Lincoln Diaz-Balart

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I was of the impression that our friends on the other side of the aisle perhaps had listened too much to the Beach Boys and had a few too many margaritas after hearing their arguments this afternoon until I heard the gentleman from Wisconsin's rendition of the Beach Boys song. I think maybe a couple of more margaritas would improve the rendition. But in all seriousness, Mr. Speaker, I am somewhat confused. The main allegation being made is that the Committee on Rules is not permitting the gentleman from Virginia's issue to be discussed. This is a structured rule that required us to make in order any amendments, and the Committee on Rules made in order an amendment by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) precisely dealing with the issue that the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) and he brought up. The amendment is made in order. I kind of wish we had not made it in order, but we did. In the interest of full fairness and the opportunity to debate issues, knowing the passion which the gentleman from Virginia feels on this issue, that amendment was made in order. Maybe it is too many margaritas, I am not sure what, but I wanted to reiterate that the amendment was made in order and that we look forward as we proceed, since we did make it in order, to debate on the gentleman from Virginia's amendment and obviously then on the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 489 is a structured rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 5121, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2003. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule further provides that the amendment offered by the ranking minority member of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), be made in order. This is a fair rule that will allow all Members ample opportunity to debate the important issues associated with this bill. I want to point out again, Mr. Speaker, that the gentleman from Virginia had an amendment that he wished to make in order with regard to the issue of the Joint Committee on Taxation reducing some funds, I believe it is $590,000, and even though this is a structured rule, we made it in order in the interest of absolute fairness. The underlying legislation funds many important programs that work to keep our government functioning. Some of these programs include $219 million for the Capitol Police, $422 million for the Library of Congress, $86 million for the Congressional Research Service, and $457 million for the General Accounting Office. At this time I think it is important we highlight a particular item of this bill. Since September 11, the Capitol Police have worked incredibly, tirelessly, to ensure that we, the Members and all the staff here, and the Capitol itself be safe. Their efforts have allowed us to do our jobs without any safety concerns and worries, and I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Capitol Hill Police, all of the officers in that distinguished body, for their courage and their dedication. I would also like to thank the Committee on Appropriations for ensuring that the brave men and women of the Capitol Police will receive pay at least equal to other Federal law enforcement agencies. I would also like to thank the chairman of this subcommittee, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Taylor), and all the members of the subcommittee. Mr. Speaker, this bill gives us the tools to serve our constituents in an effective and efficient manner, and I urge my colleagues to support both the rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 489 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter); pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for purposes of debate only. (Mr. DIAZ-BALART asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. I yield to the gentleman from Tennessee.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that during the consideration of H.R. 5121, pursuant to House Resolution 489, pro forma amendments offered by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations or their designees for the purpose of debate may be offered at any time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 473 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I also would urge all of my colleagues to support the rule as well as the underlying legislation, for which the debate will now begin shortly. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Brady).

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards of the Committee on Science.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 473 is an open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 2486, the Inland Flood Forecasting and Warning System Act of 2002. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate evenly divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Science. This is a fair and balanced rule that will afford Members every opportunity to debate the important issue before us. The underlying legislation will help to improve the capability to forecast accurately inland flooding associated with tropical cyclones. Florida knows the fury of hurricanes all too well, but the damage goes much deeper than that which occurs on our battered coasts. As storms move inland, they begin to slow and often come to a stop over a particular area. The residents of my district in western Miami- Dade County have seen firsthand the damage that inland flooding can cause. Hurricanes and other tropical disturbances cause homes to flood and streets to become impassable. The danger associated with this type of flooding is a major issue that many Americans are simply not aware of. This legislation instructs the National Weather Service to develop, test, and deploy an inland flood warning system for use by public and emergency management officials. With passage of the legislation, we will also provide increased training to improve forecasting and risk- management techniques for inland flooding. Mr. Speaker, this is a good bill. It will help protect Americans across the Nation. I urge, accordingly, my colleagues to support this open rule and the underlying legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. Diaz-Balart asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, as one reads history, many times it seems as though the figures that one encounters are larger than life. It is uncommon to be absolutely certain that, during one's life, one has met someone who is like the greatest of the characters that one has met in history. That one person that I know, and am absolutely certain that she has already come to be known not only as one of the greatest orators in the history of Florida, one of the greatest public servants in the history of Florida, but one of the greatest Floridians, is the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek). I have had the honor, the profound honor and privilege, to know her and to be her friend since we served together in the Florida legislature; and her wisdom and her fairness and her compassion and her goodness and her strength and toughness on behalf of those in need are legendary, and will be more legendary each day. I join all Floridians, all who have known her, in thanking her, in wishing her well, in wishing her and her family and her son, who will be here with us soon, Godspeed. Thank you, Carrie.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, in the past 2 weeks, both the Washington Post and The New York Times have devoted page-one stories to the extraordinary support and cooperation Morocco has been providing the United States in the war against terrorism. At a time when many in the media and elsewhere have been questioning whether the resolve of U.S. allies and friends has been slackening, Morocco's actions take on even greater significance. Specifically, these stories refer to the arrests, announced on June 10, of three Saudi nationals who are believed to be part of the al Qaeda network. According to the Washington Post, June 16, 2002, which cited senior Moroccan officials, these men ``have told interrogators that they escaped from Afghanistan and came to Morocco on a mission to use bomb-laden speedboats for suicide attacks on U.S. and British warships in the Strait of Gibraltar.'' Moreover, they have provided ``what officials describe as a fuller understanding of al Qaeda's strategy since its expulsion from Afghanistan . . .'' Days later, on June 19, Moroccan authorities revealed they had taken into custody another Saudi national--this one a senior operative who reputedly ran several of Osama bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan, helped direct the evacuation of al Qaeda from Afghanistan, and, in the words of the BBC, June 19, 2002, is ``central to al Qaeda's international recruiting network . . .'' This individual is said to be a close associate of Abu Zubaydah, the suspected al Qaeda operations chief who was apprehended in Pakistan and who has apparently been giving U.S. interrogators valuable information. On June 26, the New York Times and the French press agency AFP carried stories of still more arrests by Moroccan authorities, including yet another five Saudi nationals and three of their local contacts. Mr. Speaker, these developments represent important breakthroughs in the long and difficult struggle against the forces of terror--and the very nature of that struggle requires that we have strong, reliable, consistent partners. Thankfully, Morocco is such a partner. As the New York Times noted, June 24, 2002, ``Morocco, the first Muslim country to condemn the attacks of September 11, has escaped the terrorism that plagues its neighbors.'' And that newspaper went on to quote a Western diplomat in Morocco as saying, ``The Moroccans worked hard to help nail these guys.'' The Washington Post, June 16, 2002, quoted a Western diplomat as saying, ``The Moroccans take very seriously their 225-year old relationship with the United States. There is good cooperation . . . They're serious.'' The diplomat continued: ``The Moroccans have asked for nothing. Nothing. They made a decision to cooperate and they stuck to it.'' Mr. Speaker, we can only hope that other friends of the United States will prove to be as helpful. In the meantime, let us thank Morocco for its ongoing support and cooperation--and let us continue to work closely with this friend, our oldest and most faithful ally in the entire Arab and Muslim world.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 446 is an open rule providing for the consideration of H.R. 3389, the National Sea Grant College Program Act Amendments of 2002. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate with 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Resources, and 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Science. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. This obviously is a very fair rule, Mr. Speaker, that will allow Members all possible opportunity to debate this important issue. The underlying legislation of the National Sea Grant College Program Act is amended to include an emphasis on ocean and coastal resources conservation and management, as well as collaboration between academia and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, known as NOAA. Sea grant colleges support applied research at the local level and support major crosscutting research initiatives. This is a bipartisan bill that makes changes to the act that will enhance cooperation between Sea Grant and other executive programs with similar missions, promote funding disbursements based on competitive merit review, and increase authorization levels. Florida has enjoyed great success with this program, through research and education in the areas of aquaculture, fisheries, coastal process, and hazards, marine biotechnology and estuaries. The underlying legislation provides not only important research, but also resources to communities and academic institutions. I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to support not only the underlying legislation, but this open rule and very fair rule as well. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, reiterating my support for the rule and the underlying legislation, and asking all of our colleagues to support both, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 446 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. (Mr. DIAZ-BALART asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, how unfortunate it is that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are accusing us of, in the words of my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), ``stomping out democracy,'' by bringing forth a rule to try to get a vote on a wartime supplemental appropriations bill. After 16 hours of dilatory tactics, after 16 hours of delaying motions, delaying motion after delaying motion, we are accused of stomping out democracy because we want this House before Memorial Day to vote on a wartime supplemental appropriations bill. I think it is most unfair for our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to adopt the attitude that they have adopted. The underlying legislation is extraordinarily needed. If there has ever been a need for legislation, it is to provide our men and women with the resources to continue to fight successfully, as they have, in defending this Nation, and to see hour after hour of dilatory tactics with absurd arguments, absurd arguments, which do not meet any test of the ridiculous. And to then accuse us, because we wish to get a vote on this wartime supplemental appropriations bill, to accuse us of stomping out democracy, is not serious; and it is not fair. I am reminded of the words of the Spanish philosopher Ortega y Gassett, who said that ``man is man plus his circumstances.'' I know that it is the circumstances of our friends on the other side of the aisle to be protesting. Perhaps it is the circumstances. The reality of the matter is that I know that our colleagues that are listening on their TV screens know that what we are doing is not only appropriate, but it is fair and it is necessary. So after 16 hours of dilatory tactics, after 16 hours of wasting the time of our colleagues, what we are telling our friends on the other side of the aisle is that it is time to vote to get the aid to our men and women in uniform.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. I am a bit perplexed when I hear the argument that there is no democracy in this Chamber, and hour after hour after hour after hour, we have been hearing debate on multiple issues, and the argument has also brought out that on this issue we are debating at this instance, at this instance, which is the aid that the United States is providing to our democratic ally, the democratically-elected government of Colombia, I am hearing that we cannot debate that as well. The contradiction makes no sense. We are debating it right now, and we in the Committee on Rules permitted, authorized this debate and it is taking place. So that is one thing that struck me that I was not able to understand how the argument can be made that we are not debating when we are debating. We are debating. We have been debating hour after hour after hour after hour, and now we are debating on the issue, the very important issue of United States assistance to the democratically-elected government of Colombia. The point was made previously that we do not know who the good guys are and the bad guys are in Colombia. The reality of the matter, that is not an issue to be decided by the United States. There is a democratically-elected government in Colombia that is a friend and an ally of the United States, and it is the democratically-elected government in Colombia that is under attack by 3 major, extremely well- financed terrorist groups that engage in narco-trafficking. The supplemental that we are debating today is a counterterrorism supplemental, and I think it is appropriate for us to consider not only to debate but in this case to help the democratically-elected government of Colombia in counterterrorism efforts. That is the subject matter that we are dealing with in this supplemental. Another point was brought out previously incorrectly as though this legislation would raise the cap on the number of American trainers that are in Colombia. There is a number of approximately 500 now, and that is not being affected by the legislation. The legislation, that I am informed by my friends on the Committee on Appropriations is the product of a bipartisan compromise, was voted out with votes on both sides of the aisle, and leaders from the Democratic party, with whom we have very serious differences on many issues, agreed in the Committee on Appropriations to this compromise. So I think that it is very important, especially when we are 3 days away from a presidential election in that country, that friend and ally Colombia, when all of the major candidates for president agree that assistance from us, from the United States, is required for Colombia to achieve peace, that we at this point continue with the bipartisan compromise that came out of the Committee on Appropriations and that we say in a consensus fashion this evening, again in a bipartisan way, that we realize what is going on in Colombia, that the majority of terrorist attacks in the world are against the people of Colombia. They may not be covered by the media, but the reality of the matter is there is not a day that passes that tragedy does not strike the people of Colombia from the terrorist groups that we are helping the democratically-elected government of Colombia combat, and that we are helping in this supplemental by increasing our assistance to the democratically-elected government of Colombia. Those 3 terrorist groups have a stranglehold on our democratic ally in Colombia and that ally deserves and has received and must continue to receive our aid because those terrorist groups that are narco- terrorists are massacring, they are killing each day, attacking the fabric of society each day. So that is why I think that the bipartisan compromise that was worked out is to be commended. I hope that this House this evening supports what the Committee on Appropriations passed and overwhelmingly defeats the McGovern amendment which would in effect tell the Colombian people, just a few days before their election, that we do not care about them and we do not respect their democracy. Vote down McGovern.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the famed Battle of Crete which occurred at the beginning of World War II. I would like to thank my colleague from Florida, Mr. Bilirakis for helping to keep alive the memory of this important battle. Following the Allied loss of Greece, on May 20th, 1941, the Battle of Crete began in earnest. German forces were far better equipped than the Allied forces left on the island. Described by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as ``A head-on collision with the very spearhead of the German lance'' the Battle of Crete displayed the early valiant efforts of Allied forces to stem the tide of the Nazi onslaught. The majority of the resistance fighters on Crete were natives of the island as well as forces from New Zealand, Australian, and British forces. Having fallen back from defeat in Greece, many of the soldiers came ready to defend the island with little more than small arms. As is now known, through the monitoring and decoding of German Enigma traffic, the British forces were well aware of the German intentions against Crete, and thus how to wreak havoc against the overwhelming number of paratroopers. Superior intelligence combated superior force numbers and provisions. Initially the Allied defenders had great success against the Nazi war machine--delaying the Axis foothold on the island. Despite the eventual loss of Crete to the Nazis due to the overwhelming number of oppressor soldiers and supplies streaming to the island, the nearly 4000 killed and missing German paratroopers from the assault served as a significant blow to the myth of German invincibility. After Crete the German parachute arm was never used again in large scale airborne operations. Aside from its military importance, the main reason we rise today to commemorate the Battle of Crete is to herald the brave stand that the many brave fighters from Crete and Allied forces made in the face of the Nazi onslaught. Rather than capitulate to Nazi tyrannical will, the defenders of Crete fought not only for their land and for their liberty, but for the world's freedom as well. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida, which celebrates its 10th Anniversary on June 8, 2002 with a salute to Federal Service Employees of Puerto Rican heritage at a Gala Dinner Dance in Miami, Florida. The keynote speaker for the event is highly decorated naval aviator, Vice-Admiral Diego E. Hernandez, (Retired) U. S. Navy. An Honor Roll listing will recognize the highest-ranking Puerto Ricans in each of the Federal agencies in South Florida, and additionally will pay tribute to the four Puerto Rican Medal of Honor recipients. Three valuable and distinguished South Florida U.S. Government officials, Gilbert Colon, Deputy Director, SBA, Federico Costales, District Director, Florida, EEOC and Hector M. Pesquera, Special Agent in Charge, FBI, will serve as Honorary Co-chairs of the event. Event Sponsor Vista Magazine and other corporations sponsor this Celebration, including: American Airlines and Unibank among others, the net proceeds of the event will benefit the Raul Julia Scholarship Fund for exemplary Puerto Rican Youth in need of financial assistance to realize their dreams of a college education. The Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida has been an important factor in the development of Puerto Rican entrepreneurs in South Florida as well as a catalyst for increased trade between Florida and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The Chamber has a partnership agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the dissemination of valuable business information to new and existing businesses, including education on how to access capital markets for small business loans guaranteed by the SBA programs. Concurrently, the Chamber has achieved working relations with the Miami-Dade County departments of Procurement, Economic and Business Development, and is a promoter of Mayor Alex Pinelas's ``Business Express Action Team.'' By their deeds, the Puerto Rican Chamber of South Florida has demonstrated their commitment to deliver outstanding services in developing minority businesses in cooperation with corporate America and the units of government dedicated to improving and facilitating business prosperity. The Founding Board of Directors under the leadership and vision of Melvin ``Skip'' Chaves, the First Chairman, and all subsequent Board members, along with their first and current President Luis De Rosa, are to be commended for their dedication to make this Chamber responsive to the needs of their members and community. I urge all our colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce of South Florida and its leadership.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize and commend a constituent of mine, Mr. Camilo Duarte, for the work he is doing to help Colombian Americans and Colombian immigrants in the United States. Mr. Duarte is in Washington, DC this week, meeting with Members and congressional staff, to discuss the worsening crisis in Colombia, and specifically, activities by the FARC terrorist group in Colombia. Mr. Speaker, my community perhaps more than any other in the United States, is witness to the crisis in Colombia. There is a growing Colombian immigrant community in the United States, numbering more than 280,000 in just Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties of South Florida. Many of them have already become U.S. citizens. They are mothers and fathers, children, students, businessmen, middle class professionals, and workers all seeking a better life. They are hard- working immigrants which I welcome to my community just as I have welcomed others fleeing communist insurgencies in Latin America, or coming to America seeking a better life for their children. These immigrants are fleeing the violence in Colombia in ever- increasing numbers and the migration will not stop until the terrorists are defeated in Colombia. These immigrants are firsthand witnesses to terrorism, narcotrafficking, kidnapping and random violence by the Colombian terrorists, which seek to overthrow, with assistance from the Cuban dictatorship, the elected government of Colombia. Mr. Speaker, we should listen to what the Colombian American community, and their leaders, can tell us. I welcome Mr. Duarte to Washington, DC and look forward to working with him on issues of mutual concern.