Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership and for helping us sort through this very difficult but important issue. I am a proud cosponsor of this amendment. I want to thank Mr. Flake, Mrs. Emerson, and Mr. McGovern for putting this forward because this is quite sensible. The majority of the American people understand this policy. It only prohibits funding for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, for the purpose of enforcing restrictions on religious travel to Cuba. For years, licensed religious exchanges with Cuban counterparts existed, upholding our right, mind you, our right to our religious freedom. However, the State Department recently reinterpreted this policy, which makes no sense. Consequently, national churches are severely restricted in carrying on their relationship with Cuban churches. Not only does this new policy create inefficient, bureaucratic hoops, but I am concerned that the administration also cherry-picks when granting licenses for different religious organizations. Also, OFAC is being forced to push aside what should be its focus on tracking terrorists in order to meddle into internal religious matters. Last year we led about 105 Members of Congress in asking the administration to resolve that. Since then we have followed up with meetings and phone calls and letters and still have no answer. This is unacceptable. That is why this amendment is so important. Hindering the ability of religious organizations to forge partnerships with their Cuban counterparts really strikes at the very heart of our religious identity and our constitutionally enshrined freedom. So I urge all of our colleagues to support this amendment and to stand up for religious freedom and for religious rights.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I just want to clarify a couple of points that the opponents of this amendment have said. First of all, currently the licenses for participation in student exchanges are valid for only 1 year, rather than 2. We want to return back to the 2 years. Also, only students who are provided educational opportunities in the undergraduate and graduate level institutions can participate in these restricted licenses. No high schools, no other educational institutions are allowed to participate in Cuba travel. Also, employees who travel under the license must be full-time permanent employees of the licensed institution, which prevents many teachers and many professors from participating with their students as they travel to Cuba. Also, all people-to-people educational travel was eliminated in 2003, and that ended thousands of educational visits by United States citizens to Cuba for broader educational purposes. Educational activities in Cuba now may be no shorter than 10 weeks, unless they are for the purpose of graduate research. Now, this eliminates scores of valuable educational programs to Cuba that were really a few weeks long. Finally, let me just say that it doesn't make any sense to deny students, once again, the opportunity to participate in educational programs abroad. Cutting off these opportunities makes no sense. It really is a violation of their civil liberties. It goes against who we are as Americans. Our young people are hopeful for the possibilities of a new world free of all the politics that we have heard today. So why don't we give them a chance to participate? So all this amendment would do would be to revert back to the 2003 prior regulations which for many of us were very restrictive also, but we are just asking to go back to those regulations so that our young people will have the broadest possible opportunity to participate in educational exchanges, given the unfortunate status of the United States policy toward Cuba.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me first say that if the gentleman would look at what the current regulations do, they are very restrictive in terms of allowing for students to participate in student exchanges. We want to make sure that our American students are allowed to participate in educational exchanges in the same manner in which they participate in educational exchanges with other countries. That is what this amendment is about. Our young people should not be denied the opportunity to visit countries, to participate in legitimate academic programs. We are not talking about a 2-week summer program, we are talking about a semester, a year, a 2-year program, an academic program that students would like to participate in to be able to gain knowledge of a different culture. As they do with China, they would like to learn that about Cuba. They would like to participate in their academic curriculum in foreign countries, like they do everywhere in the world. Cuba should not be distinguished. And part of the reason that they can't go should not be because of our United States policy towards Cuba. Students deserve to be able to study abroad. That is all this amendment does. It provides those options for them to participate in educational exchanges in a country 90 miles away. That is all this is about. Our young people deserve that, and it is amazing to me that we can deny kids the chance to grow and to develop and to say what they believe in terms of a country's culture, foreign policy, and academic institutions. They should be able to do this for themselves, see for themselves, study, and learn. That is what this amendment is about. It is not about U.S. policy toward Cuba. Finally, let me just say that many groups around the country have supported this amendment. The Emergency Coalition in Defense of Educational Travel, the NAACP, the Washington Office on Latin America, and the Freedom to Travel Campaign.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding and for his very strong leadership on so many issues. Once again, Mr. Speaker, the Republicans have abused their power. The House and Senate voted to not have an open-ended commitment in Iraq by unanimously passing the Lee-Allen amendment to not allow funding to enter into formal military basing rights. By eliminating this amendment from this conference report, the Congress and the administration are admitting that they have no intentions of ever bringing our troops home. If there are no plans for a permanent military presence, as the President and the Defense Secretary have repeatedly declared, then why in the world did the Republican leadership strike this provision? Once again, democracy has been thwarted. The majority of Americans and Iraqis do not want permanent military bases in Iraq. By the end of the year, this war will have cost over $350 billion and climbing. By eliminating this provision, once again, we have given the administration a blank check to stay in Iraq permanently. Mr. Speaker, our amendment sent a strong signal that the United States has no designs on Iraq permanently. Removing it behind closed doors says just the opposite. Once again, this administration is misleading the American people. This abuse of power must stop. The House, the Senate, both bodies voted for this amendment. How in the world could it be taken out when the majority of Americans do not want to see a permanent presence in Iraq? It is time to get real about this war, and it is time to ask the hard questions with regard to what our long-term intentions are, and I believe that this would have said just that. I think the American people deserve to know what our long-term plans are.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentleman for yielding and also just thank you for your strong advocacy for human rights, global refugees on so many fronts. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this effort. This amendment simply provides an additional $30 million to the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Account, and it still includes, and I have to reiterate, it still includes $515 million for Colombia, and it is still $9 million more than the President's 2007 request for Colombia. To my colleague Mr. Mica and his comments with regard to liberals, and I do not know if you said you were tired of liberals or fed up with liberals, but let me just say to you that if helping our country respond quickly and flexibly to humanitarian disasters, if rethinking a policy and making sure that we are trying to really reduce the kidnappings and violence in Colombia, if that is what we are trying to do, then I am very proud, I am very proud to be a liberal. In recent years, ERMA was used to help drought-ridden Somalis and provide refugee aid to Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Sudan, where more than 3.4 million people are displaced, urgent needs are there for ERMA funding. The funding need is very clear. After Sudan, Colombia has the largest number of internally displaced persons. Estimates range from 2 to 3.6 million individuals. Less than a third of Colombia's IDPs receive emergency assistance, and many, many have to wait months to receive that emergency aid. And let me tell you, of those traditionally marginalized Afro Colombians and indigenous communities, these individuals, these communities have been disproportionately affected. In Burundi, 2.2 million people, including refugees and returnees, need immediate aid to cope with malnourishment and disease. In Northern Uganda, there are more than 1.8 million internally displaced persons desperately in need of assistance. These statistics just really touch the surface of an expanding global refugee crisis. Due to the critical need, the account reached its lowest point in a decade. We can and we must do more to help global victims of violence cope with the loss of everything that they know and love. Even if the additional $30 million that this amendment provides only allows ERMA to ensure food deliveries to helpless refugees, countless lives will be saved. Innumerable people will feel the goodwill and support of the United States. This is about helping persons who have been stripped of family, friends, homes, and their basic protections. Today we need to stand by the victims of violence by supporting this amendment.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me thank the gentleman again for yielding me time and for this amendment, once again, to restrict all funding to the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas. And, quite frankly, people in Latin America are not fooled by this name change. WHINSEC is a military training facility for Latin American security personnel located in Fort Benning, Georgia. For decades, WHINSEC has damaged our reputation in Latin America. In 1996, the Pentagon released reports explaining how the United States trained these students to participate and to lead torture, extortions, and executions in Latin America. And now many countries in the region are struggling to recover from decades of dictatorship, corruption, and human rights abuses. We heard many gruesome stories this morning when I co-hosted a Congressional Human Rights Caucus breakfast for the Argentine and the Guatemalan forensic teams who helped solve many of these outstanding murders. Just mentioning the School of the Americas, quite frankly, is traumatic to the survivors and the family members of those who have been victimized by these graduates. And the victims are not just in Latin America. On October 22, 2003, the Texas Brownsville Herald reported that the notorious Gulf Drug Cartel had hired 31 former Mexican soldiers to be part of its hired assassin force, the Zetas. The Zetas have been implicated in murders throughout Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. According to the Mexican Minister of Defense, at least one-third of these ex-soldiers were trained at the School of the Americas as part of the elite Special Air Mobile Force Group. And since there is no way for Congress to properly track or vet WHINSEC enrollees, who knows how many more victims there are? As more information is publicized about the action of these graduates, enrollment has steadily declined. There are 40 percent fewer enrollees since 2003. In March 2006, Argentina and Uruguay joined Venezuela and Bolivia in announcing that they no longer send students, military or police, for WHINSEC training. So please do not be fooled by the other side's rhetoric on the causes for the enrollment decline because these decisions were not made by political activists. Some of these decision-makers have personally suffered family losses at the hands of military personnel who were trained at the School of the Americas. These leaders want to try to restore human rights protections and not taint the training of their police and military forces. Despite the clear move of many Latin American leaders to distance themselves from this school, for some reason this budget continues to be increased. So a positive step to improve relations with Latin America would be to simply eliminate this institute.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I come to the floor today in support of the fiscal year 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. I would like to commend the chairman, the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Kolbe and the ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York, Mrs. Lowey for their hard work and leadership on this legislation. As this will be his last time chairing the subcommittee on foreign operations, I especially want to thank you Mr. Kolbe for your commitment to the issue of foreign aid and for consistently working in a bipartisan manner over the years with Ms. Lowey, myself, and others. With respect to the legislation before us, Mr. Chairman, I'd like to take a moment to highlight three particular provisions. First, I am pleased that this bill includes $450 million for humanitarian assistance in Sudan. Of this, $138 million is specifically for the war-torn Darfur region. The release of the rest is contingent on the certification that hostilities by the Government of Sudan and its Janjaweed militas have ended in Darfur and that humanitarian assistance can flow unimpeded. Mr. Chairman, as we all know, a terrible genocide has been taking place in Darfur since February 2003. Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, the international community has been slow to respond this as a humanitarian disaster. I traveled to the Darfur region twice and have witnessed first-hand the life and death situation of the refugees. They lack even the most basic needs. For example, because of limited funds the WFP has reduced the food ration for refugees to a mere 1050 calories per day. This is not enough to live on. That's why, I am pleased that the funds allocated in this bill will help support efforts by the U.N. and the African Union to bring food, clean water, and other basic humanitarian assistance. Second, I am pleased that this legislation includes funds to support the post-conflict democracy in Haiti. As you know, Mr. Chairman, the first democratically elected president of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide was ousted from office in 1994 and again in 2004. For the last dozen years, Haiti has struggled in an economic and humanitarian crisis. This February's election of Rene Preval is a significant milestone for our hemisphere's most fragile democracy. We must do everything we can to allow peace and security to return. That's why this legislation's inclusion of $164 million is so important. And finally, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that this bill includes $3.4 billion to fight the global AIDS pandemic, including $445 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. In the 25 years since the CDC reported the first cases of a rare form of pneumonia among 5 gay men in Los Angeles, HIV/AIDS has infected nearly 70 million throughout the world and killed more than 25 million. We have made significant steps in the last few years to bring relief and hope to millions of infected and vulnerable individuals in the developing world, and with this increase in funding we acknowledge the work that still remains to be done. Although I am disappointed that we could not match the need based figure of $7.54 billion to combat AIDS, TB and Malaria, I hope that in conference we can at least support the Senate in seeking a funding level of $4.826 billion. Mr. Chairman, with our Nation embroiled in an unnecessary war in Iraq, and our international credibility and standing at it's lowest in history, this bill helps us showcase what it best about American humanitarian efforts. I thank the committee for it's just consideration of many competing priorities within a limited allocation and for bringing to the floor a bill that will provide a meaningful contribution to international aid. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Sequential Votes Postponed In Committee of the Whole

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, June 6, 2006 I missed rollcall votes Nos. 223, 224, 225, and 226. Had I been present, I would have voted ``nay'' on the King (IA) amendment, the Kingston amendment, and the motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the chair. I would have voted ``aye'' on final passage of H.R. 5441, the FY07 Homeland Security appropriations bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Havenscourt Community Church, which has contributed immeasurably to the Oakland community as a whole as well as its own parishioners since 1925. Since its founding, Havenscourt has been known as a stalwart of service, leadership, and faith, impacting countless lives over the past eight decades. With this same spirit, that of addressing needs within the whole community in addition to the church community, Dr. Claude E. Wilson has served as the pastor at Havenscourt Community Church since the 1960s. In addition to his duties as a spiritual leader, Pastor Wilson has administered several long-standing programs focusing on the academic education of children, the public safety issues that concern the East Oakland area, and the physical wellness issues that concern the African American community. Pastor Wilson has been commended for his involvement in public education by the Oakland Public School System, in particular, for his personal as well as the Havenscourt Community Church's involvement in providing tutorial, child care, and hot meal programs for school aged children. Through these and numerous other activities Pastor Wilson has relentlessly continued throughout his tenure with Havenscourt to develop programs, networks, and community interconnectedness. Both Pastor Wilson and the Havenscourt family have strengthened our ties with one another and brought hope to our future through spiritual development and community problem solving. For 81 years Havenscourt Community Church has been an indispensable part of our community, and Dr. Wilson has been leading their contributions as a pastor and community member for more than half of the church's history. On behalf of the residents of California's 9th U.S. Congressional District, I join the Oakland community on this 23rd day of June, 2006 in saluting and thanking the Havenscourt Community Church and its pastor, Dr. Claude E. Wilson. Their presence has contributed to the fabric and vibrancy of our community both currently and as a salient part of our heritage.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 327, legislation I sponsored to support the goals, ideals and creation of National Passport month. I want to thank my colleague Congressman Danny Davis for managing the bill today and for his leadership on the Government Reform committee. I also want to thank the Ranking Member of the Committee, Congressman Waxman and the Chairman of the Committee, Tom Davis along with leadership on both sides of the aisle for bringing this bill to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I also want to express my appreciation to the over 55 co-sponsors of this bipartisan resolution for their support, and want to especially thank my colleague and the Republican lead on this effort, Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey for his support. This resolution is extremely straightforward and noncontroversial. It details and recognizes the value of international travel and requests the President to issue a proclamation calling on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States to observe National Passport month with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities. The purpose of National Passport Month is to create a time to educate the public about the incredible opportunities available to those who obtain passports as well as the positive impact international travel has on individuals and the global community. Today, less than 23 percent of Americans have a passport, thereby limiting their ability to travel outside the United States. As a result, millions of Americans are unable to take advantage of the enriching opportunities presented by international travel. As the Senior Democratic woman on the House International Relations Committee, and a traveler myself, I understand and appreciate the value and importance of international travel. There really is no substitute for the experience that you get from visiting other countries, from meeting the people, tasting the food and interacting with the culture. It changes the way we see the world. It broadens our horizons and deepens our appreciation for different countries and cultures and our shared humanity. It also helps us learn understanding, tolerance and mutual respect for other cultures. Not only does travel provide enriching opportunities for the individual, it can also have profound benefits to our Nation as a whole by allowing Americans to spread the message of freedom and democracy around the world. In addition, having a passport and traveling abroad enables Americans to see the American influence on the world first-hand, including the tremendous amount of humanitarian aid given by Americans through both the public and private sectors. Americans of all ages are our best ambassadors and we should promote policies that encourage them to travel, to forge connections with people from other countries, to foster mutual understanding and tolerance and to help open new doors to peace. The timing of our efforts could not be more critical. I think we can all recognize that America needs a boost in foreign public opinion and I am confident that connections made with American travelers can and will make a huge difference improving our image abroad. So, for all of these reasons, when Lonely Planet, which I am pleased to say is located in Oakland in my district, first raised the idea of a national passport month, I immediately embraced it. I am proud to have introduced H. Res. 327 and to be part of this campaign to recognize the importance of international travel, and I am overwhelmed by the support we have received. In April of this year, Lonely Planet presented me with over 5,000 petition signatures from people all over the country who support these efforts. And this campaign has the support of a broad coalition of over 70 supporting travel organizations and associations to corporations like American Express and Yahoo. Moreover, the U.S. Department of State is on record in supporting September as National Passport month. I want to read a quote from its letter: ``Since September is a time of the year when schools are re- opening and many students are considering travel or study abroad, it is a highly appropriate month to promote public awareness of the value of the U.S. passport. The Department shares your appreciation of the U.S. passport and supports your resolution.'' So, today I'm pleased the House will go on record in support of proclaiming September National Passport Month. Again, I want to thank all the supporters of this resolution and I look forward to working with you all to ensure the White House issues this proclamation in ample time for the inaugural National Passport month celebrations this September. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Washington, DC, August 29, 2005. Dear Ms. Lee: Thank you for your letter addressed to Secretary Rice regarding H. Res. 327, a resolution to encourage President Bush to proclaim September National Passport Month. It is a pleasure to acknowledge your comments on the positive impact international travel has on individuals and the global community. We, too, recognize the value of travel as a means of enhancing international understanding. Even though the State Department will issue more than 10 million passports this fiscal year, still less than 23 percent of Americans have a passport. The Department strives to make the process of issuing passports to U.S. citizens as efficient and as courteous as possible. Since September is a time of the year when schools are re-opening and many students are considering travel or study abroad, it is a highly appropriate month to promote public awareness of the value of the U.S. passport. The Department shares your appreciation of the U.S. passport and supports your resolution. Sincerely, Matthew A. Reynolds, Acting Assistant Secretary.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Green Albany Project, which, in partnership with the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the City of Albany, Alameda County Waste Management, and Stopwaste.org has successfully completed its goal of ``greening'' the small business district in Albany, California, making it the first project in the nation in which a chamber of commerce has taken the lead in an effort such as this. The Green Albany Project was launched on Earth Day 2005 as a collaborative effort of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the City of Albany, and Stopwaste.org under the leadership of James Carter. Upon receipt of a grant from Stopwaste.org, the Albany Green Team was assembled, comprised mostly of local youth from Albany High School and the surrounding community. The Albany Green team then began a yearlong outreach effort, working to contact and educate local business owners on the economic and environmental benefits of going green. With the help of Stopwaste.org, Alameda County Waste Management, Alameda County Board of Supervisors President Keith Carson, and in collaboration with Smartlights, East Bay MUD, and other programs, the Albany Green Team has succeeded in helping 26 businesses in Albany, which is most of the local small business district, to green their operations and in turn, green our community. In so doing, the Green Albany Project has successfully diverted 150 tons of solid waste from landfills through its work to implement composting practices at local businesses, and it is projected that an additional 290 tons will be diverted in the year to come. The Green Albany Project celebrates this success only one year after its launch, and furthermore, having achieved its objectives under budget, will be returning money to the county for use in propelling other worthwhile projects forward. In addition, this project would not have been possible without the support of the small business owners in Albany, who are a crucial driving force behind our local and regional economies, and who have provided an immeasurable service to the community by implementing these new green systems with the help of the Albany Green Team. The Green Albany Project is an outstanding example of steps that our communities can take to address the national and global challenge of developing sustainable practices in a time of diminishing natural resources. The Green Albany Project has not only made history as the first project of its kind to be completed in our country, but has demonstrated to businesses throughout California's 9th Congressional District and across our country that going green is not only possible but profitable. On behalf of the residents of California's 9th U.S. Congressional District, I join the Albany community on this 5th day of June, 2006 in saluting and thanking the Albany Green Team, the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the City of Albany, Stopwaste.org, Alameda County Waste Management, the Albany small businesses that have made the decision to go green, and all the other partners who have made the Green Albany Project a success. Their work has contributed immeasurably to California's 9th Congressional District, to the entire Bay Area and to our country, and represents an important step forward in the international effort to establish environmentally and economically sustainable ways of living here in our community and around the world.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, today, the House considers H.R. 4681, legislation that I'm sad to say is both overbroad in its reach and misses the mark by penalizing the Palestinian people without compelling Hamas to abandon its anti-Israeli rhetoric, its rejectionist policies and its support for terror and violence. First of all Madam Speaker, I want to be clear: I have always and continue to unequivocally denounce and condemn any and all terrorist acts, whether committed by Hamas or any other terronst group. That is why I voted for S. Con. Res. 79 in February which declared that that no U.S. assistance should be provided directly to the Palestinian Authority if any representative political party holding a majority of parliamentary seats within the Palestinian Authority maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel. My position on Hamas's responsibilities in light of its having attained a majority of seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council, and thus its assumption of power as the governing party of the Palestinian Authority, has been clear: Hamas must recognize Israel; Hamas must renounce violence and terrorism; Hamas must abide by previous peace agreements, like the Oslo accord, and act in accordance with the Roadmap; and Hamas must return the Palestinians to the negotiating table with Israel, and reach the mutually agreeable peace agreement that is called for in the Roadmap and the earlier agreements. This is Hamas's responsibility of governance. I believe the United States should do everything that it can to both insist upon and to facilitate Hamas taking up this burden of responsibility, and we should not rest until the goal of a negotiated settlement is achieved. Moreover, we should not slow the Middle East peace process by making these targets preconditions for our engagement in the process. As the assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin reminded us: I do not need to make peace with my friends. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to understand that engagement and negotiation for peace is a process, not an event, and it necessarily involves the belligerents to a conflict, not those whom we would aspire to put at the negotiating table. I agree that we should not fund Hamas, but not at the expense of average Palestinians, which is the end result of this legislation. Among other things, this legislation obstructs a return to negotiations by imposing an impossible-to-achieve Presidential certification process. This legislation undermines U.S. national security interests by eliminating the President's authority to waive sanctions in the interests of national security. This legislation restricts U.S. diplomacy with moderate Palestinians by failing to distinguish between those in government and other political leaders and activists who are not affiliated with Hamas and have rejected terror, recognized Israel, and support a two-state solution. These are a few of the important reasons this legislation needs to be rewritten. Madam Speaker, supporting the fragile Middle East peace process requires us to keep as many channels as possible open and to those who are empowered by theIr electorate to represent their interests at the negotiating table. That's why we must reject counterproductive proposals like H.R. 4681 and continue working on all fronts to ensure the goal of a peaceful, two-state solution between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mr. Anderson Kambela Mazoka of Zambia who passed away yesterday at age 56 in the Morning Side Clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. News of this great leader's death has come to us as a shock and a surprise. Mr. Mazoka was born on March 22, 1943 in southern Zambia to Mr. Juda Mazoka and Mrs. Bertha Mazoka. His parents were teachers. They encouraged their son to excel in school, and excel he did. He was among one of the first graduates of the University of Zambia, which was founded in 1966. He worked briefly in Zambia, before he moved to the United States, where he both worked and studied. In the early 1970s he returned to Zambia to work for Zambia Railways. In the period of 2 years he was promoted to general manager by the former president Kenneth Kaunda. His distinguished career also included acting as the managing director of South Africa's mining giant, Anglo American Corporation. Perhaps Mr. Mazoka's greatest legacy though, was his active political life in which he fought for democratic causes and improving the lives of the poor in Zambia. As a charming and self confident man, he incited support and excitement from his followers who want so badly to see change in their country. He ran for president of Zambia in 2001 on the platform of providing free education, free medical services and addressing poverty. Although he narrowly lost the election, he continued fighting for these causes. Mr. Mazoka dominated opposition politics. After his narrow loss for president he remained the greatest challenger to the parliamentary majority in Zambia, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). He was the president of the United Party for National Development (UPND), the strongest opposition party in Zambia, which aligned with two other parties to create United Democratic Alliance (UDA). His sudden death has left a vacuum in his party and in the Democratic Alliance, a difficult blow to their cause in year where they face the first general elections since 2001. Congresswoman Barbara Lee's niece's father, Mr. Mazoka, envisioned a better Zambia for all. As members of Congress, let us honor this man who fought for democratic causes in one of our most beautiful countries in Africa. We offer our deepest condolences to his family. Mr. Mazoka is survived by his wife Mutinta and his three children. I join his family, friends and loved ones in saluting Mr. Mazoka for his lifelong commitment to public service and the positive impact his work has had on countless people.

Mr. LEE

Mr. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life and work of Morris ``Morrie'' Turner, a native of Oakland, California. Morrie Turner is known not only for his legendary talent as a nationally-recognized cartoon artist, but has contributed greatly to our country through his use of art to advocate for social equality and community awareness. On Wednesday, May 31, 2006, the East Bay Community will come together to celebrate Morrie's outstanding career and immeasurable contributions to our society. Born in 1923 in Oakland, California, Morrie assumed his nickname at an early age, always preferring it above the name Morris. He attended Cole Elementary and McClymonds High School in Oakland, and ultimately graduated from Berkeley High School in June 1942. Morrie began drawing caricatures around the age of 10, and by the time he finished his secondary education he was comfortable with his drawing technique. After graduation, which was in the midst of World War II, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and continued his drawing while on guard duty. This eventually led to his first series, a strip called Rail Head, which was based on his experiences in the war and which appeared in Stars and Stripes. Following the war Morrie returned to the Bay Area, where he began working as a clerk for the Oakland Police Department, but continued drawing on a freelance basis. During that time, and at the encouragement of his mother, he began sending his drawings to magazines. After sending out thousands of drawings, he achieved his first national publication in 1947, which was in a baking industry publication called Baker's Helper, and which earned him a check of $5. After several publications of his work on roughly the same scale, Morrie got his first big break when Better Homes & Gardens bought one of his cartoons for $75. Throughout his many years of drawing, Morrie had received no formal art training and so he sought advice and encouragement from other professional cartoonists. In that process, he began to question why there were no artists from communities of color working as professional cartoonists, particularly among those who were publishing national pieces. In response, his mentor Charles Schultz, creator of the infamous Peanuts strip, suggested that Morrie create one. In the early 1960s he did just that, creating Dinky Fellas, the strip that would later evolve into the hugely successful Wee Pals, a strip that takes place in a world without prejudice and that celebrated ethnic, racial, cultural and other differences in our society. In 1965, the series became the first multi-ethnic cartoon syndicated in the United States. Wee Pals went on to appear in over 100 newspapers worldwide, and has also featured a weekly additional panel called Soul Corner, in which the life of a famous person from a community of color is detailed. Wee Pals also carries special significance in my district, because it later became the cornerstone of an Oakland Police Department crime prevention and safety program. Through this effort, Morrie's message of open mindedness, equality and cultural embrace was coupled with one of public safety and community service, thereby impacting the lives of countless young people and families in the 9th Congressional District and beyond. Morrie's outstanding work in periodicals has been recognized by the public on numerous occasions, as have his published children's books, whose titles include The Illustrated Biography of Martin Luther King, Jr. He was honored in 2000 by the Cartoonist Society with their Sparky Award, has been introduced into the California Public Education Hall of Fame and has also been recognized by Children's Fairyland in Oakland; he is also the subject of a film called Keeping the Faith with Morrie. On May 31, 2006, the friends, family and colleagues of Morrie Turner will come together to celebrate the career and immeasurable contributions of Morrie Turner to our community. On this very special day, I join all of them in thanking and saluting Morrie for his invaluable service to our community, and for the profoundly positive impact his work has had on countless lives here in California's 9th U.S. Congressional District, across our country and throughout the world.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the African American Task Force for its clear record of success in encouraging and acknowledging academic achievement by African American youth in Oakland, California. This month, the African American Education Task Force Held its Fifth Annual Awards Celebration at the ACTS Full Gospel Church in Oakland. At this celebration, almost 1,200 African American students from the 8th through 12th grades were honored for attaining grade point averages of 3.00 or above for the 2005-2006 school year. These outstanding young people's accomplishments are especially remarkable in light of the great budgetary challenges faced by the State of California and the Oakland schools. I want to commend each and every student being honored for this outstanding accomplishment for understanding the importance of staying in school and the responsibility each individual has to take advantage of the educational opportunities available to him or her. By continuing to be the best students you can be and completing your education, you will have more opportunity to achieve your personal goals and our shared goal of world peace. Your accomplishments represent your dedication and commitment to achieving your goals, and I am proud of you. The skills you have learned and the discipline you have developed will benefit you greatly. I am honored to represent you in the United States House of Representatives, and on behalf of all the residents of California's 9th U.S. Congressional District, I again salute you on your exemplary academic performance. I am confident that in the years to come you will continue your record of service and success, and I wish you the very best in all of your future endeavors.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this issue. Opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling is not the answer to high gas prices today or to the long-term energy needs of tomorrow. The fact is, we are addicted to oil. The proponents of this bill would have you believe that the only way to cure an addict is to feed the addiction at whatever cost, regardless of the effect on the environment, wildlife, or public health. Now, as a psychiatric social worker by profession, I can tell you this is not the way you kick a habit. The best way to fight high gas prices now is to go after the suppliers. We should hold oil companies accountable for gouging consumers at the pump. We should institute a windfall profits tax to fund immediate investments in energy efficiency, conservation, and research into clean and sustainable sources of energy. Instead of implementing these policies 5 years ago, this administration deliberately, they deliberately chose to fatten the wallets of its cronies in the oil and gas industry to feed this addiction. Let us not make the same mistake again. Kick the habit and vote against this bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I would first like to thank the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Hobson, and the ranking member, Mr. Visclosky, for their work in putting together the Energy and Water Appropriations Bill. I also want to thank both of them for including $43.5 million in the bill to continue funding the Port of Oakland's 50-foot dredging project in my district in California, as well as for including the Army Corps of Engineers funding request for Operations and Maintenance programs in California that should provide $6.5 million for the Port. As the fourth largest container port in the country, the Port of Oakland serves as one of our premier international trade gateways to Asia and the Pacific. The 50-foot dredging project will underpin an $800 million expansion project funded by the Port that will improve infrastructure, expand capacity and increase efficiencies throughout the distribution chain. Once this project is finished, an additional 8,800 jobs will be added, business revenue will increase by $1.9 billion, and local tax revenues will go up by $55.5 million. Best of all, 100 percent of the dredged materials will be reused for wetlands restoration, habitat enhancement, and upland use within the San Francisco Bay Area. I appreciate the subcommittee's support for this project and I look forward to continuing to work with the chairman and ranking member to complete it.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Madam Speaker, today, the House considers H.R. 4681, legislation that I'm sad to say is both overbroad in its reach and misses the mark by penalizing the Palestinian people without compelling Hamas to abandon its anti-Israeli rhetoric, its rejectionist policies and its support for terror and violence. First of all, Madam Speaker, I want to be clear: I have always and continue to unequivocally denounce and condemn any and all terrorist acts, whether committed by Hamas or any other terrorist group. That is why I voted for S. Con. Res 79 in February which declared that that no U.S. assistance should be provided directly to the Palestinian Authority if any representative political party holding a majority of parliamentary seats within the Palestinian Authority maintains a position calling for the destruction of Israel. My position on Hamas's responsibilities in light of its having attained a majority of seats in the Palestinian Legisltive Council, and thus its assumption of power as the governing party of the Palestinian Authority, has been clear: Hamas must recognize Israel; Hamas must renounce violence and terrorism; Hamas must abide by previous peace agreements, like the Oslo accord, and act in accordance with the Roadmap; and Hamas must return the Palestinians to the negotiating table with Israel, and reach the mutually agreeable peace agreement that is called for in the Roadmap and the earlier agreements. This is Hamas's responsibility of governance. I believe the United States should do everything that it can to both insist upon and to facilitate Hamas taking up this burden of responsibility, and we should not rest until the goal of a negotiated settlement is achieved. Moreover, we should not slow the Middle East peace process by making these targets preconditions for our engagement in the process. As the assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin reminded us: I do not need to make peace with my friends. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to understand that engagement and negotiation for peace is a process not an event, and it necessarily involves the belligerents to a conflict not those whom we would aspire to put at the negotiating table. I agree that we should not fund Hamas, but not at the expense of average Palestinians which is the end result of this legislation. Among other things, this legislation obstructs a

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to Interior appropriations bill and in support of the Putnam/Capps amendment that will be considered on the floor today. For 25 years we have maintained a bipartisan agreement to ban any new drilling off our shores because we believed it was more important to safeguard the heath and beauty of our coastal environment for future generations to enjoy. But now the Interior appropriations bill threatens to upset this agreement and open our coastal areas to drilling despite overwhelming opposition from the American people. We should not be trading away our pristine coastal habitats to fatten the coffers of the administration's cronies in the oil and gas industry. The fact of the matter is that new offshore drilling will do nothing in the short term to reduce the high gas prices that consumers are facing at pump, and will do nothing in the long term to wean us away from our addiction to oil. The best way to fight high gas prices now is to hold oil companies accountable for gouging consumers by instituting a windfall profits tax. At the same time, we need to make immediate investments to expand energy efficiency by raising vehicle fuel economy standards, increasing the use of renewable fuels, and by adopting a foreign policy that does not hold our constituents hostage to the latest political crisis in the Middle East. Today our constituents are paying the price for this administration's deliberate decision to prioritize the profit margins of the oil and gas industry over a comprehensive and sustainable long term energy policy. Vote against another giveaway to the energy industry. Support the Putnam/Capps amendment and save our coastal environments.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, thank you for yielding, and I want to enter into a colloquy with the chairman of the subcommittee, Mr. Walsh. I want to thank the gentleman for his hard work on this bill and also for his dedication to our brave young men and women serving abroad. I come to the floor today to raise an issue that I know is very important to all of us, as well as to you, Mr. Chairman, on the issue of the mental health of our troops who are deployed in harm's way. An investigative report this week by the Hartford Courant, based on records obtained from a Freedom of Information Act request, revealed, and I quote: ``United States military troops with severe psychological problems were sent to Iraq or kept in combat even when superiors had been aware of signs of mental illness.'' We all know that going to war can be psychologically very difficult, yet it was found that less than one in 300 troops received a referral to mental health professionals before being sent to war. Still, the Pentagon's own physicians have estimated that one in 11 troops going into conflict suffer from some form of major depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder. The 1998 Defense Authorization Act included explicit direction to the Defense Department to include an assessment of mental health in its medical tracking system for troops deployed overseas. However, the Department's predeployment health assessment form has only one question on mental health. Mr. Chairman, I believe this is a disservice to our troops, and I understand that there is additional money for the military services to begin to integrate mandatory mental health services into the standard operating procedures for our soldiers. I support the chairman in that effort, and I look forward to working with him on the initial assessment of mental health for troops being deployed and to ensure that the intent of the 1998 law is fully implemented.

Ms. LEE. Let me just thank the gentleman for his attention to this issue, and I look forward to working with him and the ranking member to be ensure it is moved forward and is addressed as he just stated.

Ms. LEE. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary life of Mrs. Pinkie Hardy of Eunice, Louisiana on the occasion of her 90th birthday. Born May 19, 1916 in Washington, Louisiana, Mrs. Pinkie and her family moved to Eunice when she was just two years old. A self-educated woman, Mrs. Pinkie attended school until the seventh grade. During the years of the segregated south, African American children did not have a high school to attend in smaller communities like Eunice, and if their parents could not afford to send them to larger towns for a high school education, their schooling was limited to an elementary education. Despite this obstacle, as a girl Mrs. Pinkie developed a love for reading that has stayed with her ever since with the Bible being among her favorite things to read. Mrs. Pinkie married Herman Hardy in 1936. Together, the couple had seven children and one stepson. They were married for 43 years until he passed away in 1979. During most of those years, Herman worked in the dry cleaning business and Mrs. Pinkie worked in food services at Charles Drew High School, which became Central Middle School when the local high schools were integrated in 1969. She continued to work there until she retired from the Louisiana school system in 1980. Mrs. Pinkie's children are now living and working in various states across the country, and many of them are now retired and pursuing second careers. She has 22 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren, and has always encouraged and stressed the importance of education and independence to all her children and grandchildren. Mrs. Pinkie was and still is active in her church and community. A devout Catholic, she was one of the first Eucharistic Ministers in Eunice, and in 2002 received the Bishop's Medal from the Diocese of Lafayette for her achievements. She also served as State Deputy for the Knights of Peter Claver Ladies' Auxiliary, and was honored with an award for 50 years of service. In 1987, Mrs. Pinkie was presented with the Martin Luther King Jr. Award and in 1990, she was honored as Mother of the Year. Furthermore, in February 2005, she was presented with the ``Woman Who Made a Difference'' Award from he National Association of University Women. In addition, she has served as President of the Legion of Mary and St. Mathilda School Parent Teacher Association. In her lifetime, Mrs. Pinkie has witnessed and made a great deal of history, living through some of the most tumultuous periods in our country's history, particularly in the years before and during the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout that time she has been a leader in her community and her family, providing wisdom and direction to all who know her. One of her sons is married to my sister, so I know firsthand what a strong, caring, unique and inspirational woman Mrs. Pinkie is. As the leader and matriarch of her family, Mrs. Pinkie is who everybody turns to. She is the voice of reason and compassion for all her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, relatives, her church community and her friends, and continues to be a bright light we all look to for guidance. Today, the friends and family of Mrs. Pinkie Hardy come together to celebrate the 90 incredible years during which we have been blessed to have her in our lives and the lives of our loved ones. On this very special day, I join all of them and the entire Eunice community in congratulating Mrs. Pinkie on this wonderful occasion, and in saluting her for her many years of service, leadership and dedication to helping others in her family and her community.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to the interior appropriations bill and in support of the Putnam/Capps amendment. For 25 years we have maintained a bipartisan agreement to ban any new drilling off our shores because we believed it was more important to safeguard the health and beauty of our coastal environment for future generations to enjoy. But now the interior appropriations bill threatens to upset this agreement and open our coastal areas to drilling despite overwhelming opposition from the American people. We should not be trading away our pristine coastal habitats to fatten the coffers of the administration's cronies in the oil and gas industry. The fact of the matter is that new offshore drilling will do nothing in the short term to reduce the high gas prices that consumers are facing at the pump, and will do nothing in the long term to wean us away from our addiction to oil. The best way to fight high gas prices now is to hold oil companies accountable for gouging consumers by instituting a windfall profits tax. At the same time, we need to make immediate investments to expand energy efficiency by raising vehicle fuel economy standards, increasing the use of renewable fuels, and by adopting a foreign policy that does not hold our constituents hostage to the latest political crisis in the Middle East. Today our constituents are paying the price for this administration's deliberate decision to prioritize the profit margins of the oil and gas industry over a comprehensive and sustainable long term energy policy. Vote against another giveaway to the energy industry. Support the Putnam/Capps amendment and save our coastal environments.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, the Bush administration failed the people of the Gulf Coast before Hurricane Katrina and continues to fail them today. Now, people who were abandoned and left to fend for themselves are about to get kicked to the curb again. First, we had to fight and force FEMA to allow survivors to temporarily stay in hotels and motels. Now, survivors may be on the streets again. On May 31, 55,000 displaced families could lose emergency shelter assistance, even though it was promised to them for at least a year. FEMA says that these families are supposed to apply for a different kind of assistance, yet four out of five applicants reportedly are being turned down. Those who do receive assistance have to reapply every 3 months. Why are we messing with these people who deserve to be treated better by their own government? FEMA has failed to submit its plan for permanent transitional housing for Congress, which was due in January. Instead of assistance, they have offered incompetence. In the place of aid, they have offered nothing but bureaucracy. Why in the world are we adding insult to injury? Katrina survivors deserve better.