Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this legislation. Wherever disaster strikes, the American Red Cross is on the scene to lend a helping hand in any immediate aftermath. In times of crisis, its staff of 35,000 and over 1 million Red Cross volunteers take on the daunting task of translating the compassion of the American people into shelter, clothing, medical help, and food. Be it a fire that puts a family out of its home or a tornado that tears through an entire community, the Red Cross responds immediately, answering the call of an astonishing 75,000 incidents last year alone. The relief work of the Red Cross is not limited to our borders. The Red Cross responds to tsunamis and earthquakes and other natural disasters across the globe, providing much-needed assistance to victims. Earlier this month, the Red Cross quickly mobilized to provide the Solomon Islands with safe drinking water, medical care, and emergency shelter after that country was hit with a tsunami. But the American Red Cross, Madam Speaker, like so many disaster relief organizations, has come under heightened scrutiny after 9/11 and the gulf coast hurricanes of 2005. Particularly, the disaster that New Orleans and the gulf coast suffered and the response to it crystallized the need for reform of this venerable organization, which had not changed its governance structure in over half a century. The leadership of the American Red Cross undertook a 6-month, top-to-bottom comprehensive governance and performance audit. After over 100 interviews of past and present Red Cross officers, volunteer chapter leaders, donors, and many others, the verdict was in: Red Cross governance required a major overhaul. Last October, Madam Speaker, the Red Cross board of governors unanimously approved a series of changes to improve the governance and the accountability of the organization. But such changes cannot be implemented without amending the Red Cross charter, and for that to occur, congressional action is needed. That is the reason for our legislation. Last month the other body acted with urgency by passing the American National Red Cross Organization Act. This House aims to act with similar urgency as we consider this bill just 3 weeks after it was introduced by my good friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, and myself. Madam Speaker, H.R. 1681 amends the Red Cross charter in a number of significant ways. First, the board of governors will be reduced to 25 members. Where previously some board members were selected by local chapters, some elected by the board, others appointed by the President, our legislation requires governors to be elected solely by delegates to the Red Cross' annual meeting. The responsibilities for day-to-day operations will be delegated exclusively to the Red Cross management rather than to the board. Our legislation requires the Red Cross to establish an office of ombudsman, who will report to Congress, to raise the profile of the whistleblower process for employees and volunteers and to make improvements to it. Madam Speaker, while these changes would not directly affect the organization's disaster response, it will help promote the kind of leadership needed to make Red Cross management and operations run smoothly and effectively for the balance of this century. I would like to express my appreciation to my friend and distinguished colleague, the ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, for cosponsoring this legislation; and I want to thank her for her commitment to ensuring that the American Red Cross remains accountable to the American people. I strongly support this legislation, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize a woman who has enjoyed a remarkable career helping parents and their children begin the life-long process of learning. Sandra Wallace, who is retiring after 27 years as a teacher and director at the Pacifica Co-op Nursery School, has been a pillar in the lives of families at this popular parent-participation pre-school. Known to multiple generations as ``Teacher Sandy,'' she began her career more than 35 years ago as a high school art teacher. When she and her husband, Doug, began their own family, she took a leave of absence. Taking her own children to a co-op nursery school, she was struck with a desire to work in such a program herself. That moment began nearly three decades of service to children and parents who benefited from her wisdom, compassion, patience, knowledge and experience in childhood education. Madam Speaker, her career in early childhood education began as an enrichment teacher at the Serramonte Nursery School in Daly City. While earning a master's degree from San Francisco State University, she conducted her graduate field study at the Pacifica Co-op Nursery School. Knowing a good thing, the school's board hired her full time as an Assistant Director, leading to a tenure that has spanned generations. Young parents immediately recognized the unique skills Teacher Sandy exhibited at the Co-op Nursery School. She created the popular Bug School as a summer program, and in 1985 she was appointed Director for the growing morning and afternoon sessions. In 1995, the Professional Association for Childhood Education (PACE) for the State of California named her Teacher of the Year. Not only did Sandra Wallace manage the programs at the Co-op Nursery School, but she also worked with the Jefferson Union High School District Adult Education Division teaching Parent Education classes. Many men and women in the area learned valuable skills from Teacher Sandy about how to raise their children effectively. The value of giving families a strong educational beginning cannot be overstated, and I know the families she's touched and the community she's been dedicated to owe her a deep debt of gratitude. Madam Speaker, I want to share with my colleagues my immense respect and appreciation for Sandra Wallace. She has dedicated her professional life to making sure children and their parents have a meaningful and productive start. She and her husband will be retiring to Michigan this year, but Teacher Sandy is leaving a legacy in my Congressional district that will live on in the more than 1,000 children she has taught while making the Pacifica Co-op Nursery School a treasure of the local community. I would like to wish her a long, happy and healthy retirement and extend the gratitude of all my constituents for her selfless commitment to childhood education.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to three remarkable women in my Congressional District in California. These women are distinguished recipients of the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service in 2006. I would like to express my own personal gratitude to these women and share their stories with my colleagues. Katy Rhoades is an extraordinary volunteer who has devoted herself to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities. She became an advocate for the disabled when her son, Kit, was first diagnosed with spina bifida. Katy left a career in the insurance industry to care full-time for her son. While she worked tirelessly with Kit, she also managed to find the time and energy to work with others with disabilities in San Mateo County. I am happy to announce that her son, now 21, has become a successful, independent young man and is currently enrolled at Canada College in Redwood City. Katy has continually given of herself, tirelessly advocating for people with disabilities. Her work on behalf of disabled people includes serving on the San Mateo County Commission on Disabilities, the Health Plan of San Mateo, the Meals on Wheels Coalition, New Beginning Coalition and the Second Harvest Food Bank. Katy has also worked with the California Children Services and the Far-West Wheelchair Sports Association. Katy developed the ``Transition to Independence Fair'' to help children with disabilities as they grow into adulthood. This unique fair now takes place every other year and is growing in importance. Katy Rhoades is an incredible ally and friend to people with disabilities. She has made her community in the Bay Area a better place for everyone. Madam Speaker, Elizabeth Gheleta is another recent winner of the Jefferson Award. She has helped rebuild the lives of thousands of San Mateo County jail inmates and former inmates, and has also provided support and assistance to their children and families. A long, distinguished career with the San Mateo County Service League has made Elizabeth Gheleta an invaluable and integral part of the agency's history. When Proposition 13 closed down the Service League in 1978, Elizabeth took on a leadership role that salvaged it. She built the Service League into a well-established, non-profit community organization with 25 staff members and over 500 dedicated volunteers. This tireless and visionary woman expanded local in-jail resources to include educational programs, religious services, substance abuse counseling, and life skills to aid in the transition back into society. Elizabeth's success with the Service League has resulted in similar programs that have given hundreds of former inmates and their families a second chance in life. Elizabeth Gheleta has spent 38 years with the Service League, and her recent retirement will leave a large void in the agency, but we can all take comfort in the knowledge that she leaves behind a strong and essential pillar of our community. She refused to give up on prison inmates and has given countless men and women the skills and support they need in order to return to productive lives in our society. Madam Speaker, the third, and certainly not last, extraordinary woman I want to tell you about is Patricia Brown, who has retired from the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center after 20 years of service. She has been the Executive Director of PCRC since 1992, guiding the non-profit organization in its mission to provide conflict management and resolution services in San Mateo County. This remarkable organization has grown under Patricia's leadership and today trains people to communicate and solve problems together, through constructive means. Through her vision and commitment, conflict resolution today not only involves adults, but children in school as well. Patricia is also an active community volunteer, involving herself in the creation and development of a number of partnerships, including development of the Multi-Option Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. She has served on the California Judicial Council's Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee and was involved in an innovative alliance of San Mateo County non-profits known as Thrive. A founding member of the California Dispute Resolution Council and its non-profit partner, the California Dispute Resolution Institute, Patricia can point to countless success stories relating to successful conflict resolution. Madam Speaker, let me recognize with great pride Katy Rhoades, Elizabeth Gheleta and Patricia Brown, three women who have devoted their lives to making our community a stronger, safer and more vibrant place to live. These women are gems in San Mateo County and an inspiration to all of us. I am honored to be able to highlight their accomplishments.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a group of women who played a profound but under-appreciated role in America's stand against the Axis Powers during the Second World War. Known as War Brides, these women met our soldiers during the war while they were stationed overseas, eventually coming to the United States after the war as their wives. Women such as Sylvia Harris, a constituent of mine, boosted the wartime morale of our bravest men during that dark period in human history. While we are all familiar with the stories of the Greatest Generation, less often told are the stories of those women who came to this country as War Brides. These extraordinary individuals left their families and cultures behind to follow the men they fell in love with. They adopted the United Sates of America as their home, raising children and supporting their husbands. They embodied the notion and reality of the Greatest Generation by pledging their allegiance to the United States and to the soldiers who bravely fought for freedom around the world. War Brides overcame not only physical barriers, often traveling months by train and boat to rejoin their husbands, but also xenophobia in many cases, making the transition to their newly-adopted country all the more difficult. They are a testament to the evolution of social and cultural equality in this country, bringing with them the traditions of countless cultures that make America the wonderful melting pot that it is. Madam Speaker, I am proud that on this, the 61st anniversary of the emigration of thousands of War Brides into the United States of America, Mrs. Harris brought to my attention the invaluable contribution of these remarkable women to our country. Madam Speaker, love and the union of marriage are extraordinarily powerful; they have been known to save lives, spurring soldiers to persevere with purpose for the sake of loved ones. Just as we remember those who kept the home fires burning here in the United States during the Second World War, we should pay tribute to those women who formed bonds with and inspired our soldiers abroad during that conflict. Whether coming from Europe, Africa, Asia, or Australia, these women hold an important place in the history and free democracy of the United States, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in saluting their bravery and resilience.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to call to the attention of my fellow committee members an important motion passed by the House of Commons of the Parliament of Canada on February 15, 2007 and a motion currently under consideration of the Senate of the Parliament of Canada. The motions are part of an international initiative by the Canadian Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, under the leadership of Senator Consiglio di Nino of the Parliament of Canada, to encourage legislators from around the world to urge the government of the People's Republic of China to reach a final and lasting agreement with the Dalai Lama over the situation in Tibet. The initiative is an important step in bringing a peace to the Tibetan people within the context of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China. The following is the text of the motion passed by the House of Commons and of the Parliament of Canada on February 15, 2007: That, in the opinion of the House, the government should: Urge the government of the People's Republic of China and the Representatives of Tibet's government in exile, notwithstanding their differences on Tibet's historical relationship with China, to continue their dialogue in a forward-looking manner that will lead to pragmatic solutions that respect the Chinese constitutional framework, the territorial integrity of China and fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people for a unified and genuinely autonomous Tibet. The following is the text of the motion currently under consideration by the Senate of the Parliament of Canada: That the Senate urge the government of the People's Republic of China and the Dalai Lama, notwithstanding their differences on Tibet's historical relationship with China, to continue their dialogue in a forward-looking manner that will lead to pragmatic solutions that respect the Chinese constitutional framework, the territorial integrity of China and fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people for a unified and genuinely autonomous Tibet.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I join with my good friend Congressman Gary Ackerman in calling for the unconditional release of the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers held hostage for more than six months by Hezbollah and Hamas. I am proud to co-sponsor it, and to have our Committee bring it up for consideration by the House. A few weeks ago we were honored by the presence in the Capitol of Karnit Goldwasser, whose husband Ehud remains in Hezbollah's hands. She is a model of strength, courage, and loving commitment. I put my arm around this young woman--having recently celebrated my 57th anniversary with my own lovely wife--and I assured her that we in the Congress will do our best to see to it that she and her beloved husband Ehud also will have the opportunity to celebrate many anniversaries together in the years ahead. As everyone knows, Mr. Speaker, Hezbollah and Hamas are the guilty parties in the outbreak of violence in the Middle East last summer. They committed acts of war by crossing into Israeli territory, acts of terror by taking three young Israeli soldiers captive, and vicious unprovoked attacks against Israel's civilian population. While the immediate fighting between Israel and these terrorist organizations has subsided, the initial causes for the violence, lamentably, have not yet been addressed. Primary among these is the fact that the three young men, Gilad Shalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser, remain in captivity. Mr. Speaker, the fighting last summer ended when the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1701, which imposed a ceasefire on the Hezbollah attacks against Israel. That resolution unequivocally called for--and I quote--``the unconditional release of the abducted Israeli soldiers.'' Therefore, their ongoing captivity is not only immoral. It is also illegal, and it represents characteristically contemptuous disregard by the terrorists for the will of the international community. Contrary to the most basic standards of humanitarian conduct, Hamas and Hezbollah have not even allowed access to the Israeli captives by competent medical personnel and representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Mr. Speaker, this appalling conduct underscores the cruel and sinister nature of the enemies that The United States and Israel face in this troubled region. The resolution we are considering today expresses this Congress's vision for ``a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace alongside of the State of Israel.'' I share this vision, but we all know that this vision cannot be achieved--nor can Israeli confidence be won--by sweeping under the rug the transgressions of terrorists like Hamas and Hezbollah. Mr. Speaker, these terrorists attacked Israel from land that the Israeli army unilaterally evacuated--evacuated in the expectation of peace. But the borders traversed by Hamas and Hezbollah have been anything but peaceful. As one insightful observer aptly described it, ``Israel pursues land-for-peace, while Hamas and Hezbollah pursue land- for-war.'' Our own American soldiers are being victimized by terrorists every day in Iraq--terrorism sponsored by the same two nations that sponsored the kidnapping of the Israeli soldiers, Iran and Syria. So we cannot turn a blind eye when citizens of a fellow democracy fall prey to the machinations of savage terrorists. The Israeli soldiers must be released without delay and without preconditions. That is the Security Council's demand, and it is our demand as well. We will remain committed to the soldiers' freedom--for the sake of the fight against terrorism and for the sake of peace. Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution and I urge all my colleagues to do likewise.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, today I rise in partnership with my distinguished Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member, Ms. Ros- Lehtinen of Florida, to introduce a very significant piece of legislation, the ``Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation Act.'' This measure will create a new government corporation with an annual budget of $80 million--authorized for 10 years--to dramatically increase the number of non-traditional U.S. students studying abroad in non-traditional destinations. This bill will a provide significant long-term boost to our effort to prevail in the global war against terrorism. It will do so by dramatically increasing foreign understanding of the enduring strength and value of America's democratic culture by exposing foreign students and their families to one million of our best and most authentic diplomats, our American students. It will also vastly increase the talent pool of young Americans with foreign cultural experience and language knowledge to support our foreign affairs agencies, U.S. global NGOs and U.S. global corporations. The bill responds to a landmark Congressionally commissioned November 2005 study entitled, ``Global Competence and National Needs'', authored by the Commission on the Abraham Lincoln Study Abroad Fellowship Program, which proposed ``. . . a broad vision for the U.S.: send one million students to study abroad within a decade.'' The idea behind this vision, as articulated in the study, was that ``making study abroad the norm and not the exception can position this and other future generations for success in the world much as the establishment of the land-grant university system and enactment of the GI Bill helped create the `American Century' .'' The Lincoln Commission which was headed up by former AID Administrator Mr. Peter McPherson and included my colleagues, Ms. Slaughter from New York and Mr. Kirk from Illinois, was established by Congress in 2004 at the urging of Senator Paul Simon who tirelessly advocated for this agenda. Madam Speaker, I believe this is an incredibly important legislative initiative. If enacted it will democratize study abroad in the way that the GI bill democratized higher education. Today, many American college students still face financial and institutional impediments to study abroad. The Senator Paul Simon Act and the Foundation it creates will tear down these barriers and make foreign study a normal rather than an exceptional part of an American college education. Today our Nation faces a deficit of cultural knowledge that is a clear impediment to our effort to prevail in the global war on terrorism and to keep America competitive in a global economy. Our foreign affairs agencies are struggling mightily to find recruits who have firsthand understanding of critical cultures and languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Pashto, and Dari. The Senator Paul Simon Act will rectify this by vastly expanding the talent pool of young Americans with global skills. I urge my colleagues to join this important effort by supporting this legislation.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 720, the Water Quality Financing Act of 2007, I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, James Oberstar, and my friend from Michigan, Bart Stupak, for their work on the Great Lakes Water Quality amendment. This amendment calls for a study to examine the effect that waste water treatment facilities feeding into the Great Lakes are having on the water quality of the largest fresh water system in the world. I want to commend my good friend from Michigan for raising this important issue. I believe, however, that a study of this kind can only be conducted in collaboration with the Department of State, the International Joint Commission, which is a joint U.S.-Canada border commission, and the Government of Canada itself. We must all recognize that this study cannot be completed without cooperation from our friends north of the border. I hope that as this legislation moves through the legislative process we will be able to examine the role that the International Joint Commission can play in I conducting this study and ensuring a bi-national environment open to the research needs of this examination. I thank Representative Stupak for bringing this important amendment to the bill. I also wish to thank Chairman Oberstar for agreeing to work with the Committee on Foreign Affairs as this legislation moves forward on these issues to ensure the most informative outcome for this important study.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res, 149, a resolution supporting International Women's Day on March 8, 2007. For several decades the international community has reserved this day to celebrate the achievements and contributions of women around the world. International Women's Day is also a time to recognize and remember the work we still have before us to achieve equal social and political rights for women. Today, women all over the world are becoming leaders in every professional field imaginable. The achievements of women in politics are especially noteworthy. As we celebrate Women's History Month in the United States, it is my honor to recognize this important Day under the historic leadership of the first woman Speaker of the House, my fellow Californian, Nancy Pelosi. The 110th Congress also marks the rise of six women to seven committee chair positions, the most ever held by women in any prior Congress: Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald from California is chairing the House Committee on Administration; Congresswoman Louise Slaughter from New York is chairing the House Rules Committee; Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez from New York is chairing the House Committee on Small Business; Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs-Jones from Ohio is chairing the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct; Senator Dianne Feinstein from California is chairing the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration; and Senator Barbara Boxer from California is chairing the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works and is currently Acting Chair for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics. These women all honor our Nation with their distinguished service and leadership. I also want to pay special tribute to my distinguished colleague Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen who has achieved the distinction of becoming the first woman Ranking Member on this committee. We all benefit from her contributions and those of all of the women Members who are performing important responsibilities on the Committee of Foreign Affairs with honor and distinction. Despite notable political progress for women in leadership positions in the U.S. and around the world, women continue to struggle for equal social and political rights; access to health care, education and work; and freedom from civil conflict, violence, human trafficking and various cultural practices that put women's lives at risk. The theme for this year's International Women's Day captures a critical goal we all must share: ``ending impunity for violence against women and girls.'' While manifestations of violence against women and girls vary across social, economic, cultural and historical contexts, it is clear that violence against women and girls remains a devastating reality in all parts of the world. The global evidence is chilling. Violence against women is a pervasive violation of human rights and a major impediment to achieving gender equality, development and peace. According to the United Nations: Domestic violence is the largest form of abuse of women worldwide, irrespective of region, culture, ethnicity, education, class and religion. Violence against women is the most common but least punished crime in the world. The number of women forced or sold into prostitution is estimated worldwide at anywhere between 700,000 and 4 million per year. Profits from sex slavery are estimated at $7 to $l2 billion per year. The number of women trafficked into forced labor put these numbers at even more astounding levels. It is estimated that more than two million girls are genitally mutilated per year. Systematic rape continues to be used as a weapon of terror in many of the world's recent conflicts--including Darfur, Bosnia and Rwanda. While international, regional and national legal and policy frameworks have been established, to address violence against women and girls, implementation of these laws and norms remains insufficient and inconsistent around the world. Gender inequality, poverty and endless cycles of violence are exacerbated as a result of failures to hold perpetrators of violence against women and girls accountable for their actions. Eliminating violence against women remains one of the most serious and urgent challenges of our time. Each one of us has a duty to support and sustain a political and social environment where violence against women and girls is not tolerated; where friends, family members, neighbors, men and women, intervene to ensure these crimes and acts are not committed with impunity. I will do everything in my power as chairman to ensure that every piece of legislation we consider in this Committee will improve the security, opportunity and prosperity of women and I know my colleagues will share this important goal. I want to thank my colleague Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and the other cosponsors of this resolution for giving us this opportunity to recognize the importance of International Women's Day. I am proud to support this resolution and I urge all my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Peace Corps on its 46th anniversary, and commend the agency and its volunteers on the invaluable contribution they have made in promoting America's interests and values around the world since the organization's founding in 1961. Forty-six years ago, President Kennedy challenged Americans to ``Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.'' His inspiring words launched the Peace Corps, which President Kennedy officially established by Executive order on March 1, 1961. The response to the President's call for this bold experiment was swift and enthusiastic, with the first volunteers accepting the challenge and leaving for their overseas assignments less than 6 months later. Each successive generation has answered President Kennedy's call, expanding the Peace Corps' ranks and extending its reach every year. Since its inception, more than 187,000 Peace Corps volunteers have been invited by 139 host countries to work on issues ranging from HIV/AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation. This year, more than 7,700 volunteers have fulfilled President Kennedy's vision by living and working alongside people in 73 countries. Today's Peace Corps is more vital than ever, working on emerging and essential areas such as business, community, and youth development, and committing over 1,000 new volunteers as a part of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Peace Corps Volunteers reach over 1.6 million young people every year, working on service- learning projects, teaching them the value of giving back to their own communities. The Peace Corps has received such extraordinary success because its mission resonates with Americans and with the millions of people across the globe that it has served. By immersing themselves in local cultures and working side by side with the communities they serve, Peace Corps volunteers have made a positive impact in a very personal way. They work with teachers and parents to improve access to education, with community groups to reach out to at-risk youth, with farmers to develop better farming methods, and with communities and local governments to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases. The Peace Corps' work has made a critical contribution to America's national security. Born during the height of the cold war as a means of preventing the false promise of communism from taking hold in the developing world, it has adapted its mission for the 21st century to embrace all people struggling to survive and take advantage of the new opportunities of our times. Peace Corps is critical in our effort to promote sustainable development, human rights and rule of law, and encourage free markets. Through Peace Corps, people of foreign nations learn that America is a force for peace, justice and prosperity in the world. The Peace Corps is celebrating its 46th anniversary this week to raise awareness of its good work. I would like to recognize the 13 volunteers from my district who have met President Kennedy's call and are serving valiantly in countries across the globe. I ask my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to join me in celebrating the Peace Corps' success and wishing it well into the future.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 884, and I commend the gentlemen from New York and Mississippi for moving this legislation forward. In the war on terrorists, we are often racing against our enemies as they develop new threats and we develop new countermeasures. This has been true throughout the history of warfare and it remains true today, whether we are talking about improvised explosive devices, shoe bombs, or attacks using chlorine gas. In this competition to combat new threats, cooperation on science and technology with our allies is a key force multiplier, and I commend the gentlemen for moving forward with this legislation. But we have to make sure that these cooperative programs are properly coordinated and consistent with existing programs and law. I believe that before the Department of Homeland Security initiates a new program, the Secretary of State should be in full agreement with the proposed cooperation to ensure that there is no duplication of efforts with State Department anti-terrorism efforts. In addition, this new framework should recognize that: In accordance with section 622(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Secretary of State is responsible ``for continuous supervision and general direction'' of U.S. foreign assistance; In accordance with section 504 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, fiscal year 1979, the Secretary of State shall have primary responsibility for coordination and oversight with respect to all major science or science and technology agreements and activities between the United States and foreign countries; and In accordance with the Case-Zablocki Act, no international agreement may be signed or otherwise concluded without prior consultation by the Secretary of State. While I do not believe that H.R. 844 is inconsistent with coordination with the Secretary of State or with these authorities and requirements, I look forward to working with the gentleman from Mississippi and gentleman from New York as H.R. 844 moves forward on legislative language to provide for a specific role for the Secretary of State in this process and to reflect these existing authorities. And I appreciate the gentlemen's willingness to work with me on these issues.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to my good friend and distinguished colleague from Arkansas, Congressman Marion Berry.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 10 minutes to my friend and colleague and neighbor from California, the esteemed Speaker of the House of Representatives (Ms. Pelosi).

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to my good friend and our distinguished colleague from California (Ms. Matsui).

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield for the purpose of making a unanimous-consent request to my friend from New Jersey (Mr. Holt). (Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to my good friend and our distinguished collegue from West Virginia, Congressman Mollohan.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time each side has.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, we reserve the balance of our time.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to my good friend from Mississippi, the distinguished chairman of our Homeland Security Committee, Congressman Thompson.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, as we come to the end of this debate, I want to commend every participant on both sides for conveying powerfully and eloquently their deeply held views. I started this debate in the firm belief that escalation is a flawed idea. After listening carefully for the past 4 days to all of my colleagues, I am more convinced than ever that escalation is a flawed idea. Escalation is not only the wrong policy for the United States, it is also the wrong policy for Iraq. If Iraq is to succeed as a stable and prosperous state, it must learn to take responsibility. It must learn to make difficult decisions. It must amend its constitution in the interests of Iraqi reconciliation. It must devise an equitable law for sharing its oil and gas revenues. And it must take primary responsibility for its own security. Unless we de-escalate, Iraq will never step up to the plate. But that is not the only reason we must de-escalate. Unless we do so, our great Nation will be unable to fulfill its many far-flung global responsibilities. Unless we de-escalate, we will simply lack the resources for critical tasks here at home and overseas. All of us, Madam Speaker, are passionately committed to supporting and defending our troops. In the coming weeks, my fellow Democrats and I will bring forth specific proposals to enhance this Nation's support and defense of our brave troops. Madam Speaker, the American people are not well-served by the surge and our present course in Iraq. This omelet cannot be unscrambled. There have been far too many mistakes made to undo the damage. For the sake of Iraq, for the sake of our own national interests and for the sake of our incomparable troops, de-escalation must begin, and it must begin now. I strongly support the resolution and urge all of my colleagues to do so. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, this is a bipartisan resolution, and I am pleased to yield 5\1/2\ minutes to my friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones).

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and commemorate the life of my dear friend Victor Mangini, who died of congestive heart failure on February 4, 2007 at the age of 88. ``Vic'', as he was often called, was an extraordinary human being, and a regarded educator, coach and public servant. His commitment to his adopted city of Burlingame, California rightfully earned him the title ``Mr. Burlingame.'' Born in Manhattan, Victor earned his Bachelor's Degree from Manhattan College and his teaching credential from Columbia University. As a young man, Victor joined the Armed Services and was stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco, where he played a key role as a training officer. Victor's commitment to our Nation's military continued after the War, as he joined the Air Force Reserve, retiring at the rank of Colonel after 37 years of service. Madam Speaker, much like both of us, Victor Mangini fell deeply in love with the Bay Area of California and sought to make it his permanent home. The wonderful community of Burlingame located in the beautiful 12th Congressional District of California, which I am immensely proud to represent, is where Victor wisely chose to live and raise his family. After the end of World War II, Victor Mangini moved down the Peninsula and started what became an illustrious 44-year career at Burlingame High School. During his tenure at Burlingame High School, Vic's involvement in the education and well-being of young scholars and athletes occurred in the classroom as history teacher and later as the assistant principal, and also on the athletic field, where he coached both the football and track teams. Because of outstanding and extraordinary dedication to the school, in May 2001 the Burlingame City Council voted to name the street in front of Burlingame High School after him. The high school address now reads 1 Mangini Way. That same year, Vic was also honored by his induction into the San Mateo County Sports Hall of Fame. Vic's commitment to educating youth went far beyond his high school classroom. For over 55 years he headed the scholarship selection committee for the Frank H. and Eva B. Buck Foundation, which provides full scholarships and support to more than two hundred students seeking higher education in California. Madam Speaker, Victor Magnini's impressive resume and limitless talents did not only extend to academic endeavors. He was president of the Burlingame Rotary Club, and as an active member of the Our Lady of Angels Church in Burlingame, California, Victor proved his loyalty to his adopted city and in 1957, during the Golden Anniversary of the City of Burlingame, he rightfully earned the title ``Citizen of the Year'' from his fellow community members. Vic was also very active in local politics. He successfully ran for Burlingame City Council in 1970, an office he held till he decided to retire in 1989. Vic served four separate terms as Mayor of the city of Burlingame during his nearly twenty-year tenure on the council. A devoted family man, Victor was married to Rina Sari for 27 years, before she succumbed to breast cancer in 1975. They raised two children, Mariavittoria (Vicki) and Martin Jerome (Jerry). Victor later married Grace Cecilia Mangini, who passed away in 2003 following another 27 years of happy marriage. Madam Speaker, there is a reason all city flags in Burlingame, California flew at half-staff for 4 days following Victor Mangini's death. The whole city of Burlingame mourned the passing of this extraordinary human being, who exemplified the highest class of American citizens, whose commitment to the improvement of society and country is unwavering. Victor Mangini spent his life making his community a better place, and I, along with every single resident of the City of Burlingame, California am deeply indebted to this true American hero.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I would like to use this opportunity to direct the attention of my colleagues to a very important opinion piece written by the Archbishop George H. Niederauer, Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco and chair of the Communications Committee of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which last October sponsored a national conference on global poverty. As a champion of the poor and a well-respected constituent, I value his commitment to eliminating global poverty and his mission to translate faith into action. I emphatically agree with the Archbishop's position outlined in this article, that ending global poverty is one of the great challenges of our time and we have a moral obligation, as a civilized nation, to help eliminate the scourge of extreme poverty. As the Archbishop points out, foreign policy is indeed a moral endeavor. The United States, in keeping with its core humanitarian values, must be a model for other countries by promoting sustainable development. While we know that poverty does not cause extremism, the United must use all of the tools at its disposal to limit the breeding grounds for terrorists seeking to take advantage of the millions of economically deprived human beings in the world today. We must work with our partners in the faith-based community, non-governmental organizations, and development activists to end suffering, hunger, and death. The Moral Scandal of Global Poverty (By George H. Niederauer) It's easy to forget that more than a billion people survive on a $1 a day when we live in the world's richest country. Whether in the fields of Africa, the factories of Asia or the streets of our own cities, we often pay scant attention to the abject poverty that degrades our fellow human beings. Ending global poverty is one of the great challenges of our time that requires urgent political will and solidarity with our brothers and sisters around the world. Catholic leaders, economists, international-development experts and activists from several countries will meet in San Francisco tomorrow and Saturday to explore strategies for addressing the Moral Scandal that is global poverty. We come together to raise awareness, mobilize resources and reflect on how putting faith into action can build a more just world. As Catholics, we pray that we can embrace the hungry, the sick and the suffering as Jesus called us to do with compassion and love. As engaged citizens who understand that foreign policy and budgets are moral endeavors that reflect our values, we call on our leaders to do more to help the world's poor. Our gathering will help build national momentum for the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty, an effort led by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Relief Services, which engages citizens to advocate for policies that increase development aid, offer debt relief to poor countries and ensure that trade agreements benefit more than the wealthy. Guided by Catholic social tradition that teaches us to have a ``preferential option for the poor,'' we know that upholding the dignity of all human life does not end at our borders. When our neighbors in other countries suffer, we too are diminished. What we do to the least among us, we do to Christ himself. In the San Francisco Bay area, the Catholic community strives through its social service agencies to relieve the suffering of local poverty, and funds international anti- poverty and development programs through Catholic Relief Services. Local Catholic priests, nuns and lay people are working in some of the poorest countries to ease the burden of extreme poverty. We also work with people of other faiths in efforts to increase awareness and understanding about global poverty and to encourage our legislators to make greater efforts to address this crucial problem. In 2000, the United States and other nations signed the U.N. ``Millennium Development Goals'' to halve extreme poverty, increase development aid to 0.7 percent of gross national income, stop the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide universal primary education by 2015. The United States still falls near the bottom of the list when aid by developed countries is measured as a percent of gross national product. Some ask why we should care about starvation or disease in remote corners of the globe. Along with being the right thing to do, retreating from this cause is also not practical. The forces of globalization have made nations, and their destinies, more interconnected than ever before. As the world's largest economy, the United States has considerable influence to galvanize resources for the poor, push to end curable diseases in Africa and be a model for other countries when it comes to development. Each year, governments spend billions of dollars on sophisticated weapons. The technological creativity and energy it takes to build these systems should be matched by the best of our minds and hearts in fighting the enemy of poverty that kills 50,000 people every day, far more than even the ravages of war. A robust development agenda that helps uplift and support the poorest countries can also limit the appeal of terrorists who exploit political instability, desperation and poverty to recruit converts to extremist ideologies. Nothing can justify terrorism, but we can also build a world in which terrorism finds fewer places to breed. As daunting as the challenge of ending global poverty may seem, this is not an unreachable goal. Renowned poverty expert, Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University, who will deliver the keynote address at our gathering, has identified practical steps such as increasing crop productivity and soil efficiency, providing nutritious school meals and helping poor countries reform internal agencies. We know that governments alone can't solve this problem. Faith-based groups, nonprofit agencies, academics and activists must work together with a renewed sense of urgency. Anything less will lead to more suffering, hunger and death. That's not an option the poor of the world should be expected to endure any longer.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a wonderful Hungarian author, Violetta Kovacs. Ms. Kovacs devotion to man's best friend is dutifully communicated in her eloquent prose and knowledge of dogs. As the President of the Hungarian Journalist Association's Animal Welfare Division for the last 10 years, she has played an integral role in the introduction and enactment of the Hungarian Animal Welfare Act. This important piece of legislation finally criminalized acts that, until then were merely moral transgressions, the torture of animals in Hungary. Madam Speaker, her passion for animals can be seen in her legislation and also her superbly written and popular books, like: From Guide Dogs to Dog Stars, Sounds of a Dog's Heart and Dog Commando. In these books she calls attention to the loyalty, bravery and sacrifice inherent in the character of dogs. Dogs are always on man's side helping to prevent crimes, capturing criminals, collecting evidence and rescuing those lost or stranded in the wilderness. They were at the side of firemen and other search and rescue teams that worked so valiantly during those dark days after September 11th, searching relentlessly for survivors. Madam Speaker, in Dog Commando, Violetta paid tribute to the K9 teams and rescue dogs she witnessed combing the ruins of the horrible terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Those powerful moments made her realize what we really owe our best friends and this cannot be forgotten, even in our most tragic hours. Reading her book we witness the true stories of Officer Frank McDermott and Mark Day with their beloved four-legged partners and their colleagues from all over the world. These fine people talk about their dogs with deep emotions, sometimes with tears, each and every one indicating an invisible, unique and everlasting bond between man and animal. Madam Speaker, as the co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Animals Caucus, I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Violetta Kovacs for her endless efforts in animal protection, and to the K9 and rescue dogs of the world for their service to the mankind.