Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 1 minute to my good friend, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran), a member of the Agriculture, Transportation, and Veterans' Affairs Committees. A busy man.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I'm proud to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe), a member of the Agriculture, Education, and Veterans' Affairs Committees. Another very busy man.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself my remaining time. We must recognize what is at stake here. The Goldstone Report asked for this matter to be considered by the International Criminal Court, equating Israel with the genocidal regime in Sudan. Today enemies of freedom seek to haul democratic, political and military leaders of Israel before an unaccountable court for defending their nation against Hamas, but how long before U.S. officials will have to face the same persecution for defending our Nation against al Qaeda or any other such threat? Madam Speaker, the way forward is obvious. We must support the right of all democracies to defend ourselves and our citizens. We must reaffirm our support for Israel and her efforts to defend herself from violent Islamic militants and their state sponsors. We must oppose any attempts to grant consideration or endorsement to this irredeemably biased Goldstone Report. House Resolution 867 achieves these goals, and 170 of our colleagues who cosponsored it agreed. My colleagues, we have a choice to make: stand with free democratic nations or send a message to those who seek Israel and America's destruction that they can continue unhampered as the U.N. and its apologists sweep under the proverbial rug incessant attacks like the ones Hamas and other violent extremists launched from Gaza against Israel. The choice is clear. Support this resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Would the gentleman yield?

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. You asked unanimous consent to put the Goldstone Report in the Congressional Record, I object.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. If my colleague would yield, I would like to know how much it will cost the taxpayers to put 575 pages of the Goldstone Report in the Congressional Record. Parliamentary Inquiries

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Parliamentary inquiry, Madam Speaker.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Is it correct that after a certain number of pages, there will be a cost estimate for the printing in the Congressional Record? This report is 575 pages, and I am wondering the cost to the taxpayers for the printing of this biased report.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I just want to be clear, when you asked under general leave for unanimous consent, that I will object to that for the printing in the Record.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank my esteemed chairman for his words, and I join him in the declaration of support for the work of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty. As we know, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, also known as RFE/ RL, was established 60 years ago and was a powerful voice for freedom in the battle of ideas against communist tyranny. Former Polish President Lech Walesa and Vaclav Havel, the former President of the Czech Republic, have all testified that by means of its broadcast of unbiased and independent news programs behind the Iron Curtain, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty played a vital role in the collapse of the Soviet Union and its communist allies. In fact, the Soviet KGB and the Warsaw Pact intelligence services, appreciating the threat posed by Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty to their communist regimes, conducted massive operations to foil its operations. They even resorted to violence. Just two instances: For example, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Bulgarian service correspondent was believed to have been murdered by Bulgarian intelligence services; and six Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty employees were critically injured when a bomb paid for by Romanian security services exploded at the headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Munich, West Germany. Today, as our generation engages in yet another battle of ideas, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty continues to prove its worth. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's broadcasts in 28 different languages reach people in 20 countries throughout southeastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and Central and South Asia. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Afghanistan service is now the most popular media program in that country, and it intends to expand next year to reach the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region, providing a much- needed source of independent and accurate news to compete with the shrill rhetoric of the extremists in that area. Today, Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty and its personnel continue to suffer attacks, some mounted in new ways. Just last year, for example, a new style of attack, a cyberattack, was mounted against the Belarusian service of RFE/RL to prevent the broadcast of a rally against the regime in that country. But in the more traditional style of attack, an Iranian American journalist was convicted and sentenced in Iran to a year in prison, Mr. Speaker, and her 98-year-old mother was threatened with eviction from her housing unit because of the journalist's antirevolutionary work with RFE/RL's Iranian news service. Also recently, a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalist in Turkmenistan was tortured by authorities who tried to coerce him into signing a pledge that he would stop working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Turkmen service, and then they detained him against his will and put him in a government-run psychiatric center. Journalists such as these, Mr. Speaker, who work for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty are heroes, fighting with determination for freedom. I am proud to have authored this resolution in recognition of their brave efforts and proud of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's six decades of service in the promotion of freedom. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for those statements. I have no further requests for time, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, on rollcall No. 831, on a Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree to ``Expressing support for designation of a `National Firefighters Memorial Day' to honor and celebrate the firefighters of the United States.'' Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to recognize the Athalie Range Cultural Arts Foundation and its upcoming annual Celebration of Life event honoring those who have made significant contributions to the African American community. This year, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, WHQT General Manager Jerry Rushin, and retired Bacardi Heritage Foundation president Jose Bacardi will be honored. The Athalie Range Cultural Arts Foundation helps to encourage the appreciation and the enrichment of arts, especially of African American arts, in south Florida. The foundation was named after one of south Florida's most dedicated and courageous residents. Athalie Range was a pioneer in our community, first as a civil rights activist and later as a public official. As the PTA president of Liberty City Elementary, she became a champion for the students of Miami-Dade County. She informed the school board about the deplorable conditions of Liberty City schools, and she demanded better resources for those schools. Athalie became the first African American to serve on the Miami City Commission, and she also became the first African American and the first woman to head the Florida Department of Community Affairs. Athalie Range lived a life of humility that underscored her deep commitment to civil rights, justice and opportunity for all. I commend the Athalie Range Cultural Arts Foundation for continuing in Athalie's footsteps, for helping to support the arts and for enriching the lives of all of south Florida residents.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, in many households, women are the main link between our family members and the health care that they receive. Women make the majority of health care decisions for their families. As the mother of two young adults and a new grandmother, I know the many responsibilities placed on women with children. From the time children are born to far beyond when they reach adulthood, a mother's care and advice are never far away. If we are fortunate, eventually we will be the grown children of elderly parents. In my family, my mother suffers from Alzheimer's, among many other age-related problems. I know the responsibility of caring for our elders. My day would not be complete without at least making sure that I, along with my husband, children, and parents, have and take all of our prescriptions and make it to our doctors' appointments on time. It is no wonder that women are the majority of health care workers in the United States. We are well prepared for this task. Every American deserves access to health care insurance. This is our goal, and it must be the goal of our Congress. The goal must not be a bill that costs $1 trillion. The goal must not be a bill written behind closed doors. The goal must not be a bill that increases taxes on our families and all of our small businesses. The goal must not be a bill that passes huge debts on to our children and grandchildren. Women deserve better. Every American deserves better. They deserve health care treatment, and every American deserves both health care treatment and efficiency at an affordable cost. But as America's mothers will tell you, Congress should be utilizing what works in our health care system and fixing what does not. Mothers are masters at finding commonsense and practical solutions. What we currently see is a health care system burdened by excesses and inefficient bureaucracy. What we see is our children denied coverage because of a preexisting condition. What we see is parents changing jobs, causing our families to lose our doctors. What we see is women and our parents being charged more for insurance premiums because of their gender or because of their age. What we don't see is how a government takeover of our health care is going to provide for our families' needs. What we don't see is how a bureaucratic takeover of our health care will bring down the cost of health care procedures or health care insurance. What we don't see is how the Pelosi $1 trillion bill helps us more than it hurts us. Every American family deserves affordable health care and affordable health insurance. To use a mother's saying, let's not go throwing out the baby with the bath water. Simple, commonsense, cost-effective reform is how we can include all families in our health insurance market. We can and we must accomplish health care reform without ruining the current health care coverage that is enjoyed by the majority of families. Women across the United States want to protect their family's coverage while ensuring that every other mother out there has the same access that she does. The Pelosi bill is not the answer. We can do better. We must do better.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I support Red Ribbon Week and our unified efforts against illegal drug use. Red Ribbon Week represents the largest united effort of the American people to promote drug prevention. We must all continue to support this effort. This dreadful problem plagues communities throughout our Nation and especially my home district in South Florida. Miami is one of the leading areas in cocaine related deaths. And an estimated 20,000 people a year die from illegal drug use throughout the United States each year. Thankfully, over 80 million people participate in Red Ribbon week by pledging to lead a drug free life. With our encouragement we can have many more youths take this pledge. As a former educator I know that Red Ribbon Week offers the perfect opportunity to raise awareness and help educate students at a young age on the dangers of drug use. The terrifying fact is that over 60 percent of teens reported that drugs were sold, used, or present at their schools. We must teach students about the dangers of drugs and discourage them of ever becoming involved with drugs in the first place. Only by actively engaging our children can we impress on them the importance of being drug-free. It has been proven that when teenagers' parents talk to them regularly about the dangers of drug use, they are 42 percent less likely to use drugs. Families, adults, and children joining together for this cause have a profound impact on not only those participating, but also the communities as a whole. We must continue to strive to increase awareness and participation in Red Ribbon Week to help stop this devastating problem of drug abuse and drug-related violence. In this effort we must also remember those who seek to safeguard our children in the fight against drugs. Just this Monday, three Drug Enforcement Administration agents died tragically while conducting overseas operations. The agents were returning from a counter-narcotics operation when the military helicopter they were riding in crashed. Seven U.S. military servicemembers were also killed in the crash. Of these heroes, Special Agent Chad Michael was from my Congressional district and I would like to take this moment to honor his memory and sacrifice. Before being reassigned in August to a DEA operation in Afghanistan, Special Agent Michael was a member of South Florida's DEA team for six years. The DEA agents were assigned to the agency's operation against Afghanistan's opium trade, which frequently funds insurgent activity. Efforts in Afghanistan began in 2005 and in the past year have been reinforced to fully attack international drug trade and the activities it funds. Since illegal drugs have a large dependence on international sources, it is critical that we support those who help to fight this part of the drug war. My prayers go out to Special Agent Michael's family, and to the families of all the heroes who risk their lives each day to make our country and this world safer and drug-free. As a mother and grandmother, and for the sake of all our children, I urge all Americans to take the Red Ribbon Week pledge this and every October.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to recognize a wonderful foundation, Sister to Sister, and its Miami Community Council. Sister to Sister works year-round to bring heart awareness to thousands of women in south Florida. Its members educate women on the dangers of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death among women. Sister to Sister will host its Miami Executive Women's Breakfast on November 18 in Key Biscayne, in my congressional district, to stimulate interest in the many women's heart health fairs throughout the years. These heart health fairs include free heart screenings as well as great information on preventing heart disease. Sister to Sister's heart health fairs have been held in more than 20 cities, and more than 80,000 women have been screened. I commend our local Sister to Sister organization for its hard work and compassion in the fight against heart disease and encourage all south Florida women to attend one of their heart health fairs. Heart disease is a serious issue, and we can promote early detection and treatment.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I rise today calling for a cure for this terrible disease. Although breast cancer impacts both genders, it disproportionately targets women and even more disproportionately impacts African American and Hispanic women. It is the second leading cause of death among women. Breast cancer is survivable if caught and treated early. Unfortunately, we all know someone who has had breast cancer, and its impact is devastating on families, on friends, and on entire communities. I have had both the honor and sorrow of knowing many breast cancer survivors and its victims. I am in awe of the women who not only survive this cancer, but use their awareness to spread awareness of breast cancer prevention. We must all work together to bring about greater breast cancer education, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and most importantly, a cure. Mr. Speaker, let's tell our mothers and sisters: Get tested; you can survive breast cancer.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to encourage all Florida residents to consider enrollment in Florida's Prepaid College Tuition Program. I am a strong advocate of having parents and students get an early start on saving for college. As a mother and as a grandmother, as well as a former educator, I know the struggles working parents face when their children apply to college. Even in the best of times, parents and young adults can have trouble paying for tuition. As a coauthor of the Florida prepaid plan, when I was a member of the Florida legislature, I knew that we could help make paying for college education easier on all of Florida's families. We created the Florida prepaid plan so that parents could lock in their children's tuition costs early and could ensure that they would be able to receive quality educations when their time came. This plan has been extremely successful. Even as similar plans across the country are struggling, Florida's prepaid plan has a solid future. More than 206,000 students have attended college in Florida with the assistance of our State's Florida Prepaid College Tuition Program. With college tuition rising at about 6 percent each year, there is no reason not to take part in this program. There is flexibility in this program to allow parents to find the right plans and the right payment schedules which best fit a family's needs. In addition to locked-in tuition rates, Florida's Prepaid College Tuition Program offers a tax-free investment fund--an account where money can be saved for tuition and additional college expenses. This program is truly helping families afford college for their children. Tuition plans vary depending on a child's age and a plan's options, but in most cases, the savings for a family can be incredible. Prepaid plans can be bought by non-Florida residents, but the child for whom the plan is purchased must be a resident younger than 18 and not yet in the 12th grade. If the child decides not to go to college, the money is refunded or it can be transferred to a brother or to a sister. Also, that plan is good even if the child and the parents move out of State. Many States apply and accept Florida's prepaid plan. The future of America lies in the hands of the next generation, and our children must be provided with the intellectual opportunities that they need to succeed. As a Nation and as a community, we must work together to improve the educational opportunities for all of our children. With the help of programs such as Florida's Prepaid College Tuition Program, we certainly have a valuable tool toward accomplishing this noble goal. For anyone signing up before January 31, tuition rates will be locked in at the 2009-2010 tuition rates. Florida's public universities, Mr. Speaker, have been given the authorization to raise tuition up to 15 percent for next year. So, with these possible increases looming, there is no better time than now to make sure that our sons and daughters are afforded the education they rightfully deserve.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, October 20, 2009 should have marked the 35th birthday of Shannon Denise Melendi; instead, she will be forever the 19-year-old victim of kidnapping and rape whose life was tragically ended at the hands of a ruthless killer. Shannon was a gifted young college sophomore from Miami attending Emory University in Atlanta. In Miami, at Southwest High School, my alma mater, she was president of the junior and senior class and a champion orator who was captain of the debate team for 3 years. She was also in the National Honor Society and graduated cum laude in the top 3 percent of her class. As a member of the Legal Eagles club, Shannon was an aspiring attorney whose ultimate goal was to sit on the Supreme Court. During her senior year, Shannon even spoke before the United Nations and Congress. With grand dreams and a promising future ahead of her, nothing could have turned out to be more tragic than her disappearance. The news was devastating to her home community as it was to the Atlanta area where she had already established herself as a bright individual with an even brighter future. She disappeared without a trace on March 26, 1994 while working at a part-time job at a softball country club. Shortly after, the first 10,000 posters and 60 billboards went up in Atlanta with Shannon's picture declaring her missing. Not long after that, her father, Luis Melendi, had the signs changed to ``kidnapped.'' Calvin ``Butch'' Hinton was named as a suspect. He was a coworker and an umpire she knew through her part-time job. Many pieces of evidence linked him to the disappearance of Shannon, but unfortunately not enough for a solid case. In a strange twist of fate, this demented man burned down his own home to keep the authorities from investigating him further, but he was sentenced to 9 years in prison for fraud when he tried to collect insurance on that house fire. Then, more than 11 years after Shannon had disappeared, Hinton had just been released from prison when he was rearrested and placed on trial for Shannon's murder. After many heart-wrenching moments in the trial, the verdict came back guilty and Hinton was sentenced to life in prison. Because of the atrocious acts of this horrible man, a bright young life was extinguished and the world is forever poorer because of it. Chillingly, though, this murderer is up for parole in 2011. With the confessed perpetrator behind bars, we have the comfort of knowing that no other person can fall victim to him, and that is why we should fight to keep him there in prison. Unfortunately, many perpetrators are roaming the streets today still preying on the most innocent of victims. Let us make sure that Calvin Hinton is not one of them. Shannon's parents, Luis and Yvonne, as well as her sister, Monique, are still active today in efforts to protect children by strengthening our laws and protecting and educating youth and their families about violence and perpetrators. They honor their daughter and their sister, Shannon, and the countless other children like Shannon through their work. Shannon's story must serve as a reminder to students that they must always be aware of their surroundings and stay safe. As a mother and grandmother, I cannot imagine the heartache the Melendis have gone through. Luis Melendi still speaks to high school seniors about the dangers posed by perpetrators and reminds them that this could happen to anyone. Last week, on what should have been their daughter's 35th birthday, the Melendi family spoke to the students at Coral Shores High School in Tavernier to keep Shannon's memory alive and to drive home the idea of being aware and being safe. With these efforts and the laws that we pass, we can help protect our Nation's youth. It is in honor and remembrance of Shannon Melendi that I urge my colleagues to remain champions and protectors of our youth. Through the life of Shannon Melendi we know that even though it was short, we can make sure that the lessons learned from her murder last eternally. I thank the Speaker for the time, and we will always remember Shannon.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, my mother is 83 and not in the best of health. When I see what is being proposed in this House, health care agendas that take away from seniors like her, I get a cold shiver down my spine. Medicare and Medicare Advantage are lifelines for many elderly Americans, especially in my area of south Florida. How can this House justify $162 billion in cuts to Medicare Advantage? Why in this economic recession are we limiting the choices for seniors or causing many to lose their current health care coverage? For seniors in my congressional district, cuts to Medicare Advantage would be disastrous. The Congressional Budget Office says that Medicare prescription drug premiums will increase by 20 percent because of the Democrat plan. I know, and my constituents know, that seniors simply cannot afford this. The health care reform bill makes it tougher on seniors to get the coverage and the treatment they deserve after a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice. Of course we need health care reform, but reform should not be on the backs of our seniors.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am so pleased and honored to yield such time as he may consume to my good friend from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), an esteemed member of our Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of this important resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, it is my great honor to rise in support of this important resolution put forth by my good friend from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis). I thank him for his leadership. This resolution welcomes the Ecumenical Patriarch on his visit to the United States, which is coming up this November. Patriarch Bartholomew is the spiritual leader for over 300 million Orthodox believers around the world, millions of whom live right here in the United States. As the leader of the oldest and second largest church in the world, the Patriarch has been an inspirational advocate for peace and religious tolerance. In fact, the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul has been an iconic symbol for religious co-existence since 1453, when the Muslim ruler and the Patriarch at that time signed an accord for the continuation of the Orthodox Church in what became a predominantly Muslim country. Today, Patriarch Bartholomew continues to reach out to leaders of various religious faiths to encourage dialogue and understanding. In fact, following the horrendous attacks on our country on September 11, 2001, Patriarch Bartholomew convened an interfaith conference with representatives from the Christian, Jewish and Muslim religions--a conference that resulted in the first condemnation by Muslim leaders of those terrorist attacks. Patriarch Bartholomew has also been a global leader in efforts to protect our environment. He has sponsored symposia with international environmental leaders on initiatives to protect our clean oceans and to protect our rivers. Despite his many contributions and the commitment to peace and understanding, the Ecumenical Patriarch continues to endure restrictions imposed by the Turkish Government. The prohibitions on the Patriarchate's right to own property and its right to determine for itself the requirements for Patriarchal succession must end. The closing of the theological school in Halki must be reversed. Such actions restrict the religious freedom of millions of Orthodox believers, and they threaten the future of the Patriarchate, itself. I am pleased that this resolution clearly states the need for the lifting of these bureaucratic restrictions on the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and on the occasion of the Patriarch's visit to the United States, we again call on the Turkish Government to end them. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.