Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 284 and commend my good friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and my colleague Mr. Ackerman of New York, for sponsoring it. Mr. Speaker, Egypt held a series of elections this year, both presidential and parliamentary. They were the most competitive elections Egypt has conducted in many decades; and, broadly speaking, I commend President Mubarak for that. But that judgment, of course, is rendered against the background of the decidedly noncompetitive and unfree elections that have previously marked the quarter century of the Mubarak era. Accordingly, this resolution is absolutely on target in expressing the deep disappointment and grave concern of this body with the heavy- handed and often violent tactics that the Government of Egypt and its security forces continue to employ in order to ensure their unbroken dominance. This government-initiated violence apparently was intended to limit voting in certain antigovernment districts. It resulted in nearly a dozen deaths. In other cases, polling stations were simply shut down by the security forces or shadowy groups of nonuniformed thugs. But many of the problems associated with these elections, arguably the most serious problems, had nothing to do with violence. These include the Egyptian Government's refusal to allow international election monitors and even domestic NGOs meaningful access to polling stations and its transparent and successful effort to eviscerate any meaningful secular opposition to the ruling party. For example, in seeking to convince Egyptians and the world that the ruling National Democratic Party is the only bulwark against Islamic fundamentalism, the government trumped up legal charges against Mr. Ayman Nour, whose secular reformist agenda catapulted him to a second- place finish in the September presidential elections. This theater-of- the-absurd legal case crippled Nour's ability to conduct a parliamentary campaign, and he even lost his own parliamentary seat under highly questionable circumstances. In light of all these problems, Mr. Speaker, it is hardly surprising that barely one-quarter of the Egyptian electorate even bothered to vote, a dismal participation rate which compares most unfavorably with the almost-70 percent of the electorate voting in Iraq. Mr. Speaker, this body has every right and obligation to take a deep interest in the process of democratization and human rights reform in Egypt, the recipient yet again this year of some $2 billion of military and economic support from the pockets of American taxpayers. We have every right to expect that when Egypt pledges to hold free elections, these elections will be truly free. As our Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, said at the American University in Cairo in June: ``Egypt's elections must meet objective standards that define every free election.'' Unfortunately, the elections of 2005 fell far short of those standards. Mr. Speaker, the administration is set to be seriously contemplating the opening of negotiations for a free trade agreement with Egypt next month. I think that would be a most regrettable step. It would be construed as a signal that the United States is satisfied with the State of Egypt's progress toward democratization; and as I am confident the vote on this resolution will show, this body decidedly is not satisfied at all. Mr. Speaker, I do not want to minimize the problems Egypt faces in moving towards democracy in a society where income is extraordinarily low and the illiteracy rate is unbelievably high, nor should we be unconcerned that these elections have revealed that the Fundamentalist Brotherhood, which thrives with the impoverished and ill-educated, remains a powerful force in Egypt. But I remain convinced that true democratization, buttressed by free, fair, transparent and truly competitive elections, will allow for the emergence of a secular opposition. That is the right way to go about creating a prosperous and healthy Egypt. So, Mr. Speaker, these elections may represent a step forward, but a much shorter and far clumsier step than this body, the American people and, most importantly, the Egyptian people have every right to expect. That is why I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to do so.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. I first would like to commend my distinguished colleague and good friend from New York (Mr. Crowley), a key member of the International Relations Committee, for introducing this important measure related to Indonesia. Mr. Speaker, the Indonesian province of Aceh has known great sadness and tragedy for decades. A long-simmering civil war between the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian military took the lives of over 15,000 innocent civilians over the past 30 years. Tragically, the December 2004 tsunami struck Aceh very hard. At least 165,000 men, women and children of this region of Sumatra were killed as a result of that horrendous natural disaster. The province was utterly devastated. A year after the tsunami, Mr. Speaker, hundreds of thousands of Acehnese are still struggling to rebuild their lives and their homes, a process that will take many more years to complete and in thousands of instances will never be completed. It is perhaps due to this great human devastation that the leaders of the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian government intensified their efforts to work out a solution to the civil war in that part of Sumatra. The devastation wrought by the tsunami allowed all parties to put their differences in perspective and to concentrate on negotiating a peace deal that was so desperately desired by most Acehnese. If I might digress for a moment, long before I joined Congress I visited Sumatra, and I was impressed by the quality of the extraordinary people of this very important island. It has been a tragedy that the central government and the people of Aceh have not been able to agree until now on a satisfactory modus vivendi. Now we have an agreement between the rebels and the government signed in August of this year, and this is a very positive development. It is also a testament to the staying power of the Finnish negotiators, led by our good friend, the former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, who brought the parties together. I urge all of my colleagues to support this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he might consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), the distinguished author of this legislation.

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

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my friend for his thoughtful and powerful statement. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to commend my good friend and distinguished colleague from Florida (Mr. Davis), a former member of the International Relations Committee, for introducing this most important measure relating to the curriculum in Saudi Arabia. We all appreciate his leadership on this important matter. Mr. Speaker, as all of us as parents know, we have an enormous obligation not only to ensure that our children receive an education which will enable them to function in this century, but that their education include an important quotient of understanding other religions and other cultures, and an education that resists the temptation to demonize those that we do not understand. Mr. Speaker, the Government of Saudi Arabia has singularly failed to accomplish this important task. The extremist Wahhabi religious education which is present in Saudi schools encourages and promotes extremism, viciously anti-American, anti-Western, and anti-Semitic attitudes. It fosters hatred and intolerance. It is no surprise, Mr. Speaker, that 15 of the 19 hijackers on September 11 were Saudi nationals. The vile hatred filling the minds of so many young Saudis in schools makes them prime targets for terrorists and other extremist groups. I urge all my colleagues to support this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis).

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

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, last evening the House voted on H. Res. 598, Condemning actions by the Government of Syria that have hindered the investigation of the assassination of former Prime Minister of Lebanon Rafik Hariri conducted by the United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC), expressing support for extending the UNIIIC's investigative mandate, and stating concern about similar assassination attempts apparently aimed at destabilizing Lebanon's security and undermining Lebanon's sovereignty. Through an error, I was recorded as voting ``nay'' on the adoption of that resolution. I should have been recorded as voting ``yea.'' I cosponsored this resolution when it was introduced and during the debate on H. Res. 598 I spoke strongly in favor of its adoption.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to John Kelly, a constituent of mine from Burlingame, California, who has been working to make our community a better place since the 1970's. Mr. Kelly has recently been awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for his work as the former executive director of Samaritan House and as a volunteer at San Quentin State Prison. Mr. Kelly has lived and worked around the Bay Area for most of his life. He began his community involvement as a Catholic priest, but left to become a teacher at Serra and Menlo Atherton high schools for 18 years. In 1985, he was hired by the county of San Mateo to merge Samaritan House, then a referral service in San Mateo for low income residents, with a nonprofit meal program. Mr. Speaker, under John's stewardship, Samaritan House expanded to serve throughout San Mateo County, with a 90-bed shelter, a medical clinic, and provides food, clothing and counseling. Mainly through donations, Samaritan House provides assistance to approximately 12,000 residents. In 1991, Mr. Kelly began a program for inmates at San Quentin State Prison called Kairos, a three-day workshop with spiritual talks, singing and discussions. He visits the prison weekly, attending mass and leading spiritual discussions with the hope of trying to change even the hardest of criminals. He has done just that with many prisoners, some who have gotten out of prison have gone to school in an effort to make John proud. Mr. Speaker, John Kelly is one of those unique people who work tirelessly to make their community's better. I wish there were more John Kelly's in the world, and I am just so pleased that he is one of my neighbors. I once again ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this extraordinary individual.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson). (Ms. WATSON asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin). (Ms. BALDWIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore). (Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee). (Ms. LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Kilpatrick). (Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my distinguished colleague from Texas (Mr. Edwards).

Mr. LANTOS. I will use the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker, to read the resolution which was disallowed by the Republican leadership, a resolution congratulating the people of Iraq on three national elections conducted in Iraq in 2005. Whereas the people of Iraq have consistently and courageously demonstrated their commitment to democracy by participating in three elections in 2005; Whereas on January 30, 2005, the people of Iraq participated in an election for a transitional national assembly; Whereas Iraqi society participated in the approval of a new Iraqi constitution through a referendum held on October 15, 2005; Whereas reports indicate that the people of Iraq voted in unprecedented and overwhelming numbers in the most recent election, held on December 15, 2005, yesterday, for a new national parliament that will serve in accordance with the Iraqi constitution for a 4-year term and that represents the first fully sovereign elected democratic assembly in the history of Iraq; Whereas this remarkable level of participation by the people of Iraq in the face of dire threats to their very lives has won the admiration of the world; Whereas the Iraqi elections could not have been conducted without the courage and dedication of the members of the United States Armed Forces and the armed forces of other nations in Iraq, including the members of the security forces of Iraq; Whereas the December 15, 2005, election in Iraq inspires confidence that a robust pluralistic democracy that will bring stability to Iraqi society is emerging: Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the House of Representatives congratulates the people of Iraq on three national elections conducted in Iraq in 2005; encourages all Americans to express support for the people of Iraq in their efforts to achieve a free, open, and democratic society; and expresses its thanks and admiration to the members of the United States Armed Forces and the armed forces of other nations in Iraq, including the members of the security forces of Iraq, whose heroism permitted the Iraqi people to vote safely. This is the resolution that would have received unanimous approval by this body. Instead, we had an ugly, divisive, and unnecessary debate. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Democratic leader.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today could have been a day to rejoice and to celebrate in unity. Yesterday, the people of Iraq asserted their newly won rights, won, it must be said, at a steep cost; and they inspired us all by flocking to the polls at great risk to their lives. This was a peaceful process, an affirmation of all that has been sacrificed in nearly 3 years of valiant struggle. We should be rejoicing, Mr. Speaker. But it is a sad day, indeed, when the Iraqi people have to teach the United States Congress a lesson in democracy. The majority leadership in this body and in the Rules Committee that acts as its legislative gatekeeper have used authoritarian tactics to bring before us the resolution that we now debate. They have eliminated any real opportunity for nearly half the Members of the House of Representatives to effect the language of this measure, a measure deliberately calculated to be divisive. Mr. Speaker, look around at this people's House. It was not designed to be an echo chamber. We are not here merely to recycle the administration's rhetoric on Iraq. It is clear that there is a spectrum of views on my side of the aisle on how to deal with the difficult situation in Iraq in the weeks and months ahead. Why should the majority try to force the issue, politicize the war effort and polarize this body further? This resolution came to us yesterday afternoon. We tried negotiating in good faith and that went nowhere, so last night I introduced an alternative resolution and asked the Rules Committee to make it in order. My resolution congratulates the Iraqi people on three democratic national elections this year; it encourages all Americans to support the Iraqi people; and commends and congratulates our troops and those of our allies and the Iraqi forces protecting their people at election time. The Democratic leader, Ms. Pelosi, and the Democratic whip, Mr. Hoyer, joined me in advocating this measure. Mr. Speaker, that is the resolution which should have come before us today. It is a measure that would have won the unanimous support of this body, or nearly so, and would have sent a message of support to the Iraqi people, to our troops, and to the whole world. But the leadership of this body has approached this entire important matter in a rigid, unbending, and authoritarian fashion. Theirs was a take-it-or-leave-it proposal, not a comma to be changed; and that approach is inappropriate in a democratic legislative body where some of us have been attempting so hard to operate in a bipartisan fashion. Mr. Speaker, along with several of my Democratic colleagues, I was hosted by the President at the White House 2 days ago. The President said he wanted to explore a bipartisan approach on Iraq. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have not gotten that message. Instead, they have made a mockery of it. The election in Iraq yesterday was truly inspiring. It fills me with hope that Iraq can indeed emerge as a stable, pluralistic, and democratic society. This resolution could have been considerably improved, had there been a process of bipartisan consultation. We could have sent a united and strong message to our troops, to the Iraqi people, and to the global audience. But whatever my thoughts on the substance of the measure, I profoundly reject the arrogant and undemocratic process that produced it, and for this reason I shall vote ``present'' on this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters). (Ms. WATERS asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.) Announcement By the Speaker Pro Tempore

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson- Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)