Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I understand that the corrupt and repressive dictator of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nzarbayev, plans to visit Washington early next year in search of U.S. approval and a dampening of the Administration's criticism of the Nazarbayev regime's deplorable human rights record. Following the tragic events of September 11th, Nazarbayev promised to ``support action against terrorism by all available means.'' He made it clear to a reporter that this support would include military bases and the use of Kazakhstan's air space. Yet, Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency reported that Kazakhstan's Minister of Defense, Sap Topakbayev, stated on November 8 that Kazakhstan was not planning to set up any airfields for the U.S. Air Force on its territory. ITAR-TASS went on to quote Topakbayev as saying that ``after the tragic events in the United States, any contact with the Americans raises many questions.'' If Mr. Nazarbayev is to be granted meetings at the White House, he should at the very least be pressed to provide an unambiguous commitment to support the war on terrorism. In addition, Moscow's Centre TV on February 17, 2001, accused the Nazarbayev regime of illegally selling weapons to ``criminal regimes.'' Centre TV reported that among the sales were the advanced Russian-made S-300 air defense system and heavy tanks. Although Centre TV did not name the countries receiving arms from Kazakhstan, Britain's Guardian reported on August 14, 2001 that the S-300's may have ended up in Sudan. In any event, the United States has had many run-ins with the Nazarbayev regime over arms sales. Early last year, for example, Kazakhstan sold forty MIG fighters to North Korea. And on June 4, 1997, the Washington Times reported that the U.S. had protested plans by Kazakhstan to sell advanced air defense missiles to Iran. So there is a disturbing pattern of arms sales to rogue states and no known commitment by Nazarbayev to end them. He needs to make such a commitment, and now! Finally, It has come to my attention that on September 14, 2001 the Swiss Federal Department of Justice made available to the U.S. Department of Justice the findings of a lengthy investigation of corruption involving President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, a former director of Mobil Oil, Mr. J. Bryan Williams, and a senior official of the Geneva-based bank Credit Agricole Indosuez. According to Swiss press reports, the Swiss investigation into money laundering and other corrupt activities has established the existence of a bribery chain set up in the 1990's by James Giffen, a U.S. businessman who reportedly acted as a mediator between several oil companies and officials of the government of Kazakhstan, including President Nazarbayev. The U.S. Department of Justice has been investigating Giffen's activities since last year. I would thus urge President Bush not to host someone whose regime has been condemned by leading human rights organizations, has trafficked in arms with rogue states, has been ambiguous in its support of the war on terrorism, and is under investigation by both Swiss and U.S. law enforcement agencies. Further, a priority objective of U.S. policy should be to insist that Mr. Nazarbayev clean up his act.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize two patriotic Americans from my congressional district today, Ann S. Miller and Ted Maliaris. They have written and produced ``A Tribute to America--a 21st Century Anthem.'' Ann Miller's song is delivered with love and compassion by her son Ted with the help of their publicist Angel Duke. Theirs is an anthem for all Americans, dedicated to our Armed Forces, to our men and women in uniform, risking their lives every day and for those who need to carry on in this time of crisis. The lyrics are powerful and uplifting: ``Our tears may fall and our hearts may be shattered, but deep down in our souls we are strong. We are proud. We are bold. We have the strength. We have the power no terrorist could withstand. We will not hide. We will not cower. We will stand up for the rights of our land. We are America. We are America, America, you are grand.'' Please join me in congratulating Ann S. Miller and Ted Maliaris, two proud Americans, proud to be serving our country.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, our Nation has many outstanding citizens. One such individual is Rositta Kenigsberg, a child of Holocaust survivors, born in the displaced persons camp of Bindermichel in Austria. Rositta is the founding Chair of the Children of Holocaust Survivors of Southeast Florida. She also serves as the executive vice president of the Holocaust Documentation and Education Center in North Miami Beach. Rositta has worked with Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, and she served on the North American Advisory Board for the ``March of the Living.'' She has traveled to the concentration camps of Poland to retrace the steps of her father, the sole survivor of a family of over 120 members. She has contributed countless hours and worked endlessly to implement Holocaust education in the State of Florida. Rositta currently serves a presidential appointment to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. Please join me in congratulating Rositta Kenigsberg for her contributions to Holocaust education and to Holocaust survivors as well as their children.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1573) to authorize the provision of educational and health care assistance to the women and children of Afghanistan.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam 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 Senate bill under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as Chair of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, and as an original cosponsor of the House companion, I rise in support of the Afghan Women and Children Relief Act of 2001. In 1996, a heavy shroud was placed on the people of Afghanistan when the Taliban captured Kabul. From that moment onward, the Taliban took the peaceful and sacred scriptures of the Holy Koran and distorted them into a rulebook of terror. Through their creation of the Department for Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, the Taliban enforced a perverse rendition of Islam which gruesomely joined prayer with the barbaric practices of beatings, torture, rape, and executions. But the Taliban's brutality and blatant disregard for the lives and well-being of the Afghan people was perhaps most clearly evident among half of its population, the women of Afghanistan, who bear the deepest scars. Made widows and orphans by the will of the Taliban, the same women who once made up 50 percent of Afghanistan's doctors, nurses, teachers, college students, and diplomats, have been made destitute, sick, and marginalized. The Taliban further banned them from receiving any education past the age of 8, for which the curriculum was limited to the Taliban's corrupted version of the Koran. In the year 2000, the United Nations educational, scientific, and cultural organization estimated that as few as 3 percent of Afghan girls were receiving primary education. The gender adviser to the U.N. in Afghanistan further reported that female literacy was approximately 4 percent versus 30 percent for males. Women in Afghanistan were further alienated by the denial of proper medical treatment. They could only be treated by male doctors in certain hospitals; and when allowed to be treated, the male doctor was prohibited from examining her unless she was fully clothed in Taliban- approved garb. Further, the doctor could not touch her, thus limiting the possibility of any medical diagnosis or meaningful treatment. Throughout, the indomitable will and courage of Afghan women have helped them endure these most deplorable circumstances. While the end of the Taliban's oppressive rule is now palpable, the struggle of Afghan women to save themselves and their children from disease and starvation, their hope for a future for peace, freedom, and democracy continues. How can we discuss the future of Afghanistan without first addressing the humanitarian crisis which engulfs its people? We cannot. How can we talk about reconstruction when half of its population, its women, have been marginalized, and when many of its future leaders, the children of Afghanistan, barely survive past the age of 5? This bill seeks to address these grave concerns. The legislation before us today is about helping to save lives by focusing U.S. assistance on providing basic medical care to the women and children inside Afghanistan and those living in refugee camps outside their beleaguered country. This bill is about helping to secure a future of hope and prosperity for women and children by calling on the President to provide educational assistance for these two critical sectors of Afghan society. It lays the groundwork for democratic principles, as it requires the protection and promotion of human rights for all the people of Afghanistan. It builds on the ingenuity and the courage of the Afghan population by recommending that institutions and nongovernmental organizations, especially women's organizations, be used to the extent possible. The U.S. and the international community should invest in these efforts, as they can afford the greatest access to those who are suffering the most. The value and importance of using indigenous women's organizations is perhaps best reflected in the health sector. In the refugee camps of Pakistan, for example, most medical assistance is provided by the Pakistan directorate for health. However, in instances where camp-based medical units are operating, women's access is restricted due to the transportation problems and cultural restrictions on mobility which require that women be escorted by a male relative, among many other restrictions. As a result, there have been frequent complaints from Afghan women about the quality of the services provided. Immediately, Afghan women NGOs began to work on filling the gaps from multiple angles, running small clinics and providing mothers and children with basic medical assistance so they may live long and healthy lives. This is what the bill that we are considering today supports, Madam Speaker. The legislation also acknowledges and supports the impressive work of Afghan women's groups in filling the educational void created by the Taliban's oppressive and discriminatory practices against women. Several women-led organizations have established and are operating home schools to afford this forgotten and marginalized sector of Afghan society with the opportunities denied to them by the Taliban and their perverse interpretation of Islam. Many are involved in the provisions of education within the refugee context and running schools in the camps, adult literacy classes, and English language training. Indeed, Afghan women's groups are not novices to humanitarian response activities. Beginning with the decade-long Soviet occupation of their country, more and more Afghan women's organizations have emerged to address a variety of needs, particularly in the areas of medical care, education and, in recent years, trauma counseling and rights awareness. Throughout the years they have refined their skills and gained expertise through working in United Nations' agencies as administrative staff and as implementers of assistance programs both inside and outside of Afghanistan. Some examples include UNICEF projects as well as refugee resettlement protection programs with the Office of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. Afghan women and groups that they lead have also entered into symbiotic relationships with international NGOs as implementers of their programs, programs such as CARE's widow's feeding program in Kabul and Action Contre La Faim's programs for malnourished children in many locations. These are the types of activities that this bill supports, activities which, in turn, are vital to the welfare of Afghan women and children; activities which, in turn, will help ensure that women will be prepared to actively participate in the future of their country. This bill is about relief and survival. It is about life. As Surah 5 of the holy Koran reads, ``He who wrongfully slays another would be as if he slew the whole people; and if any one save a life, it would be as if he saved the life of the whole people.'' The Congress of the United States must act to save one life at a time and, by that, do what we can to help save the people of Afghanistan. We can begin by rendering our full support to the legislation before us today. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), who joins me in thanking our men and women in the Armed Forces whose military offensive have helped to open the corridor for the humanitarian assistance to reach the people of Afghanistan which is spoken of in this bill. (Mrs. MORELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert), who has been leading the charge on our side on this bill.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of the legislation, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Pryce).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) for yielding me these 2 minutes, because as we speak, delegates to the summit conference of Afghan groups are discussing a plan for an interim administration in Afghanistan. This would pave the way to a post-Taliban government that protects its citizens and safeguards the fundamental rights of women and children. However, the road toward fulfillment of this goal begins with the people of Afghanistan, where reconstruction entails educations and empowering the beleaguered population so that they can reclaim control of their own destiny. Under the Taliban, it was women and children who suffered the most from its abhorrent practices. Thus, to begin to overcome this grim legacy, we must ensure that our efforts give the necessary focus and assistance to programs providing education and relief services to Afghan women. This bill focuses our humanitarian efforts to help ensure that U.S. assistance has the maximum impact, reaching those refugees and segments of Afghan society most affected by the Taliban's reign of terror. Madam Speaker, it is a bill which reinforces the true essence and spirit of the United States, a country committed to the defense of those who are oppressed and subjugated, a Nation of caring people who now and in the past have led the world in providing humanitarian aid to the Afghan people. Let us lead the way once again by rendering our overwhelming support to the Afghan Women and Children Relief Act.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am indeed honored and pleased to serve as Congressional Co-chair for National Bible Week, November 18- 25, 2001. As we celebrate another blessed day of remembrance, Thanksgiving, we are to be thankful to be living in a country where the Holy Bible can be read and where we have the freedom to practice what the Bible teaches without fear of repression or punishment, and to worship as we believe. Our 4th Commandment commands us ``Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'' We attend the church of our choice on that particular day and read from the Bible during service, then unfortunately place it on a shelf until the next attendance. However, daily reading of the Bible should be encouraged. It is a wonderful source of comfort, spiritual guidance, uplifting spirits, and the religious history of our existence. From Genesis to Revelations, the Bible covers our moral laws, how to receive salvation and the promise of everlasting life. It is truly our daily bread. Our great country was established on the teachings of the Bible. The Pilgrims landed on our shores with the Bible in their hands. Our founding fathers were rooted in the Bible. Leaders from our first president to our present legislators quoted verses at speaking events. The Bible contains an answer for every life situation to help us cope and strengthen our resolve. I strongly encourage everyone to read the Bible daily, and to begin during National Bible Week I congratulate the National Bible Association for its role in arousing interest in the Holy Bible.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this year marks the 75th anniversary of the Coral Gables First United Methodist Church, and I congratulate its clergy and its parishioners. Since July of 1926, when 100 Coral Gable citizens gathered to charter a United Methodist church, First United has been a spiritual beacon to its community. With the current leadership of Senior Pastor John Harrington, the church continues its mission of serving south Florida by reaching out to all communities with its message of hope and love. Church members operate a ``Pastor's Pantry'' and a ``Sharing Place'' to provide immediate food and clothing needs to the destitute. The Church also supports many ministries: Habitat for Humanity, the Community Partnership for the Homeless, the Agape Women's Center, and the Riverside House, just to name a few. Funding missions all over the world that bring the promise of Jesus Christ and that relieve suffering in the world have always been priorities for the Coral Gables First United Methodist Church. Mr. Speaker, I ask my congressional colleagues to join me and the Matson family in congratulating the Coral Gables First United Methodist Church. May it continue serving with love and devotion as a spiritual center for many of our south Florida residents.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to commend Gayle Bainbridge as the President-elect of the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade County. Gayle is a partner with USI Florida-Kolisch Insurance of Coral Gables, the fifth largest fully integrated risk and financial services provider in the world. Due to Gayle's expertise, she serves as an expert witness and has taught insurance professionals their post-licensure courses. Her community activities include the Alumni Associations of both Southwest Miami Senior High and Florida International University; Board of Directors at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce; member of the Women in International Trade, the Commercial Real Estate Women Association; and the Miami Chapter President of Business Network International. Gayle exemplifies the ideals upon which the Women's Chamber was founded, an outstanding female professional who leads by example. Gayle Bainbridge will excel as President-elect of the Women's Chamber and will motivate young women to strive, to achieve, and to become successful in the business arena.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

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 88, and I commend the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for introducing this important measure. This resolution expresses congressional support for the goals of Lao- Hmong Recognition Day. It asks the President to issue an appropriate proclamation. That proclamation should recognize the contributions of the Lao-Hmong in defending freedom and democracy. And it should call on Americans to recognize the service and the sacrifice of the Lao-Hmong with appropriate ceremonies and activities. The Lao-Hmong fought valiantly against the Communist Pathet Lao and the North Vietnamese Army regulars in Laos during the Vietnam War. The United States relied heavily on the Lao-Hmong Special Guerrilla Units to engage in direct combat with North Vietnamese troops from 1960 to 1975. They conducted tactical guerrilla actions. The Lao-Hmong flew thousands of deadly combat missions to support our Armed Forces and the CIA. And they also fought in conventional and guerrilla combat clashes, suffering extreme casualties. Although outnumbered, the Lao-Hmong fought against enemy forces to disrupt the flow of troops and war supplies along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. They protected United States personnel, guarded our Air Force installations, gathered critical intelligence about enemy operations, and undertook rescue missions to save the lives of our downed pilots. Mr. Speaker, this resolution notes that ``Lao-Hmong'' means ``free people.'' The brave and loyal members of the Hmong tribe paid a steep price for defending their freedom and the democratic way of life. More than 35,000 were killed. Thousands more were seriously injured. Thousands were captured and sent to Communist concentration camps. The suffering of the Lao-Hmong did not end with the war, because after the war, the Pathet Lao retaliated against the many Lao-Hmong soldiers, committing many atrocities against them. Many became refugees when they were driven from native Laos. About 170,000 or more Hmong now live here with us in the United States. In 1995, the city council of Golden, Colorado, first established a special day to recognize the contributions of the Lao-Hmong. Since then, a number of State and local governments have also declared July 22 as Lao-Hmong Recognition Day. The Federal Government should recognize and support these efforts as well. Mr. Speaker, my husband is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He was wounded in that war, so I come to this floor with a special gratitude for the sacrifices and the suffering that the Lao-Hmong endured because they supported the men and women of our military forces in Southeast Asia. As a Cuban American, I feel a special empathy for the pain inflicted on them because they fought against communism. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to support this important resolution. 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. 88) expressing the sense of the Congress that the President should issue a proclamation recognizing a National Lao-Hmong Recognition Day, as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 254) encouraging the people of the United States to celebrate the 300th anniversary of William Penn's Charter of Privileges, the 250th anniversary of the Liberty Bell, and the 225th anniversary of the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gekas).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I speak as a former resident of the State of Pennsylvania. When Cuban refugees first started coming over to the United States, there were no jobs in Miami, Florida. The Federal Government had a refugee resettlement program, and we were fortunate enough to be resettled in a town in Pennsylvania called York. My brother and I were very much in love with York, Pennsylvania. It was our first taste of snow. Coming from Havana, we did not get too much of that. On the weekends, when we could put together the little pennies we had, I remember taking weekend trips with my parents, where we got to see the many historic sites that Pennsylvania had to offer. For me, Pennsylvania will always be just like this wonderful city, and New York also, symbolic images of the freedom and democracy and the liberty that we enjoy so much in our country, and we sometimes take for granted. I again commend the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) for introducing this important proclamation and for working hard to ensure its passage. In light the challenges facing our Nation today, Madam Speaker, it is certainly appropriate in this time for Congress to reaffirm our commitment to religious liberty and human rights, and it is certainly an appropriate time for all of us as Americans to reflect upon the principles underlying each of these three important historical symbols of our democracy. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence). (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that the gentleman has yielded me this time, and I am very honored to be a cosponsor of this resolution along with the gentlewoman from Texas. Together we cochair the Congressional Children's Caucus. We had a series of briefings on this terrible tragedy, because in scenes worse than a horror movie, Americans witnessed the hijacked planes slam into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and fall to the ground in Pittsburgh; and in the blink of an eye thousands of lives were snatched and Americans lost our sense of safety. These acts of terror tested the courage and the strength of Americans, but it helped us to grow stronger and more united. Today we are pulling together to rebuild our Nation and working toward a heightened sense of security. But as we restore our lives, we must not forget the children who lost a parent or a guardian in the September 11 attacks. For millions who watched the carnage, the harrowing images will be imprinted forever in our memory. But for the children who lost a parent in this catastrophic act of terror, their lives will never be the same again. Today, as an original cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 228, I am proud to join my colleague, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee), who has worked tirelessly to see this bill through. I thank the many cosponsors that are listed on our bill here today. This resolution calls for the immediate benefits to children who lost one or both parents or a guardian in the multiple tragedies. It will call for children of the 9-11 victims to receive foster care, medical assistance and psychological services which they so desperately need. It has been 2 months since the evil terrorist attack upon America and still many surviving family members, particularly children of the September 11 attack, have yet to receive the benefits they need and they deserve. We recognize that all the money and the services in the world could never replace the beloved one that they have lost, and we know that they are still in grief. But although money cannot mend their scars, the passage of this resolution can provide the necessary bandages to help heal their deep wounds. Children who lost a parent or a guardian in this national tragedy need psychological and other services right now. That is why we are asking tonight that our colleagues vote for H. Con. Res. 228 to help those victims, to help the surviving family members get the help that they need and get it now.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 235) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the establishment of a National Words Can Heal Day, as amended.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to thank the executive directors of the Words Can Heal Campaign, Rabbi Irwin Katsof and Rabbi Chaim Feld, whom I had the pleasure of knowing during my trip to Israel. When they first came to me and showed me their Words Can Heal Campaign pledge, I said that I wanted to get involved in a meaningful way and I thought of this resolution as a way to do it, because words can make a difference, and that is the pledge that we make one word at a time. In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the United States, we have borne witness to the ability of words to help in the healing process, as friends and allies offered their condolences and their support to our efforts. We have also felt the brunt of the verbal attacks by enemies of the United States who rejoice in the violence perpetrated against us. Words matter. The ability to voice views freely and resolve differences through dialogue and persuasion is fundamental to our American style of government and our democracy, as it is to world peace. To reiterate, for that process to work well, our words must reflect mutual respect, truth, understanding, and fairness. The Words Can Heal effort is a strong first step toward a future generation of Americans and global leaders who will value the power of words and practice ethical speech. It starts with one day. This one day can then become a week, a month, a year, until it is ingrained in our character, in our nature, in our human nature. The potential is limitless. The possibilities are awe-inspiring. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. The hope for a better future begins today, one word at a time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the Words Can Heal Campaign, sponsored by the Jerusalem Fund, is a visionary national media and educational campaign designed to reduce verbal violence and gossip. The goal of the campaign is to promote the value and the practice of ethical speech in order to improve our democracy and to build mutual respect, honor and dignity to our country. The Words Can Heal Campaign launched a media campaign on September 4, 2001, right here in our Nation's Capital. The campaign includes posters in D.C. Metro stations and bus shelters. It includes advertisements in newspapers, such as Roll Call, and publications such as the National Journal, Congressional Quarterly, and television ads on all major networks. The campaign also includes educational modules for use in schools, in companies, community centers, government offices, houses of worship, every building throughout the Nation. We can all practice and participate in this initiative to improve our society and make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans, one word at a time. In the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11, the Words Can Heal Campaign is now more important than ever. We must all be committed to unite and strengthen America through the power of words. Each and every one of us have been touched by the events of September 11, and we as Americans have pulled together as a country to show our true colors. Americans reached out to each other with kind words and helping hands. We embraced each other with words of comfort. And through these difficult days, we as a country have come together in fellowship with expressions of kindness and caring. As we work our way back to normalcy, let us continue the outpouring of concern that we have shown each other. We should have a new Golden Rule: Say unto others as you would want said unto you. Mother Teresa once said, ``Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.'' Her words capture the essence of the Words Can Heal Campaign. Words are powerful. Words can build love, or they can destroy it. Words can be encouraging, or damaging. We must choose what we say carefully because we cannot take back our words. Once something is said, it can never be erased. We have all said something which later we have wished that we could take back. The Words Can Heal Pledge is one way to avoid that terrible feeling when you regret what you have said. It says, ``I pledge to think more about the words that I use. I will try to replace words that hurt with words that encourage, engage and enrich. I will try to see how gossip hurts people, including myself, and work to eliminate it from my life. I will not become discouraged when I am unable to choose words perfectly, because making the world a better place is hard work. And I am helping to do that, one word at a time.'' The Words Can Heal Pledge helps us to remember what someone says to you can change your entire day. Words are contagious. A friendly ``hello'' can spread from one colleague to another, from one brother to sister, one friend to another, from a stranger to a stranger. We must work to avoid harsh words and gossip which makes everyone feel badly. We can all play a role in this undertaking to improve our society and make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans. Our ability to voice views freely and resolve differences through dialogue and persuasion is fundamental to our American system of democracy, and for that process to work, our words must reflect mutual respect, truth and fairness. As our dialogue in Congress needs to be civil and ethical, so do communications throughout society. Please join me in support of the Jerusalem Fund's Words Can Heal Campaign, along with the Executive Director of the Words Can Heal Campaign, Rabbi Irwin Katsof, whom I had the opportunity to meet along with my husband and children in our trip to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv this August, and Rabbi Chaim Feld; also President and CEO of the IAC Group, Ana Maria Fernandez Haar; Senior Fellow of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies, Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick; New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; and Chairman and CEO of Radio Unica, Joaquin Blaya. Both Joaquin Blaya and Ana Maria Fernandez Haar joined Rabbi Katsof and my family on our trip to Israel this summer. We congratulate and thank all of the cosponsors of House Resolution 235, because now, more than ever, words are vital to the American community. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Res. 235.