Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call my colleague's attention to the candid, earnest, and eloquent speech of the Swedish Ambassador to the United States Gunnar Lund which he gave on Tuesday to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. In his presentation my friend Ambassador Lund articulated the courageous acts of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who during the Second World War single-handedly saved tens of thousand of Jews in Budapest from Nazi extermination camps. The United States has enjoyed a strong relationship with Sweden since the 17th century when Swedish migrants settled on the banks of the Delaware River. Under Ambassador Lund's leadership, the Swedish Embassy has been an active participant in the political and cultural life of Washington, DC., and engaged in many community activities. Madam Speaker, the remarks of Ambassador Lund provided an extraordinary educational briefing for those who attended this event of the Human Rights Caucus. Ambassador Lund wove an intricate account of how this young humanitarian at the request of the American War Refugee Board went to Hungary at one of the darkest times of mankind. His heroic actions are a powerful message that one person, with the courage to care, can make a difference in the world. Raoul Wallenberg's legacy must not be forgotten. For this reason, I particularly welcomed his comments stressing the importance of actively educating new generations on Wallenberg's deeds for mankind. I must agree with my friend who describes Wallenberg's disappearance as ``one of the saddest and most frustrating unanswered questions in Swedish history''. Indeed, this is one of the saddest episodes in world history. Madam Speaker, Wallenberg's sacrifice is a testament to his belief in every human being's right to live with dignity and still stands out as a shining light. Ambassador Lund brought the message to his young audience the most important lesson Wallenberg taught us: the world depends on individual's willingness to take on responsibility and I am proud to pass along the message to all of my colleagues. Because Raoul Wallenberg's heroism continues to play a significant role in the U.S. Swedish relations, Madam Speaker, I ask that the speech of my friend, Ambassador Lund, be placed in the Record, and I urge all of my colleagues to read it carefully. The Legacy of Raoul Wallenberg: Hero of the Holocaust [Delivered by H.E. Mr Gunnar Lund, Ambassador of Sweden] First of all, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to you and your wife, Annette, and to the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, for organizing this annual briefing of the life and legacy of my country-man, Raoul Wallenberg. The initiative is yet another proof of your untiring commitment to the improvement of human rights conditions worldwide, well known both in the United States and in Sweden, and beyond. We sometimes take for granted that Raoul Wallenberg will not and cannot be forgotten. But to keep his legacy alive, we need to actively educate new generations on who he was and what he did. This is such an opportunity. In fact, it is hard to think of a better way to remember Raoul Wallenberg than to share a moment like this with somebody like you, Congressman Lantos. You have a personal experience from what happened in Budapest in 1944. I leave it to my co-speakers to dwell on the details of Raoul Wallenberg's life and deeds. But I would like to point out that through his actions, he has had a significant influence on the relations between the United States and Sweden. Wallenberg himself arrived in this country in 1931. He was 19 years old and he came here to study architecture at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He thereby broke with his family's expectations that he would go into banking. He stayed in the United States for four years, returning home in 1935 with a Bachelor of Science degree. His next encounter with the United States, nine years later, was of a more indirect nature, but it would determine his life. The year was 1944 and Europe was burning. Hungary had been occupied by the Nazis. As a neutral country, Sweden had already started to issue temporary passports to Jews in Budapest in order to save them from deportation and death. At the same time, the United States had established the War Refugee Board, whose task was to save Jews from Nazi persecution. The Board summoned a meeting in Stockholm in order to identify an individual who could travel to Budapest to initiate a major rescue action from the Swedish Legation. Wallenberg's name was presented, and he accepted to take on the risky mission. He was 32 years old and already an established businessman in Stockholm. The rest is history. By issuing thousands of protective passports, employing hundreds of persons and hiring over thirty buildings in Budapest which he declared to be Swedish territory and where Jews could seek shelter, Wallenberg saved thousands of lives, perhaps as many as 100,000. He did not use traditional diplomacy, but everything from bribery to threats of blackmail. He took great personal risks. Even when we peel off some of the the myths surrounding his person, Wallenberg remains a remarkable symbol of personal courage in the fight against the atrocities of the Second World War. In 1945 Wallenberg was captured by Soviet troops and disappeared. To this day, we don't know what happened to him. His disappearance remains one of the saddest and most frustrating unanswered questions in Swedish history. In hindsight, we have reasons to be critical of our own role in the search for clarity about Wallenberg's fate: Could more have been done by the Swedish Government to demand answers from the Soviet leadership during the years following the disappearance? In 2001, an official commission of inquiry was appointed to investigate the Swedish government's actions in the Wallenberg case, and the title of the report, ``A Diplomatic Failure'' suggests that the question is justified. Wallenberg could never be thanked personally for his efforts, but many people around the world, not the least yourself and so many others in the United States, have made great efforts to investigate his fate and carry on his ideals. In 1981, fifty years after he arrived in Ann Arbor, Raoul Wallenberg was declared an honorary citizen in the United States. Streets, squares and schools have been named after him in this country and elsewhere. Not far from where we are now, the United States Memorial Holocaust Museum is located on Raoul Wallenberg Place. In Europe, the Swedish Institute and the Hungarian organization Open Society Archives last month co-sponsored an exhibition in Budapest on Raoul Wallenberg's life and deeds. The exhibition had previously been exhibited in Ukraine, Poland, Bosnia Herzegovina and Romania, and will continue to Russia. Hopefully, initiatives like this can teach new generations in a new Europe the importance of personal courage in the shaping of history. Raoul Wallenberg believed in every human being's right to life and dignity. And that legacy continues to influence Swedish foreign policy. The Swedish defense of human rights principles includes a strong commitment to equal opportunities for all people, a total abolition of all forms of torture or other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, the freedom of thought and expression and the abolition of the death penalty, just to mention a few. This commitment is more needed than ever. Violations of human rights still occur on all continents, around the world. The situations in Darfur, in North Korea, in Iran and in Burma are tragic examples. Back to Raoul Wallenberg. Perhaps the most important lesson he taught us was that at the end of the day, individual courage does matter. International efforts, no matter how well-meant, still depend on the individual's preparedness to take on responsibility.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my grave concern over what I understand to be the Federal Drug Administration's proposal to close down as many as nine regional testing laboratories. This decision, apparently made in the fall of 2006, has been steadily attracting resistance as more people are made aware of it. It appears that the FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA), which, among other activities, oversees the labs, plans to close between seven and nine laboratories--more than half of the current facilities, leaving only four to six labs up and running. Madam Speaker, this nation has a spectacular technological reputation. I am proud of the work performed by the good men and women of the FDA. Everyone can understand the importance of quickly and efficiently testing dangerous materials, which is but one of the responsibilities of these laboratories. But I would like to emphasize that regional laboratories are even more important today, when an E. coli outbreak in California needs immediate attention and not days of delay because substances must be shipped across the country to a lab in New York. Recent outbreaks of tainted spinach, with immediate testing in California, proved this urgent point. Madam Speaker, it is imperative that we carefully and cautiously analyze this plan to consolidate our testing labs into a handful of regional centers. President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), which represents more than 5,200 FDA employees, has expressed her concern that FDA employees are not being properly considered in this radical transition plan to close labs this spring. The targeted laboratories are located in Philadelphia; Denver; Detroit; Alameda, California; Lenexa, Kansas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Winchester, Massachusetts. My understanding of the plan is that these operations, along with an estimated 250 employees, would be moved to five multi-purpose ``mega-labs'' geared to handle all types of FDA testing. Common sense tells us that our testing response will be altered greatly with fewer laboratories. Common sense also tells us that many loyal Federal employees will be facing drastic changes, including termination. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) have raised concerns about these FDA lab closure plans. They have received limited response to their questions. This is unconscionable, given that we all work for the same team. Madam Speaker, in this time of heightened concern about a wide variety of levels of safety in our nation, it seems particularly troubling to be downsizing our FDA laboratories simply for budgetary concerns. I would be gratified to learn whether or not alternatives to these lab closures have been properly explored.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I heartily join in congratulating Oprah Winfrey, who has been named the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity, a venerable institution that combats indifference, intolerance and injustice through international dialogue and youth-focused programs. Oprah Winfrey is such a visible figure in popular culture that her first name alone is iconic. The recognition she has earned through her talk show, acting, writing and various media enterprises has made her one of America's most recognizable people. And to her everlasting credit, she has put this visibility to good use in support of worthy causes. A high-profile public figure who dedicates herself to helping the less-fortunate, Oprah sets an example for those of us in the public eye. She provides an inspiring model of the pursuit of meaning, hope, and fulfillment to millions. And as someone who has chosen children as the main focus of her philanthropy and her public service, she sets an example for all adults: Children are the bedrock foundation of our society, our chance for a more peaceful and healthy society, but because they are the least able to help themselves, they need and deserve our greatest efforts. As a grandfather of 17 wonderful grandchildren, I believe the message Oprah sends about kids is the most profound of all. Motivated by this desire to help children in need, she founded The Oprah Winfrey Foundation in 1987. Since then, the foundation has made grants to organizations that support women and children around the world, providing education, training, and access to crucial resources. I laud Oprah's decision to focus the foundation internationally, not just in the United States. With our resources and our technology, we have a solemn responsibility to lift up the destitute in the rest of the world. And The Oprah Winfrey Foundation demonstrates that private U.S. interests can combine with both governments and non-governmental organizations to foster that goal. I am particularly impressed that Oprah has also used an inspirational partnership model in raising money. Oprah's Angel Network leverages her audiences as potential donors, with all the money they give going to NGOs that build schools, youth centers, and homes around the world. Her devotion to schoolgirls in South Africa is simply amazing. She has given so much money and time to the construction of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls to ensure that it will succeed, that those girls will succeed, and that South African society will improve from their education. On a personal level, I am touched and grateful that Oprah has partnered with Elie Wiesel never to let us forget the Holocaust, the most horrible and harrowing moment in history and one to which Elie and I were witnesses. It speaks to Oprah's singular empathy that someone whose focus is often on modern-day trauma and travesty can so adeptly shine a light on the past. Simply the act of choosing Wiesel's classic ``Night'' for her book club spoke volumes. But her televised visit to Auschwitz with Wiesel last year made it real for everyone. Indeed, Oprah has that uncanny and unparalleled ability to not just bring human experience in front of our eyes, but to make us feel it. And her desire and commitment to translating into public service the human capacity to feel for others is deserving of the deepest honor.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise with sadness today to share with my colleagues in the House news of the death of a California public servant from my home district. Lou Papan, known as the ``Dean'' of the California State Assembly, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 28, 2007. He was 78 years old. Lou Papan was practically a force of nature in state and local politics. His distinguished life's work included service to his country as a member of the Armed Forces, his professional career with the FBI, a successful banking and business experience and ultimately, serving two decades as a State Assemblyman from California's 19th District. Madam Speaker, this big, burly bear of a man was also known for his enormous heart and his devotion to his family. The father of a seriously disabled son, Lou Papan was well known along Highway 80 as he commuted between Sacramento and Millbrae, making a point of being home every night to help his wife Irene with the added complexities of life parents of seriously ill children often face. John died in 1981 at the age of 21 and it is doubtful that Lou Papan ever regretted a single highly publicized speeding ticket he received. Those tickets earned him the nickname ``Leadfoot Lou.'' This personal dedication translated into public and private activities geared to helping other families facing similar challenges. The creation of ``John's Closet,'' a unique organization that collected clothing for disabled and poor children, was but one example of how Lou Papan shouldered his community's concerns in order to help make everyone's life just a little better. Madam Speaker, Lou Papan was born in Springfield, Massachussetts, as Elias Papandricoupolos. His parents were Greek immigrants and his own name was accidentally changed to ``Louis'' by a doctor who did not recognize the original name on a form. Lou Papan spoke only Greek when he began elementary school. As a young man, Lou Papan served in the U.S. Army. Family lore has it that fellow soldiers kidded the young man about the length of his last name, saying that the 16 letters nearly wrapped all the way around his helmet. He later earned a degree in economics from Syracuse University and during the Korean War, was an officer in the Air Force. He then went to Georgetown Law School. His government service continued with the FBI, which sent him to San Francisco where he met his wife and where he settled. Madam Speaker, Lou Papan left the FBI to embark on a business career that was highly successful in banking, insurance and real estate. He was a co-founder of the Peninsula Bank of Commerce. His first elected office was as a member of the Daly City Council. In 1972, he took the leap to the California State Assembly. Lou Papan's political career is full of dynamic successes as well as controversial emotions. His legacy is one of ``hardball politics'' in which legislators were strongly encouraged to support the political policies of their party. Known as ``The Enforcer'' for his ability to shepherd votes, Lou Papan's shadow was cast large in Sacramento, over both opponents and supporters. His political goal to become a State Senator was never realized, although he tried on two occasions. Madam Speaker, this gregarious, sometimes garrulous politician left the State Assembly in 1986 to run for State Senate. He failed in that effort, but in 1996, he easily recaptured his former Assembly seat. As a footnote to his legislative legacy, Lou Papan became one of the longest-serving politicians in recent California history, having served time both before and after voters approved term limits. As the Chairman of the powerful Assembly Rules Committee, Lou Papan wielded considerable power over the day-to- day activities of the California Legislature. His position and political style often resulted in decidedly mixed reviews, but almost everyone agreed that he was an effective leader. It was during his Assembly tenure that the California Capitol Building was renovated and upgraded through a six-year, $67 million effort. A plaque bearing his name testifies to his successful oversight of that project. Madam Speaker, it is difficult to capture a life of public service in these few short words, but let me say that during his 20-year career in the California Assembly, Lou Papan championed the causes of children, including legislation to improve public instruction for disabled students, require reporting of child and elder abuse and establishment of childcare centers for families with business before the courts. He also authored legislation to help firefighters suffering from life- threatening illnesses as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals on the job. Lou Papan played a key role in establishing and expanding California's public transportation agencies, carried legislation to ensure reliability of regional water delivery systems, and submitted bills aimed at encouraging conservation and recycling, among many other contributions. Lou Papan also served as the Chairman of the Banking and Finance Committee, where he spearheaded efforts to support independent banking institutions. In 1996 he was granted the Ellis Island Medal of Honor given by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations to ethnic Americans who have made significant contributions to this country. In another effort to recognize his public service, the California Legislature renamed a section of Highway 1, from the Daly City border south through the City of Pacifica along the scenic coast, as the ``Louis J. Papan Highway.'' He is given credit for successfully securing funding to purchase beachfront property in Pacifica for the State Parks system. Madam Speaker, Lou Papan lived a big, at times boisterous life. His dedication to public service speaks for itself and his impact on the people and politics of California are now part of history. He is survived by his daughters Virgina ``Gina'' Papan and Diane Papan, son- in-law Dan Latini and granddaughter Alexa Papan Latini. His daughter Gina says her dad ``was the real deal.'' Madam Speaker, I agree wholeheartedly with that assessment. Lou Papan was a unique and dynamic personality who made his mark on his home, his county, his state and his country. I urge my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in recognizing the contributions of this fellow politician and servant of the public.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, an occasion to celebrate unique and beautiful cultures that enhance all of our lives, but also to highlight how Americans of all different backgrounds are inextricably linked in our effort to build a better future for our country and a better life for our children. Finding unity in diversity is at the very core of what makes us Americans. I have the good fortune of representing a very diverse region in the Bay Area--the Peninsula and part of San Francisco. With well over 100,000 Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and generations of their descendents, we have all seen first-hand the stunning contributions of these Americans to our community, and we owe them our thanks. In fields as varied as the arts, health care, business and military service, Asian Pacific Americans are central to our quality of life. I have personally had the honor of participating in a wide variety of cultural celebrations, such as the Chinese Lunar New Year ceremony in San Francisco this year, and a Japanese tea ceremony that I am hosting for my colleagues in Washington next week. Events like these not only help preserve Asian and Pacific Island heritage, but enrich our entire community and remind us all that there is more to our world than what lies between our shores. As we begin the celebration of this Heritage Month, it is important to take note of this year's theme: ``Meeting the Challenges for Asian Pacific Americans in 2007.'' We do face serious and urgent challenges, including the need to secure the benefits that our Filipino-American veterans so richly deserve. I myself am an American by choice, and I understand what it means to come to this country with nothing more than an unwavering commitment to give your children the broadest possible set of opportunities. Immigration has played a vital role in the success of this nation. Yet sadly, as many as 1.5 million Asians are currently caught in an immigration backlog for family visas, and continue to spend holidays and special occasions far away from their loved ones. The Democratic- led Congress is leading the way toward comprehensive reform that not only addresses our nation's real security needs but protects and unites families. Once Asian and Pacific Islander Americans arrive in this country, it is our vital responsibility to protect and defend them, along with all victims of malicious, hate-motivated crime. In 2005, at least 199 people were victims of anti-Asian violence--each act a crime not only against the individual but against our country as a whole. Democrats in the House will act on the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act to give the Justice Department authority to prosecute hate crimes in which the victim was selected because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Democrats in Congress are taking seriously their responsibility to stand up for Asian Pacific American families. We are hard at work on issues that affect Asian and Pacific Islander families and all American families--critical issues such as education, health care, proper training and equipment for our troops and quality care for our veterans. We are committed to ensuring that these issues remain top priorities in the coming months. Asian Pacific Americans in our community have proved to all of us that the American dream is vibrant, and that its great promise is kept alive when we join together to celebrate our diverse heritage. Americans' ability to not only tolerate our neighbor's different cultural background, but to embrace it, as we do this month, is at the heart of what makes the United States truly the greatest nation in the world.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I come to the floor today with a heavy heart. The passing of the Honorable Juanita Millender-McDonald is being felt by all who knew her, and all who were touched by her career in public service. I want to extend my condolences to her family, friends and constituents in California's 37th District for their great loss. In fact, we all have lost something in the Chairwoman's passing. For me, I lost a colleague, but my wife Annette and I also have lost a neighbor and friend. Much has been said in these past days about what she meant to California and to the Congress as a whole. When she won her first election to the City Council of Carson, California, she committed herself to more than two decades of public service. As the first African-American woman to chair a committee here in the House, she was a trailblazer. And as the so-called ``Mayor of Capitol Hill'' she was charged with ensuring the smooth operation of the people's House, while overseeing the biggest expansion of the Capitol complex as the Capitol Visitors Center nears completion. Madam Speaker, many of us are so busy that we don't have time to really get to know one another. Seeing Juanita every morning on my way to the office was an extraordinary way to start off my day, and in the evening we would compare notes on our way home. I will truly miss seeing her and am heart broken by her untimely passing. Congress has lost a singularly able and warm person whose contributions to the greater good for her District, the people of California, the country as a whole, and African-American women will live on. Our prayers are with her family as we all mourn the passing of Chairwoman Juanita Millender-McDonald.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, it is with deep sorrow that I rise today to mourn the passing of Liviu Librescu, a world renowned professor of aeronautical engineering who was tragically gunned down while saving the lives of his students at Virginia Tech this week. Madam Speaker, I am compelled to honor Mr. Librescu, not because he is a fellow Holocaust survivor and college professor who persevered and overcame so much, but because he was a human being so extraordinary that his life's journey embodies the word hero. Liviu Librescu was born in 1930 to a Jewish family in Ploiesti, Romania. During World War II, when Romania joined forces with Nazi Germany, he was imprisoned in a forced labor camp. Subsequently he was sent, along with his family and thousands of others, to a ghetto in the city of Focsani about 100 miles from his home. Hundreds of thousands of Jews from across Romania died in the Focsani Ghetto and in Transnistria, a Romanian-run Nazi killing field where Librescu's father, a lawyer, perished. Liviu survived the horrors of the Focsani Ghetto and the Holocaust and nobly committed his life to academia, studying aerospace engineering at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, where he received both his undergraduate degree in 1952 and his Masters in 1953. In 1969 he received his Ph.D. in fluid Mechanics from Academia de Stiinte din Romania. Madam Speaker, Liviu Librescu was a brilliant mind and quickly established himself as a top researcher at the Bucharest Institute of Applied Mechanics and the Academy of Science of Romania. But his refusal to swear allegiance to the destructive Communist regime in Romania ultimately left him jobless. Without means to support his wife, Marlene, and two sons, Joe and Arie, Librescu tried to leave Romania for Israel. But under the Romanian communist regime Jews were not allowed to emigrate. In 1978 the Romanian government finally permitted Liviu to leave, but only after a direct request was made by the Prime Minister of Israel--Menachem Begin--to Romanian President Nicolae Ceausescu. From 1979 to 1986 Librescu was a Professor of Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering at Tel-Aviv University and Haifa's Technion. In 1985 he took sabbatical from Tel Aviv University to research and teach at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia. He quickly became a vital part of the School of Engineering Science and Mechanics, and in 1986 decided to make Blacksburg and Virginia Tech his full-time home. Professor Librescu had a distinguished career as one of Virginia Tech's premier lecturers; he published hundreds of prestigious papers, received numerous awards and honorary degrees and did extensive research for NASA. Madam Speaker, these extraordinary accomplishments in the face of such tribulations made Livui Librescu a hero to those who knew him. But his actions on the morning of April 16, 2007 shine through as beacon of everything that embodies his heroic spirit. On that frightful morning when a deranged gunman chose Librescu's classroom as a target for his heinous, senseless murdering spree, Liviu Librescu barricaded himself against the classroom door in an attempt to lock the gunman out. He told his students to flee while he threw his body against the door. Librescu was fatally shot, but the gunman never managed to gain access and no student in the classroom was harmed. Madam Speaker, I do not think the English language has words worthy enough to describe the selfless courage and boundless humanity of Livui Librescu. The world has suffered a tragic loss with the end of this one life. I ask my collogues to join me in honoring the legacy of Liviu Librescu, which lives on in the people that he saved and in the hearts he inspired worldwide.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor George Torney, who became the Executive Director of Pyramid Alternatives in the City of Pacifica on August 6, 1976, and has served San Mateo County for 31 years. Under his leadership and guidance, Pyramid expanded its horizons beyond alcohol to recognize addictive personalities as they relate to all substance abuse. Pyramid now frequently collaborates with the San Mateo County Health Department to address links between substance abuse and mental illness. Although George Torney's work with Pyramid began in Pacifica, the organization itself has since branched out into nine school districts and serves the entire San Mateo County community through seven offices, offering services in five languages. Pyramid has offered a wide range of counseling and education in the fields of: substance abuse, domestic violence, anger, management, first and multiple drinking driver programs, parenting Issues and senior adult Services. Madam Speaker, Pyramid has become an essential partner in the Bridges Program, an intensive alcohol and drug day treatment program for men and women operated by San Mateo County Adult Probation, Superior Court and the County Sheriff. This exceptional program helps non-violent offenders transition back into their families and the community. Madam Speaker, after three decades of dedicated service, George Torney is retiring and Janeen Smith is assuming the Executive Director role of Pyramid Alternatives. It is with great respect and deepest appreciation that I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing George Torney and Pyramid Alternatives.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Shulamit Hoffman, a remarkable woman who has enriched my district as the founder and artistic director of Viva la Musica!, a 70-voice community choir. Since its inception in December 2001, this Bay Area based choir has performed a major work from the choral-orchestral repertoire each season, as well as traditional and multi-cultural choral selections. The choir has performed throughout the country and undertook its first European tour in December 2006 in illustrious venues in Vienna and Salzburg. Ms. Hoffmann has held a litany of prestigious posts, most recently she was appointed as the conductor of Los Altos United Methodist Chancel Choir in 2002. In addition to singing regularly for Sunday services, LAUMC Choir has performed several major works in concert and has undertaken two tours to the 2004 Kathaumixw in Canada, the 2005 Vermont International Choral Festival and, in 2006, an Alaskan singing cruise with Sir David Willcocks and Duaine Wolf. As a music educator, Ms. Hoffmann has served as an adjunct faculty member of the College of San Mateo since 2002. She has been a member of the music faculties of the University of Notre Dame de Namur University in California, Idaho State University, Brigham Young University Extension in Idaho and University of Cape Town and University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Several of her students are pursuing careers in music. Ms. Hoffmann holds a Master of Arts in Conducting and a Master of Music in Piano Performance. She has earned Licentiate Diplomas in Music from the University of South Africa and from the Royal Schools of Music in London. She has served as president of branches of the Music Teachers' Association of California and of the National Federation of Music Clubs and she is a frequently invited competition judge and guest clinician. Madam Speaker, the concerts Shulamit Hoffmann presents are generally sold out and appreciative audience members are enthralled with the musical quality of Viva la Musica! President and Mrs. John Oblak, of Notre Dame de Namur University, praised the excellence of the concerts when they were quoted as saying, ``Viva performances exceed all expectations of choral music--they are creative, professional, stimulating and magical--and an absolute treat. We enjoy them personally and we are very proud to introduce friends of the University to this outstanding group.'' Ms. Hoffmann's performances--as pianist and conductor--span a broad repertoire from Mozart to multi-cultural music, from the Renaissance to Prepared Piano. A particular interest of Ms. Hoffmann's is multi-media presentations of art, music and poetry. She is known for the skill, authority, imagination, daring, dazzle, and that dash of irresistible playfulness she brings to her musical endeavors. In her hands the conductor's baton becomes a magic wand, coaxing, coaching, and demanding the best of singers and orchestra alike.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 196) supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I might consume. I would first like to commend my distinguished colleague and a former member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, for introducing this important resolution. Nearly 5 years ago, representatives of governments around the globe, including the United States, stood together and agreed to reduce by one-half the number of people who lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by the year 2015. We now stand at the midpoint of that target, and we are no closer to reaching it than we were at the outset. Today over 900 million people lack access to safe water, and over 1.3 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation. Climate change is rapidly depleting the world's already badly stretched water resources. Each year more than 3 billion of our fellow human beings suffer from preventable water-related diseases. As a result of these diseases, 5 million people die. Most of these victims are children under the age of 5. Clearly, more must be done to address this humanitarian catastrophe. Our legislation, H. Res. 196, demonstrates the commitment of the Congress to achieve the goals and ideals of World Water Day to increase the availability of clean water. Collectively, we have the means to address this global crisis. What we need is political will for action. Congress swiftly acted with the passage of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act in 2005, a critically important piece of legislation spearheaded by the distinguished gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) with the support of my former colleague, Chairman Henry Hyde, and myself. This resolution is another step in improving our commitment to bringing clean water and basic sanitation to the poorest of the poor. H. Res. 196 urges our own government to utilize every resource at our disposal to improve access to clean water and sanitation for those most in need. It recognizes the importance of conservation and sustainable management of water resources to both human health and the quality of life. We must do all we can to provide clean water and basic sanitation for all people across the globe. Madam Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do so. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 7 minutes to the author of this resolution, my good friend from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend from Ohio, the distinguished chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, Mr. Kucinich.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend and neighbor from California, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, chairwoman of the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 100) condemning the recent violent actions of the Government of Zimbabwe against peaceful opposition party activists and members of civil society, as amended.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, first I want to thank my good friend from Florida, Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Donald Payne and Ranking Member Chris Smith, and all the other cosponsors of this resolution for joining me in condemning the egregious violence perpetrated against innocent civilians by the Government of Zimbabwe. For the past 6 years, the Government of Zimbabwe has been on a path of failed policies and distorted vision. As the economy of the country spiraled downward, the Central Bank has been unresponsive and reckless. Zimbabwe was once known as Southern Africa's bread basket. But after years of disastrous misrule, the people there now find themselves eating field mice to stave off hunger. Zimbabwean officials have the temerity to declare to the world that they eat field mice because they are a delicacy. On March 11, many segments of Zimbabwe's society joined together to hold a prayer breakfast to focus attention on the country's desperate situation. The government reacted swiftly, violently cracking down on the gathering. In this incident, six opposition activists were shot, and over 50 had to be hospitalized, including key opposition leaders, many of whom did not get proper treatment for their severe injuries. This latest incident underscores a disturbing pattern of recent years. The Zimbabwean Government pledges peace, then commits human rights violations against its own people, and it precipitates humanitarian crisis after humanitarian crisis. In response to legitimate protests, the government has retaliated with draconian legislation and harsh security enforcement. It transformed Zimbabwe's poor children into violent militia members, not unlike child soldiers in other ravaged African countries. In 2005, the Zimbabwean Government launched its infamous Operation Throw Out the Trash against citizens in major cities, driving some 700,000 innocent people from their homes, businesses, and livelihoods. So I ask Mugabe, the dictator of this country, what kind of human being called himself a ``leader,'' yet is willing to commit atrocities against the very people he is supposed to lead? In spite of Zimbabwe's embittered rhetoric toward the United States, our Congress passed, 6 years ago, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act, offering significant economic and political aid to Zimbabwe if it would reverse its anti-democratic and anti-people ways. Zimbabwe had invaded a neighboring country, grossly mismanaged its economy, flaunted the rule of law and democratic practices. Using the diplomatic tools at our disposal, our government imposed travel and economic sanctions against individuals who were responsible for the grossest violations. The United States remains open to change in Zimbabwe, hopeful about prospects and ready to reward its arrival. We clearly provided an opportunity for Zimbabwe to reverse course and to reap generous economic benefits from the American people. Unfortunately, the Zimbabwean leaders are bent on a bitter and disastrous course that no sane or rational appeal from its own citizens or the community of nations has been able to reverse. Today Zimbabwe, once one of the most promising countries of Africa, is a dismal shadow of its former self. It faces an unfathomable inflation rate of 3,000 percent, the highest on the planet, and a shocking 80 percent of the people of the country are unemployed. Our resolution condemns the economic and political madness that is gripping Zimbabwe and urges the government to return to sanity, end the state-sponsored violence, and address the needs of its people. I, again, want to thank all of those who cosponsored my resolution and urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of H. Con. Res. 100. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to my good friend from New Jersey, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, Mr. Payne. (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1681) to amend the Congressional Charter of The American National Red Cross to modernize its governance structure, to enhance the ability of the board of governors of The American National Red Cross to support the critical mission of The American National Red Cross in the 21st century, and for other purposes, as amended.

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