Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, on Friday we mark a sober anniversary in the history of our Nation--the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. As time has passed, our resolve has not faltered. We remain committed to rooting out terror and evil wherever it may hide and protecting our homeland against all who threaten our way of life.

I'm proud that, because of legislation we passed here in Congress and the President signed into law, September 11 is now a day of national service and remembrance. I encourage all Americans to spend time giving back to their communities to honor the spirit of service that unified our country and the world in the aftermath of the attacks.

Especially in these turbulent times, it is important to remember that no matter what our political party or what other things divide us, we are all Americans and we stand together in solemn reflection and steadfast commitment that we will never forget the innocent lives lost that day.

Mr. Chair. Today, July 30, 2009, I was unavoidably detained on rollcall No. 663.

Had I voted, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 663.

Part B Amendment No. 1 Offered by Mr. Flake

Madam Speaker, yesterday this House passed legislation that will restore fiscal discipline by requiring the United States Government to only spend what it can truly afford. The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act will roll back deficits and require all new legislation which reduces revenues or expands spending to be paid for. This is a critical piece of common sense. At long last, Congress will be required to follow the policies that families in my district in south Florida stick by every day: only spend a dollar if you can save a dollar somewhere else.

It is clear that pay-as-you-go requirements work. The last time they were in place in Congress in the 1990s we saw budget surpluses. After they lapsed in 2002, the lack of fiscal discipline allowed deficits to balloon.

Fiscal responsibility is one of my personal core values. It is what my wife and I teach our children and should guide every decision we make in government.

This bill marks a turning point in the fiscal health of our Nation. It won't happen overnight, but starting today we will begin to cut our deficit and return to surpluses.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 654) honoring the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation, and for other purposes.

Mr. 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.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 654, which honors the Organization For Security and Cooperation in Europe for its cooperation with Mediterranean partners. I wish to thank my good friend from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for introducing this resolution. I would also like to commend him for his excellent leadership for many years in the Helsinki Commission, both as past President of the Parliamentary Assembly, and as the current Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs. The important relationship between the OSCE and its Mediterranean Partners dates back to the founding of the organization in 1975. The Helsinki Final Act rightly recognized the connection between European and Mediterranean security, as well as the deeply rooted geographical, historical, cultural, economic and political ties between the states in this region. In particular, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia have been active partners in this OSCE partnership.

Since the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was established in 1990, it has called for enhanced collaboration between Members of Parliament from the participating states of the OSCE and Mediterranean legislators in order to promote regional stability and economic cooperation. The House of Representatives is pleased to welcome the representatives of the OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Cooperation to Washington, D.C. later this week for a seminar on further strengthening ties between OSCE and this region.

In addition to the European Union's Euro-Mediterranean partnership and NATO's Mediterranean dialogue, this OSCE initiative provides another valuable forum in which Israel and its Arab neighbors can discuss issues of common regional concern, both formally and informally. It also gives these Mediterranean and Middle Eastern states an opportunity to learn firsthand about neighboring Europe's ongoing security needs and to benefit, through example, from Europe's hard-won success in establishing viable security structures, looking to the day when a peaceful Middle East will perhaps want to establish its own OSCE-like security architecture.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I wish to commend the OSCE for its efforts to engage more closely with the Mediterranean region and to encourage the Partners for Cooperation to further their efforts to enhance trade, security and economic development. I strongly support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of the bill, the gentleman and my good friend from Florida (Mr. Hastings).

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 538) supporting Olympic Day on June 23, 2009, and encouraging the International Olympic Committee to select Chicago, Illinois, as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as amended.

Mr. 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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking the gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky) for introducing this resolution supporting Olympic Day and encouraging the International Olympic Committee to select Chicago as the host city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games.

H. Res. 538 provides an opportunity for the House to celebrate the Olympic ideal of peace through sport and to recognize Olympic Day, the founding anniversary of the modern Olympic games. For over a century, the modern Olympic games have brought together athletes from all around the world and in the process has helped forge countless relationships found by friendship, solidarity and fair play.

Olympic Day promotes the Olympic ideal by encouraging the teaching of Olympic history, health, arts, culture to students across the country. It also encourages a new generation of American athletes to take part in Olympic and Paralympic sports.

As we support the ideals of Olympic Day, it is only fitting that we also urge the International Olympic Committee to support the City of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic games. Last year, the IOC named Chicago one of the finalist cities to host the games, and the winning city will be selected this October.

Hosting the 2016 games would bring significant benefits to Chicago, one of our Nation's truly world-class cities, and would provide an excellent opportunity for American athletes to compete in the summer Olympic and Paralympic games in front of a home crowd for the first time since 1996.

I congratulate the gentlelady from Illinois for her tireless efforts, along with the other members of the delegation, to promote their city's bid to host the 2016 summer games and to urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlelady from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), one of the sponsors of the bill and a great fan of Chicago and who is ready to go.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Jackson).

(Mr. JACKSON of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 285) congratulating the people of the Republic of Lithuania on the 1000th anniversary of Lithuania and celebrating the rich history of Lithuania.

Mr. 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.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 285, which recognizes the 1,000-year anniversary of Lithuania, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I wish to thank my good friend from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for introducing this resolution. It allows the House to add its voice to the Senate's in congratulating the Lithuanian people on this momentous occasion.

In the year 1009, the name Lithuania first appeared in European records when it was mentioned in a German manuscript. The gentleman from Illinois would note that a number of us, Democrats and Republicans, were in Lithuania earlier this year and had the opportunity to meet with the government and talk about the history. It was a great opportunity.

Since that time, the country has had a long and distinguished history. The state of Lithuania was established by Duke Mindaugas in 1236; yet his official coronation as King was on July 6, 1253, a date that is still celebrated as a national holiday in Lithuania.

By the end of the 14th century, Lithuania had become the largest country in Europe. On February 16, 1918, Lithuania was established as a sovereign and democratic state.

In June 1940, Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbors, was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union. On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet Republic to declare its independence.

Lithuania has since become an active member of the national community, helping to strengthen Euro-Atlantic relations through its participation in NATO and the European Union.

Lithuania has helped secure peace and stability through its many contributions to international and civilian military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans.

Lithuania has also been a strong ally of the United States, as our countries marked 85 years of continuous diplomatic relations in 2007.

The subject of Lithuanian-American relations came up during our recent participation in the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue. Members of Congress felt it was important to urge Lithuania to enact property restitution laws in order to bring some sense of justice and closure to the families of victims of the Holocaust, and I look forward to working with our colleagues in Lithuania to resolve this issue. This will surely continue to strengthen our relationship.

While we Americans celebrate our national independence on July 4th, the people of Lithuania commemorated their day of statehood on July 6. It is therefore appropriate, during this festive month, that the House passes a resolution to congratulate Lithuania on its 1,000th anniversary and reaffirm the close ties between our peoples and countries.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do the same.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

If there are no other speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1511) to amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations to provide assistance for domestic and foreign programs and centers for the treatment of victims of torture, and for other purposes.

Mr. 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 bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation and yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I'd like to thank the distinguished ranking Member of the Africa and Global Health Subcommittee, my friend Chris Smith, for his longstanding leadership in the fight against torture; and I am proud to stand with him unequivocally in this crucial human rights fight. I would also like to thank the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, Chairman Waxman from California, and the distinguished ranking Member on the committee, Mr. Barton from Texas, for their excellent collaboration in bringing this important piece of legislation expeditiously to the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, the underlying legislation which we are reauthorizing today, the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998, is the practical expression of our deeply held values. Americans abhor and condemn the use of torture wherever it may occur, including at the hands of our own citizens. This bill demonstrates the commitment of the United States to stand squarely with the victims of this barbaric and illegal practice, not only fighting against the use of torture but also providing hope and relief to those who survive it, wherever and whoever they may be. Mr. Speaker, according to Amnesty International, over 117 countries around the world still engage in torture. Amidst allegations of our own government's possible involvement in torture, President Obama and the American people have reaffirmed our policy that the United States will not torture. An estimated 500,000 foreign torture survivors reside in the United States and over 100 million may exist worldwide. The personal ramifications of torture are beyond the realm of our comprehension. Torture leaves no victim unscarred. It shapes the remainder of lives. While physical wounds may ultimately heal, torture survivors need ongoing psychosocial services and therapy to cope with the post-traumatic stress that afflicts them daily. Recovering from torture is a long-term process. It can take years before torture survivors can once again feel emotionally comfortable in society. More than 200 treatment programs operate internationally to provide crucial medical, psychological and social services to torture survivors. The legislation before us supports international programs through grants which are administered by the United States Agency For International Development, USAID, through its Victims of Torture Fund, otherwise known as VTF. H.R. 1511 authorizes $12 million for each of fiscal years 2010 and 2011 for this important purpose. In the United States, the Center For Victims of Torture in Minnesota was the first multidiscipline treatment center of its kind in the United States and the third torture victims treatment program in the world. Currently there are 25 programs for the treatment of survivors of torture operating in the United States, most of them financially assisted through the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services. H.R. 1511 makes a critical investment in this crucial work. In addition, this legislation authorizes critical funds for the United States' contribution to the multilateral U.N. Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. Through the United Nations' mechanism, the UNVF supports torture treatment centers all over the world, including within the United States. Mr. Speaker, the funds authorized in the legislation before the House are urgently needed. I strongly support this legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Congress of the United States, House of Representatives,

Committee on Energy and Commerce,

Washington, DC, June 19, 2009.

Hon. Howard L. Berman,

Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Berman: I am writing to confirm our

understanding regarding the ``Torture Victims Relief

Reauthorization Act of 2009,'' H.R. 1511. The Committee on

Energy and Commerce has jurisdictional interest in provisions

of the bill relating to torture victim relief

In light of the interest in moving this bill forward

promptly, I do not intend to exercise the jurisdiction of the

Committee on Energy and Commerce on H.R. 1511. I do this,

however, only with the understanding that forgoing further

consideration of H.R. 1511 at this time will not be construed

as prejudicing this Committee's jurisdictional interests and

prerogatives on the subject matter contained in this or

similar legislation. In addition, we reserve the right to

seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any

House-Senate conference involving this legislation.

I would appreciate your including this letter in the

Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the

House floor. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

Sincerely,

Henry A. Waxman.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 519) expressing appreciation to the people and Government of Canada for their long history of friendship and cooperation with the people and Government of the United States and congratulating Canada as it celebrates ``Canada Day''.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Let me begin by thanking the gentleman from Michigan, Bart Stupak, for introducing this important resolution and for his steadfast leadership in support of a strong U.S.-Canada relationship.

H. Res. 519 congratulates the Canadian people and their government on Canada Day, the anniversary of the establishment of the union of the British North American provinces in a federation called Canada. It also expresses the appreciation of both the people and the Government of the United States for the longstanding cooperation and shared history with their Canadian counterparts. This provides an important opportunity for all Americans to recognize the common ideals and beliefs that unite our two nations economically, socially and politically.

Canada's sacrifices in Afghanistan are only the latest examples of the strong bond between our two nations. Since their initial deployment in 2002, Canadian troops have worked tirelessly to maintain security and to rebuild in Afghanistan, particularly in Kandahar province.

Canada has also been a leader in the global effort to promote a solution to worldwide carbon reduction, an issue which affects us all and which draws us even closer together as nations that share a common border. Canada's plan to reduce carbon emissions and their work through the United Nations' Framework Convention On Climate Change has been a significant step in the right direction.

The recent negotiations that took place between Canada and the United States concerning the water quality in the Great Lakes region further solidifies the bond between us as we must work collectively to improve the condition of that shared natural resource.

My district in south Florida benefits from a strong U.S.-Canadian relationship. Canada is Florida's top trading partner, and it is Florida's number one source of inbound tourism. According to a recent Canadian Government study, the Canada-Florida relationship is responsible for 432,000 direct and indirect jobs in Florida, representing 5.4 percent of all of Florida's employment.

This resolution advances the continued partnership that the United States hopes to maintain with the Canadian people and with their government. I would like to extend my personal congratulations and gratitude to the Canadian people, and I would urge all of my colleagues to do the same by supporting H. Res. 519.

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

I request just 1 minute of time to close.

Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to thank Mr. Stupak. Also having grown up in Cleveland, Ohio, and right over the border from Canada, I had the opportunity to spend many great years visiting.

I would also like to acknowledge the consul general from Miami, Marcy

Grossman, who I had the opportunity to visit with recently before she left to return.

This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our two countries on this special Canada Day.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend my colleagues for passing H.R. 1933, the A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act. I introduced this bipartisan legislation with my good friend from Texas (Mr. Gohmert), who is the distinguished ranking member of the Crime Subcommittee and a former Texas State judge. I should also thank the distinguished chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Conyers of Michigan, Mr. Smith of Texas, and Mr. Scott, the chairman of the Crime Subcommittee, for their leadership in moving H.R. 1933 out of committee and to the floor.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1933 would expand the widely praised A Child Is Missing nonprofit organization into a national program with regional centers under the Department of Justice. It would accomplish this expansion through annual grants from the Attorney General in the amount of $5 million from 2010 through 2015. The funds would allow for the purchase of future technologies and techniques, centralized and onsite training, and for the distribution of information to Federal, State and local law enforcement agency officials on the best ways to utilize the round-the-

clock services provided by the A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center.

Currently, A Child Is Missing is the only program of its kind that assists in all missing cases involving abduction, children who are lost, wander or run away, or adults with special needs such as the elderly who suffer from Alzheimer's or dementia, which is a major problem in my district in south Florida. When a person is reported missing to law enforcement, A Child Is Missing utilizes the latest technology to place 1,000 emergency telephone calls every 60 seconds to residents and businesses in the area where the person is last seen. It works in concert with the AMBER Alert system which you see on the highways, on those billboards or radio announcements, also known as the Silver Alert, and all child-safety programs, and has the support of law enforcement agencies all over the country.

A Child Is Missing also fills a critical gap in time in the most dangerous cases. Although the AMBER Alert has been an extremely successful program, there is still a crucial void in time when a child is first reported missing and when an AMBER Alert, which is activated only in cases of criminal abduction, can be issued, which is sometimes 3 to 5 hours later. This critical period of time can be the difference between whether a child lives or dies.

Recently, a Washington State Attorney General's office study showed that among cases involving children abducted and murdered, 74 percent were slain in the first 3 hours. So it is the first hours, the first minutes that are critical. And to the extent we can alert people in the local area by this telephone system to businesses and residences, we get the information about the potential child or abductor to the law enforcement as quickly as possible.

Adding to the problem is the resource and manpower limitations facing many local law enforcement agencies. Roughly half of these offices in the United States had 25 or fewer officers, and an average 12-hour search for a missing child can cost up to $400,000 in law enforcement expenses. That is a great fiscal burden during these difficult times of shrinking budgets. A Child Is Missing helps to fill this critical gap in time as well as complement the AMBER Alert during its ongoing search. We have heard this over and over again from law enforcement agencies that have received this; the real issue is that not enough communities have access to the program.

The founder and president of A Child Is Missing in Florida, Sherry Friedlander, who has done a remarkable job spreading the program to all 50 States, says that we're going to bring this program to every community, but we need there to be the leverage and logistics and some minor amount of resources that can help make it do so. And that is exactly what H.R. 1933 does. It has broad bipartisan support in Congress. I count cosponsors from all over the United States. On the Senate side companion legislation was introduced by Senator Menendez and Senator Hatch, the distinguished former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Because we are so proud of this great effort, we understand that children are not Democrats or Republicans, they are Americans, and they are our children and our responsibility. And their protection requires all of us to work together to do what is best for their continued safety. So as a result of all this, I appreciate this support we have got, and I urge our colleagues to support H.R. 1933.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res 156, a resolution condemning the attack on the AMIA center in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1994.

Let me begin by thanking the gentlelady from Florida, the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for her steadfast leadership on this issue.

I am proud that we have worked together in a bipartisan manner on issues in the Western Hemisphere and on anti-terrorism issues, such as this resolution.

Fifteen years ago, Hezbollah terrorists affiliated with Iran killed 85 people and wounded 300 others in the bombing of the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association, known in Argentina as AMIA.

And, for the past fifteen years, the people of Argentina have been waiting for justice to be served. Though the international police, Interpol, has issued warrants for several individuals, these individuals remain at large in places such as Iran, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

While holding the perpetrators accountable will not bring back their loved ones, it could give some closure of justice to the victims' families.

On this anniversary, I would urge the government of Argentina to remain committed to seeing justice for this horrible tragedy and moreover, I would urge those countries who are holding the perpetrators of these attacks to hand over these individuals immediately and let justice be served.

The timing of this resolution is crucial. For the past several years, in my opinion, we have not been as engaged as we could have been in issues in Latin America.

During that time period, other countries have come in to fill the void. Iran's growing relationship with some countries in the region, including multilateral agreements on energy and industry worth billions of dollars, could be dangerous because of Iran's ominous history in the area, including their involvement in the AMIA attack.

Eliminating the threat of terrorism and its state sponsors is not just in the best interest of the United States. The United States and Central and Latin America have an aligned interest to make our hemisphere safer.

For that reason, I believe it is important to highlight one crucial provision of this legislation. Currently, very few countries in the Western Hemisphere have acknowledged the danger that Hezbollah poses to our region. According to the New York Police Department and several anti-terrorism experts, Hezbollah could pose a bigger threat than Al Qaeda. I join the gentlelady from Florida, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen in urging governments in the Western Hemisphere to adopt legislation designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and punishing those who provide support for their terrorist activities.

I hope that this resolution serves as a signal to our friends and neighbors in Central and Latin America that the United States is committed to a safer hemisphere, free from the mutual threat of terrorism.

I congratulate the ranking member of the Committee, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for her commitment to a safer hemisphere, and of course, I send my condolences to the Argentine people and those who lost loved ones fifteen years ago in the AMIA bombing.

Madam Speaker, this past week my office held a seminar to help our Nation's veterans access the full range of benefits they have earned, including a 4-year college education. We invited local education and workforce experts to help our veterans determine their eligibility, fill out paperwork, and receive benefits under the new GI Bill for the 21st century.

Along with many others in the House, I was proud to cosponsor this new GI Bill when it passed last year. This critical bill will ensure that our returning servicemembers are part of our economic recovery. This bill covers everything from tuition to housing to books. And it is available to military veterans who have served since September 11, 2001.

In just a few weeks, the very first veterans to enroll in college under the new GI Bill will begin their first classes.

This is truly a landmark moment, and I wish the best of luck to all of our veterans who, through this program, will become scholars as well as heroes.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010.

I applaud the subcommittee chairman and the ranking member for moving this important bill through the Appropriations Committee and to the House floor.

This bill funds some of the most critical programs in south Florida, where I live, and my constituents are very much in tune with this particular bill.

I would like to spend a few moments today focusing on how this bill affects our area of south Florida.

Since coming to Congress, I have been committed, along with my Democrat and Republican colleagues, to working to make sure with the Florida delegation and with Members throughout the country that they support Federal Government obligations to restore the incomparable River of Grass, which is known as the Everglades.

I was very pleased that President Obama, in his budget request, met his promise and followed up on that to make Everglades restoration a priority. Although the $210 million in this bill doesn't quite match the President's request, the fact remains that this bill makes Everglades restoration its biggest construction project.

I commend the chairman and ranking member for keeping Everglades restoration as a national priority. It is historical.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3183's commitment to Florida's priorities are also something to be mentioned. The beaches of south Florida are some of the most beautiful in the Nation, but our coasts are facing a real crisis. They have become seriously eroded, endangering both the personal property and the personal safety of residents and guests. My district in south Florida encompasses over 75 miles of beautiful coastline on the Atlantic, and it has numerous shore protection projects, but many are mired in the Army Corps of Engineers' permitting process.

There are many reasons why the permitting process is not as efficient as it could be, but one problem we can address right here is the understaffing at the Army Corps of Engineers. For example, Palm Beach County, which is one of the counties I represent in south Florida, was forced to pay out of its taxpayer dollars the salary of an additional Army Corps of Engineers staffer to deal with the county's many projects awaiting some Army Corps action. In essence, Palm Beach County became fed up with waiting year after year for the Corps to act on their permit applications, so they are now paying for the extra Army Corps employee to do his job.

Mr. Speaker, this is a ridiculous situation that is unfair to the taxpayers of south Florida, who are paying their fair share here up in Washington. That is why I filed an amendment that was accepted as part of Chairman Pastor's manager's amendment. This language, combined with increases in the underlying bill, will add $11.8 million on top of last year's funding level to fund more staff and to support more personnel to help act on a more efficient basis with regard to these permits. This sizable investment will unclog the permitting pipeline that is hurting so many of our coastal communities. They deserve a timely decision so they can determine the best ways to protect their residents and the natural resources.

Mr. Speaker, south Florida and the entire country need greater strategic investment in our Nation's priorities. This particular bill, H.R. 3183, will put us on a path towards energy independence in addition to a number of other bills we've already put on the table and have sent to the President. The only way we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil is to invest in a multitude of technologies and to make these technologies right here in the United States, creating the jobs right here. This bill invests in solar and wind energy in order to make our electricity cleaner. At the same time, it also invests in weatherization and in energy efficiency to bring down costs for consumers and businesses. The bill includes investments in clean coal technology and nuclear energy research so that we can unleash these innovations and create high-quality American jobs.

The bill also makes critical investments in vehicle technology so that our gas tanks get more miles per gallon, which will save us money at the pump. Of course, using less gasoline means we will import less gasoline, and that is an essential national security item because, currently, we are importing 60 percent of our oil from unstable countries around the world that, in many cases, are financing terrorism and drug trafficking with our petrodollars. I believe that a transition to new energy sources will ensure that we do not continue to send billions of dollars to countries that are, at best, not our friends and, at worst, are our enemies. My strongest belief is that we should never again have to make a foreign policy decision based on where the next drop of oil is coming from.

Lastly, H.R. 3183 builds on the recently passed American Clean Energy Security Act and Recovery Act, which has jump-started American investment in this new energy economy I've been talking about. I truly believe this is an historic moment and an extraordinary opportunity to create jobs in south Florida and throughout the Nation and to unleash a new generation of energy technology built right here in America.

I am proud to support H.R. 3183, and I am looking forward to seeing the results on the ground in south Florida.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the discovery of Puerto Rico and the contributions of Puerto Ricans to our Nation.

On November 19th, 1493, five hundred and sixteen years ago, Christopher Columbus discovered the island on his second voyage to the New World. The island took the name Puerto Rico, meaning ``Rich Port,'' and ever since, it has been home to the vibrant culture which has enriched American life

I would like to express my gratitude to the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach and Broward counties for their continuing innovation and their role in preserving and promoting Puerto Rican culture.

In honor of all Puerto Ricans who have served, fought, and worked tirelessly to make the United States what it is today, the state of Florida has recognized this November as Discovery of Puerto Rico Month.

On this occasion, I commend Puerto Rican-Americans for their contributions to American

life and extend best wishes to all observing November 2009 as Discovery of Puerto Rico Month.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to submit a record of how I would have voted on July 10, 2009 when I was unavoidably detained.

Had I voted, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall No. 526; ``yes'' on rollcall No. 527; ``no'' on rollcall No. 528; ``yes'' on rollcall No. 529.

I rise to support H.R. 3081, the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2010.

This legislation addresses our most urgent national security needs, rebuilds our diplomatic infrastructure for the long term, and maintains our commitment to fiscally responsible government. The total for this bill comes in $3.2 billion below the President's budget request, meaning that we cut spending tremendously but still managed to fund the most vital programs around the globe. I'd like to touch on some of these programs.

This legislation requires that the Administration report to Congress on the status and progress of diplomatic efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. I support the President's current efforts to stop Iran's dangerous nuclear weapons program; however, diplomacy should not be open-ended. This legislation makes it clear that Congress will exercise its oversight authority over these negotiations to ensure that there is a plan to stop Iran from building a nuclear weapon.

Furthermore, the legislation prevents the U.S. Export-Import Bank from providing or guaranteeing credit to companies that provide Iran with significant amounts of refined petroleum. Iran imports about 40 percent of its refined petroleum. Then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama stated that restricting these imports could be a valuable lever in persuading Iran to cease its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons capabilities. We start that process today, and I am proud to support legislation that takes the first step in instituting crippling sanctions against the Iranian government.

Iran represents a great threat to the United States and our allies throughout the world. This legislation helps mitigate that threat to our allies by ensuring that countries that Iran would seek to destroy or destabilize receive support from the United States. U.S. aid to Israel represents a cornerstone in the strong relationship that our two countries share. I visited Israel right after the signing of the 10- year Memorandum of Understanding between the United States and Israel, and it was clear that this agreement would help cement our long-term friendship. This legislation fully funds our commitment under this accord and serves as an assurance to Israel that we will work together to ensure Israel's security during a time when Israel faces several powerful threats.

In addition, this legislation helps put us and our allies on a path to energy independence, funding clean energy initiatives that reduce our dependence on oil and make us more energy efficient. By partnering with other countries, we can share these important technologies and learn from others about new innovations.

Finally, I would like to briefly mention my support for the amendment by the gentleman from New York, Mr. Weiner. This amendment sends a strong statement to Saudi Arabia to cease its funding of terrorism and stop its incitement against Israel, Jews and America. While the bill prohibits aid to Saudi Arabia, it leaves the door open in case the President deems that aid is necessary. This amendment shuts that door. Common sense tells us that Saudi Arabia has enough American dollars from money that we waste on our dependence on oil.

In closing, this bill fulfills the American imperative to lead the world in commitment to democracy, human rights and security. I am proud to support this legislation.