Wm. Clay

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 771) supporting the goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.

Mr. CLAY

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

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5877) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building''.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 946) to enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing that Government documents issued to the public must be written clearly, and for other purposes.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, again, I encourage all Members to support the Senate amendments to H.R. 946, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I would now like to yield 5 minutes to the chief sponsor of this legislation, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley).

Mr. CLAY. I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 946, the Plain Writing Act of 2010, was introduced by Representative Bruce Braley on February 10, 2009, and it passed the House by an overwhelming margin on March 17, 2010. The Senate made slight amendments to the bill and passed it by unanimous consent earlier this week. This is straightforward, good-government legislation. H.R. 946 requires agencies to use plain writing in government documents. The organization, AARP, wrote a letter supporting this bill, and I quote: ``The use of plain language in documents issued to the public will save the Federal Government an enormous amount of time now spent helping citizens understand the correspondence they receive.'' The changes made to the bill by the Senate are very minor, including adding language clarifying that plain writing should be appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience. This bill will make the government more transparent and efficient, and I urge my colleagues to join me in support of the Senate amendments to H.R. 946. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure just considered.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (S. 1510) to transfer statutory entitlements to pay and hours of work authorized by the District of Columbia Code for current members of the United States Secret Service Uniformed Division from the District of Columbia Code to the United States Code, with the Senate amendment to the House amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment to the House amendment.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to growing concern of abuse and corruption in the former Soviet Republic country of Kazakhstan. The recent revolution in neighboring Kyrgystan and, earlier, the conflict behind Russia and Georgia heightens concern for the region . . . a region rich in oil and gas supplies and a region which serves as a gateway for the U.S. and NATO war effort in Afghanistan. However, ongoing allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, human trafficking, religious persecution and the lack of election reform, free media and free speech seriously affect its civil society. The world's 10th largest energy-producing country, where a large number of U.S. corporations are doing business in an effort to meet our domestic energy needs, is not only an ally of the U.S. on non- proliferation treaties; it has provided the U.S. and NATO a gateway to Afghanistan. However, increasingly I see reports indicating that Kazakhstan's governmental system lacks the basic rights of democracy: elections are neither free nor fair; what political opposition exists is manipulated, physically and economically harassed and even sometimes assassinated. Few independent media outlets exist; wide-scale corruption which has begun to affect major U.S. companies doing business in Kazakhstan is rampant; respect for human rights, religious freedom, and freedom of speech or economic liberalization is non- existent. The United States has sought a mutually beneficial relationship with Kazakhstan and provides aid to Kazakhstan in order to enhance economic growth, democracy, security, and civil society and to attend to humanitarian needs. However, it is evident that the current U.S.- Kazakhstan relationship is compromised by Kazakhstan's record of human rights violations and lack of immediate and necessary reforms while chairing the OSCE. The U.S. Department of State has criticized President Nazarbayev's government for human rights violations. Its March 2009 report states: ``The following human rights problems were reported: severe limits on citizens' rights to change their government; military hazing that led to deaths; detainee and prisoner torture and other abuse; unhealthy prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and detention; lack of an independent judiciary; restrictions on freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and association; pervasive corruption, especially in law enforcement and the judicial system; prohibitive political party registration requirements; restrictions on the activities of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs); discrimination and violence against women; trafficking in persons; and societal discrimination.'' The details in the report, as well as reports from observer groups, are haunting. Two notable external groups are Freedom House and the United States Department of State. The observer group, Freedom House, has labeled Kazakhstan as ``not free'' and according to its assessment, Kazakhstan has earned a 6 ranking in Political Liberties and a 5 in Civil Liberties on the Freedom House scale of 1 to 7, 7 being the worst ranking possible. Even the U.S. State Department ranks Kazakhstan as a Tier 2 Watch List, meaning that Kazakhstan is a cause for concern over human trafficking issues. In amending the constitution to allow him unlimited reign in 2007, President Nazarbayev joined a growing list of authoritarian leaders worldwide who have extended their terms indefinitely. I applaud the work of the Helsinki Commission under the current leadership of Senator Ben Cardin, and previously, Congressman Alcee Hastings, for their ongoing commitment to bringing these matters to light and it is my hope that we continue work to bring about a transparent democracy where human rights violations and corruption have no place.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100th anniversary of the world-famous St. Louis Zoo, which I am proud to represent. For a century, the St. Louis Zoo, a national landmark located in St. Louis' historic Forest Park, has entertained and educated millions of visitors from around the world. Since the St. Louis Zoo's first days it has pioneered the preservation and propagation of endangered species. The St. Louis Zoo is a world leader in efforts to conserve animals and their habitats through animal management, research, recreation, educational programs and environmental stewardship. The St. Louis Zoo has played an indispensible role in the development of environmental awareness for generations of American children and its ongoing research continues to spur new ideas to help visitors understand, appreciate and respect the diversity and fragile balance of life on earth. This year, over three million visitors will be enriched and inspired by a visit to the St. Louis Zoo as it continues to entertain and educate animal lovers of all ages. Madam Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute to the Centennial of the St. Louis Zoo, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this American cultural treasure.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5366) to require the proposal for debarment from contracting with the Federal Government of persons violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.

Mr. CLAY

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

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank my colleagues--the gentlewomen from Florida, Ohio, and Connecticut--for lending their voice to this issue and raising the level of awareness throughout this country as far as the dreaded disease of cancer is concerned. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY

Mr. CLAY. I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2868) to provide increased access to the General Services Administration's Schedules Program by the American Red Cross and State and local governments, as amended.

Mr. CLAY

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

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I want to thank our colleague from Wisconsin for bringing to the attention of this body the service of Captain Rhett Schiller to this country. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I continue to reserve.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. On behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is my honor to rise in support of H.R. 5873. This measure designates the facility of the U.S. Postal Service located at 218 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, Wisconsin, as the Captain Rhett W. Schiller Post Office. H.R. 5873 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Wisconsin, Representative Paul Ryan, on July 27, 2010. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported favorably by unanimous consent on July 28, 2010. The measure enjoys the support of the entire Wisconsin delegation to the House, and I thank the gentleman from Wisconsin for introducing this measure. I would also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill. Captain Rhett W. Schiller was born on November 7, 1980 in Racine, Wisconsin. His family later moved to Waterford, Wisconsin. In 2003, Schiller graduated from West Point and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry. He was assigned to the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, first as a platoon leader in Company B, and later Executive Officer for Company A of the 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Schiller's brigade was deployed to New Orleans in September, 2005 to assist with relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. His unit was deployed and conducting relief operations only 7 hours after the assignment was announced. The standard deployment time is 18 hours after notification. In 2006, Captain Schiller was assigned to 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. On his 100th day in country, while leading a squad of six paratroopers and six Iraqi Army soldiers on a canal clearing operation near Balad Ruz, Diyala Province, Captain Schiller's unit came under small arms fire. Captain Schiller was killed in action on November 16, 2006. Mr. Speaker, Captain Schiller is remembered as a hard-charging leader who did everything he could to take care of his soldiers, raising the spirits and motivation of everyone around him. His life and achievements over the course of his service speak volumes about all of our brave servicemen and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our Nation. Let us now pay tribute to the life of Captain Rhett Schiller through the passage of this legislation. I urge all of our colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 5873. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.