Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2165) to enhance strategic cooperation between the United States and Israel, and for other purposes.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I ask unanimous consent, Mr. Speaker, that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on Senate bill 2165.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012. I would like to thank the distinguished majority leader and the minority whip, Mr. Cantor and Mr. Hoyer, for sponsoring the House version of this legislation, as well as Senators Boxer and Isakson, who sponsored the Senate version that this House is considering today. For over 64 years, since the United States recognized Israel just 11 minutes after its creation, the democratic, Jewish State of Israel has been one of our closest allies. Our shared commitment to peace and to freedom have been the foundation of a special bond that has reinforced the safety and the security of both of our countries. We have forged a defense partnership that has yielded advanced technologies and policies that have benefited both of our nations and helped to keep our citizens secure. Our fates are tied together. A threat to one of our countries is a threat to both. And so, as the Iranian regime continues to race toward nuclear weapons and sponsor violent extremists like Hamas and Hezbollah, we must work together to counter this growing threat, Mr. Speaker. And while the United States and Israel are targeted by many of the same threats, Israel's proximity to the Iran-Syria-Hamas-Hezbollah nexus leaves us no room for error. Our goal, with this legislation, is to ensure that Israel has the ability to protect its citizens against the dangers that touch their lives every day, against the rockets, against the bombs, against the missiles that their enemies stockpile while making well-publicized threats every day against the Jewish state. How do we achieve this goal, Mr. Speaker? By increasing the totality of our bilateral security relations. That means increasing joint missile defense systems, joint military exercises, and intelligence cooperation. We get to learn from them, and they get to learn from us, and we all sleep a little more soundly knowing that we have done all we can to help our citizens. It also means providing increased excess defense articles and munitions to Israel. With a host of entities stirring the pot of hostility against the Jewish state, it is critical that the United States stand foursquare with Israel. This legislation also extends authority to provide loan guarantees to the Israeli government that provide the Jewish state with a cushion of support in times of need, and at no cost to the American taxpayer. Mr. Speaker, our ally, Israel, needs our help, and we are situated to lend a friend this hand while strengthening our own security in the process. Let us stand together today and say that we support a strong and secure Israel, not only because Israel is our friend and ally, but also because a strong and secure Israel means a strong and secure America. Now is a particularly important time to send that message, as we face the looming specter of this sequester that we're all talking about and working hard to prevent. Mr. Speaker, if nothing is done to avert this crisis, we will face an almost $450 million cut to security assistance to Israel. This would include over $100 million in cuts to cooperative missile defense programs. These cuts would damage the security of our Nation and our ally, Israel, and they must be averted. With that, Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the coauthor of this legislation, our leader, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the gentleman for his remarks, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I am so pleased to yield 4 minutes to my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), who is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I am so pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), who is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. He deals with these issues every day.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I only have some closing remarks and have no further requests for time, so I will wait for my colleague from California to yield back.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 states, and it makes it very clear, that U.S. policy is to: reaffirm the commitment to Israel's security as a Jewish state; also to provide Israel with the military capabilities to defend herself and help preserve its qualitative military edge; also to expand military and civilian cooperation; to assist in a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that results in two states living side by side in peace and security, which is all of our goals; and also encourage Israel's neighbors to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should take specified actions to assist in the defense of Israel; it amends the 2005 Department of Defense Appropriations Act to extend authority to transfer certain Department of Defense items to Israel; it amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to extend authority to make additions to foreign-based defense stockpiles; and, lastly, it amends the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2003 to extend specified loan guarantee authority to Israel. This is in the U.S. national security interest, and I hope that the House overwhelmingly passes this important bill. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2009) to improve the administration of programs in the insular areas, and for other purposes.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill, S. 2009.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill, S. 2009 the Insular Areas Act, a brief bill that passed the Senate unanimously in December before being transmitted to the House and referred to multiple committees. The bill consists of three short sections: The first section, which shifts to the Department of Energy the responsibility for Department of the Interior-funded radiological monitoring at former U.S. nuclear test sites, has long been overseen by the Committee on Natural Resources. The second section, which confirms the continuing eligibility of U.S. magistrates to participate in long-standing judicial exchange programs, is primarily overseen by the Committee on the Judiciary. And the third section, involving a domestic workforce issue, is overseen by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. All of these committees have reviewed the bill, waived additional action, and consented to today's suspension consideration of the bill. I want to thank those committees for their consideration and their input. I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Education and the Workforce, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, March 20, 2012. Hon. John A. Boehner, Speaker, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Speaker: I am writing to convey the consent of the Committee on Education and the Workforce to be discharged from consideration of S. 2009, Insular Areas Act of 2011, in order to expedite its consideration on the House floor. Although a formal request has not yet been prepared by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), CBO staff informally estimates that the bill should not have any direct spending or revenue effects and should have an annual discretionary cost under CBO's de minimis threshold ($500,000). While agreeing to waive consideration of S. 2009, the Committee on Education and the Workforce does not waive any jurisdiction that it has over provisions in the bill, nor does it waive the right to seek appointment as conferees in the event of a House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation, should such a conference be convened. Thank you again for your consideration. Sincerely, John Kline, Chairman.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Mr. Faleomavaega for the warm way in which he works with every member of our committee, and that is why it is a pleasure for all of us on the Committee on Foreign Affairs to do everything that we can to help the gentleman, because we know how important these bills are to him, as we can see, as we have heard. What we may consider to be a suspension bill that will not impact our daily lives, it impacts the many thousands of people whom he is so proud to represent in a very real and meaningful way. So I thank him for his gentle manners. I thank him for his graciousness. I thank him for the important bills that he brings to our attention. And I want to tell him what an honor it is for all of us on our committee to work with him in a bipartisan way. With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the Diaz-Balart amendment and to draw attention to a crisis that will soon hit the city of Miami and many other cities throughout south Florida, our State of Florida, and indeed throughout the Nation. We are all aware of the difficult funding decisions that will need to be made by many departments and programs. Programs like the Community Development Block Grant may see overall reductions because of the sad realities of the current budget constraints and in the interest of fiscal responsibility. However, because of an arbitrary Community Development Block Grant expenditure cap, countless vulnerable citizens in the city of Miami and throughout the United States will lose their only means of sustenance. This amendment is not about increased funding, Mr. Chairman, nor is it about changing the overall formula of the Community Development Block Grant. It is simply about providing greater flexibility to cities on how they allocate their CDBG funds. Currently, only 15 percent of Community Development Block Grant funds can go toward public services. Now, what are public services? Well, they include food for senior citizens, the disabled, the homeless, the abused, or neglected children. They also may be used for child care, for health services, for job training services. The city of Miami, which I am proud to represent, currently provides these vital services, especially meals, through the current Community Development Block Grant public services. But, because of the overall decrease in CDBG allocations, many disadvantaged men, women, and children will be without the vital support that they deserve and need. This amendment is simply a painless solution to this development, allowing cities the flexibility they need in how they expand their CDBG funds. It would allow up to 25 percent of CDBG funds to go to public services, a position that has been endorsed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. The current 15 percent public service expenditure cap was enacted with the original statute over 30 years ago. It does not reflect the evolution of this program, nor the necessity to provide flexibility to local leaders on how funds should be expended during this time of belt tightening. The current restrictive and outdated limit has denied many communities the option of providing their residents with the most basic and necessary services within the framework established by the program. CDBG public services have played a key role in providing crucial aid to our most at-risk and vulnerable constituents, especially during this enduring recession. Cities across our country have had to do more with less, and this amendment will help them accomplish just that. I wish to thank Chairman Latham and his staff for working with Congressman Diaz-Balart and me on trying to give this flexibility through the proper channel to our local leaders. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 372, I inadvertently voted ``no''. I meant to vote ``aye.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Stated against:

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow Temple Israel of Miami will be celebrating its 90th anniversary. Temple Israel is a pillar of the South Florida Jewish community. It is one of South Florida's oldest treasures and our community has truly been blessed over the years by its presence. From the very beginning, Temple Israel's founders believed that they could create an organization that would make a positive change in the community. They sought to create bonds of loyalty within the international Jewish community, and within the South Florida community. For 90 years now, the Temple Israel congregation has consistently lived up to this purpose. The early leaders set a tradition to ``live Judaism'' by being actively engaged in local, national and world issues. Temple Israel's congregation continues to be among the most civically engaged members of our South Florida community. The Temple Israel congregation has not only had a positive impact on the Jewish residents in South Florida, but also the community as a whole. From housing the Bridgeport Academy charter school that provides education for students from diverse backgrounds, to their tutoring and housing programs like the Dorothy Serotta Social Justice Forum program, Temple Israel's congregation is actively involved in the community year round. The members of Temple Israel's congregation are a shining example of ``Tikkun Olam.'' They carry on the Temple's legacy of courage, compassion, service, and inclusiveness. I cannot thank Temple Israel enough for its leadership and positive impact as we celebrate its 90th anniversary. I look forward to seeing how the organization evolves as it continues to make a significant mark on our South Florida community.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Our Lady of Lourdes Academy Constitution Team for yet another remarkable performance in the annual We the People Competition. Having won the right to represent the State of Florida by winning the State Championship in January, Lourdes came to Washington DC and placed an impressive 7th place nationally. For 25 years, the We the People Competition has helped further civic education and awareness by testing students' depth of knowledge and ability to apply constitutional principles to both historical and current issues. The competition, conducted on the campus of George Mason University and in hearing rooms of the U.S. House of Representatives, takes the form of simulated congressional hearings. Students testify as constitutional experts before panels of judges acting as congressional committees who then score the groups. The hard work and research put in by the team is a testament to their commitment to civic education, as well as to the guidance and instruction of their teacher Rosalie Heffernan. I know I join all of South Florida in expressing our pride and admiration for the Our Lady of Lourdes Academy Constitution Team and their remarkable accomplishment. Congratulations to: Paula Abarca, Emily Bezold, Michelle Bueno, Gabriela Corzo, Oliva Diaz de Villega, Amelia Garcia, Patricia Garcia-Linares, Gabriela Hildalgo, Anne-Marie Hunter, Alexandra Lazcano, Maria Mendoza, Fabiola Navarro, Caitlin Opperman, Rachel Perez, Kelsey Quigley, Brigette Quintana, Cristina Sanchez, Veronica Sanchez, Kiara Taquechel, Tiffany Valenti and Clarisse Vamos!

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 568) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the importance of preventing the Government of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability, as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend and to submit extraneous materials for the Record.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend and to submit extraneous materials for the Record.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4240) to reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 4240, the Ambassador James R. Lilley and Congressman Stephen J. Solarz North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2012. I would like to thank my coauthor and ranking member, my good friend, Mr. Berman, and the dozens of bipartisan cosponsors who have joined us to continue the important human rights work that Congress began 9 years ago. The North Korean regime remains one of the world's worst human rights abusers as the legacy of tyranny has been passed on to a new generation. South Korea's National Human Rights Commission detailed, in a 380- page report released earlier this month, that Kim Jong-Un maintains the same hellish gulag as his father and grandfather before him. Hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children are forced into slave labor, starved, and tortured to death in isolated camps. Even outside the camps, the North Korean people enjoy no freedoms of speech, religion, press, or assembly. Officials crush any dissent and have reportedly authorized the on- the-spot execution of those attempting to flee the country. A regime that maims its own people with impunity, cannot be trusted to keep its agreements with foreigners. Thus, solving the North Korean human rights issue is also an integral part of addressing the North Korean security threat. North Korean women and girls are brutalized and trafficked in China, where they are sold into forced marriage and sexual slavery. And China, which sits on the Executive Board of the U.N.'s Refugee Protection Body, continues to forcibly repatriate North Koreans into danger. H.R. 4240, Mr. Speaker, will continue the important bipartisan work of the North Korean Human Rights Act by extending, until the year 2017, its authorities to promote human rights, refugee protection, and freedom of information for the people of North Korea. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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