Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity today to pay tribute to the Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland for its outstanding research in the area of childhood obesity--a growing epidemic among children--as well as for the superior care it provides its young hospital patients. A biomedical center of international renown, the Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland is Northern California's premier resource for children's health and has been a center of excellence in pediatric healthcare, research, child advocacy, and medical training since 1912. The Children's Hospital houses the Bay area's only pediatric Emergency Unit--treating over 54,000 young patients a year, Northern California's only Pediatric Trauma Center--treating more than 6,000 critically injured children a year, as well as California's busiest pediatric Intensive Care Unit. In its dedication to address the epidemic of childhood obesity, the Children's Hospital offers weight and nutritional programs for children and their families to help promote healthy habits. The Hospital's new ``Healthy Eating, Active Living'' Clinic provides nutritional and physical training as well as counseling services for overweight children. Researchers at the Hospital and Research Center have pioneered advances in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of childhood obesity. In the Research Center, over 300 basic and clinical investigators come together in an environment that fosters collaboration and an exchange of ideas for saving and improving lives. I ask my colleagues in the House of Representatives/Senate to join me in paying tribute to the Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland for the excellent care it provides its young patients as well as for the outstanding strides it has made in the research of childhood obesity.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month we celebrated the 40th Anniversary of an historic piece of legislation, the Wilderness Act, which was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on September 3, 1964. Since the Act's inception, over 105 million acres of our collective natural heritage has been protected under the wilderness designation. This week, as we take time to recognize the accomplishments of the Wilderness Act, we must also recognize the work that has yet to be done. Throughout the nation, there are many more wilderness areas that have yet to fall under the full protection of the Wilderness Act-- places like the Arctic Coastal Plain, Utah's Redrocks wilderness, and the Northern California Coastal wilderness. We must continue our efforts to safeguard these existing natural habitats from human exploitation and development in order to protect threatened and endangered species and to ensure the long-term health and vitality of the entire ecosystem. And I believe that as a global community, we must quickly recognize the dramatic impact that human development has made on our natural environment and work to reduce the human footprint that we leave behind on the world.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary career of Lawrence ``Larry'' Martin of San Francisco, California on the occasion of his retirement from 38 years of outstanding civic leadership and public service. Upon completion of his service time on active duty in the U.S. Army, Larry began his civilian career in San Francisco in 1966. Upon joining the ranks of the platform employees of the San Francisco Municipal Railway System, he became an active member of the Transportation Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO Local 250-A. Committed to pursuing his educational interest in the labor movement, Larry attended the Labor and Management School at the University of San Francisco, took classes in Labor and Urban Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and was later awarded his A.A. degree in Labor and Urban Studies at Merritt College in Oakland, California. In the decades that followed, Larry would draw on these experiences to become increasingly active in the areas of labor studies and civic leadership. While serving as President of TWU Local 250-A and later as a member of the Labor Advisory Boards of the Labor Studies departments at U.C. Berkeley, San Francisco State University, the University of San Francisco, and the Community College District of San Francisco, he was also instrumental in steering various city boards and commissions. Not only did Larry serve for over 12 years on the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, but also served for over 8 years on the Planning Commission. In addition, Larry has played a vital role for several years as an Executive Board Member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, on the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Commission since 2000, as an Executive Board Member of the San Francisco Labor Council, and as the Director of the TWU California State Conference. On September 17 and 18, 2004, Larry will be honored in San Francisco, California on the occasion of his retirement. I would like to take this opportunity to commend his exceptional achievements not only in the areas of education and labor, but also for his role as a leader in the areas of civic planning and local government. By demonstrating his commitment to the improvement of workplace standards and quality of life for all, Larry has contributed immeasurably to the community of the Bay Area, and the 9th Congressional District salutes and congratulates him for 38 remarkable years of service.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Asian Community Mental Health Services of Oakland, California for 30 years of invaluable service to the community. Asian Community Mental Health Services (ACMHS) was founded in 1974 with the objective of providing community based mental health services to the East Bay's Asian Pacific Islander Community. The services provided by ACMHS are unique in that they are designed not only to provide care that is comprehensive, but that is structured in accordance with the cultural background of the patients it serves. ACMHS services are available in twelve languages and dialects, and aim to serve Oakland's Asian Pacific children, adolescents, adults, and their families. The role played by ACMHS in Oakland's Asian Pacific Islander community is truly vital due not only to the caliber of health service it provides, but also because of its continuous involvement in community life through the working relationships it has cultivated with virtually every major social service provider in the East Bay. ACMHS is able to maintain and broaden the scope of its services not only by coordinating with these organizations in order to deliver high quality health care to its patients, but also by sponsoring and participating in a variety of community-building programs and events such as the ACMHS Annual Multi-Ethnic Conference, and the recent establishment of the ACMHS Neighborhood Learning Center in Oakland. On October 7, 2004, Asian Community Mental Health Services will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in Oakland, California. I would like to mark this occasion by commending this organization for the exceptional service it has provided to the community not only in its capacity as a health service provider, but also as a leader in working to strengthen cultural and community ties among the people of Oakland. By remaining committed to the areas of health and multicultural awareness throughout its thirty years of service, ACMHS has contributed enormously not only to the East Bay's Asian Pacific Islander community, but also to the 9th Congressional District as a whole. I salute and congratulate Asian Community Mental Health Services for 30 remarkable years of service.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and achievements of an extraordinary man, David Creque of Oakland, California. David was an instrumental figure in East Bay politics and government for over three decades, and will be missed greatly by those who knew him, as well as by those whose lives have been touched by his work. David passed away on July 15, 2004, and is survived by his wife Sandy and their two children, as well as six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. David was born in Hayward, California on September 20, 1932. After growing up and attending school in Oakland, he went on to serve in the Korean War and obtain his Masters Degree from the University of Oregon. Upon the completion of his education, David returned to Oakland and began teaching high school biology. Active in local government affairs, David would not only become the longest serving member of the Alameda Civil Service Commission, serving from 1977 until 2003, but would also serve extensively as foreman of the Alameda County Grand Jury during the late 1970s, and on the Oakland Port Commission from 1979 until 1983. In addition, David was an active and dedicated member of the local labor movement for several decades. As a teacher, he was a member of his local union, and was later elected president of AFT Local 771. He would go on to become a member of the Executive Committee of the Central Labor Council of Alameda County, where he served with dedication until 1999, after which he remained a Council Delegate. On September 11, 2004, David's friends and family will gather to honor his extraordinary life, and the impact that his tireless efforts to better the Oakland and East Bay communities had on the lives of those around him. David was a unique and distinguished individual not only because of his outstanding accomplishments, but also because of his generous spirit and commitment to helping others. He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends, and the people of the 9th Congressional District.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his leadership on the Committee on International Relations in working on so many issues in a bipartisan fashion. I just want to also say thank you to our chairman, the gentleman from Illinois, and rise today to respectfully disagree with this resolution in terms of the content of it and talk a little bit about for a minute the intent. First, I think we should during this period remember the victims and the families and all of those who died during the horrific attack of 9/ 11. We express our sorrow for these families, for New York, for Virginia, for those on Flight 93. My former chief of staff, his cousin was on Flight 93. These individuals were heroes, and they saved many lives. So today we must remember them, and we must talk also and remember the fact that we need to fully fund our first responders and those who came to the rescue of so many. We need to provide the funding for homeland security, and we need to move forward to address a real war on terror. I might remind this body that the 9/11 Commission, bipartisan Commission, the 9/11 Commission, reported that there was no connection between 9/11 and Iraq. This resolution really puts all that together and forces a vote for Members of Congress who believe in the 9/11 Commission that there was no connection. This resolution says that there was a connection between 9/11 and Iraq. There was no connection, as the 9/11 Commission mentioned, between al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. Again, why are we putting forth a resolution that convolutes the issue? We know that the war on terror has been botched. We know that in Iraq over 1,000 of our young men and women have died, and we know that al Qaeda is still strong, and we know that America is not any safer. And so, Mr. Speaker, I think today we need to be honest with the American people, and we need to remember those who gave their lives, who were so viciously killed, in a resolution that does just that. This resolution does not do that. This resolution promotes a policy of connecting the war on terror with the war against Iraq, a perspective and a distortion of fact that the 9/11 Commission indicated was not real, and I think we do a real disservice to the people of our country and to the world community by not being truthful during this very somber moment.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the victims and remember the families of those who were killed in the horrible tragedy that occurred 3 years ago this coming Saturday, September 11th. We will always mourn the tragic loss of life and never forget the sacrifices made that day. Likewise, we will always support our troops and their well being. Unfortunately, the resolution before us today goes far beyond paying tribute to the victims of 9/11. The resolution falsely reaffirms a connection between the attacks of 9/11 and the war in Iraq. These connections simply never existed and repeating this falsehood again and again will never make it true. The President's own 9/11 bipartisan commission has reported that there was no connection between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks. This resolution does a disservice to the American people. The administration's preemptive, virtually unilateral war in Iraq has made us and indeed the world a less secure place. I cannot ignore the fact that over 1,000 American lives have been lost. Nor, can I disregard the significance of the 7,000 members of our Armed Forces that have been wounded including the untold thousands of Iraqi lives and the lives of other international non-combatants. For these reasons, I am unable to support this resolution.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a deep sense of pride to honor the outstanding achievements of Olympic boxer Andre Ward of Oakland, California. Andre won the gold medal in the light heavyweight boxing final in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, making him Oakland's first Olympic gold medalist since 1968. Andre began boxing at the age of 9. After learning the basics of boxing from his father, Andre began training with his godfather and current coach, Virgil Hunter. Within one year, Andre won his first tournament, and at age 14 began a winning streak that spanned 6 years and roughly 90 fights. During that time, Andre would go on to win two U.S. national championships along with several other major national tournaments. The residents of the Ninth Congressional District of California, the entire State of California, and our Nation commend Andre Ward, not only for these extraordinary achievements, but also for the dedication and the perseverance he has demonstrated in working towards his goals. His commitment and determination have made it possible for him to realize this dream of winning an Olympic gold medal, and his success is truly an inspiration to all of us. We salute this phenomenal young man.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Parks Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland, California for 85 years of ministry and invaluable service to the community. Parks Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in September 1919 as a mission in West Oakland by the late Reverend J.M. Brown. The church was named in honor of the late Bishop H.B. Parks of Oakland, and was granted a charter in May of 1920. The Congregation's membership has grown steadily over the years, leading it to relocate to larger worship sites twice before settling at its current location on Thirty-Fourth Street in Oakland under the spirited and inspired leadership of Reverend Donna E. Allen. Since that time, the Parks Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church has played an active role in initiating and expanding a wide range of charitable and community-building activities. In addition to ministering and counseling countless members of the ministry, the church regularly hosts a variety of community gospel events. Furthermore, Parks Chapel sponsors numerous outreach activities that serve to facilitate endeavors such as the education and development of local youth, and the social reintegration of former prison inmates. On September 5, 2004, the Parks Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church will be celebrating its eighty-five-year anniversary in Oakland, California. I would like to mark this occasion by commending the church for the exceptional service it has provided to the community not only in its capacity as an institution of faith and worship, but also as a leader in working to provide invaluable social and charitable services to the people of Oakland. By remaining committed to the areas of leadership and service throughout its eighty-five years of ministry, the Parks Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church has contributed enormously not only to the Oakland community, but also to our shared goal of world peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Good Samaritan Christian Fellowship Church of Oakland, California for 50 years of ministry and invaluable service to the community. The Good Samaritan Christian Fellowship Church was founded in 1954 as the Good Samaritan Baptist Church by the late Dr. & Mrs. R.D. Garrison, Sr., who led the ministry for over 30 years. In 1982, Dr. Garrison, Sr. placed his son Apostle and Mrs. R.D. Garrison, Jr. at the head of the church, and the ministry was subsequently established as the Good Samaritan Christian Fellowship Church. Since that time, the Good Samaritan Christian Fellowship Church has played an active role in initiating and expanding a wide range of charitable and community building activities. In addition to ministering and counseling countless members of the community, the church has played a vital role in local youth mentoring and development. The church is responsible not only for organizing local Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs, but also for the creation of initiatives such as the After School Tutoring Program, which focuses on reading, writing, and math for children of all ages. Furthermore, the church has made extensive efforts in the areas of emergency meals and housing by working to provide food for the homeless, as well as shelter for countless families in distress. From August 8th-15th, 2004, the Good Samaritan Christian Fellowship Church will be celebrating its 50-year anniversary in Oakland, California. I would like to mark this occasion by commending the church for the exceptional service it has provided to the community, not only in its capacity as an institution of faith and worship, but also as a leader in working to provide invaluable social and charitable services to the people of Oakland. By remaining committed to the areas of leadership and service throughout its fifty years of ministry, the Good Samaritan Christian Fellowship Church has contributed enormously not only to the Oakland community, but also to our shared goal of world peace.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his leadership. This is really a sad day. By stripping away the jurisdiction of the Federal courts and the Supreme Court to hear challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act, this bill opens the door to further court-stripping of additional rights. What is next, the right to vote, the right to assemble, the right to a trial, the right to privacy? Congress would undo over 200 years of history and could potentially rewrite the Bill of Rights, gutting Federal protections against discrimination that are enshrined within the 14th amendment. Where would we be today without a way to redress our grievances against ill-conceived or discriminatory legislation passed by earlier Congresses? Would interstate travel still be segregated? Would the separate but equal doctrine still exist? Where would we have been without Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade, or other sufficient landmark court decisions? From now on will we seek to limit the ability of the Federal courts to hear challenges to any law just because one side or the other opposed it? What does an approach like this bode for the future of our democracy? So why are we doing this? Why are we doing this? I think we are undermining our Constitution today, quite frankly, about trying to get more votes in November. That is why we are doing this. Vote ``no'' on this dangerous bill.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, last week I had the opportunity to attend the 15th International AIDS conference in Bangkok, Thailand, my third conference since I have been in this body. As the only Member of Congress to attend this incredibly important event, I want to take a few minutes this evening to brief my colleagues and the American public about my experience. Each time I have returned from one of these conferences, I am quite frankly filled with great hope but also a very profound realization of just how much it is that we have left to do. Having spent a few days last week among the international leaders on the global pandemic, I can tell you that the international community is very, very disappointed by the rate of progress, to put it mildly, about the United States' failure to deliver on projected funding and programs. In fact, that point was unfortunately reinforced by Secretary Tommy Thompson's decision to allow a delegation of only about 50 people from his Department of Health and Human Services to attend the World AIDS Conference this year, down from about 236, 2 years ago, when we held the conference in Barcelona, Spain. It is shameful that they have prevented many of our very best and brightest scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health from gaining new insights from their colleagues in the international community. It is also tragic that this administration's unilateralist and ideological tendencies have now spread to the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is morally wrong to allow right-wing ideology to trump science when it comes to the administration's HIV/AIDS prevention policies. Their policies set aside 33 percent of all funding for abstinence- only programs which deny access to lifesaving education and technology, including condoms. Simply put, this is irresponsible. It is unethical and it is inhumane. I believe it is unethical because their AIDS treatment policies are really focused more on protecting patents and big pharmaceutical companies rather than the urgent need to get fixed-dose combinations into the hands of those who need them, 98 percent, 98 percent of whom lack access to treatment. The emphasis should be on saving lives. It is disingenuous that the administration has proposed cutting our support for the Global Fund by over 60 percent this coming fiscal year, proposing a measly contribution of $200 million rather than the $1.2 billion that is needed. We need to encourage the sharing of information by our scientists and researchers. We need to do a lot better with coordinating our bilateral programs with national governments, the NGO community, and our field missions. We need to simplify our anti-retroviral treatment programs by purchasing fixed dose combinations, drugs that are already available; and we must standardize our treatment programs according to the wishes of each individual country. We have to fund the fund. Although I applaud the gentleman from Arizona (Chairman Kolbe) and the gentlewoman from New York's (Ranking Member Lowey) efforts in doubling the administration's request for funding for the Global Fund by providing $400 million, I was disappointed last week when a point of order was raised with regard to an amendment which I offered which actually killed an amendment that would have raised our contributions to $1.2 billion this year, which is what we need to get started. The fund is the very best way to get the money out into the hands of the NGO community immediately. It takes a multilateral approach, and it has the potential to leverage vast new resources. We are the wealthiest country in the world. We should be leading the charge. The Global Fund is the best vehicle to show that type of cooperation and provide for the quick release of this money. Perhaps most importantly, we must stress and implement a balanced, comprehensive HIV prevention policy that includes abstinence, being faithful, and condoms. Mr. Speaker, we must also go further. As United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said so eloquently in his remarks during the opening ceremonies on Sunday, we must place, he said, a special emphasis on reducing the cultural, social, economic, and political factors that increase the vulnerability of women and girls to HIV. On July 9, just before leaving for Bangkok, I introduced H.R. 4792, The New United States Global HIV Prevention Strategy to Address the Needs of Women and Girls Act of 2004, with 54 original cosponsors. This bill would do just that. We need a focused effort on women and children. Women and children need the assistance of this country and a comprehensive strategy to address this pandemic.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because, as we speak, genocide is occurring in Darfur in the western Sudan. And let me just thank our ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for his sense of outrage and morality on this issue, as well as the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for his consistent work to expose the atrocities as genocide. Also, let me just recognize and thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) for his efforts as our ranking member of the Subcommittee on Africa for always keeping African issues at the front of our congressional legislative agenda. For so many years he has been sounding the alarm, and finally tonight we are here. So I just want to thank him for his constant sounding of the alarm for this and for the people of the Sudan. The murders, the rape, and the scorched-earth campaign in Darfur is genocide. We call it what it is by supporting this resolution. As a member of the Subcommittee on Africa, there has been no evidence presented to indicate that this is not genocide. It is. It has been 10 years, Mr. Speaker, and the international community, particularly the United States, must learn from the Rwandan tragedy. Like Rwanda, the warning signs in Darfur were obvious. But we did nothing, and now the international community is watching once again as millions of Black Africans are wiped out of western Sudan. The Bush administration has raised concerns and the United Nations has denounced the ``ethnic cleansing'' executed by militias supported by the Khartoum government, but this is beyond ethnic cleansing. This is systematic and calculated genocide. Hundreds of thousands are fleeing Darfur, fearing that they will become yet another statistic in a malicious plan to rape, torture, and ultimately wipe out all Blacks in the southwest region of Sudan. As in other conflicts designed deliberately to humiliate and eliminate people because of their identity, we have seen women and girls targeted for rape in Darfur. How can we allow this travesty to continue and not be outraged? The inaction of this administration I think is unconscionable, especially when we consider that one word, one word, ``genocide,'' can make the difference between humanitarian assistance and international justice for Darfurians. Let us pass this resolution. Why would the Bush Administration argue over the definition of genocide, while murderers, rapists, the janjaweed, and the Khartoum government have the blood of the Darfur people on their hands? The government of Sudan is not our partner in peace. Our sense of morality requires us to do everything possible to stop this carnage. This bipartisan resolution will help save hundreds of thousands of lives.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 391, 392, and 393 on Monday, July 19, 2004, I was unavoidably detained due to inclement weather and delayed air service at Dulles International Airport, and unable to cast my vote. Had I been present, I would have voted the following: On rollcall 391, the Viet Nam Human Rights Act of 2003, I would have voted ``no;'' on rollcall 392, concerning the importance of the distribution of food in schools to hungry or malnourished children around the world, I would have voted ``yea;'' and on rollcall 393, the Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act, I would have voted ``yea.''

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, due to my attendance at the World AIDS Conference in Bangkok Thailand, I regrettably missed a number of rollcall votes last week. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on rollcall Nos.: 370, 369, 366, 364, 363, 362, 361, 359, 358, 357, 356, 355, 354, 353, and 349. I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall Nos: 368, 367, 365, 360, 352, 351, 350, and 348.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), ranking member on the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs. I want to acknowledge her very stellar work and her commitment to addressing this pandemic in a very real way.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, let me just say that today I rise, having just returned yesterday afternoon, from the 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, as the only Member of this body in attendance. This was the third International AIDS Conference which I have had the privilege to participate in: several years ago, Durban, South Africa; following that Barcelona, Spain; and now Bangkok, Thailand. My experiences at these conferences, especially very recently in Bangkok, confirmed the vital need for this amendment, which designates $800 million in emergency funding for the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. Together with the $400 million which the base bill provides for the fund, my amendment would increase the total United States contribution to the fund to $1.2 billion this coming fiscal year. Based on its projection of need, the fund estimates that it will require approximately $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2005. By bringing the total United States contribution to the fund to $1.2 billion, this amendment would provide one-third of that figure as laid out in the Global AIDS legislation. The funding will help treat an additional 2 million people for tuberculosis and an additional half million people for AIDS. Having spent this week, well, the last few days, actually, among the international leaders on the global pandemic, and also with people living with the virus, I can tell my colleagues that the international community is quite disappointed, to put it mildly, about the United States' failure to deliver on promised funding to date; and this amendment would help restore what many see as really the lack of United States leadership and credibility on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This point was reinforced by Secretary of Health Tommy Thompson's decision to allow a delegation of only approximately 50 people to attend the World AIDS conference this year, down by 236 the year before in Barcelona. It is shameful, I believe, that this administration has prevented many of our best and our brightest scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health from gaining new insights from their colleagues in the international community and from sharing the research they have conducted on this pandemic with their colleagues in the global community. It is tragic that this administration's unilateralist and ideological tendencies have now spread, unfortunately, to the fight on HIV and AIDS. It is morally wrong to allow right-wing ideology to trump science when it comes to the administration's HIV/AIDS prevention policies. Their policies set aside 33 percent of all funding for abstinence only. That denies access to lifesaving technology, including condoms. Simply put, this is irresponsible, unethical, and inhumane. Emphasis should be science based, not ideological. It is unethical, I believe, that the antiretroviral treatment policies are focused more on protecting patents and big pharmaceutical companies than on the urgent need to get fixed-dose combination into the hands of those who need them. Emphasis really should be put on saving lives. And I think it is pretty disingenuous that the administration has proposed cutting our support for the Global Fund, given all these enormous problems that we have, to a measly contribution of about $200 million, rather than the $1.2 billion, which is desperately needed. I must thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe) and our ranking member, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), for their unwavering commitment to helping to increase this funding and actually doubling the funding for this Global Fund twice as much as what the initial bill provided for. But, Mr. Chairman, I think we must go further in providing the resources. We have a battle before us to get this devastating and deadly pandemic under control. And why the fund? This fund is the best way to get the money out into the hands of the NGOs immediately. It is a multilateral approach. For example, $1 billion could leverage up to $9 billion to $10 billion from the private sector, from additional donor countries, and from foundations. We are the wealthiest country in the world. We should be leading the charge. This Global Fund is the best vehicle to show that type of cooperation to provide for the quick release of this money. I met with too many people, Mr. Chairman, who are living and dying with this disease. For example, I participated in one meeting with women leaders. There were maybe 50 to 75 women in the room. Over half of them were living with the virus. One woman happened to share a story with us, and she indicated that she had recently gotten married. She did not know that her husband was HIV infected. Four months later, after her marriage, lo and behold she has the virus. I could go on and on with stories about orphans and vulnerable children; stories about women who cannot negotiate abstention; stories about women who are subjected to violence; stories about women and children that need help in terms of antiretroviral treatment. The quickest way for us to address this pandemic is to get the money out, and to get it out quickly. The fund is headed by Secretary Tommy Thompson. It is directed by Dr. Feachem, based in Geneva, Switzerland. They know what they are doing in terms of establishing the criteria, and they know how to get the money out quickly. I would say the bureaucracy is not as stringent as it is through the bilateral programs. So, quite naturally, the money can get to where the people are more quickly and in a way that is more effective. So I would just ask for consideration of this very modest amendment. It is only $800 million more, and it will save millions and millions of lives. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) who has been sounding the alarm about this pandemic for many, many years. I thank him for his leadership.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the exceptional achievements of retiring Port of Oakland Executive Director Tay Yoshitani. Since his graduation from the United States Military Academy and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, Mr. Yoshitani's distinguished career has included the direction of the ports of several major cities. After serving as the Deputy Director of the Port of Los Angeles for six years, he became the Director of the Port of Maryland Administration in 1995. There he served with distinction until joining the Port of Oakland in 1998 as Deputy Executive Director, and later becoming Executive Director in October 2001. As the Executive Director of the Port of Oakland, Mr. Yoshitani directed a staff of over six hundred employees and oversaw the management of the Oakland International Airport, the Oakland Seaport, and the historic Jack London Square. He has done an outstanding job managing not only the functions of the Port itself, but has also consistently demonstrated his commitment to sustainable development as a business goal through his pursuit of social equity and environmental responsibility in addition to economic vitality. In keeping with these principles, he established a new division at the Port, the Social Responsibility Division, which ensures greater access to jobs and business opportunities for the local community. Furthermore, Mr. Yoshitani is responsible for the establishment of a variety of other ground-breaking initiatives, such as the Public Art Program and Policy, the Port's sustainability Task Force, and the Annual Good Neighbor Awards, which recognize individuals and organizations delivering outstanding community service. During his tenure as Executive Director, Mr. Yoshitani has also presided over the completion of a number of infrastructural improvements to all three Port divisions. In addition to supporting the Estuary Plan by initiating real estate and waterfront development in underutilized areas, he also presided over the completion of enlarged marine terminals, as well as the initiation of the construction of the Oakland International Airport's Terminal Improvement Program, the largest aviation project in the airport's 77-year history. Furthermore, under Mr. Yoshitani's direction, the Port has received over one hundred million dollars in Federal funding for various infrastructural improvements. On July 14, 2004, Mr. Yoshitani will be honored in Oakland, California on the occasion of his retirement. I would like to take this opportunity to commend his exceptional achievements not only in the areas of Port economic growth and development, but also for his role as a leader in the areas of social responsibility and sustainable business practices. Mr. Yoshitani has distinguished himself as an exceptional business and civic leader, whose contributions have greatly enriched our community.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker I rise today to talk about an urgent need in regards to our Global HIV/AIDS Initiative--the need to address the disproportionately growing effect of HIV/AIDS upon women and girls. Today there are an estimated 40 million people infected with HIV/AIDS throughout the world. For a number of reasons, women and girls are biologically, socially, and economically more vulnerable to HIV infection than men, and today they represent more than half of all individuals who are infected with HIV worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa the story is even worse, as women and girls make up 60 percent of those infected with HIV/AIDS. Today we are undoubtedly facing a dramatic feminization of the global pandemic. Why are women more vulnerable? In many cases, women still have inadequate information about how HIV is transmitted, how it can be prevented, and how it can be treated. Cultural and social norms in many developing countries, and in some cases even here in the United States, prevent frank and open discussion about sex and HIV/AIDS. But perhaps worst of all, women are most vulnerable because of the continuing legal, social, and economic inequalities that contribute to, and are the result of persistent and culturally ingrained gender discrimination throughout the world. This gender discrimination is responsible for devaluing the rights of women to attend school, earn an independent living, control their own bodies and choose their own sexual partners, retain control over their own property, and speak their minds. And with the loss of each such right, women become more vulnerable to HIV infection. Studies show that without an education, women are at a much higher risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS. Without an independent source of income, women are forced to rely on men for food, clothing, shelter, etc., thus perpetuating an unequal power balance in their relationships. Without being able to control their own bodies and choose their sexual partners, women are frequently treated as commodities to be bought or sold, without rights under the law. This perpetuates a culture that accepts rape and violence against women as something that is commonplace, and without punishment. And women who have no right to refuse the sexual advances of men cannot control the circumstances of their sexual encounters and are unable to insist on abstinence, faithfulness on behalf of their partners, or the use of condoms. Without the ability to own or inherit property, women are in constant danger of being kicked out of their own homes, and losing control of their families most basic productive resources. Ultimately, women who fear the consequences of speaking openly are powerless to advocate for any of these rights and are consigned to accept a second class status in their societies. In the context of our moral tradition and our common humanity, that is just plain wrong. But when it comes to combating HIV/AIDS, for women it can be deadly. Working jointly with my colleagues in Congress and the Administration, last year we established the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief to treat 2 million people, prevent 7 million new infections, and care for 10 million individuals. But Mr. Speaker, I believe that if we do not aggressively target the needs of women, and work to eliminate the factors that contribute to the increased vulnerability of women to HIV, we will never reach our targets. That is why today, along with 54 of my colleagues, I am introducing a bill entitled the New United States Global HIV Prevention Strategy to Address Women and Girls Act of 2004. By recognizing the inadequacy of our current HIV Prevention efforts, which focus on the ``ABC'' approach of Abstinence, Being faithful, or using a Condom, my bill would seek to revise our current HIV Prevention strategy to place an emphasis on the needs of women and girls. In doing so, my bill would require the President to develop a comprehensive, integrated, and culturally appropriate HIV prevention strategy for each of the countries receiving assistance to combat HIV/ AIDS that includes: Increasing access to female condoms--including training to ensure effective and consistent use. Accelerating the de-stigmatization of HIV/AIDS--as women are generally at a disadvantage in combating stigma. Empowering women and girls to avoid cross-generational sex and reduce the incidence of child-marriage. Reducing violence against women. Supporting the development of micro-enterprise programs and other such efforts to assist women in developing and retaining independent economic means. Promoting positive male behavior toward women and girls. Supporting expanded educational opportunities for women and girls. Protecting the property and inheritance rights of women. Coordinating HIV prevention services with existing health care services--including mother to child transmission programs--and family planning and reproductive health services. Promoting gender equality by supporting the development of civil society organizations focused on the needs of women, and by encouraging the creation and effective enforcement of legal frameworks that guarantee women equal rights and equal protection under the law. At the same time, my bill would also seek to balance funding for our HIV prevention initiatives by stripping out misguided language in last year's Global AIDS bill that guaranteed that 33% of our prevention funds would go towards abstinence only programs. Instituting a blanket requirement for abstinence spending in our global prevention programs sends the message that religious ideology coming out of Washington DC is driving our global HIV/AIDS programs rather than sound science and the reality of the situation on the ground. Our policy should be to provide flexibility in our global HIV prevention strategies to support a variety of culturally appropriate prevention initiatives based on need and the specific HIV infection trends and gaps of each country. In the best interests of improving the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and achieving our goal of preventing 7 million new infections, I believe that we must make this change. And we must also make this change because we owe it to all the women who are left vulnerable and powerless because of social, political, legal, and economic inequalities that allow HIV to fester and spread. If we do not address these underlying issues in a comprehensive manner, then I fear that our efforts to prevent the disease from spreading will only be in vain. I invite all my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation, and I urge the International Relations Committee to move swiftly to take it up.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, let me just rise today in strong support of this amendment and thank the sponsors, especially the gentleman from Vermont for his leadership on this issue. Last year the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) came to my district where hundreds came to express opposition to this provision of the very onerous legislation that we are talking about before us today. Under section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, the FBI has the power to search for any tangible things, including books, records, papers, documents, and other items, in any location after showing minimal justification. This punishes all Americans and really has nothing to do with tracking down terrorists. This amendment would allow the FBI to follow the procedures already in current law to obtain warrants to retrieve records for terrorist- related or criminal investigations. But come on. Families should not be afraid to check out children's books for fear that they may be investigated for collaborating with terrorists. This amendment would restore and protect the privacy which is afforded to us by our first amendment, the rights of library and book store patrons which were in place before the USA PATRIOT Act. Those that did not know this was written in in the dark of the night, this was written in, we now know. Today we have a chance to get back the rights guaranteed by our Founding Fathers.

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentlemen from Missouri, Mr. Akin. Not only is this amendment redundant and unnecessary, because the existing language is already contained in last year's Global HIV/AIDS bill, but this amendment is also an extension of a bad piece of public health policy. Mr. Chairman, of course we don't support the legalization of either of these practices, and we would never allow the taxpayers money to be used to advocate or support for their legalization. But to deny funding to an organization, any organization mind you, because it doesn't have a specific policy that is opposed to either of these practices is counterprodutive to achieving our long term goals of reducing the spread of the disease, and treating those already infected. How can an organization that is seeking to mitigate the risk of infection for sex workers reach out to these women when we require them to have an affirmative policy in place that would turn these very women away from receiving education and treatment for HIV/AIDS? It's not like the women who get involved in the sex trade are doing it as a matter of choice. They are doing it to survive. They are forced to sell their bodies to put food on the table for themselves and their families. For them, it is survival sex. Last year I traveled to Zambia on a Congressional Delegation, where I had the opportunity to meet some of these women at Chirundu, one of the border crossings into Zimbabwe. I can tell you, the women who live in the surrounding community at Chirundu are economically destitute with no employment opportunities, they are forced into the commercial sex industry to survive. What incentive will such a woman have to learn about how to protect herself from contracting HIV, or how to avoid spreading it, if every organization she turns to rejects the very basis of her situation, of her existence? How can she trust an organization that believes that prostitution is a choice for her? Just take a look at the case of Thailand. On Sunday the 15th International AIDS Conference will take place there, and I think we should take a look at how Thailand confronted its own HIV epidemic among its sex workers. The government wasn't saying one thing and doing another by proclaiming its opposition to the commercial sex industry. It was actively trying to reach out to sex workers and to make it easy for them to come into a health clinic, get information about HIV/ AIDS, get access to condoms, and mitigate their risk of getting, or further spreading the disease. Like the case in Thailand, we should be reaching out to these women, not turning them away. We should also be helping them to get an education, start a business, and hold down a job. The amendment we passed last year was a flawed piece of public policy, and by extending this policy, this amendment we are considering today is equally flawed. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. LEE

Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman for yielding me this time and for his leadership in sponsoring this very common-sense amendment. The point is very simple and clear. Not one dime, not one penny of U.S. tax dollars should be spent to regulate how much soap and toothpaste Cuban Americans can send to their loved ones. Very basic. I know that many want to topple the Castro government. Regime change, of course, has been central to United States foreign policy under the Bush administration. I happen to believe, however, that we should end the embargo, allow Americans the right to travel, which is their right, and also allow families to embrace each other. Forty-five years of an embargo against an Afro-Hispanic country 90 miles from our shores is fundamentally wrong and immoral. The United States has normal relations with China. Even the Cuban dissidents believe that ending the embargo makes sense for that cause. This amendment does not even do that. All it does is allow soap and toothpaste and gift boxes to be sent to Cuban people. We should support this modest amendment and stop punishing ordinary people because of a backwards foreign policy.