Henry Hyde

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Beauprez).

Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on House Resolution 190, the resolution under consideration.

Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to speak in honor of the life and the achievements of His Holiness Pope John Paul II. It is hard to imagine any other person who holds so much worldwide respect regardless of religious faith. The estimated 4 million people, including 200 heads of state, expected to attend the Pope's funeral in Rome later this week will bear witness to history's high regard for this man of principle and courage. John Paul II dedicated his long life to peace and freedom for all mankind. As a young man, the Pontiff risked his life and defied Nazi forces which occupied Poland in an effort to protect the Jewish population and others in his homeland. As the 264th Pope, his faith remained steadfast during the years of the Cold War, playing an important role in the demise of Soviet communism. As columnist Charles Krauthammer commented this week, ``John Paul II's first great mission was to reclaim his native Eastern Europe for civilization, and he demonstrated what Europe had forgotten and Stalin never knew: the power of faith as an instrument of political mobilization.'' Visiting more than 125 countries over his career, the Pope reached out to people of other cultures and religions in an effort toward greater understanding, healing, and harmony. Despite the steady decline in his health due to Parkinson's disease, and especially since he fell ill in early February, John Paul II continued to lead the Roman Catholic Church with his gentle strength and noble heart. He remained faithful, principled, and resolute concerning the continuing defense of the Church's traditional belief in the unique dignity of every human life from conception until natural death. During a long and fruitful life, he literally provided the world with an example of how to live with dignity and unshakable faith. He told us to ``be not afraid'' in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. He showed us how to demand justice from the unjust. His faith inspired us when we most needed reassurance. His composure and dignity during times of great suffering serves as an inspiration to us all. He bore his personal cross with grace and serenity until the very end of his long and remarkable life. As John Paul II has said, ``Faith opens us to a hope that does not disappoint, placing us before the perspective of the final resurrection.'' While life itself is short and tenuous, I am comforted by the fact that His Holiness is finally at home and in a place of peace and refreshment with the Father. I am sure he is praying for us even now, as we are praying for him. It is appropriate we mourn his passing. It is right and proper that we grieve over the loss of humanity's great champion; but we should also feel gratitude that this Pope stayed with us for so long and look forward to the time when we will hear the words he surely heard last Saturday: ``Come, Beloved of my Father, and enter the Kingdom which has been prepared for you since the beginning of time.'' I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht).

Mr. HYDE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the order of the House of April 5, 2005, and as the designee of the majority leader, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 190) honoring the life and achievements of His Holiness Pope John Paul II and expressing profound sorrow on his death, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 15 seconds to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. Army Specialist Adriana N. Salem, of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Specialist Salem was killed on March 4, 2005 when the vehicle in which she was riding turned over near Tikrit, Iraq. She had been serving in Iraq since February 14, 2005. Her prior service had been in Afghanistan for much of 2003. Specialist Salem was a 2001 graduate of Elk Grove High School, where she played violin for 4 years in the school orchestra. Her future goal following high school was to position herself to join a Police Force, and following 9/11 Adriana enlisted in the Army to further that goal. At Elk Grove High School she is remembered as a student who loved learning, arrived early and was a leader in class and athletics. Specialist Salem was assigned to the Fort Stewart, GA based 3rd Infantry Division, 3rd Forward Support Battalion, Division Support Command. Specialist Adriana Salem was a young woman of 21 when she made the ultimate sacrifice in service to her country. Our deepest sympathies go to her beloved family--her mother Sandra, her father Shamshoum ``Sam,'' and her sisters Christina, Sabrina, Alexandria, and Larissa--as well as to her other family and friends. The entire community joins in mourning Adriana's loss. We honor the memory of U.S. Army Specialist Adriana N. Salem and the dedication and bravery with which she served our Nation and the people of Iraq.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Marine Lance Corporal Nicholas David Larson of Wheaton, Illinois. Corporal Larson was killed on November 9, 2004 when his unit took fire from terrorists in the Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Nick was killed in the ensuing firefight. He had been serving in Iraq since mid June 2004 and his tour was set to end in January 2005. Lance Corporal Larson was 14 years old when he did more than 100 push-ups for a recruiter. Nicholas told his mother after 9/11 that he joined the Marines because ``I just want to make a difference.'' He began his service after graduating from Wheaton North High School in 2003. He was assigned to Company L, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, CA. Corporal Larson followed in the footsteps of his father, who served in the Navy. Teachers and administrators at Wheaton North High School described Nicholas as quiet and focused and an intense student. And always knowing he wanted to be a Marine. Lance Corporal Larson was a young man of only 19 when he made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country. Our deepest sympathies to his beloved family: David and Anne Larson, and his sister Katie Larson. The entire community joins in mourning Nicholas's loss. We honor the memory of Lance Corporal Nicholas David Larson and the dedication and bravery with which he served our nation and the people of Iraq.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to U.S. Marine Corporal John T. Olson of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Corporal Olson was killed by enemy action while conducting combat operations on 21 February in Nassir Wa Al Salam, Iraq. It was Corporal Olson's third tour of duty in Iraq. He graduated from boot camp from the San Diego Marine Corps Depot in 2002 and was deployed to Iraq in January 2003 for his first tour. His third tour of duty was with the Alpha Truck Company, Headquarters Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. John Olson was a graduate of the Elk Grove High School, Class of 2001, graduating six months early. He was a student at Harper Community College when 9/11 changed his life, he enlisted shortly afterward and was deployed to his first tour in Iraq. At the time of his death, he was driving a truck just outside his base when a bomb exploded. He died while medics tried to save him. Corporal Olson was a young man of 21 when he made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country. Our deepest sympathies go to his beloved family--his mother Diana, his father John R, and his sister Courtney--as well as to his other family and friends. The entire community joins in mourning John's loss. We honor the memory of Corporal John T. Olson and the dedication and bravery with which he served our Nation and the people of Iraq.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with clause 2(a) of rule XI of the Rules of the House, I am submitting the Rules of Procedure of the Committee on International Relations for printing in the Congressional Record. On February 9, 2005, the Committee adopted by non-record vote, a quorum being present, the following Committee Rules of Procedure. Rules of Procedure, the Committee on International Relations rule 1. general provisions The Rules of the House of Representatives, and in particular, the committee rules enumerated in clause 2 of Rule XI, are the rules of the Committee on International Relations (hereafter referred to as the ``Committee''), to the extent applicable. A motion to recess and a motion to dispense with the first reading (in full) of a bill or resolution, if printed copies are available, are privileged non-debatable motions in Committee. The Chairman of the Committee on International Relations (hereinafter referred to as the ``Chairman'') shall consult the Ranking Minority Member to the extent possible with respect to the business of the Committee. Each subcommittee of the Committee is a part of the Committee and is subject to the authority and direction of the Committee and to its rules, to the extent applicable. rule 2. date of meeting The regular meeting date of the Committee shall be the first Tuesday of every month when the House of Representatives is in session pursuant to clause 2(b) of Rule XI of the House of Representatives. Additional meetings may be called by the Chairman as he may deem necessary or at the request of a majority of the Members of the Committee in accordance with clause 2(c) of Rule XI of the House of Representatives. The determination of the business to be considered at each meeting shall be made by the Chairman subject to clause 2(c) of Rule XI of the House of Representatives. A regularly scheduled meeting need not be held if, in the judgment of the Chairman, there is no business to be considered. rule 3. quorum For purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence, two Members shall constitute a quorum. One-third of the Members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for taking any action, except: (1) reporting a measure or recommendation; (2) closing Committee meetings and hearings to the public; (3) authorizing the issuance of subpoenas; and (4) any other action for which an actual majority quorum is required by any rule of the House of Representatives or by law. No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the House of Representatives unless a majority of the Committee is actually present. A record vote may be demanded by one-fifth of the Members present or, in the apparent absence of a quorum, by any one Member. rule 4. meetings and hearings open to the public (a) Meetings (1) Each meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of legislation, of the Committee or a subcommittee shall be open to the public except when the Committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public, because disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person or otherwise violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives. No person other than Members of the Committee and such congressional staff and departmental representatives as they may authorize shall be present at any business or markup session which has been closed to the public. This subsection does not apply to open Committee hearings which are provided for by subsection (b) of this rule. (2) The Chairman may postpone further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the question of approving any measure or matter, or adopting an amendment. The Chairman may resume proceedings on a postponed request at any time. When exercising postponement authority, the Chairman shall take all reasonable steps necessary to notify Members on the resumption of proceedings on any postponed record vote. When proceedings resume on a postponed question, notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the question was postponed. (b) Hearings (1) Each hearing conducted by the Committee or a subcommittee shall be open to the public except when the Committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of that hearing on that day should be closed to the public because disclosure of testimony, evidence or other matters to be considered would endanger the national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or otherwise would violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, a majority of those present, there being in attendance the requisite number required under the rules of the Committee to be present for the purpose of taking testimony-- (A) may vote to close the hearing for the sole purpose of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be received would endanger the national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or violate paragraph (2) of this subsection; or (B) may vote to close the hearing, as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection. (2) Whenever it is asserted by a member of the Committee that the evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, or it is asserted by a witness that the evidence or testimony that the witness would give at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate the witness-- (A) such testimony or evidence shall be presented in executive session, notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, if by a majority of those present, there being in attendance the requisite number required under the rules of the Committee to be present for the purpose of taking testimony, the Committee or subcommittee determines that such evidence or testimony may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person; and (B) the Committee or subcommittee shall proceed to receive such testimony in open session only if the Committee, a majority being present, determines that such evidence or testimony will not tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person. (3) No Member of the House of Representatives may be excluded from nonparticipatory attendance at any hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee unless the House of Representatives has by majority vote authorized the Committee or subcommittee, for purposes of a particular series of hearings, on a particular article of legislation or on a particular subject of investigation, to close its hearings to Members by the same procedures designated in this subsection for closing hearings to the public. (4) The Committee or a subcommittee may by the procedure designated in this subsection vote to close one (1) subsequent day of hearing. (5) No congressional staff shall be present at any meeting or hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee that has been closed to the public, and at which classified information will be involved, unless such person is authorized access to such classified information in accordance with Rule 20. rule 5. announcement of hearings and markups Public announcement shall be made of the date, place, and subject matter of any hearing or markup to be conducted by the Committee or a subcommittee at the earliest possible date, and in any event at least one (1) week before the commencement of that hearing or markup unless the Committee or subcommittee determines that there is good cause to begin that meeting at an earlier date, in consultation with the Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or subcommittee, as the case may be. Such determination may be made with respect to any markup by the Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as appropriate. Such determination may be made with respect to any hearing of the Committee or of a subcommittee by its Chairman, with the concurrence of its Ranking Minority Member, or by the Committee or subcommittee by majority vote, a quorum being present for the transaction of business. Public announcement of all hearings and markups shall be published in the Daily Digest portion of the Congressional Record. Members shall be notified by the Chief of Staff of all meetings (including markups and hearings) and briefings of subcommittees and of the full Committee. The agenda for each Committee and subcommittee meeting, setting out all items of business to be considered, including whenever possible a copy of any bill or other document scheduled for markup, shall be furnished to each Committee or subcommittee Member by delivery to the Member's office at least 24 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) before the meeting. Bills or subjects not listed on such agenda shall be subject to a point of order unless their consideration is agreed to by a two-thirds vote of the Committee or subcommittee or by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or subcommittee. rule 6. witnesses (a) Interrogation of Witnesses (1) Insofar as practicable, witnesses shall be permitted to present their oral statements without interruption subject to reasonable time constraints imposed by the Chairman, with questioning by the Committee Members taking place afterward. Members should refrain from questions until such statements are completed. (2) In recognizing Members, the Chairman shall, to the extent practicable, give preference to the Members on the basis of their arrival at the hearing, taking into consideration the majority and minority ratio of the Members actually present. A Member desiring to speak or ask a question shall address the Chairman and not the witness. (3) Subject to paragraph (4), each Member may interrogate the witness for 5 minutes, the reply of the witness being included in the 5-minute period. After all Members have had an opportunity to ask questions, the round shall begin again under the 5-minute rule. (4) Notwithstanding paragraph (3), the Chairman, with the concurrence of the Ranking Minority Member, may permit one (1) or more majority members of the Committee designated by the Chairman to question a witness for a specified period of not longer than 30 minutes. On such occasions, an equal number of minority Members of the Committee designated by the Ranking Minority Member shall be permitted to question the same witness for the same period of time. Committee staff may be permitted to question a witness for equal specified periods either with the concurrence of the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member or by motion. However, in no case may questioning by Committee staff proceed before each Member of the Committee who wishes to speak under the 5-minute rule has had one opportunity to do so. (b) Statements of Witnesses Each witness who is to appear before the Committee or a subcommittee is required to file with the clerk of the Committee, at least two (2) working days in advance of his or her appearance, sufficient copies, as determined by the Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee, of his or her proposed testimony to provide to Members and staff of the Committee or subcommittee, the news media, and the general public. The witness shall limit his or her oral presentation to a brief summary of his or her testimony. In the case of a witness appearing in a nongovernmental capacity, a written statement of proposed testimony shall, to the extent practicable, include a curriculum vitae and a disclosure of the amount and source (by agency and program) of any Federal grant (or subgrant thereof) or contract (or subcontract thereof) received during the current fiscal year or either of the two previous fiscal years by the witness or by an entity represented by the witness, to the extent that such information is relevant to the subject matter of, and the witness' representational capacity at, the hearing. To the extent practicable, each witness should provide the text of his or her proposed testimony in machine-readable form, along with any attachments and appendix materials. The Committee or subcommittee shall notify Members at least two working days in advance of a hearing of the availability of testimony submitted by witnesses. The requirements of this subsection or any part thereof may be waived by the Chairman or Ranking Minority Member of the Committee or subcommittee, or the presiding Member, provided that the witness or the Chairman or Ranking Minority Member has submitted, prior to the witness's appearance, a written explanation as to the reasons testimony has not been made available to the Committee or subcommittee. In the event a witness submits neither his or her testimony at least two working days in advance of his or her appearance nor has a written explanation been submitted as to prior availability, the witness shall be released from testifying unless a majority of the Committee or subcommittee votes to accept his or her testimony. (c) Oaths The Chairman, or any Member of the Committee designated by the Chairman, may administer oaths to witnesses before the Committee. rule 7. preparation and maintenance of committee records An accurate stenographic record shall be made of all hearings and markup sessions. Members of the Committee and any witness may examine the transcript of his or her own remarks and may make any grammatical or technical changes that do not substantively alter the record. Any such Member or witness shall return the transcript to the Committee offices within five (5) calendar days (not including Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays) after receipt of the transcript, or as soon thereafter as is practicable. Any information supplied for the record at the request of a Member of the Committee shall be provided to the Member when received by the Committee. Transcripts of hearings and markup sessions (except for the record of a meeting or hearing which is closed to the public) shall be printed as soon as is practicable after receipt of the corrected versions, except that the Chairman may order the transcript of a hearing to be printed without the corrections of a Member or witness if the Chairman determines that such Member or witness has been afforded a reasonable time to correct such transcript and such transcript has not been returned within such time. The records of the Committee at the National Archives and Records Administration shall be made available for public use in accordance with Rule VII of the House of Representatives. The Chairman shall notify the Ranking Minority Member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of the rule, to withhold a record otherwise available, and the matter shall be presented to the Committee for a determination on the written request of any Member of the Committee. The Committee shall, to the maximum extent feasible, make its publications available in electronic form.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 56, ``commending the Palestinian people for holding recent elections.'' This resolution is a reflection of our support for the Palestinian people and their determination to build a viable Palestinian State based on freedom and empowered democratic institutions. I strongly support our President when he stated, ``The United States stands ready to help the Palestinian people realize their aspirations.'' The election of President Mahmoud Abbas is an encouraging step in that direction. The election of new Palestinian leadership and Labor's entry into the Israeli Government have changed the circumstances and expectations surrounding the Middle East peace process. The newly elected Palestinian leadership and Israel should take advantage of this opportunity and implement concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state. 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 elections represent a vital part in that process. Over 800 international observers monitored the recent elections. Among them were 80 observers led by former President Jimmy Carter, who stated that, There is no doubt that the will of the Palestinians was adequately expressed, that Abu Mazen has the support and respect of his people, and that he is dedicated to the peaceful pursuit of a peace agreement. . . . Palestinians from all walks of life participated in the Presidential elections, representing approximately 70 percent of eligible voters. Young and old, women and men, even those with serious physical disabilities, were determined to play their role in building a better future. The Palestinian Central Election Commission should also be commended for its commitment to ensure free and fair elections and for facilitating a process whereby Palestinians could vote in a positive voting atmosphere. Commission representatives trained more than 16,000 electoral officials to staff the 2,800 polling sites throughout the West Bank and Gaza and conducted their operations in a professional way. Every election is a learning experience, and I support the Palestinian Central Election Commission in its request to apply lessons learned from the recent presidential election to the parliamentary elections scheduled later this year. The Palestinian Presidential elections of January 9, 2005, and the upcoming parliamentary elections scheduled this July represent an historic opportunity for Palestinians to affirm their various political expressions and forge a government that can respond to their needs. It is clear the Palestinians want institutions that are transparent and accountable. The United States, Israel, and the rest of the international community should do all they can to eradicate the sources of extremism that undermine moderate Palestinian leadership. Such actions will foster democratic development among the Palestinians and enable their elected institutions to produce constructive results for its people. I am encouraged by Abbas' recent decision to ban the use of unregistered weapons by civilians. Such steps, matched by cooperation on the part of Israel, will assist President Abbas' determination to restore rule of law in the Occupied Territories. I congratulate President Abbas and look forward to his success in achieving the national aspirations of the Palestinian people and his role in bringing peace to the Holy Land. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution and its passage.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, now that Congress has passed landmark legislation that will help reform our intelligence community, I believe we must now take a closer look at streamlining congressional oversight of that community. Therefore, I am pleased to share with my colleagues a recent opinion piece, which explores some of the reform options available to us. The op-ed, entitled ``Joint Intelligence Committee Overdue'' was published on Dec. 3, 2004, in the News-Leader--Florida's oldest weekly newspaper. It was authored by Mr. Thomas Smeeton, who is the former U.S. House Minority Staff Director of the Iran/Contra Committee and Minority Counsel of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee. Mr. Smeeton also served as a CIA officer. I hope my colleagues will find the op-ed interesting and beneficial: Joint Intelligence Committee Overdue The collapse of Congressional efforts to reform the intelligence community dominated the news just before Thanksgiving. The proposed legislation embodied many of the major recommendations of the 9/11 Commission for fixing the executive branch's intelligence problems. Largely overlooked in this reform debate is Congress' failure, so far, to do enough to address its own problems. Yet the 9/11 panel noted that ``of all of our recommendations, strengthening Congressional oversight may be the most difficult and important.'' The commission also pointed out that, ``Congressional oversight for intelligence and counterterrorism is now dysfunctional.'' The main reason this critically important congressional responsibility is malfunctioning is because it is spread amongst too many committees. That is why the 9/11 Commission urged Congress to replace the current fragmented oversight arrangement with either a House-Senate joint committee or single panels in each congressional body with exclusive oversight and legislative power. Consolidation along these lines would drastically reduce the time high level intelligence community officials spend on Capitol Hill repeating over and over again the same briefings and testimonies to the various committees now exercising jurisdiction over intelligence activities. Redundant congressional demands are becoming so time consuming that it is increasingly difficult for these senior officials to discharge their primary duties of attending to the many security issues confronting this nation. The need to reform Congress' oversight of the intelligence community has been recognized by some members of Congress for years. Henry Hyde, currently chairman of the International Relations Committee in the House of Representatives, proposed legislation to create a Joint Intelligence Committee in 1984. He spelled out what he had in mind in numerous forums, including op-ed pieces that appeared in major newspapers. Nearly 17 years ago, Hyde's idea was the top recommendation of the Republican members of the Iran/Contra Committee. Among those endorsing the Hyde initiative were Dick Cheney, Mike DeWine and Orrin Hatch, who served with Hyde on the Iran- Contra Joint Committee. All of these political figures remain major players in Washington. The reluctance of Congress to get its own house in order is politically understandable. A Joint Intelligence Committee would require a number of committees and their powerful chairmen to sacrifice their jurisdictions over intelligence matters. But given what is at stake, it is time to subordinate such parochial concerns to the national interest. To really be effective, a Joint Intelligence Committee must have both oversight and legislative authority. Otherwise, those committees with an interest in intelligence issues will try to recapture their lost purviews. Historically, those committees have been Armed Services, Judiciary, Appropriations and Foreign/International Relations. To mollify these traditional bailiwicks, membership on the joint committee should include representatives from each of these committees. The panel must be small to ensure secrecy and promote individual responsibility and accountability. To encourage bipartisanship, neither political party should have more than a one-vote edge. The committee staff should be composed of apolitical professionals. In summary, the time has come to think outside of the box and adopt radical congressional reforms to meet national security challenges in the post 9/11 world. The 9/11 Commission put it best when it warned that ``the other reforms we have suggested--for a national counter-terrorism center and national intelligence director--will not work if congressional oversight does not change too. Unity of effort in executive management can be lost if it is fractured by congressional oversight.''

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, there is a very troubling development taking shape in the security policy of the European Union concerning arms sales to China. Briefly stated, the major European countries have already resumed arms sales to China and now propose to terminate altogether the long-standing embargo on arms sales that they imposed in 1989 following the Tiananmen Square massacre. This is all part of a new ``strategic partnership'' which the European Union proclaimed at its summit meeting with China last December. Also reflected in the communique for that meeting is European support for China's membership in the Missile Technology Control Regime. The contrast with the policy of the United States Government could not be greater. Just a few days later, the Department of State once again imposed sanctions on several most prominent entities in China's military industrial complex for illicit sales to Iran. Recent public comments by European authorities seek to downplay the significance of their new policy. They maintain that their arms sales to China will not result in quantitative or qualitative increases. But, this provides little assurance since the major EU member states have already doubled their arms sales in the one year period between 2002 and 2003 to $500 million. Indeed, there are no rose-colored glasses available that can soften the impact of this dangerous course of action. The development of democracy in China would be the first casualty. Like the United States, the European Union imposed an arms embargo on China in 1989 following the Tiananmen Square massacre. While China's economic policies since then have provided the Chinese people with greater choices about consumer goods, the Communist Party remains firmly in power and permits few choices about what can be said publicly in exercise of personal liberty. A termination of the EU arms embargo would provide the Chinese leadership with an impressive propaganda coup and demoralize the pro-democracy movement. Even more disturbing, European security policy in this area appears to be on a collision course with our country's extensive security interests in the Asia-Pacific region. Our security posture has been the decisive factor in ensuring regional stability and prosperity since the end of World War II. Our military planners and commanders are already confronting a sustained Chinese military buildup, which includes China's deployment of some 500 short range ballistic missiles across the Taiwan Strait and intercontinental missiles that can reach American shores. The statement we make in this Resolution is twofold: First, that European policy should support the development of democracy in China, not a military buildup, by maintaining the embargo and terminating current sales. Second, that European armament cooperation with China is fundamentally inconsistent not only with our security interests in Asia, but also with transatlantic armament cooperation, which we will be duty bound to examine in a new context given the increased risks of diversion of sensitive U.S. military technology that naturally arise from EU-Chinese arms cooperation.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, the right to vote--democracy itself--is more than a way to settle disputes, however petty or important. It is, rather, the embodiment of a larger, much more important notion: the notion that every individual is worthwhile; that every individual, by virtue of his or her humanity, is worthy of consideration and respect. What an important notion. How that notion is disregarded and abused in so many places in the world--sometimes even here at home. Where was that notion ignored more systematically than in Saddam's brutalized Iraq? The Iraq of terror, of mass graves, of mothers and children killed by poison gas and rotting where they dropped to the ground? Yet less than 2 years later, the Iraqi people, under the protection of an American-led Coalition and their own nascent security forces, have turned out in defiance of threats and, in some cases, even in the face of explosions and gunfire, to cast ballots. When they did so, they affirmed that, as individuals, they were anyone's equal; they were, in essence, demanding respect from those who would govern them. And by joining together in public, each with their one vote, they were affirming their willingness to respect their neighbors and permit each of them an equal share of power. Mr. Speaker, as has been said repeatedly, this is but one step in a long road. The election was not perfect. Elections never are. And yet, this election may turn out to be a strategic victory for freedom for Iraq and for its region. It will, I hope prove impossible to persuade people who have understood and exercised their rights to surrender them willingly. We should have confidence that the Iraqi people will continue to defy the threats, to respond to them with force if need be, and to press fro the establishment of a state that continues to respect them as individuals. Such a state will be a good friend of the American people, and a good neighbor to all within its crucial region. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson.) All time for debate has expired. Pursuant to the order of the House of Tuesday, February 1, 2005, the resolution is considered read and the previous question is ordered on the resolution and on the preamble. The question is on adoption of the resolution.

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of February 1 and February 2, 2005, I was absent for several votes and regret missing them. Had I been present, I would have voted: Vote No. 14, Honoring the contributions of Catholic Schools--``yea''; No. 15, Dalip Singh Saund Post Office Building Designation--``yea''; No. 16, Expressing the continued support of Congress for equal access of military recruiters to institutions of higher education--``yea''; No. 17, Commending the Palestinian people for conducting a free and fair presidential election--``yea''; No. 18, Expressing the strong concern of the House of Representatives that the European Union may end its embargo against the Peoples Republic of China--``yea''; and No. 19, Relating to the free election in Iraq held on January 30, 2005--``yea.''

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 16) congratulating the people of Ukraine for conducting a democratic, transparent, and fair runoff Presidential election on December 26, 2004, and congratulating Victor Yushchenko on his election as President of Ukraine and his commitment to democracy and reform, 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 H. Con. Res. 16.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 16 as amended regarding the presidential elections recently held in Ukraine. I want to thank the ranking Democrat member of the Committee on International Relations and others who have joined me in sponsoring this resolution. This resolution has been amended to include a few clarifications of the original language. No issue was judged to be more important to Ukraine's future standing with the West and its ability to become a full partner with the Euro- Atlantic community than the strength of its democracy. The presidential election represented a historic opportunity for the people of Ukraine to decide whether or not democracy can flourish in this important nation. So important was the desire for a free, fair and transparent election that this House overwhelmingly passed a resolution regarding the election in October. Unfortunately, despite the assurance we received from the Government of Ukraine, the rhetoric did not meet the actions. The October 31 election and the November 21 runoff election were marred by serious irregularities. The highly charged second-round vote on November 21 met all of our worst expectations. We all have read the media accounts of the election-day problems, and I will not repeat them here. The election was so compromised by open fraud that much of Ukraine's population took to the streets determined to preserve their liberties and prevent the installation of an illegitimate regime. Given the strength of that resistance and the near-universal condemnation of the election process by the international community, the once powerful government was forced to admit that the election over which it presided was fraudulent. In the aftermath of this contested election, an extraordinary series of events took place in Ukraine which confirmed to many that Ukraine's democracy may have survived the effects of the election abuses and may have received new life. The outpouring of public opposition to the faulty election process was beyond expectation. The thousands of demonstrators who flooded into the capital to protect the election outcome and to demand honest democracy even in the face of personal hardship were commendable. To their credit, the people of Ukraine spoke with determination that the will of the people would not be thwarted. Ukrainian institutions such as the Parliament and the Supreme Court affirmed their commitment to the rule of law and took their responsibilities seriously in order to resolve this crisis. Finally, the effort made by the European Union, Poland, Lithuania, joined by the United States to help broker a fair solution to the crisis, was a perfect example of how the transatlantic partnership is working. As a result of the convergence of all these elements inside Ukraine, a new runoff election was held on December 26. Witnessed by thousands of international observers, this time the election was determined to be free and fair, and Victor Yushchenko emerged as the new President- elect. This past Sunday he was inaugurated as the new President of Ukraine. This resolution congratulates Victor Yushchenko on his election as President of Ukraine. It was a difficult struggle in which his campaign was denied fundamental rights, where he was the target of an assassination attempt and where his victory in the first runoff election was literally stolen from him by forces which could not accept defeat and were now not prepared to relinquish power. The resolution also commends the people of Ukraine for the remarkable effort they made to ensure that democracy was carried out in their country and the true will of the people to elect the president of their choice was accomplished. Mr. Speaker, rather than an external geopolitical struggle, events which took place in Ukraine between November 21 and December 26 were all about democracy, of freedom, of real, rather than declared, rights, as we heard Mr. Yushchenko explain, and the right of the people to freely and fairly choose their leaders. The United States Congress attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine's continued transition to a democratic state, with strong institutions and a flourishing market economy. U.S. Government policy must remain focused on promoting and strengthening a stable, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine. Today, through H. Con. Res. 16, we congratulate President Yushchenko. We commend the people of Ukraine for their commitment to democracy and to their nation and to their place in modern Europe. I urge passage of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), one of the leading battlers for human rights in Congress.

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

Mr. HYDE

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 39) commending countries and organizations for marking the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and urging a strengthening of the fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, and anti-Semitism.

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. 39, the resolution under consideration.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it is, of course, difficult to describe the horrors of the death camp at Auschwitz, the 60th anniversary of whose liberation occurs this week. One wonders if it is even appropriate to try. A commemorative reading widely used in the Jewish community suggests refraining ``from dwelling on the deeds of evil ones lest we defame the image of God in which man was created.'' Rather, it is better when marking this anniversary to allow ourselves to be directed forward, to be more inspired by a recollection of the liberation of the camps and heroic deeds of combat and resistance that eventually defeated the Nazis than we are repulsed by the Nazis' deeds. This pending resolution is drafted by my esteemed colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking Democratic member of our committee, and it expresses sentiments that I trust are widely shared in the House: That we recognize that we should fight against racism, intolerance, bigotry, prejudice, discrimination and anti-Semitism which, if unchecked, can lead to mass murder; That we thank the liberators of the camps and those who cared for the survivors of the Nazi death machine; And that we commend those states which now, at last, are willing to recognize an anniversary of the liberation of the camps in a body such as the United Nations General Assembly. The administration and the governments of the allies in World War II and of the European Union deserve our thanks for their efforts to arrange for a session of the U.N. General Assembly to commemorate this anniversary, and I also thank the U.N. Secretary General for his important, personal support for the special session and for his remarks yesterday. Yesterday's U.N. meeting did not take place on January 27, the precise anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, because many of the leaders participating at the U.N. are traveling to Auschwitz for a special commemoration at that site, where well over a million souls perished. I commend the President for asking Vice President Cheney to lead the American delegation to that commemoration. The President demonstrated additional insight by naming Mrs. Lynne Cheney, as well as our friends, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and his wife Annette Tillemann Lantos, both Holocaust survivors, among the other members of the delegation. When the House passes this resolution, it will endow the delegation with a specific sense of the House for it to convey to the others participating in the commemoration at Auschwitz. I know that the entire delegation will represent the highest values of our Nation with great skill and sensitivity, and I wish them Godspeed on their mission. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), and one of the leading crusaders for human rights.