Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor The Village of Thomasboro upon the 150th anniversary of the village. The village celebrated this special anniversary on the weekend of June 13th and 14th, 2014, with live music, games, a Raminator demonstration, and a 5k run.

The Village of Thomasboro was founded in 1864 and named after John Thomas, who owned a considerable amount of land in the area. The Village boasts a number of entertainment opportunities including a tradition of street dances, a mobile comedy club, and the Thomasboro Fire Museum.

The village is now home to 1,200 residents, and remembers its past fondly. This past includes Olympian Mark Arie, a former resident and trapshooter who won two gold medals in the 1920 Olympics, and a visit from President Gerald Ford during the country's bicentennial celebration in 1976.

I extend my congratulations to the Village of Thomasboro upon this special occasion. It is my prayer that the Lord blesses them with many more years of extending hospitality.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for yielding.

I rise today to celebrate the lives of two extraordinary public servants, both considered from southern Illinois--one from deep southern Illinois--Senator Alan Dixon and Congressman Kenny Gray. Both passed within the last week or so, but our mourning has turned into remembrance and reverence for their undeniable commitment to all of us.

Senator Alan Dixon--or as he was commonly known, Al the Pal, as we from Illinois knew him, and eventually everyone else in this institution and in Washington knew him as that also--was a larger-than- life personality, with a can-do spirit, if you will.

He came to Washington to get things done, particularly for his beloved Illinois. From his beginnings in Belleville and St. Clair County to being State treasurer and secretary of State, he modernized the offices he served in to better serve the people of the State.

Elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980, he soon realized that Illinois lacked a cohesive message in Washington, D.C.

With Senator Chuck Percy, he began a monthly Illinois get-together that continues to this day. It brings together Members of the House and the Senate, downstate, Chicago, Republican, Democrat, conservative, moderate, and liberal. We sit around, and we talk about the Illinois agenda and how we can work together to advance it.

Our prayers and best wishes go out to his wife, Jody, and his family and friends.

I would also like to single out a couple of other people who were very special in his life. One was Gene Callahan and Scott Shearer. Their public service on his behalf is emblematic of that of all those who worked with my friend, Al the Pal.

Just as a side note to my colleague, we have a colleague here who is a Member of Congress, Cheri Bustos, who is the daughter of Gene; and there is that great connection of, in essence, a politically active family that continues to serve.

We will miss Al the Pal. He was a great friend and a great public servant.

Now, Mr. Speaker, let me turn to Kenny Gray. Kenny Gray was a very colorful Member of this Chamber, well known for spending many hours in the chair. He loved this House so much that, after he retired, he ran again and came back.

He was known as really a cult of personality. In a sea of Washington grey suits, white shirts, and red ties, Kenny stormed through this place in a flurry of colors that had never been seen before, but you dare not look away, as the Prince of southern Illinois was here, and he was determined to fight for his constituents.

Kenny made a big difference in southern Illinois. As the coal industry started suffering challenges, he worked hard. He was known as the Prince of Pork and the Prince of southern Illinois.

He worked diligently to bring the interstate system to southern Illinois, and he is also credited to bring a major water conservancy, Rend Lake, which brings and provides much of the needed drinking water to southern Illinois, and I would argue deep southern Illinois.

I am reminded of how he helped young people from southern Illinois come and grow here in D.C. A favorite example is my friend Brenda Otterson of West Frankfort, who came out to D.C. a few years back.

She came here as a Republican--Kenny is a Democrat--but as a Republican. Brenda came from a family of Democrats. Try as he might, Kenny worked hard to convert her.

When he finally realized she wasn't budging, he said, fine, and he helped her get a full-time job with a Republican Member. She served with distinction and never forgot her Kenny Gray roots.

Kenny's wife, Toedy, and their family deserve a special prayer and thanks from all of us.

Mr. Speaker, time comes, and time goes--rabid debates, a flurry of activities. We always take time out to remember those of our colleagues from future generations who are served, served nobly, and then gone home.

I think it is just fitting to remember that we remember those who served selflessly for many years as we take up their call to continue to do the same.

It is also important to remember to enjoy each and every day, enjoy life, work hard--because everything has its time under the Sun and everything is passing. That is why I appreciate the opportunity to serve. I love the Chamber. I love my colleagues.

With that, thank you for this opportunity, my colleague, Mr. Schweikert.

I thank my colleague.

To my friends from Nevada, I, too, understand their issues of concern, and we look forward to working with them.

To the Appropriations Committee, you have done great work.

Mr. Chairman, there have been two laws passed: the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and the amendments offered in 1987. It is the law of the land. In fact, the Federal courts have ruled in favor of the law of the land. That is why we are where we are today.

The gentlelady's amendment would say: take the money away for finishing the court-mandated scientific study. She even mentioned in her opening comments of the scientific research.

The Federal courts have said: DOE--the Federal Government--finish the scientific study. Her amendment would take that money away.

We are going to find out, through the scientific study, that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is going to end up saying that this is the best place on the planet Earth for the long-term nuclear storage of waste.

It is going to be safe for a million years, and that is going to come if we reject this amendment; but if we accept this amendment, it is their last chance to pull money away from finishing the court-mandated scientific study. That is what her amendment would do.

I know my colleagues here don't believe that I am all science-based, but in this case, I am. We have an independent commission that is ready to finish its work and render a decision, and all we are asking is to let us do it.

If the Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it is not safe, we are done, right, Chairman? Yet, if it is safe for a million years, I think the folks from Nevada are going to say: Okay. Let's work together to make this feasible. Let's bring jobs and economic growth.

The State of Nevada can't rely on gaming for economic growth and development. By closing Yucca Mountain down, you have lost high-paying Federal jobs in the scientific arena, and for a State that has such a need for jobs and a diversification of economy to reject this is really hard.

We are pledging right here--and the chairman is here also--that, as this moves forward and as we get a rendered decision that this location is safe, we are going to work with the State of Nevada to make sure the transportation location is safe; that the infrastructure is in place; and that the jobs, economic growth, and economy occurs.

That is what we plan to do, and I pledge here today my full support to being with the State of Nevada in jobs, in growth, and development as they diversify their economy.

Remember, Yucca Mountain is about 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas. It is in the desert, and it is underneath a mountain. There is not a lot there. I have been there a couple of times.

We are appreciative of the nuclear heritage of the State of Nevada. The law is the law of the land. It was passed and signed into law. It is time that we not jettison the $15 billion and 30 years. Let's finish the project.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for what you have done. I think we will get a chance to talk on this one more time in an additional amendment. I appreciate all you have done.

We look forward to moving this process forward, so that not just our spent nuclear fuel, but our defense waste has a long-term geological repository.

I thank the committee for doing again fine work. The amendment talked about none of the funds can be used for the NRC's work. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is the independent agency to ensure the safety of the nuclear power industry and the disposition of its waste.

In attacking this and pulling this money out, it is the last attempt to say: We are not going to allow the scientific basis and our Commission, most appointed by Democratic administrations, to do their work.

We know what they are going to come out with. They are going to say it is safe for a million years.

People need to go visit the great State of Nevada. But I will just tell you that it is a great State, and I have been there. There will be a time when we need to move forward, and I am pledging, along with the chairman, to do what is right by your State.

Yucca Mountain is just a small portion of the nuclear waste test site. You have DOE land; you have Bureau of Land Management land; you have military land. It is bigger than most States, and people don't understand that until they go out there.

Seven of your 17 counties at least support--what has been raised by the chairman--support the Nuclear Regulatory Commission coming to a final conclusion, and you all know that because they have passed a county resolution. So to say that everyone from

the State is opposed, what many folks from the State of Nevada say is let's find out the safety of this, let the NRC do its work, and we have resolutions from seven of the 17 counties that support that.

We will eventually get through this. We voted numerous times in this Chamber over my many years here. Last year, 335-81, 337-87. The House as a body, representing Members from across this great Nation, have spoken in support of supporting Federal law. You have the right to come down here and try to stop the implementation of law, and I understand that and I respect that; but there will be a time when we continue to pledge, as this policy moves forward, that we will do everything to do what is right for your State in moving and storing and ensuring safety for this as the national policy over land enacted by the Federal statute in 1982 along with the amendments in 1987.

I know I have got a lot of support on your side, and we need to get closure to this so that we can continue to have, really, an energy policy that is diversified. If we move on this climate agenda, how do you move on a climate agenda without nuclear power? You just can't. Large major generating facilities.

How do we deal with the World War II nuclear waste without a place to safely store, a place like Hanford in Washington State that is a legacy site from World War II? Do you know where that should go if the NRC concludes it is safe? Under a mountain, in a desert, 90 miles northeast of Las Vegas.

Again, I am not trying to be a jerk. I know it is tough. Eighty-two, 30 years, $15 billion--we can't walk away from that as an investment of this country. If we do, we are not being good public stewards of the taxpayers' funds and the ratepayers, which are about 32 States in this Union. Thirty-two States have put in money to the Nuclear Waste Fund on a promise that the Federal Government would have a site. Your amendment would say no, we are just going to walk away again.

Respectfully, I would ask for the defeat of the Titus amendment.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your great work.

Mr. Speaker, headlined today in one of the papers: ``Oil Prices to Rise as High as $120 Per Barrel Due to the Iraqi Crisis.''

Headlined a couple of days ago: ``Oil at a 3-Month High on Iraq Anxiety.''

This brings me back to an issue that I have spoken of many times throughout the years as a Member of Congress, that this Nation needs to have a national energy policy and, just like you would in a good investment portfolio, a diversified energy portfolio.

In the energy arena, I break it into two areas: electricity generation and transportation fuels. In electricity generation, we need to have the full range of competitive fueling technologies to have enough electricity at low prices to fuel and run our economy.

It is hot in Washington, D.C., today. A lot of air conditioners are on, and we want to be able to cool our homes at low prices. That means having a diversified energy portfolio: nuclear power, coal, natural gas, hydro, wind, and solar.

A debate on a diversified energy portfolio doesn't put all of your eggs in one basket. It allows you to have flexibility when there is a crunch or crisis in one of the other areas--likewise in the transportation fuel arena, especially with the crisis in Iraq.

Mr. Speaker, who would have thought, after all these years, we would still be held hostage to high crude oil prices from an unstable region far away off our shores? Shame on us for not taking advantage of what we have locally and in the North American continent.

That is why we need to continue our focus on a diversified portfolio for liquid transportation fuels. Based upon the premise of energy security, we should not be held hostage to countries that don't like us, who want to do us harm, who use our money to fund extremists, but here we are again, in that same position.

So what would a diversified liquid transportation fuel portfolio look like? Well, we know what it would look like. Let's make sure we use this new technology of fracking and take this crude oil and natural gas out of our ground and use that to fuel ourselves, not relying on other countries.

Let's finish the Keystone XL pipeline from our North American neighbors--the Canadians--who are our friends and allies, who will not be an unstable regime, but would be a loyal ally, as they have been for years and years and years.

Let's continue to move on a renewable fuel portfolio, use our agricultural resources in ethanol and soy diesel and beef tallow to ensure that there is a diversified portfolio, so that if any one sector is stressed, you have other sectors in the liquid transportation arena that can pick up the slack and make sure that we are never held hostage again by these foreign regimes.

It is very frustrating to go through this energy cycle where we think everything is fine, the world is at peace, and we start having debates about shutting down this diversified portfolio, only to be reminded-- like we are right now--of unstable regimes that don't like us, that when they go into crisis, we all pay.

Mr. Speaker, it is time that we remember energy security means energy security and a diversified portfolio on electricity generation and liquid transportation fuels. I hope we continue to make that message as we move through the legislative calendar this year.

Mr. Speaker, the military Code of Conduct reads:

I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my

country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in

their defense.

I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command,

I will never surrender the members of my command while they

still have the means to resist.

If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means

available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others

to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors

from the enemy.

If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my

fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in

any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am

senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful

orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in

every way.

When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am

required to give name, rank, service number, and date of

birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost

of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements

disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their

cause.

I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for

freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the

principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God

and in the United States of America.

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, for over two decades, U.S. oversight of the Internet's domain name system has kept the global Internet free and open.

Though dismissed by NTIA as merely a clerical role of assigning and matching domain names with IP addresses, U.S. stewardship of these basic functions has prevented authoritarian governments from censoring content or restricting access to Web sites beyond their borders.

That all could change, Mr. Chairman, if the administration's announced intention to relinquish our oversight role to an undefined multistakeholder community is not carefully considered.

This isn't a hypothetical concern. Russia and China have already tried to put domain name authority in the hands of the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union, the ITU; and while the administration says it won't accept a proposal that puts the Internet in the hands of another government or government-led entity, there is no guarantee that won't happen after the initial transfers takes place. One thing is for sure: once our authority is gone, it is gone for good.

Now, some of my friends across the aisle will tell you, in a few minutes, that this Chamber voted in support of a transition to a multistakeholder model in the past. I voted for that resolution because I didn't--and I still don't--have an objection to the concept of a multistakeholder Internet governance, but that structure must be insulated from government influence.

We know bad actors will certainly try to interfere with whatever overseer takes our place, so that is why I am offering this trust but verify amendment today.

My amendment will simply require the GAO to review the proposals NTIA receives to replace our oversight. What

is the harm, Mr. Chairman, in taking this slow, deliberate process and making sure that we get this right? I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rokita).

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

Let me just say, as I try to wait for a few more colleagues, I would ask my colleague to define multistakeholder. They can't. The Internet community says it is us. The international community, the Russias and the Chinas say it is us.

So all we are asking is for a Government Accountability Office, the IG, nonpartisan, to whatever the agreement comes from NTIA, to say look at it. Do some due diligence. Make sure that this is in our national interest.

This is the most curious debate I have ever seen. Go slow. ICANN and NTIA say they want to go slow. What is the harm of having additional eyes on this process?

So the real debate is define multistakeholder. No one can do that because they don't know what that is. The Internet community says it is us, and we are going to have control, and all our net folks are going to drive this, and it is going to be okay. While our friends--or not friends--Vladimir Putin and China say: this is a way in.

I would rather make sure that, when we relinquish this, we know what the agreement actually is.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, the Shimkus amendment would require the Government Accountability Office to look at this agreement, to make sure it is in our national interest.

The Shimkus amendment would ask the Government Accountability Office to look at this agreement to ensure that it is in our national interest. That is what this amendment does.

The world has significantly changed since our vote of last year, and for anyone to say it has not is not reading the paper. You have got Russia, you have got China, you have got Iran, you have got Turkey--all meddling and trying to usurp and get involved in the World Wide Web. We should not relinquish this unless it is in our national interest.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, it is great to be here. I know it is at the end of the debate.

First, let me thank Buck McKeon for doing a great job as the chairman, and I know as Adam will do, will recognize his years of service, and this is a great bill. Adam, thank you for your friendship and support.

Part of this en bloc amendment is the Black Ribbon Day. I worked really closely with Congressman Engel to make sure that it was vetted and cleared.

The basic premise is the country has to understand the importance of knowing the past to survive in the world of the present.

Shimkus is ethnically Lithuanian. I deal with the Baltic issues and Eastern European causes, and the world has significantly changed, as I said earlier in this debate, about the threat from Russia.

So the Black Ribbon Day recognizes the victims of communism and the Holocaust and the gulags and the deportation and the Russification. So when Vladimir Putin makes a claim protecting the Russian minority, it is because what they did post-World War II was they removed forcefully to Siberia ethnics and moved in Russians.

The world is not a safer place today. It is important for us to remember the events of the past so we can defend the freedoms of the future.

Mr. Chairman, thank you for including this in your en bloc amendment.

To my friend Adam from Washington State, thank you for your support. I don't get a chance to talk about defense and NDAA. As you all know, I served in the military. I have great respect for what you have done in trying to strengthen the force and protect freedom. So thank you for the work you do. It is just an honor to get a chance to work with both of you.

Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to pay tribute to an exceptional Air Force leader, General William M. Fraser III, Commander, United States Transportation Command.

General Fraser is retiring after honorably serving this great nation with an incredibly distinguished 40-year career. General Fraser graduated from the Texas A&M University ROTC program in 1974. As a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours, General Fraser has held command and staff positions at the squadron, group, wing, major command, and Department of Defense levels and is considered one of the finest strategic logistics experts in the nation.

USTRANSCOM serves as the key logistics synchronizer for the Department of Defense. It provides global mobility for rapidly projecting national power and influence, anywhere, anytime. Whether sustaining our combat troops in remote parts of Afghanistan, ensuring critical cargo moves through ports in the South Pacific, or re- supplying our forces at the South Pole, General Fraser and his command have shown the world why we truly are an exceptional nation. No other nation can project power globally or sustain its forces in every far corner of the globe as we can, and we have achieved this ability largely through General Fraser's leadership and the efforts of his command.

Equally important, General Fraser cultivated trust with our allies and forged bonds that will endure for many years. These relationships are reaping diplomatic, economic, and geopolitical benefits that contributing directly to regional security and stability and enabling our military to remain effective and efficient as we downsize and rebalance our forces.

General Fraser will tell you that his accomplishments were due to the hard work from the men and women of USTRANSCOM, but we know they were highly inspired by his leadership. We, in Congress, will miss his ``Giddy Up'' and ``Aggie'' persona and his proactive approach to keep us informed and to help us understand the impact of our work. But most of all, we will be forever grateful for General Fraser's unwavering support to our men and women in the Armed Forces, their dependents, and our entire nation.

Mr. President, while we recognize General Fraser for his 40 years of service, I also wish to recognize his wife, Beverly, and wish her the very best for the future, as well as their son Mac who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and their daughter, Ashlee, a military spouse of an Air Force officer. The Air Force will lose not one, but two, exceptional people upon General Fraser's retirement. Will and Bev, we wish you well in your future endeavors and pray that those who follow in your footsteps may continue the legacy of your unprecedented support for our great nation.

Mr. Speaker, every individual has a right to live in a free society. This May, the Ice Hockey World Championship 2014 will take place in Minsk, Belarus, challenging the Belarusian Government to demonstrate that it lives up to the core principles of good sportsmanship and fair play.

This global sports competition promotes integrity and emphasizes the fair application of rules and regulations. It is thus fitting that Belarus should do the same and show its citizens and the international community that it can play by the rules.

I then call upon the Belarusian officials for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Ales Bialiatski, Mikalai Statkevich, and Eduard Lobau, whom Amnesty International regards as prisoners of conscience, imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial of the Heath Brothers Confectionary in Robinson, Illinois. Founded one hundred years ago by L.S. Heath and his sons Bayard and Everett, this once small business has expanded to become a global franchise. Over the past 100 years, the Heath Confectionary has produced many successful products, chief among them the Heath Bar, a delicious toffee candy covered in milk chocolate and almonds.

Made by hand until 1942, production of Heath Bars was eventually ramped up to commercial scale to supply American troops during World War II. Throughout the conflict, Heath Bars were a staple of soldiers' rations, providing them with a small taste of home during their long deployments.

Known as ``America's Finest,'' popularity for the candy grew steadily after the war. Recognizing the potential of the Heath Confectionary, the company was eventually acquired by Leif, Inc. in 1989, itself acquired by Hershey in 1996.

Today, Hershey maintains a plant in Robinson, Illinois, producing iconic candies such as Heath Bars, Paydays, Whoppers and Milk Duds. I applaud Hershey for maintaining the plant's roots in Robinson and for their contribution to the community through the creation of jobs and their generous corporate giving.

I invite all members to stop by my office to try a Heath Bar and all of the various other Hershey products produced in our district for themselves.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment today to recognize the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, TRA, enacted April 10, 1979. While our friendship with Taiwan spans longer than 35 years, the TRA has been vital in strengthening this mutually- beneficial partnership.

Since the enactment of the TRA, Taiwan has emerged as a model democracy and an economic powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The People of Taiwan enjoy self-governance with a democratic system and direct elections. They also enjoy a booming economy with an innovative tech community.

The success of the TRA cannot be understated. Because of the TRA, the U.S. has been able to enjoy mutually beneficial trade with Taiwan, greater national and international security, and a rich cultural relationship. Our trade relationship with Taiwan is stronger than ever. Time and time again, Taiwan has proven its willingness to engage in substantive trade negotiations. We have enjoyed a positive relationship with them, and it is my hope that Taiwan will soon be admitted to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPP.

Over the last 35 years, we have watched Taiwan's contributions to international development and security. Continually, they have come to our aid to assist our antiterrorism efforts. These contributions, and more, have made it clear that, as we strengthen our relationship with Taiwan, we succeed in advancing U.S. interests.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Greenville, Illinois, on its Bicentennial Celebration. The city will celebrate throughout the year with a variety of community events, including a Labor Day gala featuring a parade, historic re-enactments and musical performances, a July 4th opening of a time capsule buried in 1990, and the burial of a new time capsule on New Year's Eve with mementos from the year's festivities. The city will also erect a permanent monument within city limits to commemorate this historic occasion.

The City of Greenville was founded in 1815 by pioneer George Davidson and is one of the oldest communities in the state. Throughout its history, Greenville has played host to many important events. Notably, the city served as a key stop on the Underground Railroad, shepherding slaves to freedom from the slaveholding southern states. The city also hosted speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during their 1858 campaign for the United States Senate.

Since its founding, the city has grown and now is the home to more than 7,000 residents. Over the past 200 years, Greenville has produced numerous noteworthy individuals. It was once the home of Colorado Governor Job Adams Cooper, Emmy-Winning television producer Robert Brinner and Nobel Prize Laureate Edwin G. Krebs, among others.

I extend my congratulations to the City of Greenville upon this special occasion. It is my prayer that the Lord blesses its residents with another 200 years of health and prosperity.

Mr. Speaker, last week I came down to the floor to ask the community of world democracies to provide immediate financial help to the country of Ukraine. I would like to report that the United States has committed a billion dollars, and the European Union has committed, as of the news reports today, another $15 billion.

This is critical in the need to help them get their economy back strong after the incidences over the last couple of months. It is unlikely that Russia will pull back from the Crimea. Prime Minister Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov have said that they cannot control these self-defense forces. Who are they kidding? Russian soldiers with no unit identification does not qualify them as self-defense forces.

If the world stands by and lets this happen, it will be like Neville Chamberlain in the Sudetenland, quoting ``peace in our time'' as Russia continues to gobble up sovereign states.

I want to applaud the Ukrainian commander who was the only calm man on the peninsula, Colonel Yuliy Mamchuk, when he marched his soldiers to the Belbek airbase to continue the job that they do in securing and fixing the facilities. It was a tough standoff, but Colonel Yuliy was astonished by the change of events in that he has had such a great working relationship with the Russian military over the years, and obviously, this relationship no longer resides in the relationship between Ukraine and Russia.

On September 4 through 5 of this year, the next NATO summit will be held in South Wales. I call upon members of NATO to now do what they should have done in the last summit. NATO now must offer membership action plans to those aspirational countries that are moving towards democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. In particular, they need to grant membership action plans to Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.

Now is also the time for us to continue to license LNG facilities so that we can export natural gas to our free and democratic countries around the world, to those who are signatories of the World Trade Organization and also to those who are members of NATO. It is difficult times as you know, Mr. Speaker, but the coalition of free democratic countries must stand united against totalitarianism.

Mr. Speaker, I first want to recognize Annie Lowrey and Michael Gordon--they are reporters from The New York Times--because I will summarize their article and plagiarize other portions of it in talking about Ukraine.

The world watched in wonder, concern, excitement, and sometimes horror, and marveled at the tenacity and the resiliency of the Ukrainian people. However, Ukraine is in desperate need now of billions of dollars--and quickly. Its economy is shrinking; its government treasury is empty; its foreign exchange funds are low; and its banking system is fragile. Which brings us to the point of: What are the next steps?

The first step is for the Ukrainian people to organize an interim government. I call upon them to do it as rapidly as they can so that the international community has someone then to negotiate with and deal with some of these pressing matters, and that they go into a positive direction in doing that.

The second thing is for the capitals of Brussels and Washington, D.C., to take immediate action to help offset some of these dire financial constraints that Ukraine has.

I want to applaud Secretary Kerry for already trying to address this and floating the idea of $1 billion that would then go to immediate aid, and I want to call upon the European Union, headquartered in Brussels, and all the individual European countries to do the same. It is important now for this financial faith and confidence so that the people of Ukraine can continue to move forward and develop some financial security in this transitional period.

This is also critical in that this occurs as a bridge before the International Monetary Fund weighs in. The International Monetary Fund obviously needs to have a stable government to deal with. It also needs to have--and will ask for--reforms, transparency, rule of law, and some financial controls to get the ledger solidified in Ukraine, and that is what they should do.

So the important aspect of this debate is that the individual countries that have concern about the stability of what were formerly called the captive nations, the Eastern Bloc, now countries that want to be in the European community of free, democratic institutions, that there has to be a bridge so that, obviously, the chaos that has been involved in the country of Ukraine will not continue post the departure of their President and so that stability can reign.

I call upon the people of Ukraine to keep the faith and work hard and move forward on these reforms. I call on the governments--as I mentioned before, my own government, and the governments of the European Union--to offer immediate assistance, and I call for the International Monetary Fund to move as expeditiously and as quickly as possible to help stabilize the situation in Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, as Rob departs the Chamber, let me thank him for his service and for his family's service. As, obviously, the first Republican Member to be able to respond to your comments, let me say what most of us always know, that although many of us disagree on public policy, no one has ever questioned your commitment, your sacrifice, your focus, and your tenacity, and I think I value that more than almost anything we do.

Your words are very important for us and for the American people to understand that spirited debate is not bad. It is a part of this process. As a former high school teacher in government history, we would relish this in our classrooms, to have this type of exchange between our students. So thank you for that, and I am just fortunate to be here when you made your comments.

Now, Mr. Speaker, I would like to focus and turn my comments to Sochi, Russia. As the world focuses on that area of the world, let me talk about what is going on on the southern side of the Caucasus mountain range.

In the country of Georgia, a small country, people have to understand that the Russian Federation occupies two provinces of the country of Georgia, actually, with military troops: one for a long time, South Ossetia, one relatively recently in Abkhazia.

That kind of changes the understanding of this great show that the Russian Federation is putting on with the treatment of their neighbors in occupying provinces. That would be like a country occupying one or two of our States and occupying one or two of the provinces in Georgia.

So, Mr. Speaker, it is important to just remind the public of this, especially when the world's focus is there. And I want to specifically talk about what has happened with the Olympics and the Abkhazia region, using Olympic security as an excuse.

Russia has actively created a so-called buffer zone between Abkhazia and Georgia, pushing the cease-fire line established in 2008 7 miles further into Georgia territory. So here we have an international peace agreement that kind of sets a line allowing the occupation in Georgian territory of Russian forces, and then the Russian Federation decides, based upon the Olympics, to push that line further into the country of Georgia 7 more miles.

It is a very troubling extension of Russia's earlier efforts to enclose South Ossetia, this other province, in a barbed wire enclave. And this new incursion of Georgian territory is a violation of Georgia's sovereignty as it stands in stark contrast to Russia's many commitments under international law.

According to the cease-fire signed on August 12, 2008, Russian military forces were to return to their pre-war positions, yet they have now established militarized security perimeters on the Georgian side of the administrative border with both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Russia is a signatory, and a violation of customary international law.

Russian President Putin claims that he must close borders within the internationally recognized territory of Georgia to prevent security threats in Sochi. This move is nothing more than a power grab. I will continue to support Georgia's sovereignty and urge my colleagues to do the same.

We are not going to let Trudi get off that easy because she is going to have to listen to some 1-minute speeches.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the farm bill conference report. As Illinois farmers look forward to spring planting season, this bill provides them with a stronger crop insurance program and gives them a choice of commodity programs that work best for their farm.

It takes important steps to end direct payments, streamline conservation programs, close food stamp loopholes, and saves $24 billion over the next decade.

However, one issue the bill does not address is Country of Origin Labeling, or COOL. Current COOL regulations could potentially put American livestock producers in violation of our trade obligations and could put the U.S. meat under retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico.

The WTO announced just last week that they will be holding hearings on this issue. I have been told by the leadership of the House, who had this provision in the House part of the bill, that the bill would be filed, hearings will be conducted, and we will move legislation to address this concern.

I want to thank Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson for all the hard work that the Ag Committee has done to provide Illinois farmers certainty.