Joseph Pitts

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, since September 11 America has been extra security conscious. Congress too has been taking extra precautions to make sure the people who work here are safe and as they do the people's business. We have extra jersey barriers up and a couple of side streets are blocked off to traffic. There is one more measure that I think we need to recognize. The Capitol Police are working overtime, a lot of overtime. The dedicated officers of the Capitol Police have been working 12- hour shifts with only 1 day off a week. They are doing this to keep all of us safe. They are doing this to protect this building. This building is the symbol of American democracy. It is the symbol of freedom around the world. So thanks to the men and women of the Capitol Police, the rookies and the veterans alike. Do not think that you are not appreciated. What you are doing is greatly appreciated by all of us.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, we learned last week that just because a person has an advanced degree, there is still no guarantee that they are ethical or that they even exercise common sense. Some scientists are claiming today that they need to clone human beings in order to develop cures for diseases. We have been cloning animals for years; and not one, not one animal study has resulted in even a single useful therapy. The history of animal cloning is replete with defects, deformities, and death. Dolly the sheep was the 277th try. To clone a human being, scientists will have to sacrifice hundreds and thousands of tiny human beings who will die because they are mutated and full of genetic defects and used for experimentation and harvesting of organs and cells. Mr. Speaker, human life is human life. This kind of mad science should not be permitted. The House has passed the cloning ban. It needs to be passed into law so the American people can rest assured our government still knows right from wrong. It is obvious some scientists do not.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss trade promotion authority. America's taxes on foreign imports are already near zero, but foreign taxes on the products of U.S. workers are often prohibitive, killing American jobs and opportunity. Cutting or eliminating foreign taxes on American exports is thus the key to expanding America's economic leadership. Trade expansion through lower foreign taxes will help increase economic growth. Already, the growth in foreign markets is helping to create jobs for Americans. One in three U.S. farm acres is planted for export and 12 million American jobs have been generated by exports. In order to achieve reductions in foreign taxes on U.S. exports, the executive branch must have the specific authority from Congress to negotiate trade agreements with other countries. This authority, known as trade promotion authority, lets America speak with one voice in international trade negotiations. It is the key to opening foreign markets to America's farmers, workers, investors and businesses.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the issue of trade promotion authority today. The benefits of international trade have been clear for decades. Trade fosters not only economic growth, but also the growth of free and democratic societies around the world. As the most prosperous Nation in the world, we understand the importance of expanding trade, and expanding trade helps spread our values overseas. It is not a coincidence that many of the economies most engaged in trade have also pursued political freedom. South Korea, Taiwan, and Mexico are just three examples. If economic isolation were the answer, then Cuba and North Korea would be among the wealthiest and most prosperous countries in the world. Now more than ever the U.S. has a moral obligation to lead the fight for democracy around the world. Free trade offers one of the best ways to promote a democratic society. We must lead by example. Support trade promotion authority.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today in Kabul and other cities in northern Afghanistan, men are shaving off their beards. Women are going outside unescorted by male relatives, and without wearing burqas to cover themselves head to toe. Children are playing music on their tape recorders. These may seem like minor things, but they are minor things that the Afghan people have been denied for too long. We need to remind ourselves that our freedoms are not free. They were won by patriots who sometimes gave their lives. I am talking about the freedom to worship according to your beliefs. If you do that in Afghanistan, you are put to death. I am talking about the freedom of the press. If you try to publish a newspaper in Iraq, you are thrown in jail, never to return. I am talking about the freedom of assembly. If you try to organize a political rally in North Korea, you will wake up in a concentration camp. We are truly blessed in this country and those freedoms are worth defending. That is why we are at war, for freedom.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the new king of Morocco, King Mohammed VI, seems intent on renewing conflict in Western Sahara. The King recently visited Moroccan troops stationed in the Occupied Territory of Western Sahara to celebrate the 1975 anniversary of the Moroccan invasion. The King initiated new oil contracts for Western Saharan land with American and French companies. The King of Morocco is acting as if Western Sahara is Moroccan territory. The 1975 International Court of Justice decision clearly states there are no ties, quote, ``of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco.'' The Sahrawi people love democracy and the American people and have rebuffed attempts by rogue nations to get involved in their conflicts. The provocative acts of King Mohammed VI could plunge North Africa into conflict and instability, a perfect opportunity for the terrorist extremists in Morocco to attack innocent Moroccans, Algerians, and others. Morocco's continued blocking of the referendum for the Sahrawis makes it quite possible that hostilities could resume. I urge the Moroccan Government to stick to the original agreements arrived at under the United Nations.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 254 and to celebrate our American legacy of religious liberty, to honor the 300th anniversary of Penn's Charter of Privileges, Pennsylvania's first constitution, the 250th anniversary of the Liberty Bell, and the 225th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Speaker, the events of September 11 serve as a powerful reminder that religious faith is deeply embedded in the hearts of many Americans. In times of chaos and uncertainty, many Americans turn to religious faith to reestablish priorities and to gather strength for the days ahead. Our Founding Fathers knew that our American experiment would only succeed if men and women acted in good faith. Our American way of life is based on the belief that people will do what is right instead of what is easy or convenient. But the Founders also believed that that would happen only for as long as we had faith in God. And so they encouraged religious expression. William Penn was born in England on October 24, 1644, the son of a wealthy English admiral. He grew up in a time of tremendous tension between England, France and Spain and the New World. He assumed that he would become a soldier, and he did. But in 1681, after the death of his father, Penn was granted a tract of land from King Charles II that later became known as Pennsylvania. Penn called Pennsylvania a holy experiment, a place where religious freedom and religious faith would be celebrated. Penn believed that religious faith contributed to good government. Penn's beliefs about the role of religion in public life were clearly demonstrated in his Charter of Privileges in 1701. As a result of Penn's emphasis on religious liberty, Pennsylvania, and particularly Philadelphia, became a haven for those who had been persecuted for their faith. In fact, Philadelphia was one of the only places in the English-speaking world where Roman Catholics could legally worship. A plaque on St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in Center City Philadelphia reads: ``In 1734, the provincial council of Philadelphia, defending the liberty of worship granted by William Penn to this colony, successfully withstood the demand of the governor of the province that this church be outlawed and such liberty suppressed. ``Thus was established permanently in our Nation the principle of religious freedom, which was later embodied into the Constitution of the United States of America.'' Mr. Speaker, Americans of all faiths are indebted to William Penn's vision of religious pluralism. These days we seem to want to say that it does not matter what a person believes as long as he or she does not believe it very strongly. Well, Mr. Speaker, deep-seated religious faith and a commitment to moral absolutes served as the bedrock of the founding of our Nation. The abolitionist movement, the civil rights movement and the women's suffrage movement all have their roots in religious faith and convictions. Those brave men and women fought diligently to ensure justice in our Nation. Those men and women were not merely invested in religious rhetoric. They earnestly believed that through their work, they were being faithful to God and His precepts. Philadelphia's famous Liberty Bell was commissioned to honor the 50th anniversary of Penn's Charter of Privileges. The inscription on the Liberty Bell is a quotation from the Bible, the book of Leviticus: ``Proclaim liberty through all the land to the inhabitants thereof.'' And so, Mr. Speaker, we should not be embarrassed to speak about the religious faith of our forefathers or to speak about our own religious faith. There is nothing to be gained by rewriting history and editing out God or by emptying religious quotations or symbols of their original meaning. There is nothing to be gained from suppressing religious faith in public life. But there is everything to be gained from working to maintain the kind of pluralistic spirit of William Penn. This spirit allows individuals to hold deep religious convictions, to defend those convictions, and even express those beliefs. Mr. Speaker, we are all proud of our Nation's history. We recognize that religious bigotry is fundamentally un-American. Recently, I was deeply disturbed to learn that two Americans who own a diner in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, were singled out for discrimination because of their religious faith and ethnic background. They are Muslims and Egyptian Americans. These two men, owners of a local restaurant, were the subject of groundless rumors and speculation simply because one of them has Osma as his first name. Religious bigotry is contrary to the spirit of the Declaration of Independence. In this country, we believe all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The role of government is to allow the free expression of religion, not to hinder it. We tamper with religious freedom at our peril. Mr. Speaker, over the past 2 months, many Americans have been faced with a type of uncertainty that they never thought possible. Yet this fear has caused them to reflect on what it means to be an American. I urge my colleagues to support the freedoms that made our country great. Support H. Con. Res. 254.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, workers and farmers in Pennsylvania sold products ranging from chemicals to foodstuffs to pharmaceuticals to over 200 countries last year. Those sales added up to over $24 billion and supported well over a quarter-million jobs. I shudder to think that the absence of trade promotion authority, or TPA, could jeopardize these jobs and the families they support. Without TPA, American negotiators will not have the authority they need to make sure our foreign markets will not be undercut or blocked by our competitors. H.R. 3005 is a bipartisan compromise TPA bill. We need to pass this legislation to make sure that the U.S. negotiators are on equal footing with their foreign competitors. If we fail to renew trade promotion authority, we will be failing to fight for the American workers who depend on exports, and we will be failing to fight for the countless new opportunities that the global marketplace will provide for our workers in the future. America's workers are the world's most productive. The only thing that can beat us is unfair foreign trade barriers designed to eliminate our competitive edge. So let us support the trade promotion authority bill.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, a month ago, a Dr. Zavos of Cyprus announced that he expected to be able to create a cloned human being within 3 or 4 months. That means 2 or 3 months from now. Mr. Speaker, cloning human beings is wrong. Cloning human beings is immoral. Any scientist who intends to clone a human being should be stopped. The scientific community says so, the American people say so, and earlier this year, the House of Representatives said so. The few scientists who promote cloning call it progress. Well, I want to remind my colleagues that years ago Adolf Hitler employed the science of eugenics and also called it progress. The Nazis wanted to create a race of German supermen, the way dog breeders try to breed championship dogs. That was wrong. It was stopped, and it has not been tried again. Now we have a few rogue scientists trying to clone human beings. We cannot stop Dr. Zavos, only the Government of Cyprus can do that, but we can stop the scientists in this country who are trying to do the same thing. The other body needs to bring this bill up for a vote before it is too late.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer condolences to the families of the 16 Pakistanis brutally murdered on Sunday as they worshipped in their church in Pakistan. Barbaric criminals burst into the church, locked the doors behind them and started firing guns into the worshippers. These twisted terrorists then continued to pump bullets into toddlers and women who lay wounded and dying in a pile on the floor of the church. To the families of those killed, please know that our hearts and prayers are with you in this time of suffering and mourning. In the midst of the important battles against terrorists and the Taliban, our Nation must also continue to stand with those around the world whose fundamental rights are violated at the hands of extremists in their communities. The danger faced by Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities in Pakistan cannot be overestimated, particularly in this time. I commend President Musharraf for his unequivocal condemnation of this tragedy and his pursuit of the murderers, and urge him to do all in his power to ensure that this does not happen again and that they bring these criminals to justice.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, since September 11, we in Congress have joined the President in making clear that this is not a war between the West and the East or a war against Islam. This is not a war between America and Afghanistan. In fact, we are doing as much as we can right now to help the people of Afghanistan. This is a war between all civilized nations and the barbaric terrorists and those who harbor them. Just a few days ago, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, the highest and most respected Islamic authority in the world, who resides in Egypt, also made this clear. The Grand Imam said that the Koran specifically forbids the kinds of things the Taliban and al-Qaeda are guilty of. He said the jihad Osama bin Laden has called for against America is invalid and not binding on Muslims. He said that ``Islam rejects all of these acts.'' He called terrorism un-Islamic. In fact, he says, ``Killing innocent civilians is a horrific, hideous act that no religion can approve.'' Mr. Speaker, this war may take a long time to win, but we will win it and the world will remain united against terrorism and removing evil terrorists like Osama bin Laden from the caves where they hide.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last Friday America lost two of its best and brightest. Specialist John Edmunds and PFC Kristofer Stonesifer died as their helicopter crashed in Pakistan while supporting a nighttime mission. Both of them were assigned to the 75th Ranger Regiment out of Fort Benning, Georgia. Both men were committed to excellence. Private Stonesifer's ROTC instructor said, ``He wanted to be the best soldier in the U.S. Army, and the best soldiers in the Army are in the Ranger battalion.'' On September 11, America was shaken. We learned once again that freedom is not free. Freedom of religion, speech, assembly, and press were won at the cost of American lives. Mr. Speaker, this great Nation is learning once again, to preserve these freedoms some brave and dedicated men have to put their lives on the line. On Friday, Private Stonesifer and Specialist Edmunds paid the ultimate cost for our freedom. Every American owes these two Americans a debt of gratitude.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to bring to the attention of my colleagues the sudden death of His Excellency Lkhamsuren Enebish, Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia. He was, in effect, the Speaker of the Mongolian Parliament and Secretary General of the ruling Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party. He was considered one of the most significant leaders of modem Mongolia. I know my colleagues will join me in expressing our condolences to President Natsagiin Bagabandi, Prime Minister Nambar Enkhbayar, and the people of Mongolia. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of meeting Mr. Enebish and knew personally of his commitment to strengthening U.S.-Mongolian relations. Indeed he was in Washington, D.C. only a few months ago with Prime Minister Enkhbayar and other officials to engage U.S. officials on a range of bilateral issues. Mr. Enebish had a distinguished career in public service, beginning in the early 1970s as an engineer and director at the Architecture Bureau in Ulaanbaatar. He served in many capacities in city government until he was elected Mayor of the capital city Ulaanbaatar in 1990. He also held the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, First Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government Privatization Commission. We all recognize what a great loss this is to Mongolia and wish to extend our sympathy and best wishes.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a resolution commending the life and work of William Penn--particularly his foundational document, the Charter of Privileges--and celebrating the anniversary of the Liberty Bell and the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. William Penn was a distinguished statesman and a principled fighter for religious freedom. Penn was ahead of his time in his thinking about religious freedom and Native American rights and his commitment to republican principles. Revolutionary for its time, Penn's Charter is considered by some to be the Magna Carta of American religious liberty. Mr. Speaker, the events of September 11 are an eloquent reminder that liberty is not something that we should take for granted. Many people around the world are denied the right to worship freely and to have basic human rights--such as the freedom of assembly and the freedom of association. We must remember that it was not long ago, in the history of our own nation, that religious freedom and human rights were reserved for a privileged group. When Penn wrote his Charter of Privileges, in Penn's own hometown of Philadelphia, slavery was legal and Roman Catholic worship was illegal. It was in this crucible of prejudice that Penn sought to create a new society--one that would embrace the tenets of individual dignity and freedom of conscience. In the Charter, Penn ensured that no citizen would be discriminated against because of his or her faith, nor would any citizen be denied a role in civil government because of the expression of his or her faith. Penn recognized the role of religion in public life and affirmed its importance. Penn's vision of a free society with freedom of religious conscience was conceived in the Tower of London where he was imprisoned for his Quaker convictions. Penn's radical dream that Philadelphia would be a city of brotherly love--where liberties entirely unknown elsewhere in the world would be legislated and practiced--set a new standard for religious liberty that profoundly impacted American history. Many people are unaware that the Liberty Bell was made in order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Penn's Charter of Privileges. With the Liberty Bell as its inspiration, abolitionists in Pennsylvania moved swiftly to make Pennsylvania one of the first colonies to work toward the abolition of slavery. In addition, the Liberty Bell was tolled to summon the citizenry to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence on July 8, 1776. Under William Penn's leadership, an atmosphere of liberty and religious tolerance was cultivated that had a large impact on the intellectual and commercial life of Pennsylvania, particularly Philadelphia. Some of our nation's founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were crafted in Philadelphia during this time of extraordinary commitment to individual liberty. Mr. Speaker, throughout our nation's history, we have been fortunate to have men and women of strong character and firm convictions who have led our country to greater heights and a purer vision for our nation. William Penn was such an individual, and it is my privilege to honor him today by introducing this resolution.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, Osama bin Laden's thirst for destruction is only limited by the tools he has at hand. Last month, his henchmen destroyed the World Trade Center and took almost 6,000 innocent lives. Many of us said at that time that if he had chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, he would use them. Well, now we have confirmation. Russia's Interfax news agency is reporting that al-Qaeda has repeated attempts to buy nuclear material through the Russian Mafia. There is a lot of surplus weapons-grade nuclear material left in Russia left over from the Cold War and some of it has ended up on the black market. Bin Laden established contacts with representatives of Russian organized crime gangs in Germany, Belarus, and Russia. As far as we know, bin Laden has been unsuccessful in his attempts to purchase or build a nuclear weapon. But how about all the other terrorist groups? How about Iraq or some other rogue regime? Mr. Speaker, this revelation makes removing terrorism from the world even more important today than it was yesterday. The terrorists are insane men who must be stopped. Make no mistake, we will do it.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, right now this country is united like never before. The President has a 90 percent approval rating. His handling of the war has a 94 percent approval rating. Bipartisanship is the rule of the day in Congress, and the flag is flying everywhere. One organization, however, it seems, has a problem with this patriotism. When Breen Elementary School in California put up a banner that says ``God Bless America,'' the ACLU decided they had a problem with it. Get this. They said it was hurtful and divisive. I do not know what planet the ACLU is living on, but there is nothing hurtful or divisive about saying ``God Bless America.'' September 11, that was hurtful. Saying ``God Bless America'' is anything but hurtful or divisive. It is unifying. In fact, that is the whole point of saying ``God Bless America.'' We are all Americans. The American family has come together as a Nation. To some people, saying ``God Bless America'' is just a slogan. To some, a patriotic expression. To others, it is a prayer. But it means something to everyone. And, of course, it comes from that wonderful Irving Berlin song made so famous by Kate Smith. But it is not hurtful, and it is not divisive. The ACLU should stop wasting America's time with threats of ridiculous lawsuits. I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution unanimously.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, in the current crisis, dozens of nations have rushed to our side, not to defend America specifically, but to defend civilization. President Bush said, ``Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.'' The world knows that is true. But one nation stands out and their leader stands out, too. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of Britain, has proven once again that the people of the United Kingdom are unwavering friends who will always stand with us when we are in need. Our military men and women are facing danger today, risking their lives in the fight against terrorism. One nation's soldiers are fighting alongside them, Great Britain's. Prime Minister Blair recalled the time when Hitler was bombing London and America came to her aid. Today Britain is returning the favor. Many nations have united to defend decency and civilization, and each is contributing in its own way; but the lion and the eagle stand out as best of friends and strong allies. Thank you, Britain. Together we will prevail.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Chairman, this amendment does not take money out of the accounts for bioterrorism. I rise in support of the Istook amendment because I believe we should honor the President's pledge to increase funding for abstinence education to a level equal for funding for title X abortion counseling programs. Mr. Chairman, over the past few decades, we have been subjected to the propaganda of the safe sex and the abortion lobbies. They would have us believe that more contraceptives are the answer to the problems of sexually transmitted disease and teen pregnancy despite evidence to the contrary. We need to start teaching our young people the truth. Sex outside of marriage is risky business, and it has physical and emotional consequences. There is no substitute for abstinence when it comes to avoiding problems associated with premarital sex. We need to stop lying to our Nation's youth and stop assuming that promiscuity is an inherent part of adolescent life. Instead, through absence education, programs which have proven to be successful, we need to promote their health and safety. We need to encourage them to exercise self-control. We need to teach them about the benefits of saving sex until marriage. If we believe that children can exercise self-control to avoid smoking, what about premarital sex? Our Nation's children deserve more than free contraception and abortion counseling. Our Nation's children deserve our love and our commitment that we will help them seek the best future for themselves, a future that is free of the emotional and the physical pitfalls that accompany premarital sex. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the Istook amendment to increase the funding for abstinence programs.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of three courageous, humble men, three missionaries with New Tribes Missions of Central America, who served God and the people around them in a truly heroic way: Mr. Mark Rich, Mr. David Mankins, and Mr. Richard Tenenoff worked in a small village in Panama along the Colombian border. In January of 1993, armed guerillas from the FARC kidnapped these three men in front of their wives, young families and friends and held them hostage. Reliable reports now suggest that the men were shot a few years after being taken into captivity. The service of Mark, Dave and Rich and their families in moving to a region of the world fraught with violence and difficulty in daily living when they could have stayed in the United States and lived a comfortable life is a great example to their children and to this Nation what it means to give of ourselves and take seriously the words ``To whom much is given, much will be required.'' This past weekend, a memorial service was held mourning the loss and celebrating the lives of these faithful men, indeed, men for whom the world is not worthy.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, since September 11, journalists have been working overtime to report on the war on terrorism. They have done a good job. Terrorism, the Taliban, Afghanistan, are not well understood by the American people, and our newspapers and electronic media have been working hard to educate us. I have one serious concern, though. Some of our news organizations have decided not to use the word ``terrorist'' to describe the suicidal maniacs who took so many lives 4 weeks ago. Now, I understand that reporters want to be objective. I understand that if they are going to be trusted and taken seriously, the media does not want to take sides. But reporters also have a duty to report the truth. There comes a point when this kind of even-handedness stands in the way of the truth. The truth here is that the killers were madmen and terrorists, willing to take the law into their own hands and kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children. The lie is that they were victims of Western imperialism who died valiantly for their cause. This is not a debate even the media should be removed from, it is a debate between good and evil. If we refuse to tell the truth or call a spade a spade, we are making the killers just a little bit stronger. We should call bin Laden's killers terrorists, because that is what they are.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, we seem to be entering a new era of war protesters. The professional protesters who have been marching against globalism and capitalism and other causes now have a new cause. I respect true pacifists, although I do not agree with them. I believe sometimes we have to fight against tyrants. But we should remind one another that freedom is not free. Our freedoms were not won with poster paint. It was costly. They were won by the blood of patriots. The reason our soldiers fight and die is to secure our freedoms: the freedom, the luxury, even, to protest and carry a sign, and the freedom to be tolerant; the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, and redress of grievances. This war is against terrorists who will kill innocent women and children and take the law into their own hands to achieve their own ends. This war is to guarantee that our people, our children, can have a secure and free future. The intent of the terrorist is not our defeat, it is our destruction. If they had weapons of mass destruction, they would use them. They are seeking such capability as we speak. That is why we must go to war. We must exact justice on the terrorists, and we must prevent them from getting that capability so the world can live in peace and freedom.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, this great and powerful Nation of ours is about to respond. We will respond mightily. We will respond, not just against the terrorists themselves, but against those who harbor and protect them. The Taliban of Afghanistan is at the very top of the list. As we prepare to deal with them, we have to remember the civilians of that country. We must be careful to minimize the impact on the innocent people of Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, I am a veteran. I know that sometimes innocent people die in war, but in the case of Afghanistan, perhaps more than any other, we will be at war with the terrorist organizations and with the government that aids and abets them, not with the people. The people of Afghanistan are victims too. They have been brutalized by the Taliban, by the communists who were there before them. They have not known peace for decades. Millions have starved and become refugees. We will need to help those surrounding countries that will be impacted by the refugees. We need to communicate to the people of Afghanistan, reach out to them and let them know that we are their friends, and that once Osama bin Laden and the Taliban are gone, and they will be gone, we want to be a friend and ally to the people of Afghanistan.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak of the suffering people of North Korea. I am sending each of my colleagues in the House a copy of the most recent Life and Human Rights in North Korea publication, published by the Citizens Alliance for North Korean Human Rights. I urge Members to read this publication, which includes eyewitness accounts of the horrifying torture inside North Korean prison camps and reports by the United Nations. Many North Korean's understandably attempt to flee, but some of them are captured. For women, especially those who have been trafficked into China as sex slaves or domestic servants, a return to North Korea is especially difficult. For example, North Korean women who have dyed their hair or worn earrings undergo painful punishment. Their heads are pounded against the wall; earrings wrenched with pliers from their ears. They said afterwards, after the beatings, starving, and forced labor, they are hard to recognize. In addition, the reports state that ``North Korea not only conducts terrorist operations, but operates warfare training facilities to train international terrorists and other revolutionaries around the world.'' Madam Speaker, the North Korean people must be helped. I urge all Members to take a good look at this book and do whatever they can for the population of North Korea.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the Weldon amendment, since others are criticizing it. I must admit that I am a little embarrassed that some have decided to use this bill and this era of bipartisanship to advance the gay agenda. This Congress and the vast majority of the American people believe that marriage is a sacred union between a woman and a man. This is not a radical concept. No culture in the history of the world has ever thought otherwise. There is no serious religion anywhere in the world that believes otherwise. I oppose using government funds to promote gay partnerships because I have tremendous respect for the families of this country. I oppose using funds in that way because I believe that every child in this country deserves a chance of life with a mother and a father. Mr. Chairman, I know there are a few vocal voices who will disagree. But the violence of our country that we just suffered requires our unity. We should not be talking about this divisive issue now and trying to move the gay agenda. I urge my colleagues to vote for the Weldon amendment so that we can get on with the real business facing our country.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, times of trouble expose either the greatness or the weakness of a leader. Last week, we saw our President rise to become the chief steward of freedom on planet Earth. It was a sight to behold. It was a defining moment in our country. America has once again stepped up to the plate to rid the world of tyranny. Osama bin Laden and the world's terrorists are at war with all civilized people. They are trained, barbaric terrorists who will stop at nothing, even the killing of thousands of innocent people, to accomplish their evil goals. Last week, the President rallied the civilized nations of the world against the world's terrorists and those who harbor them. All nations, Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhists, will unite to accomplish this noble goal. There is no fence-sitting this time. Mr. Speaker, great words have been spoken in this Chamber. Example, ``Our Nation, this generation, will lift the dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.'' Mr. Speaker, those were the words of George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States. Those are some of the words we heard last week, a rallying cry to freedom-loving people around the world.