Eliot Engel

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, I rise in very strong opposition to this amendment. I want to come clean and say that I have an extremely large sugar refinery in my district, so I have followed the sugar industry throughout the course of my career in the House of Representatives. It is very easy to hoist up a straw man and say that they are the root of all evil. But remember the old series ``Dragnet'' where they said, ``Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts''? The facts are that this is an agriculture bill, not a farm bill. Congress made promises to farmers in the 2002 farm bill, and sugar farmers made decisions based on these promises. Sugar is not receiving special treatment. All U.S. commodities covered under this farm bill receive loans from the Federal Government, and loan levels for farmers have remained unchanged for 20 years. Sugar policy, unlike other farm policies, operates at no cost to the taxpayers, that is, no cost to the taxpayers. In fact, sugar prices in the United States are low by world standards. So America's sugar farmers cost taxpayers nothing, provide U.S. consumers with prices that are lower than the rest of the world, and open their market to imports more than other countries. This northeasterner from New York absolutely opposes this amendment.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for an important conference taking place today--the Conference on the Deepening Crisis for Haitians. This conference will bring together members of the Haitian American community, the academic sector, non-governmental organizations, and representatives from the U.S. and Haitian governments to discuss key issues facing Haitians. While Haiti has recently celebrated more than 200 years of independence from French colonial rule, the citizens of the island remain vulnerable to poverty, poor health, and political chaos. Tumultuous events in the past year and a half consisted of violent uprisings, the departure of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, massive floods in May displacing tens of thousands, and Tropical Storm Jeanne in September leading to more than 3,000 deaths in the ensuing floods. Sadly, Haiti has not been able to recover from these recent disasters and many Haitians are living in terrible conditions. This is why I have urged Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to grant Temporary Protected Status to Haitian nationals living in the United States. With thousands of people killed in the natural disasters and hundreds of thousands left homeless, Haiti is temporarily unable to handle the return of nationals. Haitians already in the U.S. should be allowed to remain in peace and security in the U.S. while the island recovers. Today, the Organization of American States General Assembly is meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Organization's Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulza, has pledged to raise the subject of Haiti at the OAS during the session. While this is a welcome sign, it is the least of what will be needed if Haiti is to emerge from its deepening crisis. The international community and the United States must get serious about finding a way out of the expanding abyss so that Haiti can once again move forward. We all would like to see a brighter future for Haiti, and I hope this conference will serve to explore many views. Respect for human rights, freedom, and the rule of law must be established in the poorest nation in our hemisphere. Our Haitian constituents and their relatives are counting on us to help bring Haiti out of its volatile situation. I am pleased to support the Conference on the Deepening Crisis for Haitians, and I commend the Conference for hosting this dialogue.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, this Memorial Day we will once again mark a day of remembrance for those who have died while serving our Nation. Memorial Day is a single day of national awareness and reverence, honoring those Americans who died while defending our Nation and its values. While we should remember their sacrifice every day, a special honor is reserved for Memorial Day. More than a million American service members died in the wars and conflicts this Nation fought since the first colonial minutemen took up arms in 1775 to fight for independence. Each soldier who died during those many battles was a loved one cherished by family and friends. Each was a loss to the community and the Nation. While this Nation can never fully repay those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country, I believe the United States must continue to do more to honor our brave soldiers, veterans and our military families. Their sacrifices are the foundation of our Nation's freedom. During my years in Congress, I have consistently given high priority to the interests of our country's veterans. I feel strongly that protecting veterans' rights and benefits is the least we can do for those who have devoted years of their lives in service to our Nation. Only by providing the best possible resources and facilities and fully compensating veterans for disabilities, can we repay the dedication of service personnel who sacrificed for their country. One area in which adequate funding is absolutely necessary for veterans is health care. The lack of sufficient resources in our VA hospitals has reduced the ability of medical professionals to provide quality care. Our budget should be a reflection of our national priorities and yet this year the House Leadership cut veterans healthcare by $13.5 billion. It is critical that we fulfill our moral obligation to honor our Nation's veterans with the health, education and retirement benefits they have earned through their service. I have joined my colleagues in introducing a new GI bill, endorsed by the American Legion and the Disabled American Veterans, to improve benefits for men and women in uniform today and provide long overdue benefits for the veterans and military retirees who have already served. It will help members of the National Guard and Reserve, as their service in Iraq and Afghanistan has been above the call of duty, and will improve veterans' health care by increasing resources, bolstering mental health care for returning soldiers and blocking prescription drug co-payment increases. So, on this Memorial Day, let us never forget that we in this country owe a great debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives so that we could live free. We can start to pay that debt by remembering what they did and what they stood for, and by promoting policies that honor their service and reflect the values of our grateful Nation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Anthony Athanas, who passed away last Friday in Massachusetts at the age of 93. Anthony Athanas was a prominent Albanian American, the founder and president of the Anthony's fine family of restaurants, and one of the most illustrious business personalities in Boston. Anthony Athanas was an institution in the Albanian American community. Not only was he an Honorary Consul of the Republic of Albania in Massachusetts, Anthony Athanas was a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the National Albanian American Council (NAAC). He was the community's senior statesman, a winner of the NAAC Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1999, he and I were members of an historic joint Congressional and Albanian/American delegation to Kosova, Albania, and Macedonia right after the Kosovar war. Anthony told me this was one of the most extraordinary trips he ever took. Upon arriving in Kosova, he kissed the ground and said he never thought he would see the day Kosova would be free. Yet, during this trip, he told a gathering crowd of more than 3000 people in Vranoc, a town which was 80 percent burned by the Serb army, ``Today you are free; tomorrow you will become an independent nation.'' All his life he wanted to visit a free Kosova. It was an honor to be with him when he finally saw it with his own eyes. Anthony Athanas was born in Albania in 1911 and came to the United States at the age of 5, where he settled with his parents in New Bedford, Massachusetts. His first jobs were peddling fruits and vegetables from a cart, selling newspapers, and lighting wood and coal ovens in restaurant kitchens. He worked his way through various positions in restaurants and hotels throughout New England and New York, gaining invaluable knowledge from chefs, managers and owners. In 1937, he opened his first restaurant, Anthony's Hawthorne, in Lynn, Massachusetts. In the following years, Anthony opened several other successful restaurants. In 1963, Anthony Athanas opened what would become his flagship restaurant, Anthony's Pier 4, on a Boston Harbor pier. The restaurant was an instant success, garnering acclaim and awards from around the world. Through the years, the restaurant has hosted heads of government, United States presidents, religious leaders, notable artists and writers, athletes, and a virtual who's who from the entertainment world. Anthony Athanas also served on the Boards of several prominent organizations, including the National Restaurant Association, and was awarded a number of honorary degrees and doctorates. Anthony Athanas personified the American dream. From humble beginnings in Albania, he rose through the ranks to become a successful businessman, a national role model, and a vocal advocate for Albanian issues. He serves as an example to us all of the kind of achievement and success possible for those who are capable and willing to strive for something better. He will sorely be missed.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian on the occasion of his first anniversary of his second presidential term. He was re-elected to president of the Republic of China last year. A number of my colleagues and the American public have taken notice of Taiwan's political and economic achievements during the last two decades. A recent Business Week online article says ``the global economy couldn't function without it (Taiwan). But can it really find peace with China?'' I agree with the article's assessment of Taiwan's importance to the information and technology industry in the world. The revenues of Taiwan's 25 key tech companies should reach $12 billion this year. The article goes on to say that if a shooting war starts across the Taiwan Strait, the damage to the world economy would be equivalent to a ``nuclear bomb going off' and the information and technology supply could be severely compromised. Hence peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are in everyone's best interest. Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian is a man of impressive leadership skills who has made it clear over and over again that he would like to resolve the difficulties between Taipei and Beijing at the negotiating table rather than the battlefield. Unfortunately his call for Beijing to resume cross strait dialogue with Taipei without preconditions on either side has so far been rejected by China. It is regrettable that the Chinese leadership has refused to even talk with President Chen, the duly elected president of Taiwan. If real progress is going to be made in reducing tensions between China and Taiwan, it should be based on a genuine dialogue between the elected Taiwanese government and the established Chinese leadership. In this respect I concur with Assistant Secretary of State Randal Shriver's statement that ``Dialogue is better than no dialogue at all, and we think talking is better than no talking . . . the leaders in Beijing will ultimately have to talk to the elected leaders of Taiwan. So, once again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to commemorate the first anniversary of the election of Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian to his second term and offer my hopes that real dialogue across the Taiwan Straits, without preconditions, will begin someday soon.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) for yielding time to me. And I rise in support of H.R. 2520, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005. This act, combined with H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005, will go a long way towards helping millions of Americans who suffer from debilitating health conditions. I wholeheartedly support umbilical stem cell research, but also support embryonic stem cell research. As anyone who suffers from diabetes, Parkinson's disease, ALS, or a host of other health problems knows, one possible treatment is the use of stem cells to help regrow the tissues affected by their ailments. Scientists have stated that embryonic stem cells provide the best opportunity for devising unique treatments of these serious diseases since, unlike adult stem cells, they may be induced to develop into any type of cell. Adult stem cells are also problematic, as they are difficult to identify, purify and grow, and simply may not exist for certain diseased tissues that need to be replaced. Please understand that I do not discount the promise of adult stem cell research or cord blood research, but I agree with the National Institutes of Health that we must carefully study all types of adult and embryonic stem cells. In their words, ``Given the enormous promise of stem cell therapies for so many devastating diseases, NIH believes that it is important to simultaneously pursue all lines of research.'' Our loved ones deserve science's best hope for the future. Now, I want to say something. This is not about cloning. I oppose cloning of human beings. This is about the use of embryonic stem cells which would have been discarded anyway. I want to repeat that. This is about the use of embryonic stem cells which would have been discarded anyway. It has been estimated that there are currently 400,000 frozen IVF embryos, which would be destroyed if they are not donated for research. I would never condone the donation of embryos to science without the informed, written consent of donors and strict regulations prohibiting financial remuneration for potential donors. Our Nation's scientific research must adhere to the highest ethical standards. But it is important that we do embryonic stem cell research. We are falling behind other countries, and this is not what ought to be happening. President Bush has limited Federal funding of stem cell research to only those stem cell lines that existed prior to August of 2001. But unfortunately, only 22 cell lines are available for study, which prevents scientists from having access to important genetic cell diversity. Simply put, if it continues, that would not be ethical. Please support both bills.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I want to congratulate the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) for his leadership in commemorating the life and work of Sister Dorothy Stang. Mr. Speaker, Sister Dorothy Stang stood firmly on the side of the weak and disposed in the Brazilian rainforest for over 40 years. Her willingness to defend the indigenous people ultimately led to her untimely and tragic death. Dorothy Stang entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur community in 1948, and professed final vows in 1956. In 1966, she began her very important ministry in Brazil. Sister Dorothy immediately encountered injustices which made her a lifelong crusader for the rights of indigenous minorities and a voice for the voiceless before the powerful Pastoral Land Commission. In her work, Sister Stang took on powerful land interests, and steadfastly defended small groups of families and their traditional ways of life. Sister Stang taught the local communities ways of sustainable development and peaceful community living. Because she was a thorn in the side of those powerful interests, Sister Dorothy received numerous death threats, but she always shrugged them off. She did so not carelessly or lightheartedly, but with a deep sense of the importance of her work and the peaceful approach to conflicts she had always promoted. With the brutal murder of Sister Stang in February, the indigenous communities of the rainforest have lost one of their most powerful voices. Indeed, Brazil has lost one of the most respected human rights leaders. We call on the Brazilian Government to bring to justice not only the people who pulled the trigger, but also those who devised the evil plot to kill her for sheer financial greed. Sister Dorothy Stang leaves a huge legacy which puts the burden on the Brazilian and U.S. Governments to protect those communities for whom Sister Stang gave her life. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan), the author of this resolution.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, let me say what an honor and privilege it is to introduce this resolution today with our great chairwoman of our Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, my good friend and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). We have worked together so well and so closely on the Middle East and other things that it is an honor to do this with her again this afternoon. I also want to commend my colleague, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), for introducing this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Fifty-seven years ago, the State of Israel was established as a sovereign and independent state. Rising from the ashes of the Holocaust, Israel represented not only a refuge for Jews of Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere, but the fulfillment of the age-old dream of the Jewish people for a homeland of their own once again after so many thousands of years. As you may know, Mr. Speaker, the United States was one of the first nations to recognize Israel only 11 minutes after its creation. The home to many religious sites of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, Israel provides fair and open access for people of all faiths to visit holy places. The people of Israel have established a unique pluralistic democracy. In fact, it is the only true democracy in the Middle East. This includes the rights and liberties cherished by the people of the United States, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association, freedom of the press, and government by the consent of the governed. Today, Israel continues to serve as a shining model of democratic values by regularly holding free and fair elections, promoting the free exchange of ideas, and vigorously exercising through its parliament, the Knesset, a democratic government that is fully representative of its citizens. Indeed, Israel and the United States have shared traditions and shared values, and democracy is certainly one of them. Unfortunately, ever since its independence, Israel has repeatedly, time and time again, been forced to defend itself from attacks. Yet even in the face of this adversity, the government of Israel has successfully worked with the neighboring governments of Egypt and Jordan to establish peaceful bilateral relations. During the summer of 2000, President Clinton tried to broker a permanent end to the conflict, where the Israelis signed and agreed to a very generous and deep concession. Yet Yasar Arafat rejected the deal, walked out and sparked his terror war. Despite the deaths of over 1,000 innocent Israelis at the hands of murderous suicide bombers and other terrorists since then, the people of Israel continue to seek peace with their Palestinian neighbors. Regardless, the United States and Israel enjoy a strategic partnership based on shared democratic principles, friendship, and respect. President Bush has said this many, many times. And, indeed, all Presidents of the United States have worked closely with Israel. Our people share a true affinity of values and view each other as strong and trusted allies. As an American of Jewish heritage myself, I am proud to speak in favor of H. Con. Res. 149, which recognizes the independence of the State of Israel as a significant event in providing refuge and a national homeland for the Jewish people. The resolution also praises American and Israeli efforts to create the conditions for peace in the Middle East, commends the bipartisan commitment of all United States administrations and United States Congresses since 1948 to stand by Israel and work for its security and well-being, and extends warm congratulations and best wishes to the people of Israel as they celebrate their 57th anniversary of Israel's independence. Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who is now visiting the United States, and wish him a safe and productive visit. In fact, the APAC conference, which has been going on these past few days in Washington, as we speak, is a reminder of the work that needs to be done to continue to solidify and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution. I would first like to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for their work on this important resolution. And let me say that I quite agree with the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), my dear friend; when we worked together on the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, we knew that we were doing the right thing. We absolutely made the Syrian withdrawal of Lebanon one of the four pillars of that act. But even in our wildest expectations and dreams, we could never have imagined the series of events since the passage of that act, which leads today to freedom for the Lebanese people. And I want to thank my colleagues for standing with us and passing the Act, giving it bipartisan support and enabling us to bring forward this resolution today. It is an honor to stand on the floor of the House today, approximately 1 month after the Syrian armed forces ended their military occupation of Lebanon. Lebanon is at a crossroads, a place from which it can move forward towards democracy and freedom or take steps back toward the violence which tore it apart so many years ago. The people of the Lebanese Republic have a rich, proud, and honorable history dating from ancient times to the present, and Lebanon has been a free and democratic nation for most of its modern history. Lebanon and the United States have enjoyed a history of friendship and cooperation which has been witnessed by the immigration of millions of Lebanese to the United States where they and their descendants have contributed greatly to the fabric of American life. Let me say, Mr. Speaker, that in my years in Congress, I have had the honor and the pleasure to make many friends in the Lebanese American community, and I am proud of the contributions they have made to our country and American policy toward Lebanon. The Lebanese American community was a very important part of the Syria Accountability Act, and the Lebanese American community has played and is continuing to play a very important part in the freedom and democracy of Lebanon. However, tragically, Syria dominated Lebanese politics and political leaders during its occupation, resulting in a deterioration of Lebanon's human rights situation, the engineering of Lebanese election results to Syria's liking and the imposition of curbs on Lebanon's media, once the freest in the Arab world. Lebanon, in effect, became a Syrian satellite state where none of its leaders would dare defy the Syrian regime in Damascus. Yet a series of events caused pressure on the Syrian regime to grow. Beginning with the passage of the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act, Congress showed very strongly that we would not tolerate this continued Syrian occupation of Lebanon. While Syria could have made smart choices at any point, it never did, and pressure continued to grow for its full withdrawal from Lebanon, again with the President's signing the Syria Accountability Act 1 year ago. Our law ultimately led to the Security Council's adoption of Resolution 1559, which demanded Syria's withdrawal from Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah and other armed groups. Yet the most recent developments in the effort to press Syria to leave Lebanon were sparked by the terrorist murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut. His assassination, which must still be thoroughly investigated by Lebanon and the international community, triggered a series of popular protests with hundreds of thousands of Lebanese taking to the streets. At one point in one of the demonstrations, literally one-quarter of the entire population of Lebanon took to the streets of Beirut to demand that the Syrian occupation end. Yet, while Syria has today withdrawn its military forces from Lebanon, reports indicate that it has left behind a pro-Syrian intelligence structure within the Lebanese intelligence agencies. There are lots of spies, Syrian spies, still in Lebanon and lots of Syrian nationals still in Lebanon trying to control things. These people must leave, as well, and the sooner the better. And it must be pointed out, Mr. Speaker, that not all parts of Security Resolution 1559 have been implemented. Hezbollah, the terrorist organization which receives support from Iran and Syria, remains armed to the teeth and occupies much of southern Lebanon. As Hezbollah has not given up its weaponry and its intent to maintain a military answer to the political questions of the Middle East, Hezbollah must remain completely isolated by the international community. Earlier this year, the House passed a resolution urging the European Union to put Hezbollah on its terrorist list. As we consider this resolution today, let us renew that call. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. Finally, all political prisoners and the ``disappeared'' must be released and returned to their families. They are still existing in Lebanon, and we must get to the bottom of the disappeared people as well. Today, the United States must stand for the same basic values in Lebanon to which we adhere at home and around the world. Mr. Speaker, Lebanon is scheduled to hold elections on May 29, this Saturday. As such, Congress stands with the Lebanese people as they proceed to restore democracy in their once again sovereign nation. It is our hope that the upcoming elections will be free, fair, transparent, and in accordance with all relevant international standards on elections. However, I must express one note of concern about the elections. The electoral districts in which Lebanese candidates for parliament run later this week were drawn in accordance with the 2000 electoral law, which was written by the Syrian-dominated regime during the occupation. I am concerned that this has deprived many Lebanese from true representation as the districts were apparently drawn unfairly, packing certain groups of people into some districts while underrepresenting others. However, once these elections are completed, the United States should help the people of Lebanon in their efforts to restore the separation of powers, the rule of law, the changing of these districts, and the proper respect for fundamental freedoms of every citizen. As goes the rule of law in Lebanon and the respect for individuals, so goes the nation. Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor, with the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), of the Syria Accountability Act, it is an honor to be on the floor today in support of this important resolution, and I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of House Resolution 191. I first want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for his effort in bringing this resolution forward for action in the House today. I also want to acknowledge our colleagues who introduced this legislation: the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo). As our colleagues know, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has had a longstanding interest and concern for Central Europe and these issues involving religious liberty. Mr. Speaker, freedom of religion is one of the most important of the blessings of liberty that is assured to us in the United States by the first amendment to our Constitution. It is also a freedom that is explicitly guaranteed in the universal declaration of human rights. Article 18 states: ``Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.'' It is not enough, Mr. Speaker, for men and women to have freedom of conscience to believe what they choose. It is also essential that they have the right to join with others of like mind to practice and worship together as a religious community; and for this right to be meaningful, they must have the right to control property that they can use for religious, charitable, and educational purposes consistent with their beliefs. The important resolution that we are considering today goes to the heart of this problem, and it raises serious questions about continuing difficulties of some religious communities in Romania. Romania, like many other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, faced 4\1/2\ decades of Communist rule, and Communist Party leaders feared that religion would undermine their authoritarian rule. As a result, most religious property in the country was seized by the Communist government. Following the collapse of Communist rule, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have all had to deal with the restitution of property to religious communities, and it has been a difficult and complex process everywhere. In Romania it has been more complex and much slower than elsewhere. For this reason, the resolution before us today urges the Romanian government to recognize its responsibilities to provide equitable, prompt, and fair restitution to all religious communities for property confiscated by the former Communist government in Romania. Mr. Speaker, the resolution singles out the three categories of religious communities for whom restitution has been particularly slow and unsatisfactory in Romania. The Jewish community saw its properties confiscated beginning in September of 1940 under the Fascist government that preceded the Communist government, but the Communist government reaffirmed these confiscations after it came to power. Only a handful of Jewish communal properties have been restituted and over 1,000 communal properties are still under government control. The religious communities of the Hungarian ethnic minority have also faced the same problem. Over 2,000 schools, hospitals, orphanages and other charitable and civic properties were seized from the Roman Catholic Church, which in Romania is primarily Hungarian; the Hungarian Reformed Church; the Evangelical Lutheran Church; and the Hungarian Unitarian Church. The third community is the Greek Catholic Church, a community which is united with the Roman Catholic Church but which observes the Greek Orthodox liturgy. In 1948 the Greek Catholic Church was dissolved, and its members were forcibly merged with the Romanian Orthodox Church and its properties either seized by the government or given to the Romanian Orthodox Church. In 1990 the Romanian Government adopted legislation to recognize the Greek Catholic community and permit its members to worship openly. Unfortunately, the legal provisions to resolve property restitution have been singularly unsuccessful. Mr. Speaker, the European Court of Human Rights and the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe have both criticized the succession of Romanian governments' failures to satisfactorily deal with the problems. House Resolution 191 urges the recently elected government to take the initiative and work to solve religious property restitution. The government has recently adopted legislation that attempts to deal with some of the issues, and we welcome that effort to put better legislation in place to solve these problems. It will require active and continuing efforts, however; and we urge the government to take those steps. Members of all of these religious communities in Romania have immigrated to the United States over the past century and even before, and most of the Members of this Congress have constituents who have expressed concern to us about these issues. Mr. Speaker, this resolution reflects the legitimate interests and concerns of American citizens. Let me also add that since Romania is now a member of NATO, it has an urgent responsibility and an extra responsibility to perform its responsibilities. We in the United States are looking to Romania as a NATO member, a fellow NATO member, to now act accordingly. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of this resolution, I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I, first, again would like to commend the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), my good friend, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), the Chair and ranking member of the Middle East and Central Asia Subcommittee, for introducing this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, Afghanistan has made real progress toward becoming a stable, peaceful, and democratic state. The Taliban has been forced from power. The presidential election last October was an unqualified success with a massive turnout among men and women in defiance of Taliban threats, and progress has been made in restoring the basic human rights of Afghan women. Before we even heard about the Taliban, Mr. Speaker, I was talking about them when they were in control when they were denying religious freedom to Hindus and others and talking about some of their despicable acts which, unfortunately, the world had then come to know. But even today, Afghanistan is far from out of the woods. The Taliban and al Qaeda remnants have used recent events to further their agenda of undermining the peace and stability that President Karzai aims to bring to Afghanistan and its people. Progress in reconstruction and development, which is crucial to bringing economic opportunity and hope to millions, is painfully slow. But the biggest obstacle to democracy and development is the unprecedented scale of opium cultivation and narco-trafficking. Mr. Speaker, in the face of these obstacles, President Karzai has remained steadfast and determined to bring democracy, prosperity, and security to the people of Afghanistan; and the United States must help President Karzai achieve this goal. This resolution welcomes President Karzai upon his visit to the United States this week and recognizes that a democratic, stable, and prosperous Afghanistan is a vital national security interest of the United States. The resolution wisely states that a strong and enduring partnership between our two countries must remain a primary objective. President Bush met today with President Karzai in the Oval Office. I am sure the President continued to offer the strong support of the American people to President Karzai. It is my hope that President Karzai offered his thoughts on how efforts against illegal drugs can and will be intensified. Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow Afghanistan to lapse into chaos, war, and ruin once again. The United States must demonstrates its long-term commitment to a strong and enduring partnership with Afghanistan. President Karzai is Afghanistan's best chance at achieving peace, and we must do everything to help him realize this goal. I had the pleasure of meeting President Karzai when he was last in town and met with members of the Committee on International Relations, and I must also add on a personal note that a very good friend of mine is a first cousin of his, so he does have strong family ties to the United States as well. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform our colleagues about a very important bipartisan initiative to highlight the problem of Cuban political prisoners held by the totalitarian regime of Fidel Castro. To bring worldwide attention to this critical matter, many of my colleagues and I are adopting an individual Cuban political prisoner jailed by Castro. Sadly, on this small island nation there are thousands of pro- democracy activists currently imprisoned in Cuba for exercising their most basic human rights. They have been jailed for speaking freely, worshiping freely, and assembling peacefully. The Cuban prisoner I am adopting is Mr. Felix Navarro Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez is a 49-year-old member of the Partido por la Democracia Pedro Luis Boitel, the Pedro Luis Boitel Party for Democracy. On the evening of Tuesday, March 18, 2003 Felix was detained on his way home in the city of Perico in Matanzas. He was taken by more than a dozen State Security agents (Castro's political police) to his home where they subjected Mr. Rodriguez and his family to an exhaustive search that lasted late into the night. The agents seized a large amount of equipment, objects, and supplies. Everything from a computer to 12 plastic chairs including books, rope, videos, typewriters, blank paper, pencils and pens, and all the documents pertaining to the Party were taken. Felix was brought to the State Security compound in Matanzas where he was detained under charges of having ``received, among other things, leaflets and literature; the latter was proved by the confiscation of aggressive and corrosive writings and printed material from his house.'' The Cuban prosecution requested a 30-year prison sentence. On Thursday, April 4, 2003, Mr. Rodriguez--together with independent journalist and PDLB's secretary for International Relations Ivan Hernandez Carrillo--were subjected to an arbitrary and illegal summary trial, in the city of Matanzas and condemned to a 25-year prison sentence. Felix Navarro Rodriguez was a Cuban educator for over twenty years. He taught both elementary and middle school. At the same time he was teaching he was also studying Physics and Astronomy. Because he refused to indoctrinate his students with communist rhetoric he was fired from his job. According to the official document released by the Municipal Board of Education, he was accused of ``treason against the revolution.'' As a result, he was detained and later sentenced to three years in prison for ``enemy propaganda'' of which he served 20 grueling months. As further punishment he was prohibited from completing his studies in Physics and Astronomy. Mr. Speaker, I too am a former teacher and believe that one of the most important jobs in my life, besides being a father, was teaching my students to think independently and express their views without fear of prosecution. I sympathize with Mr. Rodriguez's efforts to teach his students to think instead of teaching them the oppressive lessons of communism, and I commend him for his efforts. Mr. Rodriguez's story is not uncommon in Cuba; in fact, political imprisonment has been a fact of life in Castro's Cuba for over four decades. Mr. Speaker, this has become a personal issue for me, as Fabio Freyre, the grandfather of a member of my staff, was imprisoned in solitary confinement for over one year for fighting against the revolution and the Castro Regime in the early 1960's. While this imprisonment took place over forty years ago, the conditions are the same as today. There are many Cubans fighting for their fundamental human rights who are being punished harshly on a daily basis. Like the others, it is clear that Felix Navarro Rodriguez does not belong in jail. He is a political prisoner being held merely for trying to spread freedom and democracy to the Cuban people. I hope that he is one day freed from the shackles of oppression and that the Cuban people can have the opportunity to freely choose their leaders in a democratic system of political pluralism. Mr. Speaker, what has made this Nation great is that since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we have been a beacon of freedom and justice. American troops have shed blood confronting tyrants and dictators. Our belief that there truly are inalienable rights does not end at our borders. We Americans believe that freedom and liberty are rights due all the people of Earth. I hope to one day soon speak to Felix Navarro Rodriguez and congratulate him on his freedom and thank him for his commitment to justice and democracy.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I want to, first of all, commend the Capitol Police and all the other personnel who did such a fantastic job when we had the evacuation earlier today. It is never good, obviously, to have this kind of evacuation. But when we were kids in school, we had fire drills and things like that, and we wanted to see how well it was done. Today, it was done in a very professional way. And, thank God, it really was not a threat, but it is nice to know, when we need to leave, we can. So I want to just take the time to thank the Capitol Police and to all the personnel who worked with us here in making sure the evacuation was smooth and nobody was hurt. Responding to the threat and the threat over the aerospace was swift. And I think all of us as people who work at the Capitol can sleep a little better tonight knowing that our very highly trained personnel really had things under hand. It again shows the American public why we all need to be prepared for terrorism and why this is a new world, and I think that we are meeting the task. Again, I want to thank all those concerned.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill, although I am disgusted with the anti-immigration provisions in it, particularly the things with the driver's licenses. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this supplemental appropriations bill, but not without very serious misgivings. I will vote for this legislation because it contains support for our troops in the field and important tsunami relief. With American soldiers in harm's way, I am very reluctant to vote against funding of military operations. And, having personally seen the devastation in the wake of the Tsunami in Indonesia, I feel that aid to the victims is critical. Nevertheless, I am disgusted by the process by which this legislation came to the floor and by the immigration-related provisions in the bill. This is an appropriations bill. It is not the place to write new immigration law or to include seriously flawed driver's license provisions. The Republicans are clamoring in the Senate about the lack of up or down votes on judges and, today, they denied the House not only an up or down vote on the so-called ``Real ID'' Act, but even a real debate on this issue. The immigration sections are seriously flawed. They impose onerous restrictions on foreign nationals in the U.S., not to mention upon American citizens, and slap a massive unfunded mandate upon the states. Shortly after this legislation takes effect, I can only imagine that, instead of more licensed drivers on the roads, there will be less. Instead of safer roads, we will have more reckless drivers operating completely outside of our laws. America is a nation of immigrants and our strength is in our diversity. We are founded upon the people who have come from all corners of the globe and are continually enriched by the unique strengths that they add to our national mosaic. We must not undermine the careful balance our nation has struck. I, therefore, strongly oppose these ID and immigration-related sections and pledge to fight hard in the future to remove the offensive provisions from the law. in the end, as a legislator, I must vote on the bill in front of me, and in this instance I must vote for the vital funding contained in this bill. But, Mr. Speaker, please know that I will work hard in the day ahead to strike the dangerously flawed sections from the code.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share my support for House Resolution 250, Supporting the Goals and Ideals of a National Hepatitis B Awareness Month. Chronic liver disease is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, so it is imperative for the Congress and federal government to become more focused on Hepatitis viruses. Viral hepatitis represents a disease entity caused by at least 5 unrelated viruses which attack the cells of the liver. The majority of viral hepatitis cases are due to the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), or hepatitis C virus (HCV). Infection with hepatitis B virus can produce a chronic infection which may lead to death from chronic liver disease. Studies show that 4.9 percent of Americans have been infected with HBV, of whom 1.25 million are chronically infected. The expected direct medical costs associated with acute and chronic HBV infection for one U.S. birth cohort are estimated to be $81.9 million. The consequences of hepatitis-induced chronic liver disease may not become apparent until decades after infection. Using the national data, it is estimated that more than 931,000 New Yorkers have been infected with HBV, with 46,550 of these persons chronically infected. An estimated 342,000 New Yorkers have been infected with HCV, with 237,500 of these persons chronically infected. Hepatitis B and hepatitis C are complex infections that have significant epidemiologic, social and medical impact. In addition to the potential financial burden to the state and the Nation, viral hepatitis can have a tremendous impact on the lives of many New Yorkers. As a result, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) identified the need for a comprehensive, collaborative and organized approach by partners across New York to address the public health problems associated with viral hepatitis. On June 3 and 4, 2003, the NYSDOH, along with partners and stakeholders from across the state, participated in the Viral Hepatitis Strategic Planning Summit. This summit was to be the beginning of the development of a statewide viral hepatitis strategic plan. The two-day meeting began with presentations by representatives from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the NYSDOH. Then the participants were divided into four focus areas: (1) Prevention, (2) Education, (3) Surveillance and Research, and (4) Medical and Case Management. The focus areas served as the central elements of the strategic plan. By the end of the 2-day meeting, each focus area identified 3 to 5 priority issues, which were then developed into long- term goals, each with strategies and 5-year action plans for meeting the goals. On Wednesday, May 11, at the Millennium Hilton, 55 Church St. in New York City, the Aim for the B campaign will conduct a media event to call greater awareness to hepatitis B. Speakers and panelists for the New York event include confirmed representatives from the Mayor's office, Hepatitis B Foundation, Weill Cornell Medical Center and Charles B. Wang Community Health Center. There will be other community events from coast-to-coast the week of May 9, and I salute those associated with this outreach and prevention effort. Mr. Speaker, thank you for the chance to convey my unity of support for House Resolution 250 and for the impressive awareness efforts being conducted nationwide to address hepatitis B.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay honor to Kenneth B. Clark, an educator and psychologist who spent his life working to improve the lives of African-American children, It is Clark's pioneering research on the detrimental effects of racial segregation in schools that was cited by the Supreme Court in the landmark 1954 ruling, Brown vs. Board of Education. Clark was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1914 and, at age 5, moved with his family to a tenement in New York City to pursue the American Dream. Clark eventually earned his Masters degree from Howard University. Clark went on to become the first African-American to earn a doctorate in psychology at Columbia and also the first to hold a permanent professorship at the City College of New York. While teaching psychology at City College, Clark developed an interest in the effects of segregation on children and conducted his famous study on school segregation. This study demonstrated how racial segregation marred the development of black students and eventually influenced the landmark Supreme Court case. After his professorship, Clark continued his work for children and became the first African-American to join the New York State Board of Regents, and again the first African-American to serve as president of the American Psychological Association. He belonged to a number of other prestigious organizations including the New York Urban Development Corporation, the Society for Psychological Studies of Social Issues, and Phi Beta Kappa. He founded Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited and, with his wife Mamie Phillips, formed what became the North side Center for Child Development. After retiring from the Board of Regents, Clark began his own consulting firm in my district, in Hastings-On-Hudson, New York. Kenneth B. Clark and Associates assists corporations with racial policies, affirmative action, and other minority hiring programs. Clark wrote many books, including ``Prejudice and Your Child'' and ``Dark Ghetto'' and was awarded many honors for his life's work. Clark dedicated his life to improving racial equality and never abandoned his belief in the importance of equal access to education, regardless of race. His free thinking and steadfast commitment to this racial equality will sorely be missed.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 127. Charles Ghankay Taylor is a ruthless war criminal who has been indicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) on 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Taylor, the former president of the Republic of Liberia, has supported atrocities including mass murder, rape, torture, mutilation, and the use of children as militants during Sierra Leone's brutal civil war. Charles Taylor also supported the Revolutionary United Front (RUF), deemed a terrorist organization by the State Department. He therefore, should be held accountable for the inhumane barbarism the RUF committed within Sierra Leone's borders. Furthermore, this Special Court that indicted Taylor has contributed to the rule of law in Sierra Leone and deserves our support. In August 2003, Charles Taylor was granted asylum in Nigeria and agreed to end involvement in Liberian politics. The Nigerian government also warned Taylor not to communicate with anyone involved in illegal or political activities in Liberia. However, the UN Secretary General has reported to the Security Council that Taylor has breached this agreement and maintains contacts in Liberia with those planning to undermine the peace process in Liberia. Today, Charles Taylor remains in Nigeria. Taylor is a threat to peace and stability in West Africa and should not be granted any freedom in Nigeria. I call on the government of Nigeria to immediately turn over Charles Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Only with the proceedings of a fair and open trial for the crimes against humanity, will justice be served, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commemorate the ninetieth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. On the night of April 24, 1915, the Ottoman Empire arrested over 200 Armenian community leaders in Constantinople, thereby marking only the beginning of the horrendous Armenian Genocide to come. On the eve of World War I, an estimated two million Armenians lived in the Ottoman Empire. Well over a million were deported and hundreds of thousands were simply killed. Between 1915 and 1918, the Ottoman Empire conducted other atrocities against Armenians which also included abduction, torture, massacre and starvation. Armenians living in Armenia and Anatolia were forcibly moved to Syria, where they were left in the desert to die of hunger and thirst. In addition, there were systematic murders; women and children were abducted from their homes and abused. It has been estimated that one and half million Armenians died as a result of this genocide from 1915 to 1923. By 1923 the entire landmass of Asia Minor and historic West Armenia had been expunged of its Armenian population. On this important anniversary, it is a lasting lesson to people everywhere that genocide must not only be opposed by all nations, but that it must be universally recognized as a crime against humanity--no matter where it occurs or against whom it is carried out.