Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to highlight the accomplishments of a woman who has served as a wonderful example for teenage girls in the South Florida area while at the same time rising to excellence within her chosen field as a TV anchor. Jennifer Valoppi conceived, created and founded ``Women of Tomorrow'' in 1997 and convinced her employer, NBC 6, to sponsor this very successful teen mentoring program. ``Women of Tomorrow'' pairs professional women in the area with teenage girls of South Florida in order to improve their self-esteem as well as provide guidance and nurturing in their lives. The program is designed to show young women the endless possibilities ahead of them as they embark on the beginning of their adult lives. Mentors meet with small groups, no larger than ten girls, to discuss their ambitions, motivations, positive attitudes and the achievement of their dreams in addition to sharing personal stories of triumph and temporary setbacks. Roads to success as well as potential roadblocks are also discussed. In addition to launching this wonderful organization devoted to teenage girls, Jennifer is a multi-Emmy award winning journalist who has twice been named ``Best TV News Anchor.'' Mr. Speaker, Jennifer has certainly made a mark on our community and I applaud her example to the community. She inspires all of us with her dedication and drive to improve the world around us.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, a special tribute was held at the Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach in memory of former Miami Beach Commissioner Abe Resnick who passed away late last year after decades of great contributions to the South Florida community. Commissioner Resnick's life exemplifies the achievement of the American dream through hard work, perseverance and dedication. Born in Lithuania in 1924, Commissioner Resnick was a survivor of the Holocaust after successfully escaping from a Nazi concentration camp in Lithuania. Not forgetting those who continue suffering under Nazi repression, he joined the Resistance and bravely fought to defeat the Nazi regime. Commissioner Resnick later left Europe with his family to settle in Cuba where years later he had to flee repression again, this time from the Communist regime of Fidel Castro. Arriving in the United States, he soon began a prominent and successful career as a leading real estate developer in South Florida, while remaining an active participant of the Jewish and Cuban-American communities of South Florida. One of his achievements was the realization of the construction of a Holocaust Memorial in Miami Beach that will forever serve as a shrine to all those who perished in that tragic period of human history. In 1985, Mr. Resnick was elected as commissioner of the city of Miami Beach and later also served as vice-mayor of the city where he continued his good works for the progress of our community. South Florida will forever remember the positive and lasting contributions of Commissioner Abe Resnick.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to honor my predecessor, Congressman Claude Pepper, who faithfully and honestly served this House for 27 years. A school in my district bears his name which celebrates his memory of unselfish service and sacrifice. During a recent visit to this school, I enjoyed the lyrics of Claude Pepper Elementary's school song written by Jerry Little which is here reprinted: Claude Pepper Elementary, the best school of this century. Look at our great family, I'm as happy as can be. Claude Pepper Elementary, I am an honoree. School now is fun for me, it's a wonderful place to be. Our family includes parents, teachers, and me. There is a dream we will work as a team, we'll share what we think, give a smile and a wink, believe in ourselves as we grow. The future's locked in a chest and we hold the key, I know we'll all do our best. In our families, the future's locked in a chest and we hold the key. The world is waiting for me. Claude Pepper Elementary is great! Claude Pepper Elementary, the best school of this century. School now is fun for me, it's a wonderful place to be. Look and you will see we are family.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, with a commitment to the principles of the rule of law which makes this country the beacon of hope throughout the world, I cast my vote in favor of the four counts of impeachment of the conduct of the President of the United States. As a Representative in Congress, I can do no less in fulfilling my responsibility to the Constitution and to all who have preceded me in defending the Constitution from erosions of the rule of law. Each of the impeachment counts concerns the public conduct of the President, including allegations of lying under oath in grand jury and civil judicial proceedings, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power. The supporting evidence is clearly sufficient to warrant impeachment. The Constitution, the rule of law, and truth should be our only guides. These allegations of lying under oath, obstruction of justice, and abuse of presidential power are not about private conduct, but instead about public conduct in our courts of law and in exercising presidential responsibilities. Public duties and public power are involved--and therefore the matters are of the greatest public concern when those public duties are violated and those public powers are abused. Our courts of law and our legal system are the bedrock of our democracy and of our system of individual rights. Lying under oath in a legal proceeding (whether criminal or civil in nature) and obstruction of justice undermines the rights of all citizens, who must rely upon the courts to protect their rights. If lying under oath in our courts and obstruction are ignored of classified as ``minor'', then we have jeopardized the rights of everyone who seek redress in our courts. Lying under oath is an ancient crime of great weight because it shields other offenses, blocking the light of truth in human rights. It is a dagger in the heart of our legal system and our democracy; it cannot and should not be tolerated. We know that ``a right without a remedy is not a right''. If we allow, ignore, or encourage lying and obstruction of justice in our legal system, then the rights promised in our laws are hollow. Our laws promise a remedy against sexual harassment, but if we say that ``lying about sex in court'' is acceptable or expected, then we have made our sexual harassment laws nothing more than a false promise, a fraud upon our society, upon our legal system, and upon women. Therefore, I must vote in favor of counts one, two and three of impeachment. The greatest challenge of free peoples is to restrain abuses of governmental power. The power of the American presidency is awesome. When uncontrolled and abused, presidential power is a grave threat to our way of life, to our fundamental freedoms. Clearly improper use of executive power by the President to cover-up and obstruct investigations of his public lying in our courts cannot be tolerated. If not checked, such abuses of power serve to legitimize the use of public power for private purposes. Mankind's long struggle throughout the centuries has been to develop governmental systems which limit the exercise of public power to public purposes only. Therefore, I must, in exercising the public power entrusted to me, act to restrain the exercise of public power to public purposes alone; and I must vote in favor of count four. In reviewing this grave matter of impeachment, we must seek guidance in first principles. These principles are all based on the recognition of the social compact under which we as citizens join together in the American Republic. Each of us has given up many individual prerogatives (use of force, private punishment, etc) in return for promises, the commitments, the elements of our social compact. The central promise or commitment of our compact is that our laws will be enforced equally with respect to all, that our civil rights and civil grievances will be fairly adjudicated in our courts, and that the powers we give up to government will be used only for governmental purposes related to the common good. When these elements of the social compact are violated, the legitimacy of the exercise of governmental powers is brought into question and the underlying compact itself is threatened. Each member of the compact--each citizen--received the guarantee, received the promise from his or her fellow citizens, that the compact would be honored and that the laws would not be sacrificed on a piecemeal basis for temporary harmony or immediate gain of some (even in a majority) over others (even a minority). None of us are free, for any reason of convenience or immediate avoidance of difficult issues, to ignore our promises to our fellow citizens. Our social compact does not permit the breaches of these commitments to our fellow citizens, and to do so would directly deprive those citizens (whatever their voting strength or numbers) of our solemn promise of the rule of law. All that stands between any of us and tyranny is law- the rule as contemplated in our social compact-backed up by our courts. If we trivialize the role of truth in our judicial system by simply assuming that everyone will lie, then we trivialize the role of truth in our judicial system by simply assuming that everyone will lie, then we trivialize the courts themselves, we trivialize the rule of law. In doing so, we trivialize the eternal search for justice for the weak under law, in place of exploitation of the weak under arbitrary private power of the strong. I will not be a party to such demeaning of the most fundamental struggles of humankind- and I will not be a party to the attempt to escape the consequences of his public acts by the President through such trivialization. The Office of Presidency is due great respect, but the President, (whomever may hold the office) is a citizen with the same duty to follow the law as all of our citizens. The world marvels that our President is not above the law, and my votes will help ensure that this rule continues.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, our courts of law and our legal system are the bedrock of our democracy and of our system of individual rights. Lying under oath in a legal proceeding and obstruction of justice undermine the rights of all citizens who must rely upon our courts to protect their rights. If lying under oath in our courts and obstruction are ignored, or they are classified as merely minor offenses, then we have jeopardized the rights of everyone who seeks redress in our courts. Lying under oath is an ancient crime of great weight because it shields other offenses, because it blocks the light of truth in human affairs. It is a dagger in the heart of our legal system, and, indeed, in our democracy. It cannot, it should not, it must not be tolerated. We know that a right without a remedy is not a right, and if we ignore, allow or encourage lying and obstruction of justice in our legal system, then the rights promised in our laws are hollow. Our laws promise a remedy against sexual harassment, but if we say that lying about sex in court is acceptable and indeed, even expected, then we have made our legal harassment laws nothing more than a false promise, a fraud upon our society, upon our legal system, and upon women. All that stands between any of us and tyranny is law. The rule is contemplated in our social compact and backed up by our courts. If we trivialize the role of truth in our judicial system by simply assuming that everyone will lie, then we trivialize the courts themselves, we trivialize the rule of law. The office of the presidency is due great respect, but the President, whomever may hold that office, is a citizen with the same duties to follow the law as all of us, as all of our citizens. The world marvels that our President is not above the law, and my vote will help ensure that this rule continues. With a commitment to the principles of the rule of law which makes this country the beacon of hope throughout the world, I cast my vote in favor of the four counts of impeachment of the conduct of the President of the United States. As a Representative in Congress, I can do no less in fulfilling my responsibility to the Constitution and to all who have preceded me in defending the Constitution from erosions of the rule of law. Each of the impeachment counts concerns the public conduct of the President, including allegations of lying under oath in grand jury and civil judicial proceedings, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power. The supporting evidence is clearly sufficient to warrant impeachment. The Constitution, the rule of law, and truth should be our only guides. These allegations of lying under oath, obstruction of justice, and abuse of presidential power are not about private conduct, but instead about public conduct in our courts of law and in exercising presidential responsibilities. Public duties and public power are involved--and therefore the matters are of the greatest public concern when those public duties are violated and those public powers are abused. Our courts of law and our legal system are the bedrock of our democracy and of our system of individual rights. Lying under oath in a legal proceeding (whether criminal or civil in nature) and obstruction of justice undermines the rights of all citizens, who must rely upon the courts to protect their rights. If lying under oath in our courts and obstruction are ignored or classified as ``minor'', then we have jeopardized the rights of everyone who seek redress in our courts. Lying under oath is an ancient crime of great weight because it shields other offenses, blocking the light of truth in human affairs. It is a dagger in the heart of our legal system and our democracy; it cannot and should not be tolerated. We know that ``a right without a remedy is not a right''. If we allow, ignore, or encourage lying and obstruction of justice in our legal system, then the rights promised in our laws are hollow. Our laws promise a remedy against sexual harassment, but if we say that '`lying about sex in court'' is acceptable or expected, then we have made our sexual harassment laws nothing more than a false promise, a fraud upon our society, upon our legal system, and upon women. Therefore, I must vote in favor of counts one, two and three of impeachment. The greatest challenge of free peoples is to restrain abuses of governmental power. The power of the American presidency is awesome. When uncontrolled and abused, presidential power is a grave threat to our way of life, to our fundamental freedoms. Clearly improper use of executive power by the President to cover-up and obstruct investigations of his public lying in our courts cannot be tolerated. If not checked, such abuses of power serve to legitimize the use of public power for private purposes. Mankind's long struggle throughout the centuries has been to develop governmental systems which limit the exercise of public power to public purposes only. Therefore, I must, in exercising the public power entrusted to me, act to restraint the exercise of public power to public purposes alone; and I must vote in favor of count four. In reviewing this grave matter of impeachment, we must seek guidance in first principles. These principles are all based on the recognition of the social compact under which we as citizens join together in the American Republic. Each of us have given up many individual prerogatives (use of force, private punishment, etc.) in return for promisers, the commitments, the elements of social compact. The central promise or commitment of our compact is that our laws will be enforced equally with respect to all, that our civil rights and civil grievances will be fairly adjudicated in our courts, and that the powers we give up to government will be used only for governmental purposes related to the common good. When these elements of the social compact are violated, the legitimacy of the exercise of governmental powers is brought into question and the underlying compact itself is threatened. Each members of the compact--each citizen--received the guarantee, received the promise from his or her fellow citizens, that the compact would be honored and that the laws would not be sacrificed on a piecemeal basis for temporary harmony or immediate gain of some (even in a majority) over others (even a minority). None of us are free, for any reason of convenience or immediately avoidance of difficult issues, to ignore our promises to our fellow citizens. Our social compact does not permit the breaches of these commitments to our fellow citizens, and to do so would directly deprive those citizens (whatever their voting strength or numbers) of our solemn promise of the rule of law. All that stands between any of us and tyranny is law--the rule as contemplated in our social compact--backed up by our courts. If we trivialize the role of truth in our judicial system by simply assuming that everyone will lie, then we trivialize the courts themselves, we trivialize the rule of law. In doing so, we trivialize the eternal search for justice for the weak under law, in place of exploitation of the weak under arbitrary private power of the strong. I will not be a party to such demanding of the most fundamental struggles of humankind--and I will not be a party to the attempt to escape the consequences of his public acts by the President through such trivialization. The Office of Presidency is due great respect, but the President (whomever may hold the office), is a citizen with the same duty to follow the law as all of our citizens. The world marvels that our President is not above the law, and my votes will help ensure that this rule continues.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay a tribute to an outstanding citizen; a leader who places others before herself and a fine lady who has dedicated her life to community service and to improving the lives of others, Ms. Cynthia Eckhart. For the past eight years, Cynthia has expressed and demonstrated genuine concern for various social issues affecting South Florida and has committed herself to improving the quality of life for many South Floridians. Although her presence is not always highly visible, her efforts for the Miami community are strongly felt. Cynthia has devoted herself to raising funds for charities such as improving the health care for our community, where she has assisted in the allocation of funds for leukemia and various cancer research. She has had the grand opportunity to serve as the Chair of a school's auction, where she was able to raise $87,000 to provide quality, private school tuition for many of South Florida's underprivileged and less fortunate children. On November 6th, 1998, I was privileged to speak at the 45th annual gala for Beaux Arts of the Lowe Art Museum at The University of Miami. There I witnessed first-hand Cynthia's dedication and contributions to our community. The wonderfully conducted gala that Cynthia organized raised generous funds to provide permanent acquisitions for the Lowe Art Museum. As Chairman of this gala, Cynthia raised an additional charitable amount to be used to fund visits to the museum and educational art programs for children of low-income families. It is Cynthia's unselfish and loving nature that has enabled many underprivileged youth to be introduced and encouraged in pursuing culture in the world of the arts. Cynthia's involvement in our community is exemplary of a committed and concerned individual who seeks to extend a helping hand to those in need. In giving much of her time, her energy and herself, Cynthia continues to be a true leader, an inspiration to many, and an example to all. South Florida is grateful and proud of her many accomplishments and service to our community. We wish her the very best for continued success!

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, every day I look around me at all the beautiful things I am lucky enough to see, the faces of the people I love, the words on the pages of a book I read, and I think of the living angels who are working to help me and my sister and brother keep this most precious gift of all, our sight. As I read the note that Ilana Lidsky sent to me, I thought of how blessed Ilana's, Carlos and Betti Lidsky, are to have such caring and brave children who in the midst of adversity see the value of all that is truly important in life. Ilana, Daria and Isaac Lidsky, three of Carlos and Betti's children are afflicted with retinal degenerative diseases, a group of diseases with no current treatment which is taking the sights of millions of Americans who, like the Lidsky children, have great hopes and dreams for their future. While we work toward a cure, Mr. Speaker, we can learn much from the Lidskys about courage, hope and unconditional love. They exemplify loving what is truly precious about having a loving family that recognizes, as Betti Lidsky once wrote to me, that in spite of the challenges life is most beautiful. For the Lidskys and the millions of Americans who, like them, wait for a cure, let us do all we can to help them in this battle.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, all of us in this chamber and back home in South Florida send our best wishes to our former House colleague, Congressman Dante Fascell. For almost 40 years, Dante Fascell led the charge in the House of Representatives for respect for human rights internationally and fostering democracy and freedom throughout the world. As chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Congressman Fascell worked tirelessly in a bipartisan manner to promote our American ideals of justice and liberty to the oppressed people everywhere, especially to the suffering people of native Cuba. Dante was key in assuring and maintaining aid to Israel, our only democratic ally in the Middle East. He led the charge in condemning the Soviet Union's mistreatment of Jews. He also left his mark on domestic policy as well. Congressman Fascell created the Everglades National Park; and without his vision, we would not have the River of Grass as a national treasure. Dante helped build my hometown of Miami to the thriving metropolis it is now. He worked to get South Florida the necessary Federal funds that helped our community grow. All of us in South Florida cherish his friendship and want him to continue enjoying his children and his family for years to come.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, we wish good health to one of the most distinguished retired members of this body in recent history, former Congressman Dante Fascell. For 38 years, Congressman Fascell proudly and effectively represented the 19th Congressional District of Florida, rising to become the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. His deliberative, thoughtful manner brought Dante great respect from his colleagues, Democrats and Republicans alike. He left his stamp not only on domestic policies, but particularly on a wide range of foreign policy initiatives where he promoted the American values of freedom, democracy and justice. Congressman Fascell was instrumental in the passage of the landmark legislation, The War Powers Act, that assures that Congress has a say before our fighting men and women are sent to harm's way. His fight for freedom and democracy also extended to the suffering people of Cuba. For decades, Dante was a leading voice condemning the violation of human rights on the island committed by the Castro dictatorship. All of us from South Florida who cherish his friendship hope that soon Chairman Fascell will be back on his feet enjoying his beloved grandchildren and all his family.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, our laws promise a remedy against sexual harassment. But if we say that lying about sex in court is acceptable or even expected, then we have made our sexual harassment laws nothing more than a false promise, a fraud upon our society, upon our legal system, and upon women. Lying under oath and obstruction of justice are ancient crimes of great weight because they shield other offenses, blocking the light of truth in human affairs. There they are a dagger in the heart of our legal system and our democracy. They cannot and must not be tolerated. The office of the presidency is due great respect, but the President is a citizen with the same duty to follow the laws as all other citizens. The world marvels that our President is not above the law, and my vote today helps assure that this rule continues. With a commitment to the principles of the rule of law, which makes this country the beacon of hope for political refugees like myself throughout the world, I cast my vote in favor of the resolution to undertake an impeachment inquiry of the conduct of the President of the United States.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, with a commitment to the principles of the rule of law which makes this country the beacon of hope throughout the world, I cast my vote in favor of the resolution to undertake an impeachment inquiry of the conduct of the President of the United States. As a Representative in Congress, I can do no less in fulfilling my trust responsibility to the Constitution and to all who have preceded me in defending the Constitution from erosions of the rule of law. The impeachment inquiry is necessary to determine the facts surrounding the public conduct of the President, including allegations of lying under oath, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy. The supporting evidence is clearly sufficient to warrant further investigation. Without further investigation, we would be ignoring the charges and clear preliminary evidence without cause or reason. The truth should be our only guide, and only a thorough investigation can produce the truth. Those who seek to avoid a thorough investigation are really seeking to avoid the truth. These allegations of lying under oath, obstruction of justice, and conspiracy are not about private conduct, but instead about public conduct in our courts of law. Our courts of law and our legal system is the bedrock of our democracy and of our system of individual rights. Lying under oath in a legal proceeding undermines the rights of all citizens, who must rely upon the courts to protect their rights. If lying under oath in our courts is ignored or classified as ``minor'', then we have jeopardized the rights of everyone who seek redress in our courts. Lying under oath and obstruction of justice are ancient crimes of great weight because they shield other offenses, blocking the light of truth in human affairs. They are a dagger in the heart of our legal system and our democracy; they cannot and should not be tolerated. We all know that ``a right without a remedy is not a right''. If we allow, ignore, or encourage lying and obstruction of justice in our legal system, then the rights promised in our laws are hollow. Our laws promise a remedy against sexual harassment, but if we say that ``lying about sex in court'' is acceptable or expected, then we have made our sexual harassment laws nothing more than a false promise, a fraud upon our society, upon our legal system, and upon women. The Office of the Presidency is due great respect, but the President (whoever may hold the office) is a citizen with the same duty to follow the law as all other citizens. The world marvels that our President is not above the law, and my vote today helps ensure that this rule continues.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, the South Florida community will hold a march through the streets of Miami to reaffirm our commitment with the Cuban people in their struggle for freedom against the last totalitarian dictatorship of our hemisphere, that of Fidel Castro. This march will join our diverse community as one, under one ideal; that the people of Cuba are not alone in their struggle for freedom. This march will ask the Clinton administration to stop appeasing the Cuban Communist regime and start enforcing the sanction laws that this Congress has imposed on the Castro tyranny that the White House has conveniently refused to apply. We will also ask the international community to stop its immoral investments in Castro's slave-economy that only serve to strengthen the dictatorship. It will be a solemn occasion to remember the hundreds of thousands of victims who have fallen prey to the Castro regime over its almost 40 years reign of terror and repression. The thousands of people who will walk through the streets of Miami this Saturday will send a clear message to the tyrant in Havana: We will not rest until the Cuban people reclaim their freedom and democracy.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, for 15 months Cuban dissidents Vladimiro Roca, Martha Beatriz Roque, Felix Bonne and Rene Gomez Manzano have been imprisoned by the Castro dictatorship for publishing a document critical of Cuba's Communist totalitarian system. Last week they were charged with a trumped-up crime of sedition, causing the outrage of international human rights organizations. This oppression of the voices for freedom in Cuba is routine practice by the Castro dictatorship. Any individual who attempts to exercise his or her right to free speech to help create a democratic opening on the island is harassed, arrested and ultimately imprisoned. This is more evidence that Castro will not change his totalitarian politics. Yet the Clinton administration insists on appeasing the Castro dictatorship by failing to implement the Helms-Burton law and waiving important parts of this legislation. It is time for the White House to wake up and realize that flirting with Castro will not help bring freedom to Cuba's oppressed people.

Mrs. ROS-LEHTINEN

Mrs. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill and to commend Chairman Skeen for his dedication and commitment to the Agriculture Appropriations process. He and Senate Subcommittee Chairman, Mr. Cochran, along with the full committee chairmen, Mr. Livingston in the House and Mr. Stevens in the Senate have worked tirelessly throughout the entire process and, specifically, during conference proceedings. The conferees did not succumb to outside pressures and stood firm against terrorist countries and parish states. they understood the tremendous differences between dealings with democratically elected governments versus attempts to negotiate with and support terrorist states such as the Castro regime in Cuba--that is what the provision by Senator Dodd would have done. The conferees understood that reality and eliminated the Dodd provision. The House and Senate conferees heard the rhetoric used by supporters of the Dodd provision but, when they heard the facts, they did what was right for the American people and for their security. The conferees were clear on what they were dealing with when talking about Fidel Castro. They knew that Castro had recently rejected a U.S. proposal to provide donated aid to needy Cubans because it was coming from the United States. Even the North Korean dictatorship could not bring itself to deny aid for its people. The conferees were fully aware of the fact that U.S. policy does not deny food and medicine to the Cuban people; that U.S. policy supports the Cuban people while punishing the dictator that enslaves them. From a practical standpoint, the conferees understood that Castro does not have the money to purchase food because Castro's socialist economy is a dismal failure. As far as ``credits'', the conferees were aware of the fact that Castro has the highest per capita debt in Latin America, rendering Cuba unworthy of credit from any country or international lender in the world. The Dodd provision would have made the U.S. the laughing stock of the world. It would have turned the U.S. into the only country in the world offering to extend credits to Fidel Castro. The conferees recalled the fact that just a few weeks ago, the FBI rounded up 10 Cuban spies working to obtain intelligence from three U.S. military bases in South Florida. With the enemy at our doorstep; with Castro agents gnawing at U.S. domestic security; there were those who actually wanted to appease the oppressive Castro regime by supporting the Dodd provision. But again, the majority of the conferees could not, would not be fooled. They dropped the Dodd provision from the Agriculture Appropriations bill. I appreciate their cooperation throughout the last couple of months, and praise them for their commitment to what is right and just. On behalf of the Cuban people and the people of terrorist and oppressive regimes around the world, thank you.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I wish to pay tribute today to a group of constitutents whom I am proud to represent. ``Some people see things as they are and say `Why?' I see things that never were and say `Why not?' '' The words of George Bernard Shaw come to mind when I think of the group of wonderful, dedicated constituents and friends whom I have had the pleasure of working with on an issue critical to millions of Americans. Carlos and Betti Lidsky, Dr. Jaime Edelstein, and Dr. Jaime Suchlicki along with the help of other dedicated volunteers of the Heart Sight Committee and the Foundation Fighting Blindness have spearheaded an effort to bring the issue of Retinal Degenerative Diseases to the attention of the American public and to raise awareness over the need to fund critical research. Their work is tireless, their dedication unwavering, and the message they bring to those who suffer with the disease is that someday soon, a cure will be found. Scientists have recently made exciting new discoveries in the laboratory that have brought us closer to discovering a cure for this group of diseases that take the sight of so many Americans. Just recently, Dr. Matthew LaVail, along with scientists from the National Eye Institute and Regeneron Pharmaceutical Company, made significant strides in their research. With ribosyme therapy, researchers have now established ``proof of principle'' for two forms of gene therapy. To scientists, proof of principle signifies that there is a good basis to move current studies to human clinical trials. In previous work, gene replacement therapy has slowed retinal degeneration in animals with recessive forms of the disease. With these exciting breakthroughs, we are at a critical juncture where we need to support these research efforts. This month, the Heart Sight Committee, headed by Carlos and Betti Lidsky, will host ``Party With a Purpose,'' in my Congressional district. The event will provide an opportunity to recognize those who have contributed to fighting Retinal Degenerative Diseases and to raise a portion of the much needed funds to continue research projects, such as those of Dr. LaVail and his fellow scientists. The Lidskys and the members of the Heart Sight Committee are dedicated to not letting lack of research funding be the obstacle to finding a cure. We need to support efforts such as these because with our help, there is a cure in sight.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, if there is a Member who deserves recognition for his years of service to his constituents, to the country, and to this institution--it is Lee Hamilton. Throughout his distinguished career as a Representative from the Ninth District of Indiana, Lee has challenged generations of Members to research the issues, make them their own, to defend their positions with vigor--even if that position meant being philosophically and fundamentally opposed to Lee's views. Lee and I have certainly had our fair share of disagreements on U.S. foreign policy, in particular, when it came to the best approach to bring about freedom and democracy to the Cuban people. However, he was always respectful of differing views, advocating open, comprehensive, and frequent--very frequent--debate. Lee has been more than a participant in the formulation of foreign policy. He is truly dedicated to studying the nuances of world events. He excels in times of crises and thrives on analyzing the potential impact of global developments on U.S. national security. Whether the issue is the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons, or climate change and the Kyoto Protocol, or reform in Latin America or NATO enlargement, we have grown to expect Lee Hamilton to know every intricacy and to be able to encapsulate the contending approaches. While he may be leaving this body, I am certain his involvement in foreign affairs will continue. We would not want it any other way. We are all the better for having had Lee Hamilton as a Member of this body for over three decades. He is a scholar, an exemplary public servant, a formidable adversary, and a gentleman. Lee, you will be missed.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and wish to be recorded as a ``no'' vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 3891 (Rollcall 470).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, South Florida owes a debt of gratitude to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for its exceptional performance in helping our communities prepare for Hurricane Georges. In the hours before the hurricane struck, FEMA played a critical role in helping the local counties make preparations for this dangerous natural phenomenon. At all times, FEMA provided local officials, South Florida Congressional offices, and residents with information about the services it provides before and after the natural disaster. South Florida was harshly hit by Hurricane Georges, although thankfully, not as severely as many had predicted. Throughout FEMA acted in a professional manner providing the residents of South Florida an opportunity to observe their tax dollars at work. I extend my appreciation to FEMA director, James Lee Witt, and his staff for their magnificent work in helping my community prepare for this disaster.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and wish to be recorded as an ``aye'' vote on H.R. 4112, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Conference Report (Roll Call 457).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, my community of south Florida is tensly gripping for a possible strike to the region from the dangerous Hurricane Georges, which has already caused great devastation in the neighboring islands of the Carribean, including my native homeland of Cuba, which is bracing for the worst. Those of us from south Florida still remember the nightmare of Hurricane Andrew that only 5 years ago fiercely destroyed our way of life, and from which many areas in south Florida are yet to fully recover. I implore the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, to begin preparations to assure a swift response to this natural disaster in the event that it does make landfall in south Florida. FEMA's assistance is critical to both protect our citizens during this hurricane or fierce storm, and to help the residents of the region in the aftermath of the natural phenomenon in an expeditious manner without much red tape. My colleagues from south Florida and I are ready to provide FEMA with any assistance on preparations to confront Hurricane Georges.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize Aristides Sosa of Miami for the recent honor he received from the University of Nebraska. In his name, the institution created the ``Aristides Sosa International Citizenship Award''. It will be awarded annually to an individual who has demonstrated vision and dedication to the improvement of human relations. This distinct recognition was presented to Dr. Sosa for his outstanding contribution to the World Affairs Conference and his extraordinary devotion to global education. For 16 years, Dr. Sosa was the director of International Programs and head of the Department of Languages for the University of Nebraska at Kearney where he established several study abroad programs in Europe and Latin America. In the 1980's, when civil disturbances rocked South Florida, he initiated a variety of community programs to improve the inter-ethnic relations in Miami while he was the Director of the Metro-Dade County Department of Community Affairs. After a well-deserved retirement this past year, Dr. Sosa has dedicated his time lecturing all over the United States at national and international conferences to offer his vast knowledge and expertise in the field of international relations. For his commitment to multi- cultural education and public service, I ask my colleagues to join me in distinguishing Dr. Aristides Sosa as the driving force and positive image for recipients of the ``Aristides Sosa International Citizenship Award''.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, as an educator and as a parent of two daughters, I know firsthand that children learn most from their parents. Educating parents to teach children about the dangers of drugs has always been and continues to be the single most effective way of preventing children from using drugs. Nancy Reagan, as a mother and as a First Lady, became an active and vocal crusader to empower the parent. By 1991, with the help of involved parents leading the war against drugs, Mr. Chairman, drug use dropped by 50 percent. Since then, drug use has once again increased despite the many funds we continue to pour into fighting this battle. One of the problems is that we have failed to understand and take seriously the role of the parent as the leader in the drug war, and we have failed to identify the parent as the person in power. I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman), for taking the initiative in introducing legislation that will authorize funds and encourage States to get parents involved in our battle against drugs. The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Portman) is regarded by the Congress as the leader in getting grass roots involvement in the drug battle. We all appreciate our colleague's effort and leadership. His bill merits an increase in limitation funds for grants awarded, and that is what my amendment would do. It would increase the competitive grant limitation amount from 20,000 to $50,000 to establish and improve programs that seek to educate and prepare parents to teach their children about the hazard of drugs. In the past, the lack of funding and proper training has inhibited the parental empowerment movement. Parents are our first line of defense in this national drug war, and so I ask my colleagues to support this amendment to bring us one step closer to victory.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I was not present due to important business in my home district and missed four rollcall votes (426, 427, 428 and 429). If I had been present, I would have voted ``aye'' on all four votes.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank so much the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) for his steadfast dedication, for many years of leadership on the cause of freedom and democracy to the people of my native homeland of Cuba, and those are qualities and a direction which is shared by his ranking member, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Hamilton). We thank him for his patience throughout this process, for the gentleman from California (Mr. Gallegly), for his leadership, as well for the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) who also had a significant hand in the drafting of this resolution. As all of us know, Mr. Speaker, in January of this year, the Pope went on a religious pilgrimage to Cuba to bring hope to a people oppressed, enslaved and tortured by a ruthless dictator, Fidel Castro, and his gang of thugs. It was unprecedented, and it should be recognized as such, but we should be cautious that an acknowledgment of the Pope is not manipulated into praise for a brutal regime. There were great expectations that the visit of His Holiness would somehow bring a sense of humanity to the evil that is Fidel Castro. Unfortunately, of course, it has not. In the aftermath of this visit, many have tried to distort the Pope's message and the facts in an attempt to seek a weakening of the U.S. position against the Castro regime. These attempts are premised on the contention that the Pope's visit has resulted in significant changes by the Castro regime and has created an opening for the people of Cuba. But make no mistake. Up to now, nothing has really changed in Cuba. While those who seek a normalization of relations with the ruthless Cuban dictator ignore this reality, the Congress cannot and must not ignore the truth. The actions taken by the Castro regime since the papal visit clearly show that a leopard does not change his spots and a tiger its stripes. This is the case of Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet and Rolando Illore, directors of the Lawton Foundation of Human Rights in Cuba who were arrested on July 11, 1998, for planning a commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the sinking of the 13 de Marzo tugboats. The whereabouts of these two individuals are still unknown, Mr. Speaker. Or the case of the members of the Liga Civica Martiana who on March 30, 1998, were arrested by the Cuban revolutionary police during a meeting that was planned to honor the remembrance of the combatants of the Brigade 2506. One of the members, Wilfredo Martinez Perez, was beaten to death and murdered at the police headquarters in Havana. Or the case of the members of the Partido Pro Derechos Humanos who on February 24, 1998, were in prison for honoring the memory of martyrs of the Brothers to the Rescue. One of them, Jose Antonio Alvarado Almeida, was sent to a local psychiatric hospital as punishment. I ask you to listen to the Cuban people, those like Oswaldo Paya Sardinas, the national coordinator of the Liberation Christian Movement of Cuba who has stated: The Cuban government has made clear that certain spaces or gestures or other allowances to the church or concessions only on the occasion of the Pope's visit. Or listen to the words of Ramon Humberto Colas, a Catholic political dissident from Las Tunas. Ramon Humberto Colas asserted: ``There were 5 days of freedom, but there were just 5 days amid 40 years.'' I ask my colleagues to listen to the words of Aurora Garcia Del Busto, an independent journalist in Cuba, when she says: ``Cuba does not open up to the Cuban people.'' We have had an opportunity to send a clear message to the Cuban dictator that we can see beyond the facade created by opponents of U.S.-Cuba policy. Honor the Pope for his efforts at bringing hope and faith to the Cuban people, but do not allow this Chamber to be used as a platform for Castro's public relations maneuvers. Despite the Pope's visit, the reality is that the Castro regime has not changed, nor does it ever want to change. Once an oppressive dictatorship, sadly, Mr. Speaker, always an oppressive dictatorship.