Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I would like to congratulate my good friend and colleague, Congressman Mark Kirk, for his leadership and strong voice in the defense of Baha'i communities all over the world. I am proud to be the original Democratic cosponsor of this important resolution. The Baha'is are Iran's largest religious minority, but because the Baha'i faith is not one of the four religions recognized by the Iran Constitution, Baha'i do not have rights under Iranian law. Iranian courts have ruled that people who injure or kill Baha'is are not liable for damages because the Baha'is are ``unprotected infidels.'' The absurdity of the statement that they are ``unprotected infidels'' says a great deal about this regime. Congress has long recognized the plight of this suffering community. Since 1982, we have passed eight resolutions condemning the treatment of the Baha'i in Iran. On March 28 of this year, the White House expressed concern for a worsening situation of the Baha'i in Iran and called on the Government of Iran to respect the religious freedom of its minorities. Madam Speaker, the situation of the Baha'i in Iran has deteriorated dramatically over the past year with an increase in arbitrary arrests, raids on private homes and imprisonments, a defamation campaign in the government-sponsored press and the continued denial of access to higher education to young men and women of the Baha'i faith. Iran must grant the Baha'i their full human rights, as this resolution makes crystal clear. Our resolution calls on the Government of Iran simply to grant Baha'i the rights guaranteed by international law. Iran, Madam Speaker, is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and several other human rights treaties, but it is obvious that Tehran has no more intention of observing the requirements of these agreements than it does the nuclear agreements it has signed. The international community must not be mocked. It must hold Iran to those standards to which it has voluntarily committed itself. In fact, Iran's contempt for basic human rights standards knows no bounds. Earlier this year, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered the Ministry of Information, the Revolutionary Guard and the police force to identify Baha'is and collect information on their activities. This is particularly worrisome in light of the Iranian Government's view of the Baha'is as non-persons. The Anti-Defamation League has called this order ``reminiscent of the laws imposed on European Jews in the 1930s by Nazi Germany.'' Our resolution rightly highlights this order, which was revealed by the U.N. Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief. Madam Speaker, the U.S. Congress needs to speak out strongly against these policies. We cannot stand by quietly as another pogrom against the Baha'is is quietly being prepared by the bigoted regime of Iran. We and the international community must put Iran on notice that such action is utterly intolerable. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my good friend from Illinois for his most gracious comments, and I am pleased to yield as much time as he might consume to our colleague and my good friend from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. I first want to commend my good friend and fellow Californian Ms. Loretta Sanchez for introducing this resolution. Her leadership in Congress on matters related to Vietnam is deeply appreciated. Since the fall of Saigon more than three decades ago, the Vietnamese Government has confiscated private property of thousands of Vietnamese families. Some of these Vietnamese have fled abroad, while others have continued to live under the repression of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Sadly, the confiscation of private property by the Vietnamese Government is not a matter of ancient history. Many Vietnamese today complain that local authorities are confiscating their lands without compensation and due process, and that these confiscations are being carried out in a singularly discriminatory fashion. The Montagnards in Vietnam's Central Highlands, many of whom are Christians, have been particularly subjected to land confiscations. Many Christian Montagnards have lost access to their ancestral lands, and they have been severely marginalized in an economic sense. In some cases, confiscated Montagnard land has been turned over to Vietnamese from lowland areas. Madam Speaker, the Vietnamese Government has recently made efforts to improve its land reform policies. It is imperative that the government uses this process to end discriminatory land seizures and to ensure that everyone receives adequate compensation for their property. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the author of this important resolution, my good friend from California (Ms. Loretta Sanchez).

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. I first would like to commend my California colleague Darrell Issa for introducing this important measure. I also want to thank the chairman of our committee Henry Hyde for letting this resolution move to the floor so expeditiously. Madam Speaker, the measure before the House honors the contributions of Filipino Americans during the Second World War. You might be surprised to learn that I represent the largest concentration of Filipinos outside of Manila. Among my constituents are tens of thousands of Filipino American families, so it is with great pleasure that I cosponsor this legislation and serve as the Democratic manager of this resolution on the floor today. Filipino Americans have made an enormous contribution to the cultural, political and economic life of my congressional district, particularly in the community of Daly City. Outside of Honolulu, Daly City is the largest city in the United States with a majority Asian population, and most of this population is Filipino American. Their contributions to our Nation are not a recent phenomenon. More than 120,000 Filipinos fought under the command of General Douglas MacArthur during World War II. Filipino soldiers played a critical role in stopping the Japanese advance throughout the Pacific. During 3 long years of Japanese occupation, Filipinos helped to liberate their homeland and ultimately to defeat the Japanese warmaking machine. That is why I am so pleased that we are moving forward with this resolution honoring the contributions of Filipino World War II veterans, many of whom are still with us. It is my strong hope that passage of this measure will pave the way for congressional consideration of the long overdue Filipino Veterans Equity Act. This important legislation would allow Filipino veterans to become eligible for a range of United States veterans benefits currently reserved for former Active Duty military personnel. Given the enormous contributions made by the Filipinos to the war in the Pacific, it is imperative that Filipino veterans finally receive the benefits they deserve. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to a fighter for Filipino veterans rights, my friend and colleague from California (Mr. Filner)

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. I first would like to commend my good friend and distinguished colleague from Texas for introducing this important resolution and for his powerful and eloquent words. This body has regularly condemned Iran for its nuclear program, which is clearly designed to build weapons of mass destruction. We have condemned Iran for its support of terrorism and other aggressive policies. But for far too long we have not adequately called attention to the broad range of horrific human rights violations practiced by the Islamist Republic of Iran. In fact, Madam Speaker, Iran is among the world's leading human rights abusers. It is morally incumbent upon us to affirm our commitment to support the victims of Iranian repression and to express our sympathy for the long-denied democratic desires of the Iranian people. That is exactly what this resolution does. Madam Speaker, I believe we all are familiar with many aspects of Iranian repression. Iran today is an authoritarian, intolerant, theocratic state, and the Iranians are at the mercy of a cynical, self- indulgent clerical elite, whose extremist views do not even reflect those of the majority of Iranian clergy. We all know how Iran treats religious minorities, most infamously the Baha'i, and we all know that Iran represses democratic dissent, cooks the elections to make sure that the winners are theocrats unrepresentative of the will of the Iranian people. But perhaps nothing more eloquently expresses Iran's cynicism about human rights than Iran's willingness to sign all manner of international agreements committing itself to adhere to international human rights standards while, in practice, scorning those very standards. Presumably the Iranian regime thinks it can fool us by signing documents. In that regard, Madam Speaker, Iran's attitude towards its human rights obligations and its nuclear obligations are two sides of the same coin. Tehran takes neither set of commitments seriously. By supporting this resolution, we will send a skyrocket message to the Iranian regime and to the Iranian people that we see through the regime's veil of cynicism, that we will keep the pressure on the Iranian regime to cease its repression, and that we look forward to the day when Iran will join the ranks of democratic, human-rights- respecting, law-abiding countries. We will not cease to believe in the goodwill and democratic inclinations of the vast majority of the Iranian people. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield to my friend from Ohio as much time as he might consume.

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

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Reverend Waitstill Sharp and his wife, Martha Sharp, who were true heroes of the Holocaust who risked their lives to save Jews from the atrocities of the Nazi regime. The Sharps' incredible story was told this morning at a very moving ceremony at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum where family, friends, and admirers gathered to pay tribute and remember the selfless and laudatory actions of this amazing couple. Their story was also a powerful reminder that all of us have the moral obligation to do anything we can to end violence and genocides where ever and when ever they occur. On June 13, 2006, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Authority in Israel honored the Rev. Waitstill Sharp, and his wife, Martha Sharp, posthumously as ``Righteous Among the Nations'' for risking their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The Sharps are only the second and third Americans to be so honored. Varian Fry, with whom the Sharps worked, was the first. Our colleagues in the Senate passed a resolution on September 8 of this year honoring the courageous service of the Sharps. My colleague from Massachusetts, where the Sharps once lived, and I soon will introduce similar legislation in the House remembering the Sharps and their story and heroism. Mr. Speaker, the Sharps left everything behind, including their home and two young children, to answer a call from the American Unitarian Association to go to Czechoslovakia in February of 1939. The Sharps were not content merely to feed the hordes of refugees passing through Czechoslovakia; they also began to assist anti-Nazi dissidents and Jews to escape Nazi oppression. In the very shadow of aggression, they helped thousands flee to safety elsewhere in Europe and the United States. One month after the Sharps' arrival in Prague, Nazi forces occupied Czechoslovakia, making their work much more dangerous. The Sharps could have escaped, but they refused to leave the refugees helpless. Though the Nazis descended upon the Unitarian mission in Prague, ransacking the office and throwing the furniture into the street, Reverend and Mrs. Sharp continued their mission. They began working out of private residences, boldly defying Nazi restrictions. The Sharps did whatever was necessary to help Jews and opponents of the Nazi regime to escape Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, in spite of the considerable risk to their own lives. They entered and exited the border repeatedly, crisscrossed Europe to obtain needed travel documents, even escorted some of their clients by train through Germany itself, all the way to Great Britain. Focused on serving others, the Sharps ignored warning that they were in danger from the Gestapo. On August 30, 1939, six months after they arrived in Czechoslovakia, the Sharps concluded their first mission and returned to the U.S. Their exit was just one day before Gestapo agents came to arrest Martha, who had earned a reputation for her daring disregard of Nazi rules. After returning home for two years, the Sharps issued a report with the American Unitarian Association about the dangers faced by refugees all across Europe. As a result of this report, the Sharps were asked to set up a parallel operation in France under the newly founded Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. In 1940, the Sharps answered this call, courageously returning to Europe to aid more people flee the horror of the Nazi regime. By the time the Sharps arrived in Europe, the Nazis had already occupied France, but the Sharps were undaunted. They set up the American Unitarian Universalist Service Committee in Lisbon, Portugal, from where they continued to assist many more refugees from war-torn Europe escape to safety. In all, the Sharps and their Unitarian colleagues worked to save approximately 2,000 men, women, and children. Mr. Speaker, the Sharps' courageous, sacrificial and selfless example should motivate all of us to do everything we possibly can to prevent the horrors of genocide taking place anywhere on this planet. As the only survivor of the Holocaust in Congress, I have a special commitment to raising this. This morning's ceremony at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum concluded with a visit to the special exhibit on Darfur, Sudan. We were reminded that when the horrors of the Holocaust were made public, we often heard the phrase ``Never Again!'' But since World War II we have seen such genocidal tragedies occur in Cambodia, Rwanda, and now Darfur. The most moving and important message from the story of the Sharps is that they had the foresight and courage to leave their children and comfortable home behind--not just once, but twice--to go to the dangerous, gray, uncertain war zone of Europe to save people they probably did not even know. Their first trip was just days after kristallnacht, when the persecution of the Jews was just beginning to get more violent and ugly. Concentration camps were not yet even a glint in the Nazis' eyes. Mr. Speaker, the Sharps, and those who helped them to be able to do this, deserve the gratitude and admiration of all of us. Each and every one of us should make every effort to learn more about the wars and genocide occurring around the globe this very day, strive to have the courage of the Sharps, and act with equal resolve to do everything each of us can do to stop these horrors. I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this selfless and dedicated couple, whose response to the Holocaust and to inhumanity and brutality is one that men and women everywhere should emulate.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, in November 2000 the voters of San Mateo County in California, many of whom are my constituents, made a wise decision to approve a general bond measure that would fund the renovation of the six local high schools. The fruits of this investment will proudly be displayed on September 16, 2006 when the newly- remodeled Burlingame High School is officially opened with a ribbon- cutting ceremony. Burlingame High was built in 1923 as a northern addition to the fast- growing San Mateo High School. Originally named ``San Mateo High School--Burlingame Branch,'' it quickly came into its own, and 4 years later Burlingame High gained its own identity. That year, many longstanding BHS traditions were born, including the Little-Big Game with San Mateo High, the adoption of the school colors--red and white-- and the establishment of the student newspaper, the Burlingame B, with its extraordinary motto, ``Not the Biggest, but the Best.'' Since its inception 83 years ago, Burlingame's enrollment has swelled from 350 to more than 1350 students and its teaching corps has doubled. Recognized for its academic excellence as a California Distinguished School, Burlingame has also been ranked in the top 1.5 percent of high schools in America by Newsweek magazine. The students and their families deserve great credit, but it is also thanks to the efforts of a dedicated faculty and administration that, on average, 97 percent of the school's graduates attend college. Mr. Speaker, the modernization efforts being recognized at the ribbon-cutting ceremony have preserved the original building's historically significant appearance for generations of students to appreciate. In addition to maintaining the main building's exterior and interior--including a unique WPA-era mural--this project included two new, seismically sound structures to house a library and a two-story classroom building. The new library will accommodate 25,000 volumes and provides much- needed storage space for textbooks. It also includes a state-of-the-art computer lab. The treasured work areas where thousands of students through the years have hit the books in the old library are replicated in this modern version. The new, two-story classroom structure replaces an antiquated music building. It now not only accommodates the renowned Burlingame High School music program, but also seven large science labs, special education classrooms and nine classrooms designed specifically for math instruction. Mr. Speaker, the taxpayers of San Mateo County made a crucial investment in their children's education by approving that bond measure 6 years ago. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating Burlingame High School's wonderful renovation, which will ensure that future generations continue to receive an excellent education at this historic institution.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to my good friend, our distinguished colleague from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Harman) be permitted to control the balance of the time of the minority leader.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 6 minutes to the distinguished Democratic whip, my good friend from the State of Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good friend, our distinguished colleague from Florida (Ms. Corrine Brown).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and let me first commend my dear friend from Illinois, the distinguished chairman of our committee, on his powerful and eloquent statement. Mr. Speaker, on the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, our colleagues in the other Chamber unanimously passed the resolution calling for a day of remembrance throughout this great Nation. Their beautifully crafted and clearly heartfelt statement expressed condolences to the families of those who were lost, respect for those who lived through the ordeal, and the renewed commitment to support whatever steps are needed to defeat terrorists who plot against the people of this country. And here we are in this House, 2 days later, some may say 2 days late, deliberating over a document that mocks the concept of commemoration. The resolution before us includes claims known to be divisive, not among congressional Democrats but among the American people. And we should all recognize that certain legislation referenced in this resolution was not the product of a proud bipartisan majority, but the object of deep and great controversy that remains with us today. Mr. Speaker, this should be a time for solemnity, not self- congratulation, and most certainly not political tactics cooked up in the back rooms of the RNC or the bowels of the White House. We must all agree to that. The focus today should be on the victims and heroes of the 9/11 attack and the families they left behind. We commit to memory the thousands who died or were injured 5 years ago. They included firemen, who voluntarily rushed with their heavy gear up the stairs of the Twin Towers and into the flames, all the while urging the people they served to move faster to safety below. We remember the police officers who put their lives on the line every single day and lost them all at once when the towers collapsed. We think of the people at the Pentagon, just across the river from here, military as well as civilian, who were on duty when their fortress was breached and their world, and ours, imploded. We recall the passengers and the crew trapped on airplanes turned into missiles, helpless and hurting as they used whatever means that were available to them to get word to their families or to affect some sort of rescue. And in this House in particular, Mr. Speaker, we ought never to forget the brave souls on United Flight 93, which was on a path toward Washington and may well have been headed for our Capitol. Among their number were those who overcame panic, said good-bye to their loved ones, and gave their lives to remove a threat to our Nation from the skies. Our hearts go out to all of these heroes and victims and survivors, along with their families, who have suffered at the hands of thugs who wish nothing but harm to us all. We also take time to remember those Americans in our Armed Services who choose to risk everything to ensure our safety, our peace, and our liberty, and to the U.S. diplomats and intelligence officers who face countless dangers to protect our Nation. The greatest honor we can pay to all those currently serving our Nation in battle, to those who perished on that fateful day 5 years ago, is to recommit ourselves to providing true security to the American people. Progress has been made to protect our homeland, Mr. Speaker, but much more needs to be done. We must ensure that our first responders are well prepared, that funds for homeland security are distributed on the basis of risk, not on a per capita or on a political basis. Our ports are still not visually examining 95 percent of the cargo that passes through, and the administration has yet to implement the many excellent and considered recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. If we are serious about making our country safer, these and many other issues must be addressed. Mr. Speaker, 5 years ago we all met on this spot as our Nation came to recognize the magnitude of the struggle we were starting in earnest against the enemies of tolerance and progress and peace and freedom. We engaged in the most sobering and moving debate that I have ever witnessed on the floor of this House in the more than a quarter century that I have had the privilege to serve here as a Member. With this fifth anniversary of the terrorist mass murder of September 11, it is only right that we remember the victims, we honor the heroes, and we contemplate the lessons. We are still engaged in the battle against terrorism, and we are a long way from victory. I deeply regret that the resolution before the House goes needlessly beyond the necessary and appropriate sentiments for such an occasion and includes pointless boasts about the actions taken by a narrow majority of our Members, along with rhetoric that has been crafted deliberately to divide us. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my good friend and neighbor, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of our legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I would first like to express my great appreciation to my dear friend Congressman Barney Frank not only for yielding me some time, but, far more importantly, for being a tireless champion in advancing human rights. Let me also thank the chairman of the Financial Services Committee, my friend, Mr. Oxley, for expediting consideration of this legislation, as well as my colleague from the International Relations Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and for her leadership on this legislation on behalf of the Tibetan people and all human rights issues. Mr. Speaker, 19 years ago this month, His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the invitation of my wife, Annette, addressed the Congressional Human Rights Caucus that I cofounded and which I currently chair with our colleague Frank Wolf. The historic speech His Holiness delivered was his first major policy address outside of India and the first time he had ever appeared before the Congress. The Dalai Lama unveiled his Five Point Peace Plan for Tibet. We did not know it at the time, but what we heard was to become the foundation for the Dalai Lama's fight on behalf of the people of Tibet. While we were welcoming His Holiness on Capitol Hill, the State Department and the White House refused to meet with him. The individuals responsible for crafting our foreign policy back then crouched under their desks unwilling to risk the ire of the Chinese Government by meeting with the true leader of the Tibetan people. Nearly two decades later, His Holiness regularly meets with Presidents and Secretaries of State. During his last visit to Washington, this brave man, small of stature but with an infinite heart, was greeted by dozens of Members of Congress. Tens of thousands of Washington residents packed an auditorium for several nights to hear his words of wisdom. His Holiness has used his international acclaim to speak out forcefully against the cultural and religious annihilation of the Tibetan people. Rather than resorting to force, the Dalai Lama has actively pursued a negotiated solution to the Tibetan issue with the Chinese Government. In five rounds of discussions, representatives of the Dalai Lama have argued with determination to the Chinese that the Tibetan people must have true religious, cultural, and economic autonomy, and that the current marginalization of the Tibetan people in their own land must end. Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama will send a strong signal of congressional support for a negotiated settlement to the Tibetan issue that preserves Tibetan culture and promotes genuine autonomy for the long-suffering people of Tibet. Through his words and through his deeds, the Dalai Lama has made an enduring contribution to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and religious understanding. With our action here today, Mr. Speaker, His Holiness will join the ranks of Pope John Paul II, Elie Wiesel, Nelson Mandela, and Mother Teresa, all of whom have been awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, a pantheon of peacemakers. I strongly support passage of this legislation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Miss Taylor Chan on her recent receipt of the Jefferson Award and to thank her for her ongoing community service to seniors in San Francisco. The Jefferson Award is given by the American Institute for Public Service, founded by Jacqueline Kennedy, Senators Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard. The award is considered the Nobel Prize for public and community service. I congratulate her on receiving this award, and am proud that she resides in my congressional district. Taylor Chan is unique among Jefferson Award winners in that she is a mere 13 years of age. For the last six years, since Taylor was the weak tender age of 8, she has been playing piano and violin for seniors at the Adult Day Health Center in San Francisco. Recognizing that many seniors have neither the financial resources nor the mobility to attend the opera or the symphony, Taylor and her older sister Tracy have been performing one-hour concerts to provide the seniors at the Adult Day Health Center with the gift of music. The seniors and the staff at the Health Center have roundly praised not only Taylor's generosity but her prodigious skill. While Taylor may still be in her formative years, she already has nine years of experience playing the piano and nearly six years playing the violin. I assert with great confidence that Miss Chan will accomplish a great many things more in the future as both a musician and a human being. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in thanking Taylor for her contribution to the senior community in San Francisco and congratulating her on this award. I am truly delighted and find inspiration in Taylor's accomplishments at such a young age.