Joseph Pitts

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, healthy families are fundamentally important to a healthy America. This should go without saying. According to our best data, out-of-wedlock births and weakened marriages are the principal causes of child poverty, welfare dependence, crime, drug use, and child abuse. But the Federal Government spends $150 billion, that is with a B, on welfare programs to subsidize and support single-parent families, and only $150 million trying to reduce out-of-wedlock births. In other words, we spend 1,000 times as much money supporting single- parent families as we spend encouraging parents to commit to raising their children together. It is time we remembered the traditional two-parent family. Single parents often do a great job, even against the odds. There are millions of heroic single parents in this country doing their best to support and raise their children. But ask them what they think, and they will be the first to tell you that kids would be better off with both mother and dad caring for them.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice concern about attempts underway in Kazakhstan to limit freedom of religion. Currently, several drafts of amendments to that country's 1992 law on religion are under consideration. In the view of the Keston News Service, one of the world's most respected organizations on religious liberty, the passage and implementation of these amendments would move Kazakhstan into the ranks of former Soviet republics with the ``harshest climate for religious freedom.'' Draft amendments to the religion law have surfaced in October 2000, as well as in January and February of this year. Oddly, they lack any indication of origin, which allows government officials to decline to comment on them. It seems clear, however, that the drafts in January and February did not include some of the most onerous and egregious earlier provisions, perhaps in response to criticism. Nevertheless, what remains is more than enough to evoke serious concern. For example, Amendment 5 of the January and February drafts prohibits ``the activity of religious sects in the Republic of Kazakhstan.'' Amendment 16 bans ``the preparation, preservation and distribution of literature, cine-photo- and video-products and other materials containing ideas of religious extremism and reactionary fundamentalism.'' Amendment 11 of the February version introduces the provision that the charter of all religious organizations ``is subject to registration.'' Furthermore, Amendment 6 of the February draft would permit citizens of Kazakhstan, ``foreign citizens and persons without citizenship'' to conduct missionary activity in Kazakhstan ``only with the permission of the competent state organ.'' The drafts also introduce harsh penalties for conducting missionary activity without permission. January's version stipulates fines ranging between two and five month's wages, or up to one year corrective labor, or up to two months in jail. The February draft strengthens these draconian provisions: those convicted could be sentenced to two years of corrective labor, up to six months arrest, or deprivation of freedom for up to one year. Amendment 10 of the February draft would give the state enormous power over religious practice by the people of Kazakhastan--the activity of foreign religious organizations on the territory of Kazakhstan, ``as well as the appointment of leaders of religious organizations in the Republic by foreign religious centers must take place with the agreement of the corresponding state organs.'' Moreover, Amendment 11 requires Islamic religious groups to ``present a document confirming their affiliation with the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of Kazakhstan.'' To quote Keston News Service, ``Any requirement that registration be made compulsory would violate Kazakhstan's international human rights commitments, as would a ban on missionary activity and a requirement for state involvement in the selection of leaders for any religious group.'' Because these drafts have been ``unofficial,'' even local representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Almaty have been unable to obtain any official texts. Nevertheless, on March 6, the head of OSCE center, Herbert Salber, communicated his concerns to the chairman of Kazakhstan's Senate (the upper chamber) of parliament. Mr. Salber described the drafts as having ``masses of shortcomings'' and running ``counter to international legal norms.'' Mr. Speaker, if these draft amendments to the religion law are passed, the effect could be to make only Islam and Russian Orthodoxy the permitted religions in Kazakhstan. Other faiths and religious organizations would be severely restricted if not actually outlawed. It appears that attempts are being made to pass this legislation on March 16, 2001 without even a public reading. Mr. Speaker, I hope the Bush administration will join me in conveying to the leaders of Kazakhstan that we are deeply concerned by this initiative to turn the clock back and to limit the rights of religious believers in Kazakhstan.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize WGAL TV based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. For years, WGAL has done a great job of providing local news and community programming for Lancaster and all of central Pennsylvania. Radio and TV stations air public service announcements from time to time as a service to their communities. I learned this week that WGAL donated a total of 1,062 spots of valuable air time to Ad Council public service announcements. That is about three a day, just for Ad Council. I want to congratulate WGAL on its dedication to its community. Around Lancaster, Channel 8 is known as the hometown station. They have that reputation by caring for our community, doing their part to make the world a better place. On behalf of Lancaster and central Pennsylvania, I want to say thank you to all the good people at WGAL TV, Channel 8, in Lancaster.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, in order to be a leader, one has to have credibility. If you do not have a record of accomplishment on an issue, people simply will not listen. It is worth pointing out that for almost four consecutive decades, Congress was run by our Democratic friends, and never, not once, did they ever balance the Federal budget. Never once did they pay back a dime on the public debt. Mr. Speaker, I am not pointing this out to be partisan. I am pointing it out because now it is those same Democrats who are claiming President Bush's tax relief package will keep us from paying down the debt. Look at the Republican record: Almost immediately after taking control of Congress, Republicans started balancing the budget, paying down our public debt. Four years in a row, we balanced the budget. Four years in a row, we paid down on the public debt. We already paid near half a trillion dollars. We are paying down the public debt; and in 10 years, we will have paid off every dime available to be paid. If we stick with the President's plan, there will be enough for tax relief, Social Security, education and paying off our public debt.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, even now, in the 21st century, atrocities are being committed in other countries that boggle the mind, and not always by individual terrorist groups. They are also being committed by governments. Yesterday, I joined my colleagues, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne), in announcing the reintroduction of the Sudan Peace Act. What is going on in the Sudan is as bad as anything ever committed by any government anywhere: slavery, actual slavery, rape campaigns, starvation campaigns, intentional bombings of churches, schools, hospitals, markets, and villages are happening. This is how the radical Sudanese Khartoum regime intends to put down the Christians, the Animists in the south. The world community has completely failed to stand up to the Sudanese government. Our former Secretary of State, Madelyn Albright, said the crisis in the Sudan ``wasn't marketable.'' But yesterday, Secretary Powell indicated renewed, and I think heartfelt, interest in standing up to the Sudanese. Let us pass the Sudan Peace Act quickly and work with this administration to bring peace in that war-torn land.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, unlike the Soviet Union or the old kings of Europe, this country has always believed in limited government; but some here in Washington, D.C. seem to have changed their minds about that. Over the next 10 years we are going to collect more than $5.5 trillion more than we need. That is almost an unbelievable amount of money. It is more than we need to pay off our public debt, shore up Social Security, fix Medicare, implement the President's education plan, and cover just about every other reasonable expense we have. Even then we will have more than $2.5 trillion left over. It is almost unbelievable that some in this body think we should keep that money in the Treasury until we can find something else to spend it on. This money is not the government's money. We are not supposed to take more than we need. We are supposed to be legislators, not thieves. We need to give this money back to the taxpayers who paid it. We need to pass the President's tax cut plan, and we should do it quickly.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the President came here this week to present his responsible plan for paying down the debt, saving Social Security and Medicare, strengthening our defense and improving education. It is a good plan. It puts issues front and center that both he and his opponent campaigned on. How we get things done will be the subject of debate. Mr. Speaker, some are questioning whether the President's tax cut is large enough. Why leave almost a trillion dollars just sitting in the Treasury waiting to be spent. Perhaps it would be better to increase the size of the President's tax cut and get that money out of Washington and out of the hands of politicians. But some in this body are very ho-hum about tax cuts. They say that we do not need them, that we should keep that money here so it can be spent. Keep in mind that the American people already spend more every year on taxes than they do on food, clothing, shelter and transportation combined. Mr. Speaker, the American people need, deserve and should get a tax cut. If done soon enough, it will help stimulate the economy.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last night President Bush told the American people they deserve tax relief. And he is right. He said ``the growing surplus exists because taxes are too high and government is charging more than it needs. The American people have been overcharged and, on their behalf, I am here to ask for a refund.'' Well, I am on the President's side. We are not talking about a little surplus. We are talking about enough money to pay down the debt; enough money to bolster and save Social Security; enough money to preserve Medicare; enough money to pay off every dime of public debt that will become liquid over the next 10 years; enough money to strengthen our military; enough money to keep $1 trillion set aside for needed spending. And we still have $1.6 trillion left over. How can anyone think we do not have enough for this tax cut? The surplus belongs to the people, not to us. After we have done the work we are elected to do, it is our duty to refund the rest back to the taxpayers who have overpaid. It is not the government's money.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the numerous foreign service officers working in our embassies around the world and at the State Department. I have had the pleasure of working with many of these people here in Washington and at our embassies abroad. The tremendous dedication these men and women bring to their work representing our Nation abroad and our principles is an inspiration and an encouragement to all of us. Their work with NGOs is especially appreciated. The Ambassadors in Thailand, Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia, Ambassadors Hecklinger, Kurtzer, Milam, and Gelbard, have lent their expertise and assistance on various issues and projects. In addition, the work of Jeffrey Rock, Lowry Taylor, David Donahue, Sheldon Rapoport, Susan Keogh, John Bradshaw, Susan Sutton, Angie Bryant, and others has been invaluable. Madam Speaker, I commend these individuals for their important and tireless work on behalf of our Nation and the principles on which our Nation stands.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, on this day in history, February 6, 1865, 136 years ago, the 13th amendment went into effect, ending 246 years of slavery in America. Slavery was introduced into America in 1619 by the Dutch and subsequently encouraged in the Colonies by the British Crown. In fact, it was not until after the Declaration of Independence was signed that it became possible to abolish slavery, and half of the States promptly did it at that time. Significantly, the major opposition to slavery in America was led by religious groups like the Quakers, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and Methodists, and was joined by many of the religious Founding Fathers, including signers of the Declaration like Benjamin Rush, John Witherspoon, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and John Adams, as well as the signers of the Constitution like Rufus King, John Dickinson, James Wilson, and William Livingston. While much attention today is often paid to Founding Fathers who owned slaves, nearly nothing is said of the many who opposed slavery. Therefore, it is worth remembering that the work of so many of our Founding Fathers to end slavery finally came to maturity when the 13th amendment was adopted, 136 years ago.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, some of our friends in the media have suggested that because the President won a narrow election victory he does not have a mandate for his agenda. Well, that is wrong. Every American wants the best schools we can provide for our children. Every American deserves a tax cut. Every American wants us to pay off the debt; and, yes, we can afford to do both. Every American wants to help our seniors get prescription drugs and make sure Social Security will be there for the next generation. In fact, a recent Zogby poll showed that up to 40 percent of the people who voted for Al Gore support the Bush agenda. Education, tax cuts, debt pay-down, strong national defense, strengthening Social Security and Medicare, these are the issues the American people have assigned to us. These are the issues our President has campaigned on. These are the issues the country wants addressed. We have a mandate. The President has a plan. Let us roll up our sleeves, go to work, enact the President's agenda. It is really the people's agenda.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, ethnic and religious minorities around the world suffer because many governments fail to protect fundamental human freedoms such as freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom of assembly. Or, a government fails to concede to the will of the people and imposes its will upon the people. When a government fails to uphold international human rights standards, to respect the wishes of the people expressed through voting or other legitimate mechanisms, or to protect people's basic freedoms from violations, individuals and groups often are harassed, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed. Serious violence and human rights abuses have occurred in Burma through the actions of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). On September 26, 2000, I chaired the Congressional Human Rights Caucus Briefing on Human Rights Concerns in Burma. I would like to submit for the Record the testimony of Mr. David Eubank, Saw Htoo Htoo Lay, Pastor Edmund Htokut, Saw Ka Law Lah, Mr. Stephen Dun, and Major Larry J. Redmon. Testimony of David Eubank Before the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, September 26, 2000 Thank you for this opportunity to share with you about the situation in Burma, and for the opportunity to ask for action to restore democracy in Burma, protect minority rights, and provide immediate humanitarian assistance for the Internally Displaced People (IDP). Current Situation in Burma The dictators of Burma, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), continue to oppress the people of Burma, reject the 1990 democratic elections, hold over 1,300 political prisoners (55 of whom are members-elect of parliament), and brutally violate the human rights of ethnic minority peoples as well as ethnic Burmans. This has resulted in over 1 million refugees that have fled Burma since 1990, and 2 million Internally Displaced People (1 million ethnic Burmans are displaced for government projects, 1 million are ethnic minority peoples displaced by the attacks of the Burma Army and SPDC forced relocation programs.) The ethnic minority IDPs in particular are in immediate need of help. They face starvation, disease and the constant threat of attack by the Burma Army. Those who have been able to escape the SPDC forced relocation sites, are scattered in jungle hiding places, living in fear. If discovered they are brutally attacked by the Burma Army. Their home villages have been plundered and burned and the Burma Army has scattered land mines in and around their villages to strike terror and discourage their return. (In last year alone there were over 1,500 new landmine victims.) The IDPs live in fear with very little hope. HIV infection is on the rise with over 440,000 infected and little State response. Narcotics production and export has increased with profits from the heroin and amphetamine traffic being shared with the SPDC. In 1999, over 500 million amphetamine tablets were smuggled into Thailand. Most of these were produced in the 55 amphetamine laboratories across the border in eastern Burma. 1,750 tons of opium was also produced making Burma the worlds number two producer of opium and heroin. The SPDC has been closely involved with groups that produce and traffic narcotics, helping in 2000 alone, to move over 100,000 form one group to a area adjacent to the Thai border, thus creating a major increase of narcotic traffic into Thailand. The U.S. Department of State 1999 Country Report on Human Rights, the 2000 Annual Report on Religious Freedom, as well as current Amnesty International and International Labor Organization reports all condemn the human rights record of Burma and appeal for change. Rationale for Action (1) The people of Burma are oppressed, tortured, and murdered by the dictator's army, and this is wrong. (2) There was a free and fair election in 1990 and the results should be recognized and democracy restored. (3) The dictatorship allows narcotics production and prospers from its sale. (4) Burma is a client state of China and in return for weapons and other military hardware, allows China to establish SIGINT facilities and naval installations in Burma. This is not good for the people of Burma or for regional security. (5) The people of Burma, in particular the Kachin, Karien, Shan and Karenni, helped the allies drive the Japanese Army out of Burma during WWII. They deserve our friendship and help. Actions Recommended (1) Immediate humanitarian assistance to the 1 million ethnic minority Internally Displaced Persons of Burma (IDP), Assistance includes medicine, food, clothing, shelter, and education supplies. (2) Immediate security for these IDPs. This requires support of the pro-democracy resistance force who make aid delivery and security possible, or international intervention to protect the IDPs or both, international military intervention to protect the IDPs, or both. (3) Call for tripartite dialogue between the SPDC, the Ethnic Groups and the Burma Democracy groups. (4) Implement increased political, economic, and if necessary, military (indirect by support of resistance forces, or direct by international intervention) pressure until the dictators restore democracy, human rights, and minority political rights. (5) Bring those guilty of war crimes in Burma to justice.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time. I rise today in strong support of S. 3194. Bob Walker is a great American. During 20 years in Congress, his commitment to his community back home and to America showed through everything he did. Like the county he came from, he is a strong conservative who believes in the values and principles this Nation was founded on. After decades in the minority, he helped lead the Republican Party to the majority in Congress, allowing us for the first time in decades to balance the budget and begin paying down public debt. Bob grew up in a small university town in Pennsylvania called Millersville. His home is just a few miles up the road in East Petersburg. His father was a history professor at Millersville University, and he grew up exposed not only to the life of the mind but also to the simple bedrock values mainstream America believes in. When he came to Congress, that is exactly how he legislated. He believed America was capable of great things. As chairman of the Committee on Science, he was a passionate advocate of space exploration. As a member of the Republican conference, he believed regaining the majority was possible. As an American, he believed in the power of the American people to be great problem solvers and innovators. As our Congressman, my neighbors and I always trusted Bob to do the right thing, and I still trust Bob for wise advice and counsel whenever I need it. It is because Bob inspired so many of us that I think naming the Millersville post office for him is exactly the right thing to do. Bob's family has been connected with Millersville for decades. His father, as I said, was a professor at Millersville University. Bob's archives are there at Millersville University as well. Lancaster County owes a lot to Bob Walker for 20 years of service. America, I think, owes no less to him for his adherence to principle, even when the right thing to do was not always the popular thing. Naming this post office for Bob is a fitting thank you to a truly great American, and I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill to say thanks to Bob Walker for being such a fine example to us all.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, there is no greater sponsor of terrorism in the world than the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran has taken Americans for hostages, given weapons to suicide bombers, and taken the lead in the movement to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. There is no government more radical, more extremist, or more dangerous to our national interests. So why did Vice President Al Gore cut a deal with the Russians to allow weapons sales to Iran? Al Gore himself when he was Senator introduced the Iran-Iraq Arms Nonproliferation Act in 1992. And now he winks and nods to Viktor Chernomyrdin, letting him know it is okay to violate American national interests. Mr. Speaker, the recent bombing of the U.S.S. Cole demonstrated again how serious a threat terrorism is to America and her allies. It is a violation of law to tell Russians it is okay to sell arms to Iran. Worse, it places American lives at risk. And now they are trying to hide it from Congress. We expect better judgment from a man who wants to be our President.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, as conflict rages in the Middle East and the world's attention is drawn to the crisis, it is vital that we do not forget other peoples around the world who suffer extreme violence. One Sudanese man recently said, ``We feel in Sudan that the world condemns us to die. Why? Our situation the world sees for 18 years, but no one seems to see help. We need mercy.'' A number of Members of Congress have stood on the House floor to describe the horrors occurring in Sudan. Yet, for some reason, this administration believes that the issue of Sudan ``is not marketable to the American people.'' Why in the world are we ignoring the plight of millions of Muslims, Christians, and those of tribal religions whose homes, places of worship, and schools are being bombed? What kind of civilized government bombs a clearly marked hospital or church? Mr. Speaker, the people of Sudan deserve to live in peace. Our administration must ensure that food aid is not used as a weapon by the Khartoum government against the people of the South and we must support the IGAD peace process.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, once again I rise to share my concern over the continued bloodshed in Indonesia. I continue to receive reports that, despite statements of the Indonesian government in Jakarta, the violence, destruction and murder continues in Ambon. The people living in the Malukus are pleading for the international community to get involved and bring them relief, both in terms of humanitarian aid and physical protection. Reports from Indonesian NGOs state that refugees are not only neglected, but are harassed. Recently, at least 32 people were killed in a day-long attack by Muslims on an outlying village in Ambon, the capital of the Maluka Islands. Eyewitnesses stated that the Jihad attackers were aided by government soldiers during the attack on the village of Hatiwe Besar. Many who were killed died violently. Most of them, including a 10- month-old infant, were shot and their bodies were tossed in the fires of houses burned by the attackers. In a different account of recent violence, families in one village that refused to fight were killed and their bodies were found deposited in the wells in the village. Yet another account tells of women and girls who, at the sound of gunfire, ``were desperately clawing at the small yellow buses, hammering on the side for the driver to stop and let them on. As we slowed down, they tried to board our vehicle. I had never seen such fear in people's faces, people who knew the sound of automatic guns meant that the army was in action and that death was not far away.'' More eyewitness accounts reveal that even 3 weeks ago Jihad warriors were still moving by boat into the Malukus from Java and surrounding islands. One man said, ``We desperately need weapons to defend ourselves. Nobody cares about us. Nobody offers to help us. We cannot trust the army because they are often supporting the Jihad fighters. The politicians and authorities talk a lot, but their words and promises are not translated into action.'' Many people who witness the violent attacks confirmed that, although the Indonesian Army was present during the attacks, either nothing was done to protect the villagers or some of the soldiers actually joined the aggressors in shooting at the escaping villagers. Unfortunately, even people such as the current leader of the People's Consultative Assembly, Dr. Armien Rais, openly supported calls for Jihad or an Islamic holy war against the Christians and other religious believers in Indonesia. However, there are other Islamic leaders who clearly state that this jihad should not be happening. ``A.T. Zees, a Muslim leader in Minahasa, told a crowd of Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, and Buddhist leaders Sept. 14 that the jihad fighters should leave . . . In Islam, jihad is a holy war against all evils--not murdering Christians, destroying their houses and churches, robbing, and doing other contemptible deeds,'' he said. ``A number of peaceful Muslims have tried to protect Christians.'' Why does the world not pay attention to the continued violence in which reportedly over 4,000 people have been killed and over 350,000 are now refugees? When the three U.N. workers were killed in East Timorese refugee camps, the whole world raised their voices and condemned the killings-- rightly so. Yet, thousands have died in the Malukus, but instead of outrage, silence has reverberated. Church leaders and other community leaders are pleading for the international community to send aid and protect the people against death from the Jihad fighters. Church leaders say that, if the U.N. will not send peacekeepers, the least we ask is that ships be kept ready to evacuate the surviving Christians. Otherwise they will be forced to choose between Islam and death. Mr. Speaker, a whole population has been targeted and is slowly being wiped out or forced out of their homeland. Why will the Indonesian Government not act so that the killing stops? Where is the outrage in the international community? Something must be done, or we will see the destruction of an entire society. Both Christians and Muslims from this area want peace. They have lived in peace for many years and in friendship with their neighbors. We should ask that the IMF, the World Bank, U.N. officials take appropriate action to let the Indonesian Government know that they must take steps to stop the killing. It is not simply an internal Indonesian affair. The Indonesian people are crying out for help from the international community because they are not receiving it from their own government. Delegations from the U.N. and other countries need to visit the Malukus to investigate and report on the bloodshed and destruction throughout the area. In addition, our government needs to seriously consider the implications of resuming the close military ties with the Indonesian Government. The record of human rights abuses by the Indonesian military is well documented. Further, our government needs to examine the religious nature of these killings. This is not simply a local economic conflict. Declarations of Jihad underscore the religious aspects to the violence, and this must be considered in terms of U.S. Government actions. I enjoyed my visit to Indonesia earlier this year. Indonesia is a land of many resources in its people and its abundance of natural resources. We are friends of the Indonesian people. It is our hope that all the people in Indonesia will be able to live in peace.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, our prayers and condolences go out to our military personnel as well. Mr. Speaker, the Vice President promised us last night that he was going to try to do better at telling the truth from now on. But his performance said otherwise. He told the moderator that he never called George Bush a bumbler, but he is running commercials right now that say exactly that. He said he was not in favor of big tax hikes on gas and oil but he was Washington's number one supporter of a Btu tax on fuel. He even wrote a book calling for hiking the price of gas to $2.50 a gallon. But here is the real whopper. He criticized former President Bush for not removing Saddam Hussein from power during the Gulf War. But on January 30, 1991, Senator Gore said he opposed invading Iraq to take out Saddam Hussein. He said the war should stop as soon as Iraq was out of Kuwait. He said that he wants more effective gun prosecutions, but Justice Department gun prosecutions have dropped 46 percent during the Clinton- Gore administration. Vice President Gore promised he was going to try to do better. Well, he is going to have to try a lot harder than last night.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, reputations are earned. They take a long time to acquire, as one develops and improves his abilities. Like those in centuries past who told tall tales about Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill, it takes a certain talent to stretch the truth. Well, there is another tall tale reported in the papers this morning that was spun some 20 years ago. It is a tale told by a Washington politician who liked to fancy himself a farmer. He told his friends that he was once a chicken farmer. He said, ``I have raised chickens myself, 10,000 at one time, 5,000 in each of two houses.'' The politician who told this tale was also the son of a politician so he grew up in Washington, not on a farm. True, he would go back home to Tennessee once in a while to visit, but all those chickens, they were on another farm that he did not visit. He certainly did not raise 10,000 chickens. This candidate has earned a place among the best spinners of yarns in America. He tells some of the best tall tales today. The tale of the 10,000 chickens is just one more tall tale from Tennessee. Al Gore spins a good yarn.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a bill that my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), has worked tirelessly on. As Americans, we have always worked for justice and freedom in our borders and worldwide, and that is what this bill is all about; justice through criminal penalties and victim restitution for those who would traffic women and children, and freedom for the victims as the United States takes the lead in fighting to end this criminal business around the world. I want to take a moment to thank Dr. Laura Lederer, Director of the Protection Project at Johns Hopkins University. Her work has been vital to those working for the victims of sexual trafficking. I hope she is able to continue her study. Let me just read her quote. ``Sexual trafficking is a huge problem that urgently needs to be addressed. To conceptualize how immense the problem is, imagine a city the size of Minneapolis or St. Louis, made up entirely of women and children. Imagine that those women and children are kidnapped, raped, and forced into prostitution. Imagine it happening every year. Then stop imagining, because it is happening now and in those numbers.'' That is why we are voting on the bill today, and I urge my colleagues to vote for it.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, Governor George W. Bush has rightly pointed out that this boom economy is an opportunity we should not squander. It is an opportunity to get our fiscal house in order to shore up programs like Social Security and Medicare for the next generation. Unfortunately, the opposition does not seem to see it that way. This is the fourth year in a row that the Republican Congress will pay down the public debt. That will bring us to half a trillion dollars in paid- back debt, and we will do it while preserving the Social Security and Medicare trust funds 100 percent intact. Mr. Speaker, 22 days ago we sent a letter to the President asking him to join us in this effort, but he has refused to respond. The only thing we have heard on the matter is what the President said to the newspapers: ``It depends on what our spending commitments are.'' In other words, he would rather add billions of dollars in new spending than pay down the debt, and that is what Governor Bush means when he talks about squandered opportunities.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last night in the Presidential debate Al Gore's words ``No controlling legal authority'' came up. What George Bush should have said is that all those words mean is, ``Catch me if you can.'' Everyone in Washington knows it is illegal to use foreign money. It is illegal to launder money. It is illegal to sell access. It is illegal to use your phones, your computers, your office, your staff, for raising funds. The Democrats have accepted millions of dollars in foreign moneys, laundered money, and turned the Lincoln bedroom and the coffee klatches into a money-making machine. Mr. Gore not only participated and planned, he was a cheerleader of this administration and their corrupt practices in the White House. That is why the American people are disappointed in Vice President Al Gore.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, there appears to be a double standard at the White House. At last count, the First Lady's campaign for the U.S. Senate has cost the taxpayers well over $1 million. She is flying around the Empire State in grand style using military aircraft, full- time Secret Service protection, not only for herself but also for her campaign aides, and continues to drag her feet in reimbursing the taxpayers. She has reimbursed the Treasury just over $6,000 for one 4-day campaign trip in August, but in reality, this trip cost about $60,000 as they flew around in an Air Force C-20. So far she has only reimbursed the taxpayers $185,000, about 5 percent of what she owes. As First Lady, Mrs. Clinton should get the same security and security measures that previous First Ladies have had, but the taxpayers should not be footing the bill for a political campaign for public office. The First Lady should put the American taxpayers' interests first above a personal desire for power.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, the government of Burma has engaged in repressive, brutally violent tactics against its people. Earlier this week we heard testimony of women, children and men being raped, forced into slave labor, and watching their villages and food sources destroyed. Squadrons of Burmese military have tortured and murdered villagers throughout the country. One eyewitness recounts this horror: ``Before the military killed them they captured them, they did not feed them rice or give them water for 7 days. They beat them and punched each of their faces more than 500 times. They sliced their legs and arms and dried them in the hot sun. They stabbed them at least 200 times each. They abused them until they cut out their intestines and then pushed them back in their gut, but didn't kill them right away. They kept them like that day and night and then killed them in the jungle.'' In light of these atrocities, why does Burma not get more attention by the international community? Mr. Speaker, the international community must do something to assist these people who have suffered for too many years at the hands of this brutal dictatorship.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last week, the White House grudgingly released information showing that 404 people have been invited to sleep overnight in the White House since Hillary began her Senate campaign. Today a columnist in the Washington Post reports that 146 of the guests have contributed funds in this election cycle, 98 percent of it to Democrats. About 100 committed to supporting Hillary's campaign; others gave to the Gore campaign; others to the DNC. Sleepovers have risen to 29 per month. That is almost every night. Mr. Speaker, this practice of turning the White House into a Motel 6 for soliciting campaign funds is improper and demeaning to the White House and to the office of the presidency. It is another disgusting example of the Clinton-Gore campaign finance practices, all while they call for campaign finance reform. That is nothing more than an attempt to get public attention away from their blatant ``no controlling legal authority'' violations. The American people deserve better.

Mr. PITTS

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, a woman's right to privacy and parental rights, which we will hear about, does not include the right to kill one's live baby. We heard some of the chilling words during the testimony of Jill Staneck, who presented testimony before the subcommittee. We only heard part of it, so let me read a little bit more. She said, Other coworkers have told me many upsetting stories about live aborted babies whom they had cared for. I was told about an aborted baby who was supposed to have spina bifida but was delivered with an intact spine. A support associate told me about a live aborted baby who was left to die on the counter of the soiled utility room wrapped in a disposable towel. The baby was accidentally thrown into the garbage, and when they later were going through the trash to find the baby, the baby fell out of the towel and onto the floor. I was recently told about a situation by a nurse who said, ``I can't stop thinking about it.'' she had a patient who was 23-plus weeks pregnant, and it did not look as if her baby would be able to continue to live inside of her. The baby was healthy and had up to a 39 percent chance of survival, according to national statistics. But the patient chose to abort. The baby was born alive. If the mother had wanted everything done for her baby, there would have been a neonatologist, pediatric resident, neonatal nurse, and respiratory therapist present for the delivery, and the baby would have been taken to our neonatal intensive care unit for specialized care. Instead, the only personnel present for this delivery was an obstetrical resident and my co-worker. After delivery, the baby, who showed early signs of thriving, was merely wrapped in a blanket and kept in the labor and delivery department until she died 2\1/2\ hours later. It is a sad day in America that we have to vote for a bill to protect infants born alive, but this bill is necessary. We should vote to support the bill.