Shelley Berkley

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Ophthalmologist.

Ms. BERKLEY. I want to thank the Congressman again for allowing me to participate.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support for this resolution and for Israel's right to defend itself. No nation could be expected to stand idly by as its citizens are bombarded by missiles launched 20, 30, 40 times a day by a terrorist organization on its orders. These daily attacks have caused death and inflicted enormous physical and emotional damage on the people of Israel. Their government, the Israeli government, has shown extraordinary restraint in not retaliating until now. For those of my colleagues who expressed concern or outrage for Israel's actions, where was their concern and outrage when Israeli children were killed by indiscriminate Hamas rockets? Where is their outrage when Israel asked Egypt to close the tunnels to stem the flow of weapons coming from Egypt to the Gaza? Where is their outrage then? Hamas is all too happy to fire their missiles from schools and mosques and houses, putting their own families at risk in order to maximize civilian casualties. Their own leaders cynically embrace a culture of death, not only for Israel, but their own people. I urge support for this resolution. We should be standing by the only democracy in the Middle East, Israel.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for this bill. There is no doubt about Iran's intentions any longer: they are determined to do everything they can to harm the U.S. and annihilate our ally, Israel. They are well on their way to developing a nuclear weapon and they will not hesitate to use it against innocent civilian populations throughout the Middle East. They have armed terrorists in the past, they have built up their conventional weapons, and now they are doing everything they can to obtain the ultimate weapon. A nuclear armed Iran is a threat to everyone, everywhere and no one can afford any longer to sit back and wait for our allies to do the ``dirty work'' for us and disarm Iran. We, too, must act. The time is long past due for us to pass these sanctions against that regime and stop their nuclear ambitions before they wipe our allies off the map.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on these important issues. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to provide incentives for clean, renewable domestic energy production, to improve our energy security, and to extend provisions that provide vital tax relief to parents, teachers, college students, small businesses and millions of other middle class Americans. The energy provisions in this bill will allow my home State of Nevada to become an even stronger leader in the field of renewable energy. In a State that has a renewable energy standard and sunshine almost every day of the year, our entrepreneurs are anxious to secure the 8 years of solar energy tax credits contained in this bill, while our public utilities will finally be able to claim that credit as well. Instead of capping solar tax credits at $2,000 for residential property owners, this bill will allow home owners to recoup 30 percent of their solar energy installation costs as a tax credit. Solar is just one renewable energy source in this bill. There's also tax credits for wind, geothermal and biomass. The time is long past due for these important tax credits to be extended. This legislation also renews a number of expired individual and business tax credits, and will ensure that the residents of Nevada and other States that do not pay a State income tax are treated fairly and allowed to deduct State and local sales taxes instead. It's also important to note that the tax relief in this bill is fully paid for and will not add a single dollar to the national debt. Now, that's good fiscal policy. I urge support for this bill, and I urge the Senate and the President to do their part to enact this important legislation.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the AMT Relief Act. While I strongly believe the alternative minimum tax should be eliminated, this bill will provide a necessary, temporary solution to protect the more than 25 million Americans who would otherwise be hit by the AMT this year. If this legislation is not enacted, more than 138,000 Nevada taxpayers will see their tax bill increased by the AMT. This includes more than 32,000 hardworking Las Vegas families who were never intended to be affected by this tax. I am also pleased that the bill contains language to help those who face gargantuan alternative minimum tax liabilities on stock option income that they never actually received. I have several constituents in my district affected by this so-called ISO AMT, including one citizen who received a $1.2 million tax bill on a $30,000 stock option gain. This provision will help make these individuals whole. With the current economic downturn, the rising cost of food and gas, increased unemployment and people losing their homes due to mortgage foreclosure, the last thing Las Vegas needs is a tax increase on thousands of middle class families. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of this important legislation which expands mental health services for PTSD and substance use disorders, among other initiatives, for the brave men and women who have selflessly served our nation. Nationally, one in five veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffers from PTSD. Twenty-three percent of members of the Armed Forces on active duty acknowledge a significant problem with alcohol use. It is vital that our veterans receive the help they need to deal with these conditions. The effects of substance abuse are wide ranging, including significantly increased risk of suicide, exacerbation of mental and physical health disorders, breakdown of family support, and increased risk of unemployment and homelessness. Veterans suffering from mental health issues are at an increased risk for developing a substance abuse disorder. A constituent of mine, Lance Corporal Justin Bailey, was a 1998 graduate of Las Vegas High School. Upon returning from a tour of duty in Iraq, he was diagnosed with PTSD, and was discharged from the Marines in 2004. He developed a substance abuse disorder and checked himself into a VA facility in West Los Angeles. After being given 5 medications on a self-medication policy, Justin overdosed and died on January 26, 2007. Justin's parents were treated with indifference and apathy at the West LA facility. They were even handed Justin's belongings in a trash bag. Last August, 8 months after Justin's death, the Baileys returned to Los Angeles to meet with the Chief of Staff at the West LA VA Hospital. They came away from the meeting feeling the Chief of Staff had been completely unprepared and seemed out of touch with the needs of veterans. He even went so far as to state his staff does not know how to treat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan because they are young and the staff is not tough enough on the younger veterans--giving them anything they ask for. I introduced the House companion bill to S. 2162--the Mental Health Improvements Act, H.R. 4053--because it is imperative that we provide adequate mental health services for those who have sacrificed for this great nation and those who continue to serve. I am so thankful that the House is considering S. 2162 today. Passage of this bill will help to ensure that we have the mental health resources and substance abuse treatment programs needed to care for our veterans. The assessments of residential mental health facilities required by the bill will help tell us how well the VA is performing and what we can do to improve these services, including expanding availability at VA hospitals. The availability of treatment for PTSD, including substance use disorder counseling, literally saves lives--so this must remain a top priority. A review of the services provided to our veterans is needed to ensure that what happened to Justin does not happen to anyone else. I am grateful that this bill also contains the final authorization for the new Las Vegas VA Medical Complex that is so desperately needed in Southern Nevada. The complex will feature a 90-bed inpatient hospital, 120-bed nursing home for veterans, and an outpatient clinic. The complex will be over 900,000 square feet and is scheduled to open by mid-2011. I want to thank both the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees for working together to come to a compromise on a bill that contains many vital initiatives for our veterans. I whole-heartedly support S. 2162 and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 643, a bill originally introduced by Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, for the purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprints pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for her strong leadership on this issue. I will not speak long, Mr. Speaker, because this issue could not be more simple to understand. I rise today as a proud cosponsor of this bill and as co-chairman of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus. Mr. Speaker, this administration talks about spreading democracy and expanding liberty. In the case of Taiwan, we don't need to topple a dictator in order to show our support for one of the world's most embattled democracies, we simply need to help them protect themselves. And yet we cannot get this administration to tell us if they in fact will deliver the arms that they have already promised to Taiwan. Will they allow Taiwan to acquire the weapons they need, or will this administration continue to curry favor with the Chinese and refuse to help our democratic ally in its time of need? We have written letters, Members of this body have made statements, and now we're passing a law just to get simple answers from the President of the United States. We cannot and should not wait any longer. Taiwan and its democratic citizens ought not have to wait any longer. Let us deliver the arms that we have promised to the Taiwan people. I urge support for this bill.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. When I was a freshman Member of Congress about 10 years ago, a very senior Member, Tom Lantos, came to me and asked if I would be willing to be a member of the Human Rights Caucus. I, of course, would not hesitate for a moment if Tom Lantos asked me to in fact participate. It was, and has been, among one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in Congress, and I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to an absolutely extraordinary man and dear friend, Tom Lantos, than to create this Human Rights Commission in his name, and I support this resolution wholeheartedly. But when I think of Tom Lantos, I also think of the last resolution that Congress took up a few moments ago marking the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass. In many ways Kristallnacht marked the turning point in the history of European Jewry. Tragically, too few nations, including our own, dared to speak out or even thought to speak out against this horrific pogrom. As a result, the Nazis concluded that the world would stand by and do nothing as they committed atrocities that the world had never seen before. Indeed, after Kristallnacht, they intensified their genocidal operations, ultimately leading to the gas chambers and the Final Solution. Sadly, the Nazis were proven right, that the world would stand by and watch a feeble response that has been repeated far too often since that horrific night in 1938. Madam Speaker, the grim anniversary of Kristallnacht reminds us that evil must be confronted forcefully and early, or else these unspeakable acts will be repeated again and again. I think, given the fact that we will be creating a Human Rights Commission in Tom Lantos' name, that perhaps because of this bold move on the part of Congress, that a Kristallnacht could never and should never be able to happen again. I support both resolutions.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, I rise as a strong cosponsor of this legislation. While the Holocaust may have ended over 60 years ago, its effects are still very much felt today, and it is essential that we do not allow the victims of those horrific crimes to continue to be victimized by the circumstances that surround this issue today. Many survivors of the Holocaust have still not received proper restitution for their looted property, and the time is long past due to say ``enough.'' And let us take action on behalf of these survivors and the victims of the Holocaust. I would like to share with my colleagues a story of a constituent of mine, Dina Babbitt, who I have been working with for the last 10 years to get her property back, her rightful property back. Dina was a 20- year-old young lady when she and her mother were interned in Auschwitz. Now Dina had a talent. Dina was an artist. Even at the age of 20 her talent was obvious. Joseph Mengele saw her work on one of the walls of the children's barracks where she had drawn a picture of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to cheer up the children that were in the children's barracks in Auschwitz. He singled her out, and what he started doing is, he would point out people that were interned at Auschwitz, the prisoners that were interned, and he would direct her to draw their pictures. And she would draw the picture. He didn't want to take a photograph because he couldn't get the color of the skin right, and she would draw the picture. After she drew the picture he would kill the inmate. Now Dina says she learned to draw very slowly at that time. She was liberated, and she and her mother fled Auschwitz. She eventually came to the United States of America where she worked at Disney Studios for well over 30 years of her life. She received a telephone call 25 years ago from the Polish Government. They said they had found artwork that they believe she had created and would she come to Poland to authenticate it. She became so thrilled that she could have something to give to her children and her grandchildren so that they would have a piece of her. She is convinced, and I believe this, too, that the artwork is the only thing that saved her and her mother. She was a Czechoslovakian Jew; 3,600 Czechoslovakian Jews were interned in Auschwitz, only 22 survived. Dina and her mother were two of the 22 Czechoslovakian Jews that survived their time in Auschwitz. She went to Poland. She authenticated that those are my pictures, and they refused to give them to her. To this day, the Polish Government has not negotiated with Dina Babbitt one bit so she could get one or two or three of her pictures. There are seven that currently exist.

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman very much. I tell you this with all the passion that I could muster, that this woman should be able to get her property, her rightful property. This isn't even a purchase that she made that has been stolen from her. This came from her own hands, and I think it is time. That is why I so strongly support this resolution that people like Dina Babbitt, it is time, the time is long since past for Dina Babbitt and so many others to receive their just compensation. I urge support for this resolution. I look forward to the time that the Polish government and the Lithuanian government actually take positive steps to restore the treasure and the possessions of these people who have suffered so much.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his strong and very important leadership on this issue. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this important resolution stating our position on the Durban Conference. Seven years ago, we watched in disgust as a conference on racism, a very important issue which demands the world's attention, was diverted into a hate fest against Israel and Jews everywhere where participants and outside groups attempted to paint Israel as an ``apartheid state'' guilty of ``crimes against humanity.'' This kind of inflammatory speech does nothing to help the Palestinians. And it certainly does nothing to help those who are truly oppressed by racist regimes. We now hear of new attempts to hijack the review conference to be held next year. The Organization of Islamic Conference says they want to highlight ``new forms of racism'' such as blasphemy against Islam while continuing to focus on spewing anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist hatred. We must stop these cynical attempts to divert attention away from the human rights abuses in places like Iran and Saudi Arabia and put the spotlight squarely where it belongs, on real forms of racism, slavery and xenophobia, which is what this conference is supposed to be about and which it should be about. I urge support for this resolution.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6893, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act. The provisions of this bill will increase the tools available to states to help children in foster care have stable placements and easier transitions into adult life. This legislation allows states to continue foster care assistance for kids up the age of 21, authorizes federal assistance to relatives assuming legal guardianship of children for whom they have cared as foster parents, and extends and improves the Adoption Incentives Program, among other things. While much more remains to be done to ensure the safety and well being of our nation's foster children, I support this legislation as a common sense and much needed first step in the right direction, and I hope that Nevada and other states will take advantage of the new tools made available to them. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation time.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Before I give my prepared remarks, I'd like to say that one of the reasons that I am so supportive of the Democratic proposal is because it does not have nuclear energy reliance which has a nuclear waste problem that no one has been able to solve. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this important legislation which will help our Nation move towards a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. This bill provides necessary tax incentives for electricity produced from renewable resources, including wind, solar and geothermal. These incentives will provide badly needed assistance to clean renewable energy companies in my home State of Nevada and throughout the country that are working to diversify our Nation's energy portfolio and clean up our environment. Power from the sun and wind and geothermal are unlimited. And these entrepreneurs are ready to build and expand our renewable energy resources as soon as we in Congress give them the tools they need to move forward. Energy independence is not just an environmental issue or an economic issue, it's a national security imperative. We pay exorbitant prices for oil from countries like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, who support and finance terrorism and terrorist attacks on America and our allies. We must stop funding both sides of this war on terror. By encouraging the development of renewable energy and energy independence, this bill helps move this country in the right direction. Our Nation has only 3 percent of the world's oil reserves, and yet our energy future is being held up on the fantasy that we can drill our way out of our energy problems. Mr. Speaker, we need to move ahead and grow our clean energy resources instead of relying on old 20th-century technologies like nuclear, that is not clean or safe or inexpensive, or industries like oil that pollute our air and contribute to global warming to satisfy our Nation's energy needs. Let's invest in our energy future by supporting this good piece of legislation.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the WestCare Foundation, headquartered in Las Vegas, which is celebrating its 35th Anniversary this year. The WestCare story begins in 1973, the same year that saw the launch of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). In that year, a residential treatment program called Fitzsimmons House, or ``Fitz House,'' was begun in Las Vegas. Adopting the therapeutic community treatment modality, Fitz House focused on long-term care for hard-core adult male heroin addicts. Within a few years, WestCare responded to the community's need for expanded substance abuse and mental health treatment and made available services to women and individuals abusing drugs other than heroin. By 1981, the Fitz House program had expanded to include adult outpatient and day treatment services, as well as substance abuse education. Within 3 years, they acquired what is now known as the Youth Residential Program for Adolescents, and one year later they added a day treatment component for probationers and parolees. Collaboration with Juvenile Court Services and the Nevada Association of Counties led to the establishment of the Regional Family Resource Center in 1986 to provide crisis intervention, substance abuse assessments and referral/ placement services for youth and families. In the following year the agency that began as Fitzsimmons House officially adopted the name of WestCare. By 1992, WestCare had extended its focus on special populations to include school-based substance abuse education and prevention for Hispanic youth. Soon neighboring states were beginning to take notice. After meeting with a group of citizens from the tri-state region of Laughlin, Nevada/Needles, California/Bullhead City, Arizona, the Colorado River Region Youth Service Project (CRRYS) was established in Mohave County, Arizona to address gaps in services for youth corrections and child welfare referrals. Ironically, the program was based in a facility originally constructed to conceal a 10,000-square foot marijuana-growing operation shut down by the DEA. That group of citizens from the tri-state region would become the first in a series of local boards which oversee WestCare's community- based agencies. That pattern was soon repeated in Fresno, California when WestCare assumed the fiscal and clinical management of The Third Floor. Originated in 1974, the program provides critical substance abuse treatment and prevention programs as well as support services for the homeless and families in need--over 3,000 persons annually--and is currently one of the largest community-based programs in California. From there, WestCare expanded its efforts to the other states now covered by its work (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Nevada and the Virgin Islands.) Now, under the direction of its national leadership, over 1,100 dedicated staff members provide care at 74 service sites. But Nevada retains the distinction of being home to the WestCare Foundation National Office. Today, the WestCare Foundation is a national non-profit organization with a depth of experience in providing the full continuum of substance abuse and addiction treatment services, including a broad array of health and human services, in both community-based residential and outpatient treatment environments. Specializing in those historically considered difficult to treat, the WestCare family of organizations provides quality substance abuse treatment services to adults, children and families throughout its service areas. Madam Speaker, I know you share my excitement and pride in the work of West Care and join me in congratulating them on 35 years of exceptional service in the community.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, despite the disaster of the Bush-Cheney energy plan, House Republicans continue to insist on the same old energy policy that favors bigger profits and more breaks for Big Oil. Rather than working across the aisle to provide much-needed relief at the pump, House Republicans have blocked every effort to responsibly invest in renewable energy and take the one action that would have brought down gas prices immediately, releasing oil from the government's own stockpile. This week House Republicans will have an opportunity to prove that they really do support all-of-the-above energy strategies. We hope to bring a comprehensive energy package to the House floor that promotes efficiency, conservation, invests in renewable sources of energy, and responsibly increases domestic supply by opening portions of the Outer Continental Shelf to drilling. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans have a choice to make this week. They will stand by their own words by supporting this legislation or they will once again support Big Oil.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentlelady for yielding to me and for her leadership. And I thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Crowley) for his leadership on this and so many other issues, and my dear friend, Mr. Bilirakis, who has done such a remarkable job in the time that he has been in Congress. I rise today as a proud cosponsor of this resolution, but I am deeply troubled that it even needs to exist. It is often said that a society can be judged by the values that they teach their children. Mr. Speaker, I am sorry to say that there is no more fitting commentary on Hamas and its principles than the shocking hate-filled television programming they broadcast to indoctrinate their children. For those who still believe, contrary to everything else, that Hamas is merely a political organization or a social organization, they should look no further than their television sets to see a Mickey Mouse look-alike teaching children how to wear explosive belts, or Bugs Bunny teaching children to kill and even eat Jews. This is absolutely outrageous uncivilized behavior. And far from laying the groundwork for peace, Hamas is sowing the seeds of yet another generation of terrorists who value martyrdom and death above all else. Instead of protecting their children, they are putting them in harm's way. Indeed, just this weekend during a cease-fire with Israel, Arab media reported that Hamas is continuing to conduct military exercises in residential areas. It is just further troubling evidence that they are all too eager to put their children in the line of fire. Instead of teaching their children mathematics and geography or really enjoying a Mickey Mouse and a Bugs Bunny character, they teach their children how to fire missiles and maximize casualties, and using cartoon figures to do it. I submit to you today that true peace will only come to the Middle East when terrorist organizations like Hamas stop indoctrinating their children with hate, stop treating their children as cannon fodder, and start building a positive, stable future for their children. I urge support for this resolution.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to say farewell to the Skentaris Family, the operators of the food service in the Ford House Office Building, and to thank them for their fifteen years of outstanding service to the United States House of Representatives. Jordan Skentaris, the patriarch of the family business, came to the United States through Ellis Island from Greece on April 17, 1955. Jordan began his food service career in New York City and eventually settled in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where his family operated restaurants for 30 years. In January 1993, Jordan, his lovely wife Soula, and their wonderful children--daughter Artemis and son Christopher--began their service to the House in the Ford House Office Building. Their unwavering commitment to serve the needs of every customer to the fullest extent possible no matter who they are--and regardless of their political affiliation--has endeared them to Members, House staff, Capitol Police and visitors. This was particularly evident as the Skentaris family made sure their customers and employees were taken care of during 9/11 and anthrax. Since the Ford Building was closed for weeks following the anthrax attack, this was no easy task, but they persevered and found a way to keep continuity of service without missing a beat to the customers and community they so value. Many times we hear people say that Capitol Hill is a family. I would like to say that the Skentaris family has not only been part of the Capitol Hill family, they have become my family. Many of the customers who pass through the cafeteria daily are greeted by name. Jordan, Soula, Artemis and Christopher can be proud of the level of service they provide to their customers each and every day. On behalf of the entire House community, we bid a fond farewell to the Skentaris family and extend our deepest appreciation for their dedication and outstanding contributions to the U.S. House of Representatives. We wish them much success in their future endeavor at the Voice of America where I, my staff and hundreds of others will follow them--not only for their delicious food, but for the warmth and considerate service they provide to all who enter. They will be sincerely missed.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I move to strike the last word.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise tonight in support of this bill. I want to thank Chairman Edwards and Ranking Member Wamp for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of this Nation's veterans, and for including report language on veterans burial benefits. I'm deeply concerned about the eroding value of plot allowance and burial benefits provided to our Nation's veterans. Because the benefits are not indexed to inflation, their value continues to diminish each year. As a result, families and State veteran cemeteries have been left to cover the increasing costs of burying their loved ones. The VA simply must assess the need to increase the plot allowance of burial benefits to cover the same percentage of burial benefit costs that were covered in 1973 when these benefits were first initiated. I appreciate the fact that the chairman has included the report language in the report the need for increasing burial benefits for our veterans. I'm also pleased that the committee recognizes the importance of veterans' mental health and substance abuse services. This is an issue of great importance to me. I had a constituent by the name of Justin Bailey. He volunteered to serve this Nation, he was sent to Iraq, he served with honor and distinction. And when he returned, he developed a substance abuse problem. At the suggestion of his parents, he checked himself into a VA facility, and even though he was suffering from a substance abuse problem due to PTSD and other mental health issues, he was given more medication while he was in the VA facility. And he ultimately ended up overdosing while he was in the care of the VA. Unfortunately, Justin is not an isolated incident. There are thousands of young men and women returning from service overseas that come back with a mental health problem or substance abuse problem or PTSD. I'm very delighted that this committee and Chairman Edwards have recognized that this is a crisis and this bill increases funding for mental health and substance abuse services for our veterans. Again, I want to thank Chairman Edwards and Ranking Member Wamp for recognizing the importance of these issues, and I would like to urge my colleagues to support this legislation without reservation and without continuing to add on things that do not belong in this bill and are not germane. Let's stand up for our veterans, and let's stand up for them this evening. I yield back.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Congressman Ellsworth, for giving me a few moments of his time in order to sing the praises of Nevada's National Guard. I particularly want to thank my colleague from Nevada, Dean Heller, for having the good sense and good taste to introduce this resolution honoring our National Guard. I am very grateful to him for that. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution and in deep gratitude to the members of the Nevada National Guard who have made so many sacrifices to serve our country and my home State of Nevada. Since 9/11, more than 1,850 of our soldiers have mobilized to support the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. That's 64 percent of our Nevada Guardsmen deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. As we speak, 263 Nevada National Guard members are serving on active duty in support of a number of operations around the world, with 136 of them currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These brave men and women have had to endure years of separation in long and difficult tours of duty overseas. Their service takes an enormous toll on them and their families, and this resolution is just a small token of our appreciation. Some of them have made the ultimate sacrifice, and for that we will forever be in their debt and the debt of their loved ones. I want to highlight the actions of just one of these brave soldiers. Specialist Douglas Pierce of the 221st Cavalry was recently presented the Army Commendation Medal with Valor for his actions in Iraq on June 3, 2007. Specialist Pierce was providing escort security when his convoy came under attack. After escorting the convoy out of danger, Pierce returned to the area under enemy fire to provide medical aid to wounded soldiers. He didn't have to go back into the area, but because of his brave action, one of the soldiers he assisted is alive today and recovering at Walter Reed Hospital. I am also proud that this Congress is giving back to those like Specialist Pierce who have served our country so bravely. We recently updated the GI Bill for the 21st century, increasing education benefits for those who have served since 9/11, including reservists and members of our National Guard. We have once again restored our promise to our veterans by guaranteeing a 4-year education for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and providing members of the National Guard with the tools they need to succeed in the workplace. And, at long last, we have finally given the same benefits to our National Guardsmen as we have long provided the rest of our Armed Forces. Mr. Speaker, the debt we owe to our soldiers can never be fully repaid, but I hope this Congress, and I'm confident that this Congress, will continue to support them as much as we possibly can. I urge support for this resolution. Before I yield back, I want to thank my colleague from Nevada once again, Mr. Heller, for introducing this resolution. I appreciate it, and I know the Guardsmen and their families do as well.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate once again the anniversary of Turkey's illegal invasion and occupation of Cyprus, beginning in 1974, lasting up to the present time. The division of Cyprus has wreaked havoc on the island nation and left its Turkish- occupied section in disarray. It is cruel that the Cypriot people should continue to be subjected to this conflict. Two summers ago, we were all pleased to see the two sides reach a major breakthrough in the troubled history of this divided island. After years of conflict, both sides committed themselves to the reunification of Cyprus based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation and political equality. By agreeing to these principles, they recognized the status quo is unacceptable and that continuing it only hurts Turkish and Greek Cypriots. Now, the two parties have set up working groups and committees so they can begin implementing the agreement they reached in 2006. In just a few days, Cypriot President Christofias will meet with his Turkish counterpart, Mr. Talat, when they will review the progress of these working groups. It is my hope--and I believe my colleagues share in my feeling--that the two sides will soon be able to begin full-fledged negotiations, leading to a final status agreement and the removal of all Turkish troops from the island. Last fall, this House expressed its support for these efforts by unanimously passing H. Res. 405, of which I was a proud cosponsor. Madam Speaker, we urge the two parties to move forward in their discussions and, at the same time, we urge the international community to step back and allow the Cypriots--and the Cypriots alone--to make the decisions affecting their future. No one can force an agreement on them.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to especially thank Chairman Frank for doing an extraordinary job on behalf of the people of the United States of America through this piece of legislation. I have a statement that I would like to submit for the Record. But I want to make a few additional comments. This legislation may be the single most important piece of legislation that I will vote on for the people that I represent. One out of every 122 homes in my congressional district is in foreclosure. The home builders aren't building; the Realtors aren't selling; the construction workers aren't working. That is contributing to a higher than the national average unemployment rate in my congressional district. Now, I have heard my colleagues on the other side of this bill talking about this is a boon to speculators, and how sharks are going to be taking undue advantage of the provisions of this bill. This is not what I am seeing in my district. I am seeing desperate Americans, people, our neighbors and our friends, losing their home. They are worried. They are looking to their government to get some relief. This legislation provides that relief. I support it without qualification. The American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act will strengthen the Nation's mortgage and housing situation in a number of important ways. The bill takes steps that will both improve the current housing situation and strengthen oversight to prevent similar problems in the future. This is especially important for Nevada, which has experienced the highest rate of foreclosures in the country for well over a year. This bill modernizes and improves the FHA and the GSEs to better measure risk and provide stricter oversight and includes proposals to shore up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The bill will help a significant number of families in danger of losing their homes by allowing the FHA to insure up to $300 billion in refinanced mortgages. The bill also includes important tax provisions such as the $7,500 first-time homebuyer refundable tax credit and a new standard deduction for property taxes in 2008. I am hopeful the combined effect of the provisions of this package will be to alleviate the current housing crisis and help put our Nation's economy on stronger footing. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I want to thank Chairman Berman for yielding some time, and my dear friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Congresswoman from Florida, for being the prime sponsor of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember the victims of the July 18, 1994, attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Argentina. I remember being rocked to my very core when I learned of this unprecedented and ruthless attack against innocent members of the Jewish community in Argentina when I first learned of it 14 years ago. This vicious attack, which killed 85 innocent people, has been linked strongly to Hezbollah and to the government of Iran. We know all too well that Iran's saber rattling has become far more alarming of late. Hezbollah is gaining strength in Lebanon and anti-Israel, anti-Jewish groups have threatened Jewish targets all over the globe. It is therefore vital we do everything we can to bring the perpetrators of this attack to justice. With this resolution, we applaud Argentina's efforts and urge our own President to provide law enforcement support to the government of Argentina. We also call on the Saudi regime to stop turning a blind eye to this growing threat and choose to help, rather than hinder, those who are fighting terrorists in their Middle East neighborhood. Lastly, and perhaps most important, we ask all the nations of the western hemisphere to stand together in calling Hezbollah what it truly and really is, a terrorist organization, and not just a political party. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I urge support for this resolution.