Mark Green

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

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

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 458, the concurrent resolution just agreed to.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I watched the debate, discussion that took place in the last hour, as many Americans did; and I could not help but note that lots of questions were raised by our friends on the other side of the aisle. I think the American public needs to be reminded that the vast majority of Members in this body on both sides of the aisle supported the resolution authorizing the use of force. The vast majority of Members on both sides of the aisle supported the supplemental appropriation that continues to support the operations in Iraq, and I think the public needs to ask itself whether debates like the one they just saw are really a serious discussion of policies and principles or whether or not they are more about election-year politics. Debate is a good thing. We should debate. We should debate often, but I think we also have to remember that the world is watching and our soldiers are watching, and there should be no doubt whatsoever about this Nation's resolve to continue to fight on and to prevail in the war against terrorism. Mr. Speaker, this is an important time; and even though it is an important time, I think it is useful for us to slow things down a little bit because I think sometimes we can only appreciate the significance of events perhaps after the fact. Sometimes we are too close to events to fully understand how they fit into the larger context, and I think we need to step back for a moment and take a look at where we are right now in Iraq. I believe that in the months and years ahead, as we take a look at these very important weeks and months that surround the handover of sovereignty to Iraq, I believe that we will look at these as great months and years for this nation. With each passing day, leaders for a new, free Iraq are taking steps forward, just as the terrorists try with their terrible attacks to force these same Iraqi leaders to take steps backward, but I believe that the clarity of hindsight will show us all in the years ahead that the violence and the bloodshed and the senseless destruction that we have seen far too often in that country, that our national media focuses on to the exclusion of all else, it seems is happening not because the coalition efforts are failing or falling short, but instead, because they are succeeding. They are the result of a growing fear in the terrorist world that decency and democracy will succeed, that they will take hold, that the success will not only inspire more and more Iraqis to embrace self-rule and to invest of themselves in the future of Iraq, but that it will serve as an inspiration to many oppressed peoples in many troubled lands all throughout that region. Mr. Speaker, it is important to take time to talk about what is going on in Iraq because so much of it is really outside the narrow view of the camera lens. It is important for our soldiers that we tell their story because so many of our brave young men and women have put themselves on the line, have shed sweat, have shed blood for a mission that they believe in, a mission that I also believe in. Young men and women from all over America have traveled thousands of miles for this cause. One of the units from my own district, the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, has as its motto ``Order Out of Chaos.'' Well, that is just what they, the 432nd and the members of the 395th out of Appleton, and countless other units and soldiers from Wisconsin, and all over America, that is just what they are accomplishing. Some of it I saw myself firsthand when I was in Iraq late last year. The most recent good news, the good news that you may not have seen, is that President Bush has outlined a clear 5-step plan for Iraqi sovereignty and its implementation is already underway. On June 8, the U.N. Security Council unanimously, unanimously, adopted a resolution supporting free elections in Iraq and reauthorizing the multinational security force. This will provide greater security for Iraqis and for Americans in that country. Already the G-8 has responded favorably, and its members are making new commitments for the long-term rebuilding process. In Iraq itself, there are key signs that the government and the economy is beginning to mobilize and the economic and civic redevelopment process is underway, the rebuilding is marching on. For example, as my colleague, the previous speaker, has noted, the number of telephone subscribers in Iraq is 45 percent above prewar levels. There are now 55,000 Internet subscribers in Baghdad alone. Less than 2 years ago there were 37,000. Eighty-five percent of Iraqi children have now been immunized. Two hundred forty Iraqi hospitals and 1,200 preventive health care clinics are now operating. Twenty-five hundred schools have been rehabilitated, with another 1,200 to be rehabilitated by year's end. Hundreds of free, local government units have been launched and are up and running. Now, I cite these numbers, Mr. Speaker, not to gloss over the challenges but, instead, because I am afraid too many of us are guilty of glossing over the successes. These successes have been paid for with the lives of too many Americans. They have been paid for with the lives of countless Iraqis, people who believe in the future, people who are willing to put themselves on the line. Now, June 30th is not a switch we can simply turn on and have security and prosperity and perfect democracy, but it marks one more step down a clear path from which, for Iraqis, the future will be much brighter. Mr. Speaker, there are challenging times ahead of us, there are dangerous and dark days that we will see all too often. But, clearly, clearly there are good things happening in Iraq. Clearly, many people believe in the future. They have put themselves on the line. And that future is happening quickly and more brightly, I think, than many people expected could possibly occur. So, Mr. Speaker, debate is a good thing. We should talk about what is going on in Iraq, and we should question our leaders. That is important. But I think we must not let that crowd out what is going on, what is positive, the bright future that lies ahead, the hope that so many of us have. And, more importantly, the clear plan that we are following and that we are proceeding along each and every day; a plan that will bring democracy and decency to that country, a plan that will bring a brighter future to that entire region, a plan that so many Americans have fought for, a plan that all of us can be very, very proud of. I yield back to the gentleman from Indiana.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and salute him for his tireless advocacy on behalf of lower gas prices. Our drivers have been through the ringer in recent years. Gas prices are far too high. Some of the reasons for those high prices do lie overseas. This legislation is not the answer by itself. There is so much more we should do. But some of the problems lie here at home. In fact, they lie in this very body. We have cobbled together a patchwork system of hopelessly complicated, confusing and complex rules and regulations that make sense only to bureaucrats. Take a look at this map here that we have in front of us, this little colored patch area on the map that tells you that the blend of gasoline used from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Chicago is unique in the entire world. There is no other place on the face of the Earth that uses it. What that means is when there is a disruption in the pipeline, or in the refining process, the price of gasoline skyrockets overnight. It makes our gasoline more expensive. It makes our prices more volatile. Simply put, under this crazy system, this Stalinist system, supply cannot move to meet demand. Madam Speaker, it is very clear today our drivers want relief. They are turning to us for help. It seems obvious to me that some people in this body are willing to respond to those drivers who are asking for help simply with fearmongering and scare tactics. This legislation does not weaken the Clean Air Act. It makes it work. It offers real help to our drivers, particularly drivers in these areas who are suffering because of government imposed barriers. Shame on us. We are the ones that have made gasoline more expensive in these areas. We are the ones who have made prices more volatile. It is time for us to take this commonsense approach to lowering the price.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time, and I thank him also for being such a strong advocate for protecting the flag and our heritage. Mr. Speaker, today we observe Flag Day, a day, as previous speakers have indicated, we commemorate the adoption of our flag on June 14, 1777. This past weekend, I walked in the Flag Day parade in Appleton, Wisconsin, and to this unbiased observer, the largest and grandest such celebration in America. We celebrated the Stars and Stripes. It was red, white and blue as far as the eye could see, and on display were the patriotism and pride that those colors evoke in every American heart. We celebrated because this flag remained standing as we fought for our independence, fought to remain one Nation, as we fought the great wars of liberty; and it remains standing proudly as we continue to fight for freedom today. No matter the era, no matter the challenge, this symbol of our great Nation and our values is there, proud and free, for all the world to see. As a Wisconsinite, I am proud to say that it was a schoolteacher from Wisconsin who began this celebration. How appropriate. Today is a day on which we should take a minute to stop, to look at our grand old flag, and to reflect upon what it means. We should also reflect upon the sacrifice that so many have made in so many lands far away to ensure that Old Glory will fly free and proud for generations to come.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I entered college in the late 1970s, and so I remember well those times and the challenges that we faced: soaring inflation, soaring interest rates, soaring unemployment, gas prices that were sky high, on the world stage hostages in Iran, and the Cold War loomed large. I remember that as President Reagan took office some pundits, some experts out there arguing that the office of the Presidency had become too big for one man. And they said maybe it was time to look at a different institution, co-Presidency or something like that. And then on to the stage came Ronald Reagan. Through shear force of character, through his inspirational leadership, I am proud to say that he shaped the modern Republican Party, he shaped the office of the Presidency, he shaped a new America, indeed he shaped a new world, a new world that offered hope for freedom-loving people all around the world. Mr. Speaker, not a bad accomplishment for one man.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to recognize before this House the brave men and women of the 395th Ordnance Company who last week returned home after serving 10 months in Afghanistan. These soldiers played a critical role in the war on terror, and stand as a shining example of patriotism and commitment to all Americans. In the face of reat peril and threat, the men and women of the Appleton, Wisconsin-based 395th moved essential ammunition and supplies to the battlefield for their comrades. They played a vital role in securing peace and stability in a nation once dominated by terror and oppression, and their efforts have helped nourish the seeds of democracy in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, when future generations of Americans look back on the conflicts in the Middle East, they will certainly remember the service and sacrifice of the 395th. And today, I am thankful that they are home safely with us once again. On behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, and a grateful nation, it is my honor to recognize these courageous individuals.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I join my fellow colleagues in recognizing the extraordinary contributions of our men and women in uniform who have lost their lives while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. As Memorial Day approaches, Americans are reminded of the sacrifices made by all our military service members. These courageous individuals spread the seeds of democracy to oppressed nations around the globe, helping protect and preserve the freedoms we all cherish. There's no question, our world is a safer place today because of their valiant efforts. Today, another generation of American service members is fighting for peace and stability in the Middle East. Although they have seen great peril, these individuals, like their predecessors, continue to root out evil and terror wherever it hides. They bring honor and dignity to their mission, and they continue to make all Americans proud. Mr. Speaker, many Americans have lost their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan--some of which were my constituents--Private First Class Nichole Frye, Staff Sergeant Warren Hansen, Private First Class Ryan Jerabek and Corporal Jesse Thiry. Their sacrifice is a stern reminder to us all that peace comes at a heavy price, and America will not soon forget their contributions to freedom. It is with solemn honor that I, along with the citizens of Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District, recognize today the efforts of our fallen warriors.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House the American Lung Association on this, its 100th anniversary. Since 1904, the American Lung Association has been leading the fight against lung disease in all its forms. Although it began as a network of community-based organizations dedicated to eradicating tuberculosis, over the past 100 years the Association has dramatically expanded its research, education and advocacy programs to address the growing problem of chronic lung disease. With nearly 200 offices across the nation, the Association has grown to become one of America's most prominent health-related organizations. Today, more than 35 million Americans are living with chronic lung disease. Every year, close to 344,000 Americans die of lung disease, making it the nation's number three killer. These are some frightening statistics, but without the American Lung Association, one can only imagine just how high these numbers could soar. Mr. Speaker, I feel honored and privileged to be able to thank the American Lung Association for all its hard work and determination in fighting lung disease. There's no question, this remarkable organization is living out its mission of ``improving life, one breath at a time.'' One hundred years is an incredible accomplishment, and on behalf of the citizens of Wisconsin's Eighth Congressional District, and a grateful nation, I say congratulations.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 403, as amended.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) for bringing House Concurrent Resolution 403, condemning the Government of Sudan for its attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan, before us today. The crisis in Darfur has been described as one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes on the planet. Nearly 1 million people have been displaced, and anywhere between 10,000 and 30,000 people have been killed. The United States Agency for International Development estimates that another 350,000 civilians could die in the next 9 months as a result of the unfolding humanitarian crisis. Backed by the Sudanese Government, Arabic-speaking militias, collectively known as the Janjaweed, have murdered, raped and pillaged with impunity. Hundreds of villages have been burned to the ground, crops have been razed and vital irrigation systems have been destroyed. It is feared that the situation will only get worse. The rainy season has now arrived, making transport of food aid more difficult and more costly. If the refugees cannot return to their homes to plant crops soon, they will be completely dependent on food aid for the next 18 months. Outrageously, the Sudanese Government continues to frustrate efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to the region. Following a Security Council briefing earlier this month, the acting U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights summarized the situation in Darfur by stating: ``One, there is a reign of terror in this area. Two, there is a scorched earth policy. Three, there are repeated war crimes and crimes against humanity. And four, this is taking place before our very eyes.'' Despite these facts and despite the best efforts by the administration, Sudan was given nothing more than a half-hearted slap on the wrist during the recently concluded 60th session of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Adding insult to injury, Sudan was then reelected to serve on the Commission for another 2 years. The irony of the election of Sudan, one of the worst violators of human rights on the planet, to serve on the U.N. Commission for Human Rights, that irony should not be lost on anyone. House Concurrent Resolution 403 strongly condemns the attack against innocent civilians by the Government of Sudan and government-supported militia groups. The resolution calls on the Government of Sudan to grant full and unconditional humanitarian access to the region and urges the government to disarm and disband the Janjaweed forces. H. Con. Res. 403 recognizes the efforts of the United States delegation to the 60th session of the U.N. Human Rights Commission to address the crisis in Darfur, and deplores the inaction of other members. The resolution also urges the United States Government to take specific steps to aid the refugees and to hold accountable those in the Government of Sudan who are responsible for these atrocities. Included among those recommended measures are an asset freeze and a travel ban for those who are responsible for what the administration and the U.N. have described as ``ethnic cleansing.'' Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Conscience of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has issued a ``Genocide Alert'' for Darfur. This crisis is the direct result of actions taken by the Government of Sudan. It is incumbent upon the Congress to condemn these actions and to urge the administration to take steps to aid the victims and punish those responsible for the atrocities. Mr. Speaker, this is a bipartisan resolution which has been given full consideration during a hearing and markup by the Committee on International Relations on May 6 of this year, and I urge Members' support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, who is a strong voice on this subject.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 403) condemning the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for its attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan, as amended.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as others have noted, we recently marked the anniversary of a terrible chapter in world history, the Rwandan genocide. The fact that we are here today speaking on Sudan really calls into question whether or not we have learned anything at all, whether the world has learned anything at all. These atrocities of which we speak are occurring now, before our eyes. There is no question; there is no doubt. We are all on notice. It was terrible enough that we did little then through the days of the Rwandan genocide. It will be all the worse if the world fails to act now.

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

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is about one thing, allowing hard- working Americans to keep more of what they earn. It is not complicated. As the previous speaker noted, this bill provides a lower rate on the first $7,000 on taxable income for single filers and the first $14,000 earned by joint filers. That affects nearly every American. It is an enormous benefit to low- and middle-income taxpayers. In my State alone, the 10 percent bracket has helped over one million people. In this institution, Mr. Speaker, we hear time and time again about how we need to provide tax relief for all Americans, not just the wealthiest; for all working families, not just corporate CEOs. This is it. This is our chance. By passing this bill, we will help keep lower taxes for millions of working families, families who are saving for school, families who are looking to buy a home, families who are planning for their retirement, families who are looking just to make ends meet. Today we give them a chance. We work to lift their lives. We work to allow them to keep more of what they earn. We allow them a greater chance at the American dream. That is what it is all about. So when we hear the other side say time and time again that the Republican Party is only concerned about the wealthiest, today is the test. Today is the chance that we have to help all working Americans, all working families. We allow them to keep more of what they earn. Let us see who stands up for hard-working families, and let us see who does not.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, Americans are just beginning to read and hear of something called the Oil for Food scandal. Well, what does that mean? What does that term mean? And, more importantly, why should Americans care? Well, Mr. Speaker, for just a few minutes, I would like to try to answer those questions. Over a dozen years ago, Mr. Speaker, right after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, the world moved quickly to impose sweeping international sanctions on Iraq. Those sanctions were designed to force Saddam Hussein to leave Kuwait and to follow international law on matters ranging from human rights to supporting terrorism to ending any pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Because our beef was with Saddam Hussein and his evil regime and not with the Iraqi people, the Oil for Food program was created. It was established as a humanitarian way through the United Nations to try to offer some relief to the Iraqi people. It was intended to allow the Iraqi Government to sell limited quantities of oil, so long as the proceeds were used to purchase food, medicine, and other essentials for the Iraqi people. As I said, it was a humanitarian, compassionate gesture. Now there is a scandal. There is a scandal, Mr. Speaker, because of growing evidence of the Oil For Food program was not only mismanaged, but used by Saddam Hussein for diabolical purposes. Some say the program is twisted by mismanagement. Some say it was twisted by corruption and greed. Still others say that it was twisted by an anti- American agenda and bias. So what happened that is so scandalous? Well, for one thing, Saddam Hussein used money, lots and lots of money, to buy things other than necessities for the Iraqi people. Not just small things like alcohol and cigarettes, but he used over $2 billion to build palaces, monuments to himself and his evil regime. Even worse, he used some of that money to build his weapons and to launch his weapons program. This was money that would have gone to his people. Instead, this money went to perpetuate his evil regime and his lifestyle. Secondly, because of alleged mismanagement and corruption within this U.N. program, billions of dollars that were procured are now missing. This was money that should be in the hands of the Iraqi people. Now more than ever, at the very time they need money for reconstruction, money to get back on their feet, money to build new schools, money to get ahead and build a brighter future, that money, $10 billion worth, that money is gone. Finally, and worst of all, some of this Oil For Food money was used by Saddam Hussein to pay off his cronies, allegedly to buy influence around the world, perhaps even in the United Nations itself, and to thwart the economic sanctions and diplomacy that we all hoped and prayed would avoid war. Lord forbid that this last point is true, because if it is true, if in fact some of this money was used to buy influence in the United Nations and other countries, it means that some of this money, it means that the Oil For Food program, it means that individuals within the United Nations and the international community, that their actions thwarted diplomacy and prevented sanctions from happening. And because diplomacy and sanctions failed, we went to war. And that means, Mr. Speaker, something that we all dearly hope is not true; that means that this corruption of this program led to the loss of American lives. Mr. Speaker, this scandal involves billions of dollars, it involves mismanagement, it involves corruption, it involves illegal activity, and it may involve the kind of activity that costs lives, has lengthened this conflict, and perhaps even led to war. Mr. Speaker, in the coming weeks, I and a number of other members of committees like the Committee on International Relations will come to this floor to ask publicly some important questions of the United Nations to try to get some answers, to learn more about the Oil For Food program, to find out whether there was, in fact, the corruption that we fear, and to try to get some answers. The American people deserve answers. The families of servicemen deserve answers. All of us deserve answers. As I have said, I dearly hope that what we have read and what we have heard is not true, because if it is, as William Safire of the New York Times has said, it would make it the most far-reaching political and financial scandal in history.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, due to weather related flight delays, I was absent for votes on Tuesday, May 11, 2004. As a result, I was not recorded for rollcall votes Nos. 153, 154 and 155. Had l been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall No. 153, ``aye'' on No. 154 and ``aye'' on No. 155.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, before this House today I would like to restate my strong support for H. Res. 402, of which I am a cosponsor. As a leading critic of the Laotian government in the U.S. House of Representatives, I am very pleased that this legislation has made it to the House floor today, and believe it speaks directly to the question--which has been hotly debated in recent years--of whether or not we ought to grant Laos Normal Trade Relations status. As most members of this House know, I am staunchly opposed to our nation providing the brutal regime in Laos with any improved relationship until it gets its act together on a whole host of issues. Granting Laos NTR before we see some real movement toward change is ill-advised, inappropriate, and just plain wrong. In support of H. Res. 402, I am asking today for a number of important items to be read into the Record. First, an article that recently appeared in the Appleton Post-Crescent on the case of Houa Ly, one of my Hmong-American constituents who went missing at the Thailand- Laos border in 1999. Second, a pair of letters 21 other Members of Congress and I sent to the administration last year, detailing many of the problems we see with the Laotian government, and reiterating our opposition to NTR for Laos. I appreciate in advance your consideration of the issues presented in these documents, and look forward to continuing to work to advance the freedom of the Laotian people. Family's Plight at Heart of Trade Relations Clash (By Ed Culhane) Neng Xiong Ly is consumed by sadness. It has been five years since the Appleton woman's husband, Houa Ly, was waylaid on the banks of the Mekong River, the border between Thailand and his home country of Laos. No one has seen him or heard from him since. Deprive of her husband, Neng Xiong Ly teeters on the edge of poverty. Asked to describe life without her husband, she wept softly. ``I must be the poorest American,'' she said in her native language. Houa Ly (pronounced HOO-AH LEE) was 55 when he vanished, a veteran of the U.S. ``secret war'' in Laos, a Vietnam-era medic who saved the lives of American pilots shot down in the jungle. His disappearance, still shrouded in mystery, has re-emerged at the center of a political fight on the floor of the U.S. Congress. With the support of President Bush and the U.S. State Department, the communist government of Laos is seeking the benefits of Normal Trade Relations status. But a group of 21 congressmen and senators, led by Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, so far has blocked those benefits. Green argues that the country's leaders--who deny any knowledge of Ly--have not come clean. Even now, Green said, the last of the rebellious Hmong in the jungles of northern Laos are being systemically starved, raped, tortured and killed by Laotian forces and by divisions of Vietnamese soldiers operating in Laos. ``It's brutal, it's repressive and it's barbaric,'' Green said. ``It's hard for Americans to fully comprehend the barbarity and the contempt for human rights that exists in that area.'' Yer Ly of St. Paul, Minn., one of five daughters Houa Ly and Neng Xiong raised in the Fox Valley, said she misses her father terribly. Her children miss him. ``He is just the best,'' she said. ``There is no word to say he is this or that. He is just the best.'' worlds apart Neng Xiong Ly speaks little English. She works nights on a production line for a local manufacturer. Her take-home pay is about $1,000 a month. All but $100 of that is swallowed by the mortgage on their home. ``Se is really struggling a lot,'' said her daughter, Ge, who acted as a translator. Before they were drawn into the war, Neng Xiong and Houa Ly lived the traditional tribal life of the Hmong people, hunting and gathering and practicing small-scale agriculture in the high plains and mountain jungles of northern Laos. ``Before the war, it was regular days,'' Neng Xiong Ly said. ``Farm, cook, feed the animals.'' That life was lost when divisions of North Vietnamese soldiers poured across the northern Lao border in the 1960s. The Hmong, led by the charismatic and prescient Gen. Vang Pao, abandoned the high plains of Xiang Khoang province and established positions in the surrounding mountains where there were armed and funded by the CIA. As a young man, Houa Ly served as a medic with Pao's freedom fighters. Trained as commandos, they were fabled for their bravery and resourcefulness, for their intimate knowledge of the mountain jungles. When American pilots were shot down, the Hmong would find and rescue them, engage in firefights to protect them. Hunted by communist forces, these warrior farmers could no longer think in terms of ``home.'' ``Because of the war between America and Vietnam, the Vietnamese were always killing everyone,'' Neng Xiong Ly said. ``There was no safety for the children and the women. They would have to move all the time.'' Houa Ly saved the lives of three American pilots during the war and helped dozens of others. His wife and two of his daughters said he did not carry weapons. ``He was not a fighter, he was a nurse,'' said his youngest daughter, Yer Ly, who lives in St. Paul. Neng Xiong Ly cooked for soldiers and pilots at Long Cheng, a CIA airbase in the mountains of Xiang Khoang province. A photograph of the base hands in her living room. The United States abandoned Laos, and its Hmong allies, in 1973. Two years later, the country fell to the communist Pathet Lao, backed by the North Vietnamese Army. Thousands of Hmong were killed. Others were imprisoned in forced labor camps. Tens of thousands fled for Thailand. In October 1978, Houa Ly crossed the Mekong with his wife and four daughters. Yer Ly was born in Thailand. She was 8 months old when the family immigrated to the United States. They settled in the Fox Valley. ``We are the people who helped the Americans,'' Neng Xiong Ly said. ``That is why we had to move.'' a fateful trip Houa Ly had traveled to Thailand once before, around 1987, to visit a sister who would later immigrate to the Fox Cities. His return trip in 1999 was a break from work as a machine operator with Wisconsin Tissue Mills. ``He said it had been a long time,'' Neng Xiong said. ``He said he needed a vacation.'' At 6:30 a.m. May 7, 1999, Neng Xiong received a call from the U.S. embassy in Thailand. She was told her husband had been killed near the Laos border. ``They just told me my husband went over the border to Laos and that somebody had taken him,'' she said. She fainted. A half-hour later, she called Yer Ly in St. Paul. She said she had no reason to live. On her end, Yer Ly couldn't speak, couldn't breathe. She fell to the floor, clutching the phone. Various unconfirmed reports about what happened to Houa Ly have emerged from congressional and private inquiries. He had traveled to Thailand with a relative, Neng Lee. They met two other Hmong-Americans, Michael and Hue Vang of California, on the trip. The four were at a water festival in Chiang Kong, Thailand, on the western bank of the Mekong. In Indochina, the New Year is celebrated for a week in mid-April. In Chiang Kong, the group was approached by a man who identified himself as the police chief from Ban Houayxay in Laos, just across the river. He said the police were allowing people into the country without visas to celebrate the festival. Neng Lee and Hue Vang walked away to shop in Chiang Khong. When they returned, Ly and Michael Vang were gone. Witnesses said they were seen being forced into a boat that sped across the river into Laos. An Associated Press story published in Asian Week in 2000 contained a similar version of the disappearance. A Hmong investigator was told by sources that Ly and Michael Vang, and two Hmong from Thailand, accepted the invitation to cross the river. Once in Laos, they were arrested. The Thailand Hmong escaped back across the river to tell the story. Some news stories have referred to speculation that Ly and Michael Vang were in Indochina to provide assistance to Hmong rebels in northern Laos. Green said he never has seen or heard any evidence to support this. Hmong veterans in the Fox Cities said this theory makes no sense. While some Hmong send money to relatives in Laos, there is nothing two men could do for bands of Hmong hunted by divisions of troops deep in the interior. We won't give up Six months after word of Houa Ly's disappearance, Green arranged a meeting in his office with Neng Xiong Ly, Yer Ly, another of the sisters and three representatives from the State Department. He also arranged a press conference for the Ly family and for other families of people missing in Laos. State Department officials have conducted two on-site investigations in Laos, but were largely at the mercy of Laos officials, who at first delayed the effort and then placed restrictions on it. U.S. officials have learned nothing, said Green and family members. Five years ago, State Department officials said finding Houa Ly and Michael Vang was a top priority. Yer Ly no longer believes that. She fears that her father, a man who risked his life to save Americans in the jungles of Laos, will be forgotten. Apart from Green, who has steadfastly pushed for a stronger effort, no one from the government calls anymore. No one will answer her questions. ``What I think is that he is an Asian-American citizen,'' she said, ``and so it is not a top priority for them.'' Green suspects Laotian officials were involved. At the very least, he said, they impeded the investigation. Although the State Department, pushing for Normal Trade Relations, now gives Laos better marks, its staff was dissatisfied in November 1999, reporting the Lao government ``has been slow to respond to our requests for access to the area and has tried to place restrictions on our investigators.'' That was when it mattered, Green said. That was before the trail grew cold. Still, Green said he would continue to press the U.S. government, and the United Nations, to learn the fates of Ly and Vang. He, too, has suggested the United States would be putting greater pressure on Laos if the missing citizens were native- born Americans. ``This has been a great sadness for me,'' Green said. ``We won't give up, as long as the families don't give up.'' Neng Xiong Ly said she was deeply grateful to Green and to his chief of staff, Chris Tuttle. ``I want thank them from the bottom of my heart,'' she said. ``They are the only two Americans who went out of their way to help.'' Yer Ly thinks her father is still alive, locked away in a prison camp. Her only evidence comes from her heart. ``I don't have anything to prove my father is alive,'' she said. ``It is a gut feeling that I have, that my mother has, that my whole family has. ``When someone you love . . . when they pass away . . . it is a different feeling. We don't have that feeling.''

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my voice in supporting the tremendous work the charter schools are doing all across this land, and I want to commend the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter) for the work he is doing to help foster the charter school movement. In Wisconsin, I am proud to say that movement is growing by leaps and bounds. My State was among the very first to enact the charter school law in the early 1990s; and in line with our proud tradition of local leadership and public education, our charter schools are flourishing. In fact, we have gone from one charter school in 1994 to 134 this year. Over 20,000 Wisconsin students are now enrolled in these charter schools. The Appleton School District, in my own congressional district, alone has nine such charter schools. That is how much we care about creating educational opportunities for all families. One of the most exciting charter schools in Wisconsin is called Wisconsin Connections Academy. It is quite literally a public school without walls. The State's virtual K-8 elementary school is enrolling students from all across Wisconsin. The Academy's mission is to help each student maximize his or her potential and to meet the highest performance standards. This Academy is on the cutting edge of education reform, offering a uniquely individualized learning program that combines the best in virtual education with very real connections among students, families, teachers and the community. They have taken public education into their own hands, and good things are happening. They have grown from 200 students to 400, and they have received 800 applications for this year. Mr. Speaker, here in Washington, we must stand ready to help. We must work to remove unnecessary barriers that hold back our charter school innovators, and we should work to unleash the great progressive potential that charter schools represent. Congratulations not only to the Wisconsin Connections Academy, but to all charter schools across the country that are making a very real difference in our children's future.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today before this house to honor the accomplishments of Professor Chere Campbell Gibson who will be retiring after 27 years of service to the University of Wisconsin System and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Human Ecology on June 30, 2004. Professor Gibson received her B.S. from Macdonald College of McGill University in Nutrition, and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Continuing and Vocational Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Gibson has had a long, multi-faceted, and distinguished career of teaching, research, and outreach in the discipline of adult education with a particular emphasis on distance learning. She is especially well-known among distance educators around the world. Professor Gibson also has the distinction of being the first faculty member on the UW-Madison campus to teach a course completely on-line. This distinction gave her many opportunities to participate in faculty development workshops around campus and the country as well as involvement in the selection of learner and course management systems. Throughout her career, she has had an enduring concern about the equality of access to education and has recognized the importance of ensuring not only access but also success in educational pursuits. In recognition of these contributions to the field of teaching and learning at a distance, the United State Distance Learning Association inducted her into their Hall of Fame in 2003. Chere Campbell Gibson's love of teaching and working with students is a consistent thread throughout her professional career. She has and will continue to have a lasting impact on the lives of her students and advisees. It cannot go without saying that she has also wonderfully touched the lives of her colleagues and friends. The Executive Committee of the School of Human Ecology, at its meeting on March 22, 2004, by unanimous vote, endorsed the recommendation of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies to award Emerita status to Professor Chere Campbell Gibson. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and my great pleasure to recognize today the outstanding and exemplary service of Professor Chere Campbell Gibson. On behalf of my constituents and citizens from the great State of Wisconsin, we say a hearty thank you, and wish her all the very best in her future endeavors.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and pleasure to recognize before this House the brave members of the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion, who today return home from a 14-month deployment overseas. Northeastern Wisconsin is often called ``the land of legends'' for our fabled football team--the Green Bay Packers. The gridiron leadership of men like Vince Lombardi, Curly Lambeau and Ray Nitschke helped make Green Bay synonymous with strength, courage and triumph. But, it's not our heroes of the playing field that make our area truly legendary--it's the men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line to defend freedom. Under the most dangerous conditions, the brave troops of the 432nd served 14 intense months overseas, striving to rebuild an Iraq ravaged by tyranny, war and strife. They fought to rebuild schools, reactivate power grids, train police, and so much more. They knew well that all their hard work and they themselves were under constant threat of attack. But, because of their commitment and unwavering devotion to the cause of freedom, this nation reborn can continue to move toward a brighter, more peaceful future. Our war in Iraq is obviously not finished. But, even with the ongoing challenges, Americans can take comfort in the fact that some of our finest countrymen carry the torch of liberty in Iraq. The proud men and women of the 432nd carried this torch for 14 months, traveling far from here and from their loved ones, putting their lives on hold to fight for democracy and freedom. Today, they are home with us again, and my constituents and I couldn't be happier. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be able to thank the soldiers of the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion on behalf of myself, my family, the state of Wisconsin and the people of a grateful nation. It is my distinct pleasure and privilege to serve them and their families in Congress. They, along with all our servicemen and women, deserve our continued praise, support and gratitude. They are our genuine heroes.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, it is my great honor to recognize before this House the brave members of the 432nd Civil Affairs Battalion who are returning home today from their overseas deployment. Northeastern Wisconsin is often called the ``land of legends'' for our fabled football team, the Green Bay Packers. The gridiron leadership of men like Lombardi and Lambeau and Nitschke made Green Bay synonymous with strength and courage and triumph. But it is not our sports heroes who make our area truly legendary. It is our servicemen and -women who have put their lives on the line to defend freedom. Under the most difficult conditions, brave troops of the 432nd have strived to rebuild a nation ravaged by tyranny and war and strife. Obviously, our work there is not yet done. But we can take comfort in the fact that some of our finest countrymen carry the torch of liberty in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, the members of the 432nd, along with all of our servicemen and -women, deserve our praise, our support, our gratitude. They are genuine heroes.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, the House-passed Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Resolution marks another step forward in our efforts to increase the level of funding reserved for America's brave veterans. The budget will increase VA funding by $9.3 billion over last year, which was preceded by an increase of $9.1 billion for the previous two years. In addition, the budget excludes new increases in prescription drug copayments and VA enrollment fees. Even so, I would have liked to have seen more done for our growing veterans population, and I will do all I can in the coming months to do just that. As you know, I signed a letter last week requesting the level of funding for veterans be increased to match that of the Senate-passed budget. I have now received a letter from VA Secretary Anthony Principi certifying that the House budget plan provides sufficient funds for the VA to continue providing high quality care in the coming fiscal year. Nonetheless, I pledge to work with the House-Senate conferees to increase the final funding level for veterans in the budget, and will push my colleagues on the appropriations committee to provide additional increases for our nation's retired servicemen and women.