Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order at any time to consider in the House the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 341); that the concurrent resolution be considered as read; and that the previous question be considered as ordered on the concurrent resolution and preamble to final adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except (1) 1 hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on International Relations and (2) one motion to recommit which may not contain instructions.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues about Rafael Ibarra, a long suffering and heroic political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Ibarra heads the 30th of November Democratic Party, an island wide movement dedicated to the establishment of a democratic society, an opposition movement to the Castro tyranny. In 1995 he was sentenced to 20 years in the totalitarian gulag. In 1997, his wife Maritza Lugo, also a highly respected pro-democracy activist, was arrested and incarcerated for 2 years; leaving their 2 daughters without their parents. On multiple occasions after 1999, Maritza would continue to be arrested and harassed by the tyannical regime. Even while they were in prison at the same time, the tyrant insisted on evicting their 2 girls from their small farm house, which had become a gathering point for human rights and pro-democracy meetings.

Mr. Ibarra was one of the political prisoners who signed the Cuban flag painted on a pillow case and sent it to the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva.

Maritza and her two daughters, at Mr. Ibarra's request, fled Cuba as refugees in 2002 to the United States so that the 2 girls would be able to live in freedom.

This year marks an abominable anniversary, the 11th year that Mr. Ibarra has been imprisoned. While other fathers have been able to watch and guide their daughters as they grow up, Mr. Ibarra has been incarcerated in the gulag for daring to dream of and to work on behalf of a democratic Cuba.

Rafael Ibarra is a hero, in the tradition of the great figures of Cuba's long struggle for liberty. Quintin Banderas, Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Ignacio Agramonte, Antonio Maceo, and thousands of other Cuban heroes established a tradition of heroism that today is being continued by countless men and women who have given their best years and often their lives for the freedom of Cuba. Rafael Ibarra is a hero in that same admirable tradition.

My thoughts and prayers are with him, as is my solidarity and profound admiration. Mr. Speaker, this courageous man is locked in Castro's gulag for failing to keep silent about the nightmare that is the Castro regime. My colleagues, we must never forget those who are locked in gulags because of their desire for freedom for their countries. We must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Rafael Ibarra and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues about Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, better known as Antunez, a long suffering and heroic political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Antunez, Mr. Speaker, is the face of the real Cuba.

Antunez has been locked in the totalitarian gulag since 1990. In a sham trial, he was sentenced to 6 years in prison for ``oral enemy propaganda.'' In May 1993, he was tried in a second sham trial, and sentenced to an additional 15 years to be served from that moment. In total, Antunez has been sentenced to 18 years in Castro's grotesque, inhuman gulag.

Despite being locked up in the tyrant's gulag, Antunez has bravely carried out heroic activism in Cuban jails, writing reports on prison conditions and carrying out numerous protests and hunger strikes to demand more humane treatment for prisoners. He has never wavered in his commitment to human rights and democracy for the Cuban people. Antunez has never given in to the beatings, the punishment cells and the instruments of torture inflicted on him by the Castro regime. Antunez always rises up and calls out, demanding human rights and freedom for Cuba.

After over 15 years in the gulag, Antunez is still feared and relentlessly attacked by the dictatorship. According to the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004, ``on July 6, family members of political prisoner Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, reported being beaten along with Garcia during a prison visit. Authorities handcuffed and beat Garcia and later punched his sister and kicked his girlfriend's 9 year old son after the visitors protested the harsh treatment.''

No matter how intense the repression, no matter how horrifically brutal the consequences to him and his family, Antunez will not waiver in his conviction that Cuba should be and will be free. He is a symbol of dignity and heroic resistance to tyranny.

Mr. Speaker, this courageous man has been in Castro's gulag since 1990, for failing to keep silent about the nightmare that is the Castro regime. My Colleagues, it is a profound embarrassment for mankind that the world stands by in silence and acquiescence while political prisoners are systematically tortured because of their belief in freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We should never forget those who are locked in gulags because of their desire to be free. We must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jorge Luis Garcia Perez and every prisoner of conscience in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chairman for the time. I was walking by here and then stumbled here on this interesting debate.

I think our friends have to decide which of two arguments that have been propounded is really the argument they have to come down upon in support of.

One is, we have heard, that we offer lack of democracy. We just heard that. I guess that means insufficient input, ability for Members, et cetera. Another debate we just heard is that the legislation that we brought forth should do more.

We have presented this resolution the first day that we are back to do what we are able to do on the first day we are back, having done it through regular order. In other words, the Rules Committee had a hearing on this resolution and brought it forth yesterday for the consideration of the floor today.

With regard to the other aspects that have been mentioned here, it is precisely because of our offer of full democracy, regular order, the committee process that the Speaker has instructed that this legislation go through, the ethics reform go through, that it is not before us in its completion today. In other words, with regard to all these other ideas that have been mentioned, precisely they are going to be considered, not only under regular order by the appropriate committees, but the Speaker has asked that all of those committees act with great promptness; in other words, that they report back within 4 to 6 weeks.

So we are offering what we are offering today, which is important, which I am glad as my friend from Massachusetts says he is going to vote for and I will join with him in voting for. In addition, we are offering so much democracy that we are submitting to the regular order the consideration of all of these ideas that have been mentioned by the distinguished Member from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan) and others.

So substantive ideas of importance, the first day we are back we have brought forth to the floor, due to the leadership and instruction of the Speaker, who has demanded that we act immediately, and with regard to input ability, ability for discussion, for thought, et cetera; in other words, plenty of democracy, we are also offering that, Mr. Speaker, with regard to all of these other important ideas which our friends on the other side of the aisle have mentioned. They have mentioned some of them.

So in summary, Mr. Speaker, this is an important piece of legislation that I am glad we are bringing forth today. It shows the seriousness of the Speaker of the House, of the chairman of the Rules Committee, of the Committee of Rules generally and the leadership to consider this important issue. So I am glad we are considering it the first day we are back.

Mr. Speaker, once again I rise today to speak about Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Gonzalez is the president of the Manuel Marquez Sterling Journalists Society and an independent reporter in totalitarian Cuba. Mr. Gonzalez works and writes to inform the world about the gross human rights abuses that occur every day under the repressive regime of the Cuban dictator.

Unfortunately, writing and reporting the truth is not allowed under Castro's tyrannical dictatorship. All attempts to portray the absolute lack of freedom in totalitarian Cuba are viciously condemned and their authors are imprisoned or exiled. Mr. Gonzalez has been harassed by Castro's thugs since 1997, and on March 18, 2003, he was arrested for his insistence on publishing the truth about Castro's totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Gonzalez was 53 years old when he was condemned to 20 years in Castro's gulag. The conditions in the Cuban totalitarian gulag are so atrocious as to almost guarantee that Mr. Gonzalez will not walk out if he were to have to serve the entirety of his sham sentence. Let me be very clear, Mr. Gonzalez has been sentenced to die in the gulag by the Cuban tyrant for writing the truth about Castro's brutal, repressive and disgusting regime.

Mr. Gonzalez's wife is calling for the governments of free nations, NGOs, and all those that cherish human rights to demand the release of her husband. I applaud her bravery and patriotism and join her cause. It is categorically unacceptable that men and women who demand freedom from tyranny are locked in the dungeons of monsters. The willful ignorance of Cuba's suffering under the Castro regime by much of the world's press, and most of the international community, amounts to aiding and abetting the Cuban dictatorship. Let us never forget and always support, those who are struggling to liberate their people from the grip of tyranny.

Mr. Speaker, we must cry out for the release of all those who languish in dungeons because they believe in human rights and freedom. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ricardo Gonzalez Alfonso and every prisoner of conscience locked in Castro's toalitarian gulag.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Antonio Augusto Villareal Acosta, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Villareal Acosta is an economist and bookkeeper under a regime that bans truth and facts. As a student of truth, Mr. Villareal Acosta quickly joined the courageous opposition to demand human rights, democracy, and freedom from tyranny. Because he believes in freedom and because he actively and peacefully advocates for liberty, Mr. Villareal Acosta has been targeted by the despotic regime.

In March 2003, as part of the tyrant's heinous island wide crackdown on peaceful, prodemocracy activists, Mr. Villareal Acosta was arrested by the regime. In a sham trial, he was sentenced to 15 years in the totalitarian gulag.

Mr. Villareal Acosta is languishing in the revolting, hellish gulag. However, being confined in these inhuman conditions has not stopped him from continuing to demand freedom and justice for the people of Cuba and his fellow political prisoners. Amnesty International reports that Mr. Villareal Acosta has participated in hunger strikes while imprisoned in Castro's dungeon. He has undertaken these strikes to bring attention to the repulsive squalor of the gulag, the lack of medical attention, and the barbaric punishment cells; all of his actions have been in defiance of the machinery of repression that has unjustly confined him in these repugnant conditions.

Mr. Speaker, it remains categorically unacceptable that men and women who demand freedom from tyranny are locked in the dungeons of tyrannical monsters. Here, under the dome that represents freedom and democracy, we must continue to demand the liberation of all who suffer in the darkness of totalitarianism.

Let me be clear, the willful ignorance of Cuba's suffering under the Castro regime by much of the world's press and most of the international community, amounts to abetting the Castro dictatorship. Let us never forget, and always support, those who are struggling to liberate their people from the grip of tyranny. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Antonio Augusto Villareal Acosta and every prisoner of conscience locked in Castro's totalitarian gulag.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Ricardo Ramos Pereira, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Ramos Pereira is a member of the November 30 Democratic party and a member of the pro-democracy opposition in totalitarian Cuba. Unfortunately, those who believe that freedom, liberty, and the right to worship are the birthright of all men and women are targeted by the tyrant's machinery of repression.

According to an article for the Information Bridge Cuba Miami (IBCM), Mr. Ramos Pereira was arrested on January 25, 2002 for participating in a mass offered on behalf of all the political prisoners in Cuba. IBCM also reports that on February 28, 2002, Mr. Ramos Pereira was arrested for simply participating in a civic activity at the Catholic Church of the Passionists. More than 2 years later, in a sham trial, he was sentenced to 5 years in the totalitarian gulag.

Let me be very clear, Mr. Ramos Pereira is currently languishing in the depraved conditions of the totalitarian gulag for his belief in freedom. The U.S. State Department describes the conditions in the gulag as, ``harsh and life threatening.'' The State Department also reports that police and prison officials beat, neglect, isolate, and deny medical treatment to detainees and prisoners. It is a crime of the highest order that people are imprisoned in these nightmarish conditions simply for their belief in democracy and freedom of religion.

Mr. Ramos Pereira is one of the many heroes of the peaceful Cuban democratic movement who are locked in the dungeons of the dictatorship for their beliefs. They are symbols of freedom and democracy who will always be remembered when freedom reigns again in Cuba. President Bush addressed those brave men and women who spread the light of freedom in the darkest corners of the world when he said, in his second inaugural address, ``Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country.''

Mr. Speaker, it is a profound embarrassment for mankind that the world stands by in silence and acquiescence while political prisoners are systematically tortured in totalitarian gulags. My Colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ricardo Ramos Pereira and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 565 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Matsui), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

(Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 565 is a standard, traditional rule for consideration of the conference report for the fiscal year 2006 Departments of Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies appropriations conference report. The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration.

The underlying legislation before us, Mr. Speaker, makes appropriations for the departments that I have mentioned. The bill is fiscally sound. It represents our commitment to provide the necessary resources for programs and projects throughout the Nation ranging from transportation to housing and the judiciary and the Executive Office of the President and the District of Columbia.

It is well-known that our transportation infrastructure is the backbone of the economy. Obviously, its continued strength is essential to economic growth, and the bill ensures that we continue to have a reliable and stable transportation infrastructure that will help the economy continue to grow.

The bill includes almost $37 billion in funds for our highway system, an increase of $1.6 billion. These funds will serve the American people by contributing to a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient highway system that meets the vital national interests and enhances the quality of life.

The underlying legislation includes $13.8 billion for the Federal Aviation Administration. Included in this amount is $25 million to hire and train 595 new air traffic controllers. This is a vitally important aspect of this legislation and is critical as air traffic controllers begin to retire, and, nevertheless, air traffic continues to increase.

Certainly in my district, home to Miami International Airport, the third largest international airport in the country, we are very well aware of how important the air traffic controllers are. Without an increase in the number of air traffic controllers, MIA would not be able to continue its projected growth to serve as really the hub of the Americas.

Housing and Urban Development is funded at $34 billion. That is an increase of $2.1 billion over last year. The funds will permit the Department to administer programs that assist the public with housing needs, economic and community development, fair housing opportunities, and will also empower low- and moderate-income residents toward self- sufficiency. Under HUD, the bill includes funding for such important programs as Tenant Based Rental Assistance, also known as section 8, and other important programs.

H.R. 3058, Mr. Speaker, provides $5.8 billion for the Judiciary. It is an increase of 6 percent. This will fully fund the Judiciary's request for security improvements at Federal facilities and will enable the courts, obviously, to continue to effectively carry out their duties to guarantee the rule of law.

This is a good bill, Mr. Speaker. I think it is essential to our continued commitment to our transportation needs and the needs obviously encompassed, dealt with, by the other departments that we are funding today.

I want to thank Chairman Lewis, Chairman Knollenberg and everybody who has worked so hard on this legislation. I know it has been a tough, tough bill, and it has required a lot of work. I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, I offer a privileged concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 307) and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for the time.

Sometimes subtleties are lost, especially when we are dealing with very difficult, critical issues, such as war and peace, and unfortunately, the message has gone out quite clearly to the world press, as recorded throughout the world today by the media, that there is a serious diminution in support for the mission that the United States of America is engaged in in Iraq here in Congress.

So I think that this resolution today is very important to eliminate any confusion that may exist by virtue of a very clear message that has spread around the world today of a serious diminution of the mission of our troops, and that this resolution will clear up that confusion.

Let us say very clearly with this resolution, with the overwhelming defeat of the message of diminution of support, that we stand with the troops and that we stand with the mission of the troops; of being in Iraq until there is a

stable, democratic government there. That is critical for the security not only of the Iraqi people, but of all of the neighborhood in that area and of the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 8 o'clock and 33 minutes a.m.), the House adjourned until today, Friday, November 18, 2005, at 9 a.m.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 553 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

(Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 553 is a fair rule. It provides for consideration of H.R. 1065, the United States Boxing Commission Act. The rule allows for consideration of the amendments, all the amendments that were submitted to the Rules Committee. We are making in order all the amendments that were submitted to the Rules Committee.

It also provides 1 hour of general debate, with 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and 20

minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.

The underlying bill, Mr. Speaker, would establish a Federal boxing regulatory agency, the United States Boxing Commission. The commission would have the responsibility to protect the general interests of boxers, ensure uniformity, fairness, and integrity in professional boxing, and oversee all the professional boxing matches in the United States.

The boxing commission, in consultation with the Association of Boxing Commissions, will formulate uniform minimum standards for professional boxing. The commission would also ensure that Federal and State laws applicable to professional boxing are enforced and will assist State boxing commissions in meeting the minimum standards prescribed by the bill.

The bill requires that every boxer, promoter, or sanctioning organization connected with a boxing match must obtain a license from the boxing commission. The license could be suspended or revoked for violations of the standards adopted by the commission. This bill does not preempt any existing State boxing standards. As I stated before, Mr. Speaker, what it does is it establishes a national boxing commission really to oversee this sport, which is a sport of long tradition; but it is obviously one that is peculiar in terms of its degree of violence.

Mr. Speaker, when I was a child, I remember I was living in Spain. We had a friend, my family had a friend, who was in exile from Cuba. He was living in Madrid at the time. He had been welterweight champion of the world. He was a fine, gentle man. Really just an extraordinary human being. His name was Kid Tunero. He was very famous not only in Cuba but throughout the boxing world.

And I remember, and obviously this bill is not directly related to this that I am going to bring up now, but he impacted me in a number of ways. I remember his gentleness. It was impacting that a man who had made such a reputation as a champion boxer was perhaps one of the most gentle men that I have ever met. And he had two sons, and they were both artists. I do not know where they are today. At that time they were living in Paris.

And he told me, I would do anything in the world, anything in the world, so that my sons are not boxers because of what you go through when you are a boxer. Not only the actual physical torture, the physical pain, but having to deal with really much of an unfortunate set of circumstances. By the way, another aside, he was such a great boxer, Kid Tunero, in Madrid I remember, when I was a child, he was training a young man who became the flyweight champion of the world, and I met him. That was the only time I have ever been to a boxing fight, but I remember he got us really good seats. Imagine he was training Legra, and Legra got to be the flyweight champion of the world.

Mr. Speaker, I will tell the Members I remember I was 9 years old and to this day I can tell the Members I was up ringside being shocked, and I can remember the shock that I felt at the violence, the violence of that sport, the physical pain that those two boxers were feeling. I have never gone back to a match. I respect it. There are millions, millions of fans.

What we want to do with this legislation is set minimum standards for the protection of those people who make a living out of that tough sport. So even though Kid Tunero is no longer around, no longer with us, I think of him today and the lessons that I learned from him, how to be an ultimate gentleman. What a great man he was.

Anyway, that is what we are doing with the underlying legislation, Mr. Speaker. The will of the House will be manifested today, and people can either establish or not establish the boxing commission, but we are bringing forth that legislation with this rule.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that my friend has advocated for the importance of States' rights. I think that is something that is to be commended. We certainly do believe in the American system of federalism. We do believe as well in regular order, and this bill came up. There were hearings before Chairman Barton. Mr. Stearns was telling us in the Rules Committee about how impacted he was at the hearing when he listened to Mrs. Ali because Muhammad Ali could not speak, but he was insisting on supporting, through Mrs. Ali, urging the committee to support and pass out this legislation because of corruption that exists in the boxing world and the need to regulate the sport and eliminate that corruption.

We believe in regular order in addition to federalism, and this bill had hearings. It came up through regular order, and we believe in letting the House express its will. Every single amendment, every single amendment that was brought to the Rules Committee for consideration was made in order for debate. I am going to vote for the bill, and obviously the Members can make up their minds whether they support it or not. I urge all Members to support this rule. The rule is fair and made in order every amendment submitted to the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about Jose Enrique Santana Carreira, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Santana Carreira is the national coordinator of the Democratic Party November 30 and a member of the pro-democracy opposition. Unfortunately, those who believe in truth are targeted by the tyrant's machinery of repression. According to an article for the Information Bridge Cuba Miami, on February 28, 2002, Mr. Santana Carreira was arrested for simply participating in a civic activity at the Catholic Church of the Passionists. More than 2 years later, in a sham trial, Mr. Santana Carreira was sentenced to 4 years in the totalitarian gulag.

In a letter to his mother that was translated and published at punteinfocubamiami.org, Mr. Santana Carreira describes the horrible conditions in the gulag to his mother:

For my mother:

With lots of love is that I write you this missive which I

know is going to hurt you, but it is hurting me already,

since they have beaten me and I could not get up . . . they

have beaten me with no Humanity whatsoever. . . .

My dearest mother, I am resolved to take this until the

maximum consequences if they already have beaten me, this

will not stop, the only thing that I want is for all to know

of the abuses that we are being subjected to and to receive

the necessary support from all the people so that all these

abuses end and all the World learns about the cruelties

committed against those who fight peacefully with their

reason and their right. . . .

Take care my viejita, I am very ill, suffering with all

this, but I am willing to die for the reason that assists me

in this our pacific fight.

I love you a lot. Jose Enrique Santana Carreiras

Mr. Santana Carreras represents the very best of the Cuban people: No matter how intense the beatings, no matter how remorseless the repression, no matter how inhumane the conditions, he will never relent in his belief that the men and women of Cuba should be and will be free.

Mr. Speaker, it is as inconceivable as it is unacceptable that, in the 21st century and only 90 miles from our shore, brave men and women are locked in grotesque dungeons because they believe that all people have basic human rights. It is a profound embarrassment for mankind that the world stands by in silence and acquiescence while political prisoners are systematically tortured because of their belief in freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. My colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Jose Enrique Santana Carreira and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr Speaker, I rise today to speak about Blas Giraldo Reyes Rodriguez, a political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Reyes Rodriguez is an opposition activist and independent librarian in totalitarian Cuba. His life is dedicated to the proposition that the men and women of Cuba must be free: free to learn, free to worship, free to elect their leaders, free to enjoy their inalienable human rights. Independent librarians in Cuba, such as the one operated by Mr. Reyes Rodriguez, provide the indispensable service of circulating truth at a time when the tyrannical regime provides only propaganda. These heroic librarians often circulate the great works of anti-totalitarian literature, including the important writings of Vaclav Havel and Dr. Martin Luther King. Literature is a great danger to totalitarian regimes: books often provide the truth that tyrants seek to hide.

Unfortunately, In March 2003, as part of Castro's condemnable crackdown on peaceful pro-democracy activists, Mr. Reyes Rodriguez was arrested. In a sham trial, he was sentenced to 25 years in the totalitarian gulag.

Amnesty International reports that he is suffering from serious medical concerns in the gulag. According to the U.S. Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003:

In early August, officers of the Ministry of the Interior

threatened to arrest the wife of prisoner Blas Giraldo Reyes

Rodriguez if she continued to receive activists who visited

her to express sympathy for the jailing of her husband.

Police told Isel de las Mercedes Acosta Obregon that they

would try her for violating the Law to Protect National

Independence and the Economy (Law 88) (see Section 2.a.) if

she did not cease ``counterrevolutionary activities.''

Mr. Reyes Rodriguez has also been named an honorary member of Sydney PEN, an organization of writers devoted to emphasizing the role of literature in the development of mutual understanding and world culture; to fighting for freedom of expression; and to acting as a powerful voice on behalf of writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes killed for their views.

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear, Mr. Reyes Rodriguez is languishing in an infernal gulag because he believes in freedom, truth, democracy, and human rights. His family is being constantly threatened because of these ``dangerous'' beliefs. My colleagues, we must demand the immediate and unconditional release of Blas Giraldo Reyes Rodriguez and every political prisoner in totalitarian Cuba.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 532 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

(Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution

532 is a traditional standard rule for consideration of the conference report for the fiscal year 2006 Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations Act. The rule waives all points of order against the conference report and against its consideration.

Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us today appropriates almost $21 billion. It is an increase of about actually over $1 billion for operations across the globe. The bill is fiscally sound. It has grown at a small, very small rate, while at the same time I think it is responsive to the needs, not only the national security interests or the foreign policy interests of the United States, but also it is responsive to the needs of millions plagued by disease and famine and disaster throughout the world.

H.R. 3057, for example, Mr. Speaker, bolsters the President's Millennium Challenge Corporation to nearly $1.8 billion. It is about a quarter of a billion more than last year. This is an expansion of assistance meant to help bring really economic security and the rule of law to some of the world's poorest countries by insisting on American aid going to countries where there is transparency for the aid that we send, not corruption.

It is an important initiative.

The Millennium Challenge provides assistance through a competitive selection process to developing nations that are genuinely in the path of political and economic reforms in three areas: ruling justly, in other words, treating their people decently; investing in people; and fostering economic freedom. Economic development genuinely succeeds when it is linked to free market economic and democratic principles and policies and where governments are committed to implementing reform measures when they are needed to achieve such goals.

Two years ago in the State of the Union address, President Bush announced the President's emergency plan for AIDS relief. It is the largest international health initiative in history initiated by a single government to address one disease. This legislation shows Congress's continued support to the fight against HIV/AIDS. It includes $2.8 billion, an increase of over $600 million over last year to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS, as well as tuberculosis and malaria.

The resolve of this Congress to help all those across the globe to fight this disease is strong and serious, as is the commitment of the President of the United States. In addition to funding, the Federal Government enlists the expertise of agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration, which assures that the medicines we send to the areas most affected by this horrible pandemic are safe and effective to help those with HIV/AIDS.

In other foreign assistance, H.R. 3057 funds the Andean Counterdrug Initiative at the President's request, $735 million, $9 million more than in 2005. Economic growth in the area since the start of Plan Colombia, for example, is proof that the assistance that we have provided Colombia has made a difference in that country.

I visited Colombia in April of last year. It was a great honor for me to do so. I have tens of thousands of distinguished constituents, very hard-working, honorable people from Colombia.

It was a pleasure to visit that country and to witness, Mr. Speaker, the extraordinary progress that the Colombian Government and the Colombian people have made against the narcoterrorists. They constantly reiterate, they did so during my visit and they have done so since and I know they have done so to countless colleagues in this House, they reiterate their gratitude to this Congress for the important assistance that the American people, the taxpayers of this country, through their Congress have provided them and continue to do so in their fight against narcoterrorism.

Now, we must not take progress in the Andean region for granted. If the United States turns its back on the region, a scenario may very well ensue that would require greater U.S. investment at a time when we have significant responsibilities worldwide.

The underlying legislation provides also $2.5 billion for military and economic assistance to Israel. We have to continue to ensure that our friends and allies remain secure; and, of course, we have no better friend, no better ally than Israel. We are committed to doing everything we can to see that Israel is safe and secure within its borders as it continues to move in this very difficult era toward the achievement of a lasting peace with all of its neighbors.

The conference report funds the President's request to fund the foreign military financing for Egypt at $1.3 billion. It provides almost half a billion dollars for economic assistance to Egypt, including assistance set to help with political reform programs and education assistance. Of course, that is a very, very important initiative that this country has been involved in for decades now.

I would like to thank Chairman Lewis, who has worked very hard again, and Chairman Kolbe for their extraordinary leadership in moving this bill forward for our consideration today. I obviously support the conference report. I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation, the conference report.

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

Mr. Speaker, we are also concerned about Colombia, and we are concerned about increased assistance from the terrorist network throughout the world, the Iranians, Chavez in Venezuela, Castro's Cuba. We are concerned about their support for the narcoterrorists in Colombia, and that is why it is so important to provide assistance to the democratically elected government of Colombia.

I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. Speaker, I am saying that it is a dictatorship. It is a dictatorship, a dictatorship that supports the regime in Iran publicly; a dictatorship, the regime in Caracas. The first foreign head of State to visit Saddam Hussein while Saddam Hussein was in power after the Gulf War of the 1990s was the President of Venezuela. So, yes, I am concerned about the President of Venezuela's links to terrorism and his assistance to the FARC guerillas in Colombia.

One of the reasons why we continue to help and assist the democratically elected government of Colombia, elected by an overwhelming majority of the Colombian people, is because they face multiple challenges. That is one of the reasons why, in a bipartisan fashion, this Congress continues to help the democratically elected government.

Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, we have certification language. We do not condone in any way terrorism from any source in Colombia. We have consistently had safeguards in our legislation to make sure that our assistance is not used by terrorists of any sort in Colombia, but I think that we have to keep our eye on the ball here, and that is that there is a democratically elected government challenged by narcoterrorists, heavily funded because of their trade in narcotics, their narcotrafficking, and that that government, that democratically elected government, is a friend of this country and merits our continued support.

So I am honestly very pleased that, in a bipartisan fashion, this Congress continues to support the democratically elected government of Colombia; and that is one of the great foreign policy initiatives, bipartisan foreign policy initiatives, by the way, that this country is engaged in, which is very connected to the security of this country in addition to the foreign policy objectives of this country.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield such time as he may consume to the chairman of the Rules Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to a great leader in this House, the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence).

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe).

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank each and every distinguished Member of the House who has spoken this morning on this legislation. Obviously, this is, appropriately so, a tremendous amount, really a consensus, which is pleasing to see support for what we are doing as a Congress and as a government, as a Nation in this legislation.

I want to take one final moment, if I may, to explain a point that I made in response to a question to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern) when I said that it is my belief that the Government of Venezuela is a dictatorship.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to speak a second or a minute to explain why. Democracy, in order for it to exist, requires two fundamental pillars or legitimacies; the legitimacy of origin, which is obtained through free and fair elections, and the Government of Venezuela was elected. So it obviously had the legitimacy of origin.

But then I believe that for a government to be democratic, it has to have another form of legitimacy, which is legitimacy in its conduct in the process of governing. And if a government, even if democratically elected, represses the opposition, persecutes the opposition, represses the press, for example the free press, in my view, it loses that other legitimacy which is required, the legitimacy of conduct for a democracy to be a democracy.

Mr. Speaker, so I am convinced that the Government of Venezuela has lost its democratic legitimacy, and it is not a democracy. So I appreciate the opportunity to explain why I believe, as I stated before, that it is at this moment a dictatorship.

I thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) for his extraordinary work once again in bringing forward this legislation. He is one of the people that I greatly admire in this House.

I urge all of our colleagues to support what we are doing, the very important step we are taking for our foreign policy interests and great humanitarian causes today in this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

The previous question was ordered.