Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, last spring, China passed the anti- secession law to give Chinese leaders the right to use force against Taiwan if they suspect separatist activities in Taiwan. This law assumes the unification of China and Taiwan and proposes that those opposed to the unification are subject to punishment. In addition to the enactment of the anti-secession law, China's rapid military build- up has given the Taiwanese people a sense of dread. In a recent public opinion poll, 70 percent of Taiwanese people oppose China's institution of the ``anti-secession'' law. Mr. Speaker, the freedom loving people of Taiwan deserve to be treated with respect. I stand with the people of Taiwan in their zeal for freedom and liberty.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me this time. I rise in support of the resolution before us, S. Con. Res. 79, because this resolution is a reinforcement and a restatement of longstanding U.S. policy to prohibit direct assistance to the Palestinian Authority except under such strict and specific circumstances in furtherance of U.S. foreign policy and our security objectives. It has long been U.S. policy to bring both sides of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict to the negotiation tables and to work out a peaceful compromise. For years, we supported Abu Mazen economically and politically, hoping and praying and wishing that it would strengthen the moderate constituency that does exist in the Palestinian territories. Yet time and again we have repeatedly asked the Palestinian leadership to dismantle the Islamist terrorist infrastructure in its midst, to disarm these jihadists, to promote tolerance and to accept Israel. But this was not to be. The U.S. has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on programs to address the needs of the Palestinian people. Those include work programs, infrastructure projects, in addition to humanitarian aid, aimed at providing food, sanitation services, and medicine to the Palestinian people. We have done all of this, Mr. Speaker, in an effort to foster the conditions that would bring about peace and security for both the Israeli and the Palestinian people. Last summer, Israel underwent a sacrifice of historic proportions by withdrawing from Gaza. Why did Israel do this? Israel withdrew from Gaza in hopes of making progress toward a peaceful solution to this conflict. Yet, despite all of these efforts, Hamas, an Islamist extremist jihadist entity, was allowed to participate in the recent Palestinian elections and, as all of us know, won control of the Palestinian government. U.S. monetary and political investment has produced little, if anything, in return. In fact, soon after these Palestinian elections in January, Hamas placed disturbing videos on its Web site, videos which glorified bloodshed and terror. One of the clips included a farewell scene between a mother and her Palestinian terrorist son as she helps him dress for his suicide mission against Israel. Another clip is of two Hamas terrorists expressing their message to the Jews. And the first terrorist says: ``My message to the loathed Jews is that there is no God but Allah. We will chase you everywhere. We are a nation that drinks blood, and we know that there is no blood better than the blood of the Jews. We will not leave you alone until we have quenched our thirst with your blood and our children's thirst with your blood. We will not leave until you leave the Muslim countries.'' The second Hamas terrorist made the following statement: ``In the name of Allah, we will destroy you, blow you up, take revenge against you, and purify the land of you, pigs that have defiled our country. This operation is revenge against the sons of monkeys and pigs.'' These horrific clips, again, were posted on an official Web site of the entity that now controls the Palestinian Authority. Hamas' victory in the parliamentary elections poses a direct threat to U.S. strategies for regional stability. We must not and cannot allow taxpayer funds to directly or indirectly assist or support in any way Hamas or any other Palestinian terrorist groups that glorify blood, bloodshed and terror and use violence as a political tool. We must take immediate steps to prevent any further manipulation of U.S. assistance to the Palestinians.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take my Special Order at this time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, while leading a congressional delegation to Afghanistan, I was struck by the progress that the Afghan Government is making toward establishing a democracy, as well as with the enthusiasm and the determination of the Afghan people to finally and deservedly live in a free society. The purpose of this trip, which also included stops in Iraq and Kuwait, was for Members of Congress to see firsthand the efforts being made toward U.S. goals of bringing stability and democracy to these nations. In Afghanistan, where the prospects for reform once looked bleak, a transformation has occurred which has resurrected freedom, established legitimate leadership, and reinvigorated the population. It is difficult to imagine that a mere 5 years ago the Taliban government was thriving in this nation, exporting terrorism and promoting archaic extremism. Today media, cultural, business, and political leaders are free to meet, to discuss, to demonstrate and guide policies which are reforming their nation's economy, opening the political process, and liberating society from the fundamentalist laws which enslaved their nation. This overwhelming progress has been made under leadership of President Hamid Karzai. Having met with President Karzai, I am assured that he is a capable and determined individual and he is able to continue to guide his nation into a transition to a modern democracy. To help facilitate this, Karzai and the Afghan Government are seeking to implement the Afghan Compact, which is a commitment to achieve specific goals relating to security, to the rule of law, to human rights, to economic development, to the elimination of narcotics trade within 5 years. The task ahead remains difficult. It remains lengthy. But with the sustained help of the United States and other international donors and especially the demonstrated optimism and the resilience of the Afghan people, I am confident that the goals of this compact will be realized. The progress being made in Afghanistan also has serious implications for our own Nation's security. Our congressional delegation conveyed to Afghan leaders that Congress remains deeply concerned about the mounting bloodshed in this Nation and over the ongoing narcotics trade which supplies over 90 percent of global opium and heroin. My colleagues and I were also able to meet with high-ranking U.S. military officials, including Commanding General John Abizaid, to discuss the current military situation on the ground. I left impressed with our military's success against the insurgents and confident in our decisive victory over it. Afghanistan was the first foreign front in our campaign to eradicate terrorism, and the success that we have had in eliminating the Taliban and establishing a democratic government is monumental and undeniable. In this area, however, our job is not complete, and America must not yield in our commitment to our troops and to their noble efforts. Standing side by side with its Afghan counterparts, our military will continue to actively seek out and destroy terror elements and work toward establishing complete stability and a transparent rule of law so that Afghanistan will never again be a safe haven for terrorists. At a time when many are questioning the legitimacy of U.S. efforts abroad, Afghanistan serves as the perfect example of why our efforts to bring stability, freedom, and security are crucial, just, and attainable. Clearly, the new Afghanistan is emerging as one of our closest allies in our fight against extremists. While meeting with the Speaker of the Afghan Parliament, he and I discussed the critical partnership which is developing between our two nations. Both nations are committed to furthering our alliance, which has already borne much fruit, with the knowledge that neither nation's goals will most effectively be realized without the friendship and deep cooperation of the other. In our meeting, the Speaker expressed his hope that the Afghan people will serve as a ``bridge to democracy for other peoples of the region.'' I share the Afghan Speaker's hope, and I am confident that the inevitable spread of freedom and democracy will protect and preserve the American way of life here at home and make it available to those currently oppressed abroad. The undeniable progress that continues to be made in Afghanistan makes peace, security, and prosperity all the more assured and protected--for Americans as well as Afghans.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my warmest congratulations to Dave Donahue on the occasion of his retirement from Clear Channel broadcasting. I am certain that all who have had the opportunity to work with him during his illustrious career will miss him. Dave Donahue is a recipient of the Country Music Association's ``Station of the Year Award'', Billboard's ``Top Ten Programmers Award'', and has served on the board of directors for the Country Music Hall of Fame Awards. He became the first Agenda Chairman for the Country Radio Seminar and was its first Exhibit Hall Director. He is a commissioned Kentucky Colonel and a former legislative director for the State of Tennessee House of Representatives. In 2000, Dave was inducted into the Country Music DJ Hall of Fame. Dave Donahue has had a long and successful career that has spanned many years of outstanding service, dedication, hard work, devotion, and love for country music. I am proud to recognize Dave Donahue for his tireless dedication to the entertainment industry. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dave on his wonderful service to the community.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, as my stepson, Douglas Lehtinen, and his fiancee, Lindsay Nelson, wrap up their mission in Iraq, where they have been serving as Marine officers flying F-18s, I want to thank all of the brave men and women who wear our Nation's uniform for their commitment and the service that they are performing. I am pleased that the President's budget submitted to Congress this week provides more funding for the protection of our troops overseas. The budget also provides the necessary funds to win the war on terror and enables our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan to defeat the enemy and protect our liberties. The budget calls for funding that will help our military transform itself to face current and emerging challenges. Whether conventional military threats to our security interests or unconventional ones from terrorists and their supporters, we must be prepared for what tomorrow brings. Thank you, Mr. President, for supporting our troops.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to have my name removed as a cosponsor of H.R. 4354.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Senate bill 1988, a bill to authorize the transfer of items in the War Reserve Stockpile for Allies, Korea. Section 514 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 provides no U.S. Department of Defense articles which have been set aside for future use by any foreign country may be made available for that country's use, unless the transfer is authorized under that act, the Arms Control Export Act, or subsequent corresponding legislation. Consistent with that provision of law, Senate bill 1988 would authorize the President to transfer to the Republic of Korea certain obsolete or surplus U.S. Department of Defense munitions, equipment, and other materiel. The prepositioned stocks established by the U.S. Department of Defense in Korea and Japan in 1973 in order to supplement Korea's military sustainment now constitutes an aging stockpile. Senate bill 1988 would permit the Department of Defense to seek concessions, such as fair market value, from the Republic of Korea in exchange for the transfer of these stocks to Korea's inventory. This approach would be consistent with the ongoing realignment of the United States Armed Forces in Korea and the objective of increased Korean self-sufficiency. It would also reduce the costs to the United States, otherwise necessitated by transporting this materiel back to the United States for disposal and demilitarization. Senate bill 1988's provisions are nearly identical to those contained in section 752 of House Resolution 2601, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for the Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007. H.R. 2601 passed the House on July 20 by a recorded vote of 351-78. The Senate has not yet completed floor consideration of a Foreign Relations Authorization Act. It passed a stand-alone bill, Senate bill 1988, on November 9, 2005, authorizing the transfer of these stocks to the Republic of Korea. Since timely action was necessary to assure the proper management and the disposition of reserved stocks located in that region, this limited purpose bill is before us today. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1988) to authorize the transfer of items in the War Reserves Stockpile for Allies, Korea.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4501.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a bipartisan and bicameral measure. We have worked with our colleagues on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to draft a bill that will assist the State Department in meeting the ever-increasing demand for U.S. passports. The 9/11 bill required that Americans carry a passport when reentering the United States from travel to countries in the Western Hemisphere. This requirement is greatly increasing the demand for passport services. This bill, which has been approved by OMB, will allow the State Department to collect and retain a surcharge of approximately $5 to $8 on each passport. Because the State Department expects there to be a decline in the actual cost of issuing each passport, there will not be an increase in the current price for issuing passports, which is now $97. Presently, the U.S. Treasury receives the revenues from fees charged for the issuance of a passport. As a result of this legislation, the State Department will keep part of the passport fee. The bill narrowly defines the uses permitted of the proceeds from this surcharge. It is for the cost of additional personnel, mailing and similar operational costs that are necessary to keep up with the increased passport workload. The authority for the Department to collect this surcharge will expire in the year 2010. Congress will be able to assess whether this surcharge continues to be necessary. This is an important measure that has been requested by the Secretary of State, and the text has been worked out between the majority and the minority of both the House International Relations Committee and the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee. I urge support for H.R. 4501, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 275, which expresses the sense of Congress regarding modifications in the education curriculum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is unfortunate that some of the textbooks which are used in Saudi Arabian schools foster intolerance, ignorance and anti-Semitic, anti- American and anti-Western views. Extremism in any form endangers the stability of the Middle East and undermines the efforts to create a conflict-free environment. There is an urgent need to promote moderate voices in the Islamic world as an effective way of fighting extremism. Educational reform, with an emphasis on tolerance and respect for religious differences, can enhance the possibilities of harmony in this troubled region. Our children need to learn the concepts of peace and tolerance, not war and hatred. The resolution recognizes the opportunity presented by the ascension of King Abdullah to the thrown in Saudi Arabia to call for education reform in his country. It also establishes that progress on such reform is a priority for the United States and a factor to be considered when determining the level of our diplomatic engagements with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also urges the President to direct the Secretary of State to use the means at her disposal to assist the Saudis in such education reform. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. I congratulate my colleague from Florida. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2329) to permit eligibility in certain circumstances for an officer or employee of a foreign government to receive a reward under the Department of State Rewards Program.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to support the suspension of the rules to bring Representative Kirk's bill, the Terrorist Rewards Enhancement Act, House Resolution 2329, to the floor, and I strongly support its passage. The bill has Chairman Hyde's full and vigorous support, and is much needed in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and other terrorists around the globe. The International Relations Committee has long worked with Congressman Kirk, a member of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, in promoting needed reform and practical changes to the State Department's Justice Rewards program. This program has in the past helped to lead to the capture of key global terrorists like Ramzi Yousef and Amil Kanzi, the fugitive killer of the CIA's several employees, and others. The latest reform is one that Representative Kirk and the International Relations Committee developed after a visit to a very remote part of Pakistan and the Afghan border earlier this year where bin Laden and other radical Islamic terrorists operate and hide. This bill is very simple, Mr. Speaker. It provides authorization for the payment of terrorist rewards by the State Department to those entities of foreign governments who might assist us in finding these terrorists under extraordinary circumstances and when the payment of the reward may lead to the capture of other key terrorists as well. We need the help of agencies of government and foreign agencies around the globe to do this difficult job, especially considering the limits on our own human intelligence sources. In addition, the reward payment must be requested formally in writing by foreign governments and the Secretary of State has complete discretion as to whether to grant it, and the decision is not subject to judicial challenge. It is meant for limited and rare circumstances. Let us give our frontline U.S. agencies and law enforcement personnel around the globe yet one more tool needed to capture and to bring to justice these global terrorists who mean us evil and great harm. I ask for the adoption of the Terrorist Rewards Enhancement Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), the original sponsor of the bill.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 456, which expresses our support for the memorandum of understanding signed by the government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement on August 15, 2005. For three decades, the province of Aceh in southern Sumatra, Indonesia, was the site of armed conflict between the Indonesian military and the separatist Free Aceh Movement. That seemingly intractable conflict claimed approximately 15,000 lives, including those of many innocent civilians. The dynamics there changed in an even more tragic way on December 26 of last year when a massive tsunami devastated the region, killing more than 160,000 people in Aceh alone. Overshadowed by the horror of that natural disaster, the parties recognized that reconstruction would require an end to the civil conflict. For months they worked toward the drafting of a memorandum of understanding to end this conflict which was completed and signed in late August after the leadership of the Free Aceh Movement relinquished their demands for independence. The memorandum grants the people of Aceh long-awaited political powers and a greater share of the revenues generated by the natural resources in the province. It provides for the disarmament of the Free Aceh Movement and troop withdrawals by the Indonesian military. I commend the Indonesian President for the foresight and the initiative that he has shown in this instance, and I hope that it might serve as a template for resolving other long-standing conflicts in his great nation. We share the hopes of the people of Aceh for peace, reconstruction and the development of a civil society in their province. This resolution is a timely show of our support for the peace process. The resolution deserves our unanimous support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I also have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of our time.