Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), a distinguished member of the International Relations Committee.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank my distinguished colleague and good friend from Colorado for yielding and for his extraordinary work on all environmental and similar issues. I rise in strong support of S. 136 and its provisions for the Rancho Corral de Tierra Golden Gate National Recreation Area Boundary Adjustment Act. Our bill adds approximately 4,700 acres to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and it also has provisions for the Redwood National Park and Yosemite National Park. Mr. Speaker, I first introduced the GGNRA bill in the 107th Congress with the support of my friends, Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and the entire Bay Area Congressional delegation. One of the Nation's most visited national parks, GGNRA, includes well-known places like Alcatraz, the Marin Headlands, Fort Funston, Fort Mason, the Muir Woods National Monument, the Fort Point National Historic Site, and, of course, the Presidio of San Francisco. Our Rancho Corral de Tierra addition includes one of the largest undeveloped parcels of the San Mateo County coast south of the City of San Francisco. It is spectacularly beautiful territory. Our permanent protection will preserve unique coastal habitats of threatened, rare, and endangered plant and animal species. It will curb future disruptive development along the Pacific coast. It will provide important scenic and recreational opportunities for millions of our residents and visitors from all across the globe. The Rancho Corral de Tierra parcel, with its relatively untouched upper elevations, preserves habitat for several threatened and endangered plant and animal species. It contains four important coastal watersheds that provide riparian corridors for steel head trout, coho salmon, and other aquatic species. The owner of Rancho Corral de Tierra is the Peninsula Open Space Trust, or POST, a remarkable organization which paid $29.75 million to save the site from development. POST is a land conservancy trust with a remarkable track record of protecting open space in the Bay Area. POST will help preserve the area by donating from public and private contributions a substantial amount of the Federal acquisition costs of Rancho Corral de Tierra. Our bill also authorizes the National Park Service to include over 500 acres of land in the Devil's Slide section of our coastal highway, the scenic highway that winds along the entire California coast. It will include approximately 300 acres of the Martini Creek-Devil's Slide Bypass right-of-way originally purchased by Caltrans to build a highway across Montara Mountain. When San Mateo County voters overwhelming decided to build the Devil's Slide Tunnel rather than the bypass in 1996, the right-of-way became obsolete. This property contains approximately 300 acres that Caltrans will now be able to donate to the National Park Service. Preserving our unique natural areas for our children, and in my case our grandchildren, is one of the highest priorities that I have as a Member of Congress. I would like to thank all those who have helped bring this important legislation to the House for consideration today: my dear friend and distinguished colleague, Senator Feinstein, has been and continues to be an unfailing advocate and leader for protecting valuable land in our State. She has been a tremendous partner for me to work with on this matter. The Bay Area congressional delegation has been united and unwavering in their support, including the Democratic leader, Ms. Pelosi, Senator Boxer, and my colleagues Ms. Eshoo, Mr. Honda, Ms. Zoe Lofgren, Mr. Stark, Mrs. Tauscher, Ms. Lee, Mr. George Miller, Ms. Woolsey, and Mr. Thompson. I would also like to thank the Committee on Resources for their long efforts on this legislation, including Chairman Pombo and the ranking member, Mr. Rahall. On the National Parks Subcommittee, the former chairman, Mr. Radanovich, and the current chairman, Mr. Pearce, and the ranking member, Mrs. Christensen, have been enormously helpful. I would like to extend a special thank you to Audrey Rust, president of the Peninsula Open Space Trust, a prominent leader on preservation issues in the Bay Area and across the Nation. Without her leadership and her accomplishments, we certainly would not be in a position to be here today to protect this property. I also want to thank the many government officials who have actively participated in support of this work including the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors, the California Department of Transportation, the National Park Service and Brian O'Neill General Superintendent at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Many members of the professional staff have also dedicated their expertise to bringing us here today and I to want acknowledge and thank Rick Healey and Rob Howarth of the House Resources Committee, David Brooks of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Nicole Brownlee and John Watts of Mrs. Feinstein's staff, Chris Walker of my staff, Daphne Muehle of the Peninsula Open Space Trust, and Chris Powell of the National Park Service. And most importantly, in conclusion, I want to thank my friends and neighbors of the Bay Area, particularly those in the 12th Congressional District, who envision a future that includes the protection of the park for generations yet unborn. Without their enlightened support for preservation, we would be unable to accomplish this incredible success that we have achieved here today.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, the legislation before us accomplishes a simple and straightforward task. It gives the Navy the authority to transfer excess U.S. Naval vessels to India, Greece, Turkey, Pakistan and Egypt. With these transfers our military will have greater interoperability with the armed forces of these nations, all of which are either key allies of the United States or are located in strategically important regions of the world. It is my strong hope that these transfers will encourage these countries to expand their cooperation with the United States in our mutual struggle against terrorism in all its virulent and demented forms. I would also note that our legislation has already been approved by the House as part of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act which has, unfortunately, languished in the other body. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. The previous speaker referred to Mr. Murtha's resolution. That is not before the House.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have a further parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution and in defense of a military hero of this Nation, our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha). In a few moments I will ask unanimous consent to yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) the balance of the time on the Democratic side, but I would like to put this debate in its proper framework. This is not the finest moment of the House of Representatives. We have all sat through interminable debates on inconsequential issues, but tonight we are talking about war and peace. Fifteen years ago when we debated the first gulf war, every single Member of this body got 5 minutes to present his views. This time we are getting less than 8 seconds. What we are debating is not a serious proposal, but a cheap political ploy beneath the dignity of this body. The subject of the war in Iraq deserves serious and thoughtful discussion and debate, and we are surely not having it tonight. There is no Member of this House for whom I have more respect and affection than the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the epitome of patriotism, not of the oratorical type, but patriotism on the field of battle. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha) the balance of the time for him to control.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, parliamentary inquiry.

Mr. LANTOS. Do I understand, Mr. Speaker, that we are debating Mr. Murtha's resolution or Mr. Hunter's resolution?

Mr. LANTOS. We on this side of the House are under the impression that we are debating the Hunter resolution. Please correct us if we are wrong.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the contributions of an outstanding Californian. We lost a tireless public servant and inspiring colleague when Edward R. Roybal passed away on October 25th. He dedicated his career to a better America for minorities, the poor, and the elderly. This is a sad loss for our delegation, but also a time to reflect upon and remember the aspirations and accomplishments of an outstanding colleague and friend. Edward Roybal served here for 30 years as the first Hispanic member from California in over 80 years. He was a founding member and the first chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). He was a founding member of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials (NALEO) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. Before his election to the House, Ed worked in health education and fought for equal rights in housing, education and employment. Ed brought these passions to the House of Representatives in 1963, and made his mark as a visionary for a more inclusive America. In the years to come, Ed labored to pass legislation to outlaw age discrimination. He worked for numerous benefits and opportunities for those with handicaps. As we accept and embrace the rights of these fellow citizens, Ed was a trailblazer leading the way. In his work on the Appropriations Committee, Ed led efforts to protect funding for programs for the elderly, including public housing programs for senior citizens, community-based alternatives to nursing homes, and the Meals on Wheels program. Ed also continued to fight for laws that treated all Americans fairly. He voted to pass the Equal Rights Amendment and played a key role in helping to pass legislation that reversed a 1989 Supreme Court decision allowing age-based discrimination in employee benefits. Ed retired following the 1992 elections leaving a thirty-year record of success for minorities, the poor and the elderly. Los Angeles County, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, California State Los Angeles, and the University of California, Los Angeles, recognized Ed with facilities carrying his name. President Clinton awarded Representative Roybal the Presidential Citizens Medal for ``exemplary deeds of service for our Nation. These honors stand in constant reminder of the lives he touched through his public service to California and the nation. When Ed retired, he left us an outstanding legacy when his daughter, Lucille Roybal-Allard, was elected to represent a part of his old Congressional district. She continues in that tradition of public service today as a valued friend and colleague. My wife Annette and I extend to her and all her family and friends our most sincere sympathy. I ask all of my colleagues to join me in remembering a true public servant, Edward Roybal, who served California and our nation with honor, helping to make a better place for all Americans.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, at the recent memorial service for our former colleague the Honorable Edward Roybal of California, whom we remember tonight, my distinguished friend the Honorable David Dreier delivered a moving eulogy. The remarks that I will submit for the Congressional Record include Mr. Dreier's recollections of the powerful influence that our friend Mr. Roybal had on this House. It is in that same bipartisan spirit that I compliment my colleague, Mr. Dreier, for his comments. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the remarks of Mr. Dreier be included in the Congressional Record. Statement of the Honorable David Dreier Honoring Former Congressman Ed Roybal, November 15, 2005 Mr. Speaker, recently, our nation lost two icons in the battle for equal rights. Twenty-five years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on that bus in Montgomery, Alabama, a young Ed Roybal was in the vanguard of the struggle for equality here in Los Angeles. Speeches are given in Congress every day. Mr. Roybal's account of his fight for justice was one of the most memorable speeches I've ever heard. He told a packed House chamber that the Evergreen swimming pool in Boyle Heights was a favorite neighborhood hangout where fun was had by all. There was just one problem. They would only allow Mexican Americans to swim the day before the pool was to be cleaned. Still a teenager, Ed Roybal led the effort to overturn that abhorrent policy. Without bitterness or anger but with resolve he spent the rest of his life confronting the Evergreen pools that pervade our culture and laws. The Times called him, ``a mentor to scores of lawmakers.'' I hope this doesn't upset anyone but he had at least one Republican protege who has been inspired by his example. Mr. Roybal was a giant in public service. A gracious man, who through his conscience and his actions was one of the great leaders of this city and our nation. I have served in Congress for twenty-five years. It has been an honor to be a colleague of Mr. Roybal's for half that time and a colleague of Lucille's for the other half. There is no greater tribute to his legacy than the dedication of his daughter to the very same ideals and beliefs that guided him.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I announce to my colleagues in the House the sad news of the passing of one of our Nation's great leaders for rights of the disabled, my friend Alan A. Reich. I offer our heartfelt condolences to his family. Mr. Speaker, my wife Annette and I consider ourselves blessed to count Alan among our good friends. He inspired both of us with his deep compassion, his energy and humor, as well as his determination to overcome obstacles no matter how insurmountable they appear. Alan was a true American visionary, a person who never let circumstance define or defy him. This perspective enabled him to implement a new understanding of disability rights and human rights, which included both and united them. Mr. Speaker, only a few months ago, I informed my colleagues that Alan had retired as President of the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.), which he founded. For the past 23 years, he provided extraordinary leadership as the head of N.O.D., one of the leading non-governmental organizations promoting disability rights in the United States and around the world. Alan Reich was an outstanding human rights and disability rights leader, whose courageous work has had an impact on people with disabilities around the world. In recognition of his leadership, President George H.W. Bush awarded Alan the George Bush Medal, an award that recognizes leaders in the fight to fulfill the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Alan certainly epitomized the ambitious goals of the ADA, and I cannot imagine a more fitting recipient of this award. In commenting on Alan's extraordinary leadership, former President Bush said: ``As the Honorary Chairman of N.O.D. and its World Committee, I've observed first-hand Alan's tenacious commitment to providing hope and opportunity for millions of people with disabilities, not only in this country but also worldwide.'' Mr. Speaker, Alan Reich joined the disability community over 40 years ago as a result of a swimming accident, and he has used a wheelchair since that time, but he refused to permit his disability to constrain his boundless energy and commitment to worthy causes. Alan has been at the center of progress on disability issues, including public awareness, disability programs and promoting important legislation, and he has made groundbreaking contributions toward uniting and engaging the community of people with disabilities. His outstanding abilities to move disability rights issues forward first became apparent as the founder of the U.S. Council for the International Year of Disabled Persons in 1981. He was the first wheelchair user to address the United Nations General Assembly when he called on the international organization to declare 1981 the U.N. International Year of Disabled Persons. While President of N.O.D., Alan built the coalition of disability groups that successfully fought for the inclusion of a statue of former United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his wheelchair at the FDR Memorial in Washington, DC. He also spearheaded the critical survey research with Harris Poll Surveys that tracks the progress of Americans with disabilities in key areas of life. In addition, Alan is the founder and Chairman of the World Committee on Disability, the international arm of N.O.D., which further underscores the worldwide reach of his contributions. He is a founder of the World Committee's Franklin D. Roosevelt International Disability Award, which recognizes nations for progress toward the United Nations' goals for disabled persons. I should add, Mr. Speaker, that my wife Annette and I are honored to be members of the World Committee on Disability. A graduate of Dartmouth College, Alan has also had a distinguished career in both private business and government. Alan served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. In this position, he developed international exchange programs to further mutual understanding. He also served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for East-West Trade and Director of the Bureau of East-West Trade, where he was credited with the expansion of U.S. commercial relations with the People's Republic of China, the Soviet Union and the countries of Eastern Europe. Prior to his outstanding career as a public servant, Alan was an executive in manufacturing management and corporate long-range planning with Polaroid Corporation. Mr. Speaker, in many ways, Alan has changed the world's attitude and approach to disability issues and made groundbreaking contributions to uniting the disability movement. Our entire Nation is profoundly saddened at the loss of this outstanding leader. We join in expressing our deep condolences to Alan's family, and express our sincere gratitude for his outstanding achievements.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend and colleague from New York for yielding me time. I would like to pay special tribute to the Democratic leader, Ms. Pelosi, for offering this bill. I have the great privilege of representing the City of San Francisco along with Ms. Pelosi. Mr. Speaker, during the Gold Rush of 1848, so much precious metal was found in Northern California that the United States was compelled to build a mint in order to melt the gold into coins for ease of transportation across the United States. The construction of our Mint in San Francisco was authorized in 1852, and it was completed just 2 years later. But soon the Mint outgrew its humble beginnings, and in 1874 a new building was erected in the style of an ancient Greek temple. The walls of stone would allow the Mint to withstand one of the most devastating earthquakes the United States has ever experienced. On April 18, 1906, at 5:12 in the morning, San Francisco woke to the earth shaking like never before. The Old Mint was one of the only buildings left standing and the only financial institution that could still operate. The Old Mint became a refugee village and distributed aid to those who had lost everything. As fire devastated the city, the Old Mint was saved by the quick and courageous work of the San Francisco Fire Department, a tradition the San Francisco Fire Department has maintained throughout its long and distinguished history. Like San Francisco, the Old Mint quickly rebuilt itself from the devastation of the 1906 earthquake; and, by 1934, the Old Mint had housed one-third of all gold and coin money for many nations, ranging from Japan and China to the Philippines and most nations of Latin America. In 1937, the San Francisco Mint moved to its current facility, but the Old Mint remained under the Department of the Treasury until 1957, and the magnificent structure lay in proverbial mothballs until 1973 when the San Francisco Historic Society started renovations on the Old Mint to restore it to its previous grandeur. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be a co-sponsor and strong supporter of this important legislation that would allow the Old Mint to become a museum, showcasing the importance of the Mint in the history of the City of San Francisco. I encourage all of my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this important resolution. When it comes to taking care of our citizen-soldiers, many employers have gone well beyond what the law requires. They make up any loss of income that an employee encounters when going on active duty, or they keep the soldier's family on the company health insurance, or they find other ways to ease an employee's separation from loved ones during activation. This bill is an excellent opportunity for Congress to thank these conscientious employers. In particular, I would like to extend special gratitude to those employers who have taken it upon themselves to eliminate any pay gap that their employees encounter because their military salary is less than their civilian salary. Thanks to the diligent efforts of the Employees Support for Guard and Reserve, nearly \1/3\ of our activated citizen-soldiers have employers who eliminate that pay gap. Companies making such payments include IBM, Sears, General Motors, Home Depot, United Parcel Service and Ford Motor Company. In addition, the governments of at least 30 states, including my home state of California, offer this differential pay for state employees who go on active duty. Unfortunately, the Pentagon has prevented the Federal Government from following these conscientious employers and making up any pay gap encountered by Federal employees who have been activated in the Guard and Reserve. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit for the Record a wonderful article by Bob Barr that ran in the Washington Post highlighting the efforts of Senator Durbin and other Members of Congress on this issue. While I strongly support this resolution I also believe that what is good for the goose should be good for the gander, and that the time has come for the Federal Government, the largest single employer of the citizens who make up the Guard and Reserve--must match the example set by employers throughout this country and support our own citizen- soldier employees. Private Sector Surpasses Agencies on Pay to Deployed (By Stephen Barr) Wachovia Corp., the banking giant, Eaton Corp., an industrial manufacturer, and Enterprise Rent-a-Car keep their employees on full salary and benefits, regardless of military compensation, when they are called to active duty in the reserves and National Guard. Other organizations also help out their reserve and Guard employees beyond the letter of the law. Citizens Financial Group Inc., the Los Angeles Police Department, Sears, Roebuck and Co., the state of Delaware and Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc. provide financial support to their employees, including a pay differential, for periods ranging from a year to the duration of the deployment. The companies were among 15 recently honored by the Pentagon with the 2005 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, in recognition of their exceptional support of their Guard and reserve employees. The 15 companies went beyond the requirements of the 1994 Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, which seeks to guarantee that workers have a comparable job waiting for them when they return from their military service. The federal government, however, falls short of being a model employer in its treatment of civil service employees called to active duty. Although federal agencies comply with the law, the government does not make up the difference in pay when an employee is called to active military duty and receives a smaller salary. David M. Walker, the head of the Government Accountability Office, attended the Freedom Award banquet Oct. 15 and later told a House committee that ``the U.S. government is not leading by example or practicing what it preaches in connection with employer support for the Guard and reserves.'' Walker, in his prepared statement, said the GAO and federal agencies are constrained by law and ought to have some leeway to ease salary shortfalls for Guard and reserve families. ``Federal agencies should be able to make up any salary differential that activated Guard and reserve members might otherwise lose out of our annual appropriation,'' Walker said. ``We would also like to be able to be sure that applicable employees and their family members continue to receive their employer-provided benefits.'' There are about 1.13 million people in the Guard and reserves, and Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and other members of Congress have estimated that about 40 percent of those called to active duty suffer a loss of income, putting mortgages and other obligations in jeopardy, because their military pay is less than they would have earned in their civilian jobs. About 126,850 reservists are employed by federal agencies, and about 96,600 of them work for the Defense Department. Sen. Richard J Durbin (D-IL) estimates that 17,000 federal employees have been mobilized to serve in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places. The Senate has approved an amendment sponsored by Durbin that would require a federal employee's agency to pay the difference between a worker's reservist pay and federal civilian pay. More than 100 House members, organized by Lantos, have written to the House Appropriations Committee backing the Durbin amendment. The amendment has been stripped out of bills during past House-Senate negotiations--what the senator calls ``the darkness of a conference committee.'' In general, Defense officials have opposed bills that would close the ``pay gap'' for some mobilized reservists because they believe it could cause morale problems. Officials have contended that all parts of the armed forces--active, Guard and reserves--should be compensated according to their performance of military duties under the existing military pay system. The officials point out that federal employees who are mobilized may take a month of military leave each calendar year with differential pay and that a special category of federal employees, military technicians, can receive two months at full civilian salary. Federal agencies also may pick up health insurance costs for up to 24 months for their mobilized reservists. Still, the House members said in their letter, ``what is good for the goose should be good for the gander,'' suggesting that the government, as the largest employer of reservists, should be able to match the support offered by companies to ease financial burdens on employees called to serve.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I want to commend my dear friend and distinguished colleague from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen) for introducing this very important resolution. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, this resolution, in a sense, is a response to the outrageous statement of the President of Iran calling for the extermination of the State of Israel. Israel has more than earned the right to full membership in the Organisation For Economic Co-operation and Development. Some foreign policy judgments are difficult to make, but this one could not be any easier. Like other OECD states, the State of Israel is a democratic, prosperous, free market economy. And by all measures, Israel's economy outstrips that of several current members of OECD. For example, Israel's per capita income is greater than that of nine of the OECD's 30 members. The World Economic Forum's technology index ranks Israel in the top 10 nations on the face of this planet, ahead of Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom. Recently, Israel was the world's third largest software producer, exceeded only by the United States and Canada. Israel, Mr. Speaker, is already an important institutional contributor to the OECD as a nonmember participant. Israel has long outgrown its nonmember status. In fact, Mr. Speaker, Israel meets every economic, political and institutional prerequisite for OECD membership. Its continued omission from that body would inevitably call into question the motives of some of the OECD members. And I hope we will not face that ugly prospect. I urge the administration to support Israeli membership in the OECD and to lobby our fellow members to achieve that goal. In connection with this resolution, Mr. Speaker, I am compelled to return to the outrageous statement of the Iranian President calling for wiping Israel off the face of the global map. The President of Iran, in making this outrageous statement, has evoked tremendous global outrage at his views, and I am very pleased to publicly recognize the decision of Secretary General Kofi Annan to cancel his trip to Tehran. As you know, Mr. Speaker, I wrote Kofi Annan a strong letter to which he responded affirmatively canceling his visit to Iran. I publicly want to acknowledge the Secretary General's fine decision and commend him for his action. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee). (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional requests for time. Before yielding back the balance of my time, I would like to make a general statement on this very important piece of legislation. Unfortunately, the world is filled with rogue states, failed states, basket-case states, states that neither politically nor economically function in a viable fashion. And to have the President of Iran call for the physical extermination of one of the relatively small number of democratic, viable, prosperous, civilized societies is the ultimate outrage of recent pronouncements by political leaders on the face of this planet. I commend my colleague from Florida for introducing this important resolution, recognizing that Israel is one of the minority of states which are democratic, prosperous and civilized. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to vote for this resolution.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I commend my good friend and distinguished colleague, Congressman Earl Blumenauer, for his leadership on this critically important bill, of which I am proudly an original cosponsor. I would also like to commend my dear colleague and friend, Henry Hyde, Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, for his help in bringing the bill to the floor expeditiously. Mr. Speaker, the entire world has witnessed time and again the unimaginable devastation that humanitarian disasters, such as Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma and the Pakistani earthquake, can wreak. They leave hundreds of thousands homeless and hungry, their lives in danger from water-borne diseases because of unsafe water and sanitation. Unsafe water and poor sanitation are appallingly common in the developing world. Each year, more than 3 billion people suffer from water-related diseases, from which 3 to 4 million die--and most victims are children under five. The Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act seeks to address the 1.1 billion people lacking access to safe drinking water and the almost 2\1/2\ billion who have no access to basic sanitation. The legislation directs the Administration to make expanding access to safe water and sanitation a major policy objective in U.S. development efforts. The bill authorizes new programs to make this policy a reality, including expanding affordable and equitable access to safe water and sanitation and improving the capacity of national and local governments and communities to effectively address their water and sanitation needs. The bill also authorizes the Secretary of State to develop and implement a safe water and sanitation strategy, including the designation of high priority countries with the greatest water and sanitation needs. Finally, it urges the Administration to expand programs that promote trans-boundary cooperation on water issues. Mr. Speaker, at nearly every meal, we think nothing of lifting a glass of cool drinking water and hardly notice its cooling effects. Unfortunately, our blessings are not shared by billions of our fellow human beings. In the interest of stability worldwide and in keeping with our core humanitarian values, the United States must do all within our power to ensure that people everywhere have access to safe water and sanitation. I urge all my colleagues to support this critical legislation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to the Reverend James H. Billington. For the past 6 years, Rev. Billington has been the Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in San Mateo, California, in my Congressional district, and one of the largest and most important parishes in the State of California. After filling his spiritual calling on the West Coast, Fr. Billington and his family have decided to return to their roots on the East Coast. Though this will be a loss both to his congregation and to our community, I wish Fr. Billington well in his future endeavors, and I know he will be a tremendous asset to whatever church family or organization he joins next. Fr. Billington had a remarkably successful tenure at St. Matthew's. From a spiritual perspective, he led a passionate effort to strengthen Sunday School programs for church youth, increased the number and variety of worship services, and was a constant source of love and compassion to his elderly parishioners. He expanded ecumenical outreach by allowing a local Hispanic Pentecostal congregation to use St. Matthew's for their own services. Through his work with the Mills Health Center, he integrated healing services into the church calendar for cancer patients and opened the church during business hours for hospital staff. Mr. Speaker, Fr. Billington was also very successful in matters of church administration. Despite a substantial increase in unemployment among his parishioners from Silicon Valley, annual giving increased by 37 percent. Through his solid leadership and strict fiscal policies, the church was able to completely retire a long-standing debt that Fr. Billington had inherited when he assumed leadership of the parish. In addition, the historic physical structure of the church was improved through major restorations to the stained glass windows and the organ, and the St. Matthew's Day School was restored to its earlier prominence. To the delight of his parishioners, Fr. Billington restored a previously condemned, church-owned historic landmark building into a community center for contemplative outreach. An inspired church leader, Fr. Billington is also a gifted intellectual and dedicated humanitarian. His path to the priesthood began in earnest with his enrollment in the Episcopal Divinity School from which he graduated in 1996 with a Master of Divinity degree. Prior to this, he received a BA and an MBA from Harvard University. Before entering the priesthood, Fr. Billington earned several accolades for humanitarian work. He was awarded the Lyndhurst Prize in 1985--an annual award given to only five Americans for outstanding humanitarian contributions. From 1984 to 1986, Fr. Billington served as Director of the Appalachia Habitat for Humanity. In recognition of his extraordinary leadership, his chapter was named a model chapter by the founder, Millard Fuller. Mr. Speaker, it has been a great pleasure for me to work with Fr. Billington on various community events and to become acquainted on a personal level with his family. His lovely wife Julia is currently a respected physician at Mills Health Center. She previously served as an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Julia's dedication to the San Mateo community mirrors that of her husband's. The two of them have worked together to take on many important projects, including a mission to provide free medical care to those in need. The Billingtons are the happy and proud parents of four boys: James, Adam, Jonathan and Joshua. Fr. Billington has been an integral part of interfaith efforts that have greatly benefited my congressional district and beyond. He has been aptly described as a true community leader, an outstanding rector, and an all-around humanitarian. After 6 years of tireless service to St. Matthews and the community, Fr. Billington will be deeply missed. His deep commitment and dedication to the Episcopal Church earned him the highest esteem and trust of all whose lives he touched. His spiritual leadership has brought joy, peace and comfort to his parishioners. His eloquent sermons were an inspiration to all. By engaging his wry sense of humor, he has been able to simplify complex religious issues for his parishioners. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Fr. Billington for his contributions and dedication to public service. I wish him and his family many more years of richly deserved good health and happiness.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, three generations ago, Adolph Hitler threatened to kill the Jews of Europe. When he made that statement, the gullible, the pseudosophisticates, the appeasers thought that it was only oratory. Earlier this year we commemorated the liberation of Auschwitz, where a million of those whom Hitler promised to kill were, in fact, destroyed in the gas chambers, in the nightmare of that concentration camp. We now have a similar statement from an equally deranged but serious leader of a nation. He is calling for the destruction of another 6 million, this time Israelis. The civilized world must understand that these are not oratorical statements, but plans for action. We need to prevent Iran from ever obtaining nuclear weapons, and we must do everything in our power to have this insane, megalomaniacal regime replaced by a regime of responsibility which would be part of the civilized world. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend and distinguished colleague from Illinois (Mr. Emanuel).

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to my good friend and distinguished colleague from Texas (Mr. Gene Green).