Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), my good friend. It is always a real honor and a pleasure to work with him. He is a man of integrity, great intelligence, and I consider him one of my mentors. It is always a pleasure to handle a bill on the floor with him. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would merely like to underscore the stark contrast between the Afghanistan that we had under the Taliban and the free Afghanistan that today is working to rebuild from the ruins of over 20 years of war and oppression. But all is not perfect, as we heard from many speakers here today. The road ahead will not be an easy task, but nothing that is worth doing and having usually comes easy. The Afghan people and especially the women of Afghanistan need our support. They need our steadfast commitment to stay with them, to remain engaged for the long haul. This resolution before us reiterates that commitment, a commitment that was articulated by President Bush just this morning, and I ask my colleagues to support the resolution of the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 393) commending Afghan women for their participation in Afghan government and civil society, encouraging the inclusion of Afghan women in the political and economic life of Afghanistan, and advocating the protection of Afghan women's human rights in the Afghanistan Constitution, as amended.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume. In 1996, a heavy shroud was placed on the people of Afghanistan when the Taliban captured Kabul. But the Taliban's brutality and blatant disregard for the lives and the well-being of the Afghan people was perhaps most clearly evident among half of its population, the women of Afghanistan. They had been made destitute, sick and marginalized. They were banned from receiving any education past the age of 8. They were denied proper medical treatment. Throughout, the strong will and courage of the Afghan women helped them endure these most deplorable of circumstances. Today, the Afghan people are free. Women are enjoying freedoms and opportunities previously denied to them under the Taliban. The new Afghan Ministry of Education estimates that over 5 million children are in school, and 42 percent of these are girls. A Ministry of Women's Affairs has been created for the sole purpose of advocating for the rights of women and ensuring their access to, and participation in, all sectors of Afghan society. The current head of the Human Rights Commission is an Afghan woman, Dr. Sima Simar. Afghan women are playing an active role in the political and economic reconstruction of their nation, including as members of the commission responsible for the drafting of the Afghan Constitution. Their contributions can already be seen in this draft document. Articles 44, 83 and 84 of the Constitution mandate the promotion of women's education and the elimination of illiteracy while also establishing requirements that seek to ensure female representation throughout the government. After suffering unspeakable oppression, persecution and violations of their most basic freedoms, the women of Afghanistan, as the women's minister recently stated, ``can have our position in the society, and our people in Afghanistan can be under one Constitution.'' All of these developments, Mr. Speaker, as the International Crisis Group has described it, ``heralded a new day for women in Afghanistan.'' However, this would not have been possible without the support of the international community and, in particular, the unwavering commitment of our United States. One of the many ways in which we have demonstrated our commitment to the full participation of women in Afghanistan's political and economic reconstruction has been through programs such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, AID, and its contribution of $2.5 million for the creation of women's resource centers in various provinces throughout Afghanistan. The resolution before us details the developments that have taken place since the end of the Taliban regime and the progress made in improving the daily lives of Afghan women. Further, it notes the efforts of the United States in encouraging the full inclusion and participation of Afghan women in the political and economic arena and proclaims our ongoing commitment on this front. House Resolution 393 is a straightforward resolution that commends the participation of Afghan women in civil society and underscores the will of the U.S. House of Representatives that the protection of the human rights of all Afghans, particularly women, be protected in the constitution of Afghanistan. I ask my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), a strong leader in our Committee on International Relations.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), the sponsor of the resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I want to say to all Members, this is a very important initiative, a very important bill; and I urge its passage.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, 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 on the bill under consideration.

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 other speakers and I support H.R. 2130. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. ``These are the times that try men's souls.'' Mr. Speaker, political theorist Thomas Paine uttered these famous words during the cold of November 1776. When the American Revolution commenced, the colonial freedom fighters battled the mighty British forces while barefoot and often wearing little more than blankets and torn clothing. The early days of the war featured humiliating, devastating losses for the overwhelmed Colonial Army. On November 20, 1776, General George Washington led his troops in a retreat over the Hackensack River across the New Bridge Landing. Once they reached safety, General Washington and his men set up the first headquarters of the new Continental Army at New Bridge. Thomas Paine was inspired to write the first essays of the American Crisis near the New Bridge landing site, intended to rally Americans during the first days of our Nation. The New Bridge landing provided General Washington's troops with an important chance to regroup. This gave Americans a small boost that led to the unlikely defeat of the Royal British Army and the independence for the brand new United States of America. Mr. Speaker, this legislation, H.R. 2130, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) renames a post office in River Edge, New Jersey, as the New Bridge Landing Post Office Building. This designation, on this historic site, will serve as an appropriate reminder of the struggle that Americans endured during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the gentleman from New Jersey for this legislation. 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 within which to revise and extend their remarks on the bill under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the distinguished Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from the State of Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the sponsor of this important resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent Resolution 313, a resolution that urges the President on behalf of the United States to present the Presidential Medal of Honor to his Holiness, Pope John Paul II. Pope John Paul II has been the Supreme Pastor of the Catholic Church for 25 years and the spiritual leader to over one billion Catholic Christians all over the world including 66 million Catholic Christians in the United States alone. During this time he has been to more than 125 countries and traveled farther than any other Pope in history to advance the cause of the oppressed and the poor masses of the world, as well as to bring peace to all regions of the world. It is with great humility and great pride that I speak tonight in favor of this resolution that honors one of the greatest human rights advocates of our time. Today my colleagues and I will be voting on a bill that will present this honor to Pope John Paul II in recognition of his profound contributions to the causes of human dignity, unity, peace and freedom. Since his historic election to his position in October of 1978 as the first Polish Pope, he has been a model of courage in the defense of the downtrodden, the oppressed, and the most persecuted and defenseless. Pope John Paul II has stated throughout his life that it is possible to change the course of events once good will, trust in others, and cooperation between responsible partners are allowed to prevail. Throughout his tenure, he has empowered many under communist rule by strengthening them spiritually and implanting his message to not be afraid. He has seen the unification of a once-divided Europe. He has called world leaders onto a higher level of accountability as he worked to provide solutions to the various problems which they faced. It is the Holy Father's belief that all people together, Jews, Christians, Muslim, Israelis, Arabs, believers and nonbelievers, must create and reinforce peace; and he has worked to make this ideal a reality. As an ardent advocate of human rights for all, especially those suffering political and religious persecution, I join our Holy Father in his desire to see a world where all may live and work together in a spirit of peace, mutual respect, and solidarity and where the sanctity of human life is preserved on all levels. I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Pope John Paul II for his love and dedication to all people of the world and urge my colleagues to vote in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 313. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res 313) to urge the President, on behalf of the United States, to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, in recognition of his significant, enduring, and historic contributions to the causes of freedom, human dignity, and peace and to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of His Holiness' inauguration of his ministry as Bishop of Rome and Supreme Pastor of the Catholic Church.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 867) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 710 Wicks Lane in Billings, Montana, as the ``Ronald Reagan Post Office Building''.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the bill before us was introduced in the other body by Senator Conrad Burns of Montana. It names the post office in Billings, Montana, after our former President, Ronald Reagan. What could be said of our 40th President that has not already been said? President Ronald Reagan led America through its longest recorded period of peacetime prosperity. Through his tax-cutting initiative, President Reagan was able to stimulate the economy and create jobs all while curbing inflation. He also secured an unthinkable comprehensive reform of the Tax Code, one that relieved millions of low-income Americans from paying income taxes and eliminated many exemptions for massive corporations. Internationally, President Reagan strengthened our national defense during a tenuous time in world history. Largely due to his leadership and commitment to building up America's Armed Forces and defense technology, democracy defeated communism as the Cold War ended shortly after he left the White House. President Reagan succeeded because he viewed the Soviets not as people to be simply contained but people who executed a cruel system of government that needed to be crushed. America's success in the Cold War made the world a much safer place. And who could forget the sad day when he was shot outside the Washington Hilton Hotel just months after being inaugurated in 1981. It reminded many of the 1960s, when our Nation tragically lost so many of our leaders to assassins' bullets. Gracefully, President Reagan pulled through, and the entire Nation rallied around the recovering President's wit and charm in the wake of this life-threatening attack. Mr. Speaker, President Reagan is the only President ever to reach the age of 92 years. He continues to live in California today with his wife, the former First Lady, Nancy. On behalf of a grateful House of Representatives, I wish President and Mrs. Reagan the very best. Ronald Reagan is one of those figures in American history about whom it is very difficult to talk for only a short time. I will simply close by commending the distinguished Senator from Montana for his bill and giving this House the opportunity to remember the national leadership of President Ronald Reagan. 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 in which to revise and extend their remarks on S. 867, the Senate bill now under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume and state again my strong support of Senate bill 867, which names a post office in Billings, Montana, after our illustrious President Ronald Reagan. Mr. Speaker, 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 in which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 69, the concurrent resolution now under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 69 celebrates the remarkable life of Althea Gibson. She was the first African American player to compete at Wimbledon and the U.S. championships. She ultimately won both titles in 1957 and 1958, becoming the first African American to win both tournaments. Mr. Speaker, more important than her victories has been her presence at these tournaments at which black players had never before competed. She is rightfully known as the ``Jackie Robinson of women's tennis,'' and her courage has had the same incredible impact on her sport that Jackie Robinson had on baseball. As a young woman, she won 10 straight of the all-black American Tennis Association tournaments beginning in 1948. Her success led her to become quite a celebrity, and the public pressure finally forced the all-white American Lawn Tennis Association to invite her to compete at the U.S. championships in 1950. By the next year, in 1951, Wimbledon invited her to play. Well, not only did she play, Mr. Speaker, but she won both tournaments in 1957, and she won both again the next year. Her skill on the court and her class off the court during this difficult period in American history paved the way for future stars like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, James Blake, Zina Garrison, Arthur Ashe, and others to excel playing the game they love. Mr. Speaker, this is truly a worthwhile resolution, and I commend the gentleman from New York for working with the Committee on Government Reform for bringing this resolution to the floor. I hope this resolution serves to honor Althea Gibson, for, as the resolution states, her groundbreaking athletic achievements, and for continuing to serve as a role model for the Nation's youth. Althea Gibson's athletic career and her courageous personality are vital threads in the fabric of our Nation's history, and I am pleased that the House is acting on this resolution that pays tribute to her tonight. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.