Mark Green

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment because quite simply it is an exceptionally bad idea. Children who are served by Head Start have the right to receive those services in the most effective way possible. In many cases it will be a traditional public sector provider; but in at least some, in some, it may be a faith-based organization. We should encourage faith-based groups from coming forward. This would do the opposite. It is a bad idea. Vote down the amendment.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I want to salute the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) for his great work on the foreign operations bill. I know it is a difficult task which he undertakes, and I want to commend him for the hard work and effort he has put in. I rise in opposition to this amendment, not because I think any less of the HIV fund. I do not. I care about it passionately. But I rise in opposition because I think so very much of the Millennium Challenge Account and the hope that it offers. Let me relate to the Members briefly an experience that I had not so many months ago. I had the great privilege of being an election observer in Kenya this past December. As some of my colleagues know, Kenya is a country I care about deeply. I once taught high school in Kenya and worked in an undeveloped region of that country. In the days right after the election when the new government was sworn in, a representative of that government in an interview was asked what his highest priorities would be, and he said that one of the first things he wanted to do was to try to determine what Kenya had to do to qualify for the Millennium Challenge Account. And I was overwhelmed by that. That is the answer. The answer to the problems in Africa and the underdeveloped world is for us to stand side by side with those countries that are embracing the values of fighting corruption, of commitment to education, of commitment to women's health, and that is what the Millennium Challenge Account is all about. We heard just a few moments ago that the Millennium Challenge Account is no Marshall Plan, and I agree. Of course it is no Marshall Plan, but I say respectfully that it just may be the single most important development in foreign assistance that we have seen in years, because what it does is it stands by countries that are willing to take on their problems. It makes money available for basic education. It makes money available for health care, for building clinics which will serve some of the very same people that we all in this body want to help with the HIV/AIDS fund. And it rewards countries that are committed to anticorruption. Just as importantly, it will create a new constituency for foreign assistance in this country because it is accountable foreign assistance. It is transparent foreign assistance. It asks for accountability. It demands results. It requires that countries that want to tap into this fund take certain steps themselves to show their commitment. That, to me, is a wonderful, wonderful development. So, Mr. Chairman, I believe that we need to support the Millennium Challenge Account, because the Millennium Challenge Account is the hope for the future that we all have for those of us on both sides of the aisle who care so passionately about the plight of people, of everyday people, in countries like Kenya and Uganda and throughout the African continent. Now, it is true that in the first year only a few countries may qualify, but it is by design. This is not meant to be something that every country can qualify for. But what it is is a direction in which countries can move; and that, to me, is the hope that we have in foreign assistance, creating clear objectives, setting out those principles that we wish to reinforce and reinvigorate. To wrap up, I do believe that HIV/AIDS funds are important, and I am disappointed that we are not doing more. But, please, do not take money from the Millennium Challenge Account. It is so vitally important to American policy. More importantly, it is so vitally important to the future of Africa and so many places in this world that have been ignored and left out for all too long.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today before this house I'd like to recognize and honor Professor Terry Gibson who will be retiring after 35 years of service to the University of Wisconsin-Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Human Ecology on September 3, 2003. Professor Gibson received his BA and MA degrees from Michigan State University and his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1973. Professor Gibson has a long and distinguished career of scholarship, teaching, outreach and service. The emphasis on the professional development of individuals and groups within the State of Wisconsin, the nation, and the world has become the hallmark of his work-- particularly with both the University of Wisconsin Extension and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Throughout his career, Professor Gibson was a mentor to graduate students, an avid teacher, and a designer of a variety of non-credit workshops and conferences. His most enduring is the ``Annual Conference on Teaching and Learning at a Distance,'' now in its 19th year, and which continues to attract a large international audience. The faculty of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Ecology unanimously voted to recommend that Emeritus Professor status be conferred on Professor Terry Gibson effective September 3, 2003. This was also unanimously approved by the School of Human Ecology's Executive Committee. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and pleasure to recognize today the extraordinary service of Professor Terry Gibson. On behalf of my constituents and citizens from the great State of Wisconsin, we say thank you, and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. Mr. Chairman, some months ago, I met with an American ambassador posted in an Islamic nation. That ambassador said she often heard the charge that America was losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the young Muslim world. She said to me that that charge was untrue. It was not that we were losing the battle, but that we are not even in it. Mr. Chairman, today, by supporting the Millennium Challenge Account, we step into the fray not just with respect to young Muslims but to Africans in general and Asians and Latin Americans and others in the underdeveloped world who have all too often been left behind or been left out. There is so much to commend the Millennium Challenge Account. For conservatives, it will bring greater accountability and results in our foreign assistance. For internationalists, it will dramatically increase foreign assistance. For all of us, this legislation, in very bold ways, rewards and encourages and reinforces those policies that will root out corruption, policies that will produce education reform, a commitment to health care, and, most importantly, greater freedom. Mr. Chairman, during these troubled times, the best thing I can say about the Millennium Challenge Account is that it will make a historic difference in our long struggle with terrorism. An observer recently noted that in our long battle with the threat of terrorism it is not enough for us to merely hunt down the terrorists. We must also shut down the schools and institutions and the policies that churn out wave after wave of hate-filled attackers. We cannot destroy all the terrorists and potential terrorists. We cannot capture every last bomb and every bullet. We have to change their minds as well. And we can only do so by showing them in compassionate ways our values and our principles in action. We must attack those conditions that foster despair, because despair can lead to radicalism; and in tyranny that radicalism can lead to vivid evil violence, violence that we have seen too painfully in recent months. The Millennium Challenge Account must be our answer. It offers resources to those in need. It shows beyond doubt that Americans care about the plight of humanity. And, finally, it rewards those leaders who are committed to freedom and reform and the values and the principles that everyone in this Chamber holds dear. I commend the President for his vision in introducing the Millennium Challenge Account. I commend and thank the chairman of the Committee on International Relations and the ranking member for their leadership in bringing it here today. I congratulate them. Together, my friends, we are making history, in my view, in a very positive way.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 264) expressing sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Algeria on May 21, 2003.

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. Res. 264.

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 California (Mr. Lantos) for bringing H. Res. 264, expressing sympathy for the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck Algeria on May 21, 2003, before us today. As many of you know, on May 21, an earthquake registering 6.8 on the Richter scale struck northern Algeria, 45 miles east of the capital of Algiers. This was followed with a series of aftershocks, five with magnitudes greater than 5.0, and at least 19 with magnitudes ranging between 4.0 and 4.9. These were the worst quakes to strike Algeria since 1980. The impact was devastating. 2,268 Algerians were killed, making this deadlier than all of the other earthquakes in the world over the past 2 years combined, including the 2002 earthquake in Afghanistan which killed 1,000. Thousands of buildings have been destroyed, and health services, water supplies, electricity and telecommunications have been severely disrupted. Confidence in the government has also been shaken as press reports link the high death toll with poor building construction and mismanagement of the housing sector. The international response to this disaster has been vigorous. The U.S. contribution to the relief effort is currently valued at $1.6 million, including $827,107 in grants and relief supplies from the U.S. Agency for International Development Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance; $424,000 in relief supplies from the Department of Defense/ Defense Security Cooperation Agency; and $368,000 in relief supplies from the Department of Defense/U.S. European Command. For other donors, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are taking the lead. Through this robust response, major catastrophes have been diverted, including cholera outbreaks. However, there is still a long way to go on the path towards recovery. Thousands of homes need to be rebuilt, and structures able to withstand earthquakes will need to be erected. The great American educator, Catherine Beecher, said, ``The delicate and infirm go for sympathy, not to the well and buoyant, but to those who have suffered like themselves.'' Unfortunately, we Americans are no strangers to tragedy and loss. Mr. Speaker, the people of Algeria and their government stood with us after our own tragedy of September 11, 2001. They have been stalwart allies in our war on terrorism, and now it is our turn to aid our friends in a time of great need. It is with this in mind that we now express our solidarity with and our sympathy for those who have suffered in Algeria. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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 move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 177) commending the people of the Republic of Kenya for conducting free and fair elections, for the peaceful and orderly transfer of power in their government, and for the continued success of democracy in their nation since that transition, as amended.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, there are many reasons for us to agree to this resolution and to commend the people and the Government of Kenya. First and foremost, just months ago Kenya conducted historic national elections. Historic because they were nonviolent and free and fair. People of Kenya rose up and rejected a trend of unfair antidemocratic elections that have marred not just Kenya but far too many countries and elections on that continent. As a firsthand observer of those elections, I can testify to the determination that so many Kenyans and so many nongovernmental organizations showed in building a process for voter registration and voter education and ballot security that is commendable. Secondly, Mr. Speaker, we should commend Kenya for what those elections were all about. The now president, recently elected President Mwai Kibaki and his party won the presidency and the majority of the Kenya Parliament on a platform of rooting out corruption and reforming the government process and just as importantly offering the nation and the Kenyan people free primary school education. This platform was not only popular, obviously, but it was the right thing to do. It is a crucial part of a prescription for a brighter future for a country and a people of enormous potential. And while the new administration is young, it seems determined to follow through on its pledges. The third reason, Kenya is a crucial ally and a good friend to America. We have a military access agreement with the government of Kenya. Kenya is a staunch ally and friend even though it is located in a troubled region; and as we all know vividly and tragically, Kenya has been the site of horrible and deadly acts of terrorism aimed at Western interests. Just last week we praised and thanked Kenya for its handling of the many refugees who have fled from Kenya's troubled neighbors. Mr. Speaker, I ask that we commend Kenya for its successful elections and its announced plans to attack corruption and its plans to extend basic education. I ask that we thank Kenya for its commitment to fighting terrorism shoulder to shoulder with the United States, and I ask that we encourage Kenya to follow through in its promising first steps since the administration took over. The future can be right, it can be bright, and it can be uplifting if they follow through on what they have started. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, first I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for his gracious and kind words. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance 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 to include extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the concurrent resolution before us expresses the support of the Congress for the Adriatic Charter, as it was reported favorably by the Committee on International Relations on June 12. The charter was signed on May 2 in the Albanian capital of Tirana by Secretary of State Powell and the foreign ministers of Albania, Croatia, and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the three remaining NATO-aspirant nations. The Adriatic Charter pledges the United States to support efforts by Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to join Euro-Atlantic institutions like NATO and the European Union. In this agreement, the three aspirant nations commit themselves to accelerate their democratic reforms, protect human rights, implement market-oriented economic policies, and enhance their mutual cooperation. Under the Adriatic Charter, the United States and these three countries pledge to consult whenever the security of one of them is threatened. For their part, the aspirant countries promise to continue defense reforms and to undertake steps to enhance border security so they can contribute to regional stability. Mr. Speaker, this Member urges the House to agree to this concurrent resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 209) commending the signing of the United States-Adriatic Charter, a charter of partnership among the United States, Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia, as amended.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the chairman of the Europe Subcommittee. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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 stand today to recognize World Refugee Day, declared on June 20, 2000 and every year thereafter by a special UN General Assembly Resolution. Whereas it is unquestionable that the new democratically-elected government in Kenya is a positive step forward for Africa, I want to also affirm the generosity of Kenya toward refugees and asylum-seekers. Statistics show that approximately 20,000 new refugees and asylum-seekers fled to Kenya during 2002 from Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Somaliland, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Djibouti. While we recognize that there are ongoing peace efforts in a number of these countries that will hopefully allow these refugees to repatriate in safety and dignity--the resolution of all the conflicts that have driven these refugees to flee may not be resolved in the near future, and Kenya may continue to be called upon to assist. We in the Congress acknowledge this generosity and sacrifice, and commend the Kenyan people for their efforts to help those in need.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, some would be quick to point out that this resolution is about symbolism; but in this area and on this subject, symbolism is important. Symbolism can help us raise the profile of this very important issue. As the previous speaker, the chairman, just alluded, there are things that we should celebrate in our battle against sexual assault. Rape is down 50 percent over the last decade. We have recently passed the Protect Act, child abduction legislation, that I think will offer new tools and resources in the fight against sexual assault. The committee is developing DNA legislation that will provide additional tools and resources; but as we all know, we have so far to go. A person is sexually assaulted in this country every 2 minutes. According to the Department of Justice, nearly 250,000 people were assaulted in 2001 alone; 1 in 6 women have been the victim of rape or attempted rape. This resolution declares that Congress supports the goals and ideals of the National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We can use this opportunity to educate the public on how to prevent sexual assault. We can use this opportunity to recognize those in the community that volunteer numerous hours to work with victims. We can use this opportunity to recognize law enforcement for their dedicated work in this battle against sexual assault in the areas of increased conviction and increased prevention, and we can use this opportunity to salute the more than 20 million victims who have survived sexual assault. We stand with them. By raising the profile, hopefully these numbers will fall and we will have fewer victims, we will have more convictions, and we will have greater awareness of this awful battle we must fight.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. I would like to associate myself with the remarks just made by my colleague from the other side. Mr. Speaker, correctional facilities obviously play a fundamental role in our justice system. As the gentleman said, they are much more than buildings. Without correctional officers, those buildings would be of little value. The people that we are talking about are dedicated and hard-working professionals. They ensure the safety and the secure operation of our justice system every single day. It goes without saying that they have a difficult and very often dangerous job. They work in the most challenging of environments. They work with people who are already proven to have little regard for others, for their property, for their safety, for their security. So it is a challenging venue. We do not think very much about what takes place in correctional facilities, and perhaps that is the greatest testimony that we can possibly make on behalf of our correctional officers. We do not think often about those facilities, because we do not have to. They do such a great job, they are so dedicated to the smooth operation of the system, they take on for us what is a difficult and challenging function. Mr. Speaker, it is important that we honor them. They are true public servants. They deserve our support. They deserve all the honor and respect that we give them. So with that, I am pleased to join in supporting this resolution.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for yielding me this time. During the course of the debate today, we will hear a lot of numbers, thousands and millions of percentiles. We will have a lot of platitudes. Platitudes are important, numbers are important; but they are just lines on a page. Let me give my colleagues an image that may help us put this all into perspective. Not so very long ago, I met a missionary who had served in the very area where I taught high school in Africa some 15 years ago, and I asked her what the changes were that she had seen over her time. I thought she would say to me, cell phones, electricity, running water, which we did not have; and she said, no, that is not it. She said, now as you walk down that mud path, you will stop and suddenly say to yourselves, my God, there are no adults here. There are children and there are grandparents, but there is an entire generation missing. Mr. Chairman, so many here are talking about why we must do this for the sake of the impoverished and the needy around the world, and it is true. I would also suggest we need to pass this legislation for our sake. Two reasons: number one, it makes us more human. Every one of the great faiths in this world calls upon its followers to care for their neighbor. I know my faith does. My faith requires me to take up issues like this. Secondly, it is a matter of national security. If we do not get our arms around this pandemic, this plague, entire regions of the world will be destabilized; and when they are destabilized, we will see openings for radicalism, and where radicalism grows, dangers emerge, dangers to us and our way of life. So yes, we must do this for the impoverished and the needy around the world, but we do this for us too. We are Americans. It is in our nature. It is the thing that we should do. This is important legislation. It is historic legislation. I commend the chairman. I agree with one of the previous speakers that this will be our most important legislation. It will save lives; it will shape history. I am proud to be part of this.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to rise in support of the Ryan amendment. In the debate today we are talking about meeting our Nation's energy challenges. We are talking about how we need to produce more. Some of us are talking about how we need to conserve more. But we cannot meet our energy needs if we do not also talk about how to distribute fuel and energy more effectively, more efficiently, and that is what this amendment is all about. I do not believe that we can get our arms around the problem of price stability unless we begin to deal with the problem of boutique fuels. This amendment does not go as far as I know the author would like to go, as legislation that he and I have coauthored would go, but in terms of beginning to take us down the right path, I think it is an important step. He would like to go further, I would certainly like to go further, but in terms of taking a first step on the issue of boutique fuels, I think it is a commendable first step. I congratulate the gentleman.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today before this House I'd like to recognize and honor Ashwaubenon Village President Ted Pamperin, whose exceptional leadership and commitment to the citizens of Brown County have strengthened our local communities, and set a superb example for our future leaders. Ted's dedicated service began in 1971, when he was elected Ashwaubenon town supervisor. Since that time, Ted has held a wide range of offices, and served on virtually every committee and board in Ashwaubenon. As a friend and colleague, I am sad to see Ted leave. However, I know his constituents are very grateful for the tremendous contributions he has made to our area throughout his tenure. Ashwaubenon is a strong community with an exceptional work force, a proud history, and a wholesome tradition. There's no question Ted has kept Ashwaubenon on that path, and greatly enhanced the quality of life for folks all across Brown County. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and pleasure to recognize today the extraordinary service of Ashwaubenon Village President Ted Pamperin. On behalf of my constituents, we say thank you, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. The gentleman from Virginia and I must be looking at different legislation. In my view, this is a proud moment for the House. It is a proud moment for the Committee on the Judiciary. I know it is a proud moment for me personally. I came to Congress with the hope of having moments like this. There are so many great provisions and parts to this comprehensive legislation. I will focus on just three, the three that I was most involved with, number one, what is the so-called the ``two strikes and you're out'' for child molesters provision. With respect to Federal sex crimes against kids, it says very simply that if you have been arrested and convicted of a serious sex crime against kids, and when you get out, you do it yet again, you are going to go to prison for the rest of your life. No more chances, no more questions and, Lord willing, no more victims. Secondly, it contains lifetime supervision for Federal sex offenders. We hear from judges again and again that there are criminals that go through their courts that they believe should have supervision for a long time. They are dangerous. They will do it again. Current law only allows them to order 5 years. This gives them the discretion, it does not mandate it, it givers them the discretion for lifetime monitoring. And third, there are some provisions from the Debbie Smith Act, which I have authored, along with the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) and Senator Biden from the other body. This allows Federal prosecutors to issue indictments against sex criminals based upon DNA gathered at the crime scene. Mr. Speaker, this is an institution which all too often uses superlatives and all too often overstates the value of legislation, but this bill, with its AMBER Alert provisions with respect to responding to crimes and bringing back victims safe and sound, is a wonderful thing. With respect to the DNA-John Doe indictment provisions, which will allow us to prosecute crimes more efficiently, more quickly, to get these guys off the street, it is a better bill for that reason. For its ``two strikes and you're out'' provisions, which will allow us to lock up predators once and for all, so they cannot do it yet again and again, for those reasons, it is a wonderful, historic bill. We are taking a bold step today. I agree. This is historic legislation. The majority leader referred to this as the most comprehensive child safety legislation that this body has ever taken up. I have not been around long enough; I will trust him on that. But what I can say from my experience, I can say that we can all say proudly today, to policymakers, to law enforcement, to victims, to everyday families, we can say proudly today, We fight back. And that is something that we can all be very proud of. I urge ``yes'' votes. Let us send a strong signal. Let us pass this bill today.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today before this house I'd like to recognize and honor Mayor Paul Jadin, whose exceptional leadership and commitment to the citizens of Green Bay have strengthened our community, and set a superb example for our future leaders. Paul's dedicated service as mayor spanned 8 years. During that time, he helped our struggling downtown find new life, eliminated a score of government inefficiencies, revitalized our neighborhoods, and showed our business community that it makes sense to reinvest in a city like Green Bay. As a friend and colleague, I am sad to see Paul leave. However, I know that his constituents are very grateful for the tremendous contributions he has made to our community throughout his tenure. Green Bay is a strong community with an exceptional work force, a proud history, and a wholesome tradition. There's no question Paul has kept Green Bay on that path. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor and pleasure to recognize today the extraordinary service of Mayor Paul Jadin. On behalf of my constituents, we say thank you, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin

Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I have to admit some disappointment in the debate that we are having today. There are those who want to focus on process and the structure of legislation, and there are those who want to get at the serious problem of child molesters and abductors and removing them from the streets. Mr. Chairman, we have been fighting this battle against child abduction and molesting for a long time. We have been fighting it a long time because it is a battle that we dare not lose. I do not have much time to speak, but let me give Members three quick facts that I think point out the scope of this problem. Mr. Chairman, the average child molester in America will commit crimes for 16 years before he is caught. So when we see on television or when we read in the newspaper about someone who is caught, a child molester who is caught, an abductor who is caught, remember that the chances are that they have been doing this for years before they were caught. Fact number two. According to former Attorney General Janet Reno, the recidivism rate for child molesters is 75 percent. That is on the low side of the estimates that I have seen. When we find someone, when we catch someone who has molested our young children, the chances are that they have done it before and the chances are that they will do it again unless we stop them. My final fact is one that I find devastating. According to a number of surveys, the average child molester will commit 511 crimes in his lifetime. The number of repeat child molesters fortunately is relatively small, but the damage and the destruction that they do in America today is incredible. It is outrageous. Every child molester that we put away is a life saved, is a family rescued. Mr. Chairman, today is a good day. I want to thank the chairman for leading us to this point. Today we fight back against child molestation. Today we fight back against those monsters who would prey upon our kids. I would like to speak quickly to one provision in here because it is one of these provisions that is, quote-unquote, ``bogging down this bill.'' It is called two strikes. It says that if you have been arrested and convicted of a serious sex crime against our kids and after you are released you do it yet again, you are going to go to prison for the rest of your life, no questions, no parole. We will stop this terrible, terrible scourge. This is not a controversial provision. It had 382 votes last session. The speaker before me referred to BeyondMissing, an organization I helped launch. I have a letter here that I will place into the Record from BeyondMissing asking us to pass this bill with two strikes in it. They want the bill as has been presented. AMBER Alert after we pass this bill will become the law of the land very quickly, but we must not back down. For the sake of the crimes that we can prevent, for the sake of the innocents we can protect, let us pass this bill as it is constituted, let us get it over to the President's desk, and let us make this the law of the land. Beyond Missing, Inc., Sausalito, CA, March 26, 2003. Re HR 1104 Child Abduction Prevention Act. Members of the House of Representatives, 107th Congress (2001-2002), Washington, DC. Dear Member of Congress: As the father of a child kidnapped and murdered by a recidivist violent offender I understand the need to do what ever is necessary to protect America's children from abuse, abduction and neglect. That is why I implore you to vote aye on HR 1104 the ``Child Abduction Prevention Act''. Although there is a groundswell of support for a National Amber Alert, this important tool to assist in the recovery of kidnapped children is but one piece in a very complex puzzle that must be assembled if we are to truly protect America's children from victimization. Strict, mandated prison sentences for those who would kidnap children; denial of pretrial release for child rapists or kidnappers; a ``Two Strike'' law for sexual predators and COPS funding for a sex offender apprehension program are equally important pieces of the same child protection puzzle. HR 1104 can deliver the message that America will no longer tolerate those who would terrorize innocent citizens through the exploitation and victimization of our children. Although America's focus is currently on foreign terrorists, it is the domestic variety that truly threatens our safety. We should never forget that homeland security begins at home. I join Chairman Sensenbrenner and Representative Mark Green in asking you to vote aye on HR 1104 the ``Child Abduction Prevention Act''. With the unprecedented attention that has been afforded child abduction in the past year you are in a position to memorialize America's recent child victims in accomplishment. If you fail to do so, they will be remembered only as statistics and surely they deserve better than that. Please take advantage of this opportunity to send a loud and clear message that we will no longer tolerate the abduction and abuse of America's children. Sincerely, Marc Klaas, President, Beyond Missing, Inc.