Henry Hyde

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment to the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954. Mr. Chairman, this is to honor our retiring colleague, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), by adding his name to the formal title to the Farmer-to-Farmer title. The gentleman's tireless efforts to implement the John Ogonowski Farmer-to-Farmer Program have been a driving force in making this a successful program. As the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) retires from Congress after 26 years of service, and 21 years on the Committee on International Relations, I ask that we express our admiration in a bipartisan manner by recognizing his strong support for this outstanding program. Bob Lagormarsino and Jerry Solomon and I accompanied the gentleman on the memorable trip to El Salvador and Guatemala in the 1980s which inspired his work in this crucial area. He saw the positive impact that a small group of farmers from his home State of Nebraska had on the local Salvadoran farmers and wanted to find a way to expand this limited program into a much larger project. Upon returning to the United States, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) sought a way to ensure this program could reach a broader population in need. He led the effort to fund the Farmer-to-Farmer Aid Program, which was a small part of the Foreign Assistance Act. His efforts came to fruition in the 1985 farm bill, in which Congress allocated funds from the Food For Peace program towards the Farmer-to- Farmer program. The gentleman's faith in the power of American volunteerism led to the implementation of this very successful program which promotes sustainable development by helping the most impoverished people in foreign countries learn how to help themselves. The goal of the Farmer- to-Farmer program is to ``enhance the potential for increases in food processing, production and marketing, which in turn stimulates private enterprise and democratic institutions.'' This program has directly benefited approximately 1 million farmer families and provided hands-on training to over 80,000 people in over 80 countries. Through the Farmer-to-Farmer program, U.S. leadership is demonstrated throughout the world by ordinary Americans who volunteer their time and share their talents and technical expertise. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this amendment to recognize our distinguished colleague Doug Bereuter's significant contribution to American foreign policy by adding his name to the title of this most important program. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Emerson).

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

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, my respect and admiration for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) is very large, but it does not extend to this amendment. I hope this amendment does not pass, and I will tell my colleagues my reasons. I am very concerned that in adding $10 million to the program that the gentleman wishes to nourish will result in that size of a cut from the National Endowment for Democracy. If ever there was a time we needed public diplomacy, we need the services of the National Endowment for Democracy to help tell the truth about America throughout the Middle East, as well as the rest of the world, it is now. This is not the time to be cutting these funds, and this Manzullo amendment would end up doing that. Small business is very important, we all agree. Small business we trust has been adequately compensated in this general legislation, and even if this method of funding the program the gentleman wishes to protect is removed, the program will continue, I am informed, because it can be funded in other manners. But in any event, this is a very important amendment. It is one that if it passes would limit our ability to tell the story that we need to tell throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world about democracy and freedom. We are on the defensive now. This is no time to tie us in knots. So with warm respect for the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo), I respectfully hope this amendment is defeated.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the House, and as the designee of the majority leader, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 691) congratulating the Interim Government of Iraq on its forthcoming assumption of sovereign authority in Iraq, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we live indeed in a very historic moment in history, and our world is engulfed in conflict of a very new and terrible kind. But it is remarkably consoling to come together today in unity, and we are certainly in bipartisan unity, on a resolution taking note of some very important accomplishments in the quest for freedom in the near east. This resolution is cosponsored by the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) as the ranking Democrat on the Committee on International Relations; the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the chairman of the Committee on Armed Services; the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the ranking Democrat on that committee, as well as myself. And that sponsorship should indicate the fact that there is agreement on the very important points made in this resolution. There is a new sovereign interim Iraqi government that is assuming power. Provincial governments are governing, courts are dispensing justice, political parties are forming, civil society is emerging, and independent media is operating, and preparations are being made for nationwide elections. The interim Constitution states that Iraq's system of government will be republican, federal, democratic, and pluralistic and that federalism will be based on geography, history, and the separation of powers, not on ethnicity or sect. On July 1, a new day will dawn on Iraq's future. Iraq will no longer be about the United States and its occupying role. Rather, it will be about the new self-governing Iraq and the decisions Iraq's leaders will be making in order to further the democratic ideals and principles. This resolution, as I say, is bipartisan. It congratulates the interim government of Iraq on its forthcoming assumption of sovereign authority. It expresses its gratitude to the United States Armed Forces on their valiant service to their country, expresses its gratitude to the families of United States Armed Forces personnel, especially families of those who have lost loved ones. It expresses its condolences to the families of the innocent Iraqis who have been killed or wounded. It expresses gratitude to the coalition forces, the Coalition Provisional Authority, the Iraqi Governing Council, the current Iraqi cabinet government officials, and the many international bodies and voluntary organizations which have come to the aid of the people of Iraq. It offers continued support to the U.S. Armed Forces, civilians associated with the U.S. Government, coalition forces, Iraqi security forces, and all of the people who are collaborating and making Iraq a new and democratic state. So this is something that I cannot imagine anybody not being proud to vote for. And I look forward to an affirmative vote. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Hunter), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the cosponsor of the bill.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the majority leader.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the distinguished whip.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to thank the gentleman from California and everyone who has participated in this debate. As the gentleman from California said, robust debate is a hallmark of democracy and we have had that here. I have strenuously tried to keep politics out of this because I am so pleased this is a bipartisan resolution and truly it is one that is appropriate because it is a magnificent achievement to have a country such as Iraq under a dictator, a tyrant, turn into a working democracy where they are going to have free elections and have all of the additional assets that go with a democracy. I think it is a joyous occasion and one that no matter our differences we ought to be able to join in congratulating them. Mr. Speaker, we did not start this war. On September 11, 2001, some people declared war on us and committed an act of war. Does anyone doubt if they had access to nuclear materials they would have used them? And then we would mourn the deaths of 3 million people, not 3,000 people. Does anybody doubt for one minute that chemical and biological warfare agents, if available to these people, they would not use them? They could poison an awful lot of water systems in this country and paralyze this country. War is different today. It is not declared. They do not put uniforms on and march in formation. They sneak up on you in the dark and stab you in the back. And so if you wait for the smoking gun, you might find one of your major cities is the smoking gun. The fact that Libya threw its cards on the table and said we will not pursue weapons of mass destruction is glossed over as though that was not a substantial achievement. The fact that weapons of mass destruction have not been found in Iraq does not mean that they were not ever there or that there were not programs to develop these things. And the history of Saddam Hussein is one that indicates he would use them in a minute given the opportunity. We are in a terrible war. We cannot win a war like this unless we are unified. I would ask all of us, Republicans and Democrats, when we start to argue this issue, think. Is what we are saying going to help us or not help us in this struggle that may last for generations? It is very important, because we all have children and grandchildren whose future ought to be a prime concern. Everything in this resolution is nonpartisan. It is praiseworthy. It recognizes one of the great accomplishments, the transformation of a country like Iraq into a functioning democracy and setting the example in that region of the world. And so let us join hands and acknowledge this accomplishment and join the Iraqi people in celebrating their new democracy.

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

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the pending resolution. The resolution gives us the opportunity to express our support for the President's statements about the Israeli government's plans to withdraw from its settlements from Gaza, and about other key matters related to the dispute between Israel and the Palestinians. Our debate today also gives us an opportunity to look at the larger picture. It is critical that we continue to support President Bush's performance-based, goal-driven roadmap to a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Congress should join President Bush in pressing all parties to take necessary steps toward peace, as provided in the roadmap and in President Bush's statement of April 14, 2004. According to the roadmap, during Phase I, the Palestinians should, among other things, reiterate their commitment to a two-state solution, immediately undertake a cessation of violence against Israelis and end official incitement, and reform their institutions. Israel should begin with affirming its commitment to a two-state solution, ending official incitement, and resuming security cooperation with the Palestinians; it should also freeze settlement activity, immediately dismantle unauthorized settlement outposts erected since March 2001, and improve the humanitarian situation by lifting curfews and easing restrictions on the movement of persons and goods. Despite the great political risks involved, it is essential not only for the United States, but also for other governments in the region, to demonstrate their leadership by assisting the Palestinians and Israelis in fulfilling their responsibilities. Such actions will create an environment conducive to real achievements on the ground, allowing for a true peace to take root. I commend the leadership Egypt and Jordan have shown in this area, and welcome their continued efforts, which are alluded to in the Resolution under consideration. As the House affirmed when it passed H.R. 1950, The United States has a vital national security interest in a Middle East in which two states, Israel and Palestine, will live side by side in peace and security, based on the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. A stable and peaceful Palestinian state is necessary to achieve the security that Israel longs for. The Palestinian leadership and Israel should take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state. I express full support for President Bush when he said the following on April 14, 2004: I welcome the disengagement plan prepared by the Government of Israel, under which Israel would withdraw certain military installations and all settlements from Gaza, and withdraw certain military installations and settlements in the West Bank. These steps will mark real progress toward realizing the vision I set forth in June of 2002 of two states living side by side in peace and security, and make a real contribution toward peace. Even as we support Israel in the ways discussed in the Resolution, we also need to keep in mind Israel's commitments to the President and the American people that were part of the April 15 package. I will vote for this resolution for the reasons I have stated. It should not need to be said, but our support for Israel, or the Palestinians, does not imply support for actions that violate human rights standards or the expectations established by the roadmap. Our credibility requires that we do not undermine our most important policies in any of our actions or statements.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, on June 1, 14-year-old Alicia Walter delivered the Valedictorian address for the graduating class at St. Damian's Elementary School in Oak Forest, Illinois. This young lady demonstrates wisdom well beyond her years and I am pleased to share it with my colleagues. Valedictorian Address Presented by Alicia Walter to the St. Damian Elementary School Class of 2004 Father Meany, Father Scanlan, Father Stuglik, Miss Wesolowski, Mrs. Kane, Father McCarthy, Mrs. Nagle, Faculty, Parents, and Fellow Classmates: Welcome. Tonight, we find ourselves sitting in the midst of one of the most bittersweet moments we have yet to endure. Thoughts of worry, sorrow, stress and regret ricochet off the back of our eyelids, yet we are compelled to celebrate. Chaos is persisting its way through our veins, obliged only by our own perplexed hearts. We all have our own emotional struggles tonight, and I hope some of mine that I share relate to some of yours. I believe that one of the most empowering factors behind our sadness lies in each and every one of our memories from St. Damian. Too many spectacular moments have passed without our realization, and now it is time to finally recognize some of them. Times of substantial happiness and real warmth have come out from within these doors. Picnics, school assemblies, field trips, club meetings, and the comfortable safety of general class time have generated stories we tell over and over, and jokes that never cease to be funny. As we smile subconsciously about times that made us appreciate the vibrant life that was given to us, we remember the times that were not nearly as convenient as these. Times where day after day we had to pick each other up and carry us over to tomorrow. Times where the only way we could make it right again was to give out genuine hugs and a vacant shoulder. Each of us carries several chapters full of these moments, in our personal book of life. Those chapters have been written in stone, whether or not we would like it to be so, but it is the very same chapters that exemplify the person we are now. How we reacted to our troubles, how we grabbed the hand of a friend temporarily fallen behind, and how we left behind the charred remains of supposed impossibilities extended the extremes of just how much we can bear. Our friends have provided a huge portion of backing throughout our lives, but we would never be able to live without the unseen but consistent encouragement from God. St. Damian School has instilled a solid belief on basic moralities, real love of humanity, and simply right and wrong in all of its students. Basic religion fundamentals, such as these, as well as faith in the Lord, have raised us up, especially when our friends did not have the strength to. The entire faculty here has demonstrated these Catholic qualities, as they have walked through their own lives practicing what they teach. St. Damian School has noticeably impacted the mold of what we symbolize, so it is very apparent how much thanks we owe to the school. Behind the school, though, we walk into our homes, to find the other crucial components of our support system. Yes, there we see the family members that are constantly free to relieve us of whatever problems we are facing. Most importantly, we see our parents. The producers. The creators. The people that selected St. Damian School, knowing the kind of education and religious teachings that would come our way here. They chose wisely, and for that we will be in eternal debt, but the first step we make in repayment is a heartfelt ``Thank you.'' Sometimes it may seem like a clear-cut, simple thanks is not enough, but I think even a small compensation represents all of the aspects we do not know how to express, all of the thoughts we are afraid to admit. In just a short while, we will be holding, in our own hands, the evidence of our completed years here at St. Damian. This evidence will be the trial winner to bring us to our next quest: high school. A valley of chances to recommit to previous promises and resolutions, high school will challenge us in ways we have never even faced before. We will be presented with opportunities we never realized we could have. Each of us will take up our own pick, and slowly begin to etch the rest of our lives into the caves of the Earth's past, present and future. Years from now, who knows how many humans will look back at those caves and be inspired to carry on their own lives in such a respectable manner? To the Class of 2004: As a small portion of every one of your support systems, I encourage you to accept the pandemonium of the present, and to thrust your pick into stone before more disarray throws itself upon us. I am incredibly proud of all of us for absolutely everything we have achieved together, and I am sure you are as well. I know the essential beliefs we all hold will guarantee us a prosperous future, both physically and spiritually. Finally, congratulations to one and all, the distinguished St. Damian Class of 2004!!

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend a young individual from my district who recently won the honor of ``Mayor For The Day'' of Elmhurst, Illinois. Miss Becca Kern, who is in Sixth Grade at Visitation Catholic School, won this honor by composing the following essay in 50 words or less: ``Good citizenship is important in Elmhurst because. . . . Citizenship means contributing to the community. In Elmhurst, our town relies on each other. People taking the time to make it a fun, safe, and successful community. I am proud to be a citizen of this town because everyone in Elmhurst makes a contribution to its greatness.''

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I have given much thought to what I might usefully contribute to the chorus of those thousands who will be called upon or be moved to voice their respect and their sadness at the death of President Reagan. His accomplishments will be rightly celebrated, his humanity and character justly praised, his passing mourned in words of elegance and emotion. How large a stone can one hope to add to this touring mountain? President Reagan was the oldest person to be elected President in our history, and this is proof that you get the sweetest music from the oldest violins. In the play Camelot, King Arthur says, ``We are all of us tiny drops in a vast ocean, but some of them sparkle.'' President Reagan was never a tiny drop in a vast ocean, but he did indeed sparkle. By his life and service he put the ``sacred'' back in honor. Not through exhortation, but by example, Reagan's gentle leadership reminded a country disoriented by doubt of its enduring beliefs. In this, his guiding principle was that of George Washington's, ``Let us raise a standard in which the wise and honest can repair. The event is in the hand of God.'' He was a rare and subtly powerful speaker, able to instill in others a confident belief in their own capacities and goodness. And he could also inspire oppressed millions to demolish empires. His eloquence reminds me of the story of ancient Greeks who, when Pericles spoke, said, ``How well he speaks.'' But when Demosthenes spoke, they said, ``Let us march.'' Among his many virtues was his defense of the powerless unborn. President Reagan understood that the precious gift of life was not confined to the privileged, the planned, and the perfect. Some have said that the most fearful aspect of dying is the terrible aloneness you must endure at the particular judgment; no advocate, no relative, no spouse, no child, just you, your sins and God. But I am sure President Reagan is not alone. I believe the silence was broken by the voices of thousands of little children, voices that were never heard in this world but are heard in the next, all pleading, ``Dear Lord, spare him, for he loved us very much.'' And then I can imagine Mr. Reagan heard a gentle voice, ``Come, beloved of my father, and enter the kingdom which has been prepared for you since the beginning of time.'' Mr. President, ``The shadows have lengthened, evening has come, and the busy world is hushed. The fever of life is over, and your work is done. May God in his mercy give you a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last.''

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the acceptance of the ill-advised attempt by the finest Parliamentarian I have ever known to tender his resignation. While I do not disagree with any of the language contained in H. Res. 651 expressing the House's gratitude to Charlie Johnson, I will vote to table the consideration of the resolution since I strongly oppose the House accepting Charlie's resignation. Charlie Johnson has served two separate roles during his distinguished 40-year career in the Office of the Parliamentarian. First, he has steadfastly guided the proceedings of the House on a day- to-day basis by assisting the presiding officer in a fair and evenhanded manner. His objectivity, dedication to fairness, and respect for precedent have made him an invaluable asset to the people's House. Just as importantly for the long-term continuation of the fair and consistent workings of the House, Charlie has been an educator. He has assembled what I consider to be the very best office on Capitol Hill, and clearly the most professional. Charlie and his staff work in a collegial and dedicated manner, frequently in the eye of the hurricane, and sometimes even in front of it. The Office of the Parliamentarian has historically been nonpartisan. One of the very best things Newt Gingrich did when he was elected Speaker in 1995 was to ensure that the Rules and Precedents of the House would continue to guide the proceedings of the House. He recognized that Charlie and his staff are the institutional memory of the House. Speaker Gingrich knew it was important to have nonpartisan professionals guiding the proceedings of the House. While Members come and go, the Office of the Parliamentarian, led by Charlie for the last decade, has continued its proud history. Charlie has continued the legacy of his mentor and friend, the late Bill Brown. My own experience with Charlie has been gratifying and truly educational. When I was in the minority, I learned to understand and appreciate the nonpartisan nature of the Office of Parliamentarian, and of each and every member of that staff. While I'm sure Charlie has his own strong personal opinions on the great issues of the day which we debate, I do not know what those opinions are, nor, I venture, does any other Member. Those personal feelings have never been a part of the way in which Charlie carries out his professional duties. When I became the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee in 1995, and as part of the new majority, the Committee took on the responsibility for consideration of many of the items outlined in the Contract with America. At that time, I became even more aware of the importance of the Parliamentarian and the necessity of that office being nonpartisan. A great majority of the matters in the Contract, including amendments to our founding document, the Constitution, were considered and processed by the Judiciary Committee. Having the advice and counsel of Charlie was crucial to that endeavor. It was a difficult and heated period of leadership transition, and, through it all, Charlie maintained his impartiality, professionalism, and desire to preserve the integrity of the proceedings of the House. Little did I know at that time that I was to find myself in a position several years later when I would need Charlie's help in an even more difficult and heated endeavor--the consideration of the impeachment of the President of the United States. Throughout those long and agonizing proceedings, Charlie was always in the background with answers to questions, and a nonpartisan professional attitude. He was a crucial part of the proceedings in the Committee and on the House floor. During the entirety of my working relationship with Charlie, he has taken his job seriously, but not himself. He is a man with a wonderful sense of humor. That quality helped both him and the Members get through some difficult times. I know Charlie is a great fan of the one- liner. One of his favorite comedians was the late Henny Youngman of ``Take my wife--Please'' fame. I have it on good authority that when Henny Youngman visited the House, Charlie was given a gift of two of his joke books which Henny autographed, and which Charlie keeps right next to his House Manual. It has been said that, occasionally, Charlie has grabbed the wrong volume and based some of his rulings on the Henny Youngman book, but I doubt that. We frequently throw around cliches in this body, but, in this case, I say without a doubt that Charlie Johnson has served his country well. He has also served well the Members of this House, the House as an institution, and the American people with distinction and dignity, and I honor him here today. I wish Charlie and his family a long and happy retirement.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, every year in my district, I ask students in grades 8 and 12 to participate in an essay contest. This year's contest focused on the issue of combating terrorism. I am pleased that so many students chose to enter this essay contest. Unfortunately, however, there can only be one winner in each group: 8th and 12th grade. This year's 8th grade winner was Kevin Pohl, who attends St. Pius X School in Lombard, Illinois. The 12th grade winner was Stefanie Panno, who attends Addison Trail High School in Addison, Illinois. This is Mr. Kevin Pohl's essay, entitled ``What is the Role of the United Nations in Fighting Terrorism?'': ``As of September 28, 2001, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1373, reaffirming its unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist action which took place in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania on September 11, and expressed its determination to prevent all such acts.'' Violence, war, hatred, and terrorism are imposed for many reasons. The role of the United Nations is to protect the rights of all throughout the world from terrorist acts. It is their responsibility to protect the lives of the innocents and the oppressed. People all over the world are at risk from those who seek violence to solve world problems. The United Nations, in contrast, is elected to control and eliminate violence and protect the people. It is hoped that the majority of the people believe the same. People should not have to hide in their homes, take shelter from bombs every day or keep their children inside for fear of attack. This way of life must come to an end. The United Nations was created to this end. The United Nations takes upon itself this great responsibility, and undertakes this role in the fight against terrorism. The United Nations' officials are charged with the task of international well-being. It is their responsibility to protect the world from terrorist acts. Therefore, they must work every day to defeat terrorism, and keep a close eye on world events. Good intelligence is the key to the method used by the United Nations in fighting terrorism. Codes, practices, and the monitoring of secret communications among military units are vital tools and essential in implementing Resolution 1373. The United Nations has served as a listening post for intelligence-gathering and espionage for many years. However, the members of the United Nations must also cooperate to use their advanced techniques to monitor, search, track, and analyze communications that are carried on the Internet by terrorists. Collecting this essential information comes at a risk. The United Nations has to be careful, so as not to alienate friendly nations or inhibit their cooperation in obtaining further information. The United Nations has to make sure that the entire international community agrees on devised tactics. A truly international coalition is essential. Real authority would derive from such a coalition. We must treat each other as true partners. The United Nations members must work towards trust among themselves in order to fight terrorism, which is a complex process and calls for an international effort. The United Nations' primary task at this time in history is to assume leadership in the establishment of peace in our very fragile world. Each nation must begin to compromise its wants and needs to this end. The wealthier and more powerful countries must become more aware that peace cannot be achieved by isolationist policies. Through a united world view, problems of poverty and hunger (which often are the roots of wars) can begin to be solved and in time, hopefully, ended. If the United Nations continues to solve these societal ills, then terrorism will have failed in their objectives. This is Miss Panno's essay, entitled ``Combating Terrorism'': Recently, terrorism has been thrust into the limelight and seen by many as a frightening entity that may cause devastation without warning. To allay these fears, the United Nations has approached this problem from three different angles: conflict prevention, peace building and peace making. By using methods that look at the problem both preventatively and in retrospect, the United Nations helps countries avoid devastation and recuperate quickly when disaster strikes. The problem of terrorism is decidedly not a simple one; therefore, the solution is not a simple one either. To deal with this quandary's complexity, the United Nations is implementing multiple preventative tactics, attempting to quell the threat of terrorism by using every possible front. Some of the main strategies include dissuading dissatisfied groups from committing terrorist acts, denying groups the means to carry out acts of terrorism and sustaining international cooperation. Since terrorism often emanates from areas where human rights are routinely violated, the United Nations is attempting to protect the rights of those in other countries and expand the lines of communication between us and them, thus dissuading groups from causing us harm. It often occurs, however, that attempting to open lines of communication still fails to elicit the positive relationship we desire. This is generally due to differences in beliefs. Many terrorists claim to be Islamic, but their views are radical with a disregard for the value of human lives and do not accurately portray Islam. The true form of Islam denounces wars and violence. We could attempt to deter some radicals by exposing them to the root of their religion, rather than the extreme sect they've always known. This could be done by encouraging Muslims to spread the true voice of their religion and dissuade radicals from causing more harm. This sounds a bit implausible, but if it changes even a few terrorists, we've lessened the threat. A big, big part of prevention comes from denying terrorists the opportunity to obtain weapons or to strike. The United Nations is doing its best to locate known terrorist groups, and monitor them closely, making sure to keep them from accessing weapons of mass destruction. Locating the terrorists may be the most difficult aspect of fighting terror. This can only be done through persistence and monitoring suspects. Also, international cooperation is the key. As we have seen many times in the past, there is ``strength in numbers.'' Terrorists may not fear punishment from one country, but an entire group of countries all banded together may seem more imposing and help prevent attacks from happening. Another advantage of uniting countries together would be an improved ability to weed out terrorist activity. With nations all over the world working together, different countries could monitor certain areas for suspicious activity. We may even consider enlisting the help of groups such as MEK (Mujahedeen-e Khalq) who have been jilted by former terrorist friends. These people, who have a grudge against some terrorists, have a good knowledge of the inside of the terror business and may be willing to help discover new and helpful information. When danger seems imminent, or after a war, peace building and peace keeping are also a necessity. Peace building tries to uncover the foundations of problems between countries. Once unearthing the basic problem, the peace builders begin to encourage democracy and respect for human life. Peace keepers are also put in place to keep violence from breaking out between disagreeing parties. Even when faced with difficult situations, the peace keepers do their best to resist using force. For this reason, they are only lightly armed, providing little, if no, danger to civilians. The peace keepers are intentionally impartial, to avoid causing further conflicts. While our biggest efforts are preventative, peace building and peace keeping is just as important because it maintains the, balances that we struggled to create. Combating the strength of terrorism requires a collective effort from many different fronts. By banding countries together to deny groups the ability to commit acts of terrorism and educate them about more peaceful solutions, the United Nations can provide a true defense against terror. The United Nations also maintains a sense of harsh reality, acknowledging that, despite the great defenses they've set up, there is always the threat of terrorism. To be prepared for this, peace builders and peace keepers are kept on hand, always ready to pick up the pieces. By having plans for both before and after terror attacks, the United Nations has a firm plan to significantly reduce the danger of violence.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record an exchange of letters between Chairman Davis and me concerning committee jurisdiction with regards to the bill H.R. 4060. House of Representatives, Committee on Government Reform, Washington, DC, May 10, 2004. Hon. Henry J. Hyde, Chairman, Committee on International Relations, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: On March 31, 2004, the Committee on International Relations ordered reported H.R. 4060, the ``Health, Safety, and Security of Peace Corps Volunteers Act of 2004.'' As you know, the Committee on Government Reform was granted an additional referral upon the bill's introduction pursuant to the Committee's jurisdiction under Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives. Because of your willingness to consult with this Committee, and because of your desire to move this legislation expeditiously as an individual bill, I will waive consideration of the bill by this Committee. By agreeing to waive its consideration of the bill, the Committee does not waive its jurisdiction over H.R. 4060. In addition, the Committee reserves its authority to seek conferees on any provisions of the bill that are within its jurisdiction during any House-Senate conference that may be convened on this legislation. I ask your commitment to support any request for conferees by the Committee on H.R. 4060 or related legislation. I request that you include this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during consideration of the legislation on the House floor. Thank you for your attention to these matters. Sincerely, Tom Davis, Chairman.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of May 12, 2004, I was absent for several votes because President Bush requested my presence at the White House for an extremely important meeting about the situation in Iraq and other national security issues. I regret that I missed the votes. However, had I been present, I would have voted: Vote No. 165, Motion to Recommit With Instructions--H.R. 4280 ``nay.'' Vote No. 166, Final Passage of H.R. 4280, ``yea.'' Vote No. 167, H. Con. Res. 378, ``yea.'' Vote No. 168, H. Con. Res. 409, ``yea.''

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the ultimate sacrifice of Marine Lance Corporal Phillip E. Frank, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. He died April 8, 2004 of gunshot wounds sustained during combat operations in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Corporal Frank dedicated his young life at the age of 20 to the service of our country and restoring peace. Our deepest sympathies go to his wife, Keri Johnson Frank; his parents, Roy and Georgette Frank; his sister Cyndi; and other family, friends and community members who mourn his loss. Lance Cpl. Frank was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Camp Pendleton, California. He was a recipient of the National Defense Medal. Lance Cpl. Frank was born on July 5, 1983, and grew up in Cliffwood Beach, New Jersey.