Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the Franks amendment. This amendment strikes an important provision of our legislation that requires the Department of State to report to Congress on the possibility of offering consular and visa services at the U.S. office in Pristina, Kosova. Although the United States maintains a robustly staffed mission in Pristina, those Kosovars wishing to visit the United States must travel out of Kosova to receive consular and visa services. Mr. Chairman, this is both inconvenient and expensive for the average Kosovar, who is not very wealthy, because many visa applications require multiple visits to a consulate outside of Kosova to places as far off as Skopje, Tirana, and Podgorica: three different countries and three different capitals. The State Department says the current layout of the U.S. office in Pristina makes it difficult to provide adequate security to handle consular and visa matters there. The authorization bill, as written and passed by a vote of 44 to nothing by the Committee on International Relations, demonstrates the importance Congress places on providing consular and visa services in Pristina and having the State Department detail its plans for the future. It mandates no changes, but merely requires the Department of State to report to Congress on the matter as part of our oversight responsibilities. Nor does it threaten to change the status of Kosova, as some proponents of this amendment may believe. In fact, the State Department affirms that there are no political or legal obstacles to opening a consulate in Kosova. I urge all of my colleagues to defeat this needless amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend the outstanding Republican and Democratic staffs that have done such an incredibly good job on a very difficult and complicated piece of legislation. I want to commend all of my colleagues who have spoken. This debate has been civilized, passionate, articulate and enlightening. And I particularly want to thank my dear friend, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, for guiding the work of the committee and for guiding this debate with his statesmanship and wisdom. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my friend for yielding me time. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) for her continued leadership on behalf of the protection of intellectual property. The gentlewoman's amendment will provide a modest authorization of $5 million to assist less developed countries in their efforts to draft and to enforce laws aimed at protecting intellectual property in compliance with international treaties and agreements. This authorization would also be available to train judges and prosecutors in these countries in the proper application of new and existing statutes related to the protection of intellectual property. Mr. Chairman, this is a very worthwhile amendment. The potential benefits to the American economy in terms of the protection of intellectual property of our artists and of our inventors that could result from this amendment passing are enormous, far outweighing its modest costs. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to support this thoughtful measure.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, passport security is a critical issue, and we need to be sure that the administration is doing everything it can to ensure that only U.S. citizens receive U.S. passports. However, while we are prepared to accept this amendment, we hope we can make some modifications as the legislative process moves forward. Birth certificates are used by the State Department to help establish the nationality of an applicant, not their identity, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 establishes a Federal process to standardize U.S. birth certificates. The State Department is a full participant in that process, along with other Federal agencies, the States and the association that represents the registrars of vital statistics. That process should be allowed to run its course, and it would be counterproductive for the Department of State to establish its own criteria for evaluating birth certificates. In addition, it is unclear whether the training mandated by this provision should be the responsibility of the State Department or the U.S. Postal Service, which employs most of the passport acceptance agents. We hope to address these issues as this amendment moves forward. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although I do not object to the amendment.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am very pleased to yield 2 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. Chairman, I am not opposed to the amendment; I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. LANTOS. Yes.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleague for yielding me this time, and I strongly support this most important amendment by the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson). I encourage all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same. Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt in my mind that our friend and ally, the country of Nigeria, should transfer Charles Taylor to the Special Court for Sierra Leone without any delay. Taylor has been charged personally with 17 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity. These charges include mutilations, rape, sexual slavery, forced recruitment of child soldiers, child abduction, and multiple killings. Many Members of this Congress witnessed the testimony of some of Charles Taylor's child victims, all of whom had amputated arms and legs, their bodies disfigured, and their lives transformed forever. Mr. Chairman, there will be no justice for the people of Sierra Leone until Charles Taylor stands in the dock. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am not opposed to the amendment. I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), my good friend and distinguished colleague.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank my good friends, Chairman Hyde and Chairman Smith, for their words and their comments. I hope we can all support this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I wish to briefly respond to the comments by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King) on efforts to promote abstinence in Africa. America's efforts to stop the transmission of HIV/AIDS overseas are firmly based on the ABC model: Abstinence, Being faithful, and Condoms. As we have seen in Uganda, the successful reduction in HIV/AIDS infection rates is dependent upon using all three elements of the ABC approach, not simply one. Our committee has conducted extensive investigations into U.S. HIV/ AIDS efforts abroad, and we have seen no evidence whatsoever that abstinence efforts are being denigrated by NGOs receiving U.S. funds. Groups across Africa receiving HIV/AIDS funds from our country are effectively implementing abstinence programs as part of the ABC model, exactly as Congress intended. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Meehan).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott). (Mr. McDERMOTT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks), distinguished member of the International Relations Committee.