Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, yesterday was a significant day in the War on Terror with countries all over the world joining in to

help the United States bring civil order to Iraq. The morning began with Japan announcing $5 billion in aid for Iraq redevelopment. The Washington Post reported Ambassador Howard Baker, Jr., thanked our Japanese allies for being ``generous.'' This was followed by the unanimous vote of the Security Council to approve a new resolution backed by America. The New York Times today editorialized ``President Bush won a big victory yesterday at the United Nations.''

Later, there was an historic meeting here at the Capitol of Speaker Ognyan Gerdjiko of Bulgaria with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), the first meeting ever of speakers from Bulgaria and America. Speaker Gerdjiko pledged partnership in the War on Terror, substantiated by providing 500 Bulgarian troops currently in Iraq.

With the supplemental vote today, America is proving its determination to win the war on terror by making all efforts to complete our commitment for victory to protect the American people.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding efforts of the South Carolina Victims Assistance Network led by Public Policy Coordinator Laura Hudson, CEO Veronica Swain, and VIP Director Nicole Goodwin.

This group tirelessly works on the victims of crime that are often forgotten by the public after their trauma no longer merits headlines. The Victim Assistance Network advocates on behalf of all victims and witnesses of crime, establishes a communications network, enhances public awareness, facilitates research and evaluation, serves as technical support, provides quality training, educates and coordinates policy development while encouraging citizen and victim participation.

As we recognize President Bush's Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, I ask all my colleagues to join in support of organizations like the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network. These groups serve as a wonderful example of a community reaching out with compassion to offer hope to victims of crime.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Chairman, it is an honor for me to be here today on the bipartisan effort to support the President on the supplemental. I was particularly pleased to hear a moment ago the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis). He and I are both graduates of Washington and Lee University, so we have a kinship there, and I am delighted to hear of his support for the supplemental.

Today is a significant day with the support that has been received on the international stage. We began this morning hearing that Japan is going to contribute $1.5 billion, up to $5 billion, for the reconstruction and redevelopment of Iraq. We also had today the unanimous vote of the U.N. Security Council to support the proposals that the United States put forward today to bring order to Iraq and protect the American people.

Additionally, I had the opportunity today to be present with the gentleman from Illinois (Speaker Hastert), meeting for the first time in history with Speaker Ognyan Gerdjikov, the Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly. He, of course, indicated, as their government has done on the Security Council and by providing troops to Iraq, that Bulgaria is standing very strong with its ally, the United States.

I had the opportunity 3 weeks ago to visit with General David Petraeus and with General Ricardo Sanchez in Iraq. I saw the progress being made.

Another indication of progress was in the New York Times today, and that is that the currency of Iraq is being exchanged. It began yesterday. This is a 90-day proposal or project to turn in the currency which has the dictator's face on it, Saddam Hussein. Yesterday, on the very first day, nearly one-third of all the currency in Iraq was turned in. This is an extraordinary indication of progress, support by the people of Iraq, for the changes that are needed to be made.

Just as after World War II, we helped reconstruct Germany so it would not be a breeding ground for communists, we can now have a reconstruction of Iraq so it is not a breeding ground for terrorism. We defeated communism. I believe in the war on terrorism, with our wonderful troops, with our President, that we can make progress today supporting the supplemental.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that at any time on the legislative day of October 15, 2003, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) may be recognized to address the House for 30 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that at any time on the legislative day of October 15, 2003, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) may be recognized to address the House for 30 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the period of debate on emergency supplemental appropriations under the order of the House of October 14, 2003, be limited to 5 hours, divided equally and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees.

Mr. Speaker, today America welcomes to Washington the Speaker of Bulgaria's National Assembly, Ognian Gerdjikov. Tomorrow morning, the Speakers of our two democracies will meet for the first time in history. The Bulgarian Speaker and the United States Speaker of the House, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), will meet here in the Capitol. Additionally, Speaker Gerdjikov will meet with our majority leader, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay).

Bulgaria has become a great friend and ally to America, emerging from totalitarian communism to recognizing 100 years of diplomatic relations with the United States and, now, unwavering partnership in the war on terrorism. To commemorate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations, their country has produced this beautiful medal indicating how significant it is, this friendship with America.

I ask all of my colleagues to join me in welcoming the Bulgarian Speaker and other members of the National Assembly to the United States Capitol. This indicates the growing significance of the Bulgarian- American friendship.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in sadness to report the death of a true South Carolina hero, Sergeant Anthony O. Thompson. As a 26-year-old artillery fire support specialist in the United States Army, Sergeant Thompson proudly represented not only our State and Nation but all the people of South Carolina.

As a native of Orangeburg County, he showed immense potential even as a teenager. Graduating from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School in 1995, he departed with honors and shortly thereafter entered the Army.

After serving in the Army for nearly 7 years, Sergeant Thompson began his quest in Iraq to defend our Nation from terrorists and engage in the War on Terrorism. Sergeant Anthony Thompson, killed in combat, was the second serviceman from Orangeburg County to die during service in Iraq and the seventh from the State of South Carolina.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in extending condolences to Sergeant Thompson's friends and family, as he was a dedicated hero to our State and Nation.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, South Carolina has lost one if its best public servants recently when State Senator Donald Holland of Camden, South Carolina, died at the age of 75. He was my colleague during my seventeen years of service in the South Carolina State Senate. He will always be remembered as a gentleman who conducted his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee with civility. He was respectful of the minority and promoted open debate. His legacy will be the fair election laws appreciated by South Carolinians due to his chairmanship of the Election Laws Study Committee, where he was always respectful and understanding of my minority role. The Wilson family extends its deepest sympathy to the Holland family.

The following is his obituary printed in the State newspaper.

Sen. Donald Holland

Camden.--The Honorable Donald Harry Holland, husband of

Betty Bell Holland and father of Elizabeth Alberta (Lisa)

Holland, died October 5, 2003, at his home. Funeral services

will be held at Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church at 1

p.m. Wednesday, October 8, with the Reverend T. Lee Bryant

Jr. and Chaplain George G. Meetze officiating, followed by

committal in Beulah United Methodist Church Cemetery.

Holland, son of the late Eugene and Alberta Branham

Holland, was born on a farm in the rural Kershaw County

community of Cassatt on August 19, 1928. A graduate of Midway

High School (1945), Holland entered the United States Army

and was posted to the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre. At the age of

18, Holland served with U.S. Forces occupying Japan at the

conclusion of World War II. As part of his duties with the

Judge Advocates Office, Holland developed a proficiency for

speaking Japanese and served as a translator.

Upon his honorable discharge from the military in 1948,

Holland reentered the University of South Carolina and, under

a combined program of undergraduate and law school studies

then available, earned a law degree in 1951.

While concluding his studies at the University, Holland

sought election to the South Carolina House of

Representatives for Kershaw County. His election in 1950, at

age 21, began over one-half century of continuous public

service under 11 governors. Holland's six terms in the House

of Representatives were followed by five years of service on

the State Highway Commission and 35 years of service in the

South Carolina Senate.

At the time of his death, Holland was the longest-serving

lawmaker in South Carolina. In South Carolina's post-colonial

history, only three persons have provided more years of

combined House and Senate service than Holland. In 1999,

Holland was honored by the National Conference of State

Legislators for having a tenure of service placing him among

the ten most senior legislators in the country.

His long tenure was one of remarkable accomplishment. In

addition to chairing the Senate's standing committees on

Judiciary, General Laws, Corrections and Penology and Fish,

Game and Forestry, Holland was the catalyzing force and

chairman behind many of the body's most influential study

committees and special committees. In the 1970s and 1980s,

Holland led the state's efforts to reform and modernize its

election laws and laws governing criminal prosecution and

conviction. A champion of an effective and fair criminal

justice system, Holland served as chairman of nearly all

legislative conference committees, which produced significant

legislation within the past 20 years in the areas of support

of victims of violent crime, substantive criminal reform and

drug interdiction.

As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 1995

until 2001, Holland devoted much of his energy and attention

to children's issues and domestic violence. In recognition of

his efforts, the South Carolina Victim Assistance Network

named Holland ``The Outstanding Legislator of the Year for

1999-2000.''

In 1988, Holland, serving as chairman of the General

Assembly's Screening Committee for Candidates for the Public

Service Commission, began a 15-year effort to reform the

qualifications of public service commissioners. Within the

most recent legislative session and working in the bipartisan

manner with which he was most comfortable, Holland's crusade

for change in the Public Service Commission brought to the

forefront legislation accomplishing significant reform.

Holland also provided stable leadership to the Senate as

chairman of its Redistricting Committee during the late 1980s

and 1990s.

Of his accomplishments, Holland was most proud of his

ability to serve his neighbors. His able service to the far-

flung reaches of his geographically-large Senate district

resulted in progress coming to areas where it was not a

common visitor. Often recollecting the dire needs of South

Carolinians during his boyhood, Holland stubbornly held to

making sure that rural South Carolinians were not forgotten.

His well-known devotion to these interests resulted in his

having a statewide constituency. Holland was a member of

Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church, the VFW, American

Legion and Woodmen of the World. He was a 33rd degree Mason

and a Shriner. Consistent with his abiding love of history,

Holland was a member of the Kershaw County Historical Society

and the South Carolinian Society, the repository for his

personal and political papers.

Holland was predeceased by his stepmother, Ruby Gordon

Holland. Besides his widow and daughter, he is survived by

brothers of Camden, Dr. Alton Holland and Carl Holland; four

sisters, Margaret Holland Ford of Camden, Maxine Holland

Humphrey of Camden, Zulene Holland Dougherty of Camden,

Sandra Holland Hatcher of Florence; a number of nieces and

nephews; his beloved dog, Maggie, and cat, Bully.

The family suggests those wishing to make memorials may do

so to Cassatt Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 110,

Camden, SC 29032; the Beulah United Methodist Church Cemetery

Fund, 820 Beulah Church Road, Camden, SC 29020; the South

Carolina Troopers Association, 4961 Broad River Road,

Columbia, SC 29212; or to the charity of one's choice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Israel's actions to destroy terrorist training camps in Syria, sending a message that terrorists cannot hide and will be destroyed wherever they are found. As the United States has defended itself against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq, Israel is defending itself against further attacks by the terrorist group Islamic Jihad. This violent group's latest attack came on Saturday, before Yom Kippur, at a Haifa restaurant, killing 19 innocent people and injuring 55.

As President Bush has said, ``Israel's got a right to defend herself, that Israel must not feel constrained in terms of defense of the homeland.'' No nation would sit by as their civilians are killed and terrorized, and Israel has a duty to protect its people. Palestinians that desire peace must work to dismantle the terror networks, and so must the people of Syria. As United States U.N. Ambassador John Negroponte said, ``Syria is on the wrong side of the War on Terrorism.'' Syria has harbored and supported terrorists and this must end.

Israel is in the midst of a battle in the War on Terrorism and America stands with her.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), to sponsor this important resolution in condemning violence against South Asians in America.

As the Republican co-chair of the caucus on India and Indian Americans, I am very concerned about the weekly occurrences of violence committed against Indian Americans, especially Sikhs. Every week in national newspapers like India Abroad and News India-Times, I read reports of violence and even homicides committed against Indian Americans working in gas stations, convenience stores, food delivery positions, or driving taxis. I am concerned some of these attacks are motivated by ignorance and fear. These hardworking citizens perform some of the most thankless jobs in America. They are also vulnerable to physical harm due to their solitary conditions and late work hours.

There can be no justification for attacking a fellow American simply because of their skin color or religion. Americans understand we feel anger toward the terrorists who murdered our countrymen on September 11. However, we must not rush to judgment and display prejudice or bias against those Americans of South Asian descent, people who are just as angered about the attack on our country and just as eager to defeat terrorism. We must rally together as a Nation to prevent bias-motivated crimes against Indian Americans.

Schools must continue to educate student bodies so that harassment and violence against Sikh boys no longer occur. Further, we must vigorously prosecute these crimes when they do happen.

I want to commend Attorney General John Ashcroft because he is taking the necessary steps to aggressively root out those who seek to harm this Nation, yet maintain the civil rights of those citizens who are here legally and abide by our laws.

I want to again thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for his leadership in introducing this important resolution, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of it.

Madam Speaker, it is an honor to be here today with the Congressman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter). I am so proud of his service as the chairman of the U.S. House delegation to NATO. And currently, of course, he is the chairman of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. He has a great vision of expanding democracy in Central and Eastern Europe.

And, of course, the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations, my next-door neighbor, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), I am so proud of his association on this bill. And he, being of Hungarian heritage, has played a key role in promoting democracy again in Central and Eastern Europe. He is just a real champion. And I am honored to be with both of these gentlemen today.

My interest in the particular resolution, which is to commend 100 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of Bulgaria, really is a culmination of a lifelong dream that I have had.

My motivation to become involved in the political process was out of concern for a strong national defense. And, particularly, I grew up in the era of the Cold War and concern about the potential for nuclear annihilation between the two superpowers at that time.

I had hoped with peace through strength, as established by President Ronald Reagan, that we could achieve a liberation of the people of formerly totalitarian Communist countries. Of course, that came to culmination on November 9, 1989, with the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Right after that, there were movements throughout Central and Eastern Europe to establish democratic governments. And I volunteered, through the Republican National Committee, to work with the International Republican Institute to be an election observer in one of the upcoming elections that was to be held.

I am very grateful that my long-time friend, Lee Atwater, the late Lee Atwater, who was chairman of the Republican National Committee, along with his executive director, Mary Matalin, placed me on the delegation to go to Bulgaria for the elections of June 10, 1990, which were the first democratic elections since the late 1930s to be existent in Bulgaria.

The moment I got there, I was so impressed by the people that I met, I felt like I was in a circumstance frozen in time, the economy that I saw, the infrastructure that I saw, was that of the 1930s. But the people had a wonderful spirit, and they were obviously very talented. I felt from the beginning that they would evolve into a strong democratic society.

I then had the opportunity, working with our local Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis, Optimist Clubs, Lions Clubs, to provide for the ability of a member of the newly elected National Assembly of Bulgaria, Stefan Stoyanov, to come and observe the elections in South Carolina in 1990. He subsequently has been named as currently the ambassador from Bulgaria to Greece.

Additionally, I worked with the Free Congress Foundation and visited Sofia with the Kreible Institute to meet with members of the National Assembly of the Democratic Union to explain to them how to work in a parliamentary system from my experience in the State Senate of South Carolina.

Then I have been working with municipal officials to come and visit the United States, and South Carolina in particular, to learn the democratic process. I have also worked with the Sister City Program. We are very proud that Columbia, the capital of South Carolina, is the sister city of Plovdiv in Bulgaria, the second largest city of Bulgaria, a very historic city.

The evolution has just been terrific for the people of Bulgaria. They have really lived up to and fulfilled my hopes and dreams for them.

I was very pleased last year, working with the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) to help establish the Bulgarian Caucus to promote even better relations. We have been so fortunate with the leadership of Ambassador Elena Poptodorova to be able to, indeed, establish relationships between the National Assembly of Bulgaria and the Congress of the United States.

We have had the opportunity to visit and have visiting us President Georgi Parvanov of Bulgaria; the Prime Minister, Simeon Saxe Coburg Gotha; the Foreign Minister, Solomon Passy. We have had a number of members of the National Assembly come to visit and observe Congress.

The highlight of this is coming next week. I am very pleased that next week Professor Dr. Ognyan Gerdjikov, the Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, will be visiting the United States; and for the first time in history, the Speakers of both the United States and Bulgaria will be meeting. Our Speaker, Dennis Hastert, will be meeting with the Speaker Gerdjikov. And then we will be having a reception that we will invite all Members of Congress to attend next Thursday evening here at the Capitol.

It is an honor to be here. I urge support for the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, it is a wonderful time of the year in South Carolina. It is a time when families from all over the State bring their children and friends to the State Fair in Columbia. The tradition of our State Fair dates back 134 years, when it started as an agricultural convention sponsored by the State Agriculture and Mechanical Society of South Carolina, raising funds for charities. Its facilities are a great resource for expositions and conventions year-round.

Today, the Fair attracts almost 600,000 people who come to enjoy educational exhibits, arts and crafts, livestock, games, rides and popular entertainment. I am proud to have attended the Fair since my childhood, and I am proud to recognize this as an example of the American spirit of community. I want to thank Society President Cante Heath and Fair Manager Gary Goodman for their hard work in making this year's Fair a tremendous success.

I ask all of my colleagues to join me in wishing the people of South Carolina a safe and enjoyable time at this year's State Fair.

In conclusion, may God bless our troops.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this motion to instruct. The Department of Labor is attempting to modernize overtime pay regulations that are over 50 years old, yet there are many that are distorting their common-sense efforts. The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 has not been amended since 1949, and only protects overtime pay for employees earning under $8,060, below even minimum-wage standards.

The Department of Labor has proposed new regulations that would guarantee overtime pay for anyone making less than $22,100. This means an additional 1.3 million low-income workers will be guaranteed overtime pay regardless of any other criteria.

Critics have argued that anybody making over $22,100 would lose their ability to receive overtime pay. That is not correct. The truth is, according to the Department of Labor's new standards, only certain white-collar employees who meet specific tests will qualify for exempt status. All other employees, regardless of their income, would be guaranteed overtime pay.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to help give overtime pay security to 1.3 million additional low-income workers and support the new 541 regulations and oppose the motion to instruct.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of President George W. Bush's supplemental request of $87 billion for the war on terror. This will support our troops who were historically successful in combat and helped develop Iraq so that we can win the peace.

After World War II, America led the effort in the Marshall Plan to rebuild Germany. We prevented Germany from becoming a breeding ground for Communists and we defeated communism. Today we can redevelop Iraq and prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for terrorists and we will defeat terrorism. This funding is mutually beneficial for the people of America and Iraq.

We cannot abandon the newly freed people of Iraq and allow the terrorists to regain strength. We can either fight the terrorists overseas or on the streets of America.

I believe that every dollar of this supplemental is a weapon which will help save American lives. I encourage Members to stand firm in our promise to win the fight in the war on terror.

In conclusion, God bless our troops.