Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 5 minutes of my time to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Judge Poe, a member of our House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend from California (Ms. Lee) for the bipartisan approach to this terrible, terrible situation. I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to Honor the Miami Medical Team Foundation, MMTF, a South Florida non-profit organization dedicated to improving medical conditions in third world countries. The Miami Medical Team Foundation has provided humanitarian assistance to countries that are hit by disasters. Since 1980, the MMTF has helped families recoup from floods and hurricanes. In order to combat all disasters, The Miami Medical Team Foundation is compromised of doctors that specialize in different medical fields. These doctors go to great lengths to provide service for those in need. The Miami Medical Team Foundation provides relief to individuals and families by supplying food, clothing, medications, and other necessities. In addition to sending these supplies, The Miami Medical Team Foundation donates medical equipment to hospitals in affected countries. This wonderful organization provides relief missions ranging from basic health to refugee assistance. In addition to their excellent service, the MMTF covers all of the expenses of these relief missions. This self-funded foundation is truly committed to the greater good and I strongly commend their efforts. I extend my gratitude to all of the employees and volunteers in The Miami Medical Team Foundation especially their chairman and president, Dr. Manuel Alzugaray, for all of his hard work and dedication. Dr. Manuel Alzugaray has been committed to helping others since the beginning of his long career. Through his studies, he has become a certified expert in matters dealing with terrorism and homeland security. He is a board certified expert in traumatic stress, making him a keen asset when dealing with sensitive global catastrophes. He has become an expert in treating those who have suffered mentally from the havoc of natural disasters. Dr. Alzugaray never ceases to make a tangible difference in the lives of many around the world. The Miami Medical Team Foundation is devoted to serving anyone in need around the world and I strongly commend all of its efforts. I wish each and every member and volunteer the utmost success and again offer my utmost appreciation for all they do.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the Cuban- American Bar Association for its success and contributions to our south Florida community. For nearly 40 years, the Cuban-American Bar Association has served the public interest by increasing awareness of the study of jurisprudence, fostering respect for the law, and increasing diversity in the judiciary and the legal community. Given the tragic example of Castro's lawless regime, the members of the Cuban-American Bar Association are keenly aware of the importance of the rule of law and have dedicated their professional careers to its implementation and preservation. This Saturday, the Cuban-American Bar Association will celebrate its installation of a new executive board. Incoming President Manuel Garcia-Linares and president-elect for 2011 Victoria Mendez will build upon the example of leadership left by outgoing President Roland Sanchez-Medina, Jr. Their dedication and professionalism are not only testaments to their characters but also to the Cuban-American community and to Hispanics in general. I would also like to congratulate the incoming 2010 Board of Directors: Nelson Bellido, Raul Chacon, Vivian De Las Cuevas-Diaz, Isabel Diaz, Sandra M. Ferrera, Monica Gordo, Anna Marie Hernandez, Javier Lopez, Ricardo M. Martinez-Cid, Nicole Mestre, Jennifer Perez, and Monica Segura.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, as I searched for the words to honor and remember Paula Nowakowski, the journey led me to former President Reagan. President Reagan was an inspiration for Paula the professional, the strategist, the conservative, and, most importantly, Paula, the proud American, whose love of country brought her to the Congress and to John Boehner's staff. President Reagan said: Let us be sure that those who come after will say of us . . . that in our time we did everything that could be done . . . we kept them free; we kept the faith. I think these words best encapsulate who Paula was--a tireless advocate; a devout Catholic; and a formidable warrior and human being. We are all the better for having known her. Paula, you will be sorely missed.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to give my heartfelt congratulations to Richard Alger on his recent induction into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame. Being named to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame is a high honor, because it is the closest thing we have in South Florida to being named agriculture's man of the year. With his very strong educational background, gregarious personality and true compassion for our community, Richard has been a strong voice for farming for over four decades. Richard made his mark through his assistance to minority farmers in our area, as a board member of Farm Credit of South Florida; a generous contributor to the Farm Share program; and for working with the University of Florida on agricultural research. I am pleased to join the Greater Homestead/Florida City Chamber, Jolayne, his family, including 17 grandkids, friends and neighbors in their celebration of his countless contributions.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, it is time for a new approach to bring our country back to where it was for most of the two centuries, the land of hope and opportunity. Unfortunately, there is a growing fear about our Nation's future among many in my congressional district, as well as throughout the Nation. The economic recession continues, according to many constituents with whom I speak every day. My constituents tell me how they have personally felt the constant drumbeat of rising unemployment, the ballooning cost of college tuitions, the reality of postponing retirement and the continuing credit implosion that has hurt so many homeowners and small businesses. No doubt our Nation continues to struggle and people need help. But the congressional majority and the administration have spent the last year on an agenda that grows big government, that escalates the deficit, that borrows billions from adversarial foreign governments. As a result of this unprecedented government spending spree, our national debt will reach unchartered levels, doubling over the next 5 years and tripling in just 10 years. Not surprisingly, as our debt doubles and revenues plunge, creating jobs has taken a back seat to other issues. The $800 billion stimulus bill has failed to create or save the millions of jobs that it promised. Since it was passed, in fact, we have actually lost 3.3 million jobs while the unemployment rate remains at 10 percent nationally, and in my home State of Florida it has now reached 11 percent. The question now is can we still grow our economy, create jobs and help struggling families without further mortgaging our children's future. First, we should agree to block any Federal tax increases until unemployment drops below 5 percent. Americans of all political persuasions can agree that the government should never raise taxes during periods of high unemployment. Second, we need to restore confidence in America's economic future. Record deficits and debt, combined with runaway spending, have shaken our confidence in our economic future. One proposal is to freeze domestic discretionary spending at last year's level without raising taxes. Proponents state that this would save U.S. taxpayers $53 billion immediately, but, more importantly, it would send a signal that we are committed to lowering the deficit. Third, we need to approve three promising free trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama that have stalled under this administration. Recently the President stated that increasing U.S. exports by just 1 percent would create over 250,000 jobs. Sure enough, the independent International Trade Commission estimates that these three deals would boost U.S. exports by over 1 percent. Well, I look forward to hearing from the constituents of my congressional district in South Florida about how we can bring back economic growth and ensure that America will once again be the land of opportunity that I knew when I first came to this country almost five decades ago. It's time to get our economy back on track.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank my good friend for the time. I strongly support the resolution before us, Mr. Speaker, put forth by my good friend from Florida, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, related to breast cancer screening. It is through more effective screening strategies that we will save lives. Early detection makes the difference in surviving this terrible disease. As proven by the heroic fight that we heard this morning, the incredible stories of will and perseverance of our colleagues, Congresswomen Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Sue Myrick, screening must remain a priority; it must be our mission. Almost everyone in this country, unfortunately, knows someone who has suffered from breast cancer. But, as is becoming more and more likely, we also know someone who has survived breast cancer, and they have survived breast cancer due to routine screening and early screening and screening for young women. We must remain vigilant in our efforts to educate, to diagnose, and to treat. Let us make sure that our efforts to defeat this terrible disease is not put in jeopardy because insurance companies do not want to pay for routine screening for young women, screenings that could save their lives. Thank you, my good friend from Tennessee.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of House Resolution 3714, the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act of 2009. I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), my good friend, and also my friend from Indiana (Mr. Pence), our conference Chair, for introducing this important legislation on an issue of growing international concern. A free press is indispensable to an informed public, to government accountability, and to the efficiency and integrity of public and commercial institutions. Here in the United States we enjoy the benefits of a robust free press, protected by the First Amendment to our Constitution. But in many other parts of the world, telling the truth as a journalist is dangerous and an even deadly calling. Sadly, this fact was underscored by the life and death of the person for whom this bill is named, the brave and accomplished Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. In 2002, while reporting in Pakistan, Pearl was kidnapped by violent Islamic extremists who chose to murder him on videotape, after compelling him to recite the fact of his Jewish religion on camera. Whether the cause is extremism, corruption, political repression, or the dangers of reporting from conflict zones, journalists around the world face a rising tide of threats. So far this year, 68 journalists have been confirmed killed in the line of duty or because of their reporting. Nearly half of those, sadly, at least 30 journalists, were killed in the shocking election-related massacre in the southern Philippines on November 23. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there has been a 9 percent increase over the 2008 levels in the imprisonment of journalists worldwide. The one-party regime in China continues to imprison the largest number of reporters of any one nation. But the Iranian regime runs a very close second, and its closure of yet another newspaper last week is another sad reminder of the extent to which it has targeted independent and foreign media in the aftermath of the widespread election-related protests by the Iranian people. And rounding out the shameful top three, Cuba suffers perhaps the greatest per capita levels of press repression. Even though it has only one-twelfth of the population of China, the Cuban regime imprisons roughly the same number of journalists. Just last month, state security agents detained and beat Cuban bloggers Yoani Sanchez, Claudia Cadelo, and Omar Luis Pardo Lazo as they were on their way to a peaceful march in Havana. What a sad irony that is. To help address these and other outrages, the bill before us today would beef up press-related reporting in the State Department's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Among other issues, the expanded reports would describe the extent to which foreign governments are complicit in attacks on press freedoms and what steps are being taken to protect the media and to prosecute those who attack and murder journalists. This new reporting will help focus the sunlight of public scrutiny even more powerfully on these violators of basic rights. I want to thank, again, Mr. Schiff and Mr. Pence for bringing forward this important legislation, which deserves our unanimous support. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), the chairman of our Republican Conference, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Mr. Pence is the primary cosponsor of this measure, and I hope that he takes the time to talk about our next bill, the Iran Sanctions Act, as well. (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I am very pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Judge Poe, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and a cosponsor of this measure. I hope that he will address not only this resolution but the one that follows it, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the time to talk about the problems of media control in Venezuela as ruled by Hugo Chavez. As we know, there was a new intelligence report that outlined the schemes of Hugo Chavez, who is the supposed President of Venezuela, to control media. It is a sign of further deterioration of the freedom of expression, of democracy and of human rights in Venezuela under the Chavez rule. He ratcheted up his rhetoric against free speech and against political opponents by shutting down broadcast stations across the country. These are assaults on the pillars of a democratic society, and they will continue unabated unless responsible nations stand up to Chavez and send a clear message to him and to others in the region that this behavior will not be tolerated. There is a list that I would like to read of five journalists who were killed in Venezuela: Orel Sambrano of ABC de la Semana and Radio America, who was killed on January 16, 2009, in Valencia; Jorge Aguirre of Cadena Capriles, who was killed on April 5, 2006, in Caracas; Jorge Ibrain Tortoza Cruz, who was killed on April 11, 2002, in Caracas; Maria Veronica Tessari of Colombian Media, who was killed on January 15, 1993, in Caracas; and Virgilio Fernandez of El Universal, who was killed on November 27, 1992, in La Carlota, Venezuela. Just a little while ago, the Committee to Protect Journalists gave us the news of a journalist who was critical of the Venezuelan Government. He was arrested on contempt of court charges. Journalist Gustavo Azocar was arrested with trumped-up charges. Azocar is the host of a news and political commentary show on local TV station Televisora del Tachira, and is a correspondent for the national daily El Universal in the western city of San Cristobal. These are just more examples of the repression and suppression of free press by Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Yes, I yield to the chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, my good friend from New York (Mr. Engel).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, he makes excellent points also about the tie-in between Chavez and Ahmadinejad as they seek to suppress any dissidents and any free press. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. No, I do not oppose the motion.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Since its secret nuclear weapons program was publicly exposed in 2002, Iran has manipulated nations, world leaders and the United Nations on its march toward possessing the capacity to unleash nuclear havoc on the world. Current and past regime leaders have made their intentions quite clear--the destruction of the State of Israel, the extinction of the Jewish people, a world without the United States. Iran has already produced over 1,400 kilograms of low-enriched uranium, which can easily be used for a so-called ``dirty bomb.'' New Iranian documents have been revealed reportedly detailing a program to produce and test the trigger for an actual nuclear weapon. Nuclear experts note that there is no other possible use for such nuclear technology, except for a nuclear bomb. And in September of this year, media quoted international inspectors saying, they ``believe that Tehran has the ability to make a nuclear bomb and is working to develop a missile system that can carry an atomic warhead.'' And U.S. officials have calculated that Iran already has stockpiled enough uranium to produce one nuclear weapon, even as it expands its enrichment capabilities. We have arrived at the precipice, and we are staring into darkness. In February of 2006 the Congress adopted a concurrent resolution citing the Iranian regime's repeated violations of its nonproliferation obligations, underscoring that as a result of these violations Iran no longer had the right to develop any aspect of a nuclear fuel cycle and urging responsible nations to impose economic sanctions to deny Iran the resources and the ability to develop nuclear capabilities. Three years later, the idea that we could rely on the so-called international community to handle this problem has been shown to be a mirage. But we, too, have failed to act quickly and decisively, failing to fully implement the range of U.N. sanctions that are already on the books. Now we must use the limited time remaining to impose sanctions so painful that they should threaten the Iranian regime's survival. Only when faced with the loss of power will the regime be compelled to abandon its destructive policies. The bill we are considering today, Mr. Speaker, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, which I joined Chairman Berman in introducing, ratchets up the pressure on the regime by targeting a key vulnerability, Iran's inability to produce sufficient gasoline and other refined petroleum products. In recent years, Iran has estimated to have imported gasoline directly or indirectly from at least 16 countries, including China, India, the Netherlands, France, and the UAE, as well as global oil companies such as TOTAL and Shell. To stop this trade, the sanctions we're considering today must also be adopted by our allies, who continue to talk about the need to act but hide behind the claim that the U.N. Security Council must act first. But the U.N. Security Council, due in part to Russian and Chinese opposition, has demonstrated that it will never impose meaningful costs on the Iranian regime. There is no shortage of measures available. What is lacking is the will. Beyond this bill today, Mr. Speaker, the broader question is whether we will be bystanders, complicit in our own destruction. As Churchill warned, ``If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed, if you will not fight when your victory will be sure, you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance for survival.'' For our survival, and for that of our friend and ally, Israel, render your full support to this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I'm so pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), the esteemed minority whip and a member of the Committee on Ways and Means, a true leader who understands the clear and present danger that Iran presents for the State of Israel and for the United States.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), a member of the Committee on Appropriations and a cosponsor of this measure from early on.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to my good friend from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. He deals with this issue every day.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I am very pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), a member of the Budget Committee and Committee on Financial Services, a cosponsor of this bill, and a former chairman of the Republican Study Committee, and my friend.