Joseph Pitts

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, America has some of the most beautiful farmland in the world. But rapidly expanding urban sprawl is threatening this cherished natural resource every day. In fact, since 1960, approximately 1.5 million acres of American farmland have been converted to nonagricultural uses each year. This week, I will introduce legislation aimed at slowing this trend that threatens family farms and our cherished open spaces. The Family Farm Preservation Act would encourage farmers to continue farming their land by exempting them from capital gains taxes when they sell their land development rights to qualified groups committed to conservation. Without protection from this significant tax burden, too many farmers are being forced to sell their land to developers, and that means fewer family farms and ever-shrinking open spaces. By giving farmers an incentive to continue farming their land, this bill helps preserve the cherished way of life while protecting beautiful American landscapes at the same time. I hope all my colleagues will support the Family Farm Preservation Act.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, the Secretary of State made news this week. During testimony before Congress she announced that the U.S. will join high level talks with Iran and Syria to work towards stability of the Middle East. Madam Speaker, this is a welcomed step in the right direction. Diplomacy must not be the only option available to us, but it should certainly be one of them. President Reagan understood this principle. In dealing with the Soviets, he never shied away from publicly denouncing their acts of aggression and their disregard for human rights. Even so, he maintained open lines of communication with his Soviet counterparts throughout his Presidency. Reagan did so because he understood a very important principle, when done in the right way, tackling with your enemies is a sign of strengthen, not a sign of weakness. You don't have to give anyone away in order to dialogue. The same can be true today. Talking with Iran and Syria and continuing to promote stability in the region can go hand in hand if done in the right way. This is the right move, and I applaud the administration for making it.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, America has a drug problem, and I am not referring to the war on drugs on our streets. I am referring to the booming illegal opium trade in Afghanistan. This is our problem, Mr. Speaker, because the huge profits from growing opium in Afghanistan are being used against our troops. Though illegal, opium production has skyrocketed in Afghanistan in recent years, and the results are deadly. Enormous profits often end up in the hands of the Taliban and local warlords who use it to buy weapons, pay fighters and bribe officials. We must adjust our policies if we are to see sustained stability in Afghanistan. Eradicating opium must become a priority. We must crack down on the drug lords, train local law enforcement, and help build the Afghan economy to provide opportunities for making an honest living. And we must ask our friends in Afghanistan's government to help us in this effort. The safety of our troops depends on it.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, as a Vietnam veteran who served three tours during Vietnam and flew 116 combat missions over there in B-52s, I rise to oppose this resolution. I am sure I don't speak for every Vietnam veteran, but I am sure I speak for a lot of them when I say that when we served in combat we detested the politicians in Washington who undermined our efforts to win, politicians who criticized the war effort, politicians who sought to micro-manage the war, politicians who set the rules of engagement from thousands of miles away. These politicians were anything but helpful. They undermined our efforts and our morale. They made us fight with one hand tied behind our backs. They demoralized our forces and our allies and our families. And, their words and political efforts grated on our families back home. Mr. Speaker, it was wrong then and it is wrong now. Our troops need and deserve our full support. I don't question the proponents of this resolution's patriotism. I question their judgment. What we are debating this week is called a nonbinding resolution. What that really means is that this is nothing more than a political statement. It is designed to send a message to the voters and to the media to score political points, I guess. But this resolution is not about President Bush or failures of his administration, this is about America, it is about our future, it is about our kids and our grandkids. And, unfortunately for them, this resolution offers no plan to win the war, no plan for the future. For months we have heard the other side criticize the President for offering a stay-the-course strategy in Iraq. Now that the President has offered a new strategy, the other side wants the status quo, to stay the course. The American people want a new direction in Iraq, but not a retreat or a defeat. This is a stay-the-course resolution. It opposes sending in reinforcements to help achieve victory, as the Iraq Study Group suggested that we do on page 73 of their report. Now, I am not suggesting that the military is the only solution to winning the Iraq war. It is only one leg in a three-legged stool, which also should include diplomatic, political, economic efforts as well. But it is absolutely an indispensable part of the solution. To undermine the military effort is wrong and will guarantee defeat. The left wants us to fight a politically correct war. They believe that if we stop fighting the war will end. They are wrong. Some of us met with ambassadors from the Middle East yesterday. The ambassadors voiced strong opposition to withdrawing troops from Iraq. They said to do so before the Iraqi Government is able to sustain itself would lead to catastrophe, catastrophe in Iraq and catastrophe in the region. They are right. If we stop fighting, the consequence will be disastrous. Our terrorist enemies will be greatly emboldened and empowered. Countless Iraqis will be slaughtered. Genocide will occur. The terrorists will become even a bigger threat to the region, destabilizing and possibly igniting a regional war, and they will surely follow us home to fight here. And our allies will never trust our resolve again. If we don't defeat the Islamic terrorists in Iraq, then let me ask you, where will we do so? Mr. Speaker, the world is watching the Pelosi Congress. Will we show them that our determination to succeed is stronger than the terrorists? If this war is lost, it won't be lost by our magnificent troops in the field, it will be lost in the Halls of this Congress by politicians who want to micromanage our military. And that is why I ask my colleagues to consider the consequences of this vote and this war. The long-term consequences are momentous. What will it mean for your kids and grandkids? What kind of world will they inherit? What will it mean for the Middle East? What will it mean for our allies in the Middle East? What will it mean for the future of our great country? Make no mistake about this. This resolution will harm our troops who are sacrificing for the cause of freedom. It opposes sending in reinforcements to troops in battle. Our troops deserve and need our support. The arm chair generals in Congress who have never served in combat say, We will not abandon you, while they undermine our troops and their mission, while they deny them reinforcements. This vote is a vote for failure in Iraq and chaos. We should insist on victory in Iraq. This resolution does not support victory, it supports failure. We must defeat the terrorists, we must protect America from Islamic terrorists. Defeat this resolution.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Judiciary Committee considered a bill to protect chickens, roosters, from being carried across State lines for use in illegal cockfighting. An amendment was offered on a similar ``cross State line'' issue, protecting minor girls from being carried across State lines for the purpose of having an abortion without their parents' knowledge or consent. While the committee ultimately passed the animal protections, they wouldn't even allow a vote on protecting young girls. Even more outrageous, the substance of the rejected amendment has passed twice in the House last year, with large bipartisan majorities. Mr. Speaker, in case anyone is having trouble following this, let's summarize: by rejecting this amendment, Democrats saw fit to provide greater protections to birds than to minor girls and their parents and unborn children. It is as simple as that. This is supposed to be the year of the children? Not all of the children. Welcome to the Pelosi Congress.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to stress the importance today of our partnership with the people of Afghanistan. The 9/11 attacks were planned in Afghanistan, and a number of those who planned it are still at large, including Osama bin Laden. President Hamid Karzai's leadership is vital, as is his continuing work to bring stability and security to Afghanistan; he is an important ally in the global war on terrorism. Unfortunately, reports suggest that progress in Afghanistan continues to be undermined by Taliban and terrorist forces operating out of Pakistan. Mr. Speaker, we cannot allow Afghanistan to become a failed state again; therefore, we must ensure that terrorist operations in Afghanistan stop and terrorist sanctuaries and safe havens across the border in Pakistan are eliminated. And we need more cooperation from Pakistan. Let's not neglect the situation in Afghanistan. We do so at our peril.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, a week ago, the anti-war rally in Washington made headlines across America. Lost in most of the coverage, however, was the complete lack of basic decency displayed by some of these protesters. The anti-war protesters defaced our Capitol by spray- painting graffiti on the Capitol's west terrace. Mr. Speaker, it never ceases to amaze me how nonpeaceful these so- called peace protesters can be. There is no question that Americans have a constitutional right to peaceably assemble, but when you brazenly deface cherished public property, you are no longer assembling peacefully. You are committing a crime. Mr. Speaker, we can have a thoughtful public debate on our policies overseas, but we must remember this. Our freedom was not earned by protesters with poster paint. It was earned by the thousands of brave men and women who courageously stand up to fight for it, many of whom paid with their lives.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct honor to remember the life of a proud Berks County resident, James C. Miles. James was born August 26, 1918, to Alfred and Grace Miles, and passed away on February 5, 2007, at the age of 88. Born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, Mr. Miles graduated from Reading High School in 1936 and later joined the U.S. Army during World War II. Utilizing his experience with the famous Reading Railroad industry, Mr. Miles served in Northern Africa and Europe helping to repair the rail network in support of the advance towards Germany. Mr. Miles was a member of the Advent Lutheran Church in West Lawn, Pennsylvania. In addition, Mr. Miles was a former President of the Wernersville VFW. Mr. Miles was preceded in death by his wife of over 40 years, the former Marjorie Elizabeth High, whom he wed November 27, 1941, and who passed away on May 22, 1986. Surviving him are his two children, Larry E. (Catherine) Miles of Wyomissing, Deborah (Michael) Shimko of Nazareth; five grandchildren, Kelly (Tony) Curtis of Glen Allen, VA, Jeffrey (Meredith) Miles currently serving at our Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico, Jennifer Miles of Chicago, IL, Michael and Mark Shimko of Nazareth; and three great-granddaughters, Caroline, Madelyn and Claire Curtis of Glen Allen, VA. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to remember and celebrate the life of James C. Miles. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring his life and achievements here today.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, Barbaro, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, died yesterday. Barbaro was not just any horse. This was a horse who never lost a race. This was a horse who won the Kentucky Derby by 6\1/ 2\ lengths. The last time that was done was in 1946. What a shame it was when he hurt himself and cut short one of the greatest careers in horse racing. And sad as this is, I come to the floor to congratulate the New Bolton Center in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in my congressional district. Dean Richardson and the staff of the New Bolton Center have shown the world what humane and excellent veterinary care looks like. Barbaro and his owners put their trust in the New Bolton Center and hoped for the best over the last 9 months. Sadly, Barbaro didn't make it. But no one doubts that everything that could have been done was done and done well. Our thanks are due to the staff at the New Bolton Center.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, ``The Democrats are stretching the Constitution beyond its limits and inviting further partisan abuse.'' Mr. Speaker, those aren't my words, that is a direct quote from a 1993 USA Today editorial. That was the last time House Democrats moved to give congressional voting privileges to the Delegates of the U.S. territories, and today they will attempt the same thing. While the other side will cloak this move in the language of inclusion and fairness, make no mistake, this is a power grab. Democrats are simply looking for more votes on this floor. They will say this is fair and just, but keep in mind that four of the five U.S. territories are exempt from U.S. Federal income tax laws. What is fair or just about letting untaxed Delegates vote on tax policy for the rest of Americans who do pay taxes? The American public should not be fooled by my friends on the other side of the aisle today. This is nothing more than a thinly veiled power grab, and it comes at the expense of the U.S. Constitution.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the coarsening of culture doesn't happen overnight. It is a slow, steady process that chips away at our moral compass; but every now and then something comes along that puts things in perspective and shows us how far the slide has gone. I read recently that city officials in Amsterdam have approved putting up a statue of a prostitute as a tribute to prostitutes worldwide. Sadly, this strikes me as one of those times when we are able to step back and see just how far we have regressed. The last thing the world's prostitutes need is a statue commemorating the sex industry. The sex industry in places like Amsterdam and countless other cities worldwide is not something to be celebrated. It is a tragedy marked by forced sexual servitude, demeaning human exploitation, and unspeakable brokenness. Each year, countless numbers of girls are kidnapped and forced into sexual slavery. They lose not only their basic human dignity; many will lose their lives. Mr. Speaker, these people don't need a statue. We need to help them get out of this exploitative lifestyle.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, another day, another closed rule governing consideration of legislation in the people's House. The other side likes to highlight the bipartisan support for their so-called 100 hours agenda. But almost 2\1/2\ weeks into it, Republicans have yet to be allowed a single amendment on this floor. No committee hearings, no amendments, no alternatives. Mr. Speaker, it doesn't have to be this way. In 1995, the process under the new Republican majority was far more open. Just look at the numbers. The Contract with America was comprised of 24 bills. Only three of those bills were considered under a closed rule. Democrats were allowed to offer 154 amendments to the Contract with America legislation and 48 of those amendments passed. Mr. Speaker, the people's House should be a place where all the people have a voice, opportunity to offer amendments, alternatives, and let the best idea win. Under Democratic rule, that is not the case.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to highlight an issue of importance to many of our Nation's small- and medium-sized public transportation systems. Outdated population limits established in law in the seventies have caused many of these transit agencies to lose flexibility in the way they spend Federal funds. As a result, many of these systems, approximately 110 to be exact, will be forced to dramatically scale back their operations, and that means not having a ride to work for thousands of riders. In the coming days, I plan to reintroduce the Transit System Flexibility Act. This bill will allow local officials flexibility in the way they spend their Federal funds and save them from having to shut down important bus routes. And it will not cost any additional taxpayer money. Madam Speaker, local officials know their own needs best. This is a sensible solution to an urgent problem, and I hope my colleagues who represent one of these 110 small transit systems will cosponsor the bill.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3, which has been steamrolled to the House floor without any committee consideration, without even the chance to amend a bill that puts theoretical research, and I have heard the words ``a promise'' and ``hope'' and ``we hope,'' ``potential,'' over real cures for real patients. Supporters of H.R. 3 have offered no solutions to two problems that have plagued embryonic stem cells. Even with 25 years of research with embryonic stem cells in mice and almost a decade in humans, researchers still find that the cells tend to form cancerous tumors and can be subject to immune rejection, with not one successful treatment or therapy for human application using embryonic stem cells. In fact, Ronald McKay, an NIH researcher who is supportive of embryonic stem cell research, says, ``To start with, people need a fairy tale. Maybe that is unfair, but they need a story line that is relatively simple to understand.'' That was in The Washington Post. In other words, embryonic stem cell research is a false hope in addition to being destructive and unethical. Patients, many think, will be the last to benefit from H.R. 3. But biotech firms and research universities will reap millions of taxpayer dollars for research that may never help a single patient. However, Wake Forest University and Harvard Medical Center recently released a study that shows that stem cells taken from amniotic fluid are pleuripotent, adding these cells to the growing list of ethical stem cell treatments that are available to researchers. Embryonic stem cells have not treated a single human patient and have not been proven effective in good animal models. Conversely, ethical and successful adult and cord blood stem cell therapies are lab tested and are treating dozens of human patients today. In fact, there are several FDA protocols using adult stem cells for treating patients. The score is zero, not one successful treatment for embryonic stem cell research, to 72 and counting, successful treatments for human patients using adult stem cells. H.R. 3 is an empty promise that uses old science when there are real cures for real people with ethical research today. I urge a ``no'' vote on H.R. 3 and support the motion to recommit.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today the House will consider H.R. 3, an expansion of taxpayer funding for embryonic stem cell research. And while today's debate is sure to be full of rhetoric about the promise of future cures, let's be clear from the outset about what is working and what is not. Embryonic stem cell research, that is, research that requires the destruction of a living human embryo, is yet to produce a single cure or treatment in humans. Not one. What many say is a false hope. The good news is that there is an alternative that is not only successfully treating human patients but doesn't require killing little human embryos. In fact, what many consider ethical, adult stem cell research has now provided dozens of laboratory successes, successful treatments of human patients and even a handful of FDA-approved therapies. Mr. Speaker, tax dollars are not unlimited. They should be directed towards methods that are proven to work and ethical research. H.R. 3 fails to do this.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6111, which extends many essential Medicare programs that sustain our seniors every day and keeps them healthy. I applaud provisions in this bill that maintain and preserve access to crucial health care services, like physical therapy, primary care, and dialysis treatments. Our seniors should never have to worry about their access to care. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that our Medicare program is strong and stable enough to provide services without impediments or limitations on access. Unfortunately, I believe Congress on this occasion missed an opportunity to ensure unfettered access in an increasingly crucial area of medical practice today: diagnostic imaging. Imaging procedures, like CT scans, MRIs, ultrasound, PET and Xrays save countless lives each day; they identify diseases early on, improving outcomes and lowering costs associated with undiagnosed illness. Seniors rely on brain scans, cardiac diagnostics and other diagnostic and therapeutic technologies every day for disease detection and treatment. Access to those services, however, is threatened by provisions in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, DRA, that make drastic cuts to payments for these services that are crucial to identifying life-threatening conditions and guiding diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. The DRA includes payment reductions, inserted at the last minute of Congressional negotiations and without any debate in either body, of between 30 and 50 percent for many of these services performed in doctors' offices and freestanding clinics, seriously endangering the viability of those practices, and thus threatening seniors' access to convenient imaging services outside of the hospital setting. This year, I introduced legislation, H.R. 5704, the Access to Medicare Imaging Act of 2006, which would have delayed these cuts for two years while the Government Accountability Office studies the cuts' impact on seniors' access to care. I did so because I was especially concerned that seniors in America's rural areas would face increasingly longer driving distances for testing when some physician clinics stop offering these services, and would inevitably be forced to receive these services in hospitals where longer wait times and higher co- payments might cause many seniors to forego services altogether. In short, I introduced H.R. 5704 because I was concerned about patients-- about patients losing their access to life-saving diagnostic services. Evidently, I was not alone. To date, 142 of my colleagues--from both sides of the aisle--in the House have signed on as cosponsors of this critically important legislation. Unfortunately, the cuts my bill would have temporarily averted go into effect on January 1, 2007, and I fear that our action here today to protect access to a number of important Medicare services but not to preserve access to diagnostic imaging services is an omission with significant consequences. Without relief from the cuts, many physician practices that provide high quality diagnostic imaging services will shrink in size or shut their doors altogether. Hospitals will overload with patients, and access will suffer. Today's legislation offered a unique opportunity to prevent these consequences by including language to delay the looming cuts until further study of their appropriateness is completed. While I regret this missed opportunity, I am hopeful that in the 110th Congress a bipartisan group of my colleagues will, once again, work together to provide open, unfettered access to medically appropriate services that improve the quality and length of life for America's seniors.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the legacy and service of Paul and Sylvia Hollinger. Fifty years ago, Paul Hollinger got his start in Christian radio as a singer for WMBI at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. After leaving Moody, he continued his broadcasting career in Pennsylvania as a sales representative or WEZN in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania. In July 1961, Paul began with WDAC radio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and he's been capably serving that station ever since. In 1981, his wife, Sylvia, joined him at the station and continues to play a crucial role in its operations to this day. Together, Paul and Sylvia have grown WDAC into the tremendous success that it is today. WDAC's consistently high ratings are a testament to the God-given talents that the Hollingers have brought to the station's leadership ranks. With programs offering sound Biblical wisdom for living a life of integrity, as well as practical guidance for raising a God-honoring family, WDAC provides a wonderful resource to the Lancaster community. Paul and Sylvia have also been active in the community outside of their roles at WDAC. They give charitably of their time and resources, serve as leaders in the pro-life movement, and are strong supporters of the conservative family values that Lancaster County holds so dear. Paul and Sylvia's retirement this month from WDAC's daily operations caps more than four decades of distinguished service, and it's a legacy worth honoring. We live in an age of eroding decency and growing vulgarity on our Nation's airwaves. Under the leadership of Paul and Sylvia Hollinger, WDAC has consistently and successfully gone against this trend. The high-quality, family-friendly Christian programming that WDAC has committed itself to is a wonderful influence on the surrounding community every single day. Paul and Sylvia have played an enormous role in making this happen and their legacy of positively impacted lives grows with each new listener. I congratulate the Hollingers on a wonderful life of service, and wish them all the best in whatever the future holds.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an amazing performance by the men's basketball team at Lincoln University in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Last Saturday, the Lincoln Lions set an NCAA Division III record by scoring an astounding 201 points in a single game to beat Ohio State- Marion, 201-78. The Lions' unbelievable point total shattered the previous point record by almost 30 points. The game also set the record for the greatest margin of victory and most points scored in a half. On their way to their historic win, Lincoln guard Sam Wylie set some records of his own. The senior knocked down 21 three-pointers, the most ever in NCAA Division III, and finished the game with 69 points, a school record. I congratulate the players and coaching staff of Lincoln University's men's basketball team on a historic performance.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, recent advances in ultrasound technology have shown that unborn babies have the ability to recognize and respond to positive and negative stimuli. In fact, researchers, scientists now know that unborn children smile and cry. For years doctors have thought that babies learn to smile from mimicking their parents. However, researchers now know that an unborn child can be seen smiling in the womb months before it was thought babies could make such expressions. One of the London-based researchers, Dr. Stuart Campbell, said: ``It is remarkable that a newborn baby does not smile for about 6 weeks after birth. Before birth most babies smile frequently. This may indicate a baby's calm, trouble-free existence in the womb, and the relatively traumatic first few weeks after the birth when the baby is reacting to a strange, new environment.'' Another group of researchers in New Zealand were testing the effects of maternal smoking and drug use on unborn children. The co-author of the study, Dr. Edward Mitchell of the University in Auckland, stated that the research shows the baby has the necessary sensory and brain development to process the offending sound and recognize it as something negative. Researchers observed deep inhalations and exhalations, open mouth, quivering chin, with the low decibel noise on the abdomen. There were many experiments that were done, but if unborn children can recognize positive and negative stimuli in utero, imagine the excruciating pain that must be felt during abortions. I urge you to support the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today I seek to pay tribute to a true hero of Pennsylvania's 16th Congressional District, Reading Police Officer Scott Wertz. On Sunday, August 6, 2006, Officer Wertz made the ultimate sacrifice carrying out his duties to serve and protect the people of Reading, Pa. Officer Wertz's exemplary service is a stark reminder of the valor and honor that our public safety personnel display every single day. When danger arises, these brave men and women run to answer the call. Officer Wertz was no exception, and I honor his great courage and sacrifice. His 9 years of dedicated service to the Reading Police Department have made the Reading community a safer place to live and work for thousands of families, and we all owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. On behalf of a grateful community, I offer my heartfelt condolences to his wife and two sons. They will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, Admiral Chester Nimitz, in describing the bravery of Americans battling for Iwo Jima, said, ``Uncommon valor was a common virtue.'' Captain Ed Davis, who died last week at age 67, was a man of most uncommon valor. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Captain Davis was shot down over Vietnam in 1965, and he would spend the next 7\1/2\ years as a prisoner in Hanoi. When finally released from captivity, he said, ``When I first saw that flag''--meaning the U.S. flag--``I knew it was all worth it.'' To those of us who knew him, his death is a great loss. But his passing is also a great loss to the country he loved. Captain Davis won three silver stars, the Legion of Merit with Combat Citation, five air medals, two purple hearts, as well as numerous other honors both military and civilian. Our thoughts and our prayers and those of a grateful Nation go out to his family. May he rest in peace.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I stand up today on behalf of the people of North Korea. A number of reports have detailed the horrific suffering of the people there--a suffering that makes China looks like paradise. Those held in the prison camps in North Korea endure torture, forced abortions, and brutal deaths. In early October, the Yoduk story musical will be performed in our area--this musical tells the story of the suffering in a North Korean prison camp, Director Jung, Sung-San is a North Korean defector himself, whose father died in one of the political prison camps. Interestingly, the South Korean government did not want this musical produced in South Korea, but the director thought it was so important for the world to know the story of North Korea that he put up his own kidney as collateral for a $20,000 loan to ensure the musical was produced. Mr. Speaker, that a North Korean was willing to put up his own kidney to produce this story speaks to the gravity of the suffering in North Korea. The international community must get its head out of the sand and ACT to stop the terrible suffering of the North Korean people.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, Saturday's New York Times ran an editorial headlined Punishing Refugees Twice, which describes a very real problem that deserves our attention. The PATRIOT Act and the REAL ID Act are important laws to keep out of the U.S. those who provide aid to terrorists. However, an excessively broad interpretation of the law has tied our hands when it comes to admitting harmless refugees into America. No distinction is made for people who have been coerced under duress to provide material support, including under threat of rape or death or at gunpoint. In addition, the definitions make no exceptions for people or groups that our government supports or that support our government, such as those resisting ethnic cleansing by the dictatorship in Burma, or anti- Castro groups in Cuba, or the Montagnards. H.R. 5918 would fix this problem by allowing us greater ability to distinguish between our friends and our enemies. The many terrorism- related bars on entry would all remain in place. I urge consideration and support of this bill.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honor of Robert J. Thompson and I rise in support of H.R. 6075, the Senator Bob Thompson Post Office Designation Act. I've introduced this bill with my fellow colleagues from Pennsylvania and I thank them for their support. It's a great privilege to be able to commemorate the life and public service of the late Senator Robert Thompson--Bob, as he was known to his friends. Senator Thompson was a distinguished legislator and respected public servant. He served the people of southern Pennsylvania for more than 30 years as an elected official. Bob got his start in public life in 1970 as a member of the West Goshen Township Board of Supervisors. In 1995, Bob was elected to the State Senate where he represented the good people of Chester and Montgomery counties and served as Majority Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I had the great privilege of serving with him in the Pennsylvania State legislature before coming to Congress--an honor I will always cherish. Throughout his tenure in Harrisburg, Bob earned a solid reputation as an honest and sincere representative who always made his constituents his first priority. Despite his health challenges that required him to be in the hospital frequently, his friends and colleagues fondly recall the encouraging and humorous e-mails he would send on his Blackberry from his hospital room. Those who knew Bob loved his gentle demeanor, cheerful spirit, and great sense of humor. His kindness and generosity were evidenced by his dedication to community service and civic participation. He served on the board of numerous civic associations and community groups, including the Chester County Historical Society, the Westtown- Goshen Rotary Club, Chester County Library, and the West Chester Area Day Care Association. Despite his many accomplishments as a respected public servant, I believe Bob would most like to be remembered as a devoted husband to Nancy and a loving father and grandfather. Although Pennsylvania lost a great public leader, his kind and gentle countenance will not be forgotten by the many men and women who have served alongside him. The Bob Thompson Post Office will be a fitting tribute to his life and work for many years to come.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hostettler) for his efforts to raise awareness of this important issue. Mr. Speaker, passing this bill would be a win for millions of Americans who cherish religious freedom in America. And it would be a win for those who understand our Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. We all know in 1976 Congress passed a law allowing citizens to sue the government if they feel their constitutional rights have been violated. In recent years, groups like the ACLU have twisted this law to advance their agenda of eliminating any public expression of religion. By using the threat of a lawsuit combined with uncertain jurisprudence on the issue, these groups have been able to bully local governments into removing any expression of religion whatsoever, and this affects public seals, Boy Scouts, veterans memorials, Ten Commandment displays, among other things. Slowly but surely, groups like the ACLU are using the practice to remove any public acknowledgment of religion. This bill protects religious freedom by eliminating the unfair advantage groups like the ACLU enjoy. By denying these groups the ability to collect attorneys fees in establishment clause cases, this bill puts America's countless cities, towns and localities on a level-playing field. No longer would the taxpayers in these towns be forced to foot the bill to defend their constitutional right to freedom of religion. The bill addresses a real concern in a meaningful way. I urge all Members to support its passage.