Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleague in supporting the ongoing cooperation between the United States and Mexico to fight the drug cartels and curb the drug-related violence which is increasingly impacting our citizens on both sides of the border. There is no doubt that through the Merida Initiative, significant gains have been made against narcotraffickers and organized crime in Mexico over the past couple of years. However, as is to be expected, the harder we fight to get them off the streets, the harder they fight to stay there. More than 7,000 people were killed at the hands of drug-related violence in Mexico last year alone. One of those victims is recognized in this resolution, Mr. Agustin Roberto ``Bobby'' Salcedo, a U.S. citizen and resident of California. Mr. Salcedo was in Mexico visiting his family, and was with family on New Year's Eve when, as the resolution states, he was callously abducted and murdered by a group of masked, armed men. His family has yet to learn why. Unfortunately, Mr. Salcedo's story is one that many of us are becoming all too familiar with. Over 14 months ago, Mr. Felix Batista, a constituent of my congressional district, disappeared in Mexico. He has not been heard from or seen since. I have worked closely with many of my colleagues in the Florida delegation, both in the House and the Senate, especially our Florida Senator Bill Nelson, to try to help his family over the last year. And while it is my understanding that the FBI and Mexican authorities were investigating his case, his family has yet to gain a better understanding of exactly what happened to Mr. Batista on December 10, 2008. The tragic disappearance of Mr. Batista and so many other Americans who have been victims of violence in Mexico demonstrates that the security challenges facing our neighbor in the south also pose a threat to the safety of our Nation and our citizens. It is critical that we continue to work with Mexico and other democratic partners in the region to present a united front against narcotraffickers in our hemisphere. We especially must not forget our partners in Colombia. While there is no doubt that tremendous advances have been made, the premature reduction in assistance to Colombia would undoubtedly put these great gains at risk. Much hard work remains to be done in Colombia and throughout the region. Together we can successfully confront the transnational nature of these criminals and their illicit activities. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of House Resolution 1088. In 2008, an undercover reporter for the BBC's Swahili Service broke the horrific story of the occult-based killings of albinos in parts of eastern Burundi and northwest Tanzania. Since that time, it has been revealed that albinos have been killed and mutilated by so-called ``hunters'' who sell their victims' body parts to unscrupulous traditional healers. The hunt is driven by the absurd belief that albinos possess mystical powers and that their body parts can be used as talismans to bring wealth and good luck. The market itself is driven by greed. It has been reported that a complete set of body parts can fetch up to $75,000 on the black market. To be clear, the hunting and mutilation of albinos in East Africa is by no means a common practice. The number of attacks is relatively few in terms of the broader population. The hunting and mutilation of people simply because they look different is profoundly disturbing and requires us to condemn it. This resolution calls upon the governments in East Africa, particularly in Burundi and Tanzania, to take effective action to end these senseless attacks which constitute gross human rights violations. It also calls upon those governments, with support from international organizations and other donors, to take effective action to educate the general population with a view toward eliminating discrimination and abuse. I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) for introducing this measure, and I encourage my colleagues to support it. With that, Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, the greatest aspect of Greek influence on our country has its roots in the classical era of ancient Greece--that point in time when the Greek political philosophy of democracy was born. In our political debates today, we can easily see the continuing influence of that classical age in our lives. How different would the world be today if the Greeks of that day had not stood up to the invading armies of the Persian Empire? Unfortunately, although the ancient Greek political philosophers first conceived of democratic self-government, after their time passed, the Greek nation, itself, in fact, became a part of larger empires. It was ruled for centuries by men with unquestioned and arbitrary power over life and death--the antithesis of democracy. By the start of the 1800s, however, the signs were clear. The Greek people saw the opportunity and were determined to win back their independence and to live in liberty once again. The most eloquent advocate for liberty in the nation of Greece in the early 19th century was a freedom fighter and a poet, who, before perishing in the struggle, penned the immortal line, ``Better 1 hour of free life than 40 years of slavery and prison.'' After the Greek Revolution was declared on March 25, 1821, this poem became a patriotic call for liberty and the motto for the freedom fighters of Greece. Our Founding Fathers shared that same passion for liberty, as evidenced by Patrick Henry's famous statement just a few decades earlier, ``Give me liberty or give me death''--a brave statement which is so familiar and so similar to the rallying cry of the Greek people during their historic struggle. Such are the shared ideals, the common values upon which the friendship between Greece and America was founded, and that friendship has, indeed, become a formal alliance. During the 20th century, in every major international conflict, Greek soldiers stood beside American soldiers in the fight for freedom and liberty. To this day, Greece supports our reconstruction and stabilization missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Greece has deployed an operational mentor and liaison team to assist NATO efforts to train the Afghan army. Further, the Souda Bay naval base on Crete has been a valuable support for the coalition forces in Iraq. During the brutal fighting in 2005 alone, this Greek base supported over 11,000 U.S. military ships and planes on their way to Iraq. Greece has also contributed significant financial and diplomatic support to continuing stabilization efforts in the Balkan region, and it has effectively promoted such efforts in that region during the 2009 chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. I was honored to have met with the Greek Prime Minister earlier today to discuss these issues and to discuss ways to continue strengthening our bilateral relationship. Greece continues today as a valued partner and as a strong friend of the United States. It is my pleasure to offer this resolution which recognizes the 189th anniversary of the independence of that great nation. With that, Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor and offer my sincerest thanks to the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue team, specifically the Urban Search and Rescue branch, for their heroic efforts in aiding the relief work in Haiti. Within hours of learning that a magnitude 7.0 earthquake had struck, Division Chief Dave Downey had organized a task force of 80 strong to respond. With minimal preliminary information, Chief Downey's task force began to mobilize immediately after the earthquake struck on January 12. Having responded to domestic disasters in the past including Hurricane Opal, the World Trade Center and Hurricane Katrina, Chief Downey's Florida Task Force 1 was well equipped to help the devastated town of Port-au-Prince. Overcoming logistical difficulties such as the transportation of nearly 100 search and rescue personnel as well as their 62,000-pound equipment, the efforts of Florida Task Force 1 resulted in the largest number of survivors ever rescued in history. Rescuing their first victim almost 24 hours before their equipment had even arrived, we should all be proud of Chief Downey's team and the devotion they showed in executing a successful rescue mission. In Chief Downey's own words, ``The breadth of this disaster was overwhelming.'' With a full view of the destruction, Florida Task Force 1 was forced to overcome countless challenges. With no Internet access or pre-established GPS formats, the task force had no other option but to plan their mission using old tourist maps for the first few--and most chaotic--days. Risking their own lives to save others, the courage and dedication of Florida Task Force 1 is truly an example to us all. Confronted with their greatest enemy--time--I commend the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue team for their quick and selfless response to the crisis in Haiti. At this time, I would like to submit the names of each individual that made up the courageous Florida Task Force 1: Alvarado, Patricio; Alvarez, Andres; Baker, Robert; Bell, Raymond; Borz, Ronald; Bramblett, Colette; Bustamante, Miguel; Caballero, Derrick; Canfield, Michael; Capote, Ernesto; Catapano, Kristian; Chung, Richard; Cooper, Rhaudal; Cuminale, Michael; Dombrowski, Lawrence; Downey, David; Driscoll, Stephen; Fernandez, Jorge; Fernandez, Louie; Ferraro, John. Fregeolle, Gary; Garcia, Frank; Garcia-Menocal, Jose; Gelabert, Brian; Gelabert, Manuel; Gimenez, Carlos; Gonzalez, Mario; Gonzalez, Orlando; Gonzalez, Ralph; Hale, Marc; Hall, Richard; Herrera, Ernesto; Hook, Andrew; Hooten, Chad; Jacobs, Edan; Jenkins, Millard; Lefur, Rachelle; Licea, William; Machado, Andres; Major, Malcolm. Mardice, Yves; Marks, Michael; Matos, Janice; Mclellan, Gregory; Moise, Rudolph; Mullin, Scott; Neetz, Jacqueline; Oldfield, Jeffrey; Oldfield, Monica; Parker, Pamela; Paternoster, Brandy; Paul-Noel, Karls; Pellon, Alejandro; Perez, Alberto; Perla, Marcelo; Perry, Alan; Post, Brandon; Pozo, Rafael; Ramos, Sergio; Richard, Stacy. Rodriguez, Jairo; Rodriguez, Pedro; Rouse, Jeffrey; Santana, Luis; Selts, Jack; Smithies, John; Steele, Michelle; Strickland, Gregory; Strickland, Jeffrey; Strull, Michael; Sullivan, Robert; Tonanez, Alvaro; Trim, Anthony; Vaughan, Ray; Wasilkowski, Justin; Webb, Brandon; Whu, Danny; Williams, Kenneth; Wood, Hilda; Yetter, Michael. As a result of these individuals' inspiring work in Haiti, countless lives have been saved and many more have been assisted. Their selfless mission and sense of commitment is a testament to our Nation's highest principles. As Americans, we cannot thank them enough for the work they have done both at home and abroad.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank my good friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, as the House author of legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP, I rise in strong support of today's resolution. I would like to thank my wonderful friend from California, my colleague, my collaborator, Congresswoman Susan Davis of California, for her dedicated work in support of the WASP. Today's bill authorizes the use of Emancipation Hall, a historic place for a historic group of ladies, for an event that will honor a most unique sisterhood of women pioneers. Next, Wednesday, March 10, Mr. Speaker, the United States Congress will present the Congressional Gold Medal to the surviving members of the Women Airforce Service Pilots, WASP. This award serves as a small token of our tremendous appreciation of the remarkable courage and sacrifice made by these women during the perilous times of World War II. The WASP were the first women in history to fly America's military aircraft. Between the years of 1942 and 1944, these courageous women volunteered to fly noncombat missions so that every available male pilot could be deployed in combat. More than 25,000 women applied for the program, but only 1,830 qualified women pilots were accepted. Unlike their male counterparts, women applicants were required to be qualified pilots before they could apply for the Army Air Forces' military flight training program. That's what it was called, it sounds odd to say. Although 1,102 women earned their wings and went on to fly over 60 million miles for the Army Air Forces, equal to some 2,500 times around the globe, they never got the recognition that they deserved. Their performances were equal in every way to those of their male pilots. With the exception of direct combat missions, the WASP flew the same aircraft with the same missions as male pilots. Women pilots were used to tow targets for male pilots who were using live ammunition for searchlight missions, for chemical missions, engineering test flying, and for countless other exercises. In 1944, the WASP were disbanded. Their service records were sealed and classified. By the time the war ended, 38 women pilots had lost their lives while flying for our country. Although they took the military oath and were promised military status, the WASP were never recognized as true military personnel. These 38 women who died in the service of our country during World War II were denied death benefits, including proper military funerals. Not even an American flag covered their coffins, and their survivors never received a single dime. As a former WASP, Mary Alice Putnam Vandeventer noted in a recent letter, fellow WASP would circulate a ``collection hat to make sure that a fallen sister pilot received a proper burial.'' It was not until 1977, more than 30 years after the WASP had served, when another woman pioneer, Congresswoman Lindy Boggs, introduced legislation to grant the WASP veterans status. Now, more than 30 years from that important occasion, the United States Congress, on behalf of the American people, will present the WASP with the recognition they deserve and with the recognition, indeed, they have earned. The WASP are true pioneers, whose examples paved the way for the Armed Forces to finally lift the ban on a woman attending military flight training in the 1970s. Today, women in the military fly every type of aircraft, from F-15s to the space shuttle. My daughter-in-law, Lindsay Nelson, a Marine Corps pilot, is part of this lasting legacy of the WASP. Lindsay is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. She served combat tours in Iraq and in Afghanistan, where she flew the F-18 fighter jet. I am so proud of Lindsay and of all of our servicewomen, past and present, who continue to inspire young women to achieve what was heretofore unimaginable. Of the 1,102 WASP, less than 300 are still alive today, and they are residing in almost every State of our beautiful Union. I have had the honor and the privilege of meeting WASP from my congressional area of south Florida. Last August, Mr. Speaker, I presented Frances Rohrer Sargent, Ruth Shafer Fleisher and Helen Wyatt Snapp with framed, signed copies of the WASP Congressional Gold Medal legislation. I cannot tell you how delighted I am that Frances, Ruth, and Helen will be traveling to Washington next week, along with more than 170 of their fellow WASP. Join me in paying homage to these trailblazers and true patriots who served our country without question and with no expectation of recognition or praise. I hope that all of our colleagues will join us next week to do so. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me and my good friend from California, Mrs. Davis, in voting ``yes'' on this important recognition. We have taken a long time to recognize these brave pioneers, but that date has finally come, thanks to all of our Members.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to congratulate Homestead's Air Reserve Base 482nd Fighter Wing for receiving the Department of Defense Reserve Family Readiness Award. Through the vigilance of these brave men and women in uniform every day, Americans can live with a greater peace of mind. The safety of our families is dependent on them. And it is heartwarming to know that our military families are given the extra support that they need. The strong leadership of Wing Commander BG William B. Binger has made this distinction possible. He serves as an inspiration and motivation for such a remarkable unit and support personnel. Again, congratulations to the 482nd Fighter Wing of the Homestead Air Reserve Base for this well-deserved honor. Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize the tremendous contributions of the relief efforts in Haiti made by Dr. Barth Green and the University of Miami's Global Institute's Project Medishare and the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami. When Haiti was devastated by the earthquake which struck on January 12, Dr. Barth Green, cofounder of the UM Global Institute's Project Medishare for Haiti, and a team of 11 doctors and nurses immediately sprung into action. Arriving the very next day, they were the first medical team in Haiti following this catastrophic earthquake, and within less than 24 hours at the request of Haitian President Rene Preval and the Haitian Ministry of Health, Project Medishare had set up a field trauma hospital on the grounds of the Port-au-Prince Airport. This 300-bed critical care hospital is now reportedly the country's largest functioning urgent care hospital. It is working closely with the U.S. military in Haiti, providing important triage services in collaboration with the U.S. Navy ship Comfort. Under Dr. Green's leadership, Project Medishare has deployed over 500 medical, administrative and logistical personnel to staff the hospital, and they have effectively treated hundreds of patients on a daily basis. So far, more than 2,000 earthquake survivors have received care at the University of Miami Hospital. In addition, the Project Medishare UM Global Institute Hospital has served as an important clearing house and staging point for medical evaluations and for other hospitals that are operating in the Port-au-Prince area. But it doesn't stop there, Mr. Speaker. Because Project Medishare has been engaged in health and development work in Haiti for over 15 years, they were able to quickly grow their emergency response efforts across all of Haiti. They were able to expand their longstanding programs in Cap Haitien and in the central plateau to care for earthquake-injured individuals who had left the capital city to be with their families elsewhere. Similarly, because the UM Global Institute has been working in Haiti for nearly 40 years now, it is uniquely positioned to work with the Government of Haiti, the U.S. military and other organizations to help organize medical teams on the ground and implement field hospital plans around the capital city. Notably, Project Medishare is also making an effort to integrate medical staff with the Haitian Ministry of Health and other local Haitian doctors and nurses in an effort to better train each other. As Dr. Green himself explained, ``We're beginning to train our Haitian colleagues so, when we hand off these hospitals in the next couple of months, they'll be there forever. We're not rebuilding Haiti the way it was; we're rebuilding a different Haiti.'' Dr. Green has also said that they plan to leave with your colleagues in Haiti every piece of the transported equipment used for their relief efforts. This will help to transition the immediate relief assistance they have provided into real, longstanding, sustainable progress for the people of Haiti. I was so proud to coordinate Dr. Green's efforts with our U.S. military personnel on the ground and in my district at the U.S. Southern Command. I applaud the many individuals who have participated in the relief efforts headed by Dr. Green, by the University of Miami, by the Global Institute's Project Medishare, and by the U.M. Miller School of Medicine. The work of private individuals and organizations such as these is key to the broader U.S. response to the crisis in Haiti. Again, I would like to recognize the tremendous contributions made by Dr. Green and his partners at the University of Miami, especially U.M. President Donna Shalala, to the relief efforts in Haiti. My sincere gratitude for their selfless dedication to this cause. Congratulations, U.M.; congratulations, Mr. Barth Green.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, the cause for freedom suffered a deep loss yesterday with the death of political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo, the latest victim of the Cuban tyranny. And today we sadly commemorate the 1996 murder by the Cuban regime of Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre, Mario de la Pena, and Pablo Morales. As they searched for those who were risking their lives in the Atlantic in pursuit of freedom in the United States, Cuban military jets mercilessly shot them down in international airspace. Some choose to ignore the brutality of the Cuban dictatorship, introducing a bill this week to lift parts of the embargo that would reward the regime. Instead, I ask that we honor the memory of those lost to the cause of liberty in Cuba and redouble our efforts to turn their dream of a free Cuba into a reality.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, this week I met with commercial and recreational fishermen from my Congressional district of the Florida Keys. These hardworking men and women have taken time out of their busy season to travel up here to Washington, D.C., to protest the latest round of onerous and unfair Federal fishing regulations and closures. Florida's recreational fishing industry is the largest in the Nation. It's economic impact to our State exceeds $5.3 billion, and more than 54,000 jobs are generated by this industry. Similarly, Florida's commercial fishing industry is nearly 13,000 strong and contributes a staggering $1.2 billion to our economy. Our fishermen understand that maintaining a robust, healthy fishery through appropriate regulation is the key to their economic success. However, the recent fishing bans on red snapper and shallow water grouper enacted by the South Atlantic Fisheries Council are devastating to our Florida fishing industry. The bans not only threaten the jobs of recreational and commercial fishermen, but also the small business owners that support and economically benefit from these industries. Local restaurants will look to carry more cost-affordable fish from countries such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic, as opposed to featuring fresh, Florida-caught fish, crab, and lobster. Hotels, dive shops, and other tourist attractions will also continue to suffer as fishing enthusiasts decide to travel elsewhere. The impact of this multibillion dollar industry on the State of Florida cannot be overstated. And yet, one by one, these fishermen are being regulated out of business. I'm a cosponsor of a bill known as the Transparency in Job Loss from Fishery Closures Act, and this is a bill introduced by my colleague, Congressman Henry Brown. This bipartisan bill instructs NOAA to reverse the harmful fishing closures and calls for stricter policies before implementing further closings. In particular, this bill requires that NOAA conduct a comprehensive review of recent fishery closures and provides sufficient updated research showing that a closure is the only option to maintain the fishery. In this review, NOAA must consider the impact of each closure on the coastal communities being regulated, including the impact on their small businesses and the losses of the jobs that would entail these closures. I also support efforts to increase fisheries research to improve enforcement systems and to reform the flawed Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Act. I'm a cosponsor of a bill introduced by Congressman Frank Pallone, which would amend Magnuson to provide greater flexibility to State regulators and fishery managers. The process of collecting data utilized by Federal regulators in determining fishing closures also needs to be revisited. The Scientific and Statistics Committees need to conduct their business in an open, transparent forum that also considers input from the fishing industry. What a concept. Opening up this committee to stakeholders' feedback and congressional oversight will go a long way in repairing the trust between regulators and local fishermen. In this stagnant economy, Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that we do all that we can to protect a historic and much needed industry from economic disaster. Our Nation's fishermen deserve and require our immediate action.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to honor the accomplishments and ongoing work of Mrs. Lydia Yeh and The Cultural and Educational Scholarship Foundation of the Chinese Women's Club of Greater Miami/South Florida. My Congressional district is blessed to enjoy the best of diversity in our melting pot of languages, races and cultures; and among them is The Chinese Women's Club of Greater Miami/South Florida, striving to fundraise and promote cultural activities. Their scholarship foundation's primary mission for the past 20 years has been to acknowledge talented young scholars of Chinese descent in the greater Miami area. Under the leadership of their founding President, Mrs. Lydia Yeh, and a group of dedicated members of the Chinese Women's Club, over two hundred outstanding high school, college and graduate students have received scholarship awards. On Sunday, December 27, 2009 they celebrated their 20th anniversary at Miami's Dadeland Marriott Hotel, where their scholarship recipients gave remarks to inspire the younger generations to come. Let us honor Lydia and the Chinese Women's Club's Scholarship Foundation, who seek to empower our youth and give them the tools to succeed in life.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, in just a few weeks we will be celebrating Women's History Month; and to kick that off, I would like to recognize an individual who is a shining example of the difference that one person can make. Sylvia Unzueta's life is a testament to how adversity can motivate one to not only better oneself but also to serve the greater sisterhood. Born in Cuba, Sylvia came to the United States in 1961 at the age of 13 through the Peter Pan program. Not only did she leave behind all that she knew, but Sylvia did not see her parents again until she was 26 years old. The experience of arriving in the United States alone at such a young age instilled in Sylvia a sense of duty to others in need. Acknowledging the sacrifice that her parents had made in order to send her to the United States to escape Castro's tyranny, Sylvia pursued a higher education here in the United States. She attained a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School at Harvard University. After completing her education, Sylvia poured herself into serving her community, especially helping young and vulnerable women and children be able to reach their full potential. During the Mariel boatlift, she helped those Cubans who, just like her so many years before, had come to escape tyranny and build a new life here in America. Sylvia has worked with the Federal Government and with the University of Miami on issues facing unaccompanied children who come to our great country. She served as an assistant city manager for the City of Miami and later as acting director for Miami-Dade Parks. One of Sylvia's greatest passions is her belief in citizenship diplomacy as a key to closer and even more meaningful relationships among people, nations, and cultures. To that end, Sylvia has chaired the Miami-Dade County's sister-city relationship with the city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Spain. Furthering her efforts to support women, she helped create the annual In the Company of Women awards ceremony during her tenure with Miami- Dade County. This ceremony has helped to recognize the accomplishments of so many inspirational women from my South Florida community. Her service was profiled in a book entitled ``A Woman's Place is Everywhere,'' which was co-written by Olympic champion Jackie Joyner- Kersee. One would think that, with so much accomplished, Sylvia would take some time off for herself, but she has soldiered on, offering her help where it is needed most. After Haiti was devastated by this most recent terrible earthquake, Sylvia has devoted her time to help. Her work with Haiti began years ago, actually, when she became involved in the welfare of displaced Haitian children who were living in the Dominican Republic. Sylvia's life has been and will continue to be a source of inspiration for South Florida, for our Nation, and, indeed, for women throughout the world. Our community is a better place because of Sylvia Unzueta. Felicidades, mi amiga. Congratulations, my friend.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask the same question which Americans are asking all over our great country, which is: Where are the jobs? We still face almost 10 percent unemployment at the national level and a totally unacceptable 11.8 percent unemployment rate in my home State of Florida. It is truly astounding that even the administration's latest budget estimates project that the national unemployment rate will still be near 10 percent for yet another year. It is time that Americans of all backgrounds and parties say, yes, we can do better than this. It is time for the President and Congress to take a proven approach for tax relief for working families and small businesses while doing everything that we can to reduce the growing Federal debt, which is holding up further economic growth. We must do better so we no longer have to ask ``Where are the jobs?'' for yet another year.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise today as a proud original cosponsor of House Resolution 1066, recognizing the bravery and the efforts of the United States Armed Forces, the local first responders, and other members of Operation Unified Response. Six weeks ago today, Haiti was struck by the largest earthquake to reach its shores in over two centuries. And while many of us were trying to grasp the tremendous impact of this disaster, the United States Armed Forces were mobilized. They were engaged in what turned out to be one of, if not the most key operation in Haiti's recovery. Operation Unified Response was assembled almost immediately following the January 12 earthquake, and it was headed by the largest joint task force in the history of the U.S. Southern Command, SOUTHCOM. At the height of the emergency relief efforts, there were more than 20,000 U.S. military personnel afloat and ashore working to facilitate search and rescue operations, delivering supplies, providing security in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. In addition, the men and women of the U.S. military did a remarkable job in quickly standing up the airport in Port-au-Prince and in helping to repair and increase the capacity of many of the destroyed ports in that city. Before the earthquake, Port-au-Prince airport was averaging about 20 flights a day. In the days following the disaster, the airport was processing roughly 120 flights a day and really operating around the clock, 24 hours a day, thereby enabling countless shipments of vital supplies and resources to reach the citizens of Haiti during this most dire time of need. Under the leadership of General Douglas Fraser, SOUTHCOM commander, and General Ken Keen, commander of the Joint Task Force-Haiti, Operation Unified Response has delivered, to date, and these are amazing numbers, over 2.5 million bottles of water, 2.2 million food rations, 14.1 million pounds of bulk food, and 125,000 pounds of medical supplies to Haiti's earthquake survivors. In addition, our medical teams from the military have seen over 28,000 patients. They have performed more than 800 surgeries. As the representative of Florida's 18th Congressional District, I take special pride in the instrumental role that SOUTHCOM has played in these vital relief efforts. I would like to again recognize the bravery of the efforts of all who were involved in Operation Unified Response. Thank you for your service. And I thank my good friend and fellow Floridian, Congressman Kendrick Meek, for introducing this important measure. I encourage all of our colleagues to support it. I thank the gentleman for the time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today as a proud original cosponsor of the bill before us, House Resolution 1059. In the days following this horrific disaster, many of us watched the endless news cycles with cautious hope as search and rescue efforts were streamed live around the world. With bated breath, we watched as time after time earthquake survivors miraculously appeared from the rubble, each rescue helping to reinforce the faith, the strength, and the determination of all who were and are involved in the relief efforts in Haiti. More than 130 individuals were ultimately saved from the rubble in the weeks following the earthquake, more rescues of survivors over more days than ever before. This is a testament to both the survivors and the rescuers. The U.S. search and rescue units are the best trained in the world. Without hesitation, several of these teams deployed almost immediately following the earthquake. We ultimately sent seven of our best teams, roughly compromising one-third of the entire urban search and rescue effort in Haiti. My own district was proud to send one team from both the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County. Importantly, however, this resolution also recognizes the entire urban search and rescue team system that we have operating in this great country of ours. Because the U.S. swiftly contributed seven courageous teams to the search and rescue efforts in Haiti, there were a number of additional teams standing ready to deploy should they be called upon. It is this compassion and this courage which characterizes the spirit of the American people. Helping to train and work with various international search and rescue teams on the ground, there is no doubt that the contributions of our urban search and rescue teams went far and beyond the many lives that they saved. I had the honor to meet with Mr. Dave Downey, the team leader of the Miami-Dade County urban search and rescue unit, just a couple of weeks ago here in D.C. to thank and congratulate him for the heroic service not just of Mr. Downey, but of his entire team. And I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our urban search and rescue workers who deployed in the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake. I talked about the Miami-Dade part of this rescue effort, but I also commend Miami Fire Chief Maurice Kemp and the City of Miami Department of Fire-Rescue for their heroic service in these efforts. The word ``team'' comes up a lot in this resolution, and that is how they acted, as a team, not as one unit versus another, but how we can come together as a nation. They represented the best of what America has to offer. I thank my good friend, the Congressman, for introducing this important measure. I encourage my colleagues to support it. And I am so glad that Mr. McMahon put in there the contributions of Miami and Miami-Dade rescue units.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of this bill, and I rise in support of House Resolution 1074, which honors the life of Miep Gies, who helped Anne Frank's family while they were in hiding and who preserved Anne's famous diary for future generations. With Miep's passing on January 11, the world has lost a true hero. Before German occupation, Miep worked as an office assistant in Amsterdam for Otto Frank, Anne Frank's father. After Nazi Germany occupied Holland and after Hitler began to accelerate his plan for total extermination of the Jews, Anne Frank's father began to make plans to hide his family from persecution. As Miep later recalled in the spring of 1942, Otto Frank sat her down and told her that they were going to go into hiding, and he asked her if she would be willing to help out the family by bringing them food. Miep simply answered, ``Yes, of course.'' For 2 years, Miep, her husband and a number of her friends helped the Frank family and four other Jews hide in a small attic apartment behind the office of the Frank Family business. They brought them food and other necessities while putting their own lives at risk every day. During their years in hiding, Anne Frank, as we all know, kept a diary, which described her experiences. This diary would later become one of the most widely read books in the world, providing millions of people with a glimpse of the Holocaust through the eyes of a young, bright and ever hopeful Jewish girl. In August of 1944, the Gestapo discovered their hiding place, and they arrested the Frank family. After the Frank family was captured, Miep discovered the pages of Anne Frank's diary, and held them in safekeeping until after the war. She later gave the diary to Anne's father, who returned to Amsterdam after surviving Auschwitz. In fact, he was the only member of the Frank family who managed to survive. Anne's mother died in Auschwitz, and Anne and her sister perished in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Decades after the Holocaust, Miep stated the following about what she and her husband and a number of her friends did to help the Frank family and others: ``It seemed perfectly natural to me. I could help these people. They were powerless. They didn't know where to turn. I always emphasize that we were not heroes. We did our duty as human beings.'' What Miep and others did during the Holocaust to save lives, while putting their own at risk, was nothing short of heroism. Miep has survived and has received many honors for her heroism, including being knighted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and receiving a medal from Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. Though Miep passed away last month, her relentless courage, her compassion and her contribution to preserving one of the most unique and important documentations of the horrors of the Holocaust will not be forgotten. I thank my distinguished colleague, Congresswoman Kilroy, for introducing this measure which recognizes Miep's courage in risking her life to hide and to provide for the Frank family while they were in hiding. It commends Miep for retrieving and preserving the diary of Anne Frank. Further, it honors Miep for her bravery during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, and it honors her dedication to preserving the memory of Anne Frank so as to remember the terrible lessons of the Holocaust. I support this important measure, Madam Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I also rise in support of House Resolution 944, and I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Peters) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) for bringing this important human rights issue before us today. The protection of members of vulnerable religious and ethnic minorities, including the smallest minority groups, is integral to the future of Iraq as a free and stable country. Iraq is home to ancient and diverse Catholic, Orthodox, and other Christian groups, including Chaldean, Assyrian, Syriac, and Armenian Christians, among many others. They have been targeted for kidnapping and murder by radical Islamic extremists. Various credible sources estimate that more than half of Iraq's Christians have already fled the country during the last several years. However, these dangers are certainly not confined to Christians. The Baha'i faith remains prohibited in Iraq, and Iraq's ancient and once- flourishing Jewish community has reportedly dwindled to fewer than a dozen people. All of us understand that Iraq's young democracy faces many challenges, including its own threats from insurgents and other extremists. But the marginalization, the displacement, the violence that threatens Iraq's minority communities also endanger the vitality and the inclusiveness of Iraqi society as a whole. We must strive to ensure that the work that we and our allies do helps to build Iraq's capacity and commitment to protect its minority citizens, and we must encourage the Government of Iraq to ensure that its forthcoming elections are an opportunity to reinforce the growth of democracy and freedom in that country. Those elections should be safe, should be fair, should be transparent so that all Iraqis, including members of these vulnerable religious and ethnic minority communities, can participate. And we must not let members of those minorities under siege think that they are alone or that they are forgotten. For these reasons, Madam Speaker, I am grateful for this resolution, which deserves our unanimous support. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), the co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Congressional Human Rights Commission and the coauthor of this important measure. (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I do have an additional speaker in case the gentleman would like to reserve his time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I now would like to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan), a member of the Natural Resources, Oversight, and Transportation Committees, for his insight and the insight of his constituent who's very concerned about religious minorities in Iraq.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today as a proud cosponsor of the bill before us, House Resolution 1048, commending the efforts and honoring the work of the men and women of the USNS Comfort and the United States Navy in the immediate response to those affected by the earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The tremendous impact of this natural disaster appeared almost insurmountable at one point. Six weeks later, however, we have seen remarkable achievements and great promise for the future. The swift and comprehensive response of the United States has helped to save countless lives. In particular, the men and women of the U.S. Navy, particularly those serving on the hospital ship Comfort, have provided vital medical and relief services. Before it had even reached the shores of Haiti, the Comfort was receiving patients flown in from the USS Carl Vinson. They had nearly 100 new admissions on their first day on station. Within 2 weeks of arriving, the Comfort had performed over 500 surgeries and provided 24- hour care for countless others. And as of late last week, nearly 800 surgeries had been performed. I join my colleagues in commending this tremendous performance and recognizing the admirable service of the men and women of the U.S. Navy Ship Comfort, and the many other Navy vessels and crews who have contributed to the relief efforts in Haiti. In addition, I would like to recognize the ongoing selfless acts of the people of the United States, including the Haitian American community, to provide relief to the people of Haiti. I have seen group after group from my own district in South Florida and across the country mobilize to provide medical assistance, humanitarian services, all kinds of goods to the Haitian people. I am confident, Madam Speaker, that with this type of ongoing support, Haiti will see a brighter future. Again, I would like to commend and honor the work of the men and women of the United States Navy, and particularly those on the Navy Ship Comfort for the immediate response that they gave to the earthquake victims in Haiti. And I thank Congressman Murphy for introducing this important measure. Madam Speaker, if I may, I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Tim Murphy), the author of this resolution, a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce.