Tom Lantos

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bipartisan Lee- Leach amendment to increase the United States contribution' the global HIV/AIDS fund $100 million to $160 million. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the distinguished Chairman of the Foreign Operations Subcommittee Mr. Kolbe and the Ranking Democrat, Nita Lowey for their hard work on this bill. I am grateful that they were able to find additional money for the bilateral HIV/AIDs program over the Administration request. However, this amendment seeks additional funds for the Multilateral efforts. Mr. Chairman, a multilateral response to the global AIDS crisis is clearly the quickest mechanism to engage international donors and to initiate a coordinated international response to the global AIDS pandemic. World leaders including UN Secretary General Kofi Anan and international HIV/AIDS experts and economists have called for a $7-$10 billion dollar fund in order to address HIV/AIDS prevention, education, care and treatment in Africa. The global AIDS trust fund is designed to leverage significant contributions from the international community to fight this global killer. The Lee-Leach amendment would send a strong message that the United States is committee to eradicating HIV/AIDS from the face of the earth. If the Lee-Leach Amendment is passed, it would provide significant direct grant funding to African countries, NGO's and civil society in regions of the world that have been hard hit by HIV/AIDS to turn the tide of HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, the Bush Administration has briefed us that the trust fund is making strong progress and should be ready to disburse funds by the end of this year. A few weeks ago, my committee, under the leadership of our distinguished chairman, Henry Hyde, passed a bipartisan, ground- breaking bill authorizing $750 million dollars for a multilateral fund to combat HIV/AIDS. So far, the Bush administration has offered $200 million--100 million from Foreign Ops and 100 million from Health and Human Services. While this was a good start, it is by no means a good end. I urge my colleagues to support an increase to this fund by supporting the Lee- Leach amendment. I know it is not easy to cut other programs and I wish it were not necessary. However, the Administration, in all its wisdom, has decided that a 1.6 trillion dollar tax cut is more important than funding these global priorities. Well, that being the case, we cannot afford to wait around until the Administration gets its priorities straight. We must act now. The Global AIDS fight must be joined now. The consequences if we wait are too terrible to contemplate. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

Mr. LANTOS

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

Mr. LANTOS. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman very much for his strong and unequivocal statement. And let me just add as a direct message to both the Italian and Japanese companies concerned, that should the administration not take appropriate action, we will come here with new legislation mandating sanctions against these companies or others that might take similar action. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, if I may continue our colloquy, I would like to raise issues concerning recent developments of direct relevance to our discussion of ILSA. I am referring to major oil investment deals that both the Italian national oil company, ENI, and Japan's national oil company have recently announced. As we know, the Italian company recently agreed to invest $550 million in an Iranian oil field in a deal that will ultimately be worth well over $1 billion. This deal is the first time that a foreign concern has been allowed to invest in an onshore Iranian oil field. It is also uniquely structured as a buy-back deal that could, if realized, serve as a model for future oil developments in Iraq. It is now apparent, Mr. Speaker, that a number of foreign oil companies have been watching the Italian national oil company's growing investment in Iran, now totalling over $2.5 billion, to determine whether it will elicit a U.S. response under the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act. In addition, Mr. Speaker, Japan made a commitment last week through its oil company to invest in a gas field in Iran, indicating that foreign companies and their governments are increasingly confident that the United States will not impose the sanctions that Congress mandates, should these companies invest in Iraq. In fact, the Japanese trade minister himself defiantly stated when signing the deal in Tehran that Japan is not affected by U.S. pressure. Both the Italian and the Japanese companies are not private entities acting independently of their government. The Japanese oil company is wholly-owned by the Japanese government, and the Italian government owns 36 percent of the Italian oil company. Given this state of affairs, I urge President Bush to approach the Italian and Japanese governments to convince them to halt these morally repugnant investments. Should these diplomatic initiatives fail, I believe President Bush has a moral obligation to impose sanctions on the relevant governments, as he is directed under ILSA, without waiver. Would the chairman agree that it is now time for the United States to react firmly in the face of such flagrant disregard for international principles and both the spirit and the provisions of our legislation?

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I am not opposed to the amendment, but I ask unanimous consent that I may control the time in opposition.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, I want to commend my friend, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay), the distinguished Republican Whip, for bringing this matter to my attention, thereby expediting the process that several of us began some time ago. I introduced the free-standing bill, Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, and the distinguished chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Armed Services which seeks to achieve what the DeLay amendment seeks to achieve. On April 1, 2001, a Chinese F-8 fighter flew dangerously close to a United States Navy EP-3 aircraft which was on a routine reconnaissance mission in international air space off the coast of China; and it collided with it, resulting in structural damage to our aircraft. The crew of our aircraft transmitted a series of Mayday distress calls, and they were able to successfully land at the nearest air field due to the heroic actions of our pilot and of our crew to keep the plane in the air until it could land safely. The 24 crew members of the EP-3 aircraft were detained against their will, and I underscore this, Mr. Chairman. The 24 crew members of our aircraft were detained against their will for 11 days before being released, in clear violation of international rules governing the treatment of such personnel and despite repeated requests for their release by the United States government at the highest levels. The Chinese military authorities boarded the aircraft, removed equipment from our aircraft, notwithstanding its status under international law as the property of the United States of America. The Chinese government, Mr. Chairman, refused to allow the United States to repair the downed aircraft in Hainan. It refused to allow it to be flown back to the United States. It instead demanded that the United States cut the plane into pieces and return it to the United States on a leased transport aircraft. Now the Chinese government has presented us with a $1 million invoice which allegedly covers the expenses of the 24 crew members while held in captivity and related expenses. This, Mr. Chairman, is the ultimate arrogance on the part of this Communist regime. The accident was caused by reckless action by a Chinese pilot with a long and documented history of taking overly aggressive actions in intercepting United States reconnaissance aircraft operating in international air space. The Chinese government failed to comply with its international obligations immediately to return our crew members. The United States government, Mr. Chairman, has already incurred significant costs associated with the recovery of our aircraft, including the dispatching of our personnel and other employees of our government to the Chinese island of Hainan to cut the aircraft into pieces and pack it aboard a cargo plane and leasing the cargo plane itself. We are currently evaluating, Mr. Chairman, whether this aircraft can be repaired to make it airworthy again or whether a new EP-3 aircraft must be purchased to replace it. The cost of that would be $80 million. Mr. Chairman, our resolution and the amendment of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) makes it clear that it is the sense of the Congress of the United States that we have to make a full accounting of all of the costs associated with this outrage, clearly precipitated by the action of the Chinese pilot, and that no payment, not one dime, may be paid to the Chinese government until the Chinese government reimburses us for the whole cost of this disgraceful episode. That may run well over $80 million. Mr. Chairman, I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support the amendment of the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay).

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to my distinguished colleague and good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill. Mr. Speaker, S. 360 honors our former colleague, Senator Paul Coverdell, for his service to the country. Senator Coverdell served the citizens of the State of Georgia and the United States for over three decades as a State legislator, as Peace Corps director, and as United States Senator. I believe that this bill is a fitting and appropriate way to memorialize Paul Coverdell's work and service to our Nation. This legislation, introduced by the distinguished minority leader of the Senate, Trent Lott, has three components. The bill names the Washington headquarters of the Peace Corps after Paul Coverdell, and ensures that the Peace Corps' World Wise Schools program will carry his name, as well. Senator Coverdell served as Peace Corps director from 1989 to 1991, critical years during which we witnessed the implosion of the Soviet Union and the opening up of Eastern Europe. When the Berlin Wall came down, Senator Coverdell seized the opportunity to move the Peace Corps into Eastern Europe to promote freedom and democracy. This move not only broadened the agency's mission, but also increased et cetera prestige across the globe. During his tenure as Peace Corps director, Senator Coverdell established the widely-acclaimed World Wise Schools program. Under this program, Mr. Speaker, Peace Corps volunteers who have returned to the United States visit schools to give their students impressions and lessons from their overseas service. Senator Coverdell correctly saw that such an effort would promote cultural awareness and foster appreciation of global connections. Finally, Mr. Speaker, our legislation authorizes funds to construct the Paul Coverdell Building for Biomedical and Health Sciences at the University of Georgia. Paul was a tireless supporter of education in Georgia, and this building will be a living memorial to him and an unparalleled resource for the students, researchers, and educators of his State and of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, this is a fitting tribute to a great man and a good friend. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 5 minutes to my good friend and distinguished colleague, the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on June 1st, at the annual awards ceremony of the St. Albans School, 17 year old James Fisher was recognized and honored for his innovative project to feed the homeless of Washington, D.C. I am pleased to share his story, with the hopes that his example might inspire other teenagers throughout the nation. Homelessness is one of America's most complicated and important social issues. In an effort to combat this complex problem, Congress continues to appropriate funds each year to the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Act which provides funds to the Department of Housing and Urban Development to administer programs which assist homeless children and adults. In addition, there are also countless acts of compassion each day among private citizens in their communities to help stem hopelessness and hunger among our homeless population. James Fisher's is but one story among thousands in which Americans across the nation are working to help the homeless. After noticing that the breakfast period at a neighborhood McDonald's was the slowest period of the day for sales one morning, James Fisher approached the owner, Mrs. Neva Van Valkenburg, with an idea. Mr. Fisher proposed arranging for students at St. Albans School and its sister school, the National Cathedral School, to have breakfast at the McDonald's every day for one week. In return for this increased business, Mr. Fisher asked for 15% of each morning's sales, in the form of a food credit, to be set aside for low-income and homeless children. This credit would then be used to purchase meals provided by Martha's Table in the District of Columbia. Mrs. Van Valkenburg agreed with James' idea and the program became a stellar success. James Fisher's arrangement with Mrs. Van Valkenburg provided for 250 additional meals for the homeless children who are fed at Martha's Table. Mr. Speaker, I commend James, Mrs. Van Valkenburg and the students who participated in this program to help homeless children in their community. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to recognize the many organizations and individuals in my own Congressional district who assist the homeless and the hungry. These services range from mental and physical health programs, help desks, meals and shelter, job training programs, health care, transitional housing and residential rehabilitation. These organizations are fighting the battle against homelessness and hunger everyday. Some of the organizations I would like to recognize for their work include the Daly City Community Services Center, the North Peninsula Dining Center in Daly City, the Grace Covenant Church in South San Francisco, the South San Francisco Food Pantry in South San Francisco, the North Peninsula Neighborhood Services Center in South San Francisco, the St. Vincent de Paul Society Cafe, the St. Vincent Homeless Help Desk in South San Francisco, the San Mateo Pacifica Resource Center, CALL -Primrose Center in Burlingame, the Samaritan Family Kitchen in San Mateo, and many, many others. All of these groups help to provide necessary services for the homeless of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties and I would like to pay tribute to the individuals who work and volunteer their time to help the homeless and the hungry in our community. Mr. Speaker, James Fisher's experience and the efforts of many other organizations, including those on the Peninsula and in the City of San Francisco, should serve as an example to all of us on how each one of us can help our communities work to alleviate hunger and homelessness.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr Speaker, on July 5th the 626-member European Parliament meeting in Strasbourg, France, adopted a resolution opposing China's bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. In finding that China ``clearly fails to uphold universal human, civil and political rights, including freedom of religion,'' the European Parliament urges that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ``reconsider Beijing's candidacy,'' only when China has made ``fundamental change in their policy on human rights, and the promotion of democracy and the rule of law.'' Last March, with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the House Committee on International Relations expressed itself against China holding the Olympics by approving H. Con. Res. 73. Now the 626 Members of the European Parliament have voted and approved a similar resolution, yet we in the U.S. House of Representatives have not been given the opportunity to speak as a whole on this critical moral issue. I implore the Speaker and the Majority Leader--stop bottling up this legislation. Mr Speaker, I ask that the entire text of the resolution concerning Beijing's application to host the 2008 Olympic Games, as adopted by the European Parliament on July 5th, be placed in the Congressional Record. I urge my colleagues to review this resolution and consider our obligation to join our European colleagues in speaking out on China's Olympic bid in the few hours that remain before the IOC vote on Friday in Moscow. Religion is persecuted, political freedom does not exist, media freedom does not exist, our airplane is forced down, our servicemen and women are held in captivity for 11 days; yet this body is not allowed to vote on whether the Olympics should be held in Beijing. European Parliament Resolution on Beijing's Bid to Host the 2008 Olympic Games The European Parliament resolution on Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games The European Parliament, having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in the People's Republic of China (PRC), having regard to the conclusions of the General Affairs Council of 19 March 2001, in which the Council expressed its concern at the serious human rights violations in the PRC, recalling the city of Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games, recalling that the Charter of the Olympic Games states that Olympism has as a goal `to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind, with the object of creating a peaceful society with the preservation of human dignity'. A. Whereas the repression of freedom of opinion and freedom to hold demonstrations in favour of democracy that has been practised for decades, is continuing in the PRC, despite international protests. B. Having regard to the repression of religious, ethnic and other minorities, in particular Tibetans, Uighurs and Mongolians and the Falun Gong movement. C. Having regard to the frequent imposition of capital punishment, leading to over a thousand reported executions in China every year, as well as the widespread use of torture on the part of the Chinese police and military forces. D. Recalling that the PRC has still not ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. E. Whereas the Chinese authorities have taken no significant initiatives on respect for human rights, despite the ongoing political dialogue between the EU and the PRC. F. Concerned with regard to environmental and animal welfare issues in the PRC. G. Stressing that the plans relating to Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games would involve the destruction of a large part of the old city and the obligatory transfer of the inhabitants to the surrounding areas. H. Recalling that the International Olympic Committee is due to designate, on 13 July 2001 in Moscow, the city that will host the 2008 Olympic Games. 1. Invites the International Olympic Committee to establish guidelines to include respect for human rights and democratic principles to be applied as a general rule to host countries of Olympic Games. 2. Regrets that the PRC clearly fails to uphold universal human, civil and political rights, including freedom of religion and therefore believes that this negative record and the repression in Tibet as well as in Ouighouristan and in South Mongolia, make it inappropriate to award the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing. 3. Urges the International Olympic Committee in any case to make a thorough environmental impact assessment with regard in particular to the recurrent water shortages, the impact of mass tourism and the social repercussions in the region surrounding Beijing. 4. Invites the International Olympic Committee to reconsider Beijing's candidacy when the authorities of the PRC have made a fundamental change in their policy on human rights, and the promotion of democracy and the rule of law. 5. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Presidents of the parliaments of the Member States, and to the International Olympic Committee.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my friend for his eloquent statement, and I want to identify myself with it. Mr. Speaker, it gives me a great deal of pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), one of the nationally recognized leaders in this field. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2131 which reauthorizes the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998, and commend the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) for introducing this reauthorization bill, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, for moving it so expeditiously through the legislative process. Mr. Speaker, 3 years ago Congress overwhelmingly approved the landmark Tropical Forest Conservation Act. This legislation provided funding for the administration to pursue actively debt swaps, buybacks and other devices with developing nations in return for concrete efforts to protect tropical forests. Since Congress enacted this important legislation, the Clinton administration successfully concluded an agreement to reduce debt owed by the Government of Bangladesh to the United States in exchange for a new plan to protect 4 million acres of mangrove forests in that country. These forests protect the world's only genetically secure population of Bengal tigers. At the moment, Mr. Speaker, there are 11 nations on 3 continents interested in negotiating new tropical forest conservation debt reduction agreements with the United States. It is critical that the Bush administration continue the active implementation of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act. Tropical forests around the globe are rapidly disappearing. The latest figures indicate that 30 million acres of tropical forests are being lost every single year. This is an area larger than the State of Pennsylvania. Tropical forests harbor much of the world's biodiversity. They act as carbon sinks, absorbing massive quantities of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby reducing greenhouse gases. The United States National Cancer Institute has identified over 3,000 plants that are active against cancer, 70 percent of which can be found in tropical forests. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. must continue to play a leadership role in protecting the world's tropical forests. By reauthorizing this act and providing reasonable funding for the next 3 fiscal years, I am confident that we can help save tens of thousands of acres of tropical forests around the globe. I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 2131. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, as probably one of the most bipartisan Members of this body, I call on the Republican leadership to allow this House to vote on whether the Olympics should be held in the Communist dictatorship of China. Three months ago, with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the House Committee on International Relations expressed itself against China holding the Olympics by approving H. Con. Res. 73. I am asking the Speaker and the majority leader no longer to bottle up our legislation and to allow the representatives of the American people to speak their minds on this issue. Religion is persecuted, political freedom does not exist, media freedom does not exist, our airplane is forced down, our servicemen and women are held in captivity for 11 days; yet this body is not allowed to vote on whether the Olympics should be held in Beijing. Mr. Speaker, allow us a vote.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume; and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 168. I want to commend my dear friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), for introducing this important resolution. Mr. Speaker, I have the dubious distinction of being the only Member of Congress ever to have lived under and fought against both a Nazi and a communist dictatorship. So torture is something with which I am personally and intimately familiar with. The resolution before this House today pays tribute to the millions of courageous men and women who have suffered truly terrible mental and physical damage perpetrated by other human beings. It is an unfortunate reality, Mr. Speaker, that around the globe on every continent men, women, and even children are abused by those who are in positions of authority and who abuse their power by inflicting harm on others. Mr. Speaker, every year our Department of State in its country reports on human rights practices, catalogs for us the numerous countries involved in this heinous practice. Torture and other cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is a violation of international law, Mr. Speaker, as reflected in the Convention Against Torture to which I am proud to say the United States is a party. But more than that, it is an attack on the decency of every human being who lives in a world where such heinous practices exist. Mr. Speaker, this House has been at the forefront of trying to ease the suffering of the many who have survived these awful practices. We have initiated and passed legislation creating U.S. programs that address the psychological and physical needs of those who have survived brutal torture. These programs have helped thousands of such victims. It is only fitting that the House pay tribute to all of the victims of torture around the globe who are struggling to overcome the effects of torture. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 168.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, although the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) has been with us only a short time, she has made an excellent name for herself in her commitment to the finest causes that we deal with. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson). (Ms. WATSON of California asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

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

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of my colleagues to a powerful testimonial that appeared in today's Wall Street Journal by three human rights heroes, Wei Jingsheng, Vladimir Bukovsky, and Gerhard Loewenthal who are united in opposition to China's bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. The authors are witnesses to and victims of human rights violations by three of the most brutal regimes of recent history, Communist China, the Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany. In the article, they urge the International Olympic Committee (IOC), when it votes on the host city for the 2008 Olympics in Moscow this Friday, July 13th, to avoid the shameful decision of two past IOC's to award the games to totalitarian states--Germany in 1936, and the Soviet Union in 1980. The Chinese leadership in Beijing has argued strenuously that ``politics'' should be kept out of the IOC's decision. They assert that the potential candidates should only be judged by their ability to build a new sports facility, construct a new subway stop or erect more shining hotels. But focusing on bricks and mortar--and turning a blind eye to the egregious human rights violations taking place every day in China--does not remove politics from the Olympics. It simply permits a brutal regime to exploit the Olympics to prop up its faltering legitimacy--as Nazi Germany did in 1936 and the Soviet Union did in 1980--by basking in the reflected glow of the Summer Games. Four months ago, I was joined by my colleagues from California, Mr Cox and Ms. Pelosi, and by Mr. Wolf from Virginia in introducing H. Con. Res. 73, which expresses strong opposition to Beijing's Olympic bid due to China's horrendous human rights record. This resolution was overwhelmingly approved by the International Relations Committee on March 27th by a vote of 27-8. Unfortunately, the leadership has failed to schedule a vote on the resolution. Mr. Speaker, I ask that the entire article ``Don't Reward Beijing's Tyranny,'' by Wei Jingsheng, Vladimir Bukovsky, and Gerhard Loewenthal and published in the July 10th edition of The Wall Street Journal be placed in the Congressional Record. I urge my colleagues to consider the poignant testimony provided in this article to the tragic human suffering that was contributed to by granting the Olympics to Nazi Germany in 1936 and the Soviet Union in 1980. In the hope of preventing a similar travesty in 2008, I call on the leadership to immediately schedule a vote on H. Con. Res. 73. The House must be given an opportunity to express its views on this critical moral issue. Don't Reward Beijing's Tyranny Wei Jingsheng, Vladimir Bukovsky and Gerhard Loewenthal The International Olympic Committee should not offer the 2008 Olympic Games to the one-party dictatorship of the Chinese government. Such a decision would not only be harmful to the interests of the Chinese people, but it could also threaten the interests of China's neighbors and ultimately world peace. That's hardly what the Olympic spirit is all about. The IOC offered the 1936 games to Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler and his party exploited that opportunity to fan their political fanaticism, and ultimately initiated a war that caused tens of millions of deaths. Although the Olympic Games were not the cause of World War II, they were indeed one of the tools Hitler used for his purposes. Does the IOC feel no shame for offering the games to a regime that killed six million Jews and many millions more? I, Gerhard Loewenthal, am one of the witnesses and victims of that tragedy. The IOC offered the 1980 games to the Communist Soviet Union, which cruelly oppressed its own people and the Eastern Europeans, and sought control of the rest of the world too. The Soviet Communist Party used the games as an opportunity to shore up faith in their system. Moscow also started a war in Afghanistan that resulted in many Soviet and Afghan deaths. Only the effort and unity of various peace-loving parties turned back that aggression and stopped the spread of the war. Does the IOC feel regret for helping the Soviet dictators? I, Vladimir Bukovsky, witnessed the disaster of the former Soviet Union and the Eastern European countries. Apparently ignorant of history, the IOC may now be on the verge of giving the Chinese Communist dictatorship the honor of hosting the 2008 Olympic Games. The Chinese Communist government is already using this opportunity to whip up extreme nationalism and fanaticism in China, in an effort to encourage and prepare for military aggression that could threaten China's neighbors and ultimately world peace. Beijing will surely use this opportunity to oppress those Chinese who fight for human rights and democracy. This oppression will delay China's democratic progress and extend the life of a dictatorial and corrupt government. I, Wei Jingsheng, have seen what the Chinese people have had to suffer for the last half century. I protest the wrongful deaths of 80 million Chinese under the Communists. I do not want to see more disasters in the future. All three of us are pleading with you, the members of the IOC, to cast your votes for the 2008 host city with your conscience, to avoid the regret you may have when the future replays the nightmares we had. Mr. Wei spent 18 years in Chinese prison for dissident activity. Mr. Bukovsky spent 12 years in Soviet prison for opposing the government. Mr. Loewenthal, a Jew, is a German TV journalist and a concentration camp survivor.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today with the support of 26 of our colleagues--including both Republicans and Democrats--I introduced House Concurrent Resolution 173, the ``International Human Rights Equality Resolution,'' a Resolution decrying human rights violations based on real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity. We introduced this legislation Mr. Speaker, because we believe very strongly that we must send a strong message that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people must be treated with dignity and respect, not with hatred and violence. Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we have introduced our Resolution today, which is the U.N. International Day in Support of Survivors of Torture. This Resolution, together with Amnesty International's newly released report, ``Breaking the Silence,'' highlights the use of torture against people based on sexual orientation and condemns governments who perpetrate these outrageous human rights violations, or fail to do anything to prosecute the perpetrators. All around the world, unacceptable violations of human rights have taken place against individuals solely on the basis of their real or perceived sexual orientation. These ongoing persecutions against gay people include arbitrary arrests, rape, torture, imprisonment, extortion, and even execution. The scope of these human rights violations is staggering, and for the victims, there are few avenues for relief. Mr. Speaker, some States create an atmosphere of impunity for rapists and murderers of gays and lesbians by failing to prosecute or investigate violence targeted at these individuals because of their sexual orientation. These abuses are not only sanctioned by some States, often, they are perpetrated by agents of the State. Mr. Speaker, in Afghanistan, men convicted of sodomy by Taliban Shari'a courts are placed next to standing walls by Taliban officials and are subsequently executed as the walls are toppled upon them and they are buried under the rubble. In Guatemala and El Salvador, individuals are either tortured or killed by para-military groups because of their real or perceived sexual identity. In Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kuwait, Mauritania, and Iran persons are summarily executed if they are convicted of committing homosexual acts. In Pakistan, individuals are flogged for engaging in sexual conduct with same-sex partners, and in Uganda and Singapore individuals engaging in such conduct are sentenced to life in prison. In Brazil, a lesbian couple was tortured and sexually assaulted by civil police. Despite the existence of medical reports and eye-witness testimony, the perpetrators of these heinous crimes are never prosecuted. Mr. Speaker, around the world, individuals are targeted and their basic human rights are denied because of their sexual orientation. The number and frequency of such grievous crimes against individuals cannot be ignored. Violence against individuals for their sexual orientation violates the most basic human rights. House Concurrent Resolution 173, puts the United States on record against such horrible human rights violations. As a civilized country, we must speak out against and condemn these crimes. Our Resolution details just a few examples of violence against gays and lesbians in countries as wide ranging as Saudi Arabia, Mexico, China, El Salvador, and other countries. By calling attention to this unprovoked and indefensible violence, the International Human Rights Equality Resolution will broaden awareness of human rights violations based on sexual orientation. House Concurrent Resolution 173 reaffirms that human rights norms defined in international conventions include protection from violence and abuse on the basis of sexual identity, but it does not seek to establish a special category of human rights related to sexual orientation or gender identity. Furthermore, it commends relevant governmental and non-governmental organizations (such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission) for documenting the ongoing abuse of human rights on the basis of sexual orientation. Our Resolution condemns all human rights violations based on sexual orientation and recognizes that such violations should be equally punished, without discrimination. This legislation is endorsed by a broad coalition of international human rights groups, gay rights groups, and faith-based organizations, among others. They include: Amnesty International, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, National Gay and Lesbian Taskforce, Human Rights Campaign, Log-Cabin Republicans, Justice and Witness Ministries of the United Church of Christ, and the National Organization of Women. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the United States Department of State and the United Nations for documenting the ongoing abuse of human rights on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Mr. Speaker, the protection of gender identity is not a special right or privilege, but it should be fully acknowledged in international human rights norms. I ask that my colleagues join with me in wholeheartedly embracing and supporting human rights for all people, no matter what their sexual orientation might be. It is the only decent thing to do.

Mr. LANTOS

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise today and pay tribute to a dear friend and a legend of the California Supreme Court, Stanley Mosk, who passed away in his San Francisco home yesterday, June 19, 2001. Justice Mosk, grew up in San Antonio, Texas and attended the University of Chicago as an undergraduate and law student, before receiving his Juris Doctorate from Southwestern University in Los Angeles in 1935. Judge Mosk's long career as a public servant began in 1939 when he was appointed Executive Secretary to California Governor Calbert L. Olson. After serving the Governor for four years, Stanley Mosk was named Justice of the Superior Court at the age of 31, making him the youngest Superior Court Judge in California. Mr. Speaker, after serving in this position for 15 years, Judge Mosk sought political office, running for California's Attorney General in 1958. He easily won and received more votes than anyone else on the statewide ballot. Judge Mosk's victory was the first for Jewish person on a statewide ballot in California. During his six year tenure as Attorney General, he established a civil rights section, promoted police training and brought landmark anti-trust and consumer actions to trial. He also argued for California water rights before the U.S. Supreme Court. After deciding against running for Senate, Judge Mosk was appointed to the California Supreme Court by Governor Pat Brown. For the past thirty-seven years, he has been a fixture of the state Supreme Court, becoming its longest serving member in the Court's 151 year old history. Mr. Speaker, Judge Mosk was recently described by the Los Angeles Times as the ``the influential, widely acclaimed and contentiously independent senior member of the Court.'' He was a vigorous advocate of individual liberties and wrote more than 600 opinions that included dozens of landmark rulings that left a unique and far-reaching imprint on both civil and criminal law. Among his most controversial and more famous opinions was the Regents of the University of California vs. Bakke. In this landmark case, Judge Mosk found that race-based university admissions were unconstitutional, a ruling which has influenced public policy for the last twenty-five years. Despite the criticism he received for his ruling Judge Mosk never wavered from his decision. Mr. Speaker, Judge Stanley Mosk was a true legend of California and he will be sorely missed. I urge all of my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this outstanding public servant.