Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I would like to commend my colleagues, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Tauscher) for their leadership on this resolution. With this resolution we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and the United States of America. Our two countries were drawn together by our common interests at the beginning of the 20th century. And now, as we begin the 21st century, our two nations are, again, drawn closer together by common goals and common values. With strong congressional support, Madam Speaker, Bulgaria has been invited to become a member of NATO, a concept that just a few years ago would have appeared like a dream to most Bulgarians. This significant move marks a milestone in our relationship, and will undoubtedly strengthen our bilateral ties for the indefinite future. Just this year, Madam Speaker, Bulgaria stepped forward when our government asked for Bulgaria's assistance in Iraq. That assistance came at a critical time when so many of our traditional allies abandoned us. And the American Government and the American people are grateful to Bulgaria for shouldering, along with us, responsibilities in Iraq. The past century of U.S.-Bulgarian relations has not been without difficulties. But even in the darkest of those times, the fundamental humanity and decency of ordinary Bulgarians shone through. During the worst days of World War II, the Bulgarian people did not yield to Nazi German pressure to enforce anti-Jewish legislation, and they resisted German orders to deport their Jewish citizens to Nazi extermination camps. Their efforts, Madam Speaker, resulted in preventing the expulsion and death of some 50,000 Bulgarian Jews in 1943. It was a tragedy that some 11,000 Jews in Trace and Macedonia, under Bulgarian Government administration, but not Bulgarian citizens, were deported to concentration camps and perished there. When we celebrate this historic recognition of a century of Bulgarian-American relations, we must look forward to the future as well as back to the past. Over the last decade, Bulgaria has moved into the ranges of the world's democracies and it has become increasingly integrated into the global economy. Our two governments now find that our national interests bring us to the same positions on critical international political, economic and social issues. We are completing the steps that will firmly bind our two nations as allies in NATO, committed to the defense of each other and of other democratic states in Europe and elsewhere. We are partners in economic integration and we welcome Bulgaria's efforts to join the European Union and take the steps that will bring greater economic prosperity to the Bulgarian people. Madam Speaker, I welcome this historic celebration of the ties between our two countries and our two peoples. And I urge all of my colleagues to support the passage of this resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 372 and urge all of my colleagues to do so as well. If it were not a violation of House rules, I would be pleased to recognize the presence in the Chamber of the distinguished Ambassador of Sweden, but since it is, I shall not do so. Madam Speaker, I am grateful to my lead cosponsors, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) and the many other cosponsors supporting this legislation. Madam Speaker, many of our colleagues on the Committee on International Relations will remember as long as they live meeting, about a year ago, with Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. We had an extraordinarily sophisticated and lively discussion on the broader spectrum of international issues. We disagreed on some matters and agreed on others, but I know all of us found her to be extremely impressive, charming and intelligent as the top foreign policy person, as our friend, Sweden. Less than a year ago at the NATO summit in Prague, by chance my wife, Annette, and I were seated next to Foreign Minister Lindh at the banquet given in Prague Castle by the distinguished President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel. I simply cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the lively conversation these two extraordinary women had, both of them passionately committed to human rights and public service. Madam Speaker, as my colleagues painfully know, just recently Anna Lindh was murdered by an assailant in a Stockholm department store. Her inexplicable and untimely tragic death was a shock to all of her countrymen in Sweden and to all of us who knew her and admired her and who have worked with her ever since she began her service as Foreign Minister of Sweden. Her death was a blow to the peace-loving people of Sweden. The shock had an even greater impact, Madam Speaker, because former Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme, who had been Anna's role model, was murdered on a Stockholm street in 1986 under similar and still-unresolved circumstances. Madam Speaker, House Resolution 372 expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives and of the American people to the family of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. We condemn all such senseless acts of violence against public officials, and we express our solidarity with the people of Sweden at this difficult time. Madam Speaker, Anna was very young. She was a brilliant lawyer, who at age 37 became Minister for the Environment in Sweden, one of the most important cabinet posts in the Swedish Government, and at age 41 she became Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs. Madam Speaker, the distinguished Prime Minister of Sweden, Goran Persson made very poignant remarks at the memorial service for Anna which characterized her many gifts and talents. I would like to share a few of Prime Minister Goran Persson's remarks during her eulogy. ``Anna Lindh lived out her vision for the world in her everyday life. She knew that good political leadership is about more than just lofty words. Anna Lindh believed in people. She believed in people as the remarkable beings they are, with an almost unlimited capacity to grow and to develop. She believed in people's inner-strength and potential, but she also knew how easily that strength can be lost. For Anna, people were at the core of every issue. Human rights were always her driving force. Violations and oppression were the opponents in the fight. Democracy was always the means and people were always the answer. That is the way she was, in big issues and small alike. She cared.'' Madam Speaker, I humbly ask for strong support of H. Res. 372, which sends our deepest condolences to Anna Lindh's family and to the people of Sweden, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in this effort.

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I strongly support H.R. 2264 and urge all of my colleagues to vote for it. Madam Speaker, first, I want to thank my friend, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for making the preservation of the Congo River Basin a priority. The Congo River and its tributaries make up the most extensive network of navigable waterways in Africa and carry a volume of water second only to the Amazon River. Some of us think first of the Congo River Basin as one of the largest and most important ecological regions of the world, which it is; but what is even more important, it is the home to some of the world's poorest people who have suffered some of Africa's bloodiest conflicts. Madam Speaker, more than 2\1/2\ million people have perished in eastern Congo as a result of the most recent Congo civil war, with millions left displaced and in unimaginable destitution. Throughout the central African region, poverty rates are among the worst on this globe. Life expectancy ranges from 42 years in the Central African Republic to 52 years in the Congo Republic. The overall forest area of the Congo River Basin is declining rapidly as a result of unchecked growth of timber exports, destructive agricultural expansion, and fueled with demand for a growing population. Madam Speaker, these practices are unsustainable if the assets of the Congo River Basin are to be used to improve and sustain the lives of the people who live there. Our legislation represents a unique opportunity to help the people of central Africa turn their biggest asset, the natural resources of the Congo River Basin, into a viable economic base. The Congo Basin partnership is an economic development and conservation program for the six countries of central Africa. This partnership will combine the preservation of some of the world's richest and most pristine ecosystems with economic development in order to alleviate the desperate poverty that permeates the region. Conservation programs will help develop a network of national parks and protected areas and help local communities manage the forests and wildlife more rationally. The people of central Africa, some of whom live on less than 25 cents per day, 25 cents per day, will be able to develop sustainable means of livelihood through conservation agriculture and integrated ecotourism programs. Madam Speaker, the stewardship of the Congo River Basin is the joint responsibility of central African countries and the international community. Together, we must end the deforestation and wildlife depletion and support the appropriate use of forest resources. I enthusiastically support this bill and urge all of my colleagues to vote in favor of its passage. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on September 23, 2003 I introduced H.R. 3139, the Youth Worker Protection Act, (YWPA). This bill will make necessary common sense changes to America's child labor laws, which have not been significantly amended since their creation nearly 70 years ago. Mr. Speaker, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) an average of 230,000 teenagers are injured on the job each year and even more shocking is the fact that an average of 67 teen workers die each year from injuries sustained while on the job. That means a teen worker dies from work related injuries in this country every five days. The YWPA, addresses two major aspects of child labor: the deaths and serious injuries suffered by our young workers and the negative impact which working excessive hours during school can have on a child's education. I am honored to have the support of numerous organizations, including; the National Consumers League, the National Education Association (NEA), United Methodist Women, the International Initiative to End Child Labor, and Youth Advocate Program International. Mr. Speaker, these extraordinary organizations have dedicated themselves to advocating an end to exploitive child labor and I request that their letters be placed in the Congressional Record. Youth Advocate Program International, Washington, DC, September 3, 2003. Hon. Tom Lantos, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Lantos: Youth Advocate Program International would like to voice its strong support for the Youth Worker Protection Act and urge you to present this act to Congress at your earliest convenience. YAP International believes that everyone, including children, can contribute to society through work. We believe job-skill training should be provided to young people and that youth should experience the pride that comes from work well done. We understand that in some situations children must work to meet their own survival needs and those of their family. However, gaining an education should be a youth's primary job and we support the Youth Worker Protection Act for formally recognizing and promoting this principle. We support monitoring of child labor practices to ensure that work does not compromise the child's overall health, well-being, and access to free, compulsory and meaningful education. We strongly urge that monitoring efforts not only include the formal sector--work in a factory or business setting--but also work in the informal sector, including domestic workers, agricultural workers, street vendors, and heads of households/caregivers. Youth Advocate Program International commends your leadership to update and strengthen child labor laws in the United States, and we urge you to continue supporting the Youth Worker Protection Act. Feel free to contact our office if we can provide any assistance to you in further promoting the rights of children. Thank you for your time and continued advocacy on behalf of youth worldwide. In Service to Youth, Patrick J. Schoof, Director.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, 100 years ago one of the most infamous and most outrageous forgeries in all of history first appeared--``The Protocols of the Elders of Zion.'' The outrage is not simply because this document was plagiarized or because it was absolutely and patently false. It is because this forgery was an important element in generating the vicious and mindless anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust. Mr. Speaker, we in this House recently condemned and criticized the rising flood of anti-Semitism that has stained Europe in the last decade when we adopted House Concurrent Resolution 49. It is shocking and sickening that just 5 decades after 6 million innocent children, women and men were brutally murdered by the Nazi thugs, we are seeing a sharp escalation in anti-Semitic rhetoric and anti-Semitic violence. We have witnessed vicious racist propaganda and physical assaults, the burning of synagogues and the desecration of cemeteries. This outburst of anti-Semitic violence has its roots in anti-Semitic propaganda, and unfortunately the lies of the ``Protocols'' still continue to play a pernicious role in inciting vicious acts. The fact that this felonious and fallacious document is still cited and distributed even by governments which ought to know better is evidence of its evil influence and the ease with which hate, bigotry and racism are spread. Although scholars, historians, and anyone who would take the time to look seriously at the ``Protocols'' knows that the document is patently false, but there are still willing purveyors of this destructive drivel. It truly boggles the mind that Arab Radio and Television of Saudi Arabia just 2 years ago produced a 30-part series entitled ``Horseman Without a Horse'' which portrays the ``Protocols'' as historical fact and the basis of Israeli government policies. Furthermore, that entire 30-part series was broadcast by a number of television stations in Egypt. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, a full century after the first appearance of the fraudulent ``Protocols,'' the forgery is alive and well. Recently, to mark this infamous anniversary, Forward (August 22, 2003) published an excellent article by my friend William Korey entitled ``Century of Hatred: `Protocols' Live to Poison Yet Another Generation.'' Bill Korey brings his extraordinary scholarly perspective to this issue, and he is uniquely qualified for the task as the former Director of International Policy and Research at B'nai B'rith. The forgery of the ``Protocols'' was perpetrated by the Czarist secret police, and Bill has an international reputation as a scholar of anti-Semitism in Russia. He is the author of The Soviet Cage: Antisemitism in Russia (Viking, 1973) and Russian Anti-Semitism, Pamyat and the Demonology of Zionism (Hebrew University/Harwood Academic Publishers, 1995). Mr. Speaker, I ask that Bill Korey's excellent article from Forward be placed in the Record, and I urge my colleagues to give it careful and thoughtful attention. [From Forward, Aug. 22, 2003] Century of Hatred: ``Protocols'' Live To Poison Yet Another Generation (By William Korey) History's most virulent antisemitic propaganda essay, ``The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,'' was first published 100 years ago this week. Though the Protocols turned out to be both a notorious plagiarism and a shocking forgery, the essay would exercise a powerful impact upon the modern era, principally as a critical factor in generating the Holocaust. Despite its gross falsehood and the horrors it sparked, the Protocols strikingly continues to be promoted today, most alarmingly in such important institutional settings as the United Nations and Middle Eastern governmental media. The first publication to print the Protocols was the St. Petersburg newspaper Znamya--Russian for Banner--from August 26 to September 7, 1903. Pavel Krushevan, editor of the paper, was known for his ultra-rightist antisemitic views and found common cause with the so-called Black Hundreds, a group active on behalf of extremist causes. Krushevan, however, was not the author of the Protocols. It was drafted under the prodding and guidance of Piotr Rachkovsky, director of the Paris branch of Okhrana, the Russian secret police. Sinister and wily, he cultivated the art of forging letters or documents in which Jews were targeted as revolutionaries and anarchists striving for democracy in czarist Russia. As early as 1891, he revealed his intentions in a private letter. The published Protocols were said to be the secret decisions reached at a gathering of Jewish leaders. That gathering was initially held to be the First Zionist Congress, which met in 1897 in Basel, Switzerland. Later, the source was attributed to B'nai B'rith. What was stunning about the Protocols, as later scholarly investigation and research revealed, was that it was lifted almost entirely from a forgotten political satire published in Paris in 1864 and written by a well-known democrat, Maurice Joly. Joly's pamphlet was designed to expose the repressive character of Emperor Napoleon III's regime, which ruled France at the time. Titled ``A Dialogue in Hell: Conversations Between Machiavelli and Montesquieu About Power and Rights,'' the pamphlet made no reference to the Jews. The creator of the Protocols simply plagiarized the Joly work. Protocols 1 through 19 strikingly correspond with Joly's first 17 dialogues. In nine cases, the borrowing amounts to more than half of the Joly text; in some cases, they constitute three-quarters of the test, and in one case, Protocol 7, almost the entire text is plagiarized. Moreover, the very order of the plagiarized passages remained the same as in the Joly work. The main change in the shamelessly forged Protocols, of course, was the insertion of antisemitic content and language into the Joly dialogues. Nor was the creator of the Protocols original in the inserted antisemitic language. The forgery rests on the traditional trope of international Jewry, or alternatively Zionism, aspiring to world domination based on the biblical concept of the ``Chosen People''. This aspiration, the Protocols purported, is to be achieved through guile, cunning and conspiratorial devices, particularly through Jewish control of the international banking system and press. The Protocols also played on the fear of Freemasons among court circles, aristocracy and the church establishment. The international fraternal order of Masons, which was identified with liberalism and modernity, was presented in the Protocols as having already been infiltrated and manipulated by the Elders of Zion. In its manipulative conspiracy, the Elders were to focus on both internal, domestic matters and interstate relations. Within each state, they were to foster discontent and unrest, especially among workers. By promoting liberal ideas, they were to produce confusion while, at the same time, seizing behind-the-scenes control of political parties. Drunkenness and prostitution were said to be vigorously encouraged and morality undermined. Interstate conflicts were to be stirred up through emphasis upon national differences. Every effort was to be made by the Elders of Zion to increase armament production and enhance the likelihood of warfare. The end game of the Zionists, according to the Protocols, was not victory for one side but rather even greater chaos. The Elders of Zion's ultimate goal, perceived to be but a century away, was the messianic age when the entire world would be united under Judaism and dominated by a descendant of the House of David. The emergent structure of a Kingdom of Zion resembles the nightmare vision of George Orwell's ``1984.'' The only nightmare vision to result from the Protocols, of course, was the near destruction of European Jewry during the Holocaust. Both Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler were deeply impressed the Protocols and made it required reading for the Hitler Youth. With the destruction of Nazism and the horrors that antisemitism had wrought, one might have expected that the Protocols would be thrown in the trash bin of history. The forgery, though, found a welcome readership in Leonid Brezhnev's Soviet Union. The extraordinary Soviet campaign against Zionism reached a crescendo in 1977, with the Soviet Academy of Science's release of the vehemently hateful publication ``International Zionism: History and Politics.'' Ironically, the Communists formally turned to Arab sources for their anti-Zionist propaganda. One major center of hate literature was based in Cairo, where Johannes von Leers, a former employee of Joseph Goebbels's Nazi propaganda ministry, was spreading antisemitism under his adopted Arabic name, Omar Amin. The Protocols may have been nourished in Europe with its ancient traditions of Jew-baiting, but it found new life in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world. Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser endorsed the document in 1958. During the 1960s and 1970s at least nine different Arabic translations were published, some by the Egyptian government press. In June 2001, the Egyptian paper of record, Al Ahram, cited one of the Protocols as specifying how Jews plan to ``control the world'' by a combination of means, including the use of Freemasons. A major milestone for the new drive to exploit the old forgery came at the 2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa. A table at the Durban forum for nongovernmental organizations displayed the Protocols. The tract and similar racist publications so shocked Congressman Tom Lantos of California, a key figure in the American delegation and the only Holocaust survivor in Congress, that he described it as ``the most sickening display of hate for Jews I have seen since the Nazi period.'' A century after its first publication, ``The Protocols of the Elders of Zion'' continues to nourish a vibrant message of hate. One would have thought that with all that humanity has learned during the past 100 years, the Protocols' appeal to ignorance would have waned, if not disappeared entirely. The sad truth is that as long as the forgery remains a best seller, the ground remains fertile for antisemitism.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, too often the sourge of drug and alcohol addiction permanently destroys lives. For this reason, I invite my colleagues to join with me today in commending Project 90, Inc., for its success in helping to rebuild and reclaim lives which have been shattered by addiction. Project 90, which is located in San Mateo, California, has benefited our community for over 30 years, and it is most appropriate to acknowledge that contribution. Since 1972, this alcohol and drug rehabilitation program has helped over 6,500 men overcome their addictions. I am proud to note that the success of this program is remarkable, in that, virtually all the men who graduate from Project 90 have successfully eliminated addiction and do not return to drug or alcohol usage. I am also proud to note this program began in my congressional district in San Mateo, California with five men who were determined to overcome the disease of addiction and who were determined to form a recovery process that worked. Mr. Speaker, Project 90's recovery process is based on ``Project Ninety's Social Model Residential Treatment Program,'' Which is based on the philosophy that an individual must take responsibility for his recovery. The treatment is unique in that it helps addicts learns about the process of recovery, the disease of addiction, and how this has affected their lives. Additionally, the addict learns about the path of self-destruction created by addiction, how circumstances drive him to addiction, and how his behavior perpetuates it. Treatment services are carried out through written assignments, group and individual counseling, as well as personal work following the twelve-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) also recently recognized Project 90 for its exemplary data collecting methods, and participants in Project 90 have spoken with other SAMHSA grantees to share record keeping methods developed by Project 90. Mr. Speaker, Project 90 has expanded its facilities so that it now has the space to handle 223 men and 12 adolescent males. The program can accommodate young men struggling with addiction who face incarceration by providing the alternative of treatment in group homes. The remarkable services that Project 90 provides include a work- training program, transitional housing, clean and sober environments, a strong alumni program, and services for men with mental illness and addiction. As you know, Mr. Speaker, the benefits of this program include not only the men who have received help, but also their spouses, children, employers and communities. Children have fathers again, domestic violence is reduced, and homes are strengthened. Communities are strengthened as these men become productive members of society and increase work place productivity. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join with me in congratulating Project 90 on its success and wish it continued achievement in helping substance abusers win against their fight with addiction. The organization has shown extraordinary vision and innovation in drug rehabilitation, and it has strengthened our community.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mr. Bill Basch on the occasion of his receiving the Raoul Wallenberg Medal. For the past twelve years, the Raoul Wallenberg Executive Committee of the University of Michigan has awarded the Raoul Wallenberg Medal to an individual who has demonstrated through their work an unwavering commitment to upholding the humanitarian values that the legacy of Raoul Wallenberg embodies. Raoul Wallenberg's extraordinary rescue efforts saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews from certain death at the hands of the Nazis and their allies in Hungary during the Second World War. His subsequent kidnaping by Soviet troops and his disappearance into the Soviet gulag elevated him into one of the truly outstanding heroes and role models of modern times. Both my wife, Annette, and I owe our lives to the valor and ingenuity of Raoul Wallenberg in his heroic humanitarian efforts. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted that Bill Basch, a Holocaust survivor, has been selected to receive the thirteenth Raoul Wallenberg Medal. His efforts to assist Wallenberg in the rescue of Hungarian Jews during World War II render him a worthy recipient of this outstanding humanitarian award. As the Nazi occupation spread into Hungarian territory in 1944, Bill Basch, only sixteen years old at the time, was sent from his small Hungarian village to survive in the streets of Budapest. Though his own life was in constant danger, he nevertheless undertook the extremely dangerous mission of assisting Raoul Wallenberg in the production and distribution of protective passports for those incarcerated within the walls of the so-called international ghetto in Budapest. Before he was captured and deported to the concentration camp at Buchenwald, Bill delivered hundreds of schutzpasse (protective passports) which were instrumental to the survival of those hiding in the Swedish houses protected by Wallenberg. He used underground passages and the sewage system to get into the houses, but he was captured as he tried to leave through one of these secret routes. As he accidentally surfaced outside one of the safehouses, he was suddenly confronted by Arrow Cross (Hungarian Fascist) guards. He attempted to elude the Arrow Cross by mingling with a group of people in the area. Unbeknownst to him, this group, suddenly surrounded by more Arrow Cross soldiers, was in fact being marched to the deportation trains headed for Buchenwald. Mr. Speaker, in spite of many months of endured suffering in Nazi concentration camps, Bill Basch survived one of the darkest eras of human history. In 1946 he arrived in the United States of America after having been transferred from one displaced persons camp to another, first in Austria and then in Southern Italy. Like so many immigrants who sought refuge and renewal in the United States, Bill arrived by ship at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. He was penniless, without family, and unable to communicate in the English language. Despite all of these obstacles, he persevered. He had already demonstrated that as a survivor. He eventually settled in the Los Angeles area and established himself as a successful businessman in the garment industry, property investment, and numerous other business ventures, all of which brought him much prosperity. Mr. Speaker, in addition to the material comfort Bill has earned in America, he finds greater happiness in the personal prosperity he has found with his family. Bill is father to one son and two daughters, and grandfather to two grandsons and three granddaughters. Sadly, in 1979 Bill Basch lost his wife, Rose, a survivor of Auschwitz, due to complications stemming from torturous medical experiments conducted by Nazis in the concentration camp. Nevertheless he has continued to appreciate and value the gift of life for which he so arduously fought in the Second World War. Fifteen years ago Bill Basch retired from the business world, and this gave him the opportunity to reflect on his past, particularly his experience in the Holocaust. He began to wonder why he survived while so many others were murdered. Five years into retirement, Bill's ten- year old granddaughter, Heidi Basch, asked him to speak to her sixth grade class about his experience in the Holocaust. This began the next phase of Bill's life. Mr. Speaker, Bill continues his commendable humanitarian work by dedicating his life to Holocaust education. He regularly gives lectures and interviews to students young and old in Southern California, where he still resides. He hopes to instill an obligation and trust in youth, which compels them to speak out against crimes against humanity, wherever they occur. Bill's moving story of survival came to the attention of the Shoah Foundation, an organization created by Steven Spielberg after he made the movie Shindler's List. The Shoah foundation employs numerous individuals dedicated to the accumulation of testimonies of Holocaust survivors throughout the world, and one of the accounts they added to the archive was Bill Basch's personal history. In 1997, Spielberg began researching survivors' testimonies for the The Last Days, the academy award winning documentary film which focused upon five Hungarian survivors whose stories intertwine through their connections with Raoul Wallenberg. Due to Mr. Basch's involvement in Wallenberg's heroic efforts to save thousands of Hungarian Jews, he was selected to take part in this film. My own personal story is also told in The Last Days, and it was in the making of that documentary that I came to know Bill Basch. I stand before you today to commend Bill both as an outstanding humanitarian and as my personal friend. Mr. Speaker, since 1990 the University of Michigan has awarded its Wallenberg Medal to twelve individuals whose humanitarian actions exemplify those of Raoul Wallenberg. Medal recipients include Nobel Laureates Elie Wiesel, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Miep Gies, the woman who supported Anne Frank and her family in hiding. Mr. Speaker, this year, Bill joins the ranks of these remarkable human beings who have made incredible efforts to speak and act out against man's inhumanity to man. I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Bill Basch, the Raoul Wallenberg Medal recipient of 2003.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today, I along with 32 of my colleagues introduced H.R. 3139, the ``Youth Worker Protection Act'' (YWPA). This legislation is necessary because the exploitation of child labor is a national problem that continues to jeopardize the health, education and lives of many of our nation's children and teenagers. In our farm fields and in fast-food restaurants all over this country, employers are breaking the law by hiring under-age children. This legislation seeks to eliminate the all-too-common exploitation of children working long hours late into the night while school is in session, and working under hazardous and dangerous conditions. Mr. Speaker, one hundred years ago the state of child labor conditions in our country was so deplorable many children worked 60 or 70-hour weeks in the hardest forms of labor--mines, mills and the fields. These appalling conditions led Mother Jones to lead thousands of children from the mills in Kensington, PA, to President Theodore Roosevelt's home in Oyster Bay, New York. These mill children went on strike demanding that their work schedules be lowered from 60 hours to 55 hours a week. Today, a century after the famous ``March of the Mill Children,'' working conditions of child labor in our country have noticeably improved. As a result of laws passed after the march, the ``Mill Children's'' work week was set at 58 hours, and then came the passage of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in 1938, which limited hours for children and adults to 40 hours per week. Despite these advances, there are still significant problems facing America's youth work force. In some ways kids today are working just as long as their ``Mill Children'' predecessors, especially when one considers the hours a student is in school. While people today often associate the evils of child labor as occurring only in Third World countries, American teenagers are also exploited on the job. Mr. Speaker, the average time a student is in class is about 7 hours a day, or 35 hours a week. This does not include additional time for extracurricular activities or homework. Going to school is almost a full time job itself. In addition to devoting a minimum of 35 hours a week to their schoolwork, many high-school students are also working 30 to 40 hours a week for some of America's largest corporations, often working well past midnight while simultaneously trying to balance school requirements. When one combines the hours some of today's teens are at school with their hours at work, the 70-hour workweek is still in place. Research clearly indicates that working more than 20 hours a week in addition to a normal school schedule has a negative effect on student's academic progress. Additional studies show that children who work long hours also tend to use more alcohol and drugs. Mr. Speaker, this is why I have introduced H.R. 3139, the Youth Worker Protection Act (YWPA), which sets common-sense limits on the hours that students can work during the school year. Beyond the long hours, many of our nation's teenagers are forced to work in hazardous conditions that threaten their health and safety. Mr. Speaker, I am saddened to report that a young person is killed on the job every five days, and that every 40 seconds a child is injured on the job. It is appalling to learn that in our great country, the occupational injury rate for children and teens is more than twice as high than it is for adults. In fact, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) estimates that 230,000 teens are injured on the job each year. I am sure my colleagues will agree with me that these statistics are a national disgrace and are totally unacceptable for a civilized, advanced society such as ours. Unless we swiftly enact this legislation, children will continue to be employed in jobs that place their lives in danger. Mr. Speaker, The YWPA will reduce the problem of children working long hours when school is in session, and it strengthens existing limitations on the number of hours children under 18 years of age can work on school days. The bill would eliminate all youth labor before school, and after-school work would be limited to 15 or 20 hours per week, depending on the age of the child. Additionally our legislation will require better record keeping and reporting of child labor violations. It also prohibits minors from operating or cleaning certain types of unsafe equipment, and prohibits children from working in certain particularly hazardous conditions. Mr. Speaker, the issues of children working early in the morning or late into the evening is a problem facing our country. Students continuously tell me that working long hours, late into the night negatively affects their school performance, that they are too tired for class, and that the long hours on the job take away from important extra-curricular activities and take away time from their family. Mr. Speaker, for the past 60 years our nation's agribusinesses have enjoyed special exemptions under the FLSA. Many of these exemptions were based on the historical prominence of the family farm in the American economy. Current labor laws allow children--even those under 10 years of age to be employed in agriculture. Child farm laborers can work unlimited hours before and after school, and they are not even eligible for overtime pay. At the age of 14, or even earlier, children working in agriculture are using knives and machetes, operating dangerous machinery, and are exposed to dangerous toxic pesticides. In no other industry are children so exploited as they are in agriculture. Despite all these dangers, there are no protections for children working on farms and in the fields. Mr. Speaker, most of today's farms are not owned by families, but by large corporate entities, and deserve to be treated like any other company employing children. Although I am pleased to report the YWPA keeps the existing family farm exemption, I am delighted that it amends the FLSA to treat companies like Archer-Daniels-Midland and Dole just like McDonalds and Wal-Mart, because obtaining parity in the regulations and restrictions of jobs in agriculture and the rest of the economy is long overdue. Mr. Speaker, I want to make it adamantly clear, as supporters of child labor reform, we do not oppose young people working. We wholeheartedly believe that children need to be taught the value of hard work and to learn the valuable lessons of responsibility and enjoy all the rewards of working. It is not our aim to discourage employers from hiring young people. Rather, our goal is to ensure that the job opportunities available to young people are meaningful, safe and healthy. What we oppose are the senseless deaths and needless injuries of our teenagers. We oppose the negative effects on academic achievement that result when children work excessive hours while school is in session. An education, not after-school employment, is the key to a successful future. Mr. Speaker, the Youth Worker Protection Act modernizes our child labor laws through simple common sense measures. It has been endorsed by numerous organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the NEA, the National Consumer's League, and the Child Labor Coalition. I ask that the letters from the AFL-CIO and the Child Labor Coalition be placed in the Congressional Record. I urge my colleagues to consider these much needed protections for our nation's young people and to join me in support of this legislation. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, Washington, DC, September 23, 2003. Hon. Tom Lantos, House of Representatives, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Lantos: Since its inception, the AFL- CIO has fought to assure safe working conditions for the nation's workforce, especially for young workers, who are among the most vulnerable to long hours and unsafe conditions. By setting specific objectives to assure that young workers work in appropriate employment, for reasonable hours and in safe conditions, the Young Worker Protection Act represents significant progress toward this goal and we strongly support it. Recent studies indicate that 80 percent of all youth in America work for pay during their high school years. However, such studies also reveal that as many as 148,000 youth are illegally employed in the United States each week. The Young Worker Protection Act would address these concerns by establishing reasonable hours of work and by setting the minimum age for all youth employment at 14 years. It also includes safeguards for appropriate employment by requiring minors under the age of 18 to obtain a work permit prior to employment. Because every year, approximately 230,000 children under the age of 18 are injured on the job, and nearly 70 children each year die from their job-related injuries, the bill updates the list of hazards for young workers and incorporates recommendations made by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to protect young workers from hazardous equipment, occupations and industries. The AFL-CIO commends you for taking the lead in promoting improved working conditions for young workers and is pleased to endorse the Young Worker Protection Act. Sincerely, William Samuel, Director, Department of Legislation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call to the attention of my colleagues the leadership shown by the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for focusing attention on the widespread use of torture by some outlaw regimes by awarding this year's Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize of $1 million to the International Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (IRCT). I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate and pay tribute to the ICRT. Mr. Speaker, as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus I have had the privilege of working with ICRT and its network of affiliates around the world. Every year, the Caucus organizes a public briefing to mark the United Nations ``International Day in support of Survivors of Torture,'' during which we bring together survivors of torture from all over the world, healthcare personnel who assist in their treatment and rehabilitation, Members of Congress, congressional staff and the general public. These briefings are designed to educate our colleagues and their staff, on the practice of torture and the devastating physical and emotional complications that revisit torture victims, and to encourage appropriate Congressional action to address this important issue. This Hilton Award will be presented to ICRT today at a luncheon in New York City, at which the Dalai Lama will speak. The awarding of this prestigious prize comes at a very appropriate moment, as this Congress is about to re-authorize the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 by our adoption of H.R. 1813, which has already been approved by the House Committee on International Relations. The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment establishes the basic human right of freedom from torture. Thus far, 134 States have recognized this right by becoming state parties to this important convention. Yet torture continues to take place in more than 117 countries. It is estimated that one-third of the world's 12 million refugees are victims of torture. Mr. Speaker, torture is a brutal form of social and political control designed to stifle dissent through terror and it violates the basic rights of human beings and is contrary to the principles of the U.S. Constitution and fundamental nature of our Republic. Politicians, journalists, teachers, students, religious leaders, trade union and human rights activists are special targets. The aim of torture is not to kill the victim, but to break down the victim's personality. Crippled, traumatized, and humiliated, the victims are returned to their communities as a warning to others. I will not elaborate on the methods and consequences of torture, which my colleagues know well from previous debates here on the House floor. But I would like to emphasize again that there are an estimated 500,000 torture survivors in the United States alone--refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled repressive regimes. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of victims of torture seeking help at U.S. rehabilitation centers, and many centers now have long waiting lists. In the United States there are 25 rehabilitation centers and programs joined together under the National Consortium of Torture Treatment Programs. The passage of the Torture Victims Relief Act in 1998 positioned the United States as a leading donor to the work against torture. The re-authorization of this legislation, which the Committee on International Relations reported to the House on July 23rd, will continue and expand American leadership to assist those who have been subject to this terrible human rights abuse. I urge the House leadership to schedule this bill for floor action as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I would like to briefly summarize for my colleagues the global efforts that IRCT has undertaken to eliminate torture and to explain the extraordinary work they are accomplishing now. The medical response to torture began in 1973 with an Amnesty International campaign calling for help to diagnose torture victims. At that time, very little was known about torture methods or the physical or psycho- social consequences for torture victims. An Amnesty group of four doctors in Denmark was the first to respond and was soon joined by a network of some 4,000 medical doctors from 34 countries worldwide. It quickly became evident that, in addition to documenting cases of torture for use in potential legal proceedings, it was also critical to identify methods to help treat and rehabilitate victims of torture. In 1982, the first rehabilitation center was founded and established by medical humanitarian my dear friend Dr. Inge Genefke and the Rehabilitation and Research Center for Torture Victims (RCT) in Copenhagen, Denmark. As the global movement developed, and the need for global support increased, the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) was founded in 1985, initially as the international arm of the RCT, until 1987 when it became a fully independent organization. IRCT's mission, with Dr. Genefke as its Ambassador, is to support and promote the rehabilitation of victims of torture, to advocate for the prevention and eradication of torture worldwide, and to provide documentation and research that will ultimately bring perpetrators to justice. Mr. Speaker, from a handful of rehabilitation centers in the mid- 1980s, a global network of 200 rehabilitation centers and programs is now operating in 80 countries. These efforts, however, are just a beginning in the global fight against torture. To keep a spotlight on the issue, IRCT's global campaign, ``Together against Torture,'' involves more than 10,000 people and 300 organizations in some 100 countries every year to commemorate the United Nations International Day in Support of Torture Victims, which takes place annually on June 26. In recent years, IRCT has developed successful models in post- conflict interventions in support of torture victims in East Timor, Kosova, and in Pakistan for Afghan refugees. The IRCT Documentation Center is the world's largest library on torture-related research and IRCT is initiating the first comprehensive monitoring and documentation system on torture at the global, regional, and national levels. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, let me mention to my colleagues statements from global leaders in support of IRCT. Dr. Bertrand Ramcharan, Acting U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said: ``Torture is a violation of basic human rights. Through extensive documentation and research, IRCT has become an essential source for governments and legal authorities in their efforts to expose atrocities and to bring perpetrators to justice.'' Mary Robinson, former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland, said: ``Through its support for victims and its global campaigning for the universal ratification and implementation of the U.N. Convention Against Torture and its Optional Protocol, the IRCT reminds us of our shared responsibility for ending torture throughout the world.'' Former United States President Jimmy Carter said, ``Freedom from torture is one of the most fundamental of all human rights principles, enshrined in the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT) and other international agreements. This year, it is particularly fitting that the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has chosen to bestow its Humanitarian Prize on the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims, an organization that has done so much to end torture and to support its victims worldwide.'' Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Per Stig Miller said, ``There is no doubt that IRCT has had a determining role in placing torture and organized violence onto the international agenda and that the organization has achieved a special recognized status and voice that is listened to worldwide. The prize underlines the need for continued international support towards the work of the IRCT.'' Dr. Reiner Brettenhaler, President of the Standing Committee of European Physicians, said: ``We are proud to nominate the IRCT for this year's Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize. A unique strength of the IRCT is its approach to the work against torture: focusing on the medical aspects of torture, thereby focusing on the individual recovery of those subjected to this act of inhumanity.'' Mr. Speaker, I again want to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the ICRT and its global network of treatment and support centers for their continued invaluable service to humanity. I also want to commend the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation for recognizing and supporting the ICRT's efforts by awarding it the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Ambassador Richard Schifter, one of America's finest champions of international justice and global cooperation. Ambassador Schifter celebrated his 80th birthday on July 31st, marking a milestone in a lifetime of distinguished public service. Ambassador Schifter's passion for human rights bears deep roots, as it reflects his personal experience with totalitarianism and bigotry. Dick's childhood in Vienna was rudely interrupted by the Nazi take-over of Austria in 1938. A Jewish Austrian, his life was in peril before his 15th birthday. Dick was able to escape to the United States that December; his parents, however, were not then eligible for immigrant visas, and they were forced to remain in Vienna. They were later murdered in the Maidanek death camp along with dozens of Schifter family members. Ambassador Schifter arrived in our great country alone, a young man barely in his teens in a totally unfamiliar land. Yet, in the finest American tradition, Dick built his life anew. He graduated summa cum laude from the College of the City of New York and Yale Law School, served in the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II, and embarked on a highly successful legal career. Dick and his charming wife, Lilo, started a family that now includes 5 children, 5 children-in-law, 9 grandchildren, and 1 grandchild-in-law. Mr. Speaker, while the young Ambassador Schifter had a great number of professional and personal obligations, he never neglected his responsibilities to his Maryland community. Dick served for twenty years on the Maryland State Board of Education, and he chaired both the Governor's Commission on Funding the Education of Handicapped Children and the Governor's Commission on Values Education. He stood up for his progressive convictions as the Chairman of the Montgomery County (MD) Democratic Committee. As President of the Washington, DC, chapter of the American Jewish Committee, he fought to ensure that the fate of his family in Austria would never be repeated. When Ambassador Schifter retired from his legal career during the early 1980's, he devoted himself to public service on a full-time basis. Dick's passion, energy, and undeniable brilliance proved invaluable in a wide array of positions. He represented his country as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (1983-1986, 1993), Deputy U.S. Representative in the United Nations Security Council (1984-1985), Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs (1985-1992), Special Assistant to the President and Counselor to the National Security Council (1993-1997), Special Advisor to the Secretary of State (1997-2001), and in numerous other important roles. Dick served Presidents from both political parties, reflecting his commitment to a bipartisan foreign policy as well as his clear and unambiguous passion for advancing human rights and American values around the world. Ambassador Schifter's service as Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for the Southeast European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) bears particular significance. SECI's principal goal--to enhance regional cooperation among the countries of Southeastern Europe by encouraging joint and cooperative solutions to shared economic and environmental problems--could not have had a more principled champion than Dick Schifter. His agile mind and diplomatic skills added immeasurably to the progress of former Communist nations transitioning to democratic, free market structures. The success of this evolution added strength and stability to America's transatlantic partnerships. Leaders from around the world have recognized Ambassador Schifter's record of achievement. He is a recipient of the Secretary of State's Distinguished Service Award, Austria's Golden Honor Insignia with Star, the Order of Commander of Romania's Star, and Bulgaria's Order of Stara Planina, First Class. Mr. Speaker, Richard Schifter is a genuine example of the American Dream, and he has devoted his life to extending its values to every corner of the world. He is an idealist and an optimist. Four years ago, at a conference in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia, he concluded a speech by quoting the unforgettable words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt: ``The only limit of our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today.'' Indeed, few public servants have done as much to build a global future of peace, prosperity, and morality. I am honored to be Ambassador Schifter's friend, and I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing his tremendous service.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to commend my good friend from Iowa, the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), and the chairman of our full committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for facilitating the consideration of this resolution. I want also to commend my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman), for introducing this resolution. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Congress marked an important date. It was the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the principal speaker at the festivities. Twenty years ago, my distinguished Republican colleague, who left us just a couple of years ago, Mr. Porter of Illinois, and I founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. For 2 decades, this organization, supported across the board by hundreds of colleagues, has fought for human rights in every part of the world. When we started the Human Rights Caucus, much of our attention was aimed at the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union is no more. Many of the refuseniks and dissidents and persecuted political prisoners in the Soviet Union had their battle fought for them by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. When we commenced the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, South Africa was an apartheid state divided on racial lines with strict punitive regulations impacting the black population. That South Africa exists no more. And it was one of the great joys of the Human Rights Caucus to have played a modest role in the liberation of Nelson Mandela. It was appropriate that the organization which has been the umbrella organization in the Congress of the United States for 2 decades on behalf of human rights across this globe, fighting discrimination on racial, ethnic, religious, political grounds, fighting discrimination against women, which is still so prevalent in many parts of the Islamic world, should have as its principal speaker His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama is the embodiment of human rights on our planet. Despite the tragedies which have befallen the Tibetan people at the hands of the Chinese Communists since 1959, His Holiness has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Chinese Tibetan conflict. And it is a significant historic fact, Mr. Speaker, that 16 years ago it was within the framework of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus that His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented his five-point peace plan calling for reconciliation between the Chinese authorities and the people of Tibet. When he first came here at our invitation 16 years ago, he was not seen by the Department of State; he could not go near the White House. Today, he is an honored guest at the White House. And the recognition that his work has received is demonstrated by the Dalai Lama being a recipient of the Nobel prize for peace. When we invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1987, none of us dared hope that his posture as a moral authority would rise to the heights it has attained. As we meet here this morning, there are strong indications that the Chinese at long last are ready to make their peace with Tibet and with the Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama's representative, Lodi Gyari, was received in Beijing this summer. And when the British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with the new Chinese President, there was a serious, substantive, and constructive discussion of the role of Tibet within China. The Congressional Human Rights Caucus yesterday called on the government of China to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Beijing so that at long last peace can prevail between the long-suffering people of Tibet and the Chinese Government. It is appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that this House express its respect and admiration for this great moral authority whose stature transcends Tibet, whose stature transcends his Buddhist principles, who stands globally as a symbol of peace, reconciliation, and an acceptance of pluralism on this small planet. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I merely want to underscore how significant it is that across the political spectrum, Republicans and Democrats join forces in paying tribute both to the concept of the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy and to the embodiment of human rights on this planet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman), a distinguished former member of the Committee on International Relations whose interest on foreign policy has been retained even after he left our committee, and who is the author of this important resolution.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Democratic leader. Since she first joined us in Congress, she has been an indefatigable fighter for human rights across the globe, but she has had a special relationship with the people of Tibet and His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. She has been the leader in calling for a peaceful reconciliation between the government in Beijing and the people of Tibet, and yesterday she graced us with her presence at the 20th commemoration of the birth of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and the visit of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to pay tribute to Baruch Tenenbaum, a truly remarkable person. He has, in an extraordinary way, made enormous efforts to promote the life and mission of World War II hero Raoul Wallenberg. As a young Swedish diplomat, Wallenberg was responsible for saving nearly 100,000 Jews in Budapest from the horror of the Holocaust. This brave man disappeared in 1945, last seen going to meet with members of the Soviet army. Though many theories regarding his disappearance abound, the world continues to wait for answers regarding Wallenberg's fate. Mr. Tenenbaum is one of the most visible leaders in carrying on Raoul Wallenberg's name. Mr. Speaker, even before Mr. Tenenbaum started to work for Raoul Wallenberg's cause he had lived an extraordinary life. He was devoted to supporting the Jewish community in Argentina and to creating a deeper understanding between Jews and Catholics worldwide. He was the First General Director of the Argentine-Israeli Cultural Institute and focused the majority of his efforts on educational endeavors. Some of his undertakings included founding the Tarbut School and organizing the first Latin American Bible contest. In addition, he translated Spanish classics and Haskala literature into Hebrew and Yiddish. In 1966, together with writer Jorge Lues Borges, Tenenbaum founded the first inter-confessional organization, Casa Argentina en Jerusalem (Argentine House in Jerusalem). This organization has received many distinctions on behalf of the Vatican for its work in promoting ecumenism. Tenenbaum's outstanding commitment to the Jewish and Catholic communities has earned him accolades and honors from Pope Paul VI and from Monsignor Antonio Caggiano, Cardinal Primate of Argentina. Mr. Tenenbaum and I co-founded the International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation (IRWF) in 1997. Since then, we have worked tirelessly to make Raoul Wallenberg's story known around the world. Mr. Tenenbaum has personally convinced over 60 heads of states to become members of IRWF. Some members include German Chancellor Gerhard Schroder, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, former U.S. President Gerald Ford, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Dalai Lama and Elie Wiesel. Mr. Speaker, I know you will agree that preserving the memory of Raoul Wallenberg is very important. Wallenberg is a truly timeless role model for all generations, representing an ideal sense of selflessness and caring of all people. He taught us about the importance of standing up for the immutable rights of all people and the need to combat evil when it confronts us. Wallenberg will always serve as a reminder of the tremendous difference just one man can make, and keeping his spirit alive means ensuring and preserving the spirit of humanity. In carrying on Raoul Wallenberg's name, Mr. Tenenbaum has made a tremendous effort in keeping his spirit alive and carrying his message on to future generations. Under the direction of Mr. Tenenbaum, the IRWF has undertaken a number of various endeavors to further the memories of Holocaust heroes, including Raoul Wallenberg. There have been a number of statues raised and countless exhibits displayed around the world as a result of IRWF's efforts, honoring keepers of humanity during the Holocaust. In addition, Wallenberg has been honored throughout the world with commemorative postage stamps, and a number of streets and schools named in his honor. The IRWF's goals for these initiatives in honor of Wallenberg and other Holocaust heroes is to stimulate the educational authorities in dozens of countries to teach not only the stories of the Holocaust, but also the stories of the heroes that emerged from the horrors. By educating future generations about the plight of Holocaust heroes like Wallenberg, perhaps they will adopt just a fraction of the humanitarian values these brave men and women held. Mr. Speaker, at the age of 67, Mr. Tenenbaum has never received a salary nor any other financial compensation for his work. He covers nearly all IRWF expenses himself and he devotes all his time to the Raoul Wallenberg cause. I am honored to pay tribute to this extraordinary man and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Baruch Tenenbaum for his outstanding achievements. This exceptional person is truly an inspiration to us all. Like the man whose legacy he works tirelessly to preserve, Mr. Tenenbaum is living proof that one man can make a difference.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words. Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose this attempt to overturn the President's decision to return the United States to membership in UNESCO. The gentleman from Texas offered a similar amendment during the markup of this year's State Department authorization bill in the Committee on International Relations. In an overwhelming bipartisan vote, his amendment was rejected. Last week the whole House voted resoundingly in favor of authorizing full funding to support U.S. entry when the State Department bill was passed. I strongly agree with President Bush that our reentry will support UNESCO's mission to advance human rights, tolerance, and learning. Our national decision to rejoin UNESCO reflects our understanding in the Congress and in the administration that UNESCO has a critical role to advance U.S. foreign policy goals, such as facilitating the rewriting of educational materials to remove passages that incite racial hatred, violence, and intolerance. UNESCO will be a key to rebuilding Afghanistan's educational system, and it is critical for establishing educational programs on HIV/AIDS, malaria and other infectious diseases. UNESCO has undertaken massive management reforms under the leadership of its Director General, Mr. Matsuura of Japan. The organization has achieved a huge cutback in its staffing, has held its budget to zero nominal growth for many years, and has eliminated what used to be a corrupt structure. It is critical that the United States, the one remaining superpower on this planet, resume its seat at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. When UNESCO was founded, Mr. Chairman, at the end of the Second World War, its motto was, ``It is in the minds of men that war begins and it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must first be constructed.'' This was never more true than it is today. After a 20- year absence, we have now gotten consensus in the House, in the Senate, and with this administration that the time is now the right time to rejoin UNESCO. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to vote against the amendment and to support the President's decision to return the United States to UNESCO. I earnestly hope that this issue can finally be put to rest.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dr. David L. Weinberg, who has ably represented the people of San Mateo as the President of the San Mateo County Medical Association. His one-year term has just expired. Dr. Weinberg has a distinguished record of service to the people of San Mateo and to the nation as a whole. He served in a combat unit in Vietnam for over a year during some of the most intense fighting there, arriving just before the Tet Offensive. Dr. Weinberg was frequently behind enemy lines, supporting American and Vietnamese troops and Special Forces. For his service and over 500 hours of air combat duty, he was awarded 10 medals. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Dr. Weinberg began a fellowship program at the Letterman Army Medical Center in San Francisco before going to Vietnam in 1967. When he finished his military service in 1969, Dr. Weinberg returned to San Francisco to begin his residency at the University of California-San Francisco (UCSF). He completed his residency in 1972 and was certified by the American Academy of Dermatology the following year. Mr. Speaker, during his term as President of the San Mateo County Medical Association (SMCMA) this past year, Dr. Weinberg sought to increase cooperation among doctors and to make them independent of hospitals and insurance companies, and his initiatives have been extraordinarily well received. An active member of the American College of Physician Executives and the California Medical Association, Dr. Weinberg also has appointments at UCSF as a Clinical Instructor in Dermatology and at two prominent hospitals, Seton Medical Center and Mills-Peninsula Medical Center. In addition to these positions and his responsibilities as President of the SMCMA, Dr. Weinberg sees patients at his solo practice in Daly City. Mr. Speaker, Dr. David L. Weinberg has made outstanding contributions to the people of San Mateo County, not to speak of his military service on behalf of the American people. I invite my colleagues in commending him on his leadership of the SMCMA.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA), and I ask unanimous consent that during the period of time I am making a presentation at the Committee on Resources, the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) may control the time on this side and yield it to others.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), my good friend, the distinguished ranking Democratic member of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 1950, the foreign relations authorization bill for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 as it was reported out of committee. Mr. Chairman, this is an excellent bill; and I am proud to have cosponsored it with my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman; and I want to pay public tribute to his extraordinary leadership of the Committee on International Relations. Mr. Chairman, every single item that our committee deals with represents the daily menu of all our international and domestic media: Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, the Middle East, Pakistan, Colombia, North Korea, China, Russia, Cuba, NATO, Europe, Africa. They are all part of this legislation, and our committee and its staff deserves commendation for being able to deal with these issues in a bipartisan fashion. I am very pleased that our bill fully funds the administration's request for the State Department and contains many of the provisions that Secretary of State Colin Powell has requested to help him better manage the Department of State. I want to commend Secretary Powell for his effort to strengthen what has traditionally been one of our Nation's greatest resources, our diplomatic corps. I am pleased to say, Mr. Chairman, that under the authority provided in our bill, the Secretary's diplomatic readiness initiative will reach its final goal of putting 1,158 new professional American diplomats in place to serve our country across the globe. I am also very pleased to be joining my good friend from Illinois in a continuing effort to make sure that we reduce as rapidly as possible the period of time in which our embassy employees are left in compounds and facilities that are vulnerable to terrorist attack. To support this, our bill provides over $1.3 billion over the next 2 years for security upgrades at our embassies in all parts of the world. Our bill also contains a number of critical foreign policy initiatives that will give our State Department the tools it needs to promote and protect our national security interests in an increasingly complex world. I am very pleased to have had the chance to work with the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier), our distinguished Committee on Rules chairman, in crafting one such measure, the International Leadership Act of 2003, which has been folded into this bill. Mr. Chairman, the Leadership Act is designed to give our diplomats the tools they need to ensure that America once again punches at its weight class at the United Nations. Our legislation achieves this by creating a Democracy Caucus to support the United States at the United Nations by directing our President to use his influence to reform U.N. rules, so that rogue regimes cannot gain leadership positions, and by providing new training to make our diplomats more effective in multilateral diplomacy. As my colleagues well know, Mr. Chairman, just a couple of years ago, the United States was removed from the U.N. Human Rights Commission, a body we founded; and Libya was put in charge of that commission, a theater of the absurd if we ever saw one. I am pleased, Mr. Chairman, that with the leadership of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and our colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), on a historic measure, we succeeded in making provisions for offering significant assistance to a new and democratic Palestinian state if performance benchmarks can be reached, including a total cessation of terrorism and the establishment of a transparent, democratic, and independent judiciary and Palestinian government responsive to its people. An important provision to our bill was added by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley). His provision reverses the administration's harmful and highly political decision to withhold U.S. funding from the United Nations Population Fund. The administration's move came after its own hand-picked investigative team concluded that there was no evidence that the population fund would be involved in any way in coercive family planning in China. The gentleman from New York's (Mr. Crowley) measure will help the population fund to demonstrate that voluntary family planning is the only humane and effective way for China to control its population explosion. I know, Mr. Chairman, that this provision will be debated later today, and I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support the committee position on this matter. Another important initiative included in our bill is the International Free Media Act of 2003. It will help the State Department to encourage the development of sources of accurate, objective reporting in societies which are currently polluted by messages of propaganda and hate in state-controlled media, such as the media in Egypt. I am particularly pleased that this initiative includes a new $15 million fund to support independent and ethical journalism across the globe. Our bill also contains the Missile Threat Reduction Act of 2003, which is designed to confront the alarming spread of offensive ballistic missiles for launching nuclear, chemical, and biological warheads. This measure commits the United States to seeking a new international mechanism to restrict the trade in missiles. It strengthens United States sanctions against those who trade in missiles, and it provides assistance to countries which agree to destroy their missile arsenals. The bill also recognizes the United States' vital interests in promoting Afghanistan's transition from chaos, civil war, and disorder to an increasingly prosperous and democratic state. To prevent the spiral downward, the bill directs the President to ensure that there is adequate security along major transportation routes in Afghanistan and urges him to expand the international security assistance force. I am also pleased, Mr. Chairman, that our bill authorizes all funds necessary to pay our assessed dues upon reentry to UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. Full funding is critical, Mr. Chairman, if we are to fulfill the President's commitment of last year to rejoin this most important international organization. When UNESCO was founded at the end of the Second World War, its motto was, ``Since war begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must first be constructed.'' Never was this statement more appropriate and timely than it is now; and our rejoining UNESCO will demonstrate that, far from being unilateral, we want to accept our full responsibility as a cooperative member of the international community. I am disappointed, Mr. Chairman, that the rule for our bill has struck out the amendment sponsored by my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) which addresses global climate change, a very real and immediate threat to our national security, an issue that has been neglected far too long. Finally, Mr. Chairman, I would like to note that later today we will be debating an amendment to be offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and me authorizing the President's Millennium Challenge Assistance Initiative and the proposal to dramatically expand our Peace Corps. This amendment will dramatically improve the ability of the United States to help the least fortunate on this planet and to promote a world where hope thrives and the despair that leads to support for international terrorism vanishes. I want to thank the chairman of our committee, my good friend, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for working with me and all of the other members of our committee in crafting an excellent bill. Virtually every element of this bill has the support of both Republicans and Democrats, and this is in large part due to the statesmanlike leadership of the gentleman from Illinois. I want to commend our distinguished chairman and thank him for the open, collegial, and witty manner in which he has brought this bill through the committee and he will bring it through this House. Mr. Chairman, we are considering this legislation at a pivotal moment in global history. We are engaged in intense diplomacy on every continent, with opportunities to solve long-festering disputes and crises in Levant, in Iraq, in the Eastern Mediterranean, in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Afghanistan, in Colombia, and in scores of other places. It is in the midst of this critical conflict against the forces of terror and Islamic fanaticism that our bill will make a major contribution to building a safe, secure and more democratic world. I believe that enactment of our legislation will leave a lasting legacy towards solving all of these disputes and crises, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I want to commend my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), for the power and integrity of his convictions. The Millennium Challenge Account would not have been possible without his leadership and commitment to a bipartisan approach to international poverty reduction. The Millennium Challenge Account, as conceived by the President and crafted by the Committee on International Relations, marks the beginning of a revolution in U.S. international development assistance by recognizing the importance of democratic rule, good governance, and human rights. In achieving sustainable levels of economic growth and social development, the MCA creates the political and economic linkages critical to reducing poverty and to achieving progress. At the same time, the MCA removes the Cold War-era strategic calculus from the development assistance equation. Each potential recipient of our assistance is to be judged on its own merits, based on their commitment to progress and our commitment to the political, economic, social, and humanitarian value of development assistance. Finally, the MCA implicitly endorses a critical aspect of our approach to combatting international terrorism. Although the administration has not focused on this point, modern terrorism of the kind that struck our Nation on September 11 is fueled in part by the desperation and hopelessness that pervades much of the developing world. The MCA provides new hope, and as such, represents a powerful antidote to terrorism and other forms of violent conflict that have stalled the developing world. Mr. Chairman, when the Committee on International Relations held its first meeting on the MCA, I expressed a range of concerns about various aspects of the administration's initial proposal. I am pleased to say that the legislation included in this amendment has addressed satisfactorily each of my earlier concerns, and the Hyde-Lantos amendment before us has my very strong support. The administration's initial proposal relegated USAID, the most capable agency within our government in administering international assistance, to a bit part in managing this massive account. Our bipartisan amendment restores USAID to its rightful role by providing its administrator with a seat and a vote on the Millennium Challenge Corporation's board of directors. Together with the interagency coordination that our amendment requires, this improvement promises to strengthen the MCA considerably. Our bipartisan amendment also addresses my earlier concerns about the rigid application of strict eligibility criteria by mandating congressional and societal consultations on the finalization of criteria. By providing for an annual reevaluation process and by authorizing limited assistance to those countries on the cusp of eligibility, our legislation safeguards against the inherently arbitrary nature of mechanically selecting qualified states. Mr. Chairman, the Hyde-Lantos MCA amendment will not single handedly eradicate poverty, nor will it place the United States in the same company as Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands, the global leaders in this field, in terms of per capita levels of development assistance; but our legislation will renew our commitment to poor, but striving, countries in our common fight against hunger and despair. Speaking as someone who as a youth experienced both tremendous deprivation and the bounty of American generosity, I can testify to the profound influence that U.S. assistance can have on shaping the perceptions of foreign nations of our great country. Mr. Chairman, allow me to conclude by addressing the reauthorization of the Peace Corps, which is also included in this amendment. It is fitting that we consider the Millennium Challenge Account and the Peace Corps jointly because both are critical to enhancing U.S. international development assistance. Since President Kennedy first deployed the Peace Corps in 1961, the program's 168,000 volunteers, men and women, young and old, have made an immeasurable contribution to reducing poverty and promoting American values literally all over the globe. Reauthorizing this inspirational initiative is clearly in our national interests and in the interests of reducing poverty and restoring hope across the globe. Two of our colleagues deserve special recognition for bringing the Peace Corps reauthorization before us. The gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), a new, but invaluable, member of our committee, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr), a former Peace Corps volunteer himself, were instrumental in crafting this amendment; and I am deeply indebted to both of them. Mr. Chairman, today this Chamber has the opportunity to reauthorize the Peace Corps and to establish the Millennium Challenge Account. Both initiatives offer the best hope to defeat international poverty and international terrorism, and I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support the Hyde-Lantos amendment.