Shelley Berkley

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, because I was out of the country last week on an important diplomatic and constituent services mission, I was unable to vote on rollcall Nos. 607 through 629. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 607-610, 613-615, 617-624, and 628-629. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall Nos. 611-612, 616, and 625-627.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding and I rise in strong support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, is it too much to ask, after nearly 60 years, that Israel's neighbors recognize its basic right to exist. There is simply no reason for the U.S. to be funding entities that do not recognize Israel, the Middle East's only democracy and our staunch ally. Mr. Chairman, we can argue about the Palestinian Authority and whether we should fund that corrupt and ineffectual government. But there should be no debate when talking about terrorist organizations whose singular purpose is to wipe Israel off the map. We must send a clear and firm message to Hamas and Hezbollah: as long as you are committed to Israel's destruction, we will commit ourselves to not aiding your survival. End of story. I thank the gentleman for his clear sighted amendment.

Ms. BERKLEY. I want to thank the gentlelady from New York and thank Mr. Wolf. It's nice to be on the same side of an issue for a change, and this is certainly one that I appreciate your support. Perhaps next year we can work on an amendment that will be even stronger than this. I quite agree with you. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to particularly thank our subcommittee chairman, Nita Lowey. I think she has done a remarkable job throughout the day and during her entire service in the United States Congress. And to my good friend Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, I want to thank her for her leadership on this issue. Mr. Chairman, the time has come to put an end to the shenanigans at the United Nations. While murderous and dictatorial regimes in North Korea, Zimbabwe, and Sudan have starved and burned and raped and killed hundreds of thousands of their own countrymen, the United Nations Human Rights Council focuses its attention on the only democratic country in the Middle East: Israel. Israel, with a free press, a country with free elections, a vibrant economy, and an open society; a nation that has to defend itself from terrorists and terrorism, terrorists who would wipe it from the face of the Earth if they had half a chance. Now that is a human rights issue worth looking into. Mr. Chairman, the United Nations' Orwellian hypocrisy on human rights is so well known it has become a cliche. This body must take a stand against this mockery of a Human Rights Council. Let us cut off funding for this shameful and outrageous organization.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana for his leadership on this issue. I am proud to associate myself with his efforts though I believe it does not go far enough. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask my colleagues when we will learn from our mistakes? Did we learn anything when Arafat took our money and stashed it in his Swiss bank accounts instead of providing for his own people? Did we learn anything when Fatah was exposed as nothing but a corrupt gang of thugs? Did we learn anything when Abu Mazen refused to rout Hamas when he had the chance and showed that his backbone is no stronger than a wet noodle? Did we learn anything when Israel unilaterally withdrew from the Gaza and Fatah failed to build one school, one hospital, one road, did one thing to improve the lives of its own people, but still came to us with their palms open for more money? Did we learn when the Palestinian Finance Minister Salam Fayad admitted that hundreds of millions of dollars of foreign aid had been siphoned off, thanks to corruption and malfeasance? Mr. Chairman, let's stop throwing good after bad. We should cut off funding to the corrupt and ineffectual Palestinian Authority. If I have learned anything it is this: If the U.S. gives Abu Mazen 50 cents or $50 million or $500 million more dollars he will be incapable of uniting the Palestinian people, leading the Palestinian people or bringing peace to a very troubled part of the world. I thank the gentleman from Indiana again for addressing this important issue and I yield back.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the Chair. Mr. Chairman, I rise today on behalf of Mr. Weiner, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Ferguson and myself to offer an important amendment to cut off funding to the Saudi Arabian regime. Mr. Chairman, there are many reasons that we need not be sending foreign aid to Saudi Arabia. First, Saudi Arabia does not need our money. They are one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with a GDP of over $286 billion a year. With poor countries begging us for help, why are we giving money to this oil-rich kingdom? Is not 60, 70, $80 a barrel enough? Second, Saudi Arabia exports and funds terrorists and terrorism. Need I remind anyone in this body that 15 of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudi? But the story goes on. By 2005, over 2,500 Saudi youths had entered Iraq to wage jihad against the Americans. That's waging jihad against us. By last month, 3,000 Saudis had been killed or captured in Iraq. Why are all these Saudis fighting in Iraq? Because their government is financing and teaching terrorism. Israeli officials believe that over half of Hamas' budget comes from Saudi Arabia. Just this week, two indictments were served against Saudi charities that are accused of funding Hamas. Their textbooks still teach Saudi children that Jews are apes, Christians are pigs, and that every other religion other than Islam is false. Their newspapers print anti-Semitic cartoons depicting the Jews as thiefs, and, most insulting of all, as Nazis. Already this year our State Department has counted 14 human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia, including beatings, arbitrary arrests, violations of religious freedom, and limitation on workers rights. The Saudis are not our allies. They are not our friends. King Abdullah called our invasion of Iraq an illegal foreign occupation. Those are not the words of a friend. Mr. Chairman, we cannot trust them and we should not fund them. That is why every year more and more Members of this body vote to cut off funding to the terrorist regime. And yet, despite all this, the funding for Saudi Arabia has increased. Let me repeat that. It has increased each year because of an obscure loophole in the Foreign Assistance Act, up to $1.5 million in 2006. Well, this year we're closing that loophole. Our amendment will ensure that funding to Saudi Arabia is cut off once and for all. Enough is enough. Let's come to our senses and end this senseless promotion of terrorism. I urge support for the Weiner-Crowley-Ferguson- Berkley amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, as co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I rise in strong support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, for too long, we have allowed China to dictate our relationship with Taiwan. If anything, it should be the other way around. Taiwan consistently holds free and fair democratic elections. Taiwan respects human rights and labor standards. Taiwan is a free, democratic nation. As the greatest democracy in the history of the world, we have an obligation to support other democracies and nurture them around the globe. We must be a beacon, a light to the world, showing the way forward for other democracies. Only then, will democracy finally flourish--and only if we show the way. Mr. Chairman, our priorities are backwards when we place China's concerns ahead of a democratic country's. We must end these arbitrary and archaic restrictions on our relations with Taiwan. I urge support for this amendment.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank Chairman Visclosky for his assistance on this issue and Congressman Hobson for his agreement to accept this amendment. My amendment is based on a simple concept--the Department of Energy, or any government entity for that matter, should not be using taxpayer funds to ``educate'' the children of America about one side of a very complicated and contentious issue. The Department of Energy's Web site includes a section called the ``Yucca Mountain Youth Zone,'' featuring the cartoon character Yucca Mountain Johnny, along with games and activities designed to convince kids that the proposed Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository is a good idea. My position on Yucca Mountain should not be a mystery to any member of this body. I have long opposed the plan to bury nuclear waste in the Nevada desert following what I consider to be a process based on politics rather than sound science. But I recognize that reasonable people can disagree about such an important issue. What I do not accept, however, is that the Department of Energy can get away with trivializing a very serious debate by using a Nuclear Joe Camel to promote Yucca Mountain to children. My amendment would eliminate funding for the Yucca Mountain Youth Zone Web site. Regardless of whether you support Yucca Mountain or oppose it, all members of the House should agree that this Web site is not an appropriate use of taxpayer funds. If the Department of Energy really wants to remain in the cartoon business, I suggest they come up with a new character that would educate our children on the need for clean and renewable energy--how about Solar Sally or Geothermal George? In any case, I urge my colleagues to join me in dumping Yucca Mountain Johnny. What I would like to do right now, in accordance with our agreement, is yield to Mr. Visclosky.

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my colleague for this very thoughtful amendment. The Yucca Mountain project is a failure. Twenty years after Nevada was unfairly singled out as the proposed dumpsite for this Nation's radioactive garbage, the only waste at Yucca Mountain is the $12 million that has now been wasted on this ridiculous proposal. Plans for Yucca Mountain threaten the safety of the families I represent and the lives of 50 million Americans who will be at risk from shipments of toxic radioactive garbage headed to Yucca Mountain. One spill involving this deadly nuclear waste could make people sick, die, and shut down our roads and railways, and cost millions to clean up. Nuclear waste shipments are also prime targets for terrorists looking to unleash radiation on unsuspecting communities or to steal material needed to make a dirty bomb. Current plans call for thousands of nuke waste shipments on America's roads and railways, each one vulnerable to a handheld missile or 9/11-style suicide attack, the results of which could be devastating. Decades of ``mobile Chernobyls'' passing by homes, schools, hospitals, houses of worship, each an accident waiting to happen. And believe me, Mr. Chairman, our first responders have no training and no resources needed to deal with incidents involving these nuclear waste shipments. We talk about money and saving money by putting more money into Yucca Mountain? We have absolutely no idea how much Yucca Mountain is going to cost because there is no cost estimate. We have no time estimates. We have no radiation standards. We don't have canisters that currently exist that can store this nuclear waste and not have the nuclear material leach into the groundwater that is going to pollute all of the Southwestern United States water supplies. Now, if we want to do something for the American people, let's end this ridiculous folly before it costs us any more money. We have the power to do it in Congress. It is time that we stop this ridiculous proposal.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise to strike the last word. Mr. Chairman, 20 years ago Congress declared that my home State of Nevada would become this Nation's nuclear garbage dump. The legislation is known in the State of Nevada as the ``Screw Nevada Bill.'' Two decades later, the families I represent remain overwhelmingly opposed to having toxic nuclear waste buried 90 minutes from their homes, businesses, and where their children play. They have seen the mismanagement at Yucca Mountain, the lack of quality assurance and recent scandals where workers admitted to having falsified work on the site. Nevada families know that there is currently no canister capable of storing nuclear waste for thousands of years and that, once inside of Yucca Mountain, corrosive elements will cause the canisters that do exist to rapidly fail, corrode, releasing radioactivity into nearby water supplies. Moms and dads fear thousands of truckloads of nuclear waste barreling down the highways of southern Nevada, home to more than 2 million families and a destination that attracts more than 40 million visitors a year. They have seen over the past 25 years how promises for ``fair treatment'' and ``sound science'' have been trumped by raw politics. And in 2002 they watched as Congress ignored Nevada's objections and declared that Yucca Mountain should go forward in spite of serious unresolved scientific issues that linger to this very day. The circuit court of appeals decision that threw out the 10,000-year EPA radiation standards, there is a reason that they threw it out. Currently, no radiation standards exist for Yucca Mountain because they would have to find radiation standards for a 300,000-year time, leaving most of us to wonder if the financial status of the nuclear industry is more important than protecting the public safety and lives of American citizens. Fortunately, Nevadans are not alone in opposing Yucca Mountain. Across this Nation, communities that face decades of nuclear waste shipments have raised their voices in opposition to Yucca Mountain. They share our concerns about terrorist attacks or an accident involving this lethal cargo. One nuclear waste spill could threaten thousands of lives, shut down rail lines and highways, and cost millions of dollars to clean up. Who is going to pay for that cleanup? Post-9/11 we know all too well that there are those who will stop at nothing to strike at this Nation. Terrorists seeking to release radioactive materials or to secure a dirty bomb could target these waste shipments for attack, making each train or truckload a disaster waiting to happen. Our communities do not have the resources and our first responders simply do not have the training to deal with this threat. Mr. Chairman, there are more reasons to oppose Yucca Mountain. This literal hole in the Nevada desert has already cost taxpayers $12 billion, and the sky is the limit when it comes to future spending: $100 billion, $200 billion, $300 billion? Nobody can tell us and nobody knows. The last time the DOE updated the cost analysis for Yucca Mountain was 2001. The Department of Energy said in 2006, and again this year, they will provide updated cost analysis. They haven't yet done that because they don't know. The DOE's failure to provide us with an up-to-date life-cycle cost analysis for this project is just one more reason to oppose this multibillion dollar boondoggle. And here is another: Yucca Mountain is even further away today than it was 20 years ago when we first started down this path. After $12 billion in spending, Yucca Mountain is now so far behind schedule that it will not even open until 2020 or beyond. Remember, it was supposed to be 1998. Meanwhile, the last shipments will not even leave the nuclear reactor sites until 2047. That is 40 years from today. Mr. Chairman, we have a better solution. The first step is to keep nuclear waste where it is now in hardened dry-cask storage containers that can be secured for the next 100 years. End Yucca Mountain before we waste another $200 billion to $300 billion. And then, finally, find a real solution to securing this Nation's nuclear waste. I urge you to vote to cut wasteful spending at Yucca Mountain, protect 50 million Americans in the communities all across our Nation who will be in danger from nuclear waste shipments and the families who oppose plans to turn Nevada into a radioactive garbage dump. Before I yield back, I want to thank both Mr. Hobson and Mr. Visclosky for yielding me this time. I appreciate their courtesy that is of monumental importance to the people I represent, the citizens of Nevada, and those who are living on these very dangerous transportation routes.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, today I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Las Vegas Springs Preserve project, and how this one- of-a-kind interactive, historical and educational facility will forever preserve and sustain the original springs where Las Vegas was established. When it opens in June, this $250 million non-gaming cultural and historical attraction will offer a fun, educational and recreational gathering place to commemorate Las Vegas' dynamic history and provide a vision for a sustainable future. The Preserve will feature a series of historic museums, galleries, outdoor concerts, events, an interpretive trail system, a botanical garden and the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society where Nevadans and tourists alike will find a unique, educational experience about the history of Las Vegas. Seeking the rich California coast, Spanish traders of the early 19th Century forged a path west that became known as the Old Spanish Trail. Upon discovering a vale of sanctuary, they named it ``Las Vegas''-- Spanish for ``The Meadows.'' In the years that followed, the Las Vegas Springs welcomed weary travelers, explorers, traders, settlers and Mormon missionaries--all of them drawn here by one common denominator-- water from the springs. Enticing many to remain and make use of its waters, land near the springs was purchased by the railroad, which created the Las Vegas town site. It was water from the natural springs that powered the railroads' steam locomotives. In later years, the Nevada Legislature created the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Among the Water District's inherited holdings was the Las Vegas Springs property. In 1978, the 180-acre Springs Preserve, located approximately three miles west of downtown Las Vegas, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The site represents one of the richest and most unique cultural and biological resources in Southern Nevada. As the largest commercial straw-bale construction project in the United States, the Preserve is erecting seven new green buildings intended to join an elite list of buildings nationwide that have achieved ``Platinum'' Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Today, the Springs Preserve site is still owned by the Water District--a steward of water resources in the Valley for more than 50 years. During this time, human progress has surrounded this timeless plot of land, but operational wells and water distribution facilities saved the site from development. The Las Vegas Valley Water District and the Springs Preserve Foundation have formed a public-private partnership that will serve as a unique model for teaching cultural and environmental sustainability. Beginning next month, the story of the Las Vegas Springs will be told through both guided and self-guided tours, interpretive stations and several museum galleries. As the representative of Nevada's First Congressional District, it gives me immense pride to recognize this outstanding and unique educational facility in the heart of my congressional district. With this example of pioneering preservation, sustainable construction and innovative education, visitors to the Las Vegas Springs Preserve will be inspired by what they see and be motivated to implement the ideals of preserving our past, while simultaneously creating a livable future. Again, I proudly urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this outstanding public-private educational facility.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of this important legislation. Everyone in this body knows about the atrocities being committed in Darfur. Congress has already labeled them a genocide, and the administration followed suit shortly thereafter. Last year, we passed the Darfur Peace and Accountability Act, which seeks to give teeth to our declarations and clamp down on the Sudanese government. And yet, despite all of this activity, the horrors continue. The Sudanese regime still has not gotten the message that the United States is serious about stopping the bloodshed. Many countries continue to view the situation as ``business as usual.'' China is the largest foreign investor in Sudan and continues to provide the Sudanese blood-soaked government with interest free loans. They are even engaging in arms sales, despite the clear evidence of massacre, rape, destruction, displacement and genocide. Mr. Speaker, if we are serious about stopping the bloodshed in Sudan, we cannot allow business to continue as usual. The Chinese government and governments throughout the world need to start getting the message: If you continue to invest in murderous, blood-thirsty regimes, if you continue to invest in Sudan, there will be consequences, there will be very serious consequences. I urge support for this resolution.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Ambassador of Greece to the United States, Mr. Alexandros Mallias, who was recently honored by the B'nai B'rith International Center for Jewish Culture for his commitment to advancing Jewish-Greek relations. As part of its ``Odyssey of the Jews of Greece'' series of cultural events, B'nai B'rith International recognized the efforts of Ambassador Mallias in working with American Jewish organizations to promote a closer relationship between Greece and Israel. B'nai B'rith Executive Vice President Dan Mariaschin expressed the organization's gratitude to Ambassador Mallias and highlighted the long history of the Jewish people in Greece. On a personal note, my own family was part of that history. My great grandparents and maternal grandmother emigrated from Greece to the United States, and many of those family members they left behind in the Jewish community of Thessaloniki perished at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. I would like to congratulate Ambassador Mallias, and insert his remarks into the Record. (A) Relations Between Greeks and Jews Through the Centuries Greeks and Jews are connected by history, geography, monotheistic religions, philosophy, trade, social sciences, arts. The two peoples have been interacting since the beginning of recorded history. There is recorded presence of Jews in the Greek world, what Jews first named Gentiles, centuries before Christ. The presence of Jewish community in Thessaloniki, the capital of Macedonia, goes back to the 2nd century BC. The most important sites of Christianity in the Holy Land are under the supervision of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. It is a unique and the most ancient surviving institution on earth. Over the years, Greece has forged strong ties with Israel. Bilateral relations are at a very good level. Political, economic and cultural relations have gained their own dynamic. (B) Holocaust During the Second World War, Greek Jews shared the fate of their fellow Jews all over the continent in the hands of the Third Reich. According to the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece: ``When, during the German occupation, the hateful campaign against the Jews started, their Christian compatriots showed compassion and solidarity.'' Archbishop of Greece Damaskinos declared: ``We are all Jews.'' He filed to the German Authorities 2 petitions asking them to stop the persecution of the Jews. The petitions were undersigned by 29 leading cultural institutions and professional bodies of the country, including the Academy of Athens. Many ordinary Greeks in rural Greece and big cities risked their lives and the lives of their families by sheltering Greek Jews. Fortunately, the decimated Greek Jewish community with the assistance of the state and energized by its unique spiritual inheritance survived the massacre of the Holocaust. Today the Greek Jews have reclaimed their rightful position among the most dynamic and progressive segments of the Greek society. The message of the Holocaust: Never Again. (C) Indicative Measures Adopted by the Greek State. First post World War II Greek Government was the first among European countries to pass legislation for the restitution of the property confiscated by the German occupation Forces. Unclaimed property did not revert to the state but was given to the Jewish Community. Designation by Law 3218/2004 of the 27th of January as the day of Remembrance of the Holocaust. Legislation was praised by many members of the US Congress. Greece became a full member of the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research (Cracow Session 12-18 November 2005). Memorials have been erected in many cities throughout Greece. Public TV often shows documentaries and historical series on the Holocaust. Since school year 2005-2006, the Holocaust is included in the curriculum of the third grade Lyceum (age 17-18 years old) entitled ``War crimes--the Holocaust'' and students are tested at the end of the school year. An extensive revision of textbooks is being undertaken by the Pedagogical Institute. A new textbook and teachers' guidelines will be issued next year. Textbooks of primary and secondary education are also being revised. (D) Historic Perspective Greece has firmly condemned pronouncements by the Iranian President calling for Israel to be wiped-off the map and denying the indisputable fact of the Holocaust. How would anyone deny this fact when the Greek-Jewish community almost vanished during the German occupation of Greece? The unique historic perspective of the Jewish people guarantees that the issue of Macedonia is well understood. After all, one of the most ancient and flourishing Greek- Jewish communities is in Thessaloniki. Jews from Macedonia who after WW II emigrated to Israel or the US are proud for their Greek inheritance. History transcends national borders. It belongs to all of us. Political differences cannot justify the distortion of history in any form. Greeks and Jews understand that.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 408, I was unavoidably detained in a meeting of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee with the Chinese trade delegation. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Speaker, I was unable to vote on rollcall Nos. 397 through 402. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos. 397, 398, 399, 400, 401, and 402.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, during rollcall vote amendment No. 388 on the Sessions Amendment on H.R. 1427, I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``aye'' when I should have voted ``no.'' Amendment No. 34 Offered by Mr. Brady of Texas

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. There is no denying that Iran's bloodthirsty regime would gladly destroy the United States, annihilate Israel and destabilize Iraq. Iran's hand in terrorist activities around the Middle East is clear. Iran's President continues to threaten Israel. I believe he stated he would wipe Israel off the map. And he continues to pursue nuclear weapons so he can dominate the Middle East and threaten his neighbors. We have tried to stop Iran from obtaining those weapons. We have increased sanctions on firms that do business with this dangerous regime. We have worked with our allies and the United Nations. And yet with all of these efforts, just yesterday, we learned that the sanctions have done precious little to impede Iran's march towards obtaining nuclear weapons. According to the IAEA, and by Iran's own bravado, Iran is now beginning to enrich uranium on a far larger scale than ever before. Mr. Chairman, this is not the time to be tying our hands on Iran. We all seek a peaceful solution. No one wants another war. But if we don't take a tough stance on Iran and maintain the threat of military action, Iran will get the message that we don't care if it gets nuclear weapons. It will allow the most dangerous regime in the world to continue its quest for regional and world domination, and destroy the only democratic country and the United States' most reliable ally in the region, Israel. I urge opposition to this amendment.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I just happened to be on the floor when I heard the last speaker talking about Senate majority leader Harry Reid and condemning his comments. I have known Senator Reid since I was a high school senior at Valley High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. I don't know a public servant who has devoted more of his life to this country, his State and his community than Senator Harry Reid. Now, I can't account for everything this man has ever said, but to get on the floor of the House of Representatives and condemn a true patriot, somebody who cares passionately about his fellow citizens and somebody that stays awake at night because of the loss of life and limb in Iraq, to condemn that person on the floor of the House of Representatives I think is a disgrace. And if I didn't stand up and say something, I would never forgive myself.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Good morning, Madam Chairman. I rise today in support of an amendment that would require the CIA to issue a report on providing retirement benefits to former employees of Air America. From 1950 to 1976, employees of Air America faithfully served their country doing their part to help win the Cold War. Air America was a government corporation covertly owned and operated by the Central Intelligence Agency. Under the guise of a civilian airline, these pilots conducted flight operations in various countries, including China, Laos, Korea and Vietnam on behalf of the Department of Defense and the CIA. Unfortunately, since it was a closely held secret that Air America was a government-owned corporation, these men and women have never been credited for their government service. That means they can not receive government benefits, retirement benefits for their efforts. The amendment I am offering today would require the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report to Congress on advisability of providing Federal retirement benefits to U.S. citizens employed by Air America while it was covertly owned and operated by the CIA. These brave men and women should receive the long denied benefits they earned for their service to their country. I urge you to support this amendment that will bring attention to the overlooked dilemma of Air America employees. Thank you, Madam Chairman, and I thank the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Mr. Reyes. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlelady from Texas, Ms. Sheila Jackson-Lee.

Ms. BERKLEY. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. BERKLEY. In closing, I'd like to once again urge adoption of this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BERKLEY

Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank Ms. Brown for introducing this. This is essential that we provide the necessary resources for those areas in our country that have a high number of tourists. Las Vegas is home to 1.9 million residents, but at any given time, we have over 300,000 visitors. Now, God forbid anything should happen, they are not in the formula, but they are the ones that are going to be most needy because they are away from home. They do not know how to access facilities. We need to provide for these people, and I suspect that that is the case at all tourist destinations. I rise in support of this amendment, which ensures that we take tourism into account when calculating a city's homeland security risk level. The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) addresses the homeland security needs of high-threat, high-density Urban Areas, and assists them in preventing, and recovering from acts of terrorism. Las Vegas, my district, is a rapidly growing city, but it is even bigger when you add the 40 million tourists who visit our city every year. These tourists are particularly vulnerable because they are far from home and aren't familiar with our city. Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups have made it clear they intend to attack our most vulnerable populations, where they can do the most harm to our economy and our confidence. The areas Mrs. Brown and I represent are dependent on tourism and the dollars they bring in. It is therefore essential that tourists be included in any risk assessments for homeland security. And yet, last year, Las Vegas was left off the list entirely due to various data errors and thoughtless criteria. Over 100,000 tourists per day were completely overlooked. I worked with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that Las Vegas was ultimately included, but there is no guarantee it couldn't happen again. Thankfully, this amendment would make sure that--by law--tourism would be taken into account when calculating risk. It's the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do and it's the safe thing to do. I urge support for this amendment and thank the gentlewoman from Florida.