Floor Statements

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, this amendment calls upon the President of the United States to ask our permanent representative to the United Nations to use his voice, his vote, and every means that he possibly can to enforce Security Council Resolution 1559.

Security Council Resolution 1559 calls upon a full Syrian withdrawal of intelligence forces and their troops; it calls upon for free and fair elections within Lebanon; and, in the end, it guarantees and ensures the sovereignty of Lebanon.

I do not expect there will be much opposition to this. I would like to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for all of his support in championing the cause of Lebanese freedom.

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

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

Well, at least the gentleman will get half a loaf, I suppose. I do want to point out, in fairness to the United Nations, that they have sent their second verification team into Lebanon in the wake of the assassination of a popular journalist to again ensure that foreign forces and the intelligence network has been removed.

For too long the people of Lebanon have wept for decades over their dead, and now they see the dawn of freedom at the end of the dark days. It is critical that the United States and United Nations and every nation of the world do everything within its power to ensure that the peaceful seeds of revolution continue and perhaps light the way for other nations suffering from an oppressive yoke to break free of their dictators and tyrants and enter the world's democracies.

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

Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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

Mr. Chairman, my amendment is relatively self-explanatory. It is an effort to add some commonsense reforms to the United Nations in the area of employment, in the area of what their employees may or may not do with the entity's monies while they are politicking in their own domestic elections and an attempt to make sure there is a record should they have outside unauthorized contact with individuals who are not members of government or the media.

I would like to say that the rationale for bringing this forward is to provide a practical benefit to the reform effort at the United Nations; but I think it also is important that we recognize, as Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, ``There can be no great sorrow where there is no great love.''

We are engaged today to try to redeem the dream of Franklin Roosevelt that the United Nations in the age of the nuclear bomb; that in the age of a global war on terror, at some point we could have something at night to get us to sleep, and that is the belief that the United Nations would be a force for good in the world; that international disputes could be resolved there; that the finest and most noble motives of humanity could find expression and implementation.

Mr. Chairman, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has said in a wonderfully elegant phrase, ``Unfortunately the United Nations at present is a derivative reality.'' So I am trying to inject some practicality into that derivative reality.

I yield to the gentleman from California.

Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume and would like to thank the distinguished minority ranking member, the chairman of our committee, and everyone who is engaged in this debate. It has been an honor to work on this issue with them. It has been an honor to learn from them. And more importantly, it has been an honor to see the example they set and to set a bar for others in this institution to emulate their integrity.

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

Mr. Speaker, previously I introduced an amendment to the appropriations budget which would have called upon the committee to remove 50 percent of the United States' annual dues to the United Nations. I did so to expound upon a point and to presage a prospective debate.

As we debate the Hyde bill or the Lantos substitute amendment to it, let us remember that there is an American cost to the United Nations' corruption.

For example, by reducing the annual dues to the United Nations, within this budget alone we could have increased funding for violence against women prevention and prosecution by $45 million, increased trade adjustment assistance by $40 million, increased spending on minority business development by $50 million, increased spending on the Manufacturing Extension Partnerships by $40 million, and increased money for the United States Institute of Peace by over $6 million.

So as we enter this debate, let us remember that out of the oil-for- food corruption and the scandals of sex-for-food in the Congo, that if the United Nations does not cleanse itself, that American money could be better spent here at home.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the contributions of Patricia Coughlan, who is the recipient of the ``Tribute to Women Award,'' the Suburban Republican Women's Club highest honor.

Since 1985, Ms. Coughlan has been an active member of the Suburban Republican Women, formerly known as the Livonia Republican Women and Western Suburbs Club, an august organization in which she has served in a variety of senior leadership positions. One of the major accomplishments of Ms. Coughlan's hard work has been the creation and publication of the informative and inspiring Suburban Republican Women's Club newsletter, for which she currently serves as Editor-in- Chief.

It is an honor to pay homage to Ms. Coughlan, whose participation in shaping the political process has helped ensure representative government by inspiring others to play their full parts within our Nation's continuing experiment in democracy. Her devoted, compassionate leadership in our community has advanced the cause of democracy in our country, and exemplified America's innate humanity.

Mr. Speaker, I extend my sincere appreciation to Patricia Coughlan and hope my colleagues will join me in honoring and thanking her for her contributions to our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, I warily rise today to reluctantly acknowledge Mr. Paul Arthur Rzepecki on the unexpected occurrence of his 40th birthday.

A former Eagle Scout, the singular Mr. Paul Arthur Rzepecki is, despite carefully crafted admissions policies, a graduate of Catholic Central High School and the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Following his graduation and eviction from his parents' house, Mr. Rzepecki surprised everyone, most notably himself, by acquiring gainful employment, which has inexplicably continued through this very day.

On a personal level, after standing up in my wedding--at least through the ceremony--Mr. Paul Arthur Rzepecki entered his own blessed union with his beloved Chari, who we hope is, in turn, blessed for her noble suffering; and the couple has two beautiful, delightful daughters, Emily and Kristin, who take after their mother. In addition to acting as a husband and a father, Mr. Paul Arthur Rzepecki is also an enthusiast of minimalist painting, dead languages, blood sports, and Anheuser-Busch. He also maintains an assiduous physical regimen of watching others exercise.

Mr. Speaker, over the past 40 years of his presence amongst the less fortunate, Mr. Paul Arthur Rzepecki has a long list of accomplishments, which escape me at present, save for the ineluctable fact he introduced me to my wife Rita, who has yet to forgive him this sin. Yet, as America is a compassionate country, let us lose the past; hope for the best; and extend Mr. Paul Arthur Rzepecki our urgent hope his best years rest ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William Clay Ford, Sr. for 57 years of dedicated service as a member of Ford Motor Company's Board of Directors. He has served on the Board with distinction for over half of Ford Motor Company's history of almost 102 years. As the only surviving grandson of the late Henry Ford and father of the current chairman, he uniquely links Ford's past and future.

Mr. Ford has had a long and distinguished career of service to Ford Motor Company. He was elected to the Board in 1948, a year before his graduation from Yale University. When the Design Committee of Ford's Policy and Strategy Committee was formed in 1957, Mr. Ford became its first chairman, a post he held until 1989.

In 1978, Mr. Ford was elected chairman of the Executive Committee and appointed a member of the Office of the Chief Executive. From 1980 until 1989, he served as vice chairman of the Board. From 1987 until 1995, he served as chairman of the Finance Committee, one of the most vital positions on the Board.

Mr. Ford served the Company as an employee from 1949 until 1989. He held a variety of executive positions including vice president and general manager of the Continental Division. In 1956, Mr. Ford assumed responsibility for corporate product planning and design. Throughout his career, he oversaw the design and development of a number of classic vehicles, including the Continental Mark II, a worthy successor to the Continentals designed by his father, Edsel Ford. The Mark II is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful personal luxury cars ever built.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mr. William Clay Ford, Sr. as he retires from the Ford Motor Company Board of Directors and in wishing him the best of luck as he becomes Director Emeritus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor William Clay Ford, Sr., for 57 years of dedicated service as a member of the Ford Motor Company's board of directors. He has served on the board with distinction for over half of the Ford Motor Company's history of almost 102 years. As the only surviving grandson of the late Henry Ford and the father of the current chairman, he uniquely links Ford's past, present, and future.

Mr. Ford served the company as an employee from 1949 until 1989. He held a variety of executive positions, including vice president and general manager of the continental division. Throughout his career, he oversaw the design and development of a number of classic vehicles, including the Continental Mark II, a worthy successor to the Continentals designed by his father, Edsel Ford. The Mark II is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful personal luxury cars ever built.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring William Clay Ford, Sr., as he retires from the Ford Motor Company board of directors and in wishing him the best of luck as he becomes director emeritus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join the administrators, faculty, staff and students of Oakland Community College as they celebrate OCC's 40th anniversary this month.

The Oakland Community College District was established by the electorate of Oakland County, Michigan, on June 8, 1964. The college opened in September 1965, with a record community college initial enrollment of 3,860 students on two campuses--Highland Lakes, a renovated hospital in Union Lake, and Auburn Hills, a former Army Nike missile site in Auburn Heights. In September 1967, the award-winning Orchard Ridge Campus opened.

Mr. Speaker, during its 40 years, OCC has grown in stature and importance, and has earned its pre-eminent position in the vanguard of training and educating Americans. For example, Oakland Community College's fire academy has opened the only facility in the Midwest which provides emergency services personnel with training in a unique simulated city, complete with roads and buildings. The Combined Regional Emergency Services Training Center (CREST) is comparable to the FBI's ``Hogan's Alley'' in Quantico, VA. Police and fire departments throughout the region send personnel to the center for extensive training. OCC is also proud to have among its many successful graduates, Drew Feustel, a NASA astronaut who began his college studies at the Auburn Hills Campus, and eventually received his Ph.D. in geologic sciences before being chosen by NASA as a mission specialist.

I ask my colleagues to join with me today in congratulating Oakland Community College on 40 years of success in educating students and helping them become an important part of our society and our country, and in wishing OCC 40 more years of outstanding achievement.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 108) commemorating the life of the late Zurab Zhvania, Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 108.

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

Today, the House considers H. Res. 108, introduced by the esteemed Chair of the Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats, the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly). It is a resolution commemorating the life of the late Zurab Zhvania, who at the time of his death was the Prime Minister of the Republic of Georgia.

On February 3, Prime Minister Zhvania died suddenly, apparently as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a malfunctioning heater. This resolution expresses the House of Representative's sympathy and condolences to the family of Zurab Zhvania and to the people of Georgia for the death of their Prime Minister.

The resolution also commemorates the life of Zurab Zhvania and calls for the completion of his vision to integrate Georgia into the greater European-Atlantic community. Prime Minister Zhvania was a prominent leader in Georgia's Rose Revolution. He was a true reformer, a strong believer in democracy, and a good friend to America. In fact, Georgia recently decided to increase its troop levels in Iraq at the very time when other nations are drawing down their military presence in that country. Georgia also participates in the peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and has troops in Afghanistan.

The death of Zurab Zhvania is a tragic loss for Georgia and all those who support democracy in that nation. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 120) commending the outstanding efforts by Members of the Armed Forces and civilian employees of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development in response to the earthquake and tsunami of December 26, 2004.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Resolution 120.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I wish to begin by sending my gratitude to the distinguished gentleman from Oregon for bringing this resolution before the House.

The December 26, 2004, earthquake off the coast of Indonesia was one of the largest natural disasters on record, devastating coastal areas throughout the Indian Ocean area, particularly in Indonesia and Sri Lanka. The cost in human life now stands at nearly 300,000 dead or missing, another 1 million displaced, and many more otherwise affected.

The response by U.S. military and civilian personnel was nearly instantaneous as they moved into action to provide help to those caught in the tragedy. The logistics, airlift, and other supplies and services provided by the Department of Defense were, by all accounts, indispensable. Similarly, the humanitarian relief provided by U.S. civilian agencies, particularly the United States Agency for International Development, demonstrated the capacity and compassion of the American people who tried to aid those who were suffering.

In addition to its speed, the United States Government has been generous in its response: Nearly $150 million has already been spent and will be followed by several hundred million more dollars for ongoing recovery and reconstruction programs. The American people should also be greatly complimented for their generosity, as private donations from the United States alone are estimated to be at $1 billion.

This resolution recognizes America's military and civilian first responders to this terrible disaster and extends the appreciation of Congress to them for their work in saving lives, helping the survivors, and displaying our American virtues to our brothers and sisters beyond our shores.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 34) honoring the life and contributions of Yogi Bhajan, a leader of Sikhs, and expressing condolences to the Sikh community on his passing.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to recognize the fine work of the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for placing this resolution before us.

On October 6, 2004, Yogi Bhajan passed from this world. He had requested that his passing be a time of celebration. Thus I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 34 in order to celebrate the life of this extraordinary man.

At the age of 18 during a time of turmoil, he led his village of 7,000 people over 325 miles on foot to the safety of New Delhi, India. He served the Government of India faithfully through both civilian and military service.

When he came to the United States, he founded a nonprofit private educational, scientific foundation dedicated to serving humanity, improving physical well-being, deepening spiritual awareness, and offering guidance on nutrition and health, interpersonal relations, child rearing, and human behavior.

In 1971, the President of the Governing Body of Sikh Temples in India named him the chief religious and administrative authority for Sikhism in the Western Hemisphere, and he was given the responsibility for creating a Sikh ministry in the West.

In June of 1985, he established the first International Peace Prayer Day Celebration which draws thousands of participants annually.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that Congress join in the celebration of his passing and recognize his legendary compassion, wisdom, kindness, and courage and extend its condolences to his wife and family.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to echo a sentiment put forward by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer). In my district, the 11th Congressional District of Michigan, we have a substantial Sikh presence; and in the wake of September 11, I was asked by their temple to come before them and to reassure them that their fellow Americans understood Sikhism and would never stand for any type of oppression or prejudice or acts of hate being perpetrated against them.

I think in passing this resolution, we add one more accord on our part to Sikhism and its adherents and I am honored to be a part of this, as I am honored to have the friendship of the Sikh community and people like Chain Sandhu back home in my district.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, during our absence from session over the Easter recess, a momentous date passed which merits our observance. Greek Independence Day commemorates and celebrates the Greek people's declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire on March 25, 1821. From this day, until the Treaty of Constantinople officially recognized Greek independence, the Greek people waged a valiant and victorious struggle for their freedom.

The Ottoman Empire's oppression and occupation of Greece evolved over the course of the 14th and 15th centuries. Yet during these centuries, Greek patriots arose to oppose and overthrow the Ottomans' dominion, and in 1814 emerged the secretly formed Friendly Society, which proved a herald of Hellenic liberty.

Then 7 years later, on March 25, 1821, the Orthodox Metropolitan Germanos of Patras proclaimed a national uprising, and simultaneous uprisings arose throughout Greece. Initially this courageous movement liberated many areas of Greece, but the Ottoman Empire rapidly and ruthlessly responded with innumerable acts of brutality, including the massacre of entire Greek communities.

Such Ottoman barbarism contrasted ill with Greek heroism and inspired many nations and citizens to rally to the Greek cause. Thus, in 1827, the British and French fleets delivered a crushing blow to the Ottoman fleet at Navarino, and in 1828, 10,000 French soldiers landed in the Peloponnese to end the Ottoman scourge of Greece.

It was then, and after the horror of war had ebbed and ended, the Convention of May 11, 1832, recognized Greece as a sovereign state, and, again, the Treaty of Constantinople recognized Greek independence from Ottoman rule in July of 1832.

Thus, Mr. Speaker, it is both fitting and fair for we Americans as a free people to commemorate and celebrate the date of May 25, the date Greece, the Cradle of Democracy, was once again made free.

So, too, Mr. Speaker, let us reflect upon the reality that no treaty, no mere scrap of paper, could ever accomplish more than to simply state the obviousness of Greek freedom, which has always endured for time immemorial, despite whatever oppression encountered.

Indeed, did not the pen of the British poet and doomed martyr to the cause of Greek independence and freedom, Lord Byron, write a testament to the Greek people's inherent love of liberty when he wrote:

The Sword, the Banner, and the Field,

Glory and Greece, around me see!

The Spartan, borne upon his shield,

Was never more free.

And may Greece, Mr. Speaker, ever be free.

Mr. Speaker, these are difficult times in southeastern Michigan, where the heirs to the arsenal of democracy still manufacture the best products in the world. In fact, this weekend the Ford Motor Company announced its Wixom assembly plant will incur an employee reduction of 11 percent when its Thunderbird line ends.

While we in my district are encouraged, the affected workers will be offered other positions at other Ford facilities. We nevertheless urge Ford to provide this assembly plant a new product line and, in so doing, keep the best workers in the world working in Wixom, Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 135, for within its wisdom rests the realization a nation's democracy is never more imperiled than in its infancy. This realization and the extension of protections to emerging democracies are vital to our ensuring these newborn nations' first breaths of freedom burgeon into the full fruit of liberty.

Mr. Speaker, especially as we watch the ominous portents emanating from Russia's experiment in representative governments, we must ever remember the inception of a democracy is not an end. It is a beginning. And let us ever stand ready to assist those of our fellow human beings who are fitfully and finally breathing free.

I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I will not reiterate House Resolution 101's litany of why Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, for the resolution's authors and my colleagues before me have given a full and fair accounting of this therein.

I rise then to urge the European Union's acknowledgement of this resolution's list of terrorist particulars on Hezbollah's part, and in doing so, I further urge the European Union's addition of Hezbollah to the EU's terrorist list.

Indeed, since the Coalition's liberation of Iraq from the inhuman rule of Saddam Hussein, from some EU quarters has come a strident call on the U.S. and its allies to diminish reliance upon force; i.e., hard power, and increase utilization of diplomatic means; i.e., soft power, within our war on terror.

Now, here rests the opportunity for those strident voices in the EU to put their morality where their mouth is, for if despite all the evidence and the consequences of Hezbollah's terrorist activities, the European Union refuses to place Hezbollah on its terrorist list, then we will be left but to conclude some in Europe's insistence upon a sophisticated, soft power diplomacy in pursuit of stability, at the expense of liberty, is in reality no less than a disingenuous, shortsighted exercise in craven accommodation.

The choice is theirs, but this vote is ours, and I urge adoption of the resolution.