Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 976) condemning human rights abuses by the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and expressing solidarity with the Iranian people.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of freedom for the Iranian people, and I want to thank Congressman Crowley and Congressman Lantos for their efforts in support of this resolution. I want to thank Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen for her tireless efforts to see Iran become a free and democratic state.

For nearly 30 years, Iranians have lived under the extremist policies of religious clerics. Their human rights violations against the Iranian people defy common belief. The Iranian people deserve, indeed desire, the opportunity to live in a free and democratic society.

This is the dream of the vast majority of Iranians, and we should help them make this dream come true. It has been far too long since we have looked at the human rights record of one of the most evil regimes of the modern era. We know that Iran is the single largest state sponsor of terrorism in the world. And we know that their leaders wish to continue inflicting terrible pain and suffering on any group of people who do not share their extremist beliefs.

However, we must also remember the pain and suffering of the Iranian people at the hands of their leaders. Congress, the President, and the international community must address the excessive human rights abuses by Iran's Government. Since the Khomeini revolution in 1979, Iran has been ruled by a string of tyrants who use religion and politics as an excuse to persecute their own people.

Religious, ethnic, and gender discrimination are practiced every day by the Iranian judicial courts and the clerics who run them. People or groups critical to their government are given few rights under the law and no rights in practice.

The Government of Iran practices discrimination against its own people by denial of access to education and employment, seizure of private property, violent suppression of peaceful protest and freedom of assembly, arbitrary arrest and detention, physical and mental torture, cruel, inhumane and degrading punishment such as public executions, hangings and stoning, and extra-judicial killings of dissidents and ordinary citizens.

Iran's clerical regime has been a serial abuser of human rights since it violently took over the country in 1979. But it is clear that since President Ahmadinejad took power, the abuse of Iranian citizens has increased. Under his rule, Iranians are tortured for simply practicing a different religion, for speaking a different idea, and even for not supporting the extremist mullahs.

The oppression of women under the Iranian regime is perhaps the most brutal and most offensive. Iranian women are not allowed to attend universities, to hold jobs, to drive a car. They are forced to cover their entire bodies in public. In many cases of rape, the accused man will not face any punishment, and the woman in question will be accused of fornication, will be imprisoned, and eventually put to death.

One case involved a young woman who was deeply in love with her husband, and without evidence or reason, and against the pleas of her own husband, was found guilty of adultery. She was buried alive up to her chest in Tehran and then stoned to death.

In other cases of abuse, people have been arrested, beaten, and even killed for eating during the month of Ramadan, or doing anything that the mullahs deemed inappropriate. According to Iranian law, the religious police can interrogate a suspect without a lawyer present, which allows them to beat prisoners until they confess, most often to a crime that they did not commit.

We must never forget these violations when we consider Iran's place in the international community. President Bush has attempted to engage the Iranian Government to end their illegal nuclear weapons program. This effort is crucial to keeping the world safe from a nuclear nightmare.

However, the effort must not end there. The United States and its allies must continue to pressure Iran to end the severe human rights violations against the Iranian people.

It is appropriate for us to raise this issue here today. This evening the President of Iran will address the world from the floor of the United Nations. His pleas and support of a nuclear Iran will fall on deaf ears. His continued defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions must end, and the international community must begin the process of isolating the Iranian regime until true reform in that country begins.

Human decency requires us to stand unanimously against Ahmadinejad's oppression of his own people. We must continue to pursue freedom for Iran through diplomacy, but we must also not shrink from our responsibility through the option of strength.

We must also pursue the policy of internal resistance and change from within Iran. The policies and extremist views of Iran's religious mullahs are not representative of the entire nation of Iran. There are many Iranian people who desire to be free and are willing to fight for it. I have met with them, and we should do everything we can to forward their cause.

Now is the time to save their countries, for them to save their own countries, for them to save their own societies and for them to save their own religion.

I would like to leave with a few powerful stories of Iranian citizens who were persecuted and killed at the hands of their own government. The first involved an innocent Iranian girl. The religious police will not even respect the private boundaries of the home. A young girl in Tehran was arrested for swimming in her home pool in a bathing suit. She was found guilty of causing a ``state of arousal'' in a neighbor, from whose house she could be seen. She was sentenced to 60 lashes, but she died after the 30th lash.

Another involved an Iranian photographer in 2003. A single mother, she had struggled to raise a child and to build a career in exile. Her son remembers her as a small but feisty and courageous woman who loved freedom. She left her son for a business trip to Iran and Afghanistan. She was arrested while photographing a group of people inquiring about their detained loved ones. She was interrogated and beaten for refusing to confess to being a spy. She died in a military hospital in Tehran as a result of her torture.

Another case involved a 52-year-old Iranian salesman, 1998. He believed in the Baha'i religion. In the eyes of the state, this made him the apostate, a member of the unprotected infidel community. He, too, was arrested and found guilty of converting a woman to his religion. He was eventually hanged in a public square on July 21, 1998.

These are just but a few stories that highlight the need for this important resolution, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, five years ago this week, our generation was defined by the heroic actions of hundreds of first responders, brave Americans and innocent victims who gave their lives on September 11, 2001. That day, 19 Al Qaeda hijackers murdered nearly 3,000 innocent people. Those terrorists had a simple cause: inflict the highest loss of life and the most damage they could to our Nation. They may have succeeded in murdering thousands of people going about their daily lives, but they failed miserably to defeat the patriotic spirit of America and of freedom everywhere.

In the days, weeks and months following the tragic events of September 11th, we saw the patriotic spirit of every American emerge and rally in support of repair and recovery. We saw a nation unified in finding the perpetrators of these crimes and bringing them to justice, and we saw the free world awakened to the possibility of terrorist attacks anywhere and at any time. Simply, 9/11 changed our Nation and the world forever.

Not only did these terrorists steal the lives of thousands, but they opened our eyes to our false sense of security. Like someone who has been robbed at home by a vicious criminal, we must now lock our doors and windows at all times to make sure that those who mean us harm are not allowed to break in.

That being said, I believe that we are safer at home today than we were 5 years ago, but we are still not safe. Our borders are more secure, our intelligence services are more robust and now work closely together, and our armed services have routed out the terrorists in their homes and brought them to justice. But we are still at war. We cannot afford to stand idly by while terrorists operate in this or any country around the world, because we cannot afford another 9/11. Never again can this happen. We owe to the American people who depend on us to provide a safe and secure homeland, and we owe to it the hundreds of thousands of Americans who throughout history have died defending the democracy and freedom we enjoy today. Most of all we owe it to the thousands of innocent victims who died 5 years ago.

We have been battling terrorism for a long time, but September 11th was the day our enemies woke the sleeping giant. Since then, we have seen success in the Global War on Terror and captured some of the world's most dangerous terrorists. We have also made great strides to cripple the organizations and countries that support them. However, we are still faced with an evil enemy who is supported by a rogue nation that's determined to develop nuclear weapons and use them on their enemies. Allowing a nation like Iran, who sponsors terrorist organizations like Hezbollah, to

possess nuclear weapons would be a dishonor to those who died on 9/11 and an insult to those who continue to defend America's freedom.

We promised to help make the world a safer place, free from the threat of terrorism at the hands of mad men. Keeping that promise means preventing terrorists and their supporters from getting weapons of mass destruction. Let's remember those who gave their lives on 9/11 by keeping our promise.

When we remember the events of 9/11, we remember not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. We must remember the police officers and firefighters that responded to the attacks on the W orId Trade Center and the Pentagon who went in to save lives, but gave their lives in the process. We remember the first responders from every corner of our nation who came to ground zero in the days after to lend their strength, skills and support. And we must remember the innocent people--the husbands and wives, the parents and children and the entire families who were torn apart the day the towers fell.

We must always remember. That is our duty as Americans--that is our charge as patriots.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman King and Majority Leader Boehner for their leadership in bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor. It cannot be overstated how crucial the need is for America to have secure borders, and this bill is a step in that direction.

For too long we have seen the effects of a porous border. An estimated eight to twelve million undocumented aliens are here illegally in the United States. Last year alone, over a million illegal aliens were apprehended at the border, but the Border Patrol estimates that many more have crossed undetected. In addition, there is evidence to support that Al Qaeda would like to exploit our South West Border. We cannot let this happen

I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation which is vital to the security of our borders and our Nation.

I thank the chairman for his leadership on this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, in the past we have seen abusive earmarks in appropriation bills while the Members responsible hide from the scrutiny of the American taxpayer. We have also seen earmarks included in the conference process in the darkness of night. Well, this bill changes all that. As a former Federal prosecutor in the Public Integrity Section, I have always said that sunlight is the best disinfectant.

From now on, our appropriations tax and authorizing earmarks will have a bright light shined upon them. From now on, all reported bills and conference reports will include a list of earmarks and the name of the Member requesting them. Members will also be able to challenge any ``air-dropped earmark.''

This is exactly the transparency and accountability that the House needs, and it is something that the American

people have come to expect and deserve. I urge my colleagues to vote for this important step to restoring integrity to the process.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the birth of Chloe Jane Sweet. Chloe was born on September 3, 2006 to her very proud parents and my good friends, Julie and Chad.

There is no accomplishment or gift greater in life than the birth of a son or daughter. As the father of five wonderful children who are the light of my life, I know how happy and fulfilled Julie and Chad are to have a healthy and beautiful newborn baby daughter.

It is my hope, and the hope of all of their friends and family, that they continue to be blessed with the great fortune they have enjoyed in the birth of Chloe Jane.

Linda, my children and I wish them all the best as Julie and Chad begin their lives as Chloe's parents, and as Chloe begins her life as their daughter.

Mr. Speaker, we stand here today not as Republicans or Democrats, but united as Americans to remember the events of September 11, as it should be.

I find this debate should not fall into election year politics. It is fitting the resolution contains border security in it, as the 9/11 Commission recommended border security. It is an issue of national security.

Five years ago this week, our generation was defined by the heroic actions of the hundreds of first responders, brave Americans, and innocent victims who gave their lives on 9/11. That day, 19 al Qaeda hijackers murdered nearly 3,000 Americans. Those terrorists had a simple cause, inflict the highest loss of life and the most damage they could to our Nation. They may have succeeded in murdering thousands of people going about their daily lives, but they failed miserably to defeat the patriotic spirit of America and of freedom everywhere.

When we remember the events of September 11, we must also remember the police officers and firefighters that responded to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon who went in to save lives but gave their own lives in the process. We must remember the first responders from every corner of our Nation who came to Ground Zero in the days after to lend their strength, their skills, and their support. And we must remember the innocent people, the husbands and wives, the parents and children, and the entire families who were ripped apart that fateful day that the Towers fell. We must always remember. We will never forget and we will never surrender. That is our duty as Americans, and that is our charge as patriots.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of an institution that prides itself on excellence, distinction and integrity--my alma mater St. Mary's Law School.

Located in San Antonio, Texas, St. Mary's Law School is a community of faith and an independent Catholic institution that instills in its students a commitment to public service, and a profound moral and intellectual obligation to the public that its students will someday serve.

I am proud to say that I graduated from St. Mary's Law School in 1987, and the great education of the law and public service that I received there built the foundation for my career as a Member of Congress.

Recently, St. Mary's Law School dedicated their new Center for Terrorism Law. The St. Mary's Center for Terrorism Law is committed to the study of the legal issues associated with both antiterrorism and counterterrorism, with a particular emphasis on cyberterrorism and information assurance technologies.

Through its exceptional curriculum, the Center for Terrorism Law is dedicated to increasing the professional and public understanding of terrorism law, and the balance between ensuring global security and protecting the civil liberties of all Americans.

As a Member of the Homeland Security Committee and a St. Mary's alumnus, I am encouraged by their commitment to these complex and crucial issues that are at the foundation of America's national security. The education they are providing their students, and the work they are doing in the field of terrorism law will make America a safer place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the great County of Austin in my home State of Texas.

There are few places in our great Nation where the people of one county take such pride and interest in their politics and the issues which affect their lives. Austin County is one of those few and special places.

I am particularly fortunate to represent the Republicans of Austin County. It is from this special group of people that I am able to gain insight and perspective on the issues we deal with everyday right here in our Nation's Capitol.

This exceptional community of loyal Americans strongly supports America's efforts against terrorism, both at home and abroad in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Republicans of Austin County also respect the traditional and American values that we work so hard to protect here in Washington.

In Austin County, they know marriage is between one man and one woman, and they know the words ``Under God'' belong in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag which flies over our great land.

Austin County Republicans also appreciate and understand the need to secure America's borders. I know when we discuss real ways to solidify the security of our borders, this Congress has the full support of the Austin County GOP.

I know we have their backing when we explore ways to stop the growing problem of illegal immigrants breaking into our Nation.

And, I know the elected leaders of our land have the support of Austin County Republicans when we pass laws aimed at providing legal citizens with America's social services, and not those in our Nation illegally.

But it's not just about immigration and protecting America's values.

The Republicans of Austin County are a fiscally sound and smart bunch of men and women who care very deeply about America's financial welfare. This is why we have their full support for tax cuts which keep more money in American pockets, and their support for legislation that has added more than 5 million new jobs to our economy.

Mr. Speaker, when we pass legislation to help make our Nation more secure and prosperous, we are doing so for people like my friends in Austin County, TX.

When we develop new and cheaper ways to power our homes and cars as we have in this Congress, we are doing so for people like those living in Austin County.

So Mr. Speaker, it is my hope you will join me tonight in honoring those hard working and God fearing people of Austin County, TX's GOP.

Each day they work very hard to help the Members of this body keep the United States a secure and prosperous nation, and for that they deserve our continued appreciation.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Reichert for his outstanding leadership on this important piece of legislation, which, in my view, will ultimately save lives.

Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita last year, the Nation witnessed emergency response problems at all levels of government, especially with interoperability between our first responders. After Katrina and Rita, like on September 11, first responders and military personnel on the scene could not communicate effectively with each other.

This crucial piece of legislation will work to improve interoperability for our first responders by bolstering the national standards for emergency communications equipment. The bill also gives incentives to the States to improve their emergency communications plans and creates regional working groups to help Federal first responders better coordinate with their State and local counterparts.

Prior to coming to Congress, I served as chief of terrorism and national security in the U.S. Attorney's office in Texas. I also led the joint terrorism task force charged with detecting, deterring and preventing terrorist activity. I have worked with first responders for most of my professional career and have learned through experience that the ability to communicate between the Federal, State and local levels means saving lives, whether it is a terrorist attack or destruction at the hands of Mother Nature.

The time to fix and improve communications for our first responders is now, and I urge my colleagues to vote for this important bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of Israel, our ally in the Middle East. I would like to thank Majority Leader Boehner and Chairman Hyde for their leadership in bringing this timely resolution to the floor.

Since its inception nearly sixty years ago, Israel has been engaged in a war for its survival. It has conducted that war according to every rule set out by the international community and has always acted with restraint when it comes to civilians. Israel's enemies have not only acted without restraint, they have deliberately targeted civilians in an effort to terrorize the nation.

Israel is now engaged in a new chapter of its war on terror. I fully support Israel's right to defend its citizens by using all means necessary to destroy terrorists and those that support them. However, we must also consider the root cause of today's violence. For nearly thirty years, the government of Iran has been monetarily and militarily supporting Hezbollah around the world. Evidence of Syrian and Iranian complicity in Hezbollah's abduction of two Israeli soldiers last week is abundant.

The scourge of terrorism will never go away until the state sponsors of terrorism have been dealt with decisively. Iran today remains the world's largest state sponsor of terror. Iran's president has repeatedly threatened to bring a rain of fire to Israel and the United States. Imagine what might happen if they get a nuclear weapon to back up those threats. The majority of the Iranian people oppose the theocratic dictators that rule their country. The time has come for the United States to actively support the Iranian people and help them bring about democratic change in their country.

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank my friend and colleague from Texas for this amendment.

My hometown of Austin has seen the horrifying effects that a sanctuary policy can have on a community.

Nearly 3 years ago, an 18-year-old woman by the name of Jenny Garcia was found stabbed to death in her northwest Austin home. An illegal alien by the name of David Diaz Morales was one of Jenny's coworkers. He made it clear to her that he wanted to be more than that. When Jenny rejected his advances, this put him into a rage. And on January 26, 2004, Morales broke into Jenny's home, forcefully grabbed her, held her down, raped her and brutally stabbed her to death.

In less than 24 hours, the Austin Police Department arrested this 20- year-old criminal who had absolutely no business being in the United States, let alone Jenny's home.

However, Mr. Morales had no business being free to walk America's streets either. You see, before murdering Jenny, he had been previously arrested for molesting a child in Austin. Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle declined to prosecute the case. Morales wasn't deported. Instead, he was released on the streets of Austin, resulting in the murder of Jenny Garcia. Jenny did not have to die that day.

This is one of many horrific examples of the many preventable injustices that have resulted from this irresponsible sanctuary policy. We owe it to victims like Jenny Garcia and so many others to include this language in the underlying bill, and I strongly urge my colleagues to support the Culberson amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

I rise to offer this amendment, which will prevent individuals who are under investigation for human rights violations, including sexual abuse, from participating in current peacekeeping missions.

The underlying bill includes good language that will prevent funds in the bill from being spent on new peacekeeping programs until the allegations of human rights violations have been investigated and the guilty have been purged. My amendment simply expands on this initiative and makes current U.N. peacekeeping missions accountable for human rights violations.

Over the past year, several cases of human rights abuses, specifically sexual exploitation and abuse, by individuals involved in U.N. peacekeeping operations have raised the suspicions of many Members of Congress and members of the International Relations Committee. The U.N. Office of Internal Oversight Services has opened an investigation into these allegations, and the evidence in several of these cases is compelling and very disturbing. Sadly, in some cases, the U.N. has failed to remove the accused individuals from their posts, leaving them in a position to continue abusing innocent victims. Whatever the world gains by placing peacekeeping forces in an embattled country or region we lose tenfold by having deviant and abusive members of the peacekeeping force exploit the local populations.

Peacekeeping funds are an important and necessary part of what America does for humanity and the rest of the world. It is a worthwhile cause and a very important resource in spreading American goodwill to other nations. However, I believe the U.N. peacekeeping program must be reformed and Americans should not be spending their valuable tax dollars on the program until this serious problem has been fixed.

I thank the chairman for allowing me to discuss this issue. I understand it is subject to a point of order, and I will withdraw my amendment with the hope that the chairman and ranking member will address this issue in conference and in future appropriations bills.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

I rise today to offer this amendment, which simply seeks to prevent the funding of a Human Rights Council that represents state-sponsored terrorists.

Currently, the United States provides 22 percent of the U.N. annual budgets, over $900 million in fiscal year 2007, and some of that funding goes to the Human Rights Council. My amendment states that no funds in this bill may be used to fund the administration or operation of the Human Rights Council while countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism remain as members of the council. The reforms to the Human Rights Council by the United Nations over the last year are purely cosmetic and without substantive change.

Today, countries that sponsor terrorism and countries that have atrocious human rights records still remain on this council, and the American taxpayer funds them. And in my opinion, that is unacceptable. Any Human Rights Council reform that allows countries that sponsor terrorism to remain as members, such as Cuba, is not real reform. And in the past, countries such as Libya, Iran and Syria have participated on this council.

Additionally, any Human Rights Council reform that allows countries with despicable human rights records to remain as members, such as China and Saudi Arabia, is not real reform. I believe that it would not only be a waste of America's valuable tax dollars, but it would be an insult to some of our taxpayers who are also soldiers who have fought so hard to defeat terrorism worldwide. It is an insult to elevate countries that sponsor terrorism to a position of authority over other countries for human rights abuses.

Until the United Nations engages in true reform to defeat terrorism, we should send them a strong message through this amendment by cutting off U.S. funding to the Human Rights Council.

I urge all my colleagues to support this commonsense amendment which will work to prevent terrorism worldwide.

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

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

It is amazing to me that anybody could agree that state sponsors of terrorism, that it is somehow acceptable that they serve on the Human Rights Council, and specifically countries like China, when we look at their human rights record in Tiananmen Square and the oppression that they have put on their people, countries like Iran, which is a state sponsor of terrorism, which has oppressed women in their society, oppressed their own people to a great extent.

Also Libya and Syria. I think this is a commonsense amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Captain James Alexander Funkhouser, a brave soldier and fallen hero from Katy, Texas.

Captain Funkhouser was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade, 4th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in Fort Hood, and he was their Headquarters and Company Commander in Iraq.

The son of a 31-year Army Veteran, Captain Funkhouser was born in Okinawa, Japan, but he eventually became a Texan, graduated from Southwest Texas State University in 1999 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

Captain Funkhouser spent the next six years stationed in Vilseck, Germany, Fort Knox, KY, Fort Polk, LA and finally to Fort Hood, TX where he was then deployed with his unit to Baghdad, Iraq in early December 2005.

A highly decorated soldier and American hero, Captain Funkhouser's decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, the Parachutist Badge, the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.

During a reconnaissance operation in Baghdad, Captain Funkhouser, his Iraqi interpreter and two CBS reporters were killed when a vehicle- borne improvised explosive devise detonated near his Humvee.

Captain Funkhouser loved his country, and he gave his life defending America and the freedom and opportunity for which our flag flies.

Captain Funkhouser is survived by his wife, Jennifer; daughters, Kaitlyn and Allison; parents, Col. (Ret.) and Mrs. James Alexander Funkhouser, Sr.; grandmother, Oneita Funkhouser; parents-in-law, Henry and Rosemary Garza and numerous extended family members, friends and fellow soldiers of the United States Army.

Offered By: Mr. McCaul of Texas

Amendment No. 31: At the end of the bill (before the short

title), insert the following: