Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, am I understanding the gentleman correctly that we have his commitment that he will push to ensure that the Haitians receive the same consideration that the Nicaraguans have?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, while the gentleman is answering it, would he be so kind as to tell me, was it not equally possible that we could have included the Haitians in this particular measure?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. I also thank her for her commitment to this endeavor and for her leadership that she has demonstrated on behalf of those that she, myself, the gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Brown], and countless others in this Congress are supportive of receiving the same consideration as others have under this particular measure. Reluctantly, I rise in opposition to the rule. Like the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek], said, I will support the ultimate bill because I feel that it is no more than fair to the District of Columbia that has been burdened in an equivalent manner, and in my view has not been treated as fairly as they should be. But all the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek] sought in the Committee on Rules was an amendment that would allow for an up-or-down vote on whether or not the Haitian refugees, particularly those that came through Guantanamo, would receive the same consideration as everyone else. Neither the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek] nor I take any back seat to supporting all of the efforts of those who we represent in south Florida. I support Nicaraguans, and I think that they should receive an amnesty that they have received. I support Central Americans, and I think that they should receive the amnesty that they are going to be able to apply for and receive. I even support Eastern Europeans and think that it is appropriate that this Nation, the beacon for freedom and fairness, would offer them an opportunity to seek amnesty under appropriate circumstances. However, I totally reject the notion that those that we made a commitment to, that we are not fair enough to continue our efforts to ensure that that commitment is kept. Once again, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Meek] and will vote to reject the rule for the reason that she will reject it, in her efforts to make a simple amendment that asks for nothing but fairness.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As one who has visited China three times this year, I join my colleagues in allowing that this is an appropriate measure for us to undertake. Because, clearly, there are matters ongoing that are vitally in need of our continuous observation, our continuous analysis, our continuing observation from the standpoint of what is necessary for us as legislators to undertake, and also to be able to assist in allowing that the State Department, through its actions, are able to undertake those things that are necessary to analyze the human rights violations and report them to us so that we may take appropriate action. In that sense, Mr. Speaker, I stand along with our colleagues who have offered this measure in strong support of saying in the great hopes that it will bring us to a point whereby we may be in a better position when we are speaking with reference to United States-China relations. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we continue to reserve our time in light of the fact that there may be additional speakers. Perhaps the gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Ros-Lehtinen] will continue to yield time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter].

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound disapproval at the proposed agreement reached by Representatives Lamar Smith and Lincoln Diaz-Balart. This agreement unfairly distinguishes between Central Americans who entered the United States before December 1995 and Guantanamo Haitians who entered the United States during 1991 and 1992. My disagreement with this proposed legislation is based on the exclusion of the Guantanamo Haitians from the proposed amnesty. It is shocking to find that this proposed law grants relief to Central Americans, without regard to the plight of those 11,000 or more Haitians who were admitted to the United States. After being processed in Guantanamo in 1991. One of the arguments used to favor the Central Americans is that they are in the United States for political reasons. I believe this is the same argument for the Guantanamo Haitians who fled their country by boat to escape a violent military dictatorship, headed by General Cedras and Michel Francois. Many of them were reportedly killed by this military junta. Those who escaped were intercepted at sea, and were brought to Guantanamo for screening. They were determined to have credible claims for political asylum and were permitted to enter the United States just like the Central Americans. Besides the Guantanamo Haitians, many other Haitians escaped to the United States in search of peace and freedom. However, they were sent back to Haiti because they were considered economic refugees. Today, even the Haitians who were determined to be political refugees will be deported unless they are given the same consideration proposed for the Central Americans. Mr. Speaker, the fact is, there is no legitimate reason to discriminate between the Haitians seeking asylum, and the Central Americans who seek asylum. While I commend the Clinton administration's leadership in proposing legislation which provides that the pending asylum applications of Nicaraguans, Guatemalans, and Salvadorans be considered under the standards of the old immigration law, their proposal falls far short of what must be done. Extending to Haitian refugees the same benefits that we extend to Central American refugees is the only just and moral thing to do. This legislation is flawed and has a double standard penalizing Haitians while favoring Latinos. As is etched in marble on the U.S. Supreme Court: ``Equal justice under the law''. This proposed agreement fails this test. I demand equity for all refugees and will settle for nothing less.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my profound disapproval at the proposed agreement reached by Representative Lamar Smith and Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart. This agreement unfairly distinguishes between Central Americans who entered the United States before December 1995 and Guantanamo Haitians who entered the United States during 1991 and 1992. My disagreement with this proposed legislation is based on the exclusion of the Guantanamo Haitians from the proposed amnesty. It is very shocking to find that this proposed law grants relief to Central Americans, without regard to the plight of those 11,000 Haitians who were admitted to the United States after being processed in Guantanamo in 1991. One of the arguments used to favor the Central Americans is that they are in the United States for political reasons. I believe this is a similar situation with Guantanamo Haitians who fled Haiti by boat to escape a violent military dictatorship, headed by General Cedras and Michel Francois. Many of them were reportedly killed by this military regime. Those who escaped were intercepted at sea, and were brought to Guantanamo for screening. They were determined to have credible claims for political asylum. Thus, they were permitted to enter the United States based on their credible claims. Besides the Guantanamo Haitians, many other Haitians escaped to the United States in search of peace and freedom. However, they were sent back to Haiti because they were considered ``economic refugees''. Today, even the Guantanamo Haitians, those who were determined to be political refugees, may be deported. Mr. Speaker, there is no legitimate reason to discriminate between the Haitian asylum seekers from the Central American asylum seekers. In my district, which includes a large Haitian constituency, great concern has been expressed that Congress will enact legislation to grandfather Central Americans under the old suspension of deportation provisions to the exclusion of Haitians who are similarly situated. This proposed legislation is flawed and has a double standard favoring Latinos. I believe that equity require that the law treat similarly situated persons alike. Thus, I would be opposed to any legislation which denies any group equal protection under the law. Extending to Haitians the same benefits that we extend to Central Americans is the only just thing to do. Therefore, I cannot support this proposed agreement.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute today to the Broward County African American Library, which opens in my congressional district this Saturday, October 25. One of the great milestones in learning opportunities, this sanctuary of history, learning and culture promises to become one of south Florida's greatest libraries. Its purpose is to showcase the immeasurable contributions of African-Americans in this country as well as in our native Africa. Beyond that, however, it will stand as a beacon for the educational uplift of an entire community. The great historian, educator, and author David Walker, once commented about the importance of libraries for African-Americans: ``I would crawl on my hands and knees through mud and mire, to the feet of a learned man, where I would sit and humbly supplicate him to instill into me that which neither devils nor tyrants could remove, only with my life--for colored people to acquire learning in this country makes tyrants quake and tremble on their sandy foundations.'' This is the kind of idealism that propels the outstanding individuals who have devoted their lives to making the Broward County African American Library a reality. I am pleased to salute their achievement, and to praise their enormous efforts in this significant undertaking. The significance of this project to the growth and development of Broward County is immeasurable. I am pleased to commend the individuals who have committed their lives and their livelihood to making this library a dream come true, a dream founded upon the notion that to study each other--our accomplishments, our traditions, our culture--our accomplishments, our traditions, our culture--is to know each other. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Broward County African American Library, as it steers our community toward greater progress and understanding.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to pay tribute today to the Broward County African-American Library, which opens in my congressional district this Saturday, October 25. One of the great milestones in learning opportunities, this sanctuary of history, learning, and cultural promises to become one of south Florida's greatest libraries. Its purpose is to showcase the immeasurable contributions of African-Americans in this country as well as in our native Africa. Beyond that, however, it will stand as a beacon for the educational uplift of an entire community. The great historian, educator, and author David Walker, once commented about the importance of libraries for African-Americans: ``I would crawl on my hands and knees through mud and mire, to the feet of a learned man, where I would sit and humbly supplicate him to instill into me that which neither devils nor tyrants could remove, only with my life--for colored people to acquire learning in this country makes tyrants quake and tremble on their sandy foundations.'' This is the kind of idealism that propels the outstanding individuals who have devoted their lives to making the Broward County African- American Library a reality. I am pleased to salute their achievement, and to praise their enormous efforts in this significant undertaking. The significance of this project to the growth and development of Broward County is immeasurable. I am pleased to commend the individuals who have committed their lives and their livelihood to making this library a dream come true, a dream founded upon the notion that to study each other--our accomplishments, our traditions, our culture--is to know each other. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Broward County African-American Library, as it steers our community toward greater progress and understanding

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I would like to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from California [Mr. Dreier] and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Moakley], the ranking member. Some of us have some concerns with section 9, and the administration has expressed such, which requires the Bank to establish procedures to ensure that firms committed to job creation and reinvestment in the United States be given preference for receiving financial assistance. The Bank is dedicated to the preservation and expansion of the U.S. jobs. In pursuing this goal, the Bank provides guarantees and loans to creditworthy foreign buyers of U.S. goods. Therefore, the bank evaluates foreign buyers, not U.S. firms. Because it is the foreign buyer that chooses the exporting company, the Bank is not in a position to decide if the U.S. firm has made the commitment called for in the bill. Also by way of amendment, I am hopeful, and I believe the administration would be as well, of addressing the concerns expressed in section 5 which would have the effects of statutorily selecting the Bank's ethics official. This selection would undermine the effectiveness of the executive branch ethics programs by eliminating one of its basic requirements; that is, that the agency head is ultimately responsible for the conduct of the agency's employees. I am just back, as a member of the Committee on International Relations, from a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The Eximbank is most active in the big emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Newly Independent States. I call on my colleagues here to be mindful that places like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, or a number of the Newly Independent States in the Transcaucasus would benefit from the Eximbank, and what we would and could do by not supporting it would be to unilaterally disarm and allow our competitors free access to emerging markets.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, September 11, I missed the House vote applying the same the anti-choice Hyde amendment standard to health maintenance organizations as is currently applied to traditional fee-for-service arrangements between doctors and patients. Under the 20-year-old legislation, Medicaid money cannot pay for abortions except in cases of rape or incest or when the mother's life is at stake. The new language makes it clear that the ban also applies to Medicaid treatment through HMO's. During the time the vote was held, I was moderating a Congressional Black Caucus braintrust that I initiated on environmental justice. Let me be clear--had I been present on Thursday, I would have voted against this anti-choice amendment.

Mr. HASTINGS of FLorida

Mr. HASTINGS of FLorida. Mr. Speaker, this week there was another terrible tragedy on the small island of Haiti. An overcroweded ferry sank just offshore and hundreds of people were killed. There are conflicting reports about the number of deaths, with estimates ranging from 300 to 800. The true figure may never be known. But what is known is that basic safety functions, which may have prevented many deaths, were ignored. Although the ferry had only been in service for 10 days, there were no lifejackets on board, doors were bolted shut, and the passenger load was above legal limits. Had any of these factors been different, hundreds of families would not be in mourning today. I extend my most sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and all of the Haitian people. I am pleased that the U.S. Government has announced that we would provide some assistance to the families of the deceased, although there is scant solace to provide to a child whose parent is gone. My only hope is that ferry operators, not only in Haiti, but around the world, will learn from this terrible tragedy, and observe the safety laws which are designed to prevent these kinds of tragedies.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition today to the amendment offered by my colleague from Indiana. I must admit that I fail to understand why this esteemed Member, who has not even taken the time to travel to India to see her progress first hand, insists on demonizing an important ally. I was fortunate, over the August recess, to join Chairman Gilman on a House International Relations Committee Codel to Asia. We were in India on the 50th anniversary of her independence. I saw first hand India's thriving democracy, independent, nongovernmental institutions, a raucous free press, an independent judiciary, a welcoming, albeit suspicious economic sector, and a friendly, English-speaking people who are schooled in democratic values and who both value and demand their personal liberties. I saw a country of almost a billion people virtually begging for closer ties and friendship with the United States. I realize that India is not perfect. I continued to be concerned with India's nuclear proliferation, human rights abuses, strife in Kashmir, and the occasional lack of hospitality toward foreign investment and infrastructure-building projects. But as I have said many times in the past, we can have more influence using a carrot with the Indians than with a stick. Considering some of the other countries in the region with whom we are seeking better ties, India looks like a bargain to me. Oppose the Burton amendment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for the Campbell amendment to increase the United States contribution to the Africa Development Fund [ADF] from $25 to $50 million. With the exception of the World Bank the ADF is the largest source of capital for 39 of Africa's poorest countries. The fund, supporting largely the agricultural, health care, education and economic reform sectors, reaches the poorest levels of society by supporting macro- economic development, thereby staving off natural and man-made disasters. The ADF has undergone necessary and significant internal reforms to make the organizations more efficient. Staff has been reduced by 30 percent the net income has increased by $150 million, and procurement reforms have increased transparency and decreased abuses. The ADF is a success story. Please support this vital organization by passing the Campbell Amendment. Thank you.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as a longtime proponent and sponsor of colorectal cancer screening legislation, I am particularly pleased that the House and Senate conferees have reached an agreement to authorize Medicare coverage of colorectal cancer screening as part of the preventative benefits package in the reconciliation bill before the Congress today. Passage of this legislation is not, however, the final step in establishing comprehensive colorectal cancer screening for Medicare recipients. The legislation requires the Department of Health and Human Services to determine, within 90 days, whether the barium determination is an appropriate alternative to procedures covered by the bill. Once this determination is made, the initial Medicare Program for colorectal cancer screening will be fully established. I hope and expect that in making the determination with regard to coverage of the barium examination, the Secretary of HHS will consider the particular screening needs of African-Americans. Although colorectal cancer screening is an important preventative care procedure for all Medicare recipients, it is a particularly important screening procedure for African-Americans who suffer a disparate impact from this disease. One statistic that has often been cited in the debate on colorectal cancer bears repeating: African-Americans who get colorectal cancer are 50 percent more likely to die of the disease than other Americans. There are a number of reasons for this statistic, but it is, at least, in part because African-Americans tend to get colon cancer in the portion of the colon beyond the reach of the sigmoidoscope. This means that the most common screening procedure for colorectal cancer, sigmoidoscopy, is inadequate for these elderly Americans, and a full colon screening procedure is required. Mr. Speaker, I once again commend the conferees for developing this colorectal cancer screening provision. This provision has the potential to save thousands of lives that would otherwise be lost to colorectal cancer, and to improve the quality of life for those whose colorectal cancer is detected early in a routine screening. I am proud to have been involved in developing this legislation, and for being part of the Congress that saw its enactment.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply grateful to the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, the gentlewoman from California, Ms. Maxine Waters, my good friend, for yielding to me to begin this special order this evening. Today, many of us in the Black Caucus and others of our colleagues here in the House and in the other body had the good fortune to be able to go the homegoing celebration of Justice Brennan. Because of the lateness of the hour, a significant number of our colleagues who wanted to be with us have seen fit to contribute their remarks in the Record, and they did, in fact, including the gentlewoman from Florida, Mrs. Meek, and the gentlewomen from Texas, Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson and Ms. Jackson-Lee, as three that I know. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay special tribute to the life and career of former Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, a man who, and I might add I learned today for the first time that that ``J'' stood for Joseph, a man who epitomized the word ``liberal.'' As I stand today, I am kind of propelled by the question, what is a liberal? Often we hear that here in this body, the question put, what is a liberal? And we hear it in negative terms when one is identified in that manner. As I confront with my colleagues the myriad assaults on the liberal causes of equality and justice, and the homilist today, the Reverend John O'Hara, at Saint Matthews Church, at the funeral of Justice Brennan, cited the fact that not only did he stand for equality and justice, but he also brought to that civility. These ideas which most of us in the Black Caucus and many Members of this body have devoted entire careers pursuing, this question then is obviously of paramount importance. What is a liberal? There are a lot of definitions. Let me offer one. A liberal is someone who is guided by principles of fairness and equality and civility, even when such principles are unpopular. A liberal is someone who stands up for justice and fairness regardless of public opinion. A liberal fights for the rights of individuals, no matter their social, economic, racial or religious circumstance, and often because of them. A liberal believes that the U.S. Constitution was adopted to expand, not limit, individual freedoms. A liberal would give her or his life to eliminate all forms of second-class citizenship, understanding that until all are free, none are free. Justice Brennan was a liberal, Mr. Speaker. As a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, a lawyer and a former judge, I am especially proud to honor this distinguished jurist. It is apropos that I rise today. Justice Brennan's belief in the ideal of one person, one vote, and his relentless support of the protection of voting rights for all Americans directly led to a fairer reapportionment of congressional districts. As I look around this body when it is in full bloom, which more accurately reflects the American people today than it did half a decade ago, I am reminded of the quote, and I learned today at the funeral that the Justice had asked the homilist, Reverend O'Hara, to make sure at his funeral that it be short; and, No. 2, that they play some Latin songs. I did not know of his fondness, and so I looked up a quote: ``Si monumentum requires circumspice.'' If you would see his monument, look around you. Justice Brennan's monument is all around us in this great country, and he, through his legacy, has contributed to the diversity of this great body. In the area of civil rights, Justice Brennan joined the late Justice Thurgood Marshall, his judicial soulmate, as the court's most outspoken advocates for affirmative action. We are about to undertake that debate here. And it would be healthy if all of our colleagues had had the good fortune to read some of the 1,360 opinions that William Joseph Brennan authored as a member of the United States Supreme Court. For example, in United States Steel Workers of America versus Weber, Justice Brennan wrote that it would be ironic ``if a law triggered by a Nation's concern over centuries of racial injustice and intended to improve the lot of those who had been excluded from the American dream for so long, prohibited all voluntary race-conscious efforts to abolish racial segregation and hierarchy.'' Justice Brennan understood that we still, in America and in the world, live as persons infected with various forms of racism and prejudice. Mr. Speaker, he understood that the only way to remedy the evils of the past would be to take affirmative action to eliminate its ugly and devastating impact on those today. As all of my colleagues in the Black Caucus who come today to pay tribute to this giant have fought for equality and fairness under the law, I fought for it along with my colleagues, from the courthouse to the statehouse and in the U.S. House. I was certainly, as all of our colleagues are in this Nation, saddened by the departure of Justice Brennan from the court. Today, however, I remain encouraged that his legacy of individual freedom will be evanescent. As someone who had an opportunity to practice under those decisions, I, for one, am grateful for his legacy. I must pause briefly, Mr. Speaker, to thank the chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus and the members of the Congressional Black Caucus for their efforts here this evening to honor Justice Brennan. I have already pointed to the appropriateness of this special order. The chairwoman immediately set in motion the request for the Black Caucus and all our colleagues to have this opportunity to recognize a giant who helped all Americans. Justice Brennan shared our ideals, our principles, and our hope for a colorblind society. He shared our vision for racial equality and social justice and, indeed, civility. He believed as we do in the supreme dignity of every individual. We will continue to build upon that vision as we in the Black Caucus and in Congress fight for the rights of every American, especially the poor, as Justice Brennan did; the disadvantaged, as Justice Brennan did; and the mistreated, as Justice Brennan did. As long as people are treated unfairly, as long as people sit on death row, as long as there is one person who deserves another chance or just a better chance at the American dream, the spirit of William Joseph Brennan will be with us, and for that we, as a Nation, are in his eternal debt. Today, in a magnificent organ recital during the course of the procession to his place of committal, the Schola from Requiem in paradisum was ``May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs receive you, and lead you into the holy city of Jerusalem. May the choir of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, who was once poor, may you enjoy eternal rest,'' Justice Brennan.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank the gentlewoman, and I ask that at the appropriate stage the Mass of Christian Burial of Justice Brennan be included in the Record. That said, I would like to thank the gentlewoman and all of our colleagues, those who are here and those who entered their written words into the Record commemorating this great justice. I said earlier that it was important that we take at least from the program the presidium that was offered, and I read it. At the beginning of today's funeral for Justice Brennan the Ludwig van Beethoven tune ``Ode to Joy'' was sung in the entirety of its four refrains. Because of the lateness of the hour I wish to commend to all who are listening the final of the refrains. Mortals join the mighty chorus, Which the morning stars began; God's own love is reigning o'er us, Joining people hand in hand. Ever singing, march we onward, Victors in the midst of strife; Joyful music leads us sunward, In the triumph song of life This gentleman sang a mighty tune for all of us.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding, and I am so proud of the fact that she represents Eatonville, FL. I would tell the gentlewoman that I was born and raised in Altamonte Springs, FL, 8 miles from where Ms. Hurston, who the gentlewoman so rightly seeks commemoration of, was born. I had the good fortune of having had a grandmother, who has since deceased, like Ms. Hurston, who was a very good friend of hers and went to boarding school at the same place that Zora Neale Hurston did. I did not know it as a child, but my mother did, and other members of my family, but she was a giant of a woman, not only in size, but as the gentlewoman has appropriately indicated, in the magnitude of literature that she produced in her era and in her genre. For that I compliment the gentlewoman, and ask, as she does, that all of our colleagues go forward and commemorate her with this stamp that we can present, and I hope to be there with the gentlewoman in 1999 when it is done.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding me this time. I would like to thank the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim], the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], my friend and colleague, and the gentleman from California [Mr. Berman] as well for their expeditious handling of this matter in the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. I especially point to the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim], my good friend, for this resolution was conceived by me when the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] and myself and other Members of the House, along with the Speaker of the House, visited South Korea. It was a moving experience to go there and to go there with the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim], who obviously understands and understood the dynamics in that area better than any of us could. It really is just a sense of the Congress expressing our support for and encouragement of four-party talks between the United States, South Korea, North Korea, and China. Since the Korean peninsula was divided at the end of World War II, between the North and South, repeated attempts at reunification have failed. The 1950 through 1953 Korean war ended in an armistice agreement which altered hostilities but left the two sides technically at war, divided by a heavily fortified demilitarized zone that the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] and myself and others had an opportunity to visit recently. Since 1970 there have been several attempts to replace the 1953 armistice agreement with a peace deal that could lead to a unified Korean peninsula. But as you know, Mr. Speaker, these attempts have been fragile if not precarious, yet at times the dialogue between North and South Korea has produced cooperation in various forms such as cultural exchanges, a unified sports team, reunions of separated families and limited trade. With this resolution, it is our hope that the nothing ventured nothing gained outlook prevails at the four-party talks initiated by the United States and our stalwart ally, South Korea. Without the participation of each and every one of the invited parties, these talks will become moot. This resolution loudly and clearly states that the U.S. Congress strongly encourages all parties to come to the table and stay there until a formal peace treaty is developed. For its part, North Korea is already plagued by food shortages and economic mismanagement. Most nations avoid the North because its leaders can be and at most times are unreliable. It has no legal system. Its roads and railways are crumbling. Its work force is starving and its huge military is a constant threat to peace and stability in that region. By encouraging these four-party talks, our goal is to alleviate the immense threat that a dangerous, unstable region poses to our ally, South Korea. Yet we must do so in a manner which does not necessarily condemn North Korea. Rather, our solution must relieve the pain and suffering in the region by replacing it with peace and security. Forty-four years after the ending of the Korean war, the border between the two countries remains extremely tense. The border remains extremely tense as evidenced by the recent mortar attack and gunfire exchange on July 17. Last August, when the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim] and others and I traveled to South Korea with Speaker Gingrich, we stood on that border and visited our troops stationed at the demilitarized zone. This amendment is also about American soldiers and South Korean soldiers. It is an expression of support for the men and women stationed over there with the hope that these four-party talks will lead to a unified Korea, eliminating the need for their deployment. Reunification is a goal claimed by both North and South Korea. Let us encourage this ambition by making reunification a sincere goal of our foreign policy. I urge all of our colleagues to support this resolution. I thank the gentleman, once again, for yielding me the time.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. May I please respectfully request of the distinguished majority leader that he consider, although I know he cannot answer me now, that on Tuesday next it is anticipated that Justice Brennan's funeral will be held and several, indeed a considerable number of our colleagues, are desirous of attending that funeral; and if it will be possible to roll votes in the event votes are being had, I would ask the majority leader to please consider that.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, though obviously I will not object, I yield to the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] to explain his request.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.