Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a joint resolution regarding the Stimson Doctrine of Non-Recognition, which was a policy adopted in the 1930s, stating that the United States government will not recognize territorial changes brought about by force alone. The Stimson Doctrine became the foundation for sections of the U.N. Charter dealing with the inviolability of recognized borders and territorial integrity.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I thank my good friend and new Member, in one sense of the word, from Maryland for yielding time to me. I also want to thank the chairwoman and ranking Republican of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton and Sam Graves. And I thank Chairman Oberstar for his continuing leadership as well. Mr. Speaker, I was pleased to have introduced this resolution with many of my colleagues from Florida. All of them, as well as the majority leader and his floor staff, were so helpful in getting this resolution to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution that commemorates last week's 80th anniversary of the Okeechobee hurricane of 1928. Numerous communities in the congressional district that I am privileged to serve last week remembered the destruction of the Okeechobee hurricane, also known as Hurricane San Felipe Segundo. The storm ravaged Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and numerous islands of the Caribbean. The resolution also pays tribute appropriately to the over 4,000 lives lost from this tragic storm. More than 3,000 were lost in the United States alone, the second largest death toll ever recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Floridians living near Lake Okeechobee in communities that I am now privileged to represent experienced a devastating loss of life when the hurricane led to extensive breaches of the levees surrounding the lake. Of the more than 3,000 casualties in the continental United States, more than 75 percent were migrant workers near Lake Okeechobee who were overwhelmingly African American. The lack of capacity to respond to the storm and racial overtones of the era led to extensive disparities in the treatment of victims of the hurricane. Many African Americans were buried in poorly or unmarked mass graves, including one site in West Palm Beach where over 670 unfortunate souls were laid to rest. Similar graves for white victims of the tragedy were visibly memorialized, whereas many African American graves were forgotten and still not known and some not recognized until many years later. Mr. Speaker, neglecting these darker moments of our history can overlook important lessons, as we saw with the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav, and most recently, Ike. Beyond just recognizing the victims of the Okeechobee hurricane, their loss is a reminder of what can happen when there are injustices in disaster response and mitigation. The potential for devastation due to failing infrastructure following disasters exists in many places throughout our Nation. That is why this resolution also places emphasis on hurricane preparedness and education. It also commends the Army Corps of Engineers for the work that they are doing today to repair the Herbert Hoover Dike. The dike, which was built in the 1930s to protect the Lake Okeechobee communities that were flooded and destroyed by the Okeechobee hurricane, is in dire need of repairs. To date, Congress has appropriated well over $100 million to repair the dike. Without continued help, these communities will be vulnerable to devastation from future storms. I wish to add a footnote. I came here 15 years ago. And all of my colleagues from Louisiana on both sides of the aisle in the Senate and in the House were continuously arguing then about the levees in New Orleans, and I just shudder to think about the fact that we were tardy in responding to them. The experience of the Okeechobee hurricane still touches the lives of so many of my constituents and people throughout Florida and the Caribbean. One of them I wish to personally memorialize, Dave Larramore, who we referred to as Brother Larramore. One of his favorite expressions was ``ain'tchaknow.'' Brother Larramore was from the Bahamas and he was in Okeechobee when that storm occurred in 1928. He lost eight members of his family. He was holding on to his wife who was holding his child, and she dropped the child, and he grabbed the baby; and they were the only ones that came out of that storm. He told that story often and stories of others. I take this opportunity to remember him with the kindness that this body offers to our people when they pass, no matter how long ago that it was. The House's consideration of this resolution today is both appropriate and timely. I ask for my colleagues' support.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6772, a resolution designating the post office located at 1717 Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the ``CeeCee Ross Lyles Post Office Building.'' As a cosponsor of this legislation, I would like to like to express my appreciation for the effort of my good friend from Florida, Congressman Tim Mahoney, for introducing this important legislation. He and I share the privilege of representing Fort Pierce in the House. Through the designation of this post office we honor the memory of Ms. CeeCee Ross Lyles. Ms. Lyles was a flight attendant aboard United Flight 93 on that fateful day, 9/11 over 7 years ago. Shortly before the plane crashed, Ms. Lyles called her husband to tell her that she loved him. While her time on earth was cut short by terrorists, her memory will live on in our community. This post office designation will forever commemorate the life of Ms. Lyles. Ms. Lyles was a true Fort Pierce Floridian through and through. She was born and raised in Fort Pierce and later served as a police officer for 6 years there. In 2003, the City of Fort Pierce erected a statue of Ms. Lyles in the Liberty Garden at Veteran Memorial Park. The legislation before us today ensures the memory of Ms. Lyles and all other 9/11 victims live on in our collective memory. I urge swift passage of this legislation to properly recognize and memorialize the heroes of 9/11 and the life of Ms. CeeCee Ross Lyles.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Taxpayer Protection Act. This comprehensive energy bill provides a marked change to Republicans' solitary drumbeat of their flawed energy policy which only maintains the oil-consuming status quo. Instead of trying to score cheap political points, Democrats in Congress are paving the way forward with real sound solutions to the pain at the pump the American people are feeling. The Comprehensive American Energy Security and Taxpayer Protection Act expands domestic and alternative sources of energy to increase our nation`s national security. Additionally, it extends and expands tax incentives for renewable energy and reduces transit fares for commuter rail and buses. Provisions in the bill would responsibly open up the Outer Continental Shelf for drilling with significant environmental protections while demanding that oil companies use the leases they have already been issued. This bill allows for safe responsible drilling while investing in domestic alternative technologies and green jobs. In return for opening up more areas for drilling, the bill requires oil companies to pay American taxpayers royalties owed to them and ends subsidies to oil companies for drilling. This bill provides long-term solutions to help us achieve real energy independence, strengthen our national security, and reduce global warming. Under the agreement reached between Florida Democrats and House Leadership, the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Taxpayer Protection Act includes provisions maintaining a 2006 compromise protecting the Eastern Gulf of Mexico from offshore oil drilling. These limitations protect the military areas off the coast of Florida, as well as Florida's tourism and fishing industries. I am pleased that this bill protects Florida's coast from expanded offshore oil drilling, much to the dismay of the oil men in the White House and corrupt Interior Department officials who were accepting gifts from the oil companies they regulate. Drilling off Florida's coast only further subjects our beaches to oil spills that become exacerbated by hurricane damage and contributes to global climate change. Although the struggle to maintain the existing protections for Florida's coast is far from over, I promise to be the last man standing in the fight to prevent expanded offshore oil drilling in Florida.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life and contributions of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones. Stephanie was a good friend of mine, and I am still in shock by her sudden passing. She brought energy and enthusiasm, brilliance and dedication to this Congress, and her presence is already sorely missed. In the weeks since her passing, I have been reflecting on her many contributions to her constituents, her state, and her country, not only most recently in the House of Representatives but also in a lifetime of service. She broke barriers, and in the process elevated the lives of those she touched, both professionally and personally. The first African-American woman elected to Congress from the state of Ohio, Stephanie has set the bar incredibly high with her dedication and devotion, and paved the way for future generations to follow. As an attorney, judge, and Member of Congress, she worked tirelessly on behalf of reducing poverty, ensuring access to education and affordable health care, and advocating for the rights of minorities nationwide. Stephanie and I saw eye-to-eye on many important issues, whether it was fighting to ensure affordable housing, or for greater protection for Haitian and other refugees, or for the simple notion that every vote should be counted. In the 110th Congress alone Stephanie introduced legislation to revitalize low-income communities, protect and ensure voting rights, curtail predatory lending, and provide greater resources for uterine fibroids research, a personal commitment of hers that I know she has carried for many years. Stephanie and I have similar backgrounds as lawyers, judges, and of course Members of Congress, and thus I have always thought that she and I shared a kinship that went beyond just our professional responsibilities. I hold her in the highest degree of respect and admiration. Since her untimely passing, I find myself recalling her personal inspiration as she and I and so many others in this body continue to fight for a better, more equal, and more prosperous society. She is the very definition of a role model. Mr. Speaker, Stephanie's presence will not be easily replaced, if it ever can. The country should value her service; and I, for one, also value her friendship.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I rise to introduce the Republic of Georgia Enhanced Trade Assistance, Economic Recovery, and Reconstruction Act of 2008. This bill will provide urgently needed economic and reconstruction assistance to the people of Georgia following Russia's invasion of that sovereign and independent country last month. Madam Speaker, the war between Russia and Georgia resulted in the displacement of tens of thousands of men, women, and children from the conflict zone in South Ossetia and elsewhere in Georgia. There is credible evidence that at least some villages were hit because they were populated by ethnic Georgians. As we know, people can't work when they have nowhere to live and their basic needs are not being met. Additionally, the Russians clearly targeted critical components of Georgia's economic infrastructure for destruction, resulting in the disruption of domestic and regional commerce. The dire circumstances in the aftermath of the invasion require timely action by the United States and the international community. As Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation, the body charged by Congress with monitoring human rights throughout Europe and beyond, I am deeply concerned over developments in and around Georgia, a country I have visited on numerous occasions, most recently in January. It pains me that there is a need for the kind of legislation I am introducing today--an urgent measure to aid one OSCE country-- Georgia--which is recovering from devastating damage done to its people, economy, infrastructure, and environment by another OSCE country--Russia. The Helsinki principles were meant to preclude such armed conflict between participating states. Among them were the commitments to refrain from the threat of or use of force to resolve conflicts; and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other states. In invading Georgia, Russia has violated these OSCE commitments and I am saddened to be compelled to condemn Russia's conduct. Madam Speaker, it is apparent that Russia deliberately sought to cripple Georgia's economy, wreaking economic hardship and perhaps seeking to foment upheaval. In the process, Russia has sought to degrade key economic and commercial zones in the region, and I'm concerned that the most serious long-term damage could be the loss of confidence in Georgia as a reliable transit point for oil and gas pipelines--currently the only transit point for oil to Europe from central Asia and the Caucasus that does not go through Russia. This legislation, while it cannot undo all of the damage done to Georgia's economy and infrastructure, will go far in helping Georgia, a strategic U.S. partner, begin to rebuild its economy and critical infrastructure while helping to create new trade, business, and economic opportunities among key countries in the region. I welcome the administration's announcement of a package of U.S. emergency assistance to be provided to Georgia. My legislation seeks to complement these preliminary efforts with the aim of ensuring the kind of sustained assistance the people of Georgia will need in the coming months to rebuild their lives and country. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and ensure its timely passage.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, today I am pleased to pay tribute to Bob Hand for his 25 years of untiring service to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Helsinki Commission. Bob joined the Commission's professional staff on August 1, 1983, though his human rights advocacy work began years earlier and included a stint as an intern with the Commission. A man of deep principles and convictions, Bob has approached each challenge with determination and diligence. Driven by a quiet passion for upholding the human rights commitments enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act, Bob helped compile lists of individuals denied their fundamental freedoms by regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. His work in promoting free market principles and protection of the environment included efforts specifically aimed at encouraging individual entrepreneurs and strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations. A case in point was his active role in defending environmental activists during the 1989 Sofia Meeting on the Protection of the Environment, an event that paved the way for the ouster of the Bulgarian dictatorship. Bob played a leading role in preparations for the 1990 Bonn Conference on Economic Cooperation in Europe, an historic East-West meeting that embraced key principles, such as rights to private property and the importance of the rule of law in the economic sphere, among others. For more than two decades, Bob has served as the Commission's point person for the Balkans region. He was an early advocate of raising human rights concerns with Belgrade when Yugoslavia was still included among the ranks of the Neutral and Non-Aligned countries. A keen analyst of developments in the Balkans, Bob began drawing attention to potential flash points like Kosovo long before others. He volunteered to be deployed as an expert on the Mission to Kosovo, Sanjak, and Vojvodina fielded by the then Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe in the early 1990s. With his able assistance, the Helsinki Commission remained at the forefront of efforts to uphold Bosnia's right to self defense in the face of armed aggression and genocide. He has persistently worked to document the human toll suffered by victims, among them those who perished during the massacre at Srebrenica, and to press for apprehension of indicted war criminals like Ratko Mladic, who remain at large. Elsewhere in the region, Bob has worked particularly hard to promote democracy, human rights and rule of law in Albania, a country he first visited in 1990. Beyond his responsibilities monitoring developments in the Balkans region, Bob ably serves as secretary for the U.S. delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I am pleased to recognize and commend Bob Hand for his faithful, dedicated, and tireless service to me and my colleagues.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, as we now consider and certainly will adopt House Resolution 1266, congratulating Albania and Croatia on being invited to begin accession talks with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and expressing support for continuing to enlarge the alliance, I would like to express my support for these countries as they move forward. As Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I convened a hearing on NATO enlargement in early March, where we examined the respective NATO prospects not only of Albania and Croatia but also of Macedonia, Georgia and Ukraine. While some of these countries must still contend with outstanding issues, whether of their own making or not, I strongly support their NATO aspirations and encourage them to move forward as well. I am well aware of the many hurdles Albania has faced in recovering from decades of extremely repressive communist rule. Albania has also had to confront an often undeservedly negative image in the rest of Europe. Receiving its invitation at the Bucharest summit in April, therefore, was an amazing achievement of which every Albanian citizen, regardless of their political affiliation, should be proud. It is my hope, however, that the sense of accomplishment will encourage the country's leaders to continue the transition to a state based on democratic norms and the rule of law, especially as Albania prepares for elections next year and continues its investigation of the March tragedy at Gerdec. Croatia also has had to address many challenges prior to receiving its invitation, although in its case those challenges related to the very violent conflicts associated with Yugoslavia's demise in the 1990s. It was clear that Croatia always had the potential to recover quickly, and it fortunately did just that. The challenges Albania and Croatia have faced, in my view, will ultimately make them better allies. Their citizens have an appreciation of freedom and a desire for protecting freedom that many living in more established democracies may have lost. And as countries who can recall their dependence on European security structures to help them in their times of need, they now are committed to becoming contributors to those same European security structures.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Presidential Commission to Study the Culture and Glorification of Violence in America Act. This bill will establish a commission tasked with not only studying the culture of violence in our country, but also the factors that contribute to this culture and the actions that can be taken to mitigate its effects. Members of this Commission will determine what connections exist between violence and access to firearms, psychological stress, and economic despair. They will further examine what role schools can play in preventing violence and propose possible solutions to address the glorification of violence in the United States. Madam Speaker, we have become a society that places violence and aggression above hard work and acts of kindness. Sadly, children today admire gangsters instead of teachers. They would rather be thugs and drug lords than doctors and philanthropists. They measure the strength of their character by the size of their gun and not by their generosity toward others. The American Academy of Pediatrics has found that prolonged exposure to violence in the media can increase acceptance of violence as an appropriate means of solving problems. It can glamorize weapons as sources of personal power and can contribute to aggressive behavior. It is, therefore no surprise that in 2005 alone, there were over 1.8 million serious violent crimes in America and almost 420,000 firearm- related incidents. In that same year, the Federal Government spent $35.4 billion on criminal justice and local governments spent nearly three times that amount. Worst of all however, teens and young adults experience the highest rates of violent crime. It is clear that we must make an effort to raise our children to recognize that violence is nothing more than the physical manifestation of fear and desperation. However, our society's glorification of violence has become so ingrained in our culture that it has become seemingly impossible to reverse. Madam Speaker, it is our collective responsibility to create a society that values respect toward our fellow citizens. This legislation is simply a small step toward addressing what has become a destructive parasite upon the future of our country. By learning how the media and society promote violence and examining ways in which we can address this most pressing dilemma, it is my hope that we can stem the tide of violence and crime in America so that subsequent generations can live in a more peaceful nation. I ask for my colleagues' support and urge the swift consideration of this bill.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to lay the resolution on the table.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe and the former President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I condemn in the strongest possible terms the bombings that shook the Gungoren neighborhood of Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday. This was the deadliest attack to take place in Istanbul in five years, which killed 17 men, women and children and wounded more than one hundred others. I express my most sincere condolences to the families who lost loved ones and to the individuals injured in this terrorist attack. Madam Speaker, I stand with the Turkish government and the people of Turkey in condemning these cowardly acts and hope to see those responsible brought to justice very soon. The United States and Turkey have shared a historic partnership for the past fifty-plus years and it is during these difficult times that we must stand together. Madam Speaker, the United States remains committed to working with Turkey in fighting terrorism in Turkey, in the United States, and around the world. I urge my colleagues to stand with me in condemning these heinous attacks.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, last week the Helsinki Commission, which I Chair, held a briefing at which representatives from Physicians for Human Rights presented the findings of their recently published report, ``Broken Laws, Broken Lives.'' In it, they documented the medical evidence of torture by U.S. personnel in 11 specific cases. I believe this briefing was the first opportunity on Capitol Hill for the public to hear specifically about the medical consequences of the administration's detention policies and to consider some of the ethical questions related to the medical treatment of detainees, including forced feeding and the possible role of medical professionals during interrogations. We were fortunate to have with us as panelists Leonard Rubenstein, J.D., President of Physicians for Human Rights; Dr. Allen Keller, Advisor to Physicians for Human Rights and Director of the Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture; and Dr. Scott Allen, also an Advisor to Physicians for Human Rights. For many years, members of the Helsinki Commission have been actively engaged on issues related to torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment. Over the years, we have raised concern about the nearly constant reports of torture and abuse in Chechnya. We have pressed Turkey to provide detainees with prompt access to lawyers and medical personnel, because we know that when people are held incommunicado, they are more likely to experience torture. We have expressed alarm regarding the number of people who walk into Uzbekistan jails on their own two feet--and who have been returned to their families in boxes. Last week, it was my sad duty to hear representatives from Physicians for Human Rights describe the torture and ill-treatment some detainees have experienced at the hands of U.S. personnel. As I noted then, I certainly expected to hear about the medical and psychological impact of this torture on the individuals whose cases were investigated by Physicians for Human Rights. But, coincidently, there was a different kind of impact on display last week, when the U.S. also opened its first war crimes trial since World War II. In the trial of Salim Hamdan, alleged to be Osama bin Laden's driver, the military judge overseeing the case found it necessary to exclude from evidence several statements of the defendant because they were obtained under what the military judge deemed ``highly coercive'' conditions. Another one of the government's efforts to bring a defendant before a military tribunal had already been put indefinitely on hold, reportedly because the evidence in the case cannot be disentangled from the impermissible methods that were used to extract it. In other words, the use of abusive interrogation methods has undermined the government's ability to prosecute people suspected of terrorism or terrorism-related crimes. Let me repeat: the ill-conceived policy of ``enhanced interrogations'' has undermined our country's ability to prosecute people for the most serious crimes committed against this nation. As it happened, on the day of our briefing last week, the ACLU released three new ``torture memos'' it had obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. Although highly redacted--indeed, one of them has ten pages that are entirely blacked out--these documents nevertheless provide some additional insight into the development of the policies that set the stage for what Major General Antonio Taguba, in his preface for the Physicians for Human Rights report, called ``a systematic regime of torture.'' (You may recall that General Taguba led the U.S. Army's official investigations into the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal.) Here's just one bit of information we now have from a memo prepared by the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel on August 1, 2002 and released last week. This memo, prepared for the CIA, advises that the crime of torture, as defined by U.S. statute, requires a showing of specific intent to cause severe pain or suffering. That specific intent, in turn, will be negated if a defendant acts with a good faith belief that his actions will not cause severe pain or suffering. That good faith belief can be demonstrated by showing that an official acted in reliance on the advice of experts. And guess what? The Office of Legal Counsel is a bunch of experts. And they go on to say that the objective of the interrogation techniques under discussion--we don't know precisely what they are because they're blacked out--is not to cause severe physical pain. Just like magic, you have your expert advice, which gives you your good-faith belief, which negates the specific intent required under the statute which criminalizes torture. So you guys can go ahead and waterboard and God knows what else because the Office of Legal Counsel has told you that it does not cause severe pain or suffering, so you have legal license to ignore your own eyes and ears, which tell you that waterboarding will break a person in minutes. Madam Speaker, the report by Physicians for Human Rights makes several recommendations that deserve study and consideration. But in light of the release of these most recent torture memos, I would like to highlight today one particular recommendation of the report: ``The U.S. Department of Justice should publicly release all legal opinions and other memoranda concerning standards regarding interrogation and detention policy and practices.'' The Department of Justice is the arbiter of what is the law of the land for this country. And I think the American people have a right to know if their government has sought to redefine ``torture'' as ``not torture.'' Accordingly, I urge the Attorney General to release the full texts of all the memos relating to interrogation and detention policies and practices.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today as an original co-sponsor and strong supporter of House Concurrent Resolution 361, a resolution which commemorates the life of Irena Sendler, a woman whose courage and selflessness saved the lives of thousands of Polish citizens from Nazi brutality during the Holocaust. I would like to thank my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, for introducing this legislation, as well as the 63 other bipartisan Members of Congress for their co-sponsorship of H. Con. Res. 361. This important resolution commemorates the work of Irena Sendler, a Polish woman who dedicated her life to saving 2,500 Jewish children from Poland's Warsaw Ghetto and Nazi extermination during the Holocaust. As an early activist during World War II, Sendler joined Zegota, an underground movement that provided a safe haven for Jews who would otherwise be sent to death camps throughout Europe. In addition, Sendler built strong connections in Warsaw's Welfare Department that enabled her to help ferry Jewish children from the Warsaw Ghetto. Sendler was eventually caught by the Nazis, brutally tortured, and sentenced to death for her heroic acts. However, Sendler managed to escape and continued her work of saving children in the Warsaw Ghetto. After the Holocaust, Irena Sendler was rewarded for her courageous efforts. In 1965, she was recognized as ``Righteous Among the Nations'' by Yad Vashem in Israel. In 2006, she was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Sendler was also awarded the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian decoration. Irena Sendler passed away on May 12, 2008 at the age of 98. A woman who risked her own life to defend the lives of others, it is appropriate for Sendler to be recognized and honored by the Congress. Her selflessness and courage to fight against hate and genocide should serve as a model for others in our world to combat hatred and intolerance and seek to end the genocide in the Sudan. It is unacceptable for citizens of this country or any other nation to allow, accept, or tolerate acts of hatred. Yet worldwide discrimination continues to exist and Holocaust deniers still serve as leaders of nations. In honoring the life of Irena Sendler and her courageous acts to save Jewish children from the Nazis, we pay tribute to the righteous among us and reaffirm our commitment to combating worldwide acts of discrimination. I send my condolences to the Sendler family and hope Irena's story will encourage all citizens of the world to uphold justice, equality, and human rights. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 194, a resolution that apologizes for the enslavement and segregation of African-Americans. This is a significant moment in our nation's history when the nearly 20-year fight to consider federal legislation that apologizes for slavery has at last become a reality. Indeed, it is fitting that we consider legislation of this content and caliber at this time. A global trend has emerged within the 21st Century in which governments have apologized for slavery and discriminatory laws and promised to work toward a better future. Within the past year, states that were once members of the former Confederacy and were a cesspool for racist and bigoted laws and practices did something that no state had done before: they apologized for the enslavement of black people in this country. More than 240 years after the abolition of slavery and more than four decades after the abolition of Jim Crow, it is time for the federal government to do the same. In 1988, Congress apologized to Japanese-Americans for holding them in concentration camps during World War II. Congress expressed regret for its policies on Hawaii a century after the native Hawaiian kingdom was overthrown. And just five years ago, the Senate apologized for not enacting anti-lynching legislation that would have saved the lives of thousands of black people across the South. America's greatness is exemplified in part by our ability to evolve. Under federal and state laws and customs, African Americans were denied their fundamental rights from 1619 until 1965. Today, we show our growth by officially acknowledging the wrongful actions and policies that were targeted toward African-Americans during slavery and Jim Crow. Sadly, there are some who continue to oppose Congress apologizing for slavery and segregation. They see apologizing as a futile action that is too little too late. Others contend that an official apology would do more harm that good and would conjure painful images from the past that would fuel resentment. These assertions miss the point. Failure to pass this resolution that acknowledges the wrongness of slavery and segregation would send the dangerous message that America is unwilling to come to terms with one of the first and last great atrocities that it placed on its citizens through the rule of law. Slavery and racial segregation were permitted through federal law and our government must express the appropriate and long-overdue remorse for its tolerance of this injustice. As we all know, Mr. Speaker, words matter. ``All men are created equal,'' is perhaps one of the most famous phrases in American history. In our nation's infancy, this statement encompassed the principles of a country that promised to protect the freedom and well-being of its new citizens. Yet it was written when hundreds of thousands of black men, women and children were enslaved and counted as only \3/5\ of a person under the Constitution. Nevertheless, President Abraham Lincoln later used this phrase to argue that the institution of slavery contradicted our nation's most fundamental values. This statement proved that America had the potential and duty to become a fairer and more equal nation. The legal abolishment of slavery did not translate into the end of racial inequality. Equally, the legal abolishment of Jim Crow has not translated into the elimination of disparities. The reality is that although the men, women and children who were enslaved in this country are long gone, the wealth, culture, and even the congressional buildings that they helped construct remain. Indeed, in the years following Jim Crow, blacks have undoubtedly taken advantage of increased opportunities and have achieved in every imaginable sector. 246 years after emancipation and 43 years after the abolishment of legal segregation, the United States has made serious improvements in drafting and implementing policies that encourage equality. However, it would be wrong to conclude that these successes negate the fact that 346 years of oppression have contributed to the economic and health disparities that continue to affect much of the black community. On this historic day, we must recommit ourselves to bringing about an end to these disparities and injustices. And in passing this resolution, the House will send a message to the American people and others that the most powerful nation in the world is willing to look honestly at some of the most shameful parts of its history, accept responsibility, and apologize for its actions. Together, we will continue to lay the necessary foundation to build a stronger future.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a resolution memorializing the 80th anniversary of the Okeechobee Hurricane and the tragic losses of life from the catastrophic event. The experience of the Okeechobee Hurricane touches the lives of so many of my constituents and those throughout the Florida delegation, as well as my colleagues representing territories throughout the Caribbean. This September marks 80 years since the Okeechobee Hurricane, also known as Hurricane San Felipe Segundo, ravaged Florida, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and numerous islands of the Caribbean. At this point in 1928, a number of factors contributed to this hurricane having the second largest death toll in United States history ever recorded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Tragically, over 4,000 lives were lost along the path of the Okeechobee Hurricane. Madam Speaker, Floridians living near Lake Okeechobee in communities that I now represent experienced a devastating loss of life when the hurricane led to extensive breaches of the levees surrounding the lake. Of the more than 3,000 casualties in the continental United States, more than 75 percent were migrant workers near Lake Okeechobee who were overwhelmingly African American. The lack of capacity to respond to the devastation of the storm and racial overtures of the era led to extensive disparities in the treatment of victims of this hurricane. Many African Americans were buried in poorly marked mass graves, including one site in West Palm Beach where over 670 unfortunate souls were laid to rest. Similar graves for white victims of the tragedy were visibly memorialized, whereas many African American graves were forgotten and only recognized many years later. When considering the development of a community, neglecting these darker moments of our history can overlook important lessons, as we saw with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Beyond recognition for all victims of the Okeechobee Hurricane tragedy, their loss should inform us how to prevent future injustices in disaster response and mitigation. The potential for devastation due to failing infrastructure following similar natural disasters exists in many places throughout our nation. Thus, it is absolutely vital that we learn from the past and invest in strengthening our vulnerable water management infrastructure to prevent future tragic losses. We must also prioritize initiatives to educate migrant workers, economically disadvantaged communities, and others who may be disproportionately impacted by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Madam Speaker, I call on my colleagues to join me memorializing the tragic loss of the Okeechobee Hurricane and reaffirming our commitment to protecting all inhabitants of the United States from the devastation of hurricanes. This resolution is the first step to encouraging our respective localities to prioritize natural disaster preparedness and education economically disadvantaged communities. I look forward to working with my colleagues toward its expeditious passage.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I hereby submit, for the Record, the text of my report to you on the activities of the U.S. Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, held in early July in Astana, Kazakhstan. I want to thank you for allowing me to serve as the head of this delegation, and to express my gratitude to our colleague in the other chamber, Senator Ben Cardin, for serving as the deputy head of the delegation. I will refrain from repeating here the details of our trip, which can be found in the report, but I would like to make three brief points. First, I want to praise the work of my 10 colleagues who participated on the delegation, namely Mr. Aderholt, Mr. McIntyre, Ms. Solis and Mr. Butterfield who serve with me on the Helsinki Commission, as well as Mr. Wamp, Ms. Loretta Sanchez, Ms. Watson, Ms. Bordallo and Ms. Moore. All were active at the meeting, either speaking or introducing resolutions on issues of concern or making amendments to the initiatives of other delegations. Our colleague Hilda Solis deserves special praise for seeking and being elected to chair a committee in the OSCE PA this coming year, as does Gwen Moore for her many initiatives that kept her busy. Second, I want to stress to all my colleagues how useful engagement in world affairs is, and the degree to which it advances U.S. interests by being out there, ready to discuss, to debate and ultimately to cooperate in making this a better world. In the framework of the Organization for Security and Cooperation for Europe, or the OSCE as it is often known, there is a strong parliamentary dimension that allows us to engage our allies and friends in Europe and Canada, and including the countries of the Caucasus and Central Asia. We discuss everything from human rights and democracy, to energy and the environment, to regional security and terrorism. I invite my colleagues to consider joining me for next year's session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Vilnius, Lithuania. Third, I want to say a word about Kazakhstan, which served as this year's host. Kazakhstan is a large, resource-rich and strategically located country, and a country that wishes to play a stronger role in the OSCE and in world affairs generally. The U.S. delegation used its presence in Astana to welcome that fact, and to express our willingness to work with Kazakhstan to that end. At the same time, the Assembly meeting provided an opportunity to stress the need for Kazakhstan to make greater progress regarding human rights and political reforms, in line with its OSCE commitments but also with specific promises its leaders made when the OSCE designated Kazakhstan to chair the organization in 2010. The final declaration of the OSCE PA Annual Session can be found on the Assembly's website or by contacting the Helsinki Commission, which I chair. Again, thank you Madam Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to lead this delegation, which accomplished a great deal. July 21, 2008. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Madam Speaker: I write to thank you for designating me Head of the U.S. Delegation to the Seventeenth Annual Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA), and to report to you on the work of our bipartisan delegation. The delegation participated fully in the activity of the Assembly's Standing Committee, the plenary sessions and the Assembly's three General Committees, Joining me in leading the delegation was the Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman, Senator Benjamin L. Cardin. Other Helsinki Commissioners who also participated include Representatives Robert B. Aderholt, Mike McIntyre, Hilda L. Solis and G.K. Butterfield. They were joined by Representatives Zach Wamp, Loretta Sanchez, Diane Watson, Madeleine Z. Bordallo and Gwen S. Moore. This year's Annual Session, hosted by the Parliament of Kazakhstan from June 29 to July 3, brought together 227 parliamentarians from 50 of the 56 OSCE States. The designated theme for this year's gathering was ``Transparency in the OSCE.'' The Standing Committee, which is the leadership body of the Assembly composed of the Heads of Delegations representing the OSCE participating States and the elected officers, met prior to the Annual Session. Chaired by the OSCE PA President, Swedish parliamentarian Goran Lennmarker, the committee heard reports from the Assembly's Treasurer, German parliamentarian Hans Raidel, and from the Secretary General, R. Spencer Oliver of the United States. The Assembly continues to operate well within its overall budget guidelines and to receive positive assessments from auditors on financial management. The Standing Committee unanimously approved the proposed budget for 2008/2009, which provides for increased expenditures of just under seven percent to cover inflation and a small increase in secretariat staff. The Standing Committee also heard reports from the Special Representatives of the OSCE PA on a variety of issues of concern. I presented a summary of my activities as Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs, which included a recent Commission hearing, a briefing on the plight of Iraqi refugees and my participation on the congressional visit you led to Israel in May, marking that country's 60th anniversary. Similarly, Rep. Solis spoke in her capacity as the Special Representative on Migration, highlighting recent Commission hearings on women migrants and on regional impacts and opportunities for migrants. Rep. Christopher H. Smith, the Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues, was unable to be present in Astana and asked that his written report be circulated to delegations. It highlights visits to Bosnia, Romania, Russia and Ukraine as well as a recent Commission hearing on combating the sexual exploitation of children. Senator Cardin attended the Standing Committee in his capacity as an OSCE PA Vice President. In my capacity as Head of the U.S. Delegation at the Standing Committee, I welcomed the decision of the Assembly to hold an event in Washington on the upcoming U.S. elections immediately following a September meeting of the OSCE PA in Toronto, Canada. With the Standing Committee's business concluded, Assembly President Lennmarker opened the Inaugural Plenary Session, noting the importance of holding its first Annual Session in the Central Asian region. The delegates were, in turn, welcomed by Kazakhstan's President, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who noted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in democracy- building and further humanitarian and legal norms. The two Speakers of the Kazakhstan Parliament, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of the Senate and Aslan Mussin of the Mazhilis, also addressed the delegates. OSCE Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambaut of France reviewed the work of the OSCE and took questions from the parliamentarians. Members of the U.S. Delegation actively participated in the work of the Assembly's three General Committees: Political Affairs and Security; Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment; and Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. Each committee considered a draft resolution as well as 18 supplementary items circulated by delegates prior to the opening of the Astana meeting. One additional supplementary item was considered during the opening plenary. Five of the supplementary items were resolutions proposed by members of the U.S. Delegation: Encouraging Transparency in the Extractive Industries, by Senator Cardin; Recognizing the Economic, Civic and Social Contributions of Mirgrants, by Rep. Solis; Strengthening Efforts to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings and Addressing the Special Needs of Child Victims by Rep. Smith (and, in his absence, Rep. Wamp); Urging Adoption of the Paris Club Commitment Regarding Vulture Funds by Rep. Moore; and my own resolution Expressing Concern Over the Security Environment in Georgia. All were adopted with few if any amendments. Parliamentarians from Russia, I should note, very strongly opposed my resolution on Georgia, as did some European parliamentarians, but I remained firm, pointing to the moderately worded text and noting past willingness of U.S. delegates to consider and support as warranted resolutions critical of U.S. policies. Recent Russian action in the Caucasus was of sufficient concern to a majority of the delegates present that the resolution was ultimately adopted. U.S. delegates were also instrumental in garnering support for Supplementary items by others, including a Canadian resolution on Afghanistan, a Ukrainian resolution on Holodomor (Ukrainian Famine-Genocide), and a Belgian resolution on Combating the Sexual Exploitation of Children. In addition, the U.S. Delegation introduced 20 amendments to various resolutions, covering issues from pollinator decline to religious freedom. Virtually all of them were adopted, and by dividing our work almost every member of the U.S. Delegation managed at least one resolution or amendment in committee. I would like to particularly note the exceptionally strong effort made by Rep. Moore, who had her own supplementary item and numerous amendments, including those calling for international action to reduce maternal mortality which were agreed to be a basis for a resolution at next year's Annual Session. Belgian Senator Anne-Marie Lizin presented a report in committee on her latest activity as the OSCE PA Special Representative on Guantanamo Bay. Rep. Butterfield responded for the U.S. Delegation, expressing appreciation for her work and describing the latest Supreme Court, congressional and non-governmental efforts dealing with this stain on the U.S. human rights record. Rep. Solis served as Acting Chair of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions during the Annual Session, and she was subsequently elected to be the committee chair for the coming year. Rep. Solis is the first female Member of the U.S. Congress to hold a leadership position in the OSCE PA. The OSCE PA Special Representative on Gender Issues, Tone Tingsgaard (Sweden), hosted a working lunch to discuss gender issues during which she presented her thoughts for future action in the OSCE PA on these issues. The U.S. Delegation was well represented at this event. The final Astana Declaration, attached, was adopted by the participants at the Assembly's closing plenary and reflects the initiatives and input of the U.S. Delegation. In line with the theme for the session, it calls for greater transparency in numerous fields, such as political or historical archives and the use of private military contractors, as well as within the OSCE itself. The declaration also calls for concrete steps to address global climate change, improve waste management and prepare for potential nuclear accidents and natural disasters. Mr. Joao Soares, a parliamentarian from Portugal, was elected to serve as OSCE PA President for the coming year. Soares brings to the office extensive experience, having been a member of the Portuguese parliament from 1987 to 1990 and again since 2002, formerly a member of the European Parliament and of the Bureau of the European Parliament, and the mayor of Lisbon from 1995 to 2002. The delegates at the Annual Session also re-elected Pia Christmas-Moeller of Denmark, as a Vice president of the Assembly along with three new Vice Presidents: Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan; Wolfgang Grossruck of Austria and Oleh Bilorus of Ukraine. The OSCE Chair-in-Office, Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, addressed the delegates during the closing plenary. He urged movement from managing unresolved conflicts in Georgia and Moldova to solving them. He also asked for continued support for OSCE border-management training in Central Asia as well as for bolstering cooperative security in the Euro-Atlantic region. While the Delegation's work focused heavily on OSCE PA matters, the venue presented an opportunity to advance U.S. interests and express U.S. concerns with our Kazakhstani hosts. The U.S. Delegation had meetings with President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Karim Masimov and Secretary of State Kanat Saudabayev as well as with prominent Kazakh human rights activists and opposition leaders. Members of the delegation also visited Beit Rachel, the largest synagogue in Central Asia, and met with the chief rabbi and the deputy imam from the Islamic community to discuss inter- faith tolerance and protection of religious freedom in Kazakhstan, especially for religious minorities. The U.S. delegation held a press conference in Astana, during which we conveyed our willingness to work with Kazakhstan throughout its OSCE chairmanship in 2010. We strongly urged, however, greater progress regarding human rights and political reforms in keeping with the commitments Kazakhstan made at the Madrid OSCE Ministerial in November 2007, where the decision on the 2010 chairmanship was made. Senator Cardin also used the visit to Kazakhstan as an opportunity to visit nearby Pakistan. He was joined by fellow Commissioners McIntyre and Aderholt as well as Representatives Wamp and Sanchez. The delegation met with President Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, and U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan Anne W. Patterson. During the meetings, the delegation focused on U.S.-Pakistan relations, regional security, as well as human rights and democratic development. I hope this summary of the U.S. Delegation's activity is useful to you, and let me thank you and your staff again for making this trip possible. The Eighteenth Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will be held early next July in Vilnius, Lithuania, and I hope we can count on your continued support in ensuring that U.S. interests abroad are advanced through active congressional participation in the

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, at this time I did have an additional speaker, and I would ask to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Stark).

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution. The previous question was ordered.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of the time. Mr. Speaker, I have sat and stood here with great amusement as my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have come to the floor to oppose this resolution. After all, if it were not for their actions, this resolution wouldn't even be necessary. The ``45 percent Medicare trigger'' was nothing more than a gimmick designed to gain the votes of conservative Republicans for their Medicare prescription drug bill. It was drafted behind closed doors. I was here, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Rangel tried to get into their conference. They locked the doors without any consultation with Mr. Rangel of the Ways and Means Committee, members that were in the minority without any involvement or notification to the minority. It was then slipped into the conference at the last minute and had not passed the House or the Senate. It's amazing, Mr. Speaker. My friends on the other side agreed to this trigger and preach fiscal responsibility and are now supporting a process which could force the House to allow legislation to the floor in clear violation of its PAYGO and earmark rules. I was really amused that the distinguished gentleman that is head of the Republican Study Committee came in here as much as he talks about earmarks and is going to come here and talk about fiscal responsibility. I was also amused that the last lady speaker who took it upon herself to talk about this measure but forgot, I guess, that she voted to override the President's veto last week. But now they come to the floor to complain because their Members bought a pig in a poke. Give me a break. The last time I checked, they were the dealer with all the cards in 2003. Mr. Speaker, next Wednesday, Medicare will turn 43 years old. Since its founding, the program has provided health care to hundreds of millions of seniors, including my momma and my grandpapa. Almost 35 percent of the people living in my district are senior citizens, and the overwhelming majority of them depend on Medicare. Members have a choice today between reviving the Republican legacy of political and procedural gimmickry or standing up for seniors and sound public policy. While Republicans choose to play games and engage in political hyperbole, my Democratic colleagues and I have chosen America's seniors. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I would inquire of my friend from California if he has any remaining speakers. I am the last speaker for our side, and I'm going to reserve my time until you have closed for your side.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I object.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I do not yield for that purpose.

Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.