Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to our colleague, the gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher].

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to our colleague the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Scarborough].

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to our colleague, the gentlewoman from Washington [Mrs. Linda Smith], who is the author of the amendment in our bill against the harvesting and selling of organs of political prisoners in China.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. Cox], who is the architect of the package of bills before us today and tomorrow stating the policy of the United States Congress regarding China's abuses.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to our colleague, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox].

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], who has been the leader on the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, talking about the many abuses of the Chinese regime, especially in relation to Chinese slave products.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California [Mr. Hunter].

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this bill does more than send a message to the repressive Chinese regime. It puts respect for human rights at the forefront of our discussions with Chinese officials. It forces our own Government to recognize that these values that we hold so dear and which have helped in forging our democracy, which are free speech, freedom to worship, freedom of assembly, those values will be part, an important part, an essential part of our foreign policy. We cannot continue to sweep these issues of the violations of human rights aside merely because they are uncomfortable for us to discuss with the Chinese. If we ignore these violations, the political dissidents, the opposition in China, will suffer even more oppression. Let us be their voice today. Let us celebrate democracy, human rights and freedom for the Chinese people by supporting this bill, and indeed the entire package of bills before us. In summation, I ask that we do what is right; what is just; what we know we must do. I ask that you support H.R. 2358. Others may choose to ignore the pleas and cries of anguish of the Chinese people, but the United States Congress must not. The United States Congress must send a clear message to the Chinese regime and to the world that it will defend the rights of all people to be free of oppression, of subjugation, of persecution. The U.S. Congress must stand firm in the face of dictators and declare its support for those who cannot speak for themselves. The United States Congress must stand up to China's Communist regime--not just with rhetoric, but with concrete actions. We must tell the Chinese regime that the United States Congress will not sit on the sidelines any longer; that we are ready to take the necessary steps to help being an end to the atrocities and violations of human rights and basic liberties. H.R. 2358 is the tool. It is the action supporting the message. To summarize, H.R. 2358 assigns new diplomats to American embassies and consulates for the exclusive purpose of monitoring human rights in China. H.R. 2358 denies entry into the United States to any Chinese official found to be involved in the trafficking of human organs from political prisoners in China. The bill increases the number of legislative days to review the President's required certification that China is complying with the agreement for nuclear cooperation. It would also require a Congressional vote of approval for the certification. H.R. 2358 requires State Department officials to raise human rights concerns in every meeting with Chinese officials. Adds $10 million in funding for National Endowment for Democracy projects in China. Calls on the State Department to issue an annual report on the human rights situation and to establish a Prisoner Information Registry for China. It supports the continuation of democratic freedoms for the people of Hong Kong. In essence, H.R. 2358 is a comprehensive bill which includes the contributions of several of my distinguished colleagues. I thank them for their commitment and dedication to the issue of human rights in China, and for their ongoing courage to stand up for what is right. As you cast your vote, I want you to think of the people of China; think about the political prisoners and the persecuted. I want you to think about the values that have made this country great--about the sense of humanity that has guided us through the history of the Republic. The United States has a responsibility as the post-cold war leader to set the example for others to follow. We can set a positive example right now. I urge you to support H.R. 2358.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Congress has a unique opportunity today to stand in solidarity with the long-suffering Chinese people in their struggle for freedom, for democracy, for respect for human rights. There is a series of bills before us today ranging from enforcing a ban on slave labor products to condemning the abhorrent practice of forced abortion. The House will vote on sanctions on Chinese missile exports to Iran, as well as my bill, which will place human rights monitors in our Embassy and consulates in China. We will send a message to the people of Tibet and Taiwan that we want them to have self-determination. The House will vote on adopting a voluntary set of principles which promote good corporate citizenship by United States companies doing business in China. We pressure China to stop selling nuclear-related technology to countries such as Pakistan that are trying to develop nuclear weapons. The House will increase funding for the National Endowment for Democracy to promote democracy in China, and we will express our disgust at the Chinese practice of harvesting and transplanting human organs from prisoners, and we will deny U.S. visas to those Chinese officials.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the esteemed chairman of the Committee on International Relations. (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Hyde], chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary. (Mr. HYDE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella].

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 subject of the motion to instruct conferees.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the Rohrabacher motion to instruct the conferees on the extension of section 245(i). Section 245(i) allows parents, students, doctors and teachers who have already received an INS-approved visa petition to renew or adjust their immigration status in the United States. The ways in which to receive an INS-approved visa petition is to either have an American family member or an employer such as Motorola or Texas Instruments, who both support this provision, sponsor the person. Section 245(i) would enable these American businesses to retain skilled and trained personnel in order to prosper. Under 245(i), eligible immigrants whom the INS has already determined should be allowed to become permanent residents would normally need to return to their home consulates to renew their immigration status, leaving behind their American spouses and children. By passing an extension of 245(i), these people would be allowed to renew their immigration status in the United States while remaining in the company of their American loved ones. In fact, the only thing that the extension of 245 would do is to change the location of where a person's immigrant visa is renewed. Section 245(i) does not give special benefits to illegal immigrants. This means that the person who illegally snuck across the border, who therefore does not have an INS-approved visa petition, does not qualify for 245(i). After being subjected to fingerprinting and rigorous background checks, immigrants who have never been convicted of a crime provide and fund our INS' detention and deportation activities by paying a sum of $1,000 to have their status renewed. It raises $200 million to our U.S. Treasury. That is why Americans for Tax Reform, headed by Grover Norquist, supports the extension of 245(i). I urge my colleagues to vote against the Rohrabacher motion and support the renewal of 245(i) because it is essential and beneficial to American businesses and, indeed, to the American taxpayer. By supporting 245(i), we would support America and the scores of organizations and corporations which are depending on our vote.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Forbes]. (Mr. FORBES asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 1 minute. Mr. Speaker, I agree with the gentleman from California [Mr. Berman]. We should not be misled by those who want to distort the facts about 245(i) and give inaccurate information; 245(i) does not give special benefits to illegal immigrants. It does not allow anyone to cut in line ahead of any other person. We should not be penalizing those who are on the way to becoming legal immigrants. Section 245(i) keeps families together. It enables businesses to retain skilled workers. It brings in $200 million a year to the U.S. Treasury. Half of the projected increase in funding for criminal detention space will come from the $1,000 per immigrant fees paid. Without this funding, detention space for an estimated 14,000 criminal aliens will not be available. That is an unsettling thought for many communities. Without that funding, inadequate space may mean that criminals that should be held in detention will not be with all the potential calamities that that will lead to. Even if this possibility is unnecessary, if we simply extend 245(i), do not tie the hands of those negotiators and let us get a settlement on this issue. Reject the Rohrabacher motion.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Diaz-Balart]. (Mr. DIAZ-BALART asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, today we will be voting on preserving an important immigration provision, section 245(i), 245(i) benefits America. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and major American corporations such as Xerox, Microsoft, and Ford strongly support the extension of 245(i). These American businesses know just how essential well-skilled and qualified immigrants are to our economy as they cause our businesses to prosper. They, too, are American consumers and innovators. The reality is that if 245(i) is not extended, the only thing that we would be hurting would be the productivity of our country; 245(i) helps especially to keep families together. It especially helps businesses to retain skilled workers. It brings up to $200 million a year to our Treasury. And 245(i) does not give special benefits to illegal immigrants. The U.S. Senate has voted to extend this provision. I urge my colleagues to support America and help keep families together by extending 245(i) today.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, recently, Congresswoman Carrie Meek and I hosted a forum at Jackson Memorial Hospital to talk about a disease, lupus, that burdens the lives of almost 2 million Americans, striking 1 out of every 185 Americans. Moreover, although this disease can affect individuals at any age, and in either sex, 90 percent of those who suffer from this ravaging disease are women. Lupus is not an equal opportunity illness. It not only targets women, but African-American and Hispanic women face an increased threat--as many as three times over. Lupus, whose name comes from the facial rash it produces, is an autoimmune disease, where instead of protecting itself against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials, the body makes antibodies against itself. It is in a class of illnesses that includes forms of diabetes, arthritis and, according to recent research, many also include a number of conditions such as Parkinsons. All of these illnesses occur when the immune system ends up attacking the very body it is supposed to defend. Although this devastating disease is not infectious, rare, or cancerous and it ranges from mild to life-threatening, the reality is that thousands of Americans die with lupus each year. Moreover, while many other chronic diseases make the headlines, lupus affects more individuals than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis combined. Even though the outlook for lupus patients has greatly improved, there is still a need for increased research. Therefore, I am proud to be a cosponsor of Carrie Meek's bill, H.R. 1111, legislation which will increase research funded through the National Institutes of Health from $33 million last year to $50 million for the next fiscal year and would make an additional $50 million available to State and local governments, as well as nonprofit organizations, to assist with providing essential services to low-income individuals with lupus. While improvements in medication can allow those afflicted to look forward to a normal life span, there is still much work to be done in education and research. It is my hope that this legislation will hasten the day when lupus is nothing more than a bad memory. I implore my colleagues to take an active role during Lupus Awareness Month and sign onto H.R. 1111, which 84 of my colleagues have already cosponsored, so that those 2 million Americans afflicted with lupus will have a fighting chance of battling this harmful and ravaging disease.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to remember a great friend, outstanding lawyer, loving father, and a true patriot, Dr. Luis Fernandez-Caubi, who was born in Sagua la Grande, the son of a schoolteacher and a businessman. He was a lawyer and an ardent defender of human rights and those accused of anti-Castro activities by the Communist Government of Cuba. After immigrating to the United States, his adoptive country, he continued the fight against Castro's tyranny, a fight that led him to the United Nations in 1988 and which continued in Spain, France, and other countries until his demise. Dr. Fernandez-Caubi studied law at the University of Havana and began his law practice in 1948. He was admitted to the Florida bar after his completion of studies at the University of Florida and continued his practice until his death. Dr. Fernandez-Caubi was a renowned author, winning journalism awards for his political commentary and books which included ``Justicia y Terror'', an indictment of the judicial system under communism and ``Apuntes Sobre La Nacionalidad Cubana''. He also hosted programs for radio and TV stations, including Radio Marti. In the legal arena, his firm led a coalition of law firms in representing the elderly in the precedent setting Meek versus Martinez lawsuit to entitle the elderly in south Florida to receive their proportionate share of benefits from the government; his firm also advocated for human rights in the United Nations, which eventually led to the condemnation of Cuba for its human rights abuses. He represented numerous indigents, including the Mariel Cubans at the Terre Haute penitentiary, and won three Pro Bono Publico Service Awards. He participated in local politics and received the City of Miami Citizen of the Year Award in 1992, and the Sagua La Grande Favorite Son Distinction, among many honors. Dr. Fernandez-Caubi was the father of 5 children and had 10 grandchildren, who were his pride and joy. He lived a full and rewarding life, and his legacy will live in the hearts of all who had the opportunity to be associated with him.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, partial-birth abortions involve killing partially delivered babies, usually from the fifth month on into the later stages of pregnancy. This gruesome procedure consists of partially delivering the live baby feet first, with only the head inside the mother's womb, and then stabbing the child at the base of the skull. Partial-birth abortions are performed mainly on healthy babies of healthy mothers. The American Medical Association says that the partial delivery of a living fetus for the purpose of killing it outside the womb is ethically offensive to most Americans and doctors. The AMA could find no identified circumstance in which the procedure was the only safe and effective abortion method. The worst tragedy of partial-birth abortions is that most are done for strictly elective reasons. We must take action to end this heinous act of killing the innocent unborn.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the efforts of the Catholic Hospice, a nonprofit organization located in my congressional district, and the commitment and efforts of all of their volunteers. The Catholic Hospice is an organization established in 1988 by the Catholic Archdiocese of Miami, SSI Mercy Health System, and St. Francis Medical Health Care Services, whose mission it is to serve the physical and emotional needs of terminally ill patients and their families of all faiths in Dade and Monroe Counties. Among some of the projects Catholic Hospice offers are Camp Hope, a 3-day intensive therapy session that is offered to children who have lost a parent or very close caregiver within the last 12 months; bereavement support groups, which are counseling sessions offered to adults to assist them to deal with grief and loss; and a volunteer program, where volunteers offer their services free of charge to patients and families who need basic support through a very critical time. In recognition of the dedication of their volunteers, the Catholic Hospice will be having its annual volunteer luncheon this September 27, where their most valuable volunteers will be recognized. It is volunteers such as Claire Salichs, Tish O'Neil, Lois Newmark, and Berta Friedman, among many others, who have selflessly given their time and energy to assist patients as well as their families during these difficult periods. It is these same individuals who have been indispensable in making the Catholic Hospice a success and whose efforts I commend. I congratulate the Catholic Hospice for serving so many of south Florida's patients and families and I applaud the efforts of all its volunteers for their dedication to all of those who are sickly or bereaving the loss of a loved one. Death is an experience that is hard to bear for everyone and it is the support of the volunteers at Catholic Hospice that allow those who have lost a loved one to heal more rapidly and enjoy the memories of those who have passed away.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, a city in my congressional district, West Miami, FL is celebrating its golden anniversary. From its humble beginnings 50 years ago, West Miami has blossomed into a diverse city distinguished by a strong sense of family and community. At the time of incorporation in 1947, the town of West Miami had only 700 inhabitants. By 1951, the town's population had risen to 6,000 residents and consisted mostly of married couples averaging 30 years of age and it also included a small number of senior citizens. I am proud to represent a city in my district where a sense of giving back to the community through outreach programs and community service is a core component to the city's success. I would like to recognize all of the citizens of the city of West Miami and their mayor, Ms. Rebecca Sosa, the city's first female Cuban- American mayor, for their ongoing and continuing love and pride for their cherished city. May this 50th anniversary be one of hope and promise and may the little big town continue to serve as a model for all cities in the next millennium.