Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), assistant Democratic leader.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on House Administration. (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the distinguished ranking member of the House Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the distinguished Democratic whip for reminding us that Americans of all religious beliefs are equally opposed to this horrendous practice of terrorism. Let me remind my colleagues that the last three military engagements we participated in--in Kuwait, in Bosnia, and in Kosovo--were on behalf of people of the Muslim faith. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. Frost), chairman of the Democratic Caucus.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 4 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior), the distinguished Democratic whip.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I first would like to identify myself with the powerful statements of the Republican leader, the Democratic leader, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), my good friend, the chairman of the Committee on International Relations. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to approve it without delay and without dissent. Yesterday, the world's greatest democracy suffered one of the most monstrous acts of terror in human history. This terrorist attack was not only an attack on the American people, it was an attack on the very essence of our free and democratic society. It was orchestrated for the purpose of murdering American citizens and of undermining the American way of life. We cannot and we shall not permit the perpetrators of this terror to prevail. Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, represents the opening salvo in this new millennium in America's global struggle against international terrorism. It is a struggle like no other our Nation has ever faced. During the century just ended, Americans rose to the challenge to defeat international Fascism and international communism. Meeting the challenge of international terrorism again demands all that we as Americans are capable of mustering. First, Mr. Speaker, we must close the wounds. As we speak, rescue teams are risking their lives to save those still buried in the smoldering rubble. Now is the time for all Americans to extend their hands, their hearts, and their prayers to the victims and to their families. We are a people of great compassion, Mr. Speaker; and we must come together as one Nation to help our fellow Americans in this hour of need. Second, we must strengthen our defenses. We must take urgent steps to prevent such vicious acts of terror from ever being repeated. Yesterday's dastardly acts exposed our Nation's vulnerabilities. To ensure that the victims of this terror did not die in vain, we must prove to the perpetrators and to the world at large that America will emerge from this tragedy a much stronger nation. Third, Mr. Speaker, justice must be done. We must marshal all of our strength and all our intelligence to find and apprehend those who dare to perpetrate such an act of evil against the United States. We must punish the guilty, but we must not end there. We must strike back against terror, destroy the guilty, and shatter their network and those dictatorships which support and harbor them. We are not alone in this struggle. In this time of need, we turn to our friends and allies for assistance and for cooperation. Americans will not forget those who support us now, and we will not forget those who do not. It has long been the policy of the United States to hold accountable those who harbor terrorists as sponsors of terrorism. We must now implement this policy with new vigor. I call on the Taliban in Afghanistan to turn over Osama bin Laden and his gang for their proper punishment. I call on Yasser Arafat to put back in prison the terrorists he liberated so unjustly. I call on Iran to stop supporting the terrorists of Hezbollah who have brought death and destruction in their wake. I call on Syria to close the headquarters of the various terrorist organizations in Damascus. We must also demand, and I call on Russia, China, and North Korea to stop selling weapons of mass destruction to countries that harbor terrorists. Let us begin here and now by finding a common voice and expressing our Nation's sense of indignation, sorrow, and firm resolve. Let us demonstrate here and now the power of democracy. As a survivor of the Holocaust, Mr. Speaker, I have vowed never to forget that dark chapter in human history. Yesterday's act of terror again reminds us of man's unlimited capacity for evil against his fellow man. This, too, we must never forget. Yesterday, the United States of America lost its innocence, but history will show that America found a new unity and a new will to wage war against international terrorism. Let us begin to write that new history today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis), my good friend and the conscience of this body.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Ross).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2\1/2\ minutes to my good friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur). (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre). (Mr. McINTYRE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hill).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Meek). (Mrs. MEEK of Florida asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Roybal-Allard), my friend and colleague.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Bishop), a distinguished Member of Congress.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Sawyer). (Mr. SAWYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman). (Mr. ROTHMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. LaFalce), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on Financial Services. (Mr. LaFALCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Delahunt), a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), a distinguished member of the committee. (Mr. SHERMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), the distinguished vice chair of the Democratic Caucus. (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), my friend, a distinguished member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, we have been flooded with words of condolence, but the time now is for action. I call on the Taliban to hand over to us Osama bin Laden, if not for this act, for his previous acts of terrorism. I call on Iran to stop supporting Hezbollah. I call on Syria to close the headquarters of the various terrorist organizations in Damascus. I call on Yasser Arafat to arrest all terrorists, suicide bombers, and plotters of mass murder. I call on Europe to join us in our policy vis-a-vis Iran and Libya, and stop providing aid and assistance to them. I call on Russia, China, and North Korea to stop selling technology and weapons of mass destruction to countries that support terrorism. Yesterday, the United States of America lost its innocence, but it gained a new will to eradicate the evil of terrorism from this globe.