Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good friend and distinguished colleague from Texas, Mr. Silvestre Reyes. His El Paso district is the sister community to Ciudad Juarez. He is Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on International Relations, and an invaluable colleague.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished author of the resolution and co-chair of the Congressional Women's Caucus, Ms. Hilda Solis of California.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do so as well. I would first like to thank my good friend and colleague, Chairman Henry Hyde, for sponsoring this measure. Mr. Speaker, just a few months ago, Italy hosted the winter Olympic Games in Torino. We want to congratulate the people and the government of Italy for the great success of these games. The Torino Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee, and the United States Olympic Committee should be commended for these games, which were effectively and successfully organized and implemented. The slogan of the games, Mr. Speaker, was ``Passion Lives Here,'' which was certainly an accurate depiction of the enthusiasm, passion and pride the Italian people have not only for sports but also for their wonderful culture and heritage. The welcoming attitude they displayed to citizens of over 80 nations of the world who sent Olympic athletes and guests was outstanding. Mr. Speaker, I also want to commend those involved with the security aspect of the games. As we all know, this kind of world gathering unfortunately presents potential terrorist opportunities. The Italian government and security officials performed magnificently. The venue was stable and secure for athletes, officials and spectators. These games have many memorable moments and many new records were made, but, for me, the highlight of the Torino Winter Games came when a 26-year-old American speed skater, Joey Cheek, announced that he would donate his $40,000 in bonus money to an organization called Right to Play, which helps children in poverty-stricken, war-torn countries in Africa. Joey also encouraged Olympic sponsors to do the same. Mr. Speaker, Joey did not stop there. Just 2 days ago, tens of thousands of us rallied on the National Mall to call attention to the sickening and outrageous genocide occurring as we speak in Darfur, Sudan. It was my great pleasure to stand side by side with Joey Cheek at this rally where we both spoke to prod the international community not to forget the people of Darfur and to act to stop this genocide. Joey Cheek's actions on behalf of the people of Africa, both at the Olympics and on the Mall, typify the true Olympic spirit. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Italy for keeping this Olympic spirit alive. These Torino games rekindled the spirit for another 4 years. It is important that, just as we have seen in these Italian games, the Olympics best demonstrate the spirit of competition and the spirit of selflessness that Joey Cheek and other athletes have typified. This was the third time Italy has hosted the Olympic games, and judging by the welcoming attitude and success of the Torino games, we look forward to future Olympic events in Italy. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. The resolution before the House expresses Members' heartfelt congratulations to the Israeli people in recognition of the 58th anniversary of their independence, which they will celebrate tomorrow. I strongly commend the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), my colleague, for bringing this resolution before the House. The story of Israel's independence is no less inspirational simply because it is well known. It represents a remarkable triumph of the human spirit. Today, the day before its Independence Day, Israel memorialized its thousands of fallen soldiers, who themselves silently testify to the sacrifice with which Israel won and has perfected its independence and freedom. Although Israelis have been relentlessly under attack since their nation's birth, they have succeeded in creating one of the most democratic, prosperous, technologically advanced and humane societies on earth. Mr. Speaker, Israel celebrates its anniversary this year after having unilaterally withdrawn its troops and settlements from Gaza. This was done under the courageous leadership of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and marked only the most recent testimony of Israel's singular willingness to take risks to achieve peace. Now, a new prime minister, Ehud Olmert, has taken office. He, too, has bold ideas about how to achieve peace. I know him well, and I know he is more than up to the task. We congratulate him on his electoral victory. We look forward to working with him, and we wish him every success in his endeavors. Mr. Speaker, the establishment of the State of Israel has been a great boon not only for those who live in Israel but for our Nation as well. We treasure Israel as our most loyal ally in the Middle East and as the embodiment of values we cherish. The United States has played a critical role in supporting Israel's security. It has played that role in a bipartisan fashion. Congress has had a leading responsibility in shaping the structure and content of that support. Our support for Israel is an important contribution to, and a credit to, U.S. foreign policy, and we are proud of that support. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do so.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I would first like to commend my good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), for introducing this very important measure, and my good friend and fellow member of the International Relations Committee, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), for his advocacy on behalf of all matters related to the global environment. Mr. Speaker, this past December the President signed the Senator Paul Simon Water For the Poor Act. This important piece of legislation demonstrated the United States' steadfast commitment to clean water and safe sanitation by designating it a major foreign policy goal of the United States. We further solidified this commitment by participating in the fourth World Water Forum held in March. Our Nation joined with the rest of the international community in Mexico City to discuss the most pressing issues facing access to clean water and sanitation. I would like to commend Under Secretary For Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, for leading the U.S. delegation to the World Water Forum and for the decision to join the international community in calling for global action on water and sanitation issues. Mr. Speaker, the resolution on the floor today is yet another defining step in our quest to see all people gain access to clean water by supporting the goals and ideals of World Water Day, conserving and managing water resources for sustainable development. In the interest of keeping with our core humanitarian values and promoting sustainable development worldwide, we must continue to promote the goals of clean water, sound water conservation and management, and basic sanitation. I strongly support this resolution, Mr. Speaker. I urge all of my colleagues to also support it. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to introduce H.R. 5216, the Preservation of Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post-Civil War Reconstruction Act. This important legislation will build upon the success of the Freedmen's Bureau Records Preservation Act of 2000 (P.L. Number: 106-444), which passed both the House and the Senate unanimously in 2000 and was signed into law in November 2000. The law required the Archivist of the United States to create a searchable indexing system to catalogue the geological records from the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. Based on the immense success of the Freedmen's Bureau Records Preservation Act, I have joined with my colleagues to introduce follow- up legislation to ensure that those Americans who want to trace their family's history in our country are not prevented from doing so because access to records is difficult. Mr. Speaker, as you are aware, for most Americans, researching their genealogical history involves searching through municipal birth, death, and marriage records--almost all of which have been properly archived as public historical documents. However, African Americans in the United States face a unique challenge when conducting genealogical research due to our Nation's history of slavery and discrimination. Instead of looking up wills, land deeds, birth and death certificates, and other traditional genealogical research documents, African-Americans must often try to identify the name of former slave owners, hoping that the owners kept records of pertinent information, such as births and deaths. To compound this difficulty, African-American genealogists find that most current records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction are frequently inaccessible, poorly catalogued, and inadequately preserved from decay. While some States and localities have undertaken efforts to collect these documents with varying degrees of success, there has not been any national effort to preserve these pieces of public and personal history to make them readily and easily accessible to all Americans. Mr. Speaker, the Freedmen's Bureau Records Preservation Act was an important first step towards ensuring that many of these valuable and important records are appropriately maintained. Without this Act, we run the risk today of losing other critically important historic documents. The Preservation of Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post- Civil War Reconstruction Act, tackles this problem in two ways. First, it would ensure that existing records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction housed within the federal government that include the Southern Claims Commission Records, Records of the Freedmen's Bank, Slave Impressments Records, Slave Payroll Records, and Slave Manifests would be properly preserved by authorizing $5 million for the Archivist of the United States to preserve, maintain and electronically catalog. Second, this legislation would also authorize $5 million in grants to be distributed to States, academic institutions, and genealogical associations to preserve and establish databases of the important local records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction currently housed throughout the country. These grants will ensure that families doing research in my home State of California or anywhere in the country will have access to these treasure troves of genealogical information. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be joined by over forty of our colleagues from both sides of the aisle who are original cosponsors of my legislation and particularly appreciate the support of my good friends and colleagues, Tom Davis, and Elijah Cummings, whose assistance in drafting this bill has been monumental. I would urge the rest of our colleagues to support this legislation and hope that we will be voting on this bill soon. I would also like to call attention to the following websites, which will provide genealogical researchers, as well as people interested in the history of African-Americans, a true bounty of useful and meaningful information. National Archives Genealogy Website (http:// www.archives.gov/genealogy/) National Park Service African American Documentary Resources * African American Civil War Memorial, DC (http:// www.nps.gov/afam/index.htm) Booker T Washington National Monument, VA (http:// www.nps.gov/bowa/index.htm) Boston African American National Historic Site, MA (http:// www.nps.gov/boaf/index.htm) Brown v Board of Education National Historic Site, KS (http://www.nps.gov/brvb/index.htm) Cane River Creole National Historical Park, LA (http:// www.nps.gov/cari/index.htm) Central High School National Historic Site, AR (http:// www.nps.gov/chsc/index.htm) Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park (Paul Laurence Dunbar State Memorial), OH (http://www.nps.gov/daav/ index.htm) Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, DC (http:// www.nps.gov/frdo/index.htm) George Washington Carver National Monument, MO (http:// www.nps.gov/gwca/index.htm) Maggie L Walker National Historic Site, VA (http:// www.nps.gov/malw//index.htm) Martin Luther King Jr National Historic Site, GA (http:// www.nps.gov/malu/index.htm) Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site, DC (http://www.nps.gov/mamc/index.htm) Natchez National Historical Park, MS (http://www.nps.gov/ natc/index.htm) New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, LA (http:// www.nps.gov/jazz/index.htm) Nicodemus National Historic Site, KS (http://www.nps.gov/ nico/index.htm) Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, AL (http:// www.nps.gov/semo/index.htm) Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, AL (http:// www.nps.gov/tuai/index.htm) Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, AL (http:// www.nps.gov/tuin/index.htm) * Parks have primary source documents, museum artifacts, historic structures, landscapes and related resources. Both primary and secondary sources at these sites contain lists of persons, families, institutions and organizations significant in African American history. They are a gold mine of research for African American families. Databases in African American History 1. Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System* (http:// www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/) United States Colored Troops, African American Sailors in the Union Navy * This database has the names of the nearly 180,000 African American soldiers in the Union Army, USCT. It also has the names and places of origin (throughout the world) of African American sailors in the Union Navy. 2. National Register Information System (National Register of Historic Places) (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/*) * The National Register of Historic Places has a listing of over 1000 places that are significant in African American history, in communities all over the United States. An outdated publication describes some 800 of these, but the database itself, with some enhancements, would provide significant information on local communities and families. Studies in African American History African-American History of War of 1812 Sites (pdf) (http:/ /crm.cr.nps.gov/archive/20-2/20-2-12.pdf) A History Remembered: Why Were Buffalo Soldiers in Yosemite? (http://www.nps.gov/yose/nature/articles/buffs.htm) African American Archeology & History (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/seac/af-am/index4.htm) African American Heritage in the Golden Crescent (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/goldcres/cultural/africahome.html) African American History and Culture (http:// crm.cr.nps.gov/issue.cfm?volume=20& number=02) African American Sailors in the Civil War Union Navy (http://www.civilwar.nps.gov/cwss/sailors_index.html) Africans and African Americans on Jamestown Island 1619- 1803 (pdf) (http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/ african/african.pdf) Chattel Slavery at Hampton/Northampton, Baltimore County (http://www.nps.gov/hamp/lancaster2.htm) Clues to African American Life at Manassas National Battlefield Park (http://www.nps.gov/mrc/exhibit/arch00.htm) Connections: African-American History and CRM (http:// crm.cr.nps.gov/issue.cfm?volume=19 & number=02) Encountering the Cultural Diversity of the Lower Mississippi Delta Region (http://www.cr.nps.gov/delta/ concept05.htm) Frankly, Scarlett, We Do Give a Damn: The Making of a New National Park (pdf) (http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/categrs/ gates.pdf) Fugitive Slave Traffic and the Maritime World of New Bedford (pdf) (http://www.nps.gov/nebe/research/grover.pdf) In Those Days: African American Life Near the Savannah River (http://www.cr.nps.gov/seac/ITD/longversion/itd- lg1.htm) Racial Desegregation in Public Education in the U.S. (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nhl/themes/Scanned%20Nominations/ Desegregation/deseg-education.htm) Slavery and Resistance (http://crm.cr.nps.gov/ issue.cfm?volume=21 & number=04) Speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King (http://www.nps.gov/ malu/documents/resources.htm) The Black Experience in Natchez 1720-1880: Special History Study (1993) (http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/ natc/davis.pdf) Oral Histories in the African American Community Oral Histories Capturing Forgotten Moments in Civil Rights History (http://crm.cr.nps.gov/archive/19-2/19-2-5.pdf) Faces of Whaling Oral History Project (http://www.nps.gov/ nebe/research/faces.pdf) Lesson Plans in African American History * Teaching with historic places An American Success Story: The Pope House of Raleigh, NC (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/124popehouse/) Meet Dr. Manassa T. Pope, an African-American doctor and entrepreneur in the early 20th century, and learn about his efforts to gain civil rights well before the modern Civil Rights Movement. Brown v. Board: Five Communities that Changed America (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/121brown/ index.htm) Learn about the landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Chicago's Black Metropolis: Understanding History through a Historic Place (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/ 53black/53black.htm) Examine the history of this ``city- within-a-city,'' a self-supporting African-American community that prospered from the late 19th century until the 1930s. From Canterbury to Little Rock: The Struggle for Educational Equality for African Americans (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/crandall/crandall.htm) Understand the magnitude of the struggle involved in securing equal educational opportunities for African Americans and examine how Prudence Crandall challenged the prevailing attitude toward educating African Americans in New England prior to the Civil War. Glen Echo Park: Center for Education and Recreation (http:/ /www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/24glenecho/ 24glenecho.htm) Trace the evolution of this Maryland site from a chapter of the Chautauqua movement, to a racially segregated amusement park, to a national park. Iron Hill School: An African-American One Room School (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/58iron/ 58iron.htm) Discover how an early 20th-century philanthropist reformed Delaware's education system for African-American children. The Liberty Bell: From Obscurity to Icon (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/36liberty/ 36liberty.htm) Analyze the influences that shaped the symbolic meaning of the bell, including why some civil rights protestors chose the Liberty Bell as their symbol for African American equality. Memories of Montpelier: Home of James and Dolley Madison (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/46montpelier/ 46montpelier.htm) Visit the Madisons' plantation home and their world of social prominence, and explore some contemporary views of slavery. New Kent School and the George W. Watkins School: From Freedom of Choice to Integration (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ twhp/wwwlps/lessons/104newkent/104newkent.htm) Learn about the U.S. Supreme Court case that forced the integration of public schools and meet the individuals who experienced segregation, fought to dismantle the institution, and integrated the public school system of New Kent County, Virginia. The Old Courthouse in St. Louis: Yesterday and Today (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/9stlouis/ 9stlouis.htm) Compare two images of St. Louis's handsome Courthouse--as a gathering place for pioneers heading west and as a dramatic focus for Dred Scott's heroic efforts to free his family from slavery. The Siege of Port Hudson: ``Forty Days and Nights in the Wilderness of Death'' (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/ lessons/71hudson/71hudson.htm) Understand the importance of the Mississippi River to both the North and South during the Civil War, as well as the critical role African American soldiers played in the Civil War and how their fighting changed general public perception of their abilities. Two American Entrepreneurs: Madam C.J. Walker and J.C. Penney (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/walker/ walker.htm) Examine the historic places associated with two of America's most famous 20th century businesspeople. The Vieux Carre: A Creole Neighborhood in New Orleans (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/20vieux/ 20vieux.htm) Examine New Orleans's distinctive French Quarter, a vibrant reflection of its Creole heritage, and recall the city's role in American westward expansion. When Rice Was King (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/wwwlps/ lessons/3rice/3rice.htm) Investigate early rice plantations in Georgetown, South Carolina, to learn how rice cultivation transformed the native environment and promoted the South's dependence on a plantation economy. Recent revision to this lesson includes the examination of the origins of rice production and the cultural genesis of students' communities. * Teaching with Historic Places is a program of the National Register of Historic Places. Individual Parks also have lesson plans in African American history. Travel Itineraries to African American Places We Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/civilrights/) Aboard the Underground Railroad (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ travel/underground/) Amistad: Seeking Freedom in Connecticut (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/amistad/) Asheville, North Carolina (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/ asheville/) Atlanta, Georgia (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/atlanta/) Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/aviation/) Baltimore, MD (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/baltimore/) Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/charleston/) James River Plantations (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/ jamesriver/) Lexington, Kentucky (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/ lexington/) Southeastern Louisiana (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/ louisiana/) Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/prvi/) Raleigh, North Carolina (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/ raleigh/) Virginia Main Street Communities (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/ travel/VAmainstreet/) World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area (http:// www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/) Washington, DC (http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/)

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution. Madam Speaker, before dealing with this resolution, I would like to commend my friend from New Jersey Chairman Smith for holding an extraordinary hearing during the visit of the Chinese President Hu Jintao here in Washington. I had the privilege of watching that hearing from California, and I want to commend my friend for injecting a sorely needed dose of realism into this very ceremonial and in many ways misleading visit. You did the country great service, Mr. Smith. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the leading Democratic cosponsor of this important measure, Representative Dennis Cardoza, my fellow Californian, and an emerging leader on human rights issues on the International Relations Committee. Madam Speaker, during his groundbreaking trip to South Africa in 1966, the late Robert Kennedy addressed students at the University of Cape Town. His remarks that day were particularly eloquent, and I quote, ``Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change.'' Madam Speaker, Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng is precisely the type of individual Robert Kennedy had in mind 40 years ago in Cape Town. As a former soldier in the People's Liberation Army and a member of the Chinese Communist Party, Gao was set to join China's political and social elite. But, instead of power and prestige, Gao opted to become a human rights lawyer in a nation where respect for human rights and political freedoms are not part of the government's lexicon. Gao's struggle for human rights within China's legal system has not been without cost. His law firm has been shut down by the Chinese Government. Gao and his family are subject to constant surveillance by an army of government agents. Police officers called him a few months ago to say, we have gathered a lot of information about you, including your home, your wife and your children. We even know which bus your children usually take to go to school. Madam Speaker, these scare tactics are unfortunately standard practice against Chinese lawyers who fight for real justice in the Chinese legal system. Gao provoked Beijing's wrath by defending a Chinese activist who had worked on behalf of the villagers trying to unseat their corrupt village chief, and by representing a journalist sentenced to jail for posting his own political thoughts on line. And perhaps, most importantly, Gao had written an open letter to the Chinese leadership condemning the unfounded persecution of the Falun Gong. The resolution before the House today commends Gao and other Chinese human rights lawyers for their brave and principled actions on behalf of individual Chinese citizens fighting the government's injustice. It also condemns the Chinese Government's ceaseless efforts to harass, intimidate and imprison lawyers who are simply attempting to uphold China's own Constitution. Madam Speaker, when Bob Kennedy spoke to South African students four decades ago, it seemed inconceivable that apartheid would fall and that human rights and democracy would one day flourish in South Africa. The skeptics were wrong. Today it seems similarly probable that China will one day have a democratically elected government that respects human rights. But Gao and his fellow human rights lawyers have bravely refused to concede defeat, and we remain grateful to their moral courage and willingness to persevere despite all the odds. When the day comes that human rights are respected in China, we will all stand to applaud Gao and his colleagues. Madam Speaker, I strongly support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, this body stands united in calling on the Chinese Government to release this courageous fighter for human rights, and we urge all Members to vote for this resolution. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of the most extraordinary women in the Bay Area, Ruth Nagler. Mrs. Nagler has lived in the 12th District of California for the past 50 plus years and her contributions to the community deserve recognition. Ruth Nagler was born and raised in New York. Nagler received an undergraduate degree from College of the City of New York in 1943, and subsequently received a Master of Arts in education from New York University in 1945. She and her husband, Edmund, are parents to three children. Mr. Speaker, after moving to San Mateo Ruth Nagler immediately immersed herself in our community, joining the League of Women Voters of the Mid-Peninsula in 1951, eventually serving as the president of this valuable organization for three years. In addition, Ruth Nagler served for 10 years as a trustee of the San Mateo City Elementary School District Board, where she was a leader and integral component of one of the earliest state school desegregation programs in California, and in our nation. With this background, Ruth Nagler was the perfect choice to become Director of Community Education for Canada College, one of the three colleges of the San Mateo County Community College District. Ruth Nagler left her mark both at Canada College and at the San Mateo County Community College District during the 20 years she worked for the institution. During that time, she initiated, designed, developed and administered non-credit short courses, workshops, conferences and special events for more than 48,000 people. Mr. Speaker, since retirement Ruth Nagler has remained active in community activities, and in fact her involvement in the community is too long to list here but allow me to highlight a few of the things she has done. She was coordinator of the ``San Mateo County 2000'' drive for the public school system, she was chair of the Friends of the Advisory Council on Women, a member of the Mills-Peninsula Hospital Board of Trustees, chair of the San Mateo Performing Arts Center Board of Directors, and directed a successful effort to refurbish the High School District's theater. In addition to these organizations and her continued work with San Mateo League of Women Voters, Ruth Nagler has also selflessly devoted herself to a myriad of community service organizations including; Planned Parenthood, American Association of University Women, United Nations Association, San Mateo County American Cancer Society, San Mateo Parents Cooperative Nursery School, and the San Mateo City Citizens Task Force to Study Needs of Seniors. Mr. Speaker, the wide range of associations with which Ruth Nagler been has involved clearly highlight her commitment to our community. For her diligent work, she has been duly recognized over the years. Notably, in 2003, she was named ``Woman of the Year'' by California Assemblyman Gene Mullin. In 1990, Ruth Nagler was the recipient of the Beyond War Foundation award for ``helping to build a global community and thereby create a secure and sustainable future for all.'' Mr. Speaker, Ruth Nagler is an inspirational leader and we can learn much from her actions, her leadership and her ability to create change. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in tribute to Ruth Nagler for her tireless efforts to better the San Mateo County community and our nation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago on April 18, 1906 at 5:12 a.m. the Bay Area was struck by one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in modern history as San Francisco, a great city of 400,000, was shaken to rubble and burned. The quake, estimated at a magnitude of 7.8, killed some 3,000 people and rendered homeless as many as three-quarters of the entire city's population. Other disastrous consequences soon followed as a massive firestorm created by ruptured natural gas mains swept across the city. The quake's destruction of water mains and cisterns left the fire department able to do little but dynamite buildings in a futile effort to stop the relentless advance of the flames. Separate fires converging in the downtown area created an inferno that destroyed nearly 500 city blocks and took four days to quell. Officials of local, state and federal agencies attempted to deal with the massive chaos, but disruption of communications and the scale of destruction made it difficult to maintain order. The aftermath of the quake, Mr. Speaker, was even more catastrophic than its initial effects. As many as 300,000 San Franciscans were homeless and there was great risk of disease, water contamination, and crime. The total scale of damage was immense with over 80% of the city destroyed and over $400 million in damage in 1906 dollars. Adjusted for today's dollars, the cost would be over $8 billion in damage. I know some of you have read or are reading Simon Winchester's A Crack in the Edge of the World: America and the Great California Earthquake of 1906. Winchester recounts this extraordinary story of disaster, response and recovery, and I recommend his excellent book. Mr. Speaker, the recovery from the quake changed San Francisco forever. The response to the disaster was truly remarkable--and much more impressive than the United States government's response to the Katrina disaster last fall. Following the devastation, the call for help went out. The first relief train with wagonloads of packaged food and medicine arrived in Oakland from Los Angeles at midnight on the day of the disaster--less than 20 hours after the first rumbling of the earthquake. The War Department and Congress acted. Trains were sent from every corner of the nation. Every military tent in the country was sent to house the refugees. Within weeks ten percent of the United States Army was in the Bay Area. A U.S. military officer, second in command at the Presidio, Brigadier General Fred Funston, did not wait for orders, did not wait for his boss to return from out of town, and did not wait or hesitate to take the initiative. He immediately ordered troops from the Presidio and Fort Mason to come to the aid of the city, and he sent dispatches demanding help. Mr. Speaker, the House Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina recently released its final report entitled, ``A Failure of Initiative.'' This 379-page report details 90 findings of failure at all levels of government and lays primary fault with the passive reaction and misjudgments of top Administration officials, including the Homeland Security Secretary, the Homeland Security Operations Center and the White House Homeland Security Council. It concludes that ``earlier presidential involvement could have speeded the response'' because the President could have cut through all bureaucratic resistance. The White House has issued its own report, ``The Federal Response To Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned,'' which identified 17 lessons the executive branch learned after reviewing and analyzing the response to Katrina, made 125 specific recommendations to the President, and listed 11 critical actions to be completed before June 1, 2006, when hurricane season begins again. It is not like the events of Katrina were unique or original. The disaster in San Francisco a century earlier gave us clear indications of what to do and what not to do. On February 16, 2006 the San Francisco Chronicle editorialized that there is ``a bigger message than the rearview-mirror blame-game that goes with government bungling. California and the Bay Area remain at nature's mercy from weather, earthquakes or fire. It's time to check and recheck local plans to make sure everyone's on the same page, and emergency planners can take on the dicey game of managing disasters on the fly.'' And furthermore, ``Emergency workers have tried to anticipate such disasters, working hard to prepare the response of public-safety agencies and the public. Still, as Katrina showed, the results can hinge on official judgment and initiative. Let's make sure we're ready.'' In early 2001, FEMA warned against three major disasters that could face the nation: a terrorist attack on New York City, a major hurricane in New Orleans, and an earthquake in San Francisco. Yet according to a recent letter from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff to California Senator Barbara Boxer, the Department of Homeland Security has no specific federal strategy for responding to a catastrophic earthquake in California and will depend primarily on local and state efforts. As Benjamin Franklin warned, by failing to prepare we prepare to fail. Mr. Speaker, as we remember the 100th Anniversary of the great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire I commend the people of San Francisco who demonstrated the determination of recovery and renewal that rebuilt the great city by the Bay. To me that San Francisco spirit is a key part of the American spirit. It is the dream that brought the 49ers of the Gold Rush era to California, and it was the dream that rebuilt San Francisco after the disaster of 1906. It was the dream that built Silicon Valley, that brought to California the miracle of biotechnology and stem cell research. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in commending the people of San Francisco and the Bay Area as they celebrate this historic anniversary, and in calling on federal, state and local government officials to learn from the tragic events of the Earthquake of 1906 and the equally tragic events of the Katrina disaster of 2005 to prepare for the catastrophic events that will surely come in the future.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, very, very early on the morning of April 18, 2006, I joined thousands of San Franciscans and Bay Area residents on the corner of Kearny and Market Streets at Lotta's Fountain--one of San Francisco's most beloved landmarks. The Fountain was donated to the citizens of San Francisco in 1875 by Lotta Crabtree, a performer who began her show business career at age 6 dancing for miners in the gold country and eventually becoming one of America's most popular performers. During the 1906 Earthquake the fountain became a famous meeting place and bulletin board for families and survivors. It is the oldest surviving landmark in the city of San Francisco, and survivors of the 1906 Earthquake still gather for reunions around the fountain at each anniversary of the `06 quake. This year's commemoration was a celebration of the centennial anniversary of the Earthquake. My dear friend and our most distinguished colleague Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom spoke at this historic occasion remembering this great tragedy. They spoke of the courage and the pioneering spirit of the people of San Francisco following this devastating event. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering the 100th anniversary of the great San Francisco Earthquake, and I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the excellent statement by Congresswoman Pelosi be placed in the Record. The People of San Francisco Did the Impossible--Rebuilt Our City Better Than Before Address of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi Good Morning, San Francisco. Thank you all for coming this morning, and thank you Mayor Newsom. It is appropriate that the Mayor would be presiding over San Francisco rising. He comes from good pioneer stock. His family was here at the time of the earthquake, and they have contributed to rebuilding this city ever since. Let's hear it again for Mayor Newsom. I am pleased to be here with my colleague Tom Lantos of California and other members of the official family of San Francisco. To some, it may have seemed impossible that San Francisco could be rebuilt when they saw this headline in the Call Chronicle Examiner on April 19th: ``Earthquake and Fire: San Francisco in Ruins.'' But they had faith and they had the San Francisco Fire Department. The City of San Francisco lived by the words of our patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi: ``Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.'' That is what the people of San Francisco did. The Mayor said 250,000 were left homeless. They lived in our parks, built temporary shelters, thousands lost loved ones, and they gathered here at this fountain to find news of the missing. Separated by class and race and neighborhood, they came together in common cause. Frances Mae Duffy, who was 11 months old at the time of the quake and is here this morning, said it best: ``No matter how rich or poor you were, you got shook up just the same.'' One week after the quake, Governor Pardee declared, ``I expect to see the great metropolis replaced on a much grander scale than ever before.'' And indeed that happened. A year later, just a year later, a newspaper reported that ``a miracle was wrought. Discipline was restored in a day; orderly government was established in a week; relief was organized almost before there was hunger to assuage; reorganization was planned before the destruction was complete, and begun before the ashes had cooled; courage was never lost.'' That is our San Francisco. Courage was never lost because the San Franciscans of a century ago were pioneers or they were children of pioneers. Winston Churchill could have been speaking of them and our great survivors here whom we honor when he said: ``We have not journeyed all this way across the centuries, across the oceans, across the mountains, across the prairies because we are made of sugar candy.'' We are made of sterner stuff. For many of them, just getting here was a dangerous journey--over the Rockies, through the swamps of Panama, across the Pacific, or around Cape Horn. They were pioneers and risk- takers. Once they arrived, they began building a city and a future limited only by their imagination. And when the earthquake and the fire leveled the city, their imagination was sparked even further, and they began rebuilding San Francisco better than before. Today as we commemorate a tragedy, we also celebrate the survivors here today. You represent the heart and soul of San Francisco. And when we have the moment of silence here at Lotta's Fountain we must remember that this is hallowed ground. This is where people came 100 years ago in the hopes of finding news of their loved ones, and sometimes they found their loved ones. Over the years, these survivors and their fellow citizens did what was necessary, they did what was possible, and then did the impossible--they made San Francisco what it is today. And so to the survivors I say, there's an Italian expression: Cent'anni--may you live 100 years. Well, they did. We are very fortunate indeed that they did and we are very honored by their great contribution to our city. Cent'anni all over again.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. The single-most important action that we will take today is to ensure that the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act is not extended. Libya no longer needs to be subject to such punitive measures. It is our partner in the global goal of controlling the spread of unconventional weapons. In December 2003, Libya took a bold and courageous step. It pledged to rid itself of all weapons of mass destruction. I was in Tripoli immediately thereafter in January 2004 to encourage the leadership of Libya to follow through with its stated goal. After that, Libya loaded its nuclear weapons onto American ships. These weapons, together with all detailed plans and programs, are today under lock and key in Tennessee. As a result, the legislation now before us removes all references to Libya from the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. ILSA, Madam Speaker, is dead, and the Iran Sanctions Act will rise in its place. The weight of American sanctions will now be focused exclusively on Iran because the mullahs in Tehran continue to pursue blatantly their nuclear ambitions. The message to Tehran is simple: follow the Libya model, and we in Congress are more than prepared to open a new, constructive and happy chapter in U.S.-Iranian relations. Madam Speaker, the Iran Freedom Support Act will dramatically ratchet up the economic pressure on Tehran to abandon its head-long pursuit of nuclear weapons. If we fail to use both our economic and our diplomatic tools, the world will face a nightmare that knows no end; a despotic, fundamentalist regime that avidly supports terrorism, exploiting and threatening to use the ultimate weapon of terror. Just yesterday the leader of Iran indicated that they stand ready to share their nuclear technology with the Government of Sudan, which as we speak here this morning is engaged in genocide in Darfur. This is the regime that we are dealing with. It is very naive, Madam Speaker, to expect that we can convince Iran to end its nuclear program voluntarily based on reason. We can only hope to inflict economic pain at the highest levels in Tehran and starve the Iranian leadership of the resources it needs to fund a costly nuclear program. And that is the purpose of our legislation. Some argue that this legislation might undermine our relations with European allies which invest in Iran, but who have also helped lead an important diplomatic effort to bring the Iranian nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council. But that argument, Madam Speaker, is a pure and simple misreading of the contents of our bill. Our legislation is intended to reinforce diplomacy with economics. We ask our allies to do what the United States did over a decade ago, divest from Iran's energy sector, the cash cow of the ayatollahs' nuclear plans. At the same time, our legislation does not put the President in a straitjacket. If a verifiable deal to eliminate Iran's nuclear program can be negotiated, or if certain sanctions will undermine the national security of our own Nation, the President may waive implementation of our law. But, Madam Speaker, let me be clear on one point: Congress will no longer tolerate lax enforcement of American sanctions against Iran. For over a decade both Democratic and Republican administrations failed to implement the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act measures that we do have in place. Meanwhile, Iran's nuclear program has marched forward at a frighteningly rapid pace. Our legislation will extend the Iran Sanctions Act indefinitely. It will dramatically boost congressional oversight over its implementation. The administration will have to enforce the law fully. Ignoring the law will no longer be an option. I commend the administration for convincing the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to send its Iran file to the U.N. Security Council. Unfortunately, the Russians have already made clear that the Security Council action will be impeded by them. Just last week, the Russian Foreign Minister announced that Moscow would only consider U.N. sanctions on Iran if it were shown what it called concrete proof of Iran's nonpeaceful intentions. Madam Speaker, what gall. As we all know, there is no shortage of proof to be found in the numerous International Atomic Energy Agency reports over recent years. These reports demonstrate conclusively that for two decades, for two decades, Iran has run a clandestine nuclear program in violation of its commitments under the treaty of the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. I can't help but wonder what the Russians require as proof. Perhaps Iran parading a nuclear device through the streets of Tehran, or Israel being wiped off the map, as the Iranian President has declared. The leadership in Moscow ought to know that support for terrorists is not a policy that the United States or other civilized nations will accept, especially from a country that expects to be treated as a member of the G-8 nations, seven of which are a true democracy. Russia clearly is not. Madam Speaker, I would be delighted if our legislation were rendered redundant by serious Security Council action, but the attitudes shown by Russia and China thus far show that that is a most unlikely development. In the meantime, we cannot shirk our responsibility to employ every peaceful means possible to undermine Iran's ugly nuclear ambitions. That, in essence, is the reason for the urgency of passing H.R. 282 today. Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bill for the sake of staving off a looming, long-term nuclear threat, and I urge all of my colleagues to do as well. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the balance of my time be controlled by my good friend, our colleague from New York (Mr. Crowley) since I have responsibilities in the International Relations Committee.

Mr. LANTOS. Yes, I support the motion, Madam Speaker.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a remarkable young woman and one of my constituents, Elizabeth Quintero of Redwood City. Elizabeth was recently selected as the California's Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year. She was chosen from among three-dozen competitors for the title because of her intelligence, positive attitude and perseverance. Elizabeth is even more extraordinary because of the battles she has won in her personal life. Mr. Speaker, in the last five years Elizabeth has experienced more tragedy and stress than most seventeen year olds. Her father has had to endure a tragic and debilitating health diagnosis, her home was robbed and then completely destroyed by an unfortunate fire. In addition to these challenges, Elizabeth also struggled with a strong case of social anxiety that prevented her from participating in school and in her community. Mr. Speaker, we honor Elizabeth today for the courage and optimism she showed in the face of adversity. After accompanying a friend to the local Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula she began to fight her social anxiety. This once shy girl became an active member of the Keystone Club where she attended workshops on leadership skills and public speaking. She volunteered for Community Service and Academic Programs, while excelling at school and emerging as a leader among her friends and classmates. Elizabeth received the Youth of the Year award honoring her outstanding contributions to the community but also overcoming personal obstacles. Elizabeth continues to challenge herself and her friends and neighbors. On the day she was named Youth of the Year she also learned she had been accepted for admission to the University of San Francisco. This summer she will advance to the Regional Youth of the Year competition, and then to Washington, D.C. to compete for the title of National Youth of the Year, an honor that includes a $15,000 college scholarship presented by President George W. Bush. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in congratulating Elizabeth on this distinguished award and her promising future.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Jeff Steinberg, who was recently awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for creating Sojourns to the Past. Mr. Steinberg is a resident of Millbrae, California, which is in my Congressional District. Mr. Steinberg has lived and worked around the Bay Area his entire life. He began his community involvement as a history teacher at Capuchino High School in San Bruno, California and has worked to make our community a better place for over a decade as an educator. In 1999, Jeff created the Sojourns to the Past as an educational tool to teach high school students about American history in the South and to promote tolerance and human rights. Since its inception, over 3000 students have participated. Sojourns to the Past promotes a living history of the Civil Rights movement. The curriculum contains books, documentaries, audio recordings, and on-site experiences. Veterans of the movement, like my friend and colleague Congressman John Lewis, meet with the students to teach lessons of tolerance, nonviolence and personal courage. The students visit eight cities in the South, starting with Atlanta and ending in Memphis. They tour landmarks of the Civil Rights era and can see firsthand the destructive effects of racism, sexism, homophobia and other forms of discrimination. Mr. Speaker, Sojourns to the Past has inspired thousands of students. When they return from their trip the students have a better understanding of American history and the struggle for civil rights. I have received hundreds of letters from students who share their experience with me and I know that these students return from the trip with a unique appreciation for the struggle faced by the pioneers of the civil rights movement. Mr. Speaker, Sojourns to the Past is a truly stimulating program and Jeff Steinberg is an extraordinary person who has worked tirelessly for his students and our community. Students who participate in this program become more engaged civically and are more likely to vote. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating him on this wonderful recognition.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise to celebrate the sesquicentennial anniversary of San Mateo County, California, a county which I proudly represent, along with my good friend Anna Eshoo in the United States House of Representatives. Much of the history of San Mateo County can be derived from its unique founding. The county was not one of the original counties created when California was granted Statehood in 1850, but instead came about as a political compromise. Originally part of San Francisco County, a group of progressively minded citizens, fed up with corruption in San Francisco, decided that it would be easier to clean up one government rather than two and proposed merging the San Francisco County and City governments. However, those opposed to this plan were also politically strong and at the end the day a compromise was agreed upon--that the San Francisco governments would be consolidated but it would become two counties. The newly constituted San Mateo County was created from the most rural areas of San Francisco County and had a population of about 2500 people. While the progressives of San Francisco anticipated seizing control of this more remote area to establish a clean ethical government, their efforts were defeated by rampant ballot box stuffing and election fraud in 1856. In an interesting turn of event, two of the Judges who certified the election, John Johnson and Charles Clark, were themselves elected as two of the new county's first supervisors. This group of criminals were run out of town shortly after being elected when a vigilante mob of 800 San Franciscans rose up to take revenge on James Casey for his shooting of newspaper editor James King of William. After hanging Casey for shooting the popular editor, the mob turned south and his cronies who had infiltrated the County government fled San Mateo. Mr. Speaker, although this is the 150th anniversary of San Mateo County, the human story of the land dates back much further and was home to numerous and varied cultures. Recent archeology indicates that man lived on the Peninsula as far back as 6500 years ago. When the first European settlers from Spain came in 1769, about 2000 native Californians called the Peninsula home. These Spanish conquistadors quickly colonized the area bringing their Catholic faith with them. Before the Gold Rush of 1848, a number of Americans and other foreigners inhabited the southern hills of San Mateo working in a fledgling logging industry or at the port that was quickly expanding in Redwood City. Despite the fact that these industries continued to grow with the discovery of Gold in northern California, the County remained a lightly populated and mostly rural community for the remainder of the 19th Century. It was this rural nature of San Mateo County that made it a place where certain activities could take place that were not permissible in San Francisco. Although San Francisco has always possessed a reputation as an ``open city,'' but for many years it was common knowledge that if you were unable to get away with something in San Francisco all you had to do was cross over the county line. Examples of such activities included gambling, prostitution and dueling. Although outlawed everywhere in California, dueling continued to exist in San Mateo County and Daly City was the location of a duel that resulted in the death of United States Senator David Broderick. By the turn of the century prize fighting and horse racing, now illegal in San Francisco, were also commonly occurring in San Mateo County and the historic Bay Meadows Race Track was opened in 1934. During the era of Prohibition the prolific bootlegging operations run out of the County prompted one gangster to declare San Mateo the most corrupt county in California. Mr. Speaker, despite the examples of lawlessness, San Mateo County remained a sleepy suburb of bustling San Francisco until America entered World War II. Like so many other towns and areas of the country, the need for components for the war machine revved up San Mateo County's economic engine as factories sprang up to produce necessary electronic parts. Coupled with the growth of firms such as EIMAC, Varian, Dalmo Victor and Ampex, was the expansion of hotels, warehouses and other supporting business. Perhaps the best example of the increasing stature of San Mateo County can be seen in the fact that the airport in South San Francisco, once dubbed a ``mud hole'' was handling one-tenth of all air traffic in the United States by 1946. Industrial growth brought an increase in population and by the end of World War II the rural nature of San Mateo County passed into oblivion. This once quiet community is now home to some of the largest companies in the world, and a magnet for the computer software and biotechnological industry. Mr. Speaker, even though San Mateo County is now a major population and business hub, it continues to remain committed to the values of open space that were present when the then rural County was founded 150 years ago. I am proud to have contributed to the County's commitment to environmental conservation by expanding the Golden Gate National Recreation Area to include extraordinary landscapes such as Rancho Corral de Tierra, Mori Point and Sweeney Ridge. By designating these beautiful tracts of land as part of our national park and protecting them from development, we are able to maintain a connection to the rural heritage of San Mateo. Mr. Speaker, San Mateo County's history during the past 150 years has certainly been colorful and storied and serves as an important bridge to a limitless and bright future. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing this significant milestone, the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of San Mateo County in California.

Mr. LANTOS

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. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to our distinguished colleague, my good friend from Texas, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson-Lee.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would first like to commend my very good friend and distinguished colleague from New Jersey, Congressman Chris Smith, for introducing this important resolution and for his unique, dogged pursuit of Vietnamese human rights issues. None of us here today should be under any illusions about the Vietnamese government. According to the State Department's Human Rights Report, the Vietnamese government is an unrepentant authoritarian regime, and true political opposition is not allowed. Freedom of expression does not exist in Vietnam, and Vietnamese are locked in prison for simply expressing political opinions. In the case which is the focus of this resolution, the Vietnamese government has even imprisoned someone from translating into Vietnamese an article entitled ``What is Democracy,'' from the U.S. embassy Web site in Hanoi. It boggles the mind, Mr. Speaker, that the Vietnamese government is so fearful of dissent that it won't even allow citizens to discuss, let alone implement, meaningful democracy. The Vietnamese government also places severe restrictions on the expression of religious beliefs, particularly upon Buddhists, who do not worship as part of the official church, and upon Christians in the Vietnamese highlands. With the approval of the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement 5 years ago, the political security and economic relationship between the United States and Vietnam has become increasingly more complex, but we must continue to send a strong signal to Hanoi that the United States continues to make it a top priority to promote internationally recognized human rights everywhere, including Vietnam. Passage of our resolution will indicate to the administration and to the government of Vietnam that we in Congress expect to see real progress on the human rights front in Vietnam, and that we have not forgotten those Vietnamese who are being persecuted for their beliefs. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this carefully crafted resolution. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to my good friend and distinguished colleague from California, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill, and I commend my good friends Mr. Shaw and Mr. Cardin for introducing this timely and very important resolution. Mr. Speaker, after a years-long quest, Saudi Arabia finally acceded to membership in the World Trade Organization late last year. Unfortunately, the Saudis acceded in letter only--and in a spirit utterly contrary to the principles of free trade embodied by that organization. Moreover, it now appears that Saudi Arabia, having gained accession, has absolutely no intention of implementing even the letter of WTO rules. As Saudi Arabia has now made clear in the aftermath of its accession, it has absolutely no intention of ending its boycott of trade with Israel. This is a direct violation of Saudi Arabia's WTO obligations to Israel. Earlier this month, as if to underscore its disregard for the WTO rules to which it is formally committed, Saudi Arabia hosted a conference called ``Ninth Meeting of the Liaison Officers of Islamic Regional Officers for the Boycott of Israel.'' Mr. Speaker, there is indeed a mechanism by which a WTO member-state can invoke an exception regarding its commitments to another member- state, but Saudi Arabia did not invoke that exception regarding Israel. And it doesn't take a genius to figure out why: The ruling royals no doubt thought that, if they invoked that exception, the U.S. Congress would persuade the Administration to veto their accession to the WTO. So they deceitfully and cynically deceived us into thinking that they had taken a dramatic decision to open trade ties with Israel, all the while planning to continue their boycott unabated. Clearly, USTR thought they had an agreement for an end to the boycott. After signing off on Saudi accession in September last year, USTR boasted that Saudi membership in the WTO meant that--and I quote from a USTR press release--``Saudi Arabia is legally obligated to provide most-favored nation treatment to all WTO members, including Israel. Any government sanctioned activity on the Boycott would be a violation of Saudi Arabia's obligations and subject to dispute settlement. This legal obligation cannot be changed.'' So the Saudis not only deceived the U.S. Congress; they have embarrassed the U.S. Trade Representative and left themselves open to dispute settlement mechanisms. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. helped shepherd Saudi Arabia into the WTO. We have a right to expect the Saudis to obey its rules. Most of all, we have a right to expect them to honor their commitments to us. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has many issues of concern regarding Saudi Arabia--including lack of human rights, a benighted educational system, and ongoing support for extremist madrasas around the world. Nevertheless, this body has every right to expect that the Administration will place an extremely high priority on persuading the Saudis to fulfill their pledges as WTO members, particularly regarding trade with Israel. The Saudis, we now see, entered the WTO under false premises. They must put this situation aright once and for all. They must end their boycott of Israel without delay, and the Administration should not let Saudi rulers have a moment's rest until they comply. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution, and I urge all my colleagues to do likewise.