Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. This legislation, Mr. Speaker, represents a small, but important, change to existing law to help ease in one small way the suffering of U.S. citizens whose relatives have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, we are at war. Hundreds of thousands of Americans from both our regular forces and from the National Guard and Reserves have been deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries around the globe. Our forces have been subject to more stress than any time since the Vietnam War when the United States had the draft. The men and women who have performed so magnificently for their country deserve all the support we can give them, and their families deserve every possible relief we can give them as well. The legislation before us today affords those families some relief at a time of unimaginable loss. Many members of our Armed Forces have developed ties and families abroad, and a few of them are being buried at private cemeteries in foreign lands after making the ultimate sacrifice. At present, our law requires grieving parents, grandparents, and other relatives to pay nearly $100 in first-time passport fees when all they want to do is to attend their family member's final honor. For a large family these costs can add up and for no good reason. The legislation before us remedies this problem. It authorizes the Department of State to waive the passport fees in this situation, just as the Department is currently allowed to do when the family member is being buried in a U.S. military cemetery. It also extends the waiver to allow grandparents to be eligible for it. Mr. Speaker, this is a problem that affects relatively few people. Indeed, the Congressional Budget Office has concluded that it would have no significant impact on the Federal budget; but when it does happen, it can be a godsend to those who have lost so much. I commend my dear friend, the Senate sponsor of this legislation, Senator Joe Biden of Delaware, for introducing this humanitarian measure; and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it. Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of our men and women bravely serving in the Armed Forces--past, present, and future. As they fight the forces of terrorism around the globe we must seek to honor their sacrifices made to preserve our freedoms. As we remember them on March 26, National Support the Troops Day, it is only fitting that we participate in a moment of silence to reflect on their service. Those currently serving in our Armed Forces are protecting liberty that was established by the Founding Fathers and has been preserved by our Nation's veterans. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen daily risk their lives fighting those who wish to enslave mankind to religious extremism, oppression, and tyranny. Today I also rise in support of S. 1184, an effort to properly honor those whose loved ones have fallen in combat. It is the least we can do to waive passport fees for those who must travel overseas in order to visit the resting place of their relatives who have given the full measure of service. From the beaches of France to deserts of Africa, American soldiers have given their lives and been interred on foreign soil. We are ever grateful for their sacrifice and this is but a small way we can now support their relatives. Finally, recognizing that our military is dependent on a robust recruiting operation, I give my full support for H. Con. Res. 354. To preserve an all volunteer military service, it is essential that recruiters be granted access to the best and brightest American students. Service in the military is an honorable position and without our Armed Services, we would not have the academic freedoms that have made our Nation so advanced in culture and science. I recently had the pleasure of recognizing New Jersey's Fifth District nominees to the U.S. Service Academies. Not all students have that honor, but all students should have the option of learning more about this noble profession from qualified Armed Forces recruiters.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend from Maryland for yielding, for his eloquent statement and for his leadership on all human rights issues that come before this House. Mr. Speaker, like all of our colleagues, I welcome the democratic strides that Ukraine has taken since the Orange Revolution, and I want to note that the country has met the basic narrow condition for lifting Jackson-Vanik restrictions. Jews are allowed to emigrate from Ukraine. But I am very deeply concerned about the larger human rights questions, and particularly the failure to deal with rampant anti-Semitism in Ukraine. Mr. Speaker, the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors anti-Semitic incidents around the world, reports a disturbing trend in Ukraine. In 2005, 164 incidents of anti-Semitism, ranging from vandalism to brutal violence, were reported there, three times the incidents reported in 2004. The principal source of anti-Semitic agitation in Ukraine is the so- called private university MAUP, which is officially recognized as an institute of higher education. It is accredited by Ukraine's Ministry of Education, it has tens of thousands of students enrolled at various campuses around the country, and it offers courses in many fields. But despite the apparent claim of legitimacy, this is the worst kind of disgrace to academia worldwide. This so-called university organizes sickening anti-Semitic meetings and conferences and regularly publishes anti-Semitic articles and statements in two widely distributed periodicals. Its so-called president and other faculty members have made it their life's goal to resuscitate and spread anti-Semitism in Ukraine, a country with a disgraceful history and mass murder in that subject. The president of this university, Shchokin, is the head of another organization which also uses its license for purely anti- Semitic activities. One of these institution's most appalling actions has been to court the disgraced and odious American white supremacist David Duke. This ``university'' awarded him a doctorate for a thesis entitled, ``Zionism as a Form of Ethnic Supremism.'' David Duke holds forth in the classrooms in Ukraine on history and international relations. He was also a key participant in a June 2005 conference sponsored by this so- called university entitled, ``Zionism: A Threat to World Peace.'' Other leading anti-Semites in Ukraine were given star billing at that conference, including Holocaust deniers. Recently the president of the so-called university expressed public support for Iranian President Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust, and approved of his threat to wipe Israel off the map. Mr. Speaker, in meetings with officials of Ukraine and top officials of our own government, I have repeatedly emphasized that I cannot support lifting Jackson-Vanik provisions for Ukraine when the government fails to deal with the issue of anti-Semitism. I have called upon Ukrainian officials to speak out and publicly denounce this vile venom from the so-called university and its president. I am pleased to report to my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, that while this ugly problem has not yet been fully resolved, over the last few months a number of positive steps have been taken by the Government of Ukraine, and that is the reason I am willing to support the lifting of Jackson-Vanik for Ukraine. I would like to mention the most positive actions that have been taken to deal with anti-Semitism in response to the serious concerns that I have raised with both Ukrainian and American officials. The President of Ukraine, Victor Yushchenko, on December 5, 2005, publicly condemned anti-Semitism, and he specifically criticized the so-called university, MAUP, for its systematic publication of viciously and violently anti-Semitic articles. President Yushchenko urged all Ukrainians to join him in condemning all manifestations of anti-Semitism and xenophobia, which he said the new democratic Ukrainian state will not tolerate. President Yushchenko called upon the faculty of this so-called university to respect citizens of all nationalities and religious faiths and to stop rousing national hatred. On January 23 of this year, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Borys Tarasiuk, strongly condemned the anti-Semitic actions of this university. He announced, ``Having exhausted all efforts to convince the university's leaders to drop their unlawful and wrongful actions'', the Foreign Minister broke off all contacts with the university a year ago. The Foreign Minister stressed, ``There is no place for any form of anti-Semitism or xenophobia in Ukraine.'' The Ministry of Education and Science also issued a statement on January 23 accusing this so-called university of violating Ukrainian law. It said that there was persistent noncompliance with requirements of state licensing rules for universities. The ministry's statements said this institution pursued ``activities inconsistent with the status of higher educational institutions in the Ukraine.'' I am calling on the Government of Ukraine to lift the license of the so-called university to function. It is a disgrace to the new Ukraine, and it is a disgrace to the civilized world, and I am looking forward to early action by the Government of Ukraine. On February 16, Mr. Speaker, the Presidential party made a statement condemning the anti-Semitic activities of this institution, noting, ``Inflaming hostility, anti-Semitism and xenophobia by leaders of MAUP is a blatant violation of the rights and freedoms of the people. It casts a shadow on Ukraine, a country pursuing the way of democracy''. Just this past Friday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Borys Tarasiuk, in a letter to me, said that his government takes anti-Semitism seriously and will deal with it in a bold manner. He said that all governmental departments have ceased cooperation with this institution, that it is becoming isolated and marginalized. Its future is more than vague, in view of the ongoing investigations, said Minister Tarasiuk in his letter. He also stated that formal charges are to be filed in the coming weeks. I look forward to the filing of these formal charges and the lifting of the license of the institution. Mr. Speaker, at the end of my statement, I will insert into the Record the full text of all of these documents. Mr. Speaker, I believe Ukrainian officials are acting in good faith to stop the nauseating and repulsive anti-Semitic actions of this so- called university and its vile and despicable leadership. I will continue to monitor anti-Semitism in Ukraine, and I will continue to work with the officials of the Ukrainian Government to bring this ugly process to an end. I support, Mr. Speaker, reluctantly and with reservations, the legislation before us today to grant PNT status and to remove the Jackson-Vanik provisions from Ukraine. Ukraine has taken important steps forward, and I look forward to working with the Government of Ukraine under the leadership of President Yushchenko in dealing with the problem I discussed. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record here the materials I discussed previously: Ukraine President Condemns Anti-Semitism Victor Yushchenko urged society to jointly condemn all manifestations of anti-Semitism and xenophobia, and claimed that the state would not tolerate them. The President stressed that government should protect citizens of all nationalities and religious beliefs. He pledged that it would consistently fight against national, racial or religious discrimination in our country. ``There can be no national issue in a civilized country,'' he said. The Head of State is worried that anti-Semitism spreads throughout Ukraine. He condemned the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management (IAPM) as an institution that systematically publishes anti-Semitic articles in its publication `Personnel.' Yushchenko said he had left the supervisory council of the journal to protest against this inhumane policy. He called on professors of the IAPM to respect citizens of all nationalities and confessions and to ``stop rousing national hatred.''

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I want to commend my good friend Chris Smith from New Jersey for his leadership on this issue, as well as all of my colleagues who played a role in its development. Mr. Speaker, Alexander Lukashenko is, in fact, the last dictator of Europe. He is running for reelection as President of Belarus for the third time, and there is really no suspense about the outcome. He is running a neo-Stalinist dictatorship with the usual techniques. Although it is now a decade and a half since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Lukashenko is conducting elections that would make Leonid Brezhnev and Nikita Khrushchev blush. Freedom of the press is nonexistent in Belarus. All television and radio stations are either owned or controlled by the government. Newscasts offer nothing but sickening praise for Lukashenko. The main opposition candidate, Alexander Milinkevich, says that his name has never been mentioned on television. A publication called ``People's Will'' is the last remaining newspaper in the country which is not yet under the thumb of Lukashenko. The state-owned media distribution network refused to distribute this newspaper, and the state-run press kiosks are prohibited from selling it. Last year a government-controlled court found this newspaper guilty of slandering a progovernment politician properly accused in the U.N. Oil-for-Food investigation. This so-called court imposed a fine of $50,000 against the newspaper, an absolutely incredible figure in a country such as Belarus where $50,000 sounds like $500 million to us. Of course, the newspaper, which has a very modest circulation, was unable to pay the fine, and its loyal readers contributed in small amounts enough money to pay the fine. The editor of this paper was informed by the government that the printing company, which was under contract to print the newspaper, was breaking its contract and would no longer print it. The newspaper had to find a printing house in Russia, and copies of the paper are mailed to subscribers, but, of course, they arrive days or weeks later. Mr. Speaker, the government's techniques for keeping journalists in line is quite simple. Over the past several years, journalists known for their critical coverage of Lukashenko died under mysterious circumstances. Independent journalists simply vanished without a trace. In October, Lukashenko pushed through a law that makes it a crime to discredit the state or any of its officials. This ``crime'' carries a sentence of 2 years in prison. The head of the Belarusian Journalists' Association said, ``All information that contradicts official propaganda is blocked.'' The government is so paranoid about controlling the dissemination of information that even buying a copying machine requires the approval of the Ministry of the Interior. Mr. Speaker, complete control of newspapers, television and radio is not all this nondemocratic government is doing to ensure the reelection of Lukashenko. Less than a week ago, the opposition presidential candidate was accused of damaging a picture of the country's President and imprisoned. The Belarus State Security Committee, which, significantly in Russian, has the initials of the KGB, which were the initials of Stalin's secret police, reported that it had uncovered a coup masterminded by the opposition, planned for the day after the election. The supposed coup became a basis for the Government of Belarus to ban 72 nongovernmental organizations which were accused of plotting this supposed coup. Mr. Speaker, the resolution we are considering expresses support for the people of Belarus and urges the government to show respect for the rule of law and respect for human and civil rights of the Belarusian people. It calls for free and fair elections. It is important that we put on record our indignation, our frustration and our outrage at Belarus' blatant disregard for civilized governmental procedures and human rights. We earnestly seek the establishment of good relations with the people of Belarus, but that can only happen if the government of that country guarantees its citizens the opportunity to exercise their civil liberties, their political rights and privileges, including the right to full freedom of expression. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this very important resolution. We must send a clear and unequivocal message to Lukashenko that before Belarus can be integrated into the community of civilized Nations, a democratic political system must be in place in that country. I urge all of my colleagues to support the resolution, and I insert at this point in the Record a statement by the National Democratic Institute. Statement by the National Democratic Institute on the Current Situation in Belarus Around the world, citizens have organized in a nonpartisan way to monitor elections as a means of promoting confidence and participation in the electoral process. The right of citizens to monitor their elections is a fundamental democratic principle, and over the past 25 years the National Democratic Institute is proud to have worked with nonpartisan monitoring groups in more than 65 countries in every region of the world. In Belarus, civic activists have also sought to monitor their elections, a right which is guaranteed to them under Article 13 of the Belarusian electoral code and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) 1990 Copenhagen Document. In 2001, the OSCE along with NDI provided support to a coalition of nonpartisan domestic monitors who observed the 2001 presidential poll, and NDI assisted the efforts of more than 3,000 Belarusian nonpartisan monitors for the 2004 parliamentary elections. These monitors acted with integrity and professionalism, although their attempts to register as a nonpartisan election monitoring organization had been rejected by the Belarusian authorities. A year later, many of the same monitors once again sought to register a citizen initiative called Partnership in order to monitor the upcoming presidential poll. Their request for registration was once again denied. Two weeks ago, on February 21, several of these civic activists were arrested and their offices and homes raided. The KGB accused them of ``slandering the president and illegally running an unregistered organization.'' In its propaganda campaign the Belarusian authorities falsely accused Partnership of organizing fraudulent exit polls and planning a violent uprising after the election. The activists were formally charged on March 3 and remain in detention. NDI Chairman Madeleine K. Albright made the following statement: ``The National Democratic Institute deplores this attempt by the Belarusian authorities to deny the basic rights of their citizens to peacefully monitor the March 19 presidential election. We condemn the recent arrests of civic activists and the accusations leveled against Partnership, whose only interest is to promote a democratic election process and peacefully monitor that process. By refusing to register nonpartisan monitoring groups and restricting their access to assistance from outside organizations, Belarus is violating its commitments as a member state of the OSCE and other international human rights instruments to which it is a party. We call on the government of Belarus to immediately release those detained and allow them to continue their rightful monitoring effort without interference. The Belarus government cannot expect to earn international respect if it does not respect international norms.'' Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of Edward R. Cummings of Maryland and lament his untimely passing. Mr. Speaker, we all know of the many unsung heroes that make this great institution work, the staff and advisers who labor in obscurity but without whom we could not do our work to represent the American people. It is even more so in the Executive Branch, where an individual can spend a whole career and never be introduced to the wider public, laboring not for the recognition that drives so many in the public sphere but instead toiling to uphold the public interest to and to serve his country. Our government cannot function without such individuals and it is they who can bring order and sanity to an ever changing kaleidoscope of figures who pass through the United States Government as elections occur and administrations change. Mr. Speaker, yesterday this Nation lost such a person, a remarkable public servant and a remarkable human being, Edward R. Cummings. Mr. Cummings served his country for over 30 years, first with the U.S. Army and then with the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Cummings earned a bachelor's degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1972, and then became an active military officer in 1972, where he completed training to become an airborne ranger, one of this Nation's elite forces. Instead of what surely would have been a distinguished career in armed combat, Mr. Cummings took another path and with the support of the U.S. military, entered George Washington University Law School. He studied a variety of subjects that were directly relevant to legal work in the international sphere, such as international law, Chinese law, human rights law, diplomatic and consular law, and United Nations law, and served on the G.W. international law journal. In 1975, he graduated first in his class of 317 students. Mr. Cummings was on active duty with the U.S. Army until 1979, graduating from judge advocate general's schools, and serving in the Office of the Judge Advocate General where he represented the Department of Defense at a number of international negotiations related to the Law of War. He remained in the Army Reserve from 1979 to 2000, assigned to the War Crimes and Prisoners of War Branch of the Office of the Judge Advocate General. He retired as a lieutenant colonel. In 1979, because of his distinguished representation of the Defense Department and his exceptional contributions to the U.S. delegations in which he participated, Mr. Cummings was invited to join the Office of the Legal Adviser of the U.S. Department of State where, over the course of nearly twenty five years, he has served as an attorney and adviser to numerous U.S. officials throughout the Government. Among other positions, he has been the Assistant Legal Adviser for Politico- Military Affairs, Assistant Legal Adviser for Nonproliferation, Assistant Legal Adviser for Arms Control and Verification, and Counselor for Legal Affairs at the U.S. Mission in Geneva. From 2000 to the present, he has served as the U.S. Head of Delegation to negotiations relating to the Convention on Conventional Weapons. Appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1987, Mr. Cummings has received numerous awards for superior service to the Department of State and has written on such subjects as the law of belligerent occupation, war crimes, arms control, international humanitarian law, and extradition. But this description of his career does not do justice to his accomplishments. Last year, after he was diagnosed with the pancreatic cancer that killed him yesterday, George Washington University Law School organized a symposium entitled Lawyers and War in honor of Mr. Cummings, which was held on September 30, 2005. Mr. Cummings was fortunate not only to hear a set of knowledgeable remarks, but to hear the gratitude of his colleagues and proteges and to reflect on the amazing set of accomplishments that he participated in. Whether it was negotiating status of forces agreements to protect our troops abroad, helping draft the first set of comprehensive sanctions against South Africa during the apartheid era, supporting and then leading negotiations to control the use of conventional weapons that might cause unnecessary suffering, or aiding in the positive developments in international human rights and international humanitarian law, Mr. Cummings made an invaluable contribution to this nation and to humankind. Let me just cite three accomplishments that can be directly related to Mr. Cummings that may not be his most important but have special significance to some of my colleagues in this body. First, Mr. Cummings was instrumental in fashioning the compromise that allowed the United States to become a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict. For those who did not follow that debate, most countries around the world wanted to ban the recruitment of any individual under the age of 18. However, because the United States recruits students in high school, the U.S. military insisted that the age be reduced to 17. This position put the United States in the posture of preventing an international consensus and seeming to be in league with those who were not committed to banning this terrible abuse at all. It was Ed Cummings who originated the idea of allowing voluntary recruitment of 17 year olds but not allowing them in combat until they were 18, creating an international consensus that put the focus where it always should have been, on militias that conscript 12, 13 and 14 year olds. Mr. Cummings also worked for decades on enhancing the substance and image of the laws of war. One life long accomplishment in this area was the recent decision by the countries that are party to the Geneva Conventions to create a new symbol in addition to the red cross and red crescent to allow the Israeli society, the Magen David Adom, to become an official member of the Red Cross community. This success, which will do much to erase a small but important irritant in this country's relation to the International Committee on the Red Cross, was due in large part to Mr. Cummings 20 year dedication to achieving this end. Another of his major accomplishments was his success in persuading the international community to agree on the extension of the Conventional Weapons Convention to all forms of armed conflict, whether international or internal in character. It has been in the savage internal armed conflicts of past decades that the civilian population has suffered most from the indiscriminate use of conventional weapons, and Mr. Cummings efforts will help to mitigate and limit this lamentable carnage. These three examples of a much deeper and richer career represent all that was exceptional about Mr. Cummings's service to this country. Using his full grasp of the complex issues he dealt with, his deft understanding of the U.S. military and the mechanisms of government, his keen eye for cutting through the issues to find a way through controversy, his strong personal relationships with individuals across our government and around the world, and his unwavering commitment to accomplish his mission, Mr. Cummings was able to accomplish these three difficult goals, thereby increasing both stature and national security of the United States. There are countless other successes of this sort which would take up pages of this record if they were described in full. Finally, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Cummings was an extraordinary human being. His colleagues and friends speak personally and movingly about his commitment to others as individuals and as attorneys. If the law remains a place where law school is but a starting point and it is the learning from one's colleagues that is the most important basis for success, Mr. Cummings has served as ``master'' to many ``apprentices'' who are now serving their own distinguished careers in many walks of life (although Mr. Cummings would have dismissed those terms, calling everyone ``colleagues''). This is a legacy that will last beyond Mr. Cummings final horizon. And with his personal warmth and his many avocations such as opera, mountain climbing and skiing, Mr. Cummings was admired by all who knew him. Mr. Speaker, it is tragic that just at a time when Mr. Cummings was considering moving on to a new stage in his career and life, he was diagnosed in December 2004 with an untreatable form of pancreatic cancer which took him from us just yesterday. From all reports, his efforts to combat this illness and to show grace in the face of death itself demonstrated once again why Mr. Cummings is respected and loved, and our heart goes out to his wife and life partner, Clair, during this difficult time. While Mr. Cummings was a clear example to all of us of a life well- lived, his tragic end is still a loss for all of us. We can only be thankful that this fellow traveler was able to do so much for his friends and acquaintances and for his country while he was with us.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to celebrate the San Mateo County Sheriff's Department on their Sesquicentennial Anniversary. The Department is the oldest and largest law enforcement agency in San Mateo County, California, located in my Congressional District. The San Mateo County Sheriff's Department history begins with the formation of the County of San Mateo in 1856. Residents of the Peninsula watched as John W. Ackerson was sworn in as the first sheriff of San Mateo County. He had three total staff members, an Undersheriff, bailiff of the Courts and a jailer. There weren't even patrol duties for the office. Mr. Speaker, today, from those humble beginnings, the San Mateo Sheriff's Office has grown to a force of 450 officers and is responsible for everything from patrolling the county to running the courts and the correctional facilities. They have exemplary task forces, specializing in narcotics, regional terrorist threat assessment and emergency services among others. Today, the Sheriff's Office is still the Chief Law Enforcement Agency of the County of San Mateo. Mr. Speaker, since 1993 the Sheriff's Office has been most ably led by Sheriff Don Horsley. In fact, Sheriff Horsley picked out the badge marking the 150th anniversary of the Sheriff's Office. The commemorative badge replicates the Old West style that Sheriff Ackerson would have worn. I dearly appreciate their extraordinary service that they provide to the County and I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to the San Mateo Sheriff's Office for the honorable duty they have performed for the last 150 years.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, let me just indicate to my friend from Texas that he has now discovered the ultimate oxymoron, a benign Islamic fanaticism hell bent on developing weapons of mass destruction. This takes the concept of oxymoron to a new height. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished Democratic whip.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to my good friend from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich). (Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution. Madam Speaker, unless the international community acts quickly and decisively, the world's chief terrorist state may soon possess the greatest weapon of terror ever created. A critical first step was taken on February 2 at an emergency session of the member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors. By a vote of 27-3 they reported Iran's history of deception, lies and noncompliance to the United Nations Security Council. The ayatollahs of terror in Tehran were sent a bold and unambiguous message that their clandestine efforts to build nuclear weapons and their transparent lies of peaceful intent will no longer be tolerated by the civilized world. Madam Speaker, Tehran sponsors terrorism as an official state policy. I wish to repeat this. Tehran sponsors terrorism as official state policy. I ask my colleagues to imagine this terrorist state armed with nuclear weapons and in possession of large amounts of nuclear weapons material. Even if it did not put these destructive materials up for sale, a nuclear armed Iran would terrorize and destabilize the entire Middle East. Terrorist-in-chief Ahmadinejad himself advocates wiping Israel from the map. Madam Speaker, Iran has flouted every nuclear safeguard agreement and reneged on every single commitment it has made. The International Atomic Energy Agency has documented that Iran acquired designs, equipment and facilities to produce nuclear weapons grade uranium and plutonium from the same nuclear black market that used to supply Libya. Iran experimented with trigger material for a nuclear bomb. There is every reason to believe that Tehran has acquired actual bomb blueprints, as Libya used to do. Iran has also reneged on its remaining empty assurances to negotiate in good faith with Britain, France and Germany by breaking the international seals on its uranium enrichment facility. Ahmadinejad, in a rare moment of lucidity, revealed Tehran's view of the relative balance of power in these negotiations; and I quote, ``the West needs us more than we need them.'' With billions of dollars of existing western investment in Iran's oil and gas fields, Tehran's ruling elite has shrewdly calculated that the West will not impose far-reaching and meaningful sanctions against Iran over the nuclear issue. Madam Speaker, we must change Tehran's calculations, hopefully by diplomacy and pressure but with international sanctions if necessary. The United Nations Security Council should require all members of the U.N. to reject any and all investment and nonhumanitarian trade with Iran until Tehran verifiably gives up its nuclear fuel and weapon material production capabilities. But, Madam Speaker, we cannot wait for the Security Council to act. Responsible European and Asian governments must immediately ensure that their companies, banks, and other financial organizations will suspend and terminate their existing investments in Iraq. Some banks and oil companies are already leaving Iran over just the possibility of sanctions. Those that remain must be given immediate incentives by the international community to stop business as usual with a developing nuclear weapon terrorist state. As part of this, the United States must finally use the sanctions authority in U.S. law to punish and deter those who continue to invest in and thereby aid and abet a state bent on adding nuclear weapons to its arsenal of terror. Madam Speaker, this is the first resolution of the year regarding Iran. I guarantee you it will not be the last one. We must reauthorize the Iran Sanctions Act, which will be accomplished through the Iran Freedom Support Act, a bill offered by my good friend, the gentlewoman from Florida, and myself. Madam Speaker, our allies in Europe have learned a hard lesson: playing nice with a terrorist regime gets you nothing. Now that the Europeans are with us in demanding Security Council action, it is imperative that they take the next step by imposing a comprehensive sanctions regime against Tehran. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I include for the record the statement of the American representative to the IAEA Special Board of Governors meeting on February 4. Mr. Chairman, I wish to join other colleagues in expressing condolences to the Egyptian delegation, and through them to the Egyptian people, for yesterday's tragedy on the Red Sea. My government is pleased to have joined an overwhelming majority of Board members in signaling to Iran through adoption of this resolution the Board's firm determination that Iran must meet its nonproliferation obligations. The Board's September 24, 2005 resolution found Iran in noncompliance with its safeguards obligations pursuant to Article XII.C. That resolution also found that pursuant to Article III.B.4, Iran's nuclear program raises questions that fall within the competence of the UNSC. At that time and again in November, we deferred reporting Iran to the Council to give Iran yet another opportunity to choose diplomacy over confrontation. Unfortunately, Iran did not take that opportunity. As a result, the Board today carried forward the statutory process begun in September, by voting to report this Board's past findings and concerns regarding Iran's noncompliance. I agree with the distinguished Ambassador of Egypt that today's report to the Security Council will not divest the IAEA of the challenge posed by Iran. We continue to expect the Agency's investigation of Iran's nuclear program to proceed actively and urgently and we look forward to the Director General's implementation report in March. We note that the DG's report will also be conveyed to the UNSC immediately after our next meeting. By reporting Iran to the Security Council now, we seek to add the Council's weight to reinforce the Agency's role, reinforce its investigation, and add an imperative for Iran to choose a course of cooperation and negotiation over a course of confrontation. The Agency has a specific mandate to deal with nuclear safeguards issues. This mandate is without prejudice to the rights and responsibilities of the Security Council to address matters that raise questions of international peace and security, as we have found is the case with Iran. That is why the IAEA Statute expressly contemplates the Security Council's involvement in such instances of noncompliance. And that is why the Board made clear in September that such a report is mandatory. In his recent State of the Union address, President Bush emphasized that, ``the Iranian government is defying the world with its nuclear ambitions, and the nations of the world must not permit the Iranian regime to gain nuclear weapons.'' We believe that this Board decision sends a strong and clear message to Iran's leaders to abandon their pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability. We continue to seek a diplomatic solution and we do not envision diplomacy ending as a result of this report. Quite the contrary, we see this as part of a new phase of diplomacy, one aimed at strengthening the ongoing efforts of the Agency to investigate Iran's deeply troubling nuclear activities, and underscoring the calls on Iran to resolve our concerns through peaceful diplomacy rather than threats and confrontation. Through this path, and only through this path, can Iran persuasively demonstrate that it has now chosen to confine its nuclear program to exclusively peaceful purposes. And through this path Iran can also start to restore its standing in the international community to the benefit of the Iranian people. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the distinguished ranking member of our Armed Services Committee.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a brief by the Deputy Director General For Safeguards on Iran's development of nuclear weapons. Developments in the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Agency Verification of Iran's Suspension of Enrichment-Related and Reprocessing Activities The purpose of this brief is to provide an update on the developments that have taken place since November 2005 in connection with the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) and on the Agency's verification of Iran's voluntary suspension of enrichment related and reprocessing activities. The brief provides factual information concerning those developments; it does not include any assessments thereof. Iran has continued to facilitate access under its Safeguards Agreement as requested by the Agency, and to act as if the Additional Protocol is in force, including by providing in a timely manner the requisite declarations and access to locations. 1. Enrichment Programme As detailed in the Director General's report of 18 November 2005, during meetings that took place in October and November 2005, the Agency requested Iran to provide additional information on certain aspects of its enrichment programme. Responses to some of these requests were provided during discussions held in Tehran from 25 to 29 January 2006 between Iranian officials and an Agency team, headed by the Deputy Director General for Safeguards. This information is currently being assessed. 1.A. Contamination As part of its assessment of the correctness and completeness of Iran's declarations concerning its enrichment activities, the Agency is continuing to investigate the source(s) of low enriched uranium, LEU, particles, and some high enriched uranium (HEU) particles, which were found at locations where Iran has declared that centrifuge components had been manufactured, used and/or stored. 1.B. The 1987 offer As previously reported to the Board, Iran showed the Agency in January 2005 a copy of a hand-written one-page document reflecting an offer said to have been made to Iran in 1987 by a foreign intermediary concerning the possible supply of a disassembled centrifuge (including drawings, descriptions and specifications for the production of centrifuges); drawings, specifications and calculations for a ``complete plant''; and materials for 2000 centrifuge machines. The document also made reference to: auxiliary vacuum and electric drive equipment; a liquid nitrogen plant; a water treatment and purification plant; a complete set of workshop equipment for mechanical, electrical and electronic support; and uranium re-conversion and casting capabilities. On 25 January 2006, Iran reiterated that the one-page document was the only remaking documentary evidence relevant to the scope and content of the 1987 offer, attributing this to the secret nature of the programme and the management style of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) at that time. Iran stated that no other written evidence exists, such as meeting minutes, administrative documents, reports, personal notebooks or the like, to substantiate its statements concerning that offer. 1.C. Genesis of the mid-1990s offer According to Iran, there were no contacts with the network between 1987 and mid-1993. Statements made by Iran and by key members of the network about the events leading to the mid- 1990s offer are still at variance with each other. In this context, Iran has been asked to provide further clarification of the timing and purpose of certain trips taken by AEOI staff members in the mid-1990s. P-1 centrifuge component deliveries in the mid-1990s: Iran has been unable to supply any documentation or other information about the meetings that led to the acquisition of 500 sets of P-1 centrifuge components in the mid-1990s. The Agency is still awaiting clarification of the dates and contents of these shipments. P-2 centrifuge programme: Iran still maintains that, as a result of the discussions held with the intermediaries in the mid-1990s, the intermediaries only supplied drawings for P-2 centrifuge components (which contained no supporting specifications), and that no P-2 components were delivered along with the drawings or thereafter. Iran continues to assert that no work was carried out on P-2 centrifuges during the period 1995 to 2002, and that at no time during this period did it ever discuss with the intermediaries the P-2 centrifuge design, or the possible supply of P-2 centrifuge components. In light of information available to the Agency indicating the possible deliveries of such components, which information was shared with Iran, Iran was asked in November 2005 to check again whether any deliveries had been made after 1995. In connection with the R&D work on a modified P-2 design said by Iran to have been carried out by a contracting company between 2002 and July 2003, Iran has confirmed that the contractor had made enquiries about, and purchased, magnets suitable for the P-2 centrifuge design. The Agency is still awaiting clarification of all of Iran's efforts to acquire such magnets. 2. 2. Uranium Metal Iran has shown the Agency more than 60 documents said to have been the drawings, specifications and supporting documentation handed over by the intermediaries, many of which are dated from the early- to mid-1980's. Among these was a 15-page document describing the procedures for the reduction of UF6 to metal in small quantities, and the casting of enriched and depleted uranium metal into hemispheres, related to the fabrication of nuclear weapon components. It did not, however, include dimensions or other specifications for machined pieces for such components. According to Iran, this document had been provided on the initiative of the network, and not at the request of the AEOI. Iran has declined the Agency's request to provide the Agency with a copy of the document, but did permit the Agency during its visit in January 2006 to examine the document again and to place it under Agency seal. 3. Transparency Visits and Discussions On 1 November 2005, the Agency was given access to a military site at Parchin, with a view to providing assurances regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities at that site, where several environmental samples were taken. Final assessment is still pending the results of the analysis of those samples. Since 2004, the Agency has been awaiting additional information and clarifications related to efforts made by the Physics Research Centre (PHRC), which had been established at Lavisan-Shian, to acquire dual use materials and equipment that could be used in uranium enrichment and conversion activities. The Agency has also requested interviews with the individuals involved in the acquisition of those items. On 26 January 2006, Iran presented to the Agency documentation the Agency had previously requested on efforts by Iran, which it has stated were unsuccessful, to acquire a number of specific dual use items (electric drive equipment, power supply equipment and laser equipment, including a dye laser). Iran stated that, although the documentation suggested the involvement of the PHRC, the equipment had actually been intended for a laboratory at a technical university where the Head of the PHRC worked as a professor. However, Iran declined to make him available to the Agency for an interview. The DDG-SG reiterated the Agency's request to interview the professor, explaining that it was essential for a better understanding of the envisioned and actual use of the equipment, which included balancing machines, mass spectrometers, magnets and fluorine handling equipment (equipment that appears to be relevant to uranium enrichment). On that same day, the Agency also presented to Iran a list of high vacuum equipment purchased by the PHRC, and asked to see, and to take environmental samples from, the equipment in situ. The following day, some of the high vacuum equipment on the Agency's list was presented at a technical university, and environmental samples were taken from it. On 26 January 2006, Iran provided additional clarification about its efforts in 2000 to procure some other dual use material (high strength aluminium, special steel, titanium and special oils), as had been discussed in January 2005. High strength aluminium was presented to the Agency, and environmental samples were taken therefrom. Iran stated that the material had been acquired for aircraft manufacturing, but had not been used because of its specifications. Iran agreed to provide additional information on inquiries concerning the purchase of special steels, titanium and special oils. Iran also presented information on Iran's acquisition of corrosion resistant steel, valves, and filters, which were made available to the Agency on 31 January 2006 for environmental sampling. On 5 December 2005, the Agency reiterated its request for a meeting to discuss information that had been made available to the Agency about alleged undeclared studies, known as the Green Salt Project, concerning the conversion of uranium dioxide into UF4 (``green salt''), as well as tests related to high explosives and the design of a missile re-entry vehicle, all of which could have a military nuclear dimension and which appear to have administrative interconnections. On 16 December 2005, Iran replied that the ``issues related to baseless allegations.'' Iran agreed on 23 January 2006 to a meeting with the DDG-SG for the clarification of the Green Salt Project, but declined to address the other topics during that meeting. In the course of the meeting, which took place on 27 January 2006, the Agency presented for Iran's review a copy of a process flow diagram related to bench scale conversion and communications related to the project. Iran reiterated that all national nuclear projects are conducted by the AEOI, that the allegations were baseless and that it would provide further clarifications later. 4. Suspension The Agency has continued to verify and monitor all elements of Iran's voluntary suspension of enrichment related and reprocessing activities. In a letter dated 3 January 2006, Iran informed the Agency that it had decided to resume, as from 9 January 2006, ``those R&D on the peaceful nuclear energy programme which ha[d] been suspended as part of its expanded voluntary and non-legally binding suspension'' (GOV/INF/2006/1). On 7 January 2006, the Agency received a letter from Iran requesting that the Agency remove seals applied at Natanz, Farayand Technique and Pars Trash for the monitoring of suspension of enrichment related activities (see GOV/INF/ 2006/2). The seals were removed by Iran on 10 and 11 January 2006 in the presence of Agency inspectors. Since the removal of the seals, Iran has started what it refers to as ``small scale R&D''. As of 30 January 2006, Agency inspectors had not seen any new installation or assembly of centrifuges, or the feeding of UF 6 material for enrichment. However, substantial renovation of the gas handling system is underway at the Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP) at Natanz, and quality control of components and some rotor testing is being conducted at Farayand Technique and Natanz. Due to the fact that all centrifuge-related raw materials and components are without IAEA seals, the Agency's supervision of the R&D activities being carried out by Iran cannot be effective except at PFEP, where containment and surveillance measures are being applied for the enrichment process. The two cylinders at Natanz containing UF6, from which seals had been removed on 10 January 2006, were again placed under Agency containment and surveillance on 29 January 2006. The uranium conversion campaign which commenced at the Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) in Esfahan on 16 November 2005 is continuing and is expected to end in March 2006. All UF6 produced at UCF thus far has remained under Agency containment and surveillance. Using satellite imagery, the Agency has continued to monitor the ongoing civil engineering construction of the Iran Nuclear Research Reactor (IR-40) at Arak.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the resolution adopted by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran: Resolution Adopted on 4 February 2006 the board of governors (a) Recalling all the resolutions adopted by the Board on Iran's nuclear programme, (b) Recalling also the Director General's reports, (c) Recalling that Article IV of the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons stipulates that nothing in the Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable rights of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of the Treaty, (d) Commending the Director General and the Secretariat for their professional and impartial efforts to implement the Safeguards Agreement in Iran, to resolve outstanding safeguards issues in Iran and to verify the implementation by Iran of the suspension, (e) Recalling the Director General's description of this as a special verification case, (f) Recalling that in reports referred to above, the Director General noted that after nearly three years of intensive verification activity, the Agency is not yet in a position to clarify some important issues relating to Iran's nuclear programme or to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran, (g) Recalling Iran's many failures and breaches of its obligations to comply with its NPT Safeguards Agreement and the absence of confidence that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes resulting from the history of concealment of Iran's nuclear activities, the nature of those activities and other issues arising from the Agency's verification of declarations made by Iran since September 2002, (h) Recalling that the Director General has stated that Iran's full transparency is indispensable and overdue for the Agency to be able to clarify outstanding issues (GOV/2005/ 67), (i) Recalling the requests of the Agency for Iran's cooperation in following up on reports relating to equipment, materials and activities which have applications in the conventional military area and in the civilian sphere as well as in the nuclear military area (as indicated by the Director General in GOV/2005/67), (j) Recalling that in November 2005 the Director General reported (GOV/2005/87) that Iran possesses a document related to the procedural requirements for the reduction of UF6 to metal in small quantities, and on the casting and machining of enriched, natural and depleted uranium metal into hemispherical forms, (k) Expressing serious concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, and agreeing that an extensive period of confidence-building is required from Iran, (1) Reaffirming the Board's resolve to continue to work for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, and (m) Recognising that a solution to the Iranian issue would contribute to global nonproliferation efforts and to realising the objective of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, including their means of delivery, 1. Underlines that outstanding questions can best be resolved and confidence built in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's programme by Iran responding positively to the calls for confidence building measures which the Board has made on Iran, and in this context deems it necessary for Iran to: re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to be verified by the Agency; reconsider the construction of a research reactor moderated by heavy water; ratify promptly and implement in full the Additional Protocol; pending ratification, continue to act in accordance with the provisions of the Additional Protocol which Iran signed on 18 December 2003; implement transparency measures, as requested by the Director General, including in GOV/2005/67, which extend beyond the formal requirements of the Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, and include such access to individuals, documentation relating to procurement, dual use equipment, certain military-owned workshops and research and development as the Agency may request in support of its ongoing investigations; 2. Requests the Director General to report to the Security Council of the United Nations that these steps are required of Iran by the Board and to report to the Security Council all IAEA reports and resolutions, as adopted, relating to this issue; 3. Expresses serious concern that the Agency is not yet in a position to clarify some important issues relating to Iran's nuclear programme, including the fact that Iran has in its possession a document on the production of uranium metal hemispheres, since, as reported by the Secretariat, this process is related to the fabrication of nuclear weapon components; and, noting that the decision to put this document under Agency seal is a positive step, requests Iran to maintain this document under Agency seal and to provide a full copy to the Agency; 4. Deeplv regrets that, despite repeated calls from the Board for the maintaining of the suspension of all enrichment related and reprocessing activities which the Board has declared essential to addressing outstanding issues, Iran resumed uranium conversion activities at its Isfahan facility on 8 August 2005 and took steps to resume enrichment activities on 10 January 2006; 5. Calls on Iran to understand that there is a lack of confidence in Iran's intentions in seeking to develop a fissile material production capability against the background of Iran's record on safeguards as recorded in previous Resolutions, and outstanding issues; and to reconsider its position in relation to confidence-building measures, which are voluntary, and non legally binding, and to adopt a constructive approach in relation to negotiations that can result in increased confidence; 6. Requests Iran to extend full and prompt cooperation to the Agency, which the Director General deems indispensable and overdue, and in particular to help the Agency clarify possible activities which could have a military nuclear dimension; 7. Underlines that the Agency's work on verifying Iran's declarations is ongoing and requests the Director General to continue with his efforts to implement the Agency's Safeguards Agreement with Iran, to implement the Additional Protocol to that Agreement pending its entry into force, with a view to providing credible assurances regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and to pursue additional transparency measures required for the Agency to be able to resolve outstanding issues and reconstruct the history and nature of all aspects of Iran's past nuclear activities; 8. Requests the Director General to report on the implementation of this and previous resolutions to the next regular session of the Board, for its consideration, and immediately thereafter to convey, together with any Resolution from the March Board, that report to the Security Council; and 9. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, before yielding back our time, may I just say fanaticism in the field of international affairs is always dangerous. But fanaticism armed with nuclear weapons is not just dangerous; it is unacceptable. Iran is determined to move in the direction of developing nuclear weapons. The civilized world cannot stand by. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and yield myself as much time as I may consume. A few weeks ago, the Palestinian people stunned the world by giving majority control of the Palestinian Legislative Council to Hamas, an entity determined to be a foreign terrorist organizations by both the United States and the Europe Union. Some may point out that the Fatah party's fragmentation combined with the nature of the electoral system chosen by the Palestinian Authority led to this strong Hamas majority. We will be discussing these and other explanations for Hamas's victory over the coming weeks and months. But they do not change the reality that 74 out of 132 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council were won by an organization that not only preaches the destruction of Israel, but has sent suicide bomber after suicide bomber to kill innocent civilians, including young children, and that has been implicated in the deaths of Americans. Mr. Speaker, the resolution we are considering today is simple and to the point: There should be no money for the Palestinian Authority as long as its legislature is controlled by a party that is both a terrorist organization and advocates the destruction of Israel. This is not some plot to effect regime change--this is merely to send a message that the civilized world does not tolerate and will not support terrorists. This resolution means no American funding for the Palestinian Authority as long as Hamas controls the legislature, since there is absolutely no credible sign that Hamas intends to change its ugly charter or do anything else to demonstrate that it now accepts Israel's right to exist. Mr. Speaker, our action on this resolution today will not be the final word of the Congress on this issue. We will return to it again and again. Last week, our colleague from Florida, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, and I--with over 50 of our colleagues--introduced H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, and I am confident that it will soon be brought to the floor. H.R. 4681 puts legislative teeth into the resolution we are considering today. It would, among other things, prohibit by law the funding of a Palestinian Authority controlled by a terrorist organization. Mr. Speaker, the basic thrust of American foreign policy is to fight terrorism globally, and it is self-evident that the United States will not fund an organization such as Hamas that continues to advocate and carry out terrorist acts in the Middle East. Nor will we fund a government which is controlled by a terrorist organization or in which major institutions, such as the legislature, are controlled by a terrorist organization. This should not come as a surprise to anyone. In December, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted House Resolution 575 by a vote of 397-17 which warned that there would be serious consequences--including financial consequences--for U.S.- Palestinian relations if Hamas were to take over the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Speaker, not one thin dime of American taxpayer money should be devoted to supporting a terrorist organization. Nor should one thin dime be devoted to making a terrorist organization look good. Our desire to support strictly humanitarian assistance for the Palestinian people, of course, will continue unabated. But we should not fund major projects, whatever their purpose. Such projects would only make a Hamas government look like a success story. They would be taken as evidence that Hamas can defy the international community and continue to receive financial support, while supporting terrorism, rejecting Israel's right to exist, and spitting on pre-existing Israeli-Palestinian agreements. Mr. Speaker, that is why the Ros-Lehtinen-Lantos legislation will put severe restrictions on all Palestinian assistance that is not strictly for humanitarian purposes. The notion that an organization hell-bent on destroying the sole democratic state in the Middle East should be receiving or exploiting U.S.-taxpayer funds is simply unacceptable. We will be relentless in isolating and fighting terrorists. Hamas officials and their representatives will not be given visas to visit the United States. American officials will not deal with Hamas representatives unless--and this is a major unless--unless they publicly and without reservation recognize the right of the democratic State of Israel to exist, renounce terrorism as a means of achieving their goals and objectives, and accept all previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements. And we will fight direct assistance to a terrorist-controlled Palestinian Authority through any international institution. Hamas must understand that their ability to deal with the United States and to be accepted in the community of civilized nations rests on a thorough repudiation of their hateful policies. Governments have made such changes in the past. Organizations and movements have made such changes in the past. And certainly, Hamas has that opportunity. But if Hamas does not clearly take full advantage of this opportunity, our legislation will soon come into effect and we will prohibit American funds. If Hamas does take advantage of this opportunity and definitively and unequivocally meets these requirements, then our government would be willing to deal with it, continue assistance, and work to see that the long-suffering Palestinian people have a better life in the future. Otherwise, I fear the Palestinians and prospects for Middle East peace will face a long, difficult winter that could be measured in years not months. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution, and I urge all my colleagues to do likewise.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to announce to my colleagues that on February 24, 2006, Hillsdale High School, in San Mateo California, which is in my Congressional District, will be commemorating its fiftieth anniversary and will be celebrating the completion of a modernization project that will ensure that Hillsdale's doors are open for students for another 50 years or more. The San Mateo Union High School district has six outstanding high schools. Nearly 6 years the citizens of San Mateo voted for a $137.5 million bond measure to modernize these wonderful schools. Hillsdale High School determined to construct a new Student Services building as well as substantive remodeling of the library, science building, general education classrooms, the cafeteria, the theater, the auditorium, a music building, and the gym's and locker rooms. As a result of these renovations Hillsdale High School will continue to play a leading educational role in the San Mateo Union High School district. Mr. Speaker, Hillsdale High School is truly an extraordinary learning institution. The award winning design of the school, profiled in Life Magazine when the school opened its doors 50 years ago, continues to receive praise and distinctions. Of special note is the fact that Hillsdale High School was recently recognized by the United States Department of Education as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. This remarkable recognition was bestowed on only 260 schools in the United States. In addition to Hillsdale's achievements in the classroom, the school's rich athletic tradition displayed in league championships and distinguished alumni playing at the collegiate and professional levels. Mr. Speaker, the modernization and new construction at Hillsdale High School was made possible because of the amazing dedication and work demonstrated by the Board of Trustees, community leaders, parents, school staff, the public at-large, and the now-retired Superintendent Thomas C. Mohr. Without their spectacular efforts, the modernization project would not have succeeded. I urge all my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Hillsdale High School community on the successful modernization of its facility and on its 50th anniversary.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to congratulate the Takahashi family, proprietors of the Takahashi Market on the 100th anniversary of their operations in the city of San Mateo, California, which is located in my congressional district. The history of the Takahashi Market begins with Mr. Tokutaro Takahashi, a former salt-mine laborer, who recognized that recently arriving Japanese immigrants in the Peninsula were quickly becoming a burgeoning new market. According to Kenge Takahashi, son of Tokutaro Takahashi, the business began as a peddling operation, with a horse and cart, to display and carry the groceries, clothes and fishing equipment he sold to them. Mr. Speaker, the Takahashi Market is no longer a mere push-cart shop, but has grown to become an established landmark of the Peninsula, providing groceries and community, not only to the Japanese, but to all people in the Bay Area. Having been run by three successive generations of Takahashis, the business has withstood extraordinary challenges and overcame devastating obstacles. One sad example of this, is that the market was closed for several years in the 1940s when the Takahashi family was interned in the World War II Japanese relocation camps, first in San Bruno, California, and then in Utah. After being released from the internment camps, Kenge Takahashi joined the Army, and served honorably as an infantryman in the highly decorated, all-Japanese 422nd Regiment of United States Army, F Company. After completing his service, Kenge returned to his family business, and prepared to meet the ever-changing needs of his customers. Over the next few decades the Takahashi Market grew to meet the changing demographics of its clientele and stopped carrying fishing tackle and began stocking Hawaiian food in response to a growing population of a Hawaiian community, resulting from airline hires. Mr. Speaker, while the Takahashi Market has occupied many storefronts at various locations on the Peninsula during its 100 year history, the store continuously maintain its extraordinary reputation as a reliable, family-owned and run business that specializes in products and foods to sustain the Japanese community, and now also the Hawaiian community. On the occasion of its centennial, Takahashi Market is remodeling to add a commercial kitchen, once again, expanding and diversifying the business to offer prepared foods for sale. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Takahashi Market for its 100 years of outstanding achievements on the Peninsula and extend my hope that many more generations of Takahashis enjoy the success and community involvement of the Takahashi Market.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call to my Colleagues' attention to a very important event, the first annual International Day of Commemoration for the Victims of the Holocaust, which took place last Friday, January 27, 2006, at the U.N. in New York. Mr. Speaker, under the leadership of my two good friends, Secretary General Kofi Annan and General Assembly President Jan Eliasson, the U.N. established this annual remembrance, and in doing so, has taken a critical step to begin to undue a dark legacy of bias and hatred directed against Jews and the Democratic State of Israel that has long plagued the U.N. The idea for an annual U.N. Commemoration for the Victims of the Holocaust, which was instituted by Resolution 60/7 on November 1, 2005, grew out of an event that took place one year ago in New York, an historic Special Session of the U.N. General Assembly to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Nazi Death Camps on January 25, 2005. Last year's U.N. Special Session was convened with the support of the vast majority of U.N. member State's at the urging of Secretary General Annan. The relevance of and the need for this International Day of Commemoration for the Victims of the Holocaust could not be more clear. Mr. Speaker, in the months following the establishment of the International Day of Commemoration for the Victims of the Holocaust by Resolution 60/7, the current President of Iran, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has publicly stated that he believes that Holocaust is a ``myth'' and that Israel ``should be wiped off the map.'' Mr. Speaker, I draw my colleagues attentions to the courageous remarks U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan delivered on the occasion of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust last Friday, January 27th. The Secretary General stated, ``Remembering is a necessary rebuke to those who say the Holocaust never happened or has been exaggerated. Holocaust denial is the work of bigots. We must reject their false claims whenever, wherever and by whomever they are made.'' Mr. Speaker, I ask that the entire text of the Secretary General's important address be placed in the Record. I also ask that the entire text of remarks delivered at that same event by General Assembly President Jan Eliasson of Sweden and Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nation's, Ambassador Dan Gillerman be included in the Record. Message for the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust by Secretary-General Kofi Annan Today, for the first time, the United Nations marks what will, from now on be an annual observance: the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. There can be no reversing the unique tragedy of the Holocaust. It must be remembered, with shame and horror, for as long as human memory continues. Only by remembering can we pay fitting tribute to the victims. Millions of innocent Jews and members of other minorities were murdered in the most barbarous ways imaginable. We must never forget those men, women and children, or their agony. Remembering is a necessary rebuke to those who say the Holocaust never happened or has been exaggerated. Holocaust denial is the work of bigots. We must reject their false claims whenever, wherever and by whomever they are made. Remembering is also a safeguard for the future. The abyss reached in the Nazi death camps started with hatred, prejudice and anti-Semitism. Recalling these origins can remind us to be ever on the lookout for warning signs. As the Holocaust recedes in time, and as the number of survivors dwindles, it falls to us--the current generation-- to carry the torch of remembrance and uphold the cause of human dignity. The United Nations was founded as a reaction to the horrors of the Second World War. Even so, the international community has too often failed to stand up to mass atrocities. In recent years we have taken important steps to improve on that record, such as establishing the International Criminal Court and agreeing on the collective responsibility to protect. On this International Day of Commemoration, the theme of our observance is ``remembrance and beyond''. In that spirit, let us pledge ourselves to even greater efforts to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute a young man who is part of the new generation of philanthropic leaders--Todd Patkin of Massachusetts. Todd is an impressive young man, and although he has just turned 40, he has been remarkably successful in the business world and is now devoting his life to helping others. Todd grew up in the Boston area, where he graduated from Tufts University. He married, had a family, and worked in the family auto parts business for the next 18 years. Using his amazing organizational and business talents, the company became remarkably successful, expanding from 18 to 62 stores in the New England and New York area. His business acumen was recognized in 2004 by Auto International Associate when he was named ``Young Executive of the Year.'' Mr. Speaker, Todd recently sold his regional business operations to the second largest retailer in the country, giving him the financial freedom to pursue his passion to help others. One of his major philanthropic initiatives has been to assist his friend, Gary Marino, to help Americans children and adults with problems of obesity and poor nutrition. Todd is funding the making of a major motion picture which focuses on Gary's life story and on his ``Million Calorie March'' from Florida to Boston in which took place in 2005. Working with opera star Andrea Delgudice, Todd also founded the Todd G. Patkin Opportunity Performing Art Center. It brings the highest quality vocal, dance and acting instruction to its students, many of whom are from the less-advantages areas of Brockton, Massachusetts, and are receiving full scholarships because of their economic need. Todd recently made a substantial contribution to the Boston Medical Center for its Todd and Yadira Patkin Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic. He has also provided significant financial support to the Boston chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, where he and Andrew Tarsy will be managing a new initiative to combat bigotry and intolerance in greater Boston. Todd has had a positive impact internationally as well, Mr. Speaker. He supports two charities in the State of Israel--the Jewish National Fund, which is chaired by Ronald Lauder, and the Yemin Orde Youth Village headed by Chaim Peri. The village is perhaps the most advanced orphanage in Israel and the world. It focuses on helping children, who frequently have been orphaned under devastating circumstances, to become happy and productive members of society. Today over two-thirds of the 300 children in the village are Jews of Ethiopian descent. Todd was the first philanthropist in September of this year to provide one million dollars to the Jewish National Fund to help it deal with some 2,500 displaced people who left the Gaza when the Israeli government left that area. The Israeli government was unable to assist them since these families failed to provide information to the government about their assistance needs. Mr. Speaker, Todd Patkin is a remarkable man, whose philanthropic efforts give me great hope for the next generation of leaders in our country who are now emerging. I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to him. Todd has set a remarkable example that I hope many other young leaders will follow.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in recognizing an important competition that will take place in early 2006 in Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. The regional Social Enterprise Competition for Central & Eastern Europe is sponsored by the Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-sustainability Team (NESsT). The competition will bring together social entrepreneurs and local civil society organizations to submit proposals for achieving greater financial sustainability through social enterprise. The mission of this competition merits the attention of my colleagues in the House because it is inextricably linked to the role of civil society organizations as advocates for freedom, human rights and public welfare in emerging democracies. Mr. Speaker, I am certain that all of us remember the euphoria that accompanied the collapse of the Berlin Wall and the demise of communism just a decade and a half ago. With Members of this House and people around the world, I recall the joy of seeing democracy and human rights restored to long-suffering peoples of Central Europe and the former Soviet Union. I remember watching in amazement as Berliners from both halves of the divided city danced on the Berlin Wall. I joined people from around the world as we chipped a piece from that disappearing Wall. I was with the Czech students celebrating in the streets of Prague. The struggle for democracy and human rights is far from over in this region and elsewhere in the world. As the United States strives to help emerging democracies such as Ukraine, Georgia, and Afghanistan, efforts by NESsT and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) through activities such as the social enterprise competition are critical in helping to promote the rights and interests of the public in emerging democracies. Mr. Speaker, Central and Eastern Europe received an enormous amount of foreign assistance throughout the 1990s, which assisted former communist countries to transition to more open and democratic societies. However, in recent years, this region has seen significant cuts in U.S. foreign assistance. Despite these cuts in funding, the needs of civil society organizations in this region continue to grow. The limits on democratic development assistance in Central and Eastern Europe resulted in some serious questions about the viability of civil society organizations to assist in democratic development. What role should social enterprise play in encouraging growth, upholding worker rights, and protecting natural resources? What role can civil society organizations play in democratic development if they are beholden to the whims of foreign donors? NGOs, such as NESsT, have found innovative and cost-efficient ways to strengthen the financial sustainability of civil society organizations working for social change and development in emerging market countries. The NESsT-sponsored competition seeks to expand the network of financially sustainable civil society organizations throughout the region. Through the competition, NESsT will apply a venture capital approach, also known as venture philanthropy, to providing the financial and technical support to the region's civil society organizations. Mr. Speaker, venture philanthropy involves applying the tools of the for-profit sector to expand the reach of the community organizations. Venture philanthropists often offer loans and equity equivalents rather than traditional donations; engage nonprofit managers with an array of technical and strategic advisory service; build organizational capacity through the development of skills and networks; and, most important of all, set clear performance goals and expect ``portfolio members'' to achieve concrete social and/or financial returns on investment. I would like to pay tribute to the principal sponsor of the competition, the Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-Sustainability Team (NESsT). From its offices in Budapest and Santiago, this organization has emerged as an international leader in the effort to foster social entrepreneurship and venture philanthropy in developing nations. NESsT's co-founders, Nicole Etchart and Lee Davis, direct initiatives that clearly address the challenges and needs of NGOs in Central Europe and Latin America. Mr. Speaker, for all these reasons and many more, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the important mission of the Social Enterprise Competition for Central and Eastern Europe and the outstanding contributions of its principal sponsor, the Nonprofit Enterprise and Self-Sustainability Team.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great joy that I rise today and urge all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating the upcoming 90th birthday of an icon of international academia and a pioneer of U.S.- Japanese studies, Professor Robert E. Ward. Professor Ward was born in San Francisco on January 29, 1916. After graduating from Stanford, he entered the graduate program at the University of California at Berkeley and earned his Master's in Political Science. During World War II, Professor Ward served our country admirably as language officer for Naval Intelligence. He was stationed in the Southwest Pacific and in Washington, and was awarded the signal honor of the Legion of Merit. Mr. Speaker, after the war Robert Ward returned to Berkeley to continue his education with the intent to study Japanese politics. Three short years later, he received his Ph.D. in political science, writing his dissertation on ``Party Government in Japan--Its Development and Electoral Record, 1928-1937,'' a pioneering effort to apply to Japan the methods of political behavior analysis which at the time was only being applied to Western European countries by American political scientists. This was to be the first of many times that Robert Ward incorporated Japan into the mainstream of social science studies in the United States. After receiving his doctorate, Robert Ward left California heading east to Ann Arbor, and the University of Michigan he would go on to enjoy a distinguished teaching career. Arriving at Michigan in 1948, with the rank of instructor, Robert Ward encountered a bit of good fortune. For you see Mr. Speaker, during the war the United States Armed Forces had used the University of Michigan as one of its centers for Japanese language training. The University now wanted to utilize this infrastructure to develop an interdisciplinary center for Japanese studies, and given Robert's background he was a perfect fit for this endeavor. During his time at the University, Robert Ward served with distinction, rising from Instructor to Professor in ten years. He was also concurrently a member of the University's Center for Japanese Studies, and a guiding force behind the academic integrity of the center, twice serving as Director of the Center. Mr. Speaker, after a quarter century of distinguished service to the University of Michigan and its Center for Japanese Studies, Professor Ward heeded the call of his alma mater, and returned to California to become the Director of the Center for Research in International Studies at Stanford University. Although commonplace today, it was considered highly irregular, and a significant breakthrough for the field of Japanese studies to have a specialist in Japanese-American studies receive this prestigious job instead of a European-American studies expert. During his extraordinary tenure at Stanford University, Professor Ward continued to exert tremendous influence in the field of comparative politics and continued to emphasize the importance of Japanese-U.S. studies in the field of political science. As one would expect of man of incredible intellect and talents, Professor Ward has been recognized throughout his distinguished career with numerous awards and recognitions. If I may, I would like to highlight a few; National Science Foundation Senior Postdoctoral Fellow, Rockefeller Foundation Fellow in Residence, Member of the American Philosophical Society, Member of the American Academy of Science, President of the Association for Asian Studies, President of the American Political Science Association, Chairman of the Social Science Research Council, Member of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and a member of President Carter's Commission on Foreign language and International Studies. In addition to using his seemingly endless energy on his academic pursuits, Professor Ward also offered his expertise and experience to a number of civic and public activities related to Japan. He was a member, and for many years the Director of the Japan Society of Northern California, a member of the World Affairs Council of Northern California, and also involved with the San Francisco Committee on Foreign Relations. However, the most enduring of Professor Ward's contributions to the growth of Japanese studies in America are to be found in his involvement with the Japan Foundation and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission. Professor Ward played an integral role in the development of both institutions and was the chief architect behind the creation of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission. Without the incredible efforts of Professor Ward, including the mobilization of his academic colleagues and intense lobbying of members of Congress, it is truly doubtful that the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission would exist today? Mr. Speaker, Professor Ward stands out as a towering figure in United States-Japanese cultural, educational, and political relations. It is not an understatement to express that no other person in the post-WWII era has combined the same capacities for scholarship and institution building or has achieved so much for the general field of Japanese studies in America. Professor Ward deserves much of the credit for bringing Japan into the mainstream of social scientific teaching and research in both America and Europe, and of bringing to the study of Japanese politics the categories of inquiry that had previously been applied mainly to the study of western societies. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in wishing this distinguished academic and extraordinary citizen a happy 90th birthday.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues join me in paying tribute a young man who is part of the new generation of philanthropic leaders--Todd Patkin of Massachusetts. Todd is an impressive young man, and although he has just turned 40, he has been remarkably successful in the business world and is now devoting his life to helping others. Todd grew up in the Boston area, where he graduated from Tufts University. He married, had a family, and worked in the family auto parts business for the next 18 years. Using his amazing organizational and business talents, the company became remarkably successful, expanding from 18 to 62 stores in the New England and New York area. His business acumen was recognized in 2004 by Auto International Associate when he was named ``Young Executive of the Year.'' Mr. Speaker, Todd recently sold his regional business operations to the second largest retailer in the country, giving him the financial freedom to pursue his passion to help others. One of his major philanthropic initiatives has been to assist his friend, Gary Marino, to help Americans children and adults with problems of obesity and poor nutrition. Todd is funding the making of a major motion picture which focuses on Gary's life story and on his ``Million Calorie March'' from Florida to Boston in which took place in 2005. Working with opera star Andrea Delgudice, Todd also founded the Todd G. Patkin Opportunity Performing Art Center. It brings the highest quality vocal, dance and acting instruction to its students, many of whom are from the less-advantage areas of Brockton, Massachusetts, and are receiving full scholarships because of their economic need. Todd recently made a substantial contribution to the Boston Medical Center for its Todd and Yadira Patkin Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic. He has also provided significant financial support to the Boston chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, where he and Andrew Tarsy will be managing a new initiative to combat bigotry and intolerance in greater Boston. Todd has had a positive impact internationally as well, Mr. Speaker. He supports two charities in the State of Israel--the Jewish National Fund, which is chaired by Ronald Lauder, and the Yemin Orde Youth Village headed by Chaim Peri. The village is perhaps the most advanced orphanage in Israel and the world. It focuses on helping children, who frequently have been orphaned under devastating circumstances, to become happy and productive members of society. Today over two-thirds of the 300 children in the village are Jews of Ethopian descent.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my good friend from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen) and my good friend from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) for introducing this legislation. Mr. Speaker, the United States must do all that is legal and ethically appropriate to bring to justice terrorists who have committed heinous acts against the United States and our citizens. An important tool to achieve this objective is the Department of State's Rewards Program. By giving our Secretary of State the authority to offer a significant cash reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of terrorists, we recruit additional agents in the fight against global terrorism, ordinary people who may obtain extraordinary information that would allow the United States or a foreign country to apprehend terrorists. Mr. Speaker, over 4 years after 9/11, Osama bin Laden is still at large, and apparently no closer to being in our custody today than he was on September 12, 2001. The United States obviously must do more to bring this monstrous man to justice. Our bill would take another small, but potentially important step in that direction. It would allow our Secretary of State in extraordinary circumstances to authorize a cash reward to a foreign government official who may have provided critical information resulting in the arrest and conviction of such a terrorist. I stress to all of my colleagues that this authority is to be used only where the information is critical to the capture of a key terrorist figure at severe risk or of severe harm to the informant. Will this authority provide additional incentive for a foreign government official to provide us with this information perhaps with regard to Osama bin Laden? We cannot know that today, Mr. Speaker; but if it might, then we must proceed to provide the Secretary of State with this new authority. I urge support for this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. The measure before us would amend the Passport Act of June 4, 1920, to authorize the Secretary of State to establish and collect a surcharge to cover the costs of meeting the increased demand for passports as a result of actions taken to comply with section 7209(b) of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Mr. Speaker, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act requires U.S. citizens to obtain and utilize passports when reentering the United States from other foreign jurisdictions within the Western Hemisphere. The Department of State, therefore, is facing a massive increase in demand for passports in anticipation of this new security requirement. Our Secretary of State estimates that demand could grow from less than 9 million applicants in fiscal year 2004 to over 17 million a year by the end of fiscal year 2008. Mr. Speaker, the Department of State desperately needs the resources to increase its passport adjudication and production capabilities to meet this demand. Our measure will enable the State Department to collect the new surcharge from passport fees and provides the Secretary with the authority to use the proceeds from this surcharge to pay for the staff, equipment, and facilities she will need to meet this critical national security mandate. I urge all of my colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.