Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me today in paying tribute to my dear friend Alan A. Reich, who retired recently as President of the National Organization on Disability (N.O.D.), which he founded. For the past 23 years, Alan provided extraordinary leadership as the leader of NOD, which is one of the leading non-governmental organizations promoting disability rights in the United States and, through its World Committee on Disability, around the world as well. Alan retired earlier this year after nearly a quarter century of extraordinary leadership, and he has been named President Emeritus of the organization. Mr. Speaker, Alan Reich has been 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 in a ceremony at the Kennedy Center here in Washington on July 25 of this year. The George Bush Medal recognizes leaders who seek to fulfill the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to all Americans and who encourage the spirit of the ADA throughout the world. The award ceremony in July was held in connection with the 15th anniversary of the signing of the ADA by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. Alan certainly epitomizes the high 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 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 became 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 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, Oxford University and Harvard University, and former all-American track star and varsity football player, Alan has had a distinguished career in the business, government, and nonprofit sectors. Alan served as U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. In this position, he developed international exchange programs to further mutual understanding. He also held the position of 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 the Polaroid Corporation. Mr. Speaker, I would like to express my appreciation and the appreciation of this house to Alan Reich for his dedication and commitment to securing the equal participation and full inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of life. In many capacities, Alan has changed the world's approach to disability and made groundbreaking contributions to uniting the disability movement. For that, our entire nation is deeply grateful to him and extends every good wish to him and his family.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to recognize the Doelger Senior Center of Daly City, California, located in my Congressional district, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary silver jubilee. Serving the elderly of Daly City, Doelger Senior Center enhances the quality of life and promotes wellness by providing social, educational and health services to all adults, ages fifty and older. In 1978, seniors had the vision of a senior center in Daly City. After 16 months of campaigning by wearing orange buttons, their hope for a center became a reality when Daly City and Thelma Doelger purchased a ``released'' school site, Abraham Lincoln School. Mrs. Doelger offered to share the cost of the school in memory of her late husband Henry, who had created the Westlake planned community. Following a year of fundraising and planning, move-in began at the new Doelger Senior Center. On November 1, 1980, Mayor Anthony Giammona dedicated the building and Edward M. King of Doelger Enterprises presented the building to the City of Daly City. Through its 25 years of service to the community, many members of the Doelger Senior Center have played an influential role in its successful and continual service to Daly City elders. President Emeritus Edward King founded the center along with board members Alfred Belotz and William Crocker. Beverly di Gregorio and Richard Slater also served on the board of founding directors. Today, Doelger Senior Center provides and delivers 50,000 meals to Lincoln Community Center and the homebound. Additionally, the center offers more than 100 different classes and programs. Both the young and the old enjoy center-sponsored activities, such as the Pre-independence party on July 3rd. Mr. Speaker, the Doelger Senior Center remains a vigorous, expanding, and exciting community organization. The Doelger Senior Center continuously stands as a community of care, entertainment, friendship, support, and education. I urge all my colleagues to join me in commending the Doelger Senior Center on the occasion of their 25th anniversary and wish its members continued success.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, President Pervez Musharraf is, quite literally, the ``Indispensable Man'' in Pakistan politics today--and promises to be one of the most significant and pivotal figures in Pakistan's history. President Musharraf has transformed Pakistan into a reliable friend of the United States in the global war on terror. Unlike some other friends and putative allies of the United States, Pakistan has sealed its commitment to fight terrorism with the blood of its military forces; over 200 Pakistani soldiers have been killed in combat with al Qaeda, Taliban and other extremists in Pakistan's Northwest Territories in the last two years. Pakistani authorities have also captured or killed hundreds of foreign terrorists and extremists. The United States has officially designated Pakistan a ``major non-NATO ally'' in recognition of the importance of Pakistan to the security interests of the United States. President Musharraf himself has survived two assassination attempts by al Qaeda, yet he has refused to back down. Mr. Speaker, if anyone had any doubts that President Musharraf is a man of vision, they need look no further than the recent and unprecedented meeting between the Israeli and Pakistani foreign ministers in Turkey. This momentous event could well usher in a new era of cooperation and friendship between these two states. All of us should welcome this farsighted action by the Pakistani President. This action, taken in the wake of Israel's disengagement from Gaza, sends a strong signal to the entire Muslim world: It is time for all Muslim- majority states--not only Egypt, Jordan, Turkey and a very few others-- to deal openly with Israel and to recognize it. They can make no greater contribution to Middle East peace. Also, there is now the very real possibility that India and Pakistan may finally begin to put over a half-century of animosity and distrust behind them. This is due in no small measure to the efforts of President Musharraf. No other figure in Pakistan commands the world-wide respect that its President does, Mr. Speaker. He is moving Pakistan forward to what I hope will be a stable democracy, a peaceful and prosperous country and a reliable and valued partner of the United States in bringing stability, security and peace to the region. All this, if it comes to pass, will be due in large part to the leadership and vision of President Pervez Musharraf.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in commending and bidding farewell to Ambassador Ulrik Federspiel, Denmark's Ambassador to the United States since May 2000. Throughout his remarkable career, Ambassador Federspiel has worked tirelessly to strengthen the already close relationship between the United States and Denmark. Indeed, the Danes are fortunate to have had such an illustrious representative in Washington, and the United States has had no better friend and ally in the Diplomatic Corps here in Washington than Ambassador Federspiel. Mr. Federspiel began his career in the Danish Foreign Service in 1971 and was immediately assigned to the prestigious European Community office within the Foreign Ministry. As we all know, Denmark became a member of the EC in 1973. His outstanding contributions on EC matters earned him the post in London as First Secretary of Political Affairs from 1973 to 1977. During this time he worked in cooperation with several African states in the process of democratizing countries including Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia. Mr. Federspiel was especially active in supporting the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. As a result, he was personally invited to the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in 1993 and became a consultant to the modern integrated South African administration. In 1981, Ambassador Federspiel returned to Copenhagen to become Special Assistant to the Permanent Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a post he held until he arrived in Washington to serve as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Danish Embassy in 1984. He quickly developed a reputation in Washington as a quick study with an imposing intellect combined with a personable, friendly demeanor. Ambassador Federspiel came to understand that not only does Denmark have a critical role to play in European matters, but, for a small country, Denmark could ``punch above its weight'' on transatlantic economic and political issues. As State Secretary for Foreign Affairs from 1991-93, Ulrik Federspiel worked to support independence for the Baltic states, who were emerging from the dark years of Soviet occupation. Denmark was the first country in the world to recognize the three former Soviet countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. From 1993 to 1997 Ambassador Federspiel's outstanding record brought the notice of the most senior members of the Danish government and he was asked to serve as Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister. At the European Union summit in June 1993 under the Danish presidency, Mr. Federspiel drafted the portion of the Copenhagen Criteria that set standards for EU membership. Ambassador Federspiel became a staunch proponent of NATO expansion and has since taken a leading role in the process. Among his other accomplishments while in the Prime Minister's Office, he played an important role in the Danish decision to play an active part in Bosnia, having the largest contingency of ground troops there per capita, and the only country to have heavy armor, namely ten tanks. Mr. Speaker, upon arriving in the United States in 2000, Ambassador Federspiel became actively engaged in solving trade disputes between the EU, Denmark and the United States. His diplomatic skills were effective in resolving high-profile trade disputes, including the carousel sanctions and the import ban on pork. Mutually beneficial trade has been expanded between the U.S. and Denmark through close cooperation between the former U.S. Ambassador in Copenhagen Richard N. Swett and Ulrik Federspiel. Mr. Speaker, Ambassador Federspiel has brought his dynamism and passion to many political and humanitarian issues. Since completing his military service in the Royal Danish Navy in Greenland in 1962-63, he has taken a keen interest in Greenland and its population. In 1984, when he became Deputy Chief of Mission to the Danish Embassy in Washington, D.C., the relationship between Greenland, the United States and Denmark became one of his priorities. The Ambassador has played an instrumental role in furthering the interests of the Home Rule Government and that of the Danish realm and has worked in close cooperation with the U.S. government, especially on Thule Air Base. He was deeply involved in the 2002-2004 negotiations leading to the so- called Igaliku-agreement between the U.S., Greenland and Denmark that paved the way for upgrading the Thule radar to be used in the Missile Defense System. The island and the base are strategic elements for defense and security preparedness for both the U.S. and Europe. Ambassador Federspiel is also an accomplished academic. He graduated from the University of Aarhus in political science in 1970 and completed a year of post-graduate studies at the University of Pennsylvania, earning an MA in 1971. He has been a visiting lecturer at George Washington University and the University of Copenhagen, and he also has served on the governing board of the University of Copenhagen. His interest in supporting academic excellence has continued. He is an Honorary Trustee of the Crown Prince Frederick Fund for Harvard University that supports two scholarships annually for exemplary Danish university students. Ambassador Federspiel currently sits on the advisory board of Humanity in Action (HIA), a unique educational program between Denmark, the United States, the Netherlands, Germany and France. The HIA program provides the opportunity for outstanding university students to intensively study human rights and democratic values, as well as to hold an internship with the U.S. Congress. Ambassador Federspiel's commitment to working for others is undoubtedly a result of his and his family's experiences growing up in war-torn Europe. During the Nazi occupation of Denmark, Ambassador Federspiel's father, Per Federspiel, was imprisoned for a year due to his involvement in the rescue of the Jews in October 1943. Needless to say, Ambassador Federspiel has proven himself to be a strong and consistent supporter of the State of Israel. After the horrible events of September 11th, Ambassador Federspiel and the Danish people were among the first to support the American people and the cause of freedom. As a NATO member, Denmark is one of the strongest supporters of the United States in its campaign against terrorism. It still has soldiers and its air force present in Afghanistan. From day one in 2003 Denmark took part in the coalition's efforts in Iraq with combat troops. It still has 531 combat troops and now has an embassy and an Ambassador in Baghdad. Ambassador Federspiel has worked tirelessly with the Danish government's major role in the reconstruction of Iraq. Ambassador Federspiel has also been very much involved in other areas of the Middle East. During the Danish EU presidency in 2002, Denmark worked closely with the EU in drafting the Road Map for peace in the Arab-Israeli dispute. Furthermore, since early 2003 Ambassador Federspiel has worked to promote his government's ideas about reform, democracy and security in the Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA). Denmark and the U.S. are now seen as the parents of this idea that is generally accepted by the EU, G8 and BMENA countries. He has seen the importance in strengthening inter-parliamentarian relations and has helped to build and support the Congressional Friends of Denmark. As a result of this important work, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly U.S. House of Representatives delegation will participate in bilateral meetings with the Danish parliament in November. Ambassador Federspiel has also strengthened the economic relations between the U.S. and Denmark, and direct investments in both countries have increased over the last years. In the transatlantic dispute over lifting the EU's weapon embargo towards China, Ambassador Federspiel played a crucial role in postponing the lifting of the embargo indefinitely. Denmark is a consistent defender of the human rights of the Chinese people. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Ambassador Federspiel for his outstanding service and uncompromising dedication to furthering the friendship between our two great countries, and to wish him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in commending the Government of Israel for its bold action in disengaging from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements in the past few weeks. At considerable political risk, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has demonstrated his resolve by following through on his commitment to withdraw the Israeli presence from these areas. His government has made an unprecedented and unilateral sacrifice in the name of peace, surrendering land on which Israelis have lived continuously for almost four decades--land won in a war that was thrust upon them. To be sure, the disengagement serves Israeli security interests, since it establishes a defensible line of separation that improves Israel's ability to defend its citizens from terrorist attacks. That is good news for both Israelis and Palestinians. Every day without bloodshed brings us one day closer to peace. Mr. Speaker, I would particularly like to commend Israeli military and government officials for implementing disengagement in a way that allowed as many settlers as possible to express their remorse or anger while still encouraging them to vacate the area without resorting to violence. Even when some individuals or groups sought to provoke confrontations, Israeli authorities wisely avoided being drawn into fighting and, in the end, successfully and patiently evacuated even the most determined of dissidents. I am full of admiration for the Israeli military's achievement. A significant majority of Israelis favored disengagement, and I think it is important for them to know that the American people are behind them, supporting them in their struggle against terrorism and in the search for peace. But the decision of Prime Minister Sharon and his government to relinquish the settlements also creates an unprecedented opportunity for Palestinians who seek a state of their own. After this historic Israeli gesture, the burden to act now rests with Palestinian Authority leaders, who must prove that they can take on the challenge of securing and administering the territory just now coming under their control. It is my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we will soon see a concerted effort on behalf of the Palestinian Authority to move against terrorist organizations. This means not only bringing to a halt the attacks against Israel, but disarming the terrorists as well. A lull in violence is simply not enough. Terrorist infrastructure must be dismantled if Gaza is not to become a permanent launching pad for attacks by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other murderous fanatics. And I would urge President Mahmoud Abbas to insist that any group that wishes to participate in the January elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council first renounce violence in word and deed and divest itself of all arms. President Bush recently noted in his first-ever interview with Israeli television that we are witnessing in Gaza ``an opportunity for the Palestinians to show leadership and self-government'' as well as ``an opportunity for democracy to emerge.'' Mr. Speaker, I invite Palestinian leaders to make this vision a reality, building a Gaza that is democratic and peaceful, free and open. In the wake of Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, the international community should also do its part to assist the Palestinian Authority to move in the right direction, and Special Envoy James Wolfensohn is impressively leading the way. But there are additional responsibilities that fall squarely on the shoulders of Egypt and the Arab and Islamic nations. Mr. Speaker, one of the most dramatic but least publicized aspects of the disengagement was Israel's decision to underscore the completeness of its withdrawal by removing its forces from Gaza's border with Egypt and allowing Egypt to send 750 troops to guard that border. This effectively alters the longstanding arrangement, based on the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, which prohibited Egyptian troops from that region. Egypt has now assumed the major responsibility for ensuring that terrorists and arms do not penetrate that border. Terrorists seek to make a mockery of Israel's disengagement by making Gaza an unrestrained launching pad for terrorism into Israel--just as opponents of disengagement predicted they would. It is the responsibility of Egypt, in cooperation with the Palestinian Authority, to win the confidence of the Israeli people by keeping Gaza peaceful. The wider Arab and Islamic worlds also have a significant part to play. By pursuing normalization with Israel, they will demonstrate that steps toward peace will be met in kind. The very significant meeting last week between the Israeli and Pakistani foreign ministers is encouraging in this regard, as are recent reports of stepped-up Israeli contact with the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia. Mr. Speaker, I applaud Prime Minister Sharon and his government for taking this wise and exceptionally courageous step toward peace--a step that is fraught with more risks than the media have acknowledged. I encourage the Palestinians to capitalize on this unique opportunity to demonstrate their own competence in governance and commitment to peace. And I call on the Arab and Islamic world to assume responsibility for proving to Israel that unilateral steps toward peace are not only appreciated but reciprocated.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, as our Nation came to recognize the magnitude of the struggle we were starting in earnest against the enemies of tolerance and progress, we had the most sobering and moving debate that I witnessed on the floor of this Chamber in the quarter century I have had the privilege of serving as a Member. That debate resounds even today, as Congress continues to muster the resources and to rally our compatriots to carry on in the ongoing war on terrorism. With this fourth anniversary of the terrorist mass murder of September 11, we honor the victims, we honor the heroes, and we contemplate the lessons. We are still engaged in the global battle against terrorism. We have made progress, but we are a long way from victory. Indeed, this point has been brought home to us and to civilized people everywhere yet again these past few months. On July 7, suicide bombers attacked the London subway and bus system, killing 52 people and injuring scores more. Two weeks later, another attempt on London's public transportation system created panic. And just 2 days after that, more than 80 people were killed in a series of terrorist attacks at the Egyptian resort town of Sharm al-Sheikh, not far from the Egyptian resort where over 30 people were killed a few months earlier in a similar terrorist bombing. And let us not forget that Israel, our only democratic ally in the Middle East, has been a longtime victim of terrorist attacks; and it continues to be the target of extremist Islamic violence. Our hearts go out to the families of the victims who continue to be senselessly maimed and slaughtered in such vicious attacks of global terrorism. And so the struggle goes on. We may differ about specific tactics, but I think all Americans agree on at least one broad goal: we must do all we can to assure that terrorists do not acquire weapons of mass destruction, particularly nuclear weapons. As we know from the events 4 years ago, they would not hesitate to use such horrendous weapons against us or against the innocent people of any other country on this globe. To prevent that unthinkable atrocity, the United States must do all it can to prevent state sponsors of terrorism from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. We have achieved a remarkable success in convincing the Government of Libya to voluntarily abandon its pursuit of such weapons, but the threat that Iran and North Korea may acquire nuclear weapons is one of the most serious issues facing our Nation. Teheran's ayatollahs have consistently supported terrorist groups that have shown no reluctance to use every weapon available to them in order to create mayhem in their fanatical zeal to destroy those standing in their way. Nuclear weapons in the hands of Iran could end up in the hands of terrorists. At the same time, we must find innovative ways to carry on this global struggle against terrorism so that it becomes not a war in a conventional sense, but a united worldwide effort to eliminate the conditions that give rise to terrorism. This is as much a battle of ideas as a battle against armies. The extremists and their protectors fear the freedom that we cherish. They seek to destroy it wherever it thrives. The war on terrorism is a common struggle among all democracies to preserve democracy itself, and we can only achieve true victory in this epic struggle when we bring democracy to all the corners of the globe. This means encouraging democracy and respect for human rights in places where they have not taken root, and where terrorists breed in the darkest corners of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and many other places throughout the world. Mr. Speaker, the struggle against terrorism goes on, 4 years after our Nation awakened to the urgency of this fight. But let us ensure that the soul searching and resilience that marked our deliberations in September 2001 do not merely echo in this Chamber today. Let the debate instead be amplified and our convictions deepened as we recommit to the fight against fanatical Islamic terrorists capable of perpetrating such an atrocity. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Kucinich).

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

Mr. LANTOS

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

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to do so. The United States is the largest provider of humanitarian assistance in this world. Whether in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch or the devastation of the Asian tsunami, the United States and our military have been in the front lines of responding to the needs of starving and destitute victims of nature's fury. It is only fitting, therefore, Mr. Speaker, that when we face devastation from a deadly hurricane that overwhelmed our own disaster plans, countries around the globe should respond to our own needs with offers of assistance. Let me join my colleagues on the other side of the aisle in expressing our gratitude for these offers. I am not, however, satisfied with the reception of these offers by some branches of our own government. I want to commend Secretary Rice and the Department of State for making significant and successful efforts to catalog these offers from abroad, but we learned from press reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was unable to process them and to determine what would be of assistance and what would not. Let me give my colleagues an example. The Swedish Government has offered water purification equipment. No item is more desperately needed in Louisiana than water purification equipment. They have also offered a cellular phone network which could have done much to ease the communications challenges on the gulf coast. As of yesterday, these offered items remain in Sweden. It took a week for our government to accept the offer of four Canadian rescue vessels. A German communications company was willing to provide an integrated satellite and cellular phone system that could handle 5,000 calls at once. The company waited for days for any response. This area is just one more example of the failures of executive agencies tasked with disaster relief in responding to this, the greatest natural disaster ever to confront our Nation. It is simply shameful that FEMA did not realize the scope of this disaster and failed to trigger its most significant response until the end of the day when the levees broke in New Orleans. It is simply shameful that there was not a way for FEMA to accept offers of assistance from our own military as well as citizen States across the Nation. It is simply shameful that the poor and the sick and the elderly were left without supplies and protection from the marauding gangs that seeped in and around New Orleans. I am sure that there is plenty of blame to go around in unraveling the bureaucratic bungling that contributed to this unacceptable response, but one thing, Mr. Speaker, is clear: FEMA's leadership failed, and I call on its director to resign today. Let us find a better way to accept offers of assistance from our friends abroad, from our fellow citizens, and from our own military. In order to address all these shortcomings, I strongly urge the appointment of a truly independent bipartisan commission made up of public figures of distinction and integrity and experts on disaster relief to investigate the failures that have cost the lives of so many. An investigation launched by the administration or dominated by one party will never be able to get to the bottom of what went wrong. We cannot afford such a flawed investigation. We need to get this right. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 428, expressing the sincere gratitude of the House of Representatives to the foreign individuals, organizations, and governments that have offered material assistance and other forms of support to those who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina. To date, I understand that some 95 countries have come forward with offers of assistance. Bangladesh, one of the world's poorest nations, offered $1 million in aid. Thailand--still mourning its 8,000 missing and dead people after the tsunami--offered 60 nurses and shipments of rice. Israel, the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid, is returning the favor by donating tents and first-aid kits. Oil-wealthy nations, such as Kuwait, have offered over $500 million in oil and relief. European nations, such as Spain, have focused on sending military and rescue gear. Both Djibouti and Georgia, relatively smaller countries, have offered $50,000 each. Sri Lanka, the small country off the coast of Africa and one that is about $600 million in debt, offered $25,000 in cash. There has been some criticism that we have been slow to accept the offers pouring in. The fact is that our greatest challenge has been to match the generous offers with the needs of the American people. The last thing we need is for someone to offer us assistance that can't really be utilized. For example, Russia, made us offers and our State Department told the Russians what we needed most urgently were MREs, (Meals-Ready-to-Eat), so they sent us MREs. We did the same thing with Germany. We took the MREs. The first aid we took, because, as the President said, it was the easiest to manage was cash. And the cash donations came in and quickly went out to Red Cross and others. As Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I would like to particularly acknowledge the outpouring of sympathy and solidarity we have witnessed from our friends and neighbors in Latin America. All the figures are still being compiled but I'd like to highlight a few examples, but by no means all examples of the support we have received from our friends in the Western Hemisphere. Honduras has offered to send 135 flooding and sanitation experts. Peru has offered to send a medical team of up to 100 members. A Mexican ship loaded with supplies set sail Monday from the Gulf Coast port of Tampico. Venezuela has offered 1 million barrels of gasoline, $5 million in cash and more than 50 tons of canned food and water. Even Cuba has offered to send 1,100 doctors, and; The Organization of American States approved the contribution of the maximum amount allowed under the statutes of the Inter-American Emergency Assistance Fund, and the establishment of a specific fund for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. These are just a few examples of the aid being offered. What is most important to remember in this situation is not the actual amount of aid offered, who offered what, and who may have offered nothing; what is important to remember, is the willingness of other nations, big and small, to come and give while we are vulnerable. It is important to appreciate the principle behind the gift. In closing, I want to offer my personal thanks to the entire international community for their help, their thoughts and their prayers for the people of the United States who have suffered and lost friends and loved ones in this terrible tragedy. The spirit of compassionate generosity and solidarity that we have witnessed from the international community is extremely comforting and gives me great hope for the future.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, the disaster along our Gulf Coast has wrought heartbreaking devastation on a scale too staggering to comprehend. I rise to join my colleagues in extending deepest sympathies to all those who have been struck by this catastrophe. Our hearts go out to all those who are suffering. First and foremost, we must provide effective and immediate relief to our neighbors who are the victims of this tragedy. Federal authorities must render all assistance necessary in this overwhelming national crisis. Congress has already taken the needed steps to ensure that funds are available for assistance. This is only the beginning of relief, and when more is needed, we will provide whatever is required. We in the San Francisco Bay Area know first hand the impact of natural disaster, and we stand ready to help. I am encouraged by the support being shown by people in the Bay Area. Emergency volunteers have been dispatched. Hundreds of survivors will be housed in San Francisco's St. Mary's Cathedral. California schools are opening their doors as well: In my district, Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont has offered to take in 50 displaced students. The California State Universities, the University of California at Berkeley, and Stanford are accepting others. Many people have given, and will continue to give, to established relief agencies at this critical time. As the Ranking Member of the House International Relations Committee, I also want to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to our friends in the world community who have pledged to help. Secretary General Kofi Annan has acknowledged American generosity in helping others, and he has graciously offered the assistance of the United Nations in our time of need. The leaders of a broad array of countries have expressed their condolences and extended offers of aid. All Americans can be proud of the hard and sometime heart-rending work being done by local, state and federal emergency workers now on the scene of the disaster. But it seemed that immediate emergency action arrived in slow motion last week when it was so desperately needed. Those who were watching the news reports, as well as those who were hurting in the midst of the devastation, were united in one question: Why did the rescue efforts take so long? Now other questions are beginning to arise. We must answer them in order to do better in the event of another emergency. Even the President indicates that the response to this one has been less than acceptable. When the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was formed in 2002, I voiced concern about folding into it the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). After failing to adequately respond to Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricane Andrew in 1992, FEMA had reestablished itself as a singularly responsive federal agency by clearly defining its mission and aggressively pursing it. It was not helpful to change its structure and culture only a few years later in order to fit into the massive and newly created Department. I believe our primary purpose in establishing the DHS was to better protect the nation through better prevention and response to catastrophe. We have yet to demonstrate improved prevention, and in this case our response has been pathetically sluggish. Confusion and lack of leadership dominate our efforts. I call on President Bush to take swift action to relieve FEMA Director Michael Brown of his duties. I also join with Ranking Members Waxman, Oberstar, and Thompson in requesting that the committees of jurisdiction, the Committee on Government Reform, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and the Committee on Homeland Security, conduct hearings on the questions raised in responding to Hurricane Katrina. And finally, I advocate the establishment of a blue ribbon, non- partisan committee on the scope and with the clout of the 9-11 Commission to prepare a long-range and thorough investigation into this matter, in order to lay out the lessons learned. We need to find out what went wrong, what went right, and what we can do how we can do to brace for a future disaster. We need to ensure that a similar natural event, or even a major terrorist attack, is not made any worse by our own failure to respond with speed, efficiency, and real compassion rather than rhetoric. Mr. Speaker, let's work together to help our neighbors and friends whose lives stood in the path of destruction. And let's do a better job of shielding our nation against such events.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate with Dr. Marc F. Lieberman the tenth anniversary of his humanitarian work in Tibet. Since 1995, Dr. Lieberman, an ophthalmologist and clinical professor at University of California at San Francisco, has traveled back and forth from Tibet as the founder of the non-profit, non-governmental organization called Tibet Vision Project. Dr. Lieberman was truly inspired after meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1990 and discussing the high occurrence of preventable blindness plaguing the people of Tibet. Due to the high altitudes of Tibet and the harmful UV radiation that permeates the ``roof of the world,'' cataracts progressively erode the sight of many Tibetans. Tibet Vision Project's primary goals are twofold. First, the Project seeks to provide sate-of-the-art eye treatment to a population suffering from cataract blindness. Second, Tibet Vision Project aims to assist Tibetans in developing their own medical resources to eliminate cataract blindness throughout Tibet by the year 2020. Mr. Speaker, Dr. Lieberman spends almost two months in Tibet each year, traveling by Land Cruisers to remote and underserved rural areas, an eye camp comprised of 6-8 Tibetan nurses and technicians, and an entire mobile hospital unit complete with microscopes, lens implants, sutures and medicines, provides free eye care to everyone who visits. During the first three out of five days of eye camp, 250 to 400 patients--who travel by yak or on foot--are evaluated. Eyeglasses are disbursed as appropriate and children receive corrective lenses. As many as 150 patients are provided free, sight-restoring lens implant surgery--all performed by Tibetan surgical teams. Along with the 2000 people whose vision has been restored by the Tibet Vision Project, 20 Tibetan surgeons provide great hope to the people of Tibet. Dr. Lieberman and his colleague Dr. Melvyn Bert work with an extension of the Tibet Vision Project at the School for Blind Children in Lhasa, Tibet, supervising medical and referral needs to ensure the well-being of the children. In conjunction with the Swiss Red Cross, Tibet Red Cross and Tilganga Eye Centre of Kathmandu, Nepal, Dr. Lieberman gains greater access to remote underserved populations in Tibet, meanwhile creating infrastructure for long term solutions to eye problems in Tibet. Mr. Speaker, in the next ten years, Tibet Vision Project aspires to help Tibetans become completely self-sufficient in eye care, providing competent and compassionate care to their own people. Dr. Lieberman and his crew are developing pilot projects for primary eye care such as accessibility to reading glasses, treating simple eye infections, and referring cataract cases to larger towns for surgery. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Dr. Lieberman was trained at Johns Hopkins University before coming to the West Coast. While in the United States, he divides his time treating glaucoma in his offices in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Cruz. He is currently considering spending more time in Tibet, expanding his visits from two to four a year. Despite the struggle to work with a budget of $50,000 a year and the obstacles of setting up remote eye camps, on rough terrain with poor roads, and dealing with the Chinese medical system, Lieberman and his teams continue their much needed work. Dr. Lieberman's visits to Tibet are nothing of miraculous. I admire his incredible, indefatigable work and his leadership in organizing so many others to help him on this quest. I am delighted that Tibet Vision Project has been so successful in its tireless work to help the people of Tibet. I would like to recognize Dr. Lieberman with some words from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which summarizes the recognized need and gratitude for Dr. Lieberman, his colleagues, and his trainees' efforts. ``In Tibetan Buddhist culture numerous positive references equate clear sight with wisdom and knowledge and obstructions to it with ignorance and negativity. The quest for the clear-sightedness of wisdom is priced on par with developing the kind heart of compassion. But these largely concern cultivating the mind. By voluntarily training Tibetan doctors and nurses in modern eye care he and his colleagues have contributed to restoring the sight of thousands of the rural poor in Tibet. What a great act of kindness!'' Mr. Speaker, it is my belief that Dr. Lieberman's generosity stems from his faith and practice of Judaism and Buddhism. In the spirit of gratitude and continued support for his humanitarian work, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. Marc Lieberman in the tenth year of Tibet Vision Project.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on Thursday, May 5, 2005, the annual ceremony to observe Yom Hashoah, the Day of Remembrance for victims of the Holocaust, was held in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol. This year's theme, ``From Liberation to the Pursuit of Justice,'' commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Allied liberation of the Nazi concentration camps as well as the beginning of the prosecution of war criminals at Nuremberg, Germany. Members of Congress joined with representatives of the diplomatic corps, executive and judicial branch officials, and hundreds of Holocaust survivors and their families to commemorate the anniversary of this historical triumph. This moving ceremony featured a stirring address by distinguished First Lady Laura Bush. As a proponent of tolerance and freedom, and the daughter of a liberator of the Nazi concentration camp at Nordhausen, Laura Bush champions the call to teach America's youth about the horrors of the Holocaust. She reminds us that we must honor the memory of the victims of Hitler's twisted tyranny so that current and future generations will always remember the dark atrocities of the Holocaust and never repeat them. I ask, Mr. Speaker, that the outstanding address of First Lady Laura Bush be placed in the Congressional Record, and I urge my colleagues to study and ponder her thoughtful remarks. Remarks at the Day of Remembrance Commemoration by First Lady Laura Bush Thank you, Fred Zeidman and Ruth Mandel, for your leadership of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council. Thanks to the Members of Congress who are here with us, as well as the members of the diplomatic corps. Thank you, Susan Eisenhower, for representing your grandfather, who was a hero of freedom. I particularly want to express my gratitude to the survivors and the liberators who bear living witness to the Holocaust. Your presence is evidence that good will always triumph over evil. Four years ago, I accompanied my husband here when he delivered remarks to observe the Day of Remembrance. My mother was with us that day, and neither of us knew when we came to this ceremony that the flags of the liberating units would be brought into the Rotunda. When we saw the Timberwolf on the 104th Infantry Division, we immediately recognized it as the symbol of my father's World War II unit. It was moving and it brought back a flood of memories. I'm honored to be here again today this year to see these proud flags of liberation. The men and women of the Allied forces were fighting evil and cruelty. Six million Jews perished in the Holocaust. They were stripped of their dignity and robbed of their lives solely because of who they were and the faith they practiced. It was not the first time evil men had sought the destruction of the Jewish people. Even today, we see incidences of anti- Semitism around the world. The survivors of the Holocaust bear witness to the danger of what anti-Semitism can become, and their stories of survival remind us that when we are confronted by anti-Semitism, we must fight it. The scope of the horror of the death camps emerged 60 years ago as Allied troops liberated the survivors. First Majdanek. Later Auschwitz, Birkenau, Buchenwald. One by one, the gates opened to reveal the horrors inside, and then to let in the light. Survivors stepped forward to describe what had occurred, and then to carry forward the memory of mothers, fathers, children, and friends who were the victims. The liberated saw troops wearing the uniforms of many nations, and viewed them as ``angels from heaven.'' The liberators brought freedom. They also brought dignity. Men and women in the camps had been treated as less than human. They were given numbers for identification. They were deployed for slave labor and tossed aside when they could no longer work. When the liberators came, simple acts gave rise to profound joy. A survivor named Gerda Weissman Klein recalled her liberation in an interview recorded in this Museum. An American soldier greeted Gerda and asked, ``May I see the other ladies?'' After six years of being addressed with insults and slurs, to be called a lady was an overwhelming courtesy. The soldier asked her to come with him, and Gerda said, ``He held the door open for me and let me precede him, and in that gesture restored my humanity.'' A survivor named Alan Zimm remembers the Allied soldiers who liberated him from Bergen-Belsen. They called to the people inside the camp in many different languages, each time with the same simple message: My dear friends, from now on, you are free. The liberators themselves remember the scenes. They also became keepers of memories, witnesses to the evil. Few could comprehend what they saw. Young men, many in their teens, hardened by years of fighting their way across Europe, at the camps they wept for the people they met. One American who participated in the liberation of Dachau recalled that with just one look at the survivors, he quotes, ``We realized what this war was all about.'' Many of the soldiers returned home, unable to talk about their experiences at the camps. The emotions were too raw, the images too painful. Words could not fully convey what happened. My father's unit, the 104th Infantry, helped to liberate the camp at Nordhausen. My father is no longer living, but when I used to ask him about that time, he couldn't bear to talk about it. I think in retrospect, he couldn't bear to tell his child that there could be such evil in the world. As survivors and liberators leave us, the work of preserving their memories is all the more urgent. Staff and volunteers from the United States Holocaust Museum have conducted thousands of interviews to gather information from eyewitnesses. The information is available to all who seek it. Over the last 12 years, 22 million visitors have walked through the museum. Each year, 150,000 teachers receive training on how to educate children about the Holocaust. The museum has sent survivors to speak to more than 15,000 members of the armed forces at more than 40 military installations. The museum is our national effort to honor the survivors, the liberators, the victims and the families affected by the Holocaust. It's fitting that it sits on the National Mall, near great monuments to democracy. The lessons of tyranny and liberty that lie at the heart of the Holocaust remind us that preserving freedom requires constant vigilance. Other museums and memorials exist throughout America and around the world. Some are small and private, located in the hearts and homes of families who cherish their heritage. Others bring communities together to explore the impact of the Holocaust. I learned of the efforts of a group of teachers and students in Whitwell, Tennessee. Whitwell is a rural town of about 1,600 people, most of them Christian. Students and staff at Whitwell Middle School began studying the Holocaust to explore, as one teacher described it, ``what happens when intolerance reigns and when prejudice goes unchecked.'' The students at Whitwell had trouble grasping the magnitude of the Holocaust. When thinking about the Jews who lost their lives in the concentration camp, one student asked, ``What is six million?'' In the course of their research, the students discovered that during World War II, the people of Norway wore paper clips on their clothing in silent resistance to the Nazi aggression. Whitwell's students decided to collect six million paper clips so that they could visualize what a staggering number six million really is. They ultimately collected 30 million paper clips. The school acquired a World War II-era German railcar, one used to carry people to the camps. Today, the railcar sits on the grounds of Whitwell Middle School, holding 11 million paper clips, to represent the victims of Nazi persecution. But of course, what's important about the paper clips are the stories that accompanied them. Eyewitness accounts poured in from survivors and liberators, from men and women who had never known their grandparents, or who had lost their siblings. Survivors visited Whitwell to relate their experiences, and to help ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust reached even a small Appalachian town. A center of Holocaust awareness and memory now sits in one of the least likely places. A movie called ``Paper Clips'' was produced to document the Whitwell project. Students give tours of their railcar memorial and pass along the knowledge they've gained. Teachers from the Whitwell have spoken to students in German schools, and they visited concentration camps. When President Bush and I visited Auschwitz, I realized that there are things textbooks can't teach. They can't teach you how to feel when you see prayer shawls or baby shoes left by children being torn from their mothers, or prison cells with the scratch marks of attempted escape. But what moved me the most were the thousands of eyeglasses, their lenses still smudged with tears and dirt. It struck me how vulnerable we are as humans, how many needed those glasses to see, and how many people living around the camps and around the world refused to see. We see today and we know what happened and we'll never forget. Later this week, President Bush and I will visit the Rumbula Holocaust Memorial in Latvia--the site of the second- largest massacre of Jews perpetrated by the Nazis during World War II. Whenever and wherever we remember the victims of the Holocaust, we deepen our commitment to tolerance and freedom. In Whitwell, Tennessee, in Washington, DC, at Yad Vashem, at Auschwitz--new generations are honoring those ideals simply by looking and learning and listening. The voices of the survivors and liberators will one day be silent, but their testimony will be heard forever. Thank you, and may God bless you all.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In this global struggle between chaos and civilization, there is no doubt in my mind that civilization will prevail; yet every time we are confronted with a tragedy, whether it be London or Sharm el-Sheikh, in Jerusalem or elsewhere, we must express our solidarity with the victims, with the survivors, and with the governments that stand with us against global terrorism. Our support for the Egyptian people and for the government of Egypt is offered without any reservation or qualification. This House is united in expressing our sympathy and our condolences. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler), a member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. The recent deadly terrorist attacks in Egypt culminating in last week's assault on Sharm el-Sheikh have proven once again that the extreme ideology of violent Islamic fundamentalism poses a danger not only to the Western world, but to peace-loving people everywhere. The terrorists do not distinguish between Christians, Jews or Muslims in their search to destroy the core values of civilized society. Mr. Speaker, at this difficult time we extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Egypt and to the loved ones of those many nations who perished in the bombing. Egypt has suffered several recent losses at the hands of violent fanatics. Earlier this month, Egypt's ambassador- designate in Iraq, Ambassador Ihab al-Sharif, was kidnapped and murdered. This courageous diplomat was to have been the first Arab ambassador accredited to the newly liberated Iraq, and his murder is a tragedy for all decent people. In that spirit, let me express my profound concern over reports just this morning from Iraq that two recently kidnapped Algerian diplomats also may have been assassinated. I sincerely hope that these reports may not be true. Mr. Speaker, we want the Egyptian people to know that they have our full support as they seek to hunt down those who planned and implemented the heinous attack at Sharm el-Sheikh, and as they seek to eradicate the scourge of fundamentalist violent Islam that has afflicted Egypt in several spasms over recent years, the same horrendous scourge that took the life of the late President Anwar Sadat, one of the towering figures of the 20th century. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that the ultimate answer to this problem lies in education, improved health, economic development, and political reform. But now is not the time to debate those issues. Now is the time to defeat and to destroy the terrorists and those who have created them. Today, Mr. Speaker, we stand as one with the Egyptian people and the Egyptian Government in opposing and rejecting the violent ideology of extremist Islamic hate of which Egypt has been the latest victim. I support this resolution strongly. I urge all of my colleagues to do so. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I first would like to congratulate and commend my good friend, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), our distinguished colleague, for introducing this important resolution. I also want to commend the chairman of our Subcommittee on the Middle East, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), my good friend, for assisting in this very important debate on the Republican side. Mr. Speaker, we have all read with dismay reports of Iraqi constitutional drafts that diminish and derogate women's rights to the dictates of clerics and religious law. Our country and the other democratic countries in the coalition that continue to have their men and women fighting for freedom in Iraq cannot now remain silent as some seek to oppose equal rights for women in Iraq. While the Iraqi people must decide the proper role of religion in their society, we have been disturbed to hear reports that some are proposing that Iraqi law would be governed by the Islamic religious code. A country, Mr. Speaker, can be religious, yet reflect internationally accepted norms. When the new Afghan Constitution was adopted, although it is far from perfect from a Western perspective, it does prohibit discrimination against any citizen of Afghanistan, including, of course, women. The Afghan Constitution provides that women and men have equal rights before the law. The Afghan Constitution also endorses Afghanistan's international obligations, which protect women's rights under uniform international standards, all this, Mr. Speaker, in a country that is dramatically more conservative than Iraq. Now, fortunately, drafts of constitutions are not final text, and I have every faith that the Iraqi people will allow good sense to prevail on this issue before the final text is submitted 2 weeks from now. Similar issues arose about the role of religion during the drafting of the Transitional Administrative Law in Iraq last year. There was, for example, considerable concern about the prospect that Islamic law would be enshrined as the primary source of Iraqi legislation. Nevertheless, cooler heads prevailed, and the Transitional Administrative Law which emerged was balanced and liberal in its nature. In fact, as the resolution offered by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Granger), points out, the Transitional Administrative Law contains an article ensuring Iraqis' equal rights, prohibiting discrimination, without regard to gender. I have faith that Iraq's Founding Fathers and Founding Mothers next month will affirm that wisdom from the Transitional Administrative Law. But I think it is important, Mr. Speaker, that our House of Representatives, speaking on behalf of the American people, affirm that wisdom as well. It is crucial that all Iraqis know that our commitment to their freedom and equality is unwavering and unqualified by religion, race, and gender. That is why I support, Mr. Speaker, this resolution very strongly, and I urge all of my colleagues to do likewise. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she might consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher), my good friend and distinguished colleague, coauthor of this resolution.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, may I just say the enormous sacrifices paid by the American people to liberate Iraq both in blood and in treasure were not made to create a society that discriminates against women. Our voice is clear and united. We want the women of Iraq to have equal rights with the men of Iraq in that new unfolding and developing society. I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, in light of President Bill Clinton's statement this weekend regarding responsibility for the 1994 slaughter of innocent civilians in Rwanda, I would like to recognize the extraordinary courage of Paul Rusesabagina, whom I had the distinct pleasure of meeting with just last month. Mr. Rusesabagina's story is one of true heroism and the triumph of the human spirit over evil, and I was humbled to be in the presence of such a courageous individual whose actions saved the lives of more than 1,000 people in yet another dark period in the world's history. The Rwandan genocide of 1994 is one of the greatest tragedies of our time, and a shameful chapter in human history. In the span of only 100 days, more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically murdered by the Rwandan military and the Interhamwe militia, with the intent to annihilate the entire Tutsi population. With the exception of a handful of peacekeepers, the international community, fully cognizant of what was happening, failed to come to a consensus to authorize a humanitarian intervention to stop the genocide. The survival of countless Rwandans was left to the conscience of courageous individuals, such as Paul Rusesabagina (who heroically took a stand in the name of humanity), and a Tutsi rebel army attacking from neighboring Uganda. While acting as manager of the Belgian owned Hotel Mille Collines during the April-July genocide, Paul Rusesabagina provided a safe-haven for over 1,200 Tutsis and Hutus who were defenseless and almost certainly marked for death, ensuring their safety through bribes, skillful negotiation, and diplomatic persuasion of Hutu military commanders. A Hutu himself, Mr. Rusesabagina, through his actions, put his own life in danger, as well as those of his Tutsi wife, Tatiana, and their young children. These selfless acts of heroism not only saved hundreds of innocent human beings, but also served as a beacon of light in a time of terrible darkness. Future generations of people around the world should find inspiration in his actions, and his story to be an affirmation of the resilience of human compassion. Mr. Rusesabagina has spent his years since the Rwandan tragedy as an ardent champion of human rights around the globe, continuing to struggle selflessly for those who are voiceless and in the most need. In fact, he recently spoke on Capitol Hill about the plight of the over 17 million refugees worldwide, bringing needed attention to this much neglected issue. Mr. Rusesabagina was the recipient of Amnesty International's Enduring Spirit award and I would like to continue to honor him through this congressional recognition. When I met with Paul Rusesabagina, we were joined by Hassan Jallow, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. This was a truly historic meeting, bringing together a hero who struggled against tragic circumstances, with an advocate who is charged with seeking justice for victims of those same atrocities. Their interaction gave me hope in the triumph of peace and justice, and in the endurance of humanity. Mr. Speaker, my wife Annette and I have been tireless in our mission to promote international human rights, and it was this sense of duty that led us in 1983 to create the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. The Congressional Human Rights Caucus, CHRC, is a bipartisan working group on international human rights of over 218 Members of the House of Representatives which works to promote international human rights around the world. Actions such as those of Paul Rusesabagina give us hope. Mr. Speaker, I invite all my colleagues to join me in honoring Paul Rusesabagina, an extraordinary person who risked his life to save hundreds of others, and one who continues to devote his life to those in need.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call attention to a particularly important and insightful op-ed written by Israeli Ambassador Daniel Ayalon in yesterday's Washington Post. Ambassador Ayalon gives a forthright analysis of the precarious position that Israel finds itself in as it prepares courageously to implement Gaza disengagement. Israel's bold decision to hand Gaza over to the Palestinians--risking its national unity for the sake of advancing prospects for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--clearly demonstrates its profound devotion to peace-making. Nevertheless, Palestinian terrorism is on the rise again. Islamic extremists from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in particular, continue to attack Israeli civilians with Qassam rockets, mortars, suicide bombings, and drive-by shootings. The reason is clear. The terrorists want people to believe that Israel is withdrawing out of fear, not generosity or commitment to peace. Ambassador Ayalon rightly warns Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that he must bring the terrorism to a halt; otherwise, he will waste the Palestinians' best opportunity ever to demonstrate that they are ``capable of governing a functioning democratic society, free from terrorism and focused on improving the lives of its citizens.'' Mr. Speaker, I want to underscore my complete agreement with this judgment. Ambassador Ayalon is exactly right in saying that ``Gaza is both the opportunity and the test for the Palestinian leadership.'' With much of Israeli society in anguish over the disengagement, no one can dispute that the Israeli government is doing more than its part for the sake of peace. Now it is time for the Palestinian government to respond in kind; if it equivocates, the terrorists will win. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the entire text of the Ambassador's soberingly perceptive op-ed be placed in the Record. In Gaza, a Test Case for Peace (By Ambassador Daniel Ayalon) Next month thousands of Israelis will be uprooted from their homes in 25 settlements, against the backdrop of widespread political opposition and intensifying Palestinian terrorism. Israel faces difficult days ahead. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is boldly determined to move forward with disengagement from Gaza and the northern West Bank out of a deep conviction that it is critical to Israel's future. Unfortunately, the Palestinian leadership has failed to meet him halfway. The Palestinian Authority's refusal to disarm terrorist organizations has enabled the terrorists to regroup and renew deadly attacks against Israelis, compounding the difficulties of this engagement and casting an ominous shadow on the possibility of future progress. The sharp increase in Palestinian terrorist attacks, particularly in the past week, underscores the precariousness of the situation. While Israel is committed to completing the disengagement as planned, we will not sit idly by while our civilians are under attack. Time is running out for the Palestinian leadership to confront the terrorists. Should it fail to do so, Israel will be forced to take the necessary steps to defend its people. Lest the Palestinians miss another historic opportunity, the world should insist that they crack down on terrorism now. After numerous failed attempts by Israelis and Palestinians to reach peaceful accommodation over the past 15 years, Sharon decided to embark on a different course. Disengagement is an immense political, strategic and indeed historical undertaking, aimed at reducing friction between Israelis and Palestinians, jump-starting the peace process and providing the Palestinians with a unique opportunity to build institutions of responsible self-governance. At the same time, it puts a terrible burden on thousands of Israelis called on to leave their homes against their will. Many have lived there for more than three generations. Specially trained, unarmed units will move from house to house as part of a massive logistical operation involving some 50,000 security personnel, accompanied by teams of social workers and psychologists. Living, breathing communities, some more than 30 years old, will simply vanish. Businesses, factories and farms will be shut down. Schools, synagogues and cemeteries will be relocated. The removal of graves, including those of terrorism victims, will be especially heart-wrenching. The trauma of disengagement has unleashed dangerous rifts in Israeli society. While the withdrawal is supported by most of the public, many Israelis deeply oppose it on moral, religious and security grounds. Sharon has demonstrated steadfast leadership in the face of an unprecedented political backlash from his traditional supporters. Given the intense political opposition and growing civil disobedience, the prospect of violent resistance cannot be ruled out. Regardless of the outcome, the repercussions of disengagement will be felt in Israel for years. At stake is not only the success of disengagement but also the very fabric of Israeli society. Adding fuel to the fire, public anxiety in Israel has increased because of the resurgence of Palestinian terrorism, including suicide bombings, drive-by shootings and rocket attacks. Rather than confront the terrorist organizations and disarm them, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has invited Hamas into his government, thereby providing a terrorist organization with an official seal of approval. The result has been an emboldened Hamas, a further weakening of the Palestinian Authority and a potentially disastrous perception that disengagement is a victory for terrorism rather than an opportunity for peace. Abbas must seize the moment and lead the Palestinians toward peace. The terrorist organizations must be disarmed as called for in the ``road map'' if Palestinian statehood is to be achieved. This is non-negotiable. Gaza is both the opportunity and the test for the Palestinian leadership. Will that leadership prove itself capable of governing a functioning democratic society, free from terrorism and focused on improving the lives of its citizens, or will it squander yet another opportunity? After leaving Gaza, Israel will no longer provide an easy excuse for Palestinian failure. The rock-solid, principled and bipartisan support for Israel in the United States has been vital to our ability to overcome terrorism and prepare the ground for a political initiative. The notion of disengagement would have been unthinkable had Israel not prevailed in the latest round of sustained terrorism waged by the Palestinians since September 2000. The stakes for Israel are enormous. We are a strong but small country facing a largely hostile region roughly 500 times our size. We can ill afford to make mistakes. Iran's nuclear weapons program is imminent, posing an existential threat. Syria and Iran promote and support Palestinian terrorist groups sworn to our destruction. Hezbollah has intensified terrorist attacks against Israel from Lebanon, opening a second front aimed at derailing any progress. Despite these challenges, Israel has shown it is prepared to take difficult steps to achieve President Bush's vision for peace in the Middle East. The world should insist on no less from the Palestinians.

Mr. LANTOS

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