Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel), a member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kleczka). (Mr. KLECZKA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Lampson).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci). (Mr. BALDACCI asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Israel).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner), my distinguished colleague and good friend.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott). (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge), my good friend and colleague.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Price). (Mr. PRICE of North Carolina asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson). (Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), my friend and valued colleague.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my valued colleague, the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Lucas).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Olver).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his courtesy. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald), my friend and neighbor and my distinguished colleague.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield as much time as she might consume to my good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez).

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the remaining time. I want to thank all of my colleagues for their eloquent statements. Earlier this year, under the leadership of the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), the Democratic leader in the House, a number of us went to Vietnam to see on the ground the development of that country that has suffered so much during the long and painful war. We feel for the Vietnamese people. They are an enormously talented and hardworking, committed people to leading better lives. But we have to stand with them, not just in terms of their economic aspirations, but in terms of their aspirations along individual and human rights, rights of religious freedom, political freedom, press freedom, none of which they enjoy at the moment. This legislation attempts to address those issues. As we open up our relations with Vietnam, politically and economically, it is critical that this body speaks out loud and clear on the issue of human rights in Vietnam. I again want to pay tribute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), my friend and colleague, who has led us on this issue, and I call on all of my colleagues to vote for this legislation.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of H.R. 2833. First, I would like to commend my good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), for introducing this very important legislation and for doggedly pursuing the Vietnam human rights issue, as indeed he has been pursuing so many human rights issues during his entire course of great service to this Nation. I would also like to express my appreciation to the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for moving this legislation so expeditiously. Madam Speaker, yesterday afternoon I returned from the Durban Conference in South Africa on Racism and Discrimination, as the American delegation was withdrawn by Secretary of State Colin Powell, a decision I fully support. It is ironic to listen to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), outlining in great detail the discrimination and persecution unfolding in Vietnam against religious and ethnic minorities, because Vietnam was not on the agenda at Durban. The Sudan was not on the agenda at Durban, although as we speak, slave trade is taking place in the Sudan. Afghanistan and the Taliban were not on the agenda in Durban, although we know what happens to individuals who attempt to introduce Christianity into that country. There are few things Afghanistan needs more than some Christian values. Saudi Arabia was not on the agenda, although the persecution of women continues unabated, discrimination against women continues unabated. The only country singled out for criticism at the farce which was Durban was the democratic state and our ally in the Middle East, the State of Israel. So the timing of this legislation, as it comes before us, could not be more opportune. I would like to identify myself with the statements made by the gentleman from New Jersey with respect to all the specific acts of religious and ethnic persecution which unfold in Vietnam. None of us here should be under any illusion about the nature of the Vietnamese Government. According to the State Department's Human Rights Report, the Vietnamese Government is an unrepentant authoritarian regime. True political opposition in that country is not allowed. Freedom of expression does not exist, and Vietnamese are put in prison for good for simply expressing political opinions the government does not approve of. The Vietnamese Government places the most severe restrictions on the expression of religious beliefs, particularly beliefs in Buddhism, as my good friend and colleague so eloquently outlined. Madam Speaker, today the House will approve the U.S.-Vietnam bilateral trade agreement. I support that agreement, but it is critical that we send a signal to Hanoi that the U.S. continues to care about the human rights and the religious freedom situation in Vietnam, not just trade. Passage of the Smith legislation will indicate to the administration and to the Vietnamese Government that the Congress expects to see true progress on the human rights front, and we have not forgotten those Vietnamese who are being persecuted for their religious beliefs or their political views. The legislation that we are considering will ensure that there is not a rollback in our trade and aid relationship with Vietnam, only a cap on the level of our aid to Vietnam unless decent human rights conditions are created. It is ironic that this legislation is before us today, because if it were not and if it would be merely a discussion of trade with Vietnam, we ourselves would be engaging in hypocrisy as are the delegates in Durban as we speak. It is important to promote trade. But it is important to stand up for human rights as well. I commend and congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for introducing this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support its passage. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lofgren) who has been a persistent and outspoken champion of human rights. (Ms. LOFGREN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), my good friend. (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today to pay tribute to a dear friend, an extraordinary man, and a giant in the art world, Sir Arthur Gilbert, who passed away on September 2, of this year. Born in 1913, Arthur's family emigrated from Poland to London where they operated a furrier business. After deciding not to enter the family business, Arthur chose to work with his wife, Rosalinde Gilbert, a struggling dress designer. He adopted her surname for business reasons, and the two of them quickly made a small fortune producing and marketing her evening gowns. In 1949, they decided to leave the damp and cold of London for the warm California sun, and they moved to Los Angeles, intending to retire. Instead of retiring, Arthur made a second fortune in real estate. Arthur ``never made money just for the sake of making money,'' as he liked to say, but he will be remembered not for how he made money, but rather how he spent it. His passion for collecting art came about almost accidently, while looking for decorations for his new home in Los Angeles. A friend suggested to him that he needed some silver to dress up the living room, so he purchased, in his words, a "schmaltzy cabinet by the 18th century silversmith Paul de Lamerie.'' It was also this time that he bought his first micromosaics, which are images created by tiny threads of glass. Arthur became quite enamored with micromosaics, and eventually purchased over 200 pieces. Mr. Speaker, the New York Times (September 4, 2001) noted in its obituary of Mr. Gilbert that ``in time his collection grew to comprise several collections. The silver and silver-gilt items include scores of ornate tankards, dishes, candelabra and cups that once decorated the royal and aristocratic dinner tables of Europe. His gold collection was made up of some 20 gold snuff boxes, which like the 260 micromosaics, and his 80 portrait miniatures, are best appreciated through a magnifying glass.'' Arthur Gilbert was justifiably proud of his collection, and frequently he personally led tours through the museums which housed his collection. As his collection continued to expand, it eventually became too large for the space constraints at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, where it had been housed for some time. In 1996, Arthur accepted an offer to house his collection in the newly renovated Somerset House, an 18th century palace in London, where it is now displayed. He called it ``Britain's heritage regained,'' since many of the pieces originally belonged to British aristocrats. The collection--valued at over $200 million--has been open to the public since May of last year. In appreciation of this lavish bequest, Arthur Gilbert, who never renounced his British citizenship, was knighted in 1999. In addition to his donated art collection, both Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert were benefactors of numerous charities and organizations. These include the Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert Center for the Advancement of Scientific Research. They have contributed generously to the February 1941 Foundation--an extraordinary foundation created to thank the Dutch people for assisting Jews fleeing Nazi persecution and downed Allied pilots during World War II. Mr. Speaker, I believe the Los Angeles Times (September 4, 2001) captured the essence of this outstanding philanthropist, when it quoted him: ``Whether you collect snuff boxes or matchboxes, don't buy because it's going up in value but because you like it or it will enhance your life --then give it away.'' I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Sir Arthur Gilbert, an outstanding Californian and a generous philanthropist.