Mario Diaz-Balart

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, April 8, 2008, I was unavoidably detained due to a death in the family and thus I missed rollcall votes No. 161 through 163. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: On roll vote No. 161, on H.J. Res. 70, Congratulating the Army Reserve on its centennial, which will be formally celebrated on April 23, 2008, and commemorating the historic contributions of its veterans and continuing contributions of its soldiers to the vital national security interests and homeland defense mission of the United States, I would have voted ``yea.'' On roll vote No. 162, on H.R. 2464, the Wakefield Act, I would have voted ``yea.'' On roll vote No. 163, on S. 793, the Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008, I would have voted ``yea.''

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, we are entrusted with the responsibility of keeping this Nation's economy strong by enacting policies which keep U.S. companies competitive in the global marketplace, to also support job growth at home, and ensure that the Federal Government operates effectively and efficiently. Today, Mr. Speaker, the 9,000 U.S. companies who export industrial and consumer goods to our fourth largest trading partner in Latin America face tariffs of up to 35 percent in their exports while most Colombian products imported to the U.S. enter tariff free, tax free. On February 27, just 5 weeks ago, the House agreed unanimously to extend existing unilateral trade preferences to Colombia and other Andean countries. In May 2007, House leadership publicly committed to passing a full bilateral trade agreement with Colombia, thereby allowing equal access to U.S. businesses in Colombia. The Colombian government supports lowering these tariffs on U.S. goods, and many Members of Congress have shown time and time again that they support lowering barriers to trade with free nations. Yet the answer so far has been total inaction by the leadership. Inaction on the part of this Congress has levied an unnecessary burden and an uncalled for tax upon American companies, including 8,000 small- and medium-sized businesses, many of which operate in southern Florida. Furthermore, it has been reported in the press that files recovered from a computer belonging to Raul Reyes, a leader within the terrorist rebel Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces, FARC, link the terrorist organization to the Venezuelan leadership in Caracas. In light of this news, Mr. Speaker, recent threats also made by the reckless and irresponsible leader, Hugo Chavez, and the ongoing attacks by the FARC, the United States needs to be supportive of the Colombian government, which stands up to anti-democratic and anti-American forces in the region. It is time for the House leadership to follow through on their promises. Enactment of the U.S.-Colombia trade promotion agreement would show our strong support for this democracy while strengthening our own economy by creating greatest access for U.S. companies and creating more jobs in our communities here in the United States. It would be negligent, irresponsible and unthinkable for this House to not immediately pass a free trade agreement with our closest ally in an otherwise volatile region. Passage of this agreement will benefit businesses in our communities, create jobs for our constituents, and help strengthen our alliance with that democratically elected government and the people of Colombia. I call upon the House leadership to bring this agreement to the floor for a vote so we can show the world community that the United States stands with its allies.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. First of all, let me commend the gentlelady from Michigan and the other colleagues for bringing forth an alternative budget. As a member of the Budget Committee for the past 6 years, I know how difficult it is to put together a budget of this magnitude. It takes a lot of work and a lot of dedication, so I commend my colleagues for doing this. This is a true substitute budget, Mr. Chairman. It highlights the stark differences between the Democrats' priorities and the Republican priorities. And yes, it does increase taxes by actually more than $1.1 trillion. I think that bears repeating. It increases taxes by more than $1.1 trillion over the next 5 years. This includes actually $427 billion in increases on top of the $683 billion in the underlying Democratic budget. The differences between the Republican budget priorities and those of my Democrat friends, frankly, are rather clear. They're crystal clear. The Democratic budget that came to the floor yesterday will raise taxes by $683 billion over the next 5 years. Apparently, however, some of my Democratic friends think that that increase is still not enough, so this substitute raises taxes by, as I said before, $1.1 trillion over the next 5 years. Now, however, Mr. Chairman, the Republican substitute that will be offered later today does not raise a single penny in taxes. It contains absolutely no tax increases. Mr. Chairman, I would like to take some time to discuss frankly the underlying Democratic budget. Last year, the Democratic budget promised to raise taxes by $217 billion, and a lot of us were shocked because that was such a huge tax increase. A lot of us thought that was a lot of money. But this year they offer a newer and, frankly, bolder, more dramatic budget and more dramatic tax increase than last year. The underlying Democratic budget raises taxes by over $683 billion over 5 years. It sets up years and years of even higher spending and higher taxes. Mr. Chairman, at last week's committee markup, the Budget Committee that I am privileged to serve on, a number of my Republican colleagues and I offered several amendments to extend the widely popular middle class tax provisions. And we're going to hear that this budget and the underlying Democratic budget only raises taxes on the wealthy. Well, we had that debate also in the Budget Committee. So, we offered some amendments to see if, in fact, that maybe they had just made a mistake. And yet, not one of these commonsense tax relief amendments were adopted. Every single Democrat on the committee voted against these amendments. And I want to talk about what those amendments are, because, again, we're going to hear time and time again, oh, that's tax cuts for the wealthy. Let's talk about the specifics of the amendments that were voted down, that did not receive one single Democratic vote in the committee. They voted against extending the $1,000 child tax credit. You know, I don't know, maybe it's different in the rest of the country, but in Florida, not only the wealthy have children. And they voted against that, against extending the $1,000 child tax credit. And that's raising taxes on families with children by $51 billion. They voted against extending the marginal tax rates for all Americans and, thus, increasing taxes by $326 billion. They voted against, Mr. Chairman, eliminating the death tax. Now, I thought we could at least all agree that there should be, as a friend of mine here once said on the floor, ``no taxation without respiration,'' but no, they voted against eliminating the death tax, increasing taxes again by 181 additional dollars. They voted against extending tax relief for married couples, increasing taxes by $25 billion on married couples. And, again, I don't know, maybe Florida is different; but at least in the State of Florida not only the wealthy get married. That is a tax increase on every married couple in the entire country. They voted against extending the 10 percent tax bracket for the very- low-income taxpayers. That's correct: we will hear time and time again, no, we only want to raise taxes on the wealthy. Yes, but then why did they vote against extending the 10 percent tax bracket for the very- low-income taxpayers? Again, extending the State and local sales deduction for States like Florida, Nevada, and Texas, where people should be able to deduct what they pay in sales taxes because we don't have an income tax, which is deductible in other States, this provision expires this year. But the Democratic budget rejected this deduction, increasing taxes on Floridians and others right away. My friends on the other side of the aisle claim they support tax relief, and they'll say it time and time again; but, frankly, their actions just don't match their rhetoric. Those amendments were defeated in committee just a few days ago. Those amendments which are not tax cuts for the wealthy, as we're going to hear, no. They were for middle-class American families in the United States, and they voted against every single one of those amendments. And, again, every single one of them our colleagues on the Democratic side voted against those tax cuts for middle America, for American families, for small businesses, et cetera. Again, not one single Democrat voted for these tax cuts for the middle class. But these tax provisions affect real people, Mr. Chairman, real American families, workers, and small business owners. Let's take a look at what these tax increases mean. Again, these are real numbers. This is not theory. This is not rhetoric: A family of four with $50,000 in annual income, not wealthy people but a family of four with $50,000 in annual income, would see its tax bill increase by $2,100. That's $2,100 in tax increases in 2011 as a result of the Democrats' budget. That's a 191 percent increase in their Federal taxes. Forty-eight million married couples will see their tax bills rise by an average of $3,000; 12 million single women with dependents will face a tax increase of nearly $1,100; 18 million seniors, seniors, will see a tax increase of more than $2,100 in the year 2011; 27 million small business owners, Mr. Chairman, which are the backbone of our economy, which are the job creators in our economy, will see their tax bills increase by over $4,000. More than six million taxpayers who previously had no Federal income tax liability will become subject to the individual income tax in 2011. Again, these are low-income Americans, because, again, unfortunately, the 10 percent bracket has gone away, and also their child deduction will go away. These are just a few examples, not rhetoric, concrete specific examples of how this amendment and the underlying bill will affect hardworking American families, the American taxpayer. With this budget, 116 million American taxpayers will see their tax increase by an average of $1,800 in the year 2011. That's actually the underlying bill. With this amendment it would be even higher than that. I often hear my Democratic friends say that a budget sets priorities. And it's obvious that this budget and this amendment to the budget set priorities. And what are those? More runaway spending and much higher taxes. That's what this budget offers and what this amendment offers. More of the same, just more taxes, more spending, more taxes, more spending, and no reform. Some people, I guess, believe in this budget, and this amendment shows that some people believe that the Federal Government just doesn't have enough money and that the people have too much money in their wallets; so the Federal Government needs to take it from them because we can do a better job here. The bureaucracy and those smart men and women in Congress, we know much better how to spend people's money than they do. But, Mr. Chairman, wait. Like those TV commercials: but wait, there's even more. This budget does absolutely nothing to address the huge entitlements, the crisis that our Nation faces. As entitlement programs continue to grow, this underlying budget contains no instructions to reform them so that we will be able to keep them so that they can continue to serve the people that they are serving and they will not bankrupt those programs and also not bankrupt the country. Again, the truth is, Mr. Chairman, that Medicare and Medicaid are both growing at more than 7 percent a year. Social Security is growing at 7 percent per year. These huge growth rates are, unfortunately, unsustainable for our economy, for those programs, for our fiscal future. We must tackle this crisis. We must reform them to save those programs and also to make sure that we save the fiscal situation in this country. And if we don't, if we put it off for another 5 years, as this amendment does and as the underlying budget does, it will just make the situation worse. We have to act on that now. Mr. Chairman, this substitute budget and the underlying Democratic budgets are both deeply flawed. They both raise taxes on hardworking Americans to a level that we have never seen. We know what higher taxes will do. It will kill job creation. I mean, we all agreed to that. When we wanted to make sure that we avoided a recession, what did this Congress do on a bipartisan level? We cut taxes because we know that cutting taxes, on a bipartisan level we know, that helps economic growth. But yet this amendment and the underlying budget will increase taxes on the American people without precedent, at levels that, frankly, have no precedent. And this is just more of the same. And for those reasons, Mr. Chairman, I would respectfully request that we vote down this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the ranking member of the Budget Committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan).

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I reserve my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I once again want to commend our colleagues from the CBC. They have done a lot of work to put this budget together. It is not an easy task to do. It takes a lot of work, not only from the members, from their staffs, so I want to commend them for putting together a work product that I know they spent a lot of time and a lot of effort on, and they must be commended for that. Obviously, as you have heard today, we have some huge disagreements. This amendment would raise taxes by more than $1.1 trillion, that's trillion with a ``T,'' over the next 5 years. It's $427 billion above and beyond the already $683 billion in tax increases in the underlying Democratic budget that, frankly, was pretty much just rejected in a very strong vote in the Senate, 99-1. The reason there was a 99-1 vote was because the Senators on both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats, do not want to support eliminating all of these middle class tax cuts, the tax cuts on families, the tax cuts per child, et cetera, et cetera, which is why they rejected that and adopted an amendment to have half the size of the tax increase that the underlying budget has. Half that size of an increase in taxes is still way too high. However, the underlying budget that the House is looking at, again, would raise taxes on the American people by $683 billion over the next 5 years, and this amendment goes even further than that by increasing taxes $1.1 trillion over the next 5 years. For those reasons and many others, I respectfully would ask to vote against this amendment. But I do want to end one more time by commending the gentleman from Virginia and all his colleagues for doing a lot of work and putting together a work program that requires a lot of effort and a lot of work, even though, again, when it came out, obviously it's a $1.1 trillion tax increase, which is why, among other reasons, we cannot support it. I would respectfully then ask my colleagues to vote against this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, at this time I would like to recognize, frankly, one of the most talented and one of the most knowledgeable Members in the United States Congress on fiscal matters, that is, the ranking member of the Budget Committee, the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Ryan), for 5 minutes.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 1 minute. As you have heard, yes, we have heard time and time again this amendment does, and the underlying budget does, increase spending. And how do they pay for the increased spending? Well, $1.1 trillion over the next 5 years in increased taxes. Let me repeat that: $1.1 trillion in increased taxes. Including who? Who would get taxed? Well, everybody would get a tax increase, including, for example, reducing the child tax credit in half; including raising taxes by not extending the 10 percent tax bracket for the very-low-income taxpayers of this country; including not extending the tax relief for married couples. This $1.1 trillion in increased taxes would hit every American, every small business, every family, every taxpayer.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. I want everybody to kind of listen to this debate, to just listen to see where you hear one reduction in this amendment or in the underlying budget, one reduction in Federal spending, one reduction in waste, one cut in waste, one program that is eliminated, one thing in the Federal Government that should get a little bit less money. Please listen to that, and what you will hear is just the opposite. More spending. More spending. More spending, more Federal programs, and not one reduction. Is the Federal Government so efficient there is nothing that can be reduced? I don't think so. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. I reserve my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 30 seconds. I think if you ask the American taxpayer if it helps our domestic security to increase their taxes by $1.1 trillion over the next 5 years like this amendment does, they would probably tell you that no, and that frankly, it puts their domestic security in great jeopardy, or the $683 billion in tax increases in the underlying Democratic budget. I think obviously the answer would be the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, the Democrats' leadership may not want to admit that they are going to impose on our Nation's workers, on our taxpayers, on the small and mid-sized businesses of this country the largest tax increase in American history. But, regrettably, as this Democratic budget again proves, raising taxes is exactly not only what they have planned, but what they are doing in this budget, and it is important that taxpayers know what these massive tax hikes will mean to them, to you, to the American people. So, let's take a look at how this budget impacts the American people, the American family, the American taxpayer. A family of four with $50,000 in annual income would see a tax increase of over $2,100, $2,100 by 2011, as a result of this budget. That is a tax increase of 191 percent. Forty-eight million married couples. So listen up, if you are one of those 48 million. Chances are you are. Forty-eight million married couples will see their tax bills rise by an average of $3,000. Twelve million single women with dependents will face a tax increase of nearly $1,100. Eighteen million seniors, 18 million seniors, will see a tax increase of more than $2,100 by 2011. Twenty-seven million small business owners, who are the backbone of our national economy that create the jobs, will see their taxes increase by over $4,000. More than 6 million low-income taxpayers, yes, 6 million low-income taxpayers who previously paid no Federal income tax, because of the changes in the Tax Code due to the elimination of the 10 percent tax rate, will see a huge tax increase. These are just a few of the examples of what this budget does. I respectfully ask Members to oppose this budget.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the work and accomplishments of a distinguished community leader and true humanitarian, Brodes H. Hartley, Jr. For over two decades Mr. Hartley has done an outstanding job maintaining a high level of care to the nearly 40,000 patients of Community Health of South Dade, Inc. The ``Patient Care Comes First'' motto he developed, demonstrates that he puts patient's interests above those of the organization, creating an environment in which those in need receive the best possible care. His willingness to take time for concerned patients, as well as to help shape the next generation in healthcare providers, through mentoring, has established him as a community leader. Brodes H. Hartley, Jr., has accomplished the goal he set out from the beginning, to deliver safe, compassionate, accessible, and culturally competent quality health care service to the people of South Florida. I am very grateful for his contribution to our community and honored to call him my friend.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, February 27, 2008. I was unavoidably detained and thus I missed rollcall votes No. 78 through 84. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: On rollcall vote No. 78, the motion to consider the resolution, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 79, on approving the Journal, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 80, on ordering the Previous Question, I would have noted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 81, on agreeing to the rule for H.R. 5351, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 82, on motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the Chair, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 83, on the Motion to Recommit on H.R. 5351, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act, I would have voted ``nay.'' On rollcall vote No. 84, on passage of H.R. 5351, Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the dedication and tireless service of Threasa Miller. Threasa will be retiring from her position as Executive Director of the PACE Center for girls in Immokalee, Florida on March 7th of this year. Threasa has served troubled girls in Collier County at the PACE Center for 10 years. The Practical Academic Cultural Education program initially served 20 at-risk girls and has grown to reach over 75 girls each year. More than 500 girls have completed the PACE program in Collier County and have become successful young women in our community. All who know Threasa know she has a special place in her heart for children. Before joining PACE fulltime, Threasa had a career in social services with the Department of Children and Families and the Department of Juvenile Justice. Her life-long commitment to children has not gone unnoticed. I am very grateful for her contribution to our community and honored to call her my friend.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Chairman, on Thursday, January 17, 2008. I was unavoidably detained and thus I missed rollcall votes No. 12 through 13. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: On rollcall vote No. 12, the Waters Amendment to H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 13, the Neugebauer Amendment to H.R. 3524, the HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.'' Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Sessions

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday, November 14, 2007, I was unavoidably detained and thus I missed rollcall votes No. 1090 through 1093. Had I been present, I would have voted in the following manner: On rollcall vote NO. 1090, on Adoption of the Conference Report on H.R. 1429, the Head Start for School Readiness Act, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 1091, on H.R. 3845, the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 1092, on H.R. 719, the KIDS Act of 2007, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall vote No. 1093, on H. Res. 817, Providing for consideration of the conference report on H.R. 3074, Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Appropriations for FY 2008, I would have voted ``nay.''

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I stand today to express my strong support for the Peru Free Trade Agreement. I am also a strong supporter of free trade with free nations. It is important to note that we already have a unilateral trade deal with Peru. That deal has helped Peru fix and help solve a big part of their poverty problem. It has helped stem the violence and the insurgency that were so prevalent there in the 1980s. In the last decade, Peru has become one of fastest growing economies in Latin America, with a GDP growth of 8 percent last year. The United States is Peru's number one trading partner. Enacting this bilateral trade preference will increase the number of American small- and medium-sized businesses that benefit from trade. More trade and more exports to this democratic neighbor means more jobs for American workers. Not only is Peru, Mr. Speaker, a strong trade partner, it has become a strong partner fighting narco-trafficking and countering that anti- democratic sentiment that is fueled in the region by Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez. It is in our national security interest to strengthen our ties with this strong democracy, this democratic ally. Again, Mr. Speaker, I support free trade with free, democratic nations, and I support free trade that is beneficial to American businesses and American workers and American jobs. That is why I am pleased that we are voting today to enact this vital trade agreement with this strong ally in Latin America. I hope that this vote will lead to the swift enactment of the already negotiated trade deals with our other strong allies in Latin America, and those being Panama and Colombia.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, yesterday the President of the United States, President Bush, honored eight outstanding individuals with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. One of those individuals was Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, a political prisoner in Cuba. Dr. Biscet is a 46-year-old physician and peaceful advocate of freedom and democracy. Dr. Biscet is an honest and decent man of principle who cites Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi and the Dalai Lama as his role models. He has dedicated his entire life to defending human rights and advancing the cause of democracy in Cuba. And for that, Madam Speaker, in 2003 Dr. Biscet was sentenced to 25 years in prison and today sits in solitary confinement in a totally darkened 3-foot by 6-foot cell commonly known there as ``The Tomb.'' Dr. Biscet and hundreds of other individuals just like him keep the hope for democracy alive for the Cuban people. He's a true patriot, Madam Speaker. He's a patriot for the Cuban people, a true hero and an example for everyone who loves freedom. I want to thank President Bush for once again standing with the Cuban people and making a strong statement for freedom. I am in awe of Dr. Biscet's bravery, and I look forward to the day that he can walk in freedom along with his people in his honor.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the pro-democracy rally that took place in Belarus on October 7. During this event, thousands of protesters flooded the streets of the capital city in support of democracy and to demand free and fair elections. The protesters shouted ``Belarus and Europe,'' and they waved European Union flags to express outrage against Alexander Lukashenko. That is the person the State Department has labeled ``the last dictator of Europe.'' It is time for this dictator, who cheated his way into office by stealing the elections last year, to step aside, step down, and let the people decide who should lead their country through legitimate and clean elections. The world must not tolerate evil dictators, and this one must step aside to allow Belarus to join the modern world rather than suffer under the oppressive and selfish rule of one man. I applaud, Madam Speaker, the courage of the protesters who took to the streets in Belarus, and I stand with them in their quest for freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Staff Sergeant Lillian Clamens, who was killed in Iraq on October 10, 2 days before she was scheduled to come home, when insurgents launched a rocket attack on her unit. I want to extend my deepest condolences to her husband, Raymond, her three children, Victoria, Alana, and Ayinde, her parents and all of her family and friends. Staff Sergeant Clamens was a true American patriot devoted to her family and her country. She served in the Army Reserve for more than 15 years and was assigned to the 1st Postal Platoon, 834th Adjutant General Company, in Miami. Prior to her deployment, she worked as an administrative clerk at the U.S. Southern Command in Doral. She exemplified the best our Nation has to offer: a loving mother of three children, a devoted wife, and a soldier selflessly committed to serving our country. Madam Speaker, her life will continue to inspire all those who knew her and many who frankly did not know her. The United States and our world is a far better place because of her service. The best way to honor her is to replicate her devotion to her country and her family. She gave the ultimate sacrifice to help defend our freedoms and advance liberty for so many others. She was a true American hero whose dedication to freedom and family, Madam Speaker, made a difference in this world. I join all Americans in expressing my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Staff Sergeant Lillian Clamens. Her commitment to, and sacrifice for, our great Nation will never be forgotten. She has the deepest gratitude and devotion of our Nation.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for enacting a free trade agreement with our strongest ally in Latin America, and that is Colombia. In May, the House leadership brokered an agreement with the administration to pass the Peru, Colombia, Panama, and South Korea Free Trade Agreements, in that order, Mr. Speaker. And, actually, I am very pleased to see that the House Ways and Means Committee took action this week on the Peru Free Trade Agreement. I think it's a great step in the right direction. However, I am concerned about the apparent lack of support from the House leadership for a Colombia Free Trade Agreement, an agreement that publicly was committed to by the House leadership. Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that this Congress pass a Colombia Free Trade Agreement. Excluding our strongest ally in Latin America from preferential trade treatment would send a devastating message to the region. That message would be that if you are a strong ally, the strongest ally of the United States, if you are willing to stand up to anti-American dictators like Mr. Hugo Chavez, and if you are willing to fight the narcoterrorists, this United States Congress will not support you. A free trade agreement with Colombia would not only help further bolster the Colombian economy and help show our strong support for their efforts in fighting the war on drugs, it would also help the U.S. economy by opening up our business to this huge democracy, this huge export market. Mr. Speaker, we cannot send the world the message that if you support the United States, if you are willing to stand up even against our enemies, that this United States Congress will not stand with you. Please, let's not slight the Colombian people and their democracy. I urge the Democratic leadership and the House Ways and Means Committee, Mr. Speaker, to bring forward a Colombia Free Trade Agreement.

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida

Mr. MARIO DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Madam Speaker, on September 19, the State of Florida took a very principled stand against terrorist regimes by divesting roughly $1.3 billion of public employee retirement funds from companies that invest in Iran and Sudan. Iran is actively developing nuclear weapons despite protests from the international community and has repeatedly threatened to wipe the State of Israel off the map. Sudan continues to engage in genocide against its citizens, resulting in more than 400,000 deaths and more than 2 million people forced to seek refuge in neighboring countries. The American people's hard-earned money should not go towards helping state sponsors of terror or enhancing illegal nuclear programs. Madam Speaker, I am extremely proud of Florida and its leadership for taking this remarkable step on this issue, and I hope other States will join in this effort. Obviously, more can always be done to stop funding and to take funding away from state sponsors of terrorism, but this is an important step that the State of Florida has taken. For that, I commend the State of Florida and the State elected officials.