Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I first want to pay tribute to the leadership of the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), in bringing this resolution before us. I should also mention, Mr. Speaker, that as we speak, a parallel resolution is being considered in the other body, introduced by the chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Hyde-Lantos resolution expressing solidarity with the State of Israel and the Israeli people in their fight against terrorism. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, Israel experienced the most deadly eruption of Palestinian terrorist assassinations that country has seen in years. Some 26 utterly innocent civilians were killed, most of them young people, and 175 wounded, within a 14-hour period as a result of ruthless suicide bombs in both Jerusalem and Haifa. Once again, Palestinian terrorists targeted people on a bus and people in a shopping mall. We as Americans, ourselves recently victimized, fully share the Israelis' sense of anger, outrage, and violation. The horror of this past weekend was, as President Bush's Middle East envoy, General Zinni, stated, ``the deepest evil one can imagine.'' Israel's casualty figures from the 14 hours of carnage are the equivalent on a proportional basis of 1,200 American dead and 8,000 American wounded. The horrors of this past weekend only underscore a relentless campaign of murder carried out by Hamas, Islamic jihad and elements of Arafat's own Fattah movement. In fact, Mr. Speaker, since that fateful date, September 11, the equivalent of 2,700 Israelis have fallen victim to Palestinian terrorism. Each human life is a treasure far beyond what any statistic can express. Both the Jewish and Islamic traditions poignantly declare that the saving of one human life is the equivalent of saving the world and the murder of one human life is the equivalent of destroying the world. I cite the proportional figures only as a means to illustrate, Mr. Speaker, the impact these killings have on a small nation of just 6 million people. This Congress and the American people are angry, frustrated, and fed up with Arafat's cynical support of murderous criminals and his failure to act to prevent the killing of both Israelis and Palestinians. But Arafat's failure does not only lead to death; it leads to the danger that a bloodbath will ensue in the entire region. We know, Mr. Speaker, that Arafat is capable of stopping terror. We have seen him do so when under sufficient international pressure. Until he does end the terror, and end it for good, we must conclude that he supports it. It is no longer good enough, indeed, it never was, Mr. Speaker, for Arafat to run a revolving prison door, arresting a few low-level terrorists for a few days until the world diverts its glance and moves on to other issues. The Hyde-Lantos resolution provides that the Palestinian Authority should arrest, prosecute, and punish the perpetrators of this monstrous act or turn over these terrorists to the Government of Israel for prosecution. Our resolution urges the President of the United States to take any and all steps necessary to ensure that the Palestinian Authority complies with all of our demands. If it does not, we call on our President to terminate relations with Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. Mr. Speaker, in his historic speech to our joint session on September 20, President Bush said that nations will be judged as either being against terrorists or being for them. In this hour of their grieving, Israelis should know that the American Congress and the American people stand resolutely with them in our joint struggle against international terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Hoeffel).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, closing the debate on our side, there is no moral equivalence between terrorists and the victims of terrorism. What this resolution does, and I am proud to join the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) in being the principal sponsor of this resolution, what this resolution does is it expresses the solidarity of the American people who were victims of terrorism on September 11 with the people of Israel who were victims again just this past weekend. We want peace, but we will not get to peace as long as there is an attempt to create a moral equivalence between a corrupt dictatorship and its terrorist tactics and the democratic ally of the United States. I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the resolution.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that each side be given an additional 10 minutes in view of the fact that we have a number of speakers.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to tell my good friend, the gentleman from California, that there is an enormous difference between targeting innocent civilians and collateral damage. Today, as we speak, American soldiers were killed, killed in Afghanistan by our own forces inadvertently. There is a difference of the whole world between deliberately killing innocent civilians and retaliating, doing one's utmost to avoid killing civilians and, tragically, mistakes occurring. I think this distinction must be made on this floor. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin).

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 494, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act. First, I would like to commend the distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, my good friend and fellow Californian, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), and the ranking minority member, our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), for their active pursuit of human rights, democracy, and decency in Zimbabwe, and for their strong support for this legislation. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman, for expediting the consideration of this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act of 2001 is designed to support the people of Zimbabwe, and provides a clear strategy for the United States and Zimbabwe to reengage in normal political and economic activity. This is an incentives bill, not a sanctions bill, Mr. Speaker. Our legislation provides that the United States will initiate a plan to promote Zimbabwe's economic recovery, but only after certain political conditions will have been met. These conditions include restoring the rule of law, ensuring a positive pre-election environment, pursuing equitable legal and transparent land reform, and ensuring civilian control of both the military and the police. The House is acting on this legislation today because, unfortunately, the situation in Zimbabwe is increasingly grim. Partisan political violence condoned and encouraged by Mugabe has crippled a once prosperous economy. Once an exporter of maize, Zimbabwe is set to run out by February of this coming year. Without emergency humanitarian assistance, thousands of Zimbabweans will go hungry, fall prey to disease, and starve. Mugabe has made the so-called land question central to his political campaign and used it to justify pervasive violence. He has unleashed so-called war veterans and party militants on black farm workers, white farmers, journalists, professionals, academics, and indeed, anyone who opposes his land seizure policy. His policy has not unified the country behind him. To the contrary, according to the most recent opinion poll, his criminal practice is turning the people of Zimbabwe against him. Mr. Speaker, Zimbabwe's economic and political disaster threatens the whole of southern Africa. The Presidents of Africa's three largest economies, South Africa, Nigeria, and Algeria, recently launched a new Partnership for Africa's Development. This plan calls for a new relationship between Africa and the international community; and it is premised on the African states making commitments to good government, democracy, and human rights. Zimbabwe, under Mugabe, is the antithesis of this vision. Mr. Speaker, our bill provides a set of incentives for Mugabe and his government to move in the right direction, away from intimidation, violence, corruption, and Draconian economic policies towards land reform that reflects the rule of law, policies that restore an independent judiciary, allow political competition, and support a free and independent media. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to vote for this bill. It will send a strong signal to Mugabe that the people of America reject the violent situation he has created and that we support the people of Zimbabwe. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as he may consume to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), who probably has more experience in this part of the world than any of us, and has been a leader on this issue.

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

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. First, I would like to commend the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for introducing this important resolution. I want to commend our Chair, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde); and I certainly pay tribute to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), and to the ranking member, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), whose contribution on the subject of Africa and indeed on all subjects coming before our committee is immeasurable in importance. Mr. Speaker, each night more than 800 million people around the globe, many of them children, go to bed not knowing if they will have enough to eat the next day. Most of these poor and hungry souls live in sub-Saharan Africa. In Africa, hunger is both pervasive and growing. The sad truth is that hunger, poverty, and disease go hand in hand. A poor and hungry mother has few defenses against tuberculosis, malaria, cholera, HIV-AIDS, and other deadly diseases when hunger, too, gnaws at her body and saps her spirit. Some of Africa's poverty is caused by decades of civil strife where the sole purpose of conflict is to rob the nation of its wealth. Resource wars fought over diamonds, oil, or simply the largess of the state leave little behind for the citizens of the nation. Mr. Speaker, this must end. These wars leave farming areas seeded with land mines instead of maize. Young boys stripped of their innocence become vicious child soldiers instead of school boys. War lords reap millions in personal gain. Global indifference, Mr. Speaker, has caused some of the Africa's poverty. The ubiquitous faces of hungry African children cease to stir concern in rich countries as new crises arise that affect our own lives. One is only stirred from the seeming banality of Africa's hunger when one truly looks into the eyes of a malnourished child or a helpless mother. It has become too easy to turn away and worry instead about tax relief or global trade or school reform. Mr. Speaker, taxes, trade and education matter; but they do not relieve us of our obligation to care for Africa's poor and hungry. Despite immense challenges, the number of sub-Saharan African countries digging deep to find local solutions to their problems is growing. They are moving toward open economies and more accountable and transparent government. To make long-term, sustainable improvements in the lives of their people, African governments need the support that we can give them to resolve their conflicts, make critical investment in human capacity and infrastructure, combat corruption, reform their economies, and ultimately build democracy. They do not need handouts, but they certainly do need us to join hands. Mr. Speaker, we can come together with those African leaders who are ready to act responsibly. We can build strong economic relationships that combat poverty and promote equitable economic growth in Africa. Together we can address effectively Africa's human needs and bring about a continent with a different face, a face no longer filled with hunger, hopelessness and despair, but one etched with promise, prosperity and hope. Mr. Speaker, the Hunger to Harvest Resolution is a very important piece of legislation. Its passage will put Congress on record in support of efforts to alleviate hunger in Africa, and I ask every one of our colleagues to vote in support of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as he may consume to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), my dear friend, who has been our leader on our side of the aisle on all issues relating to these matters.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. And let me just say at the outset that one of the many reasons why the contributions of the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) to the work of this body and to the Committee on International Relations is of such high quality is because of his earlier service as a member of our Foreign Service. He exemplifies the extraordinary talent of our diplomatic corps, and I want to commend him for bringing this legislation to our attention. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to cosponsor this bill with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) because Secretary George Shultz deserves all the recognition that this Congress and the American people may offer. George Shultz was a brilliant Secretary of State and he guided the United States through a most critical time in our Nation's history. I was a member of the Committee on International Relations during Secretary Shultz's entire tenure, and I have the highest regard for him both professionally and personally. After leaving Washington, Secretary Shultz made the wise decision to return to my area of the country, the San Francisco Bay area, and I have been delighted to claim him both as a constituent and as a friend. George Shultz is proud of his Princeton and Marine Corps background, and he has provided a quality of integrity and intelligence and commitment to public service which is truly extraordinary. He may have left the government and moved away from Washington, but George continues to be actively engaged in our foreign policy and committed to strengthening and supporting the Department of State and the men and women who work there. I think it is more than fitting that this great institution that he worked so hard to establish, that he has been so dedicated to, should bear his name. The Foreign Service Institute was originally created in 1943, and it provides training to the State Department and 43 other Federal agencies, providing instruction to over 30,000 U.S. Government employees every year in 63 foreign languages as well as in courses on management, leadership, diplomacy, security, economics, and other valuable skills and subjects. Secretary Shultz was instrumental in obtaining the land and the funding to move the Institute to its current home on a 72-acre plot at the National Foreign Affairs Training Center in Arlington, Virginia. I am indeed proud to be a cosponsor of this bill to designate the National Foreign Affairs Training Institute as the George P. Shultz National Foreign Affairs Training Center. I thank the chairman and the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for their leadership on this issue. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I would like to add to that good list of names the gentleman just recited the name of my dear friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Leach), who has made such enormous contributions to this issue and to all other issues before our committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I was pleased to join the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) in introducing this important resolution, Mr. Speaker, and I commend the chairman for his initiative. As the United States mounts an intensive public diplomacy campaign in the Middle East in support of our war on terrorism, it is critical that we reflect on our Nation's past success in amplifying American values around the globe through the airwaves. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty stand as shining examples of the power of American democratic values and the potential of public diplomacy to advance United States national interests. Since the founding of Radio Free Europe a half a century ago and the founding of Radio Liberty 48 years ago, these two broadcasting services have provided people around the world with hope and support in their struggle against repression. During the Cold War, Mr. Speaker, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty responded to the yearnings of those people who were suffering under the yoke of Communism and the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, the two broadcasting services have adapted their missions, reformed their institutions, and extended their reach to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and beyond. As a young man in occupied Hungary during the Second World War, I recall the inspirational and liberating broadcasts of the BBC, and I can testify personally to the dramatic effect those radio programs had in providing hope to people denied basic information. Unlike the dictators whom we resist, we have truth on our side. Democracy and the market economy are destined to prevail. To hasten this state, we must promote aggressively our values by all means of communication available to us. Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty are among the most effective tools in our public diplomacy toolbox, and they deserve our continued and strong support. I commend Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty on 50 years of distinguished service to our Nation, and I ask all of my colleagues to join me in wishing this great organization many more years of success by supporting this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, and I will introduce a resolution that categorically condemns this week's outrageous terrorist strikes against the State of Israel and Israeli people. In the attacks of September 11, our Nation suffered the loss of over 3,000 innocent men, women, and children. Since that fateful day, our ally Israel has suffered a comparable loss. With 6 million citizens compared to our 280 million, Israel's 60 victims since September equates to over 2,700 American victims. Nearly half this number perished in a span of just 14 hours this past weekend. Mr. Speaker, the United States is currently targeting regimes that harbor terrorists, as well as terrorists themselves. Israel must also target the terrorists' protectors. The Palestinian Authority bears full responsibility for the attacks of December 1 and 2, just as the Taliban bears full responsibility for the attacks of September 11. I urge all of our colleagues to join the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and me in this resolution expressing solidarity with the people of Israel.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume, and I rise in strong support of this bill. I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) for introducing this legislation, which provides expanded authority to the agents of the Department of State's diplomatic service to enable them to carry out their protective functions more effectively. These authorities are being requested by the administration, Mr. Speaker. In the current situation, when we are fighting a global war against terrorism, it is absolutely crucial that the State Department have all the authority it needs for the protective and law enforcement functions of the diplomatic service agents. The agents in our diplomatic service in the Department of State regularly risk life and limb to protect not only our diplomatic facilities both here and abroad, the men and women who work in them, but also foreign officials and important guests of the United States. The Diplomatic Security Service, Mr. Speaker, is also at the front line of our homeland security efforts as they conduct visa and passport fraud investigations. Our bill provides them with all the authority that they need to effectively carry out these functions. Mr. Speaker, we have embarked on a new kind of conflict since September 11, 2001. We need to provide all the authorities and all the support not only for our men and women in uniform but also to our diplomats and other government officials who are working actively to make sure that we prevail in this conflict. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume, and I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 211. First, I would like to commend my friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. King), for introducing this important legislation and my good friend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who has not only been a champion of human rights in Burma but across the globe. Mr. Speaker, when visitors arrive in my office, they are greeted by a picture of one of the world's most inspirational figures, Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi's picture is a daily reminder to all who come to my office of her ongoing struggle for freedom and democracy in Burma. As we all know, Aung San Suu Kyi led the National League for Democracy to a landslide victory in the 1990s election in Burma. Instead of accepting results of this election, Burma's brutal totalitarian regime rejected the results of the election, placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest and arrested hundreds of members of her political movement. Mr. Speaker, it would have been very easy and convenient for Aung San Suu Kyi to leave Burma and live her life in exile. When her husband was extremely ill in Great Britain and the Burmese Government refused to allow him to come to Burma to see her one more time, she could have left; but she chose to stay. Facing enormous restrictions on her personal and political freedom, this courageous woman has continued the fight for freedom and democracy in Burma during the 10 years since she won the Nobel Peace Prize. As Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela found out, nonviolent struggle can take decades to succeed; and the struggle can be very lonely at times. This is all the more reason for the international community and for the United States to continue to stand with Aung San Suu Kyi in her struggle for freedom and democracy and all the values we share. Aung San Suu Kyi recently began a dialogue with the Burmese Government, and I certainly hope that it will bear fruit; but we must keep the pressure on that dictatorial regime until democracy prevails in Burma. To that end, I have introduced legislation which prohibits Burmese imports into the United States until the President determines that the Burmese Government has made progress in reversing its gross violations of internationally recognized human rights and worker rights, implementing democratic government and cooperating with the United States in our counternarcotics efforts. It is my earnest hope that the Committee on Ways and Means will expeditiously consider this legislation. The resolution before us today, Mr. Speaker, will keep the pressure on the Burmese Government. By continuing to spotlight Aung San Suu Kyi's struggle in Burma and calling on our administration to encourage Burma to change its repressive and destructive policies, we build a stronger international coalition for positive change in Burma. Before concluding, I also want to acknowledge our colleague, the gentleman from Oregon's (Mr. Blumenauer) helpful comments regarding this legislation. The gentleman has suggested that Aung San Suu Kyi could be invited to address a joint session of Congress by video conference. I think this is a creative idea, and we should give it serious thought. I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 211. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I am delighted to speak in support of this resolution which welcomes Prime Minister Vajpayee of India to the United States and expresses the deep appreciation of the American people for the strong and immediate support India has provided us at the time of the events of September 11. Many of our colleagues do not realize, Mr. Speaker, that India also lost over 200 of its own citizens in the dreadful attack on the World Trade Center. As a matter of fact, while this terrible terrorist act was a first for us, I think it is important for all of us to understand that some of our democratic friends and allies have been subjected to terrorist attacks for many years. Our democratic friend, India, and our democratic friend, the State of Israel, have been subjected to terrorism for over half a century. Following our tragic event on September 11, on October 7 terrorists attacked the Parliament House in Kashmir claiming the lives of scores of innocent Indian citizens. Mr. Speaker, it is important to realize that today we have the pleasure of welcoming to our Congress the Prime Minister of the largest democracy on the face of this planet. There are 1 billion people in India, Mr. Speaker. Many were doubtful years ago that a society, at that time quite poor, in many ways undeveloped, could maintain a political democracy. There was a lot of skepticism as to whether you could have a viable political democracy with 1 billion people of enormous ethnic variety and with hundreds of millions of those people living in abject poverty. India has proven the pessimists wrong. India today is the fourth largest economy on the face of this planet, and it is the largest political democracy on this planet. Political elections unfold, governments change peacefully, as they do here in the United States. A great deal has been made in recent times, since September 11, of our building a global coalition against international terrorism; and we all support the effort of the President, the Secretary of State and others to move along these lines. But I think it is important to realize that some Members of this coalition share our values. India is one of them. Not all members of the coalition are built on the same set of democratic values that our society is built on and India's society is built on. For many, this coalition is just a marriage of convenience. With respect to India, it is a marriage based on shared and common values of pluralism, respect for minorities, freedom of religion, political privileges of voting, freedom of press, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression. India, with its vibrant democracy and secular government, is a rich and diverse society which stands as a beacon of example to many others in that region. There is no doubt in my mind, Mr. Speaker, that our friendship with India will continue to grow and deepen, and it is in this spirit that we welcome Prime Minister Vajpayee to the United States and to the Congress of the United States. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott), the chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, I am delighted to yield to my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the distinguished Republican cochair of the India caucus.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will not object, I yield to my friend, the gentleman from New York, so that he may explain the reasons for moving this resolution immediately to the floor.