Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

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 ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 535) honoring the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 535, honoring the life, the legacy and the example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. I commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for introducing this resolution. I would also like to thank the leadership, along with Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos of the House International Relations Committee for helping to bring this important resolution to the floor today. Mr. Speaker, on November 4, 1995, Prime Minister Rabin was tragically assassinated at a peace rally in Kings of Israel Square in Tel Aviv, Israel. Moments before his death, Rabin said the following to tens of thousands of Israelis: ``Peace entails difficulties, even pain. Israel knows no path devoid of pain. But the path of peace is preferable to the path of war.'' Prime Minister Rabin symbolized the complexities of Israeli society. He fought in the war of independence, which established the State of Israel in 1948, and spent much of his professional life in the battlefield defending the State of Israel militarily. However, his contributions to the greater battle for Israel's security through a negotiated solution is what the people of Israel, the Palestinians and, indeed, the rest of the world remember most 10 years after he uttered his last words of hope and peace in 1995. Under Prime Minister Rabin's leadership, Israel signed a Declaration of Principles Framework Agreement with the Palestinians in 1993 and a peace treaty with Jordan a year later. In 1994, Rabin received the Nobel Peace Prize, saying the following about making peace with the Palestinians at the time: ``Mistakes could topple the whole structure and bring disaster down upon us despite the toll of murderous terrorism, despite fanatic and scheming enemies. We will pursue the course of peace with determination and fortitude. We will not let up. We will not give in. Peace will triumph over all our enemies, because the alternative is grim for us all.'' Prime Minister Rabin paid the ultimate price for peace; and after his death, his beloved wife, Leah Rabin, carried on her husband's message. After Mrs. Rabin's passing from lung cancer, her daughter Dalia Rabin is leading her father's mission for hope and peace. This resolution is also a testament to their hard work and commitment to the ideals of their father and husband, Yitzhak Rabin. Thanks to the generosity of so many people, Mr. Rabin's legacy will permanently be commemorated in the State of Israel through the opening of the Yitzhak Rabin Center for Israel Studies. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the passage of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I also commend my good friend from New York (Mr. Engel) for this resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk). (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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 I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 438, which I am proud to cosponsor. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) for their initiative in drafting this measure. Let me also thank the chairman and the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations and the House leadership for moving this resolution to the floor so rapidly. Mr. Speaker, as the current session of the General Assembly of the United Nations winds toward a close, there are still important decisions to be made. Will the United Nations reform itself along the lines suggested by the United States, indeed, by this House? Many of these reforms are supported widely among the member states of the U.N. and even in some parts of its bureaucracy. Or will it continue along its way, wasting money and political capital on what lawyers might call ``larks and detours''? Among the most wasteful of the activities of the U.N. is its incessant use of funds and time on Israel-bashing resolutions and institutions. While these were never good ideas, and have been opposed by all American administrations, any excuse for supporting them has simply disappeared with the changes in the situation on the ground in the Middle East. The resolution carefully catalogs the abysmal record of the United Nations' one-sided criticism of Israel over the decades. I will not repeat the details that are covered in the resolution; but it is enough to say, enough is enough. It is time to bring this unacceptable behavior to an end. The United Nation has legitimate work to do. It should not sully its hands further with this one-sided agenda which serves no useful purpose, but only prevents it from doing good where it might be able to do so. Mr. Speaker, I ask the administration which has been working on these issues energetically to increase its efforts to correct this situation, including through the elimination of Palestinian offices and commissions that serve to fuel the anti-Israel bias and the resolutions that they always consider. I included such a mandate in the U.N. Reform Act, the Henry Hyde bill, and I look forward to working with the administration toward this goal. When our current permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador John Bolton, was Assistant Secretary of State for organizational affairs during the administration of the first President Bush, he executed a masterful strategy aimed at the repeal of the infamous Zionism is Racism resolution of the General Assembly. Mr. Speaker, I have every confidence that given his energy and the backing of the Department, he will have success in carrying out the agenda outlined in this resolution before us. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to render their strong support for this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, it is perhaps difficult for some to comprehend the extent of our successes in Iraq because they are focused on isolated incidents rather than looking at the totality of our efforts. So to fully grasp how far Iraq has come, it is necessary to take stock of these successes. My stepson, Doug Lehtinen, and his fiance, Lindsay Nelson, are serving in Iraq right now. They are marine officers flying F-18s along the Syrian border. They know that the security component of our efforts in Iraq is the cornerstone for our mission for victory. Iraqis are playing an ever-increasing role for providing for their own security. The Iraqi army and police forces are growing larger and are better trained and they are more effective than ever. The Iraqi army and security forces grew from just one operational battalion in July 2004 to more than 120 today. Many critics note that only one battalion is rated at what the U.S. Army categorizes as a level one, fully independent degree of operability. However, over 40 are at level two, which are capable of fighting, with some support, usually just logistics or artillery support from our coalition forces. All of these units are patrolling their own areas of operations, and the cities of Najaf and Mosul are now patrolled exclusively by Iraqi security forces, as are large portions of the city of Baghdad. And there are also roughly 80 battalions, both police and military, identified as category three and are currently fighting alongside our U.S. and coalition forces. As a result, the United States military recently transferred more than two dozen U.S. established bases to Iraqi control. In addition, there are now currently 25,000 Iraqi special police officers who can conduct combat and commando operations as well as routine policing duties. Also, there are 75,000 Iraqi police officers trained and equipped. And looking to the future, Mr. Speaker, the current plans include establishing 10 Iraqi army infantry divisions. That is 160,000 soldiers, 135,000 regular police officers, 9,000 border police, in addition to the current force of 18,000, and 3,000 additional highway patrol officers in addition to the current level of 3,000, by the year 2007. Today, thousands of young Iraqis are volunteering, volunteering for service, and they are training to become soldiers and police officers at several facilities throughout the country of Iraq. As a result, over 225,000 Iraqi soldiers and police officers will be available to provide security for Iraq's nationwide election in just under 2 weeks. Yes, the third successful election which will take place in just a few days. Today, Iraqi security forces are strong enough to garrison and control cleared areas, as recently illustrated in the leading role taken by the Iraqis in the successful September 2005 offensive in Tal Afar. Both U.S. and Iraqi forces have enjoyed additional successes in eliminating insurgent strongholds in Fallujah, in Mosul, in Najaf, in Samara, and in many other smaller towns along the Syrian border. The increasing effectiveness of the Iraqi security forces has inspired optimism among the Iraqi people, and this is reflected in the growing number of intelligence tips from Iraqi civilians. According to reports in March 2005, Iraqi and coalition forces received 483 intelligence tips from Iraqi citizens. This figure rose to 3,300 in August and to more than 4,700 in September. This has translated into further public confidence in the security situation in Iraq. Simultaneously, the increasing effectiveness of the Iraqi security forces has caused fear and derision within our enemies' ranks. Significant success securing the Syrian border, previously a sieve for Iraqi and foreign insurgents, has made it tougher for Syrian-based insurgents to orchestrate or support attacks in Iraq. As a result, homicide bombings by Islamic jihadists has reportedly been down 30 percent since the October constitutional referendum. So the military and the security components of the strategy are laid out in the national strategy for victory in Iraq, as stated by the President, and it is due to the commitment of fighting men and women like my stepson, Doug, and his fiance, but also thanks to the brave men and women of the Iraqi security forces who continue to fight for their emerging democracy. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to look at the situation in Iraq, look at the threat posed by Iraq under the regime of Saddam Hussein, then look at Iraq today. There is no question that we are succeeding.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the gentleman for yielding me time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in favor of the rule and in strong opposition to the underlying resolution. Our mission in Iraq is clear: Peace through strength, victory through resolve. Those who would have us retreat immediately have forgotten what appeasement does to the Islamic extremist madmen and murderers. Our goal in Iraq is honorable and wise. We must see this through to our victorious end. The choice is that simple, yet that important. In his 2005 speech commemorating Veterans Day, President Bush affirmed that it is courage that liberated more than 50 million people from tyranny in the last century, and it is courage that will once again destroy the enemies of freedom. As the stepmother of a proud Marine, Douglas Lehtinen, who, together with my future daughter-in-law Lindsay, is currently serving our Nation in Iraq, and as the wife of a decorated Vietnam veteran, I have witnessed this courage and this commitment to the mission of liberty. In one of his e-mails from Iraq, Dougie asked that I remind the American people that it was not the United States who asked for this global struggle against Islamic extremists. It was the Islamic jihadists who targeted the free world and our Nation long before we entered Iraq. We cannot afford to yield the victory to the Islamic extremists by withdrawing now. Dougie forwarded a piece to me just yesterday by Lieutenant General James T. Conway which best summarizes the opinion of many of our troops about the need to stay the course. Conway states: ``Our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines realize that the biggest threat to mission accomplishment depends on what their fellow Americans do. The insurgents realize full well that the only choice they have of defeating the U.S. military is to weaken the will of the American population.'' He adds, The insurgents in Iraq maim and kill the less protected Iraqis, but their real target is that portion of the American public that is shaped by the news media. Let us heed the message from our men and women in our Armed Forces serving in Iraq. They are in the best position to assess what we need to do, and they are asking us not to pull out of Iraq at this juncture. Iraq is at one of the epicenters of the U.S. comprehensive strategy to fight terrorism worldwide. Our ability to project major Armed Forces to the very heart of the Middle East provides the United States and our allies in the war against terrorism the ability to directly address the tactical and ideological challenges of Islamic extremists. Through the promotion of an incipient Iraqi democracy, we continue our concerted efforts to counter the root causes of Islamic extremists in the region. These radicals are fully cognizant that the emergence of a new and democratic Iraq will inevitably threaten their very survival because freedom threatens them. Democratic governments deny them the funds, the weapons, and the sanctuary that they need to survive. Democracy denies them the new recruits that they need. As such, Mr. Speaker, we must continue to support the people of Iraq in their efforts to strengthen their emerging democracies whose pace of development has been astounding. In January, the people of Iraq turned out in droves to vote in their first free democratic elections. In October, they once again voted to approve their Constitution, and today they are busily preparing for elections in December that will continue Iraq in its transition from a brutal totalitarian state to a free democratic nation. It takes time. We will succeed.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the opportunity to share a few thoughts with my colleagues on recent the elections in Azerbaijan. While the recent November 6th parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan failed to meet U.S. and international standards for a free and fair process, there were some notable improvements over the previous elections. According to the State Department, the Government of Azerbaijan: allowed large numbers of candidates to register; provided candidates with greater access to the media; allowed exit polls and extensive monitoring by domestic and foreign observers; improved voter lists; and took other actions contributing to a more orderly and transparent vote. However, there were widespread reports of major irregularities and fraud--including concerning vote tabulation, as well as intimidation of voters and observers--that may have disenfranchised voters in many districts. In response, Azerbaijani leader Aliyev has, thus far, reportedly: ordered the Justice Minister to fully investigate the election results; dismissed two governors and other officials for election fraud; annulled the outcome of the elections in a fourth voting district; and is probing the results from 20 of the country's voting constituencies for possible violations. Just this week, it was reported that Aliyev dismissed Vagif Ragimov, the governor of Zagatala, a region in western Azerbaijan near the border with Georgia, for alleged interference in ballot counting. Two days earlier, after a three-hour discussion, the Central Election Commission (CEC) reportedly canceled results in the #110 Zagatala constituency in response to reported violations in a majority of the polling stations. Ragimov was reportedly the third governor to be dismissed for attempted vote tampering. These are positive steps but further corrective actions must be taken. For example, investigations should not be limited exclusively to election day problems but must address reports of post-election crackdowns and suppression of dissent. I therefore urge Mr. Aliyev to continue to work closely with the United States, the rest of the international community, and all segments of Azerbaijani society to undertake the necessary reforms to provide for a future in which free, fair and transparent elections are regularly held in a fully democratic Azerbaijan.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate my constituent, Dr. Ana Margarita Cruz on having been named Florida Professor of the Year by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. I would like to thank her for all the hard work it took to receive this prestigious honor. Dr. Cruz's commitment to education, specifically higher education is very commendable. Dr. Cruz's area of expertise lies in area of business management, accounting and taxes. She has a diverse background and has been employed in both the private and public sector. Dr. Cruz's extensive experience and qualifications in the field of business have been recognized, as she is currently the Interim Chair for the School of Business at Miami-Dade College for the Wolfson Campus. As a former educator I understand the importance of an education and the impact a teacher can have on a student's life. I am pleased Dr. Cruz chose such a noble profession, shaping the vision and spirit of the leaders of tomorrow. Once again I would like to offer my warmest congratulations on this tremendous accomplishment. I would encourage Dr. Cruz to continue the efforts that have brought her so far and allowed her to touch the lives of so many.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Operation Pedro Pan for inviting me to share in this dinner commemorating the 45-year anniversary of the Pedro Pan exodus and benefiting two very important causes; the New Children's Village and the Pedro Pan Archives at Barry University. I had the honor of being present 15 years ago when Elly Chovel presented the Pledge of Thanksgiving, which established Operation Pedro Pan. Tonight, I have the pleasure of giving my heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Chovel on receiving the Monsignor Bryan O. Walsh Award for her years of service and dedication to Operation Pedro Pan. Operation Pedro Pan is an organization, which has been influential in shaping the Cuban-American community, as we know it today. Many of the Pedro Pan children who made the sacrifice of leaving Cuba for the pursuit of freedom are the leaders of our community today. Among them is my colleague in Washington, DC, Senator Mel Martinez, who is the first Cuban-American elected to the United States Senate--and a Pedro Pan Child. It makes me proud to see how much Operation Pedro Pan has accomplished in South Florida. Operation Pedro Pan is one of the Cuban- American community's best examples of what can be accomplished through dedication and hard work. Through its advocacy work for children and working to preserve the significance of an important time in Cuban history, Pedro Pan has established itself as a highly respected organization. I wish the best for Operation Pedro Pan. I hope that in the years to come you continue to reach your goals, so that our children and our children's children realize the sacrifices that our generation made in search of liberty. Once again, I thank you for the opportunity to be here with you tonight. I commend Operation Pedro Pan for the leadership they display in our unity year after year and I look forward to continuing my support for their efforts.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

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

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 agree to the resolution (H. Res. 546) condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks that occurred on November 9, 2005, in Amman, Jordan, as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Last Wednesday the world once again looked in horror at the destruction caused by Islamic extremist homicide bombers, this time in Jordan. We were compelled to act and first express our deepest condolences to the victims of this radical movement that has perverted the Koran to fit their extreme twisted ideology of hatred. Perhaps, most importantly, we were compelled to offer every possible form of cooperation in investigating these al Qaeda attacks and in assisting in efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, led by al-Zarqawi. Jordan is our strategic ally in an international war on terror. Jordan has demonstrated its commitment to secure its borders to prevent foreign fighters from entering Iraq to attack our U.S. forces and our Coalition forces as well as innocent Iraqis. It has cooperated in providing critical information that may have helped prevent countless deaths at the hands of these Islamic extremists. Just as critical has been Jordan's leadership in addressing the conditions that breed instability and are manipulated by the likes of al Qaeda and other Islamic extremists to recruit and advance their notorious agenda. Jordan has been a leader in reforming politically and economically for the benefit of its people serving as an example for other Arab Nations. King Abdullah's efforts to facilitate and serve as a positive force between Israel and the Palestinians towards peace are noteworthy. Mr. Speaker, the attacks in Amman last week remove the facade that these dastardly acts by Islamic extremists are about anything other than death, destruction and hunger for power, control and continued oppression. These attacks clearly demonstrate the callous and cowardly nature of the Islamic extremist enemy that we are facing, an enemy that is willing to bomb a wedding reception, kill innocent people of all backgrounds and injure over 100 others in order to advance their radical al Qaeda agenda. Freedom threatens them. Al Qaeda mastermind al-Zarqawi, who is believed to be behind the bombings in Jordan last week, acknowledged in a February 17, 2004 letter to al Qaeda operatives, he says our enemy is growing stronger day after day. By God, this is suffocation. We will be on the roads again. One of Osama bin Laden's closest associates wrote in a book published in September 2003 that a far more dangerous threat is secularist democracy. He cautions against democracy's seduction as it drives Muslims to refuse to take part in jihad. I would like to commend the government and the people of Jordan for their courage and their commitment to true democratic reforms. Congress thanks the Jordanian people for their support in the cooperation and the aftermath of our 9/11 attacks, and we stand by Jordan as it tries to give face to this Islamic extremist movement that seeks to pervert Islam and to give Muslims worldwide a bad name. We render our support in your efforts to bring to justice those Islamic extremist operatives, and we will continue to work together to pursue, to disrupt, to undermine and to dismantle the al Qaeda and other Islamic radical networks that have made possible the attacks like the ones in Amman on November 9. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like this opportunity to congratulate my constituent and a long time friend Mikki Canton as the recipient of the 2005 American Jewish Committee's Judge Learned Hand Award. This distinguished award was established in loving memory of Judge Learned Hand, Senior Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit from 1924 to 1951. It is presented to outstanding leaders in the legal community who exemplify the high principles for which Judge Hand was renowned. Mikki Canton is the first Cuban-American woman to receive this recognition, and she also has the distinct privilege of being one of the few Hispanic female managing partners at a major Florida law firm. She oversees the daily operations of the Miami office of Gunster Yoakley, and is the chair of the firm's Corporate Strategic Counseling and Public Affairs departments. Her dedicated service to the citizens of South Florida should serve as a model for all of us. Her devotion and desire to reach out to people in need is not only commendable, but inspirational as well. I would like to thank her for the perseverance she has displayed throughout her legal profession. Mikki Canton is a member of the women's Leadership Board of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, a group that examines public policies relating to women. She is the Florida chair of the Fellows of the American Bar Association and sits on the board of several large local charities. I am proud to recognize Mikki Canton for her tireless dedication to the well being of our South Florida residents. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mikki on her wonderful service to our community.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I first want to thank the leadership for bringing House Resolution 38 before the House today. This resolution was unanimously adopted by the House International Relations Committee on September 15, and it expresses support for the accession of Israel to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the OECD. More than 50 years have elapsed since George Marshall's speech at Harvard, which led to the Marshall Plan and the creation of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation, which is the forerunner for the OECD. His vision of economic cooperation based on common values and policies is now shared by even more countries, which are enjoying mutually beneficial relationships for their membership in the OECD. Israel has been attempting to join the OECD since the year 2000 when it met the organisation's industrial and per-capita product criteria. Not only could OECD membership enhance Israel's status in the global market and within international financial institutions, but also other OECD countries could potentially benefit in the science and high tech sectors due to Israel's economic and advanced technological standing. Israel also shares in the commitment to democratic governance and free market principles, and those are the foundations of the OECD. As a result, in December of 2004, Israel was invited on an ad hoc basis to participate as an observer in discussions of the trade committee of the OECD. Since then Israel has been asked to take part in the OECD's Insurance and Commerce Committees, and in March of this year Israel was formally accepted as an observer of the OECD's Financial Statistics Committee. As articulated in the resolution before us, Mr. Speaker, Israel meets the OECD's membership requirements and has been an active participant as a nonmember country in various OECD activities, such as adherence to the OECD Declaration on International Investment and Multinational Enterprises. Mr. Speaker, in the aftermath of Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Israel needs the support of its staunchest ally, the United States, to help expedite the process of achieving full membership in all international forums. The United States must make it clear to the international community that Israel must be afforded full representation in all appropriate agencies and bodies. Inclusion of Israel as a full member of the OECD is a positive and important first step. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this important measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for his help on this resolution as well as the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde). Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.