syrian forces? To gain a parliamentary majority through assassination and terror. Led by Hezbollah, the pro-Syrian parliamentary bloc has repeatedly demanded that a compromise candidate who will bring national unity be elected to the presidency next month. However, Mr. Speaker, just the opposite is true. A compromise and a unity candidate can only serve to bring about the election of yet another Syrian and Iranian puppet to the presidency. Like the outgoing so-called president, such a leader will work to prevent Lebanon from extricating itself from Iranian and Syrian influence and total control.

Furthermore, the inclusion of pro-Syrian and Iranian elements in the Lebanese Government renders the government, regardless of the individual desires of the members, and indeed the entire electoral process, an effective tool of Syria and Iran. Some had hoped that Hezbollah's entry into Lebanese politics would signal its integration into Lebanese society and force its leaders to dismantle Hezbollah's military and terrorist infrastructure. Sadly, the opposite has occurred. Allowing an Islamic terrorist entity to use the political process and legitimatize itself without first demanding that it stop its objectionable behavior only serve to perpetuate and enhance the threat.

Last October, Iran and Syria changed their calculations as to how to best use Hezbollah to advance their interests and undermine the sovereignty of Lebanon. They instructed Hezbollah to withdraw from the government.

Since then, Hezbollah, joined by other Syrian and Iranian proxies, has worked steadily to overthrow the government by politically paralyzing it in parliament and assassinating its supporters. At the same time, they have reportedly provided massive amounts of arms, training, and financial support to Hezbollah as it rebuilds from the conflict with Israel last summer.

Additionally, reports that the Lebanese Army has enabled Hezbollah to reassert its control over southern Lebanon continues to gravely concern us.

Mr. Speaker, simply put, we cannot afford to continue to pursue a policy toward Lebanon based on willful negligence. We must accept that a moderate government will only materialize after the Syrian and Iranian proxies in Lebanon are defeated and dismantled. This resolution represents a step in the correct direction by voicing its unequivocal support for a true democratic government, and all those within Lebanon who have struggled against Syrian and Iranian control over their homeland for far too long truly deserve our support. I strongly urge my colleagues to support Mr. Ackerman's resolution.

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

I have no additional speakers, and I'd like to yield back the balance of my time.