Henry Hyde

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, on November 1 and 2, 2005, I was absent for several votes for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted: Vote No., description, vote: 557, Heinz Ahlmeyer, Jr. Post Office Building, ``yes''; 558, Albert Harold Quie Post Office Building, ``yes''; 559, Online Freedom of Speech Act, ``no''; 560, VA Information Technology, ``yes''; and 561, John Bradley Outpatient Clinic, ``yes.''

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the distinguished service of Mr. William J. ``Bill'' Maio, a community leader and dedicated servant on behalf of the people of DuPage County, Illinois. In 25 years of selfless public service, he has own himself to be a man of great energy, conviction and action. Mr. Maio began his public service as a member of the school board for the Village of Wood Dale, Illinois. During his subsequent years in elective office, Mr. Maio served as a member of the DuPage County Board including a stint as its vice chairman. He also served as chairman of the Government Efficiency Committee, helping to save millions for the taxpayers. In addition to his years of public service, Mr. Maio has also dedicated his enormous talent and energy to vital community and civic organizations. He has served as a past president of the Wood Dale Chamber of Commerce, as well as past president of the Wood Dale Lions Club. Mr. Maio has played an active role in the lives of the youth in his community, taking time out to coach and manage little league teams. A veteran of the Vietnam War, Mr. Maio, first served his nation faithfully from 1966-1968 in the United States Army as a member of the 4th Army, as well as the 579th Ordnance Company of the Advanced Weapons Support Group. He was recalled to service in 1970 and assigned to the 12th Special Forces Group. Mr. Maio is a lifelong member of the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans Association. With his wife of 35 years, Gail, the pair have a daughter, Kim. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of myself and the residents of the Sixth Congressional District of Illinois, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks and very best wishes to Mr. William J. ``Bill'' Maio for his years of devotion and enthusiastic service to the people of DuPage County.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that it shall be in order at any time without intervention of any point of order to consider in the House H. Res. 523; the resolution shall be considered as read; the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the resolution and preamble to its adoption without intervening motion or demand for division of the question except: (1) 40 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on International Relations; and (2) one motion to recommit.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the House, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 523) condemning Iranian President Mahmoud Admadinejad's threats against Israel, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this should be a week in which people around the world consider and celebrate the progress that has been made in interfaith relations in the modern era. We are marking the fact that 40 years ago today, His Holiness Pope Paul VI issued Nostra Aetate, ``In Our Times,'' the landmark declaration of the Roman Catholic Church on its relations with non-Christian religions, in particular Islam and Judaism. That declaration began 4 decades of very important and very helpful dialogue among the world's major faith communities. In sharp contrast to the spirit of Nostra Aetate, we witnessed on Wednesday a shocking and venomous instance of political and religious intolerance. The President of the Islamic Republic of Iran issued a series of threats against the State of Israel, couched in religious or, perhaps I should say, pseudo-religious terms. President Ahmadinejad said, in essence, that for religious reasons, the State of Israel should be wiped off the map. Evidently, the world has not had enough genocide and ethnic cleansing. This is not a position shared by most Muslims. Iranians in particular have had enough of the intellectual, economic, and spiritual poverty imposed upon them by their unelected or nominally elected officials. That poverty will only deepen as Iran finds itself isolated by the sort of rhetoric spouted by President Ahmadinejad. We can take comfort from the fact that our response of dismay is shared by many in the world community. In particular, the response of Palestinian leader Saeb Erakat is worth noting: ``We have recognized the State of Israel, and we are pursuing a peace process with Israel. And we do not accept the statements of the President of Iran.'' In this resolution, we express our rejection of the statements of the Iranian president and call upon him to repudiate them. Further, we ask the world community to consider whether a government that calls for the elimination of another state should remain in possession of the means to carry out its threats. Israel is entitled to take these threats seriously, as are all other nations, and Iran will have to be prepared to bear the consequences. I urge the adoption of the resolution and wish to express my appreciation of the leadership shown on this issue by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence) and by my colleague from California, our ranking Democrat (Mr. Lantos). The gentleman from Indiana has an important markup, and so I would like to yield to him briefly at this time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the learned gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate the gentleman from California for his superb support for this important resolution, as well as the other Members who spoke. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Hyde-Lantos amendments to S. 1713, a bill passed by the Senate on September 21, 2005 amending the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 to authorize new payments to Russia in support of the international space station. The Hyde-Lantos amendments, which have been authored on a bipartisan basis, would provide a substitute text for the Senate bill. The Senate bill is defective in significant respects. Chief among these would be a reduction in United States leverage over Russian technology transfers to Iran's weapons programs. The Hyde-Lantos substitute text would remedy this and other deficiencies in the Senate bill by more carefully balancing space cooperation interests with our nonproliferation interests. In particular, the substitute text would permit NASA to make payments to Russia for the next six years, up to January 1, 2012, as provided in the Senate version. But, it would eliminate the ambiguity in the Senate version, whereby payments and services might be rendered well beyond January 1, 2012. Instead, the substitute text would clearly establish that no payments or services may take place after that date unless Congress provides additional authority through new legislation or the Executive Branch makes the determination required under existing law concerning an end to Russia's support for Iran's weapons programs. During my discussion of the substitute text with NASA Administrator Griffin, he expressed support for our version of the bill provided one small concern could be resolved. His concern centered on a parenthetical expression, which he felt might constrain negotiation of arrangements with Russia before new payments could commence. I agreed to strike the relevant language on the express understanding, which Mr. Griffin accepted, that, while the substitute text as revised would permit any necessary arrangement for payments in order to fulfill existing United States obligations under the space station agreement, it would not permit payments for new obligations. During consideration of the bill a question arose concerning whether this limitation would restrict NASA's ability to purchase international space station re- supply services from U.S. companies using Russian content, should NASA conclude that this is necessary to meet U.S. obligations under the space station agreement. In my opinion, this would not be the case, assuming the bona fides of the Russian suppliers. In addition, the substitute text makes three changes to the underlying law, the Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000. First, the Act would henceforth be applicable to Syria, as well as to Iran. Second, the Act would cover weapons technology exported to other countries by Iran and Syria (as well as weapons technology imported by them). Third, ``foreign persons'' would hereafter be defined to include foreign governmental entities, in addition to individuals and business organizations. I consider these changes to the underlying law to be both necessary and timely in light of two recent developments. The first concerns charges by the United Kingdom that either Iran, or Iranian-backed Hezbollah, is supplying explosives technology used by insurgents against coalition forces in Iraq. The second is the very troubling UN report implicating Syria in the February 14th massive bombing assassination in Beirut of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al- Hariri. In light of NASA's support and the enhancements to United States nonproliferation interests we have made to the bill, I am optimistic that the Senate will have little difficulty agreeing to this substitute text.

Mr. HYDE

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

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, over 140 million children living in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean have lost a parent resulting from conflict and disease, undercutting their already difficult struggle to cope with basic needs such as health care, food, clothing, and education. The situation is even more dire for 16 million of these children who have lost both parents, the vast majority of whom had their lives taken by AIDS. Many of these surviving children themselves are living with HIV/AIDS and are doing so alone. The size and scope of the problems facing orphans and vulnerable children in the developing world is daunting. The United States provides significant levels of assistance through the good work of the United States Agency For International Development and other U.S. agencies to provide much-needed help to these children. However, these children deserve the best effort of the United States, and the American people expect the same. We can do better. American aid to help these children is provided by a patchwork of programs from various offices within USAID and across U.S. agencies with little overall coordination. H.R. 1409 will increase the coherence and cohesion, as well as the effectiveness, of our multifaceted approach without disrupting the flow of aid to help these children through existing mechanisms. This legislation requires the Secretary of State to designate a senior officer, likely within USAID, to be a special adviser for assisting orphans and vulnerable children. This special adviser will ensure that our various assistance streams within our government will be complementary to each other, that aid strategies developed in Washington and our field missions are informed with the best data, analysis, and practices to help these children, and that someone in our government is conducting regular monitoring and evaluation of our efforts so we can continually improve the effectiveness of these programs. This legislation does not construct costly new bureaucratic structures such as a new office, nor does it expand personnel requirements to accomplish these tasks. There are already sufficient numbers of people and programs. Rather, we expect that the new special adviser will be drawn from existing ranks, someone who is already familiar with and working on these issues and can be dual-hatted in these responsibilities. In the last Congress we passed a previous version of this bill to help orphans and vulnerable children. Unfortunately, the Senate did not follow our lead. This time the Senate is already working on a bill identical to H.R. 1409, so we are hopeful that the passage of this bill today in the House will result in its being enacted into law very soon. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the tireless work of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) and her staff for working to maintain momentum for this important legislation and bringing it to a vote today. I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1409. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1409) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide assistance for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 492) mourning the loss of life caused by the earthquake that occurred on October 8, 2005, in Pakistan and India, expressing the condolences of the American people to the families of the victims, and urging assistance to those affected.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 492, the resolution under consideration.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the tragic earthquake in Kashmir reminds us of the uncertain course of nature and the parlous state of humanity as we confront a dangerous and uncertain world. We are also reminded that globalization, our ability to be instantly affected by events on the other side of the globe, allows us to express our humanity in ways unknown to previous generations. We can respond almost instantly, because we learn almost instantly, about the plight of poor victims in faraway lands. The areas affected by the earthquake of October 8 are about as far as one can get from our shores. Yet Americans, like others from around the world, were able to share the tragedy of the Pakistani and Indian peoples almost as it unfolded and could then react to it, generously, as is our history, including by dispatching considerable material assistance. We can be proud of the role our government and our private sector have played in making that response possible. Winter is coming to the affected areas, and there is a great need for shelter for the millions of homeless persons. India and Pakistan are significant countries, and not without considerable resources to devote to their own problems. However, an examination of the level of devastation from the recent earthquake and a consideration of the degree to which even our Nation's ability to respond to the hurricane's emergencies was strained, means that we need to be mindful of the ongoing and immediate needs of millions of South Asians. Shelter is in especially short supply. This resolution properly expresses our sense of mourning for the losses suffered, our sympathy to their survivors, commends those who have stepped forward with help, and encourages additional assistance. It is a privilege to bring this before the House today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, on September 28, 2005, I was absent for two votes because I was chairing a classified briefing with the Secretary of Defense providing information to members about U.S. efforts in Iraq. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall vote No. 500, on motion to recommit and ``yes'' on rollcall vote No. 501 on passage.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, on July 21, 2005, I was absent for two votes for personal reasons. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes'' on rollcall 401 and ``yes'' on rollcall 402.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, we hear so many negative comments about big business, I thought it would be refreshing to talk about some of their magnanimous charitable actions following the tsunami in Indonesia. I read an article in the Washington Times on July 18th written by Michael Casey at Associated Press that bears repeating. Hearing about the plight of so many in Indonesia after the tsunami, more than 400 U.S. companies gave over $561 million for tsunami relief according to the Center for Corporate Citizenship of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Dozens of them were Fortune 500 companies. $71 million in donations were made by employee matching contributions, with $71 million corporate contributions. American companies gave $721 million after the September 11 terrorist attacks and $70 million was given for Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Rolls-Royce chartered an 800-ton ferry to deliver masks, body bags and gloves to Indonesia, they partnered with London's HSBC Holdings bank to build a $500,000 clinic in Calang, on the coast of Indonesia. Calang lost nearly 90 percent of its 7,000 residents in the disaster. The clinic was completed within 9 weeks. Rolls-Royce has agreed to pay operating costs for a year. HSBC also donated money for six boats in Aceh and sent 30 employees to help rebuild a school. General Electric Co. shipped a water treatment plant to Aceh and along with CH2N Hill, ran the plant until April when they handed it over to UNIICEF and a local company. Intel Corporation along with other companies is planning to wire the city of Banda Aceh. In Lamreh, a German cigar company donated a water filtration system. Many companies gave cash to international aid agencies or governments, others donated in-kind products and services worth $139 million in goods including powdered milk, back hoes, computers, shirts, sandals, packaged meats, hauling services, linens, fuel, generators, tractor equipment and emergency response services. Employees teamed up with the U.N. and local governments on training projects and started ``Adopt a Village'' projects. FedEx Corporation shipped 640 tons of medicine, supplies and water systems for aid groups. PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte and Touche are working with the U.N. to protect tsunami donations. Phillips Foods Inc., a Baltimore-based seafood company donated 20 boats to fishermen in three countries. Some other major U.S. companies contributing were Coca Cola, Exxon Mobil, GlaxoSmith Kline, Microsoft, Citigroup, Merck, AIG/Star and Abbot Laboratories. The American Chamber of Commerce of Indonesia established a Disaster Relief Center to coordinate donations and volunteer operations for rapid supply and logistics support. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono thanked U.S. business leaders for their contributions to relief efforts. I want to thank them as well for their generosity, both financially and for taking time out of their busy lives to personally reach out to help others in distress. Their humanitarian efforts deserve our attention and gratitude. There are many others not mentioned in the Associated Press article that deserves our thanks. Their charitable efforts have not gone unnoticed.