Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I would like to make a few observations concerning this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleague, the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker) and others in extending a warm and sincere welcome to His Holiness, Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians. His Holiness' visit to the United States is a monumental occasion for the American Armenian community and for Armenians everywhere. His visit marks the 1,700th anniversary of Christianity in Armenia. I want to congratulate the Armenian people on carrying this proud tradition through 17 centuries. This important resolution shows the support and good will that the United States Congress has towards the Armenian people everywhere and here in this country. I believe that this resolution spells out important positions of the U.S. Congress. It commends the richness of the Armenian heritage, and it celebrates the contribution of Armenian Americans to the cultural diversity of our Nation. I want to note the strength and the perseverance of this tradition. For over 70 years, the Armenian Christian faith was suppressed in the Soviet Union, and Armenian religious leaders were imprisoned or exiled. Today, after more than 70 years of Communist rule, Armenians in Armenia have been able to return to practicing their faith. I want to thank my colleague for introducing this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

Mr. LANTOS. I yield to the gentleman from Mississippi.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, as Republic of China President Chen Shui- bian reaches his first anniversary in office, I would like to commend him for his successful leadership and steadiness of purpose. President Chen has expertly handled cross-strait relations due in part to his emphasis on the formation of mutual trust between Taipei and Beijing through economic and cultural integration. President Chen recently expressed his vision for a lasting peace with the mainland by noting the importance of ensuring channels of communication. ``I understand that only through resumption of constructive cross-strait dialogue and normalization of bilateral relations can permanent regional peace be ensured.'' President Chen's leadership within the Republic of China exemplifies a record of which he should be proud. He presides over a democracy characterized by free and fair elections, a free press, and an unquestioned respect for human rights and the rule of law. Yet President Chen's capacity to guide economic success is as strong as his commitment to democratic values. The 5.25% growth forecast for the ROC economy in 2001 is higher than that of the U.S., Japan, Germany, or the U.K., and the ROC enjoys a lower level of unemployment than each one of the aforementioned economic powerhouses. I am delighted that President Chen will have the opportunity to make two transit stops in the U.S. and to meet with Members of Congress during his upcoming visit to the Americas. Secretary Powell's spokesperson noted that such meetings ``would be a good thing,'' and I could not agree more. This will be an important visit for President Chen and for the U.S.--the first time a Taiwanese leader has been permitted to stopover in New York. I hope President Chen's transit visit brings fruitful discussions with my colleagues as well as a chance to enjoy the Texas steakhouse, baseball game, and New York museum on his agenda. Most importantly, I hope President Chen's transit visit signals the strong ties and friendship between the U.S. and the Republic of China.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), my dear Republican friend.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to my friend and neighbor, the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I would like to ask my friend, would he be willing to agree to an additional 10 minutes on each side?

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to my friend the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Brown).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the former distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations. (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, we are not opposed to the amendment. We deem the amendment redundant and unnecessary, but it will have no practical effect and we are not opposing it.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, we have no further speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky). (Ms. SCHAKOWSKY asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood). (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez). (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am happy to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, first, let me express my deep appreciation to the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for the extraordinarily cooperative and collegial manner in which he has handled both this matter and all matters that we have dealt with in the committee. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of this en bloc amendment. This en bloc amendment includes amendments from both sides of the aisle and includes a technical provision requested by the Department of State. I would like to highlight several provisions that enjoy broad bipartisan support: the amendment of the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) supporting free, fair and democratic elections in Fiji, East Timor, and Peru; the amendment of the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) on the Philippines; the amendment of the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) on small business contracting by AID; the amendment by the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) on child soldiers; the amendment by the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) on trafficking; the amendment by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) on U.S. civilian prisoners during World War II; and the amendment by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) on IAEA and Iran. Mr. Chairman, a provision offered by the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter) seeks to ensure congressional oversight and enforcement in the area of Holocaust restitutions by requiring the Secretary of State to determine in a report to Congress whether the foundation established for this purpose is meeting its responsibilities to claimants. The en bloc amendment also contains the East Timor Transition to Independence Act, legislation I introduced with the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy), the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey). I would express my appreciation to the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), ranking Democratic member, for their help on this legislation, along with the East Timor Action Network. Two years ago, Mr. Chairman, the people of East Timor voted overwhelmingly for independence from Indonesia. In response, anti- independence militias, with the support of the Indonesian military, launched a campaign of terror and violence. The East Timorese have now won their hard-earned freedom, and the United States is playing a lead role in helping the East Timorese get back on their feet. This legislation provides a 3- to 5-year trade, aid, and security agenda with East Timor so that our Nation remains a key player in helping to rebuild that small and long-suffering country. It authorizes $25 million in bilateral U.S. assistance to East Timor, authorizes the establishment of a Peace Corps Program in that country, and mandates a series of steps to increase the involvement of U.S. trade and export agencies in East Timor. I also wish to point to the amendment offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and myself titled the Freedom Investment Act. This amendment ensures that our human rights and democracy programs are not merely part of our foreign policy rhetoric, but are also part of U.S. foreign policy reality. If we are to accomplish this, the human rights function within the Department of State must be strengthened appreciably. This provision provides a permanent authorization for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor equal to 1 percent of the Department's main operating account. This continues specific authorizations that the Congress has provided for the democracy and human rights functions and boosts the human rights and democracy fund. This fund administered by the Department of State has been crucial to providing small level grants to human rights causes around the globe, and it definitely should be increased. So I want to reiterate my support, Mr. Chairman, of the en bloc amendment offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), and I urge my colleagues to vote for his amendment. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.