Howard Berman

Mr. BERMAN

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

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

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation and yield myself as much time as I may consume. H.R. 3714 reinforces and broadens our country's commitment to media freedom around the world. Dedicated to the memory of a prominent U.S. journalist who lost his life in the pursuit of truth, the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act will ensure that our embassies and consulates overseas bring word to Washington in a timely and regular fashion about those parts of the world where journalists face obstacles, harassment and physical harm merely for doing their job. I want to particularly congratulate my colleague and recognize him, Adam Schiff of California, for authoring this legislation which will enshrine in law the practice of including information about media freedom in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices written by the Department of State. With passage of this legislation, our embassies and consulates will be required to report every year on the status of press freedom in each country, both the good and the bad. Where media freedom is threatened in a country, our diplomats will report on what steps that government has taken to preserve journalists' safety and independence and to ensure the prosecution of those who commit violence against journalists. Mr. Speaker, the dangers faced by the media worldwide continue to mount. On World Press Freedom Day this past May, Freedom House reported a seventh straight year of decline in global media freedom, with twice as many losses as gains and with deterioration occurring in every region of the world. Of the 195 countries and territories that Freedom House monitors, 36 percent have a free press while 31 percent are rated partly free and 33 percent not free at all. As the organization noted, ``The press is democracy's first defense, and its vulnerability has enormous implications for democracy if journalists are not able to carry out their traditional watchdog role.'' Daniel Pearl was one such watchdog. A long-standing correspondent for The Wall Street Journal and its South Asia bureau chief, he was investigating possible terrorism links in Pakistan in early 2002 when he was kidnapped, held hostage, tortured, and killed. His murder was videotaped and released on the Internet. Although the circumstances of this horrific crime were meant to send a chilling message to the U.S. government and the world's media, it served instead to strengthen our resolve. A number of initiatives have been established in his name to promote intercultural understanding and freedom of the press. We should let the legislation before us today, Mr. Schiff's bill, become part of this legacy in the interests of ensuring that those who would seek to extinguish the light of truth around the world will instead be dragged out of the shadows and defeated. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BERMAN. 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 bill under consideration.

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3714) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to include in the Annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices information about freedom of the press in foreign countries, establish a grant program to promote freedom of the press worldwide, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the author of this legislation, the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), my friend, colleague, and neighbor.

Mr. BERMAN

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2194) to amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to enhance United States diplomatic efforts with respect to Iran by expanding economic sanctions against Iran, as amended.

Mr. BERMAN. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased to yield to the chairman of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee on our House Foreign Affairs Committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), 1 minute.

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I now yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran). (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BERMAN. Is it correct we are now in a situation where we will have a 1-hour debate on this bill in which I will have 15 minutes to yield, the ranking member will have 15 minutes to yield, and the gentleman from Ohio will have 30 minutes under his control?

Mr. BERMAN. 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. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to a very patient member of the Committee on Homeland Security, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Al Green).

Mr. BERMAN. I yield myself the remaining time. Madam Speaker, I have heard, I guess, three reasons put forth about why people should not support this legislation. The first is some hint of a belief that Iran is not pursuing a nuclear weapons capability. Our report lists activity after activity that Iran has undertaken to hide its activities from the IAEA to build enrichment facilities that have no purpose in the uranium enrichment program and to talk about neutron triggers, which only have one purpose, which is to detonate a nuclear weapon. It is a country that has been offered by Russia, with the support of the P5, a chance for a nuclear energy program, and it has spurned all of those offers to pursue this. To me, there can be no serious doubt about that. The second argument is that they get a nuclear weapon, and we can contain them. For the reasons I gave in the beginning and because I believe it totally destroys the nonproliferation regime, containment is not the right policy. The third argument is that these sanctions are going to hurt the Iranian people. Well, I was here in 1986 when we took up a prohibition on any new investment, not investment in the energy sector, but any new investment in the apartheid regime of South Africa. What was the argument against it? Banning new investment, curtailing economic growth, hurting the majority of the population in South Africa. Don't do it. Don't wreak havoc on the poor people. We did not listen to that argument. We enacted those new sanctions. Europe soon followed in banning new investment. The South African business community went to the regime in South Africa and pointed out the economic devastation they faced if they continued with their apartheid policies. It is ludicrous to think that the people who are risking their lives and their liberty and their limbs and who are doing everything they can to express their opposition to this regime in Iran are going to turn into a unifying force behind that regime because the price of oil gets higher. We are working with them to weaken that regime and to stop this nuclear weapons program.

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 4\1/2\ minutes. Mr. Speaker, this bill has one overriding goal: to prevent Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability. The prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran is the most serious and urgent strategic challenge faced by the United States, and we must use all of the diplomatic means at our disposal--including tougher sanctions--to prevent that from becoming a reality. A nuclear-armed Iran would spread its influence by intimidating its neighbors; it would, with near impunity, continue to support terrorists and destabilize the Middle East; it would spark an arms race in the region that would tear the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to shreds; and, most frightening of all, it could, in the light of Iran's repeated threats to wipe another nation off the map, result in the actual use of nuclear weapons. When one considers the regime's ideological nature, the fact that it sent thousands of children to their deaths in the Iran-Iraq war, and its current disregard for the human rights of its own citizens, it is clear the Iranian regime is anything but a rational actor, and we certainly cannot take the chance that a nuclear Iran would behave responsibly. With each passing day, the situation becomes more urgent as Iran takes additional steps to develop its nuclear weapons capability. By many estimates, it would have that capability by sometime next year, and even the predictions that they could not be ready to deliver a bomb within 5 years have to be reevaluated on a shorter time frame based on recent revelations about Iran's nuclear program. In September, Iran's efforts to construct a new secret uranium enrichment facility were exposed to the world. And what was Tehran's response when the international community rightly condemned it for that action? To declare that it will build 10 more. The Iranian nuclear issue could have been resolved without further sanctions. President Obama has offered Iran an outstretched hand, but regrettably Iran has not unclenched its fist. The regime has refused to endorse even a confidence-building measure--agreed to by its negotiators in Geneva--that would have seen Iran ship most of its low- enriched uranium abroad to be further enriched for use in Iran's civilian nuclear medical research reactor. That deal would have bought everyone significant time, delaying Iran's nuclear-arms clock for up to a year as negotiators dealt with the heart of the issue: Iranian compliance with the U.N. Security Council requirement that it suspend its enrichment program altogether. By rejecting the deal, Iran retains its full stock of low-enriched uranium, enough to serve as the basis for one nuclear bomb, and it forces the world to respond urgently. The bill before us today is an important part of that response. It would take advantage of Iran's considerable dependency on refined- petroleum imports. It would sanction foreign companies that sell refined petroleum to Iran, or help Iran with its own domestic refining capacity, by depriving those companies of access to the United States market. And in so doing, we are asking no more of foreign companies than we currently demand of American firms. I believe the passage and implementation of this act would have a powerful effect on the Iranian economy, and I believe it would force unpalatable budgetary choices on the Iranian regime, vastly increasing the domestic political cost of pursuing its nuclear program. That said, I want to reiterate that my overriding goal in moving forward with this legislation is to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapons capability. As we move toward a likely conference with the Senate, most likely early next year, and as the administration continues its efforts to pursue stronger multilateral sanctions, I am open to making adjustments to the bill that would make it as effective as possible in meeting that objective, including providing incentives to other nations to join us in supporting a strong multilateral sanctions regime. One possibility would be to provide an exemption for companies whose host nations are already enforcing robust sanctions in their national law. But for now, it is sufficient to say that Iran has had ample time to respond positively to President Obama's generous engagement offer. Regrettably, the response has been only one of contempt. It is time for this body to act. I urge the support of this legislation. December 14, 2009. Hon. Howard L. Berman, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, 2170 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing regarding the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 (H.R. 2194, 111th Congress). As you know, the bill was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means based on the Committee's jurisdiction over international trade. There have been some productive conversations between the staffs of our Committees, during which we have proposed some changes to H.R. 2194 that I believe help to clarify the intent and scope of the bill, particularly with respect to U.S. international trade obligations. I appreciate your commitment to address the concerns raised by the Committee on Ways and Means as this legislation moves forward. In order to expedite this legislation for floor consideration, the Committee on Ways and Means will forgo action on this bill and will not oppose its consideration on the suspension calendar, based on our understanding that you will work with the Committee on Ways and Means as the legislative process moves forward in the House of Representatives and in the Senate, to ensure that our concerns are addressed. This is done with the understanding between our Committees that it does not in any way prejudice the Committee on Ways and Means with respect to the appointment of conferees or the full exercise of its jurisdictional prerogative on this bill or similar legislation in the future. I would appreciate your response to this letter, confirming our understanding with respect to H.R. 2194, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record. Sincerely, Charles B. Rangel, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Klein), vice chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. BERMAN. Perhaps, more accurately, you want to make sure the time is divided, and I am prepared to say the rules require that; and the extension of time I have in mind of an additional 20 minutes--

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have a further unanimous consent request: that the 10 additional minutes of time on behalf of the supporters of this legislation be split, 5 minutes for the majority and 5 minutes for the ranking member.

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman who first introduced legislation on this subject, who I worked closely with, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the majority leader of the House, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. BERMAN. Point of parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. BERMAN

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BERMAN

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to clause 4 of rule XVI, I move that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

Mr. BERMAN

Mr. BERMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay respects to the passing of my friend Marie Harris. Let this congressional insert serve as a tribute to her memory and celebration of her meaningful life. Marie Harris came to Pacoima in 1960 from Detroit where she successfully co-owned the Elite Boulevard House of Fashions and captured the ``Formal Award'' in a nationwide competition from the National Association of Fashion and Accessory Designers, Inc. Her professional success continued as she transferred her membership with this organization to the Los Angeles Chapter and served as Fashion Coordinator, spearheading the unforgettable Designers Showcase at the Beverly Hilton in 1963 and 1964. She began tireless efforts producing a series of Designers Showcase Fashion Shows to help raise funds to build a new edifice and educational unit of the Parks Chapel AME Church in Pacoima, and continued her work in the fashion world by becoming a columnist for the North East Valley Post writing two columns weekly, ``Fashions LTD'' and ``Kaleidoscope'' society scoop. Marie was known for her spirit of volunteerism and unwavering dedication to public service. In 1980, Marie was appointed to the Mayor's Committee on the city's Bicentennial Celebration in the Sepulveda Basin, which motivated her to produce the Back to Pacoima Expo at the Hansen Dam Amphitheater to honor Pacoima's trailblazers. One of the many results of Marie's work in Pacoima was the naming of ``Plaza of the Stars,'' a major shopping center located at Glenoaks and Van Nuys Boulevards. Marie has a history of community involvement and her invaluable service has made an indelible mark on the San Fernando Valley. She was on the Board of Directors for the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley Vision 2020 and the Commissioner for the Children's Museum and Commission for the San Fernando Valley Fair. She was aptly recognized as Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Richard Katz, and later appointed as an Honorary Mayor of Pacoima by former City of Los Angeles Councilman Ernani Bernardi. Marie was a devoted mother, and wife for the past fifty years to Alvin Harris, deceased in January 2001. She is survived by her three children Sidney Alvin, Rolene Marie, Alton Keith and five grandchildren. I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the life of Marie Harris.