Shelley Berkley

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 2176. I believe this bill will lead to an unprecedented expansion of off- reservation Indian gaming by offering a blueprint to any Indian tribe that wants to circumvent the laws regulating Indian gaming in order to build a casino outside the boundaries of its sovereign territory. And let me show you, Mr. Speaker, what I'm talking about. We are looking at the two Indian reservations that have requested this special interest legislation. The land they are talking about is hardly an ancestral part of their reservation. It is 350 miles away from their ancestral lands where they already have a casino. As a Las Vegas Representative in Congress, I do not oppose gaming. I can attest to the positive impact that gaming can have on a community. I have no problem with other communities trying to replicate the Las Vegas experience, and I support the right of tribes to participate in gaming on their reservations, as both of these tribes already do. But the bill we are considering today is an attempt to circumvent the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, using a bogus land claim, a bogus land claim that has already been tossed out of State court and Federal court, and the result if this bill passes will be two new off- reservation casinos more than 350 miles from the lands of these two tribes. Now, why are they coming to Congress? Because they have lost in State court. They have lost in Federal court. They do not comply with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. So what do you do if you want a casino 350 miles away from your reservation? You find a friendly Congressman to introduce special interest legislation in Congress.

Ms. BERKLEY. How do we know this land claim is bogus? In his testimony before Congress in 2002, the chairman of the Sault Saint Marie Tribe called this land deal ``shady,'' ``suspicious'' and ``a scam,'' until his tribe partnered up with the shady, suspicious land deal, and all of a sudden switched his position. But more than 60 tribes across this country have announced their opposition to H.R. 2176, in which Congress for the first time would allow a tribe to expand its reservation into the ancestral lands of another tribe for the express purpose of gaming. This bill is opposed by the Department of the Interior, the NAACP, UNITE HERE, and a unanimous House Judiciary Committee. To sum up the issue: Congress is being asked to pass special interest legislation benefiting two tribes, each of which already has gaming, based on a suspect land claim that has already been thrown out of court, so they can open casinos hundreds of miles from their ancestral lands, in direct competition with existing facilities. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be here today with Chairman Conyers and Congresswoman Kilpatrick to share my opposition to H.R. 2176. I believe this bill will result in an unprecedented expansion of off-reservation Indian gaming by offering a blueprint to any Indian tribe that wants to circumvent the laws regulating Indian gaming in order to build a casino outside the boundaries of its sovereign territory. As Las Vegas's representative in Congress, I do not oppose gaming. I can attest to the positive impact that gaming can have on a community. I have no problem with other communities trying to replicate the Las Vegas experience, and I support the right of tribes to participate in gaming on their reservations, as both of these tribes already do. But the bill we are considering today is an attempt to circumvent the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act using a bogus land claim that has already been tossed out of both Federal and State court, and the result if the bill passes will be two new off-reservation casinos more than 350 miles from the lands of these two tribes. And beyond that, if this bill becomes law, any one of the more than 500 recognized Native American tribes can argue that they have the right to sue private landowners in an attempt to bargain for gaming somewhere else. How do we know the land claim is bogus? In his testimony before Congress in 2002, the chairman of the Soo Saint Marie tribe called it ``shady,'' ``suspicious,'' and ``a scam.'' Soon thereafter, his tribe became a party to the deal and switched its position. But more than 60 tribes across the Nation have announced their opposition to H.R. 2176, in which Congress for the first time would allow a tribe to expand its reservation into the ancestral lands of another tribe for the express purpose of gaming. This bill is also opposed by the Department of the Interior; the NAACP; UNITE HERE; and a unanimous House Judiciary Committee. To sum up the issue: Congress is being asked to pass special interest legislation benefiting two tribes, each of which already has gaming, based on a suspect land claim that has already been thrown out of State and Federal court, so they can open casinos hundreds of miles from their ancestral lands, in direct competition with existing facilities that have helped revitalize a major American city. If this bill is brought to the floor, I will strongly urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise once again in strong opposition to H.R. 2176. I believe this bill will lead to an unprecedented expansion of off-reservation Indian gaming by offering a blueprint to any Indian tribe that wants to circumvent the laws regulating Indian gaming in order to build a casino outside the boundaries of its sovereign territory. This debate is not about the right of American communities and Indian tribes to participate in gaming. I have no problem with other communities trying to replicate Las Vegas' experience, which has been so very successful, and I support the rights of tribes to participate in gaming on their reservations as both of these tribes already do. But the bill we are considering today is an attempt to circumvent the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by using a bogus land claim, a bogus land claim that has already been tossed out of both Federal and State courts. Now, our proponents say that we are here because we want to improve a legitimate land claim and want to have justice for our Indian friends. Well, justice has already been served. This bogus claim has been thrown out of Federal court and State court. The result, if this bill passes, will be two new off-reservation casinos more than 350 miles from the lands of these two tribes. And 350 miles is a very substantial amount. It is from Washington, D.C. to Cleveland, Ohio. And beyond that, if this bill becomes law, any one of the more than 500 recognized Native American tribes can argue that they have the right to sue private landowners in an attempt to bargain for gaming off their reservations. Let's circumvent the Indian gaming laws, come directly to Congress, and Congress can end up spending all of our time approving Indian gaming casinos on every street corner in every American city. How do we know this land claim is bogus? Because the chairman of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe called it shady, suspicious, and a scam until he joined with the other tribe and switched his position. More than 660 tribes are opposed to this legislation in which Congress, for the first time, will allow a tribe to expand its reservation into the ancestral lands of another tribe for the express purpose of gaming. This bill is opposed by the Department of the Interior, the NAACP, UNITE HERE, more than 60 tribes across the United States, and by a unanimous vote of the Judiciary Committee. To sum up this issue, Congress is being asked to pass special interest legislation benefiting only two tribes, each of which already has gaming.

Ms. BERKLEY. This, remember, is based on a suspect land claim that has already been thrown out of the State and Federal courts so that they can open up a casino hundreds of miles from their ancestral lands and in direct competition with existing facilities. I urge a ``no'' vote on this very bad piece of legislation.

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I just want to end this myth about competition. How can anybody claim that the gaming casinos are afraid of competition and the free market when the tribes are playing by a different set of rules? Talk about unfair competition, the Indians don't pay taxes on their casinos, and that's why they are so successful. So I don't want to hear any nonsense about competition and fear of competition. That's a lie.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak in honor of one of America's finest broadcast journalists and most effective community leaders, on the occasion of his retirement this month. Robert Stoldal has achieved well-deserved legendary stature over his 41-year career at Las Vegas' CBS affiliate, KLAS-TV, Channel 8. Bob's insistence on the highest journalistic standards of accuracy, thoroughness, fairness, and aggressiveness established a clear benchmark of professional values which has been followed by hundreds of journalists, videographers, producers, and editors. Uniformly, those who have worked for Bob credit him with improving their professionalism through his guidance and the example he sets. Bob is a good friend of mine, and he has my highest respect as a newsman and as a preeminent leader of the city we both love so much, Las Vegas. Bob has led the charge for community causes too numerous to mention, even as he has led one of America's top local newscasts for decades. Bob and his corps of news professionals at Channel 8 and sister station, Las Vegas NEWS ONE, consistently earn the highest honors awarded by the national broadcast news industry. At the same time, Bob Stoldal worked successfully for television cameras to gain access to courtrooms; battled over the years to preserve Nevada's historical legacy; gained recognition across the Silver State as an authority on Nevada history; and, devoted himself to the growth of his alma mater, UNLV. Bob Stoldal has the trait common to all great journalists--courage-- courage to stand up to organized crime and political corruption, courage to accept the risk of going into a highly dangerous jailhouse stand-off and negotiate a peaceful solution, and, the courage to take on the federal government over its use and abuse of Nevada as a nuclear proving ground, as just some examples of his fortitude. Southern Nevada is indeed most fortunate that a person of Bob's unflagging energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and tenacity has set the pace for the area's newsgathering during the four decades that metro Las Vegas has led the nation in population growth. Bob, I congratulate you on a tremendous career, of which I, and our fellow Las Vegans, are so proud. I know you will keep giving your all for our community in your purported retirement! Best wishes to you, Kay, and your family as we look to the future.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Fostering Connections to Success Act. The provisions contained in this bipartisan legislation will benefit thousands of children and will help to promote stability and permanency in their lives. The ultimate goal of our Nation's child welfare system is to promote safe, stable and permanent homes for America's most vulnerable children. The provisions of this bill will help to accomplish this by allowing States to continue foster care assistance for kids up to the age of 21, authorizing Federal assistance to relatives assuming legal guardianship of children for whom they have cared as foster parents, and extending and improving the Adoption Incentives Program. 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 commonsense and much needed first step in the right direction. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my best wishes to Dr. Joseph Jaushieh Wu and his family. After representing the Republic of China (Taiwan) for 1 year and 2 months, the Wu's will be leaving Washington this month. Ambassador Wu graduated from National Chengchi University in Taiwan and earned his Ph.D. in political science from Ohio State University. He taught briefly at Ohio State and later at his alma mater, National Chengchi University. In 2002, he began his government career as Deputy Secretary-General to President Chen Shui-bian. From 2004 to April 2007, he was the chairman of Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council. He is the author of a number of publications, most notably, Taiwan's Democratization, published by Oxford University Press. In April 2007, he was appointed Taiwan's Representative to the United States. As we all know, Taiwan has been undergoing profound political changes in recent years. With his strong communication skills, Ambassador Wu has given countless briefings to administration officials, senators, representatives and the media about Taiwan's internal politics, while at the same time, deftly highlighting Taiwan's willingness to negotiate with the People's Republic without pre-conditions. He has rightly emphasized Taiwan's strong political and cultural ties to the U.S., its trade relations with us, and its cooperation in combating global terrorism. Today our government maintains a robust relationship with Taiwan because of leaders like Dr. Wu. We consider Taiwan a democratic ally and a strong trading partner. Nevertheless, due to the lack of official diplomatic relations between our two countries, it has not been always easy for Ambassador Wu to serve as interlocutor between our two governments. Despite all the challenges, Ambassador Wu has served his country with distinction and helped to strengthen the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. I wish Ambassador Wu and his family the very best.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman from New York. I know that he has been an outstanding voice on this issue for as many years as I can remember. Long before I came to Congress to serve with him, I would watch him on C-SPAN as he spoke about this issue, and serving with him, I admire him all the more. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this important resolution. When we talk about peace in the Middle East, we so often get caught up in the specific details that we rarely discuss the fundamental problems in that region. Unlike our country, or Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East, most countries in that part of the world have very little freedom of the press and therefore very little accountability to their people. Such restrictions on free speech serve those Middle Eastern autocrats very well, keeping their populations in line and focusing the anger of the street outside of their own borders. The populations there have very little choice but to believe the daily insults that many state-run newspapers heap on our country and on Israel. They have no other avenue by which to get their news. So instead of rebelling against their own corrupt dictators, the people of the Middle East flood their streets to burn American and Israeli flags, with little or no hope that they can change events in their own countries that are controlled by these dictatorial regimes. Mr. Speaker, such restrictions on speech not only condemn the people of the Middle East to intellectual poverty and ignorance, they make peace harder and harder to achieve. And it is not only the media, it is also the textbooks that need to be changed. From the Palestinian territories to Saudi Arabia, Middle Eastern children are taught that Jews are monkeys and snakes and worse, and that Israel must be destroyed because it has no right to exist. Such education, both in school and in the newspapers, and such disinformation, cannot create possibly a condition for peace. With this resolution today, we can send a clear message to the Middle East that we, the United States of America, stand with those who seek a free press, those who want to bring out the truth and let freedom ring throughout the Middle East. To quote the resolution itself, by passing this we will affirm ``the universal rights of all persons to freely and peaceably express themselves, to publish and advocate for their nonviolent beliefs, and to petition their government for redress of grievances.'' I thank the gentleman again, and I urge support for this resolution.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, Congress has taken several steps to shore up the Nation's economy, including passage of the economic stimulus bill that provided millions of Americans with rebate checks and measures to help homeowners struggling to stay in their homes. This legislation is an important next step. The once recession-proof economy of my district of Las Vegas has not been spared the effects of this downturn. In fact, Nevada has been hit harder than any other State by the foreclosure crisis, and currently our unemployment rate is above the national average. With gas prices and the cost of food skyrocketing, fewer visitors are coming to Las Vegas. That means that more workers are going to be laid off. It is, therefore, absolutely critical that Congress step up and pass an extension of unemployment benefits. I support the bill we are considering today because it will help thousands of hardworking Nevadans get by until the situation improves and they can return to work.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to welcome Rabbi Felipe Goodman to the United States Congress. His credentials are as impressive as his spirit and his commitment. I know because not only is he my rabbi, he's my close personal friend. Born in Mexico City, he is an alumni of Mexico City's University of the New World and obtained his master's degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary. Ordained in 1996, Rabbi Goodman now leads one of the most vibrant and fastest-growing conservative congregations in the United States, Temple Beth Sholom in my hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada. In his 10 years of service, his congregation has grown from 100 to more than 700 families. He has built an entire new campus and is building a new home for its thriving school. On January 5, 2007, 1 day after his 40th birthday, Rabbi Goodman became a United States citizen. Rabbi Goodman is the co-author of ``Hagadah de Pesaj,'' which is the most widely used edition of The Pesach Hagadah used in Latin America. Singled-out by international leaders for both his ideas and hard work, Felipe became vice president of the World Union of Jewish Students. He is one of 12 members of The Rabbinic Cabinet of The Chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary and serves as a member of The Joint Placement Commission of The Rabbinical Assembly, The United Synagogue and JTS. The Seminary recently appointed him to the Joint Retirement Board of The Conservative Movement. He's a former member of The Executive Council of The Rabbinical Assembly and its Nominating Committee. But more than any degree or honor or appointment, he is an important, warm, caring, and respected spiritual and religious leader in Las Vegas, Nevada, a devoted husband to Liz; a wonderful father to Yoshua, Daniela, and Ariela. I am honored to have him here with us in the House today and honored to call Rabbi Felipe Goodman my rabbi and my friend.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Rangel and Congressman Neal for bringing forward this wonderful piece of legislation, which I proudly support. And I support this bill to provide incentives for clean domestic renewable energy production. It will improve our energy security, extend vital tax provisions, and provide tax relief to parents and teachers, college students, homeowners, small businesses, and millions of other middle-income Americans. Closer to home, this legislation is needed to ensure that Nevada residents, who do not pay a State income tax, will be able to deduct State and local sales taxes from their Federal income taxes. Currently, some families who could benefit the most from the $1,000 refund and for a child tax credit actually make too little to qualify. This bill ensures that more hardworking parents will be able to benefit from this credit. The bill extends the investment tax credit for solar energy property for 6 years, while doubling the annual credit cap for residential properties to $4,000.

Ms. BERKLEY. This important provision not only increases clean energy production, but it will also create new green collar jobs in Nevada. While I strongly believe the alternative minimum tax should be eliminated and I remain committed to protecting the 130,000 Nevadans who will be hit by this tax, this bill is paid for. I recommend everyone support it.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I also would like to thank the chairman of our full committee, Mr. Filner, for being so supportive, and the chairman of our subcommittee, Mr. Michaud, for helping to make this legislation a reality today. I'm very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this important piece of legislation. Nationally, one in five veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from PTSD. Twenty-three percent of members of the Armed Forces on active duty acknowledge that they have a significant problem with alcohol. Veterans must receive the help they need to deal with these conditions. The effects of substance abuse are devastating, 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 problems are at 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 with the encouragement of his parents, checked himself into a VA facility in west Los Angeles to get the treatment that he needed and recognized that he needed. He sought treatment for a drug abuse problem, and yet he was given five additional medications on a self-medication program. With those five additional medications in his system, Justin overdosed and died on January 26, 2007. The loss of a child is devastating enough, but what made matters worse is the way that Justin's parents were treated by the VA. They were treated with indifference and apathy at the West L.A. facility that their son died at. They were 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 L.A. facility. They came away from the meeting feeling that the Chief of Staff had been completely unprepared and seemed out of touch with the needs of the veterans. The Chief of Staff went so far as to state that his staff didn't know how to treat veterans of the Iraq and Afghan war because they were young, and the staff was not tough enough on these younger veterans, they tended to give them anything they asked for. I'm very pleased that the committee included my amendment to require the VA to conduct a review of all residential mental health care facilities, including domiciliary facilities, and agree to rename the bill in Justin's honor. I know this means a great deal to Justin's family. Passage of the Justin Bailey Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Prevention Act 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 will help us to learn how well the VA is performing and what we can do to improve these services, including expanded availability at VA hospitals. The availability of treatment for PTSD, including substance abuse disorder counseling, will save many lives. 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 ever again. It's imperative that we provide adequate mental health services for those who have sacrificed for our great Nation and those who continue to serve. I wholeheartedly support H.R. 5554 and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I want to especially single out Chairwoman Schakowsky for her concern and her leadership on this issue. I rise today in support of recognizing May as National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month. Osteoporosis and low bone density affect more than 44 million Americans over the age of 50. Many are unaware of their risks for osteoporosis and therefore never take the steps that are necessary and relatively easy to prevent this disease. Like many Americans, I had no idea that I was at risk for developing osteoporosis. When I was running for Congress in 1998, I was first diagnosed with this disease. Fortunately, since I received a proper diagnosis, within 10 months of receiving the diagnosis and getting the proper treatment, I was able to stop my bone density loss and my bones actually began to strengthen again. Now, it became very apparent to us once I was diagnosed that my two grandmothers more than likely had osteoporosis. As they aged, they became more bent over and they started breaking bones, but we just thought that was part of old age and we never imagined, because in those days you didn't get tested for that sort of thing, that they both probably suffered from osteoporosis as well. Because of my personal experience with osteoporosis, I'm committed to ensuring that Americans are aware of the importance of strong bones so they can reduce their chances of developing the disease, and that's why I have introduced House Resolution 369, the Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Act. Among the resolution's goals is to bring attention to the importance of building strong bones during childhood and adolescence. Up to 90 percent of peak bone mass or optimum bone strength is acquired by age 18 in girls and age 20 in boys, which makes childhood and adolescence the best time to invest in your bones. This resolution also addresses the importance of eating a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D, participating in weight-bearing exercises and choosing a lifestyle without smoking or alcohol consumption. Each year, as Chairman Schakowsky has already stated, there are more than 2 million osteoporotic fractures costing about $19 billion a year. I strongly urge my fellow citizens to visit their doctors, get screened for osteoporosis; and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and other pieces of legislation that are providing for bone density screening. Rather than cutting this important part of preventative care, we ought to be enhancing it, and I urge support of this resolution and others that affect the health and well-being of our fellow Americans.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts for yielding. And I would like to particularly thank Chairman Rangel and Chairman Frank for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of the American people. Mr. Speaker, this amendment and the overall housing package we are considering today will help millions of Americans and significantly improve the economic situation in my State of Nevada. In recent years the vibrant economy and rapid growth in my district of Las Vegas combined to make the city appear immune to economic downturn. This foreclosure crisis has shown that this is no longer the case. Nevada has had the highest statewide foreclosure rate for well over a year. The surge in foreclosures has led to huge inventories of unsold homes. This, in turn, has led to massive layoffs of the construction industry and other housing-related fields. Nevada, which has been a land of economic opportunity, the fastest-growing State in the Nation, now has an unemployment rate of 5.8 percent, which is, I'm sorry to say, well above the national average. This amendment takes several steps that will help both current and prospective homeowners as well as increase affordable housing opportunities. Current homeowners will be helped by the creation of a standard deduction for property taxes, which will lower Federal taxes for taxpayers who don't itemize and by freeing up funds to refinance certain subprime loans. The tax credit for first-time homebuyers creates a great incentive to get families into properties that are currently sitting vacant due to foreclosure or that have been sitting on the market for long periods of time due to excess unsold inventory. The bill also takes steps to increase affordable rental housing, another critical need in Las Vegas. I'm hopeful that the combined efforts of this amendment and other provisions of the package will be to alleviate the current housing crisis and help turn our Nation's economy around. I proudly support the intent and the substance of this legislation. I urge adoption. And I must say I think it's insulting to the American people when they hear that there are Members on the other side of the aisle that support the bill, support the intent, but are voting against it because they didn't get a procedural motion to vote on. Let's do what's best for the American people and stop this ridiculous infighting that nobody out there cares about. They care about staying in their homes. They care about protecting their families. And, quite frankly, they don't give a hoot whether somebody has a motion to recommit to vote on.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Earlier today, this House passed the concurrent resolution recognizing the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of Israel and reaffirming the bonds of close friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. I was not yet born in 1948 when the State of Israel declared its independence, but I grew up and was born into a family where the fact that Israel had been created meant everything to us, and I want to share with you why that is. I am the granddaughter of immigrants to this country that couldn't speak English. My mother's side of the family comes from Salonica, Greece. Prior to World War II, there was a vibrant Jewish community in Salonica. Over half the population, 80,000 people, were Jewish. By the time the Nazis finished with the Jews of Salonica, there were only 1,000 out of the 80,000 Jews left. On my father's side of the family, we who come from the Russian- Poland border, the entire culture, a vibrant culture that had existed for over 1,000 years, was exterminated along with most of the Jewish population of Poland. I grew up hearing stories from my grandmothers about what it was like in the countries that they came from and how happy they were to be Americans, to be Jewish Americans. My family had a profound sense of patriotism and pride in being Americans, but they also, and we also, are Jewish. And the fact that there is a country uniquely belonging to the Jewish people said something to us about the ability of surviving so that anything like what happened in World War II never happened again. A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of attending the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. I had never wanted to go to Auschwitz before because of all of the horrors that took place there during World War II: People systematically slaughtered for the very mere fact they were Jewish; starved, killed, exterminated, gassed. But I did go to this commemoration. And I was told by the late Tom Lantos, my dear friend, a story while we were sitting there. Two weeks before this commemoration of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Israel Defense Force had their own commemoration. And the head of the Israel Defense Force got up at Auschwitz, and he said the following words. He said to the members of the Israel Defense Force who were there participating in this ceremony, We are 60 years too late, but we are here now; and with that, four Israeli jets buzzed over Auschwitz. That symbolism was not lost on anybody sitting there. If Israel had existed 60 years ago, perhaps hundreds of thousands of Jews could have been saved and kept from the gas chambers. If I wasn't Jewish and Israel didn't mean so much to me in a highly personal way, as an American, I would celebrate the birth of Israel and its existence. The modern State of Israel has rebuilt a nation, forged a new and dynamic democratic society, created a thriving economic, political, cultural, and intellectual life despite the pain of war and almost constant terrorist attacks, attacked in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, and all the time moving forward and expanding their economy, expanding their way of life, living in a thriving and vibrant democracy. Our strongest ally, America's strongest ally on the planet is that little State of Israel; votes with us all the time in the United Nations, supports us, and we, in turn, support it because it is mutually beneficial to both the United States and to the State of Israel. It would be my fervent dream that before the next anniversary of Israel, that there would be a Jewish State of Israel living side by side in peace with a Palestinian state that was also democratic, with a free press, free speech, and a vibrant economy and a way of life where people could reach across those divides and live a better life together. And with that, I yield back the balance of my time with great pride in the 60th anniversary of the creation of the State of Israel.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I want to thank the chairman for recognizing me. I don't have any long Treasury reports to read to you, and I'm not here to tell you what should have been, what we could have done, should have done, would have done. But I'm here to talk on behalf of H.R. 5719 because there are some important components and provisions of this bill that, when taken together, will make future tax days more fair and less strenuous for the average American taxpayer. H.R. 5719 contains provisions to ensure that taxpayers receive all the tax benefits they're entitled to. This bill will increase outreach to help taxpayers benefit from the earned income tax credit and find unclaimed refunds, effectively lowering taxes for many Americans. I think this is a good provision. This bill also prevents the IRS from using private debt collectors to collect Federal income taxes. Private debt collectors have proven to be poorly equipped for the job, actually costing the IRS and taxpayers 37 million more than they have collected. This change is an important move to protect taxpayer privacy. And as a taxpayer and as a citizen, I want the government and the IRS to do its job and not send this responsibility out to someone else. I'm also very supportive of a provision to postpone implementation of the 3 percent withholding requirement on government payment to vendors. This requirement will cause significant administrative and financial burdens on local governments, unfairly penalizing companies, and raising prices on consumers. I think this is a good provision in this legislation. The bill also helps protect taxpayers by requiring the IRS to notify individuals if unlawful use of their identity is detected by cracking down on Web sites that try to defraud people through use of the official IRS logo.

Ms. BERKLEY. All of these taken together aren't earth-shattering and they're not going to change the way that we collect taxes in this country, but it's going to help, and it's going to help millions of our fellow Americans. On Tax Day, let's pass something and do something positive for the American people.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, nearly every longtime Washingtonian knows of a beautiful location on Woodley Road, the 18-acre compound known as the Twin Oaks estate. It was built in 1888 by Gardiner Greene Hubbard, founder of the National Geographic Society. The estate's 26-room house in the early Colonial, Georgian, Revival style and modeled after a New England frame summer house, is the only remaining example of that style in the District of Columbia. The estate was rented to the Republic of China, ROC, Government in 1937 and was later sold to the ROC Government in 1947. In its heyday, the estate was the official residence of 9 ROC ambassadors, who used it to entertain senior members of the U.S. Government, U.S. Senators and Congressmen, including future President Gerald Ford, and other members of the diplomatic corps in Washington, DC. It began a tradition of hospitality and friendship at Twin Oaks that continues to this day. Twin Oaks was also the place where the ROC's senior diplomat H. K. Yang negotiated with the U.S. administration and Members of Congress to chart a positive course for future relations between Taiwan and the United States, after the termination of official ties between our two countries in 1978. The product and result of Minister H. K. Yang's negotiations was the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act in April 1979. The TRA set the framework for unofficial relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. For the last 29 years, the TRA has served both the U.S and Taiwan extremely well. We have continued our unofficial, but strong ties with Taiwan. Taiwan, in turn, has become one of the most prosperous and democratic countries in Asia. It is my hope that as we celebrate the 120-year history of the Twin Oaks estate, we also celebrate the 29th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act this April.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this important issue. Madam Speaker, when Israel declared its independence in May, 1948, seven Arab nations immediately attacked the fledgling country and sought to drive Israel into the sea. Simultaneously, many of the same Arab nations forced their own Jewish citizens to leave their ancestral homes, making refugees out of nearly one million people. The issue of Jewish refugees from Arab lands speaks to one of the fundamental problems of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Many Arab countries have refused to accept the existence of Israel, while cynically exploiting the Palestinian refugees in their war against Israel. Arab leaders willingly agree to confine the Palestinians to squalid camps where terrorism and extremism and hate are bred instead of resettling them and welcoming their Palestinian brothers to their own oil rich lands. They claim a ``right of return'' for Palestinian refugees in the hope that they will flood Israel in order to undermine and ultimately destroy the Jewish State of Israel. Madam Speaker, this resolution begins to set the record straight, while setting out a balanced approach to address the refugee issue, all refugees. Any peace plan must look at both sides of the refugee issue in an equal way. We must acknowledge the Jewish refugees from Arab lands, be aware of the hidden agenda behind a Palestinian ``right of return'' and expose the obstructive role played by both the Arab nations and the United Nations in the refugee issue. We must find just solutions for all refugees in this conflict, redressing the grievances of all sides while retaining Israel's integrity as a Jewish state.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 50th anniversary of the creation of the European Parliament. As chair of the U.S. delegation of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, I would like to congratulate the European Parliament on its remarkable evolution. Fifty years ago, it was a small assembly with non-elected members, just four official languages, and only consultative powers; today it is a directly elected parliament with members speaking 23 languages, wide decisionmaking powers over legislation and budgeting, as well as control and scrutiny of the European Commission. The Lisbon Treaty, which is currently awaiting ratification, could enlarge the powers of the European Parliament even further. Members of the European Parliament have also broadened their sphere of influence beyond domestic European affairs, engaging vigorously in our Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue. That dialogue has contributed to bringing the European Union and the United States closer together and continues to be of utmost importance, enhancing national security and stimulating economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic. The Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue has held bi-annual interparliamentary meetings since 1972, when a U.S. congressional delegation visited the European Parliament for the first time. Over 60 meetings later, I am proud to have played a role in enhancing and strengthening the ties between the European Union and the United States. As a long-time advocate of transatlantic relations, I was delighted to host our latest interparliamentary meeting this past October in Las Vegas. During our meeting, we discussed a number of important transatlantic issues, including regulatory initiatives under the Transatlantic Economic Council, the rise of global anti-Semitism. and foreign policy challenges, such as the Middle East, Kosovo, Russia, and China. I look forward to continuing our transatlantic dialogue at the next TLD meeting--in Ljubljana, Slovenia in May--and to continue following the future development of the European Union. Fifty years after its birth, the European Parliament is growing stronger each year, and I once again congratulate the Parliament and the European Union as a whole on its achievements.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs be authorized to file a supplemental report on the bill H.R. 5501.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. I want to return the compliment to the gentleman from New York. This is an issue that has been in the forefront of his mind and actions since he came to Congress. And I thank the sponsor of the legislation, Mr. Hastings, for bringing it to us today. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution and in the hope that this archive will help the world remember the crimes committed in the Holocaust and ease the pain of those families who lost loved ones in the Holocaust but to this day have no idea what happened to their families and their family members. We, unfortunately, find ourselves in an age where the absurdity of the Holocaust denial is on the rise, when the leader of Iran seeks to recreate Hitler's acts, and when anti-Semitic conspiracy theories are finding fertile ground all over the Internet. At the meeting of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue last October in Las Vegas, Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti- Defamation League, laid out for us the troubling resurgence of global anti-Semitism, not only in Europe and in the Middle East but even here at home. Conspiracy theories flourish, claiming Jews control the media and the banking industry and Jewish lobbies have too much power, the same old canards that have existed for all too long. Mr. Foxman reminded us that these words and theories, often serious anti-Semitism disguised as ``anti-Zionism,'' are too often used by terrorists and hate groups to justify their actions. I'm sorry to say in a newspaper article in the Rebel Yell at my alma mater, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, just this week there was a horrible anti-Semitic and anti-Israel screed written by a misinformed student that has created shock waves across the Las Vegas community. As chairman of the Transatlantic Dialogue, I believe that I speak for all TLD members when I say how grateful we are to our friends across the Atlantic who have worked so hard to open these archives. It is my hope, as this resolution states, opening the historic record will be a ``vital contribution to the world's collective memory and understanding of the Holocaust.'' We must do everything we can to ensure that nothing like the Holocaust ever happens again, not in Europe, not in the Middle East, not in Africa, not anywhere. And I thank the gentleman again.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Massachusetts (Ms. Tsongas).