Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of National Women's History Month, and I would like to recognize some of the great women throughout our Nation's history by focusing on my congressional district in South Florida. These pioneers have fought valiantly for various causes, but they have all helped to lead the exodus of American women from an era of subjugation into one of equality between the genders. In South Florida, we have truly been blessed by the lives and the leadership of some of the great pioneering women of our Nation's history. I'm talking about women like Roxcy Bolton. Roxcy was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame for forcing police and prosecutors to make rape crime a priority, as well as illustrating to health departments the need for rape treatment centers. Dr. Ellen Prager is another such woman of greatness in South Florida. Dr. Prager has dedicated 20 years of her life to our ocean. She has had an accomplished career that began as a safety diver and research assistant at an underwater habitat in St. Croix. Now, Dr. Prager is the chief scientist for the Aquarius Reef Base in Key Largo, Florida, where I have had the distinct pleasure of scuba diving with her and her esteemed scientists twice already. Aquarius is the only operating undersea research laboratory in the world, and it allows Ellen and her fellow scientists to spend as much as 2 consecutive weeks underwater studying the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. From Aquarius, Dr. Prager utilizes a telepresence to educate people around the world about the wonders of our planet's oceans. Marjory Stoneman Douglas was another such pioneering woman. Ms. Douglas began Friends of the Everglades, an advocacy group dedicated to the preservation of the Florida river of grass. Ms. Douglas was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work on behalf of this precious and delicate ecosystem, which has become engrained in the unique culture of the great State of Florida. Athalie Range, Mr. Speaker, was another pioneer among the great women of Florida. Ms. Range was the former president of the Liberty City Elementary PTA in 1953. Ms. Range fought to eliminate the deplorable conditions of segregated public schools. She may not have been the only one to notice the disparity between white and black schools, but she was one of the first to do something positive about it. She stood before the all-white school board, which turned out to be no match for her fighting spirit. These segregationist policies, which seemed to be set in stone, were smashed beneath the weight of her mighty will. In fact, South Florida is blessed with many remarkable women, and our chapter of RESULTS is cultivating distinguished, altruistic women like Betsy Skipp, Gale Neumann, and Kathleen Gordon. These women have devoted their precious time and their ample talents to this amazing organization that advocates solutions to raising the standards of living throughout the globe. Their role within RESULTS has been to pioneer the use of microenterprise programs to empower even more women to pursue their dreams and achieve greatness of their own. These women are heroines. I admire them, and young girls in South Florida aspire to achieve even a fraction of what they have. Every day I am thankful that my daughters will have the benefit of walking the road that these courageous women have paved for all of us.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the life and the work of Ambassadors Sue and Chuck Cobb for what they have achieved in the life that they have made together. The Cobbs have set a new standard for the great American family as leaders in business, as public servants and as loving parents. Ambassador Chuck Cobb is an alumnus of Stanford Business School. The greatest prize that he took from Stanford was not the MBA that he earned there; it was Sue, his wonderful and future wife. Ambassador Chuck Cobb's professional life is as successful as it has been diversified. As a businessman, he has served on the borders of nine publicly traded companies as well as numerous private ones. More than 30 master plan communities and even entire towns have been developed under Chuck's leadership. As a public servant, he rose through the ranks of the Department of Commerce where he served as Undersecretary and then as assistant Secretary for President Ronald Reagan. He saw the fruition of his labor with his appointment to the position of Ambassador to Iceland for President George H.W. Bush. The people of Iceland graciously rewarded his work as an ambassador with their highest honor, the Falcon Grand Cross Star. Ambassador Sue Cobb's journey from Stanford to the position of ambassador was no less exciting. While leading several nonprofits and law firms, she attempted to be the first woman from the United States to climb Mt. Everest, and later wrote the book ``The Edge of Everest: A Woman Challenges the Mountain.'' Following her service as chairman of the Federal Reserve of Miami, Sue Cobb was appointed as U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica where she served to improve health care, law enforcement and environmental management practices. Sue's work as ambassador was so acknowledged as excellent that our Nation's finest diplomats are honored with the Sue M. Cobb Exemplary Diplomatic Service Award. During her tenure in Jamaica, Ambassador Sue Cobb coordinated the relief efforts to help Jamaica's people after it was ravaged by Hurricane Ivan. Ambassador Chuck was the cochairman of the committee that secured $9 billion in Federal funds to rebuild my community, South Florida, after Hurricane Andrew. In addition to their exemplary work in both government and private enterprise, Chuck and Sue have made a home together and have filled it with love for more than five decades. Mr. Speaker, on February 28, they will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They have raised two sons, who are distinguished and remarkable people. Christian is an architect with an MBA from Harvard, and Tobin is an investment banker who earned his MBA from NYU. They have blessed the Cobb family with seven beautiful grandchildren. It is obvious that there is much that we can learn from the lives of the Ambassadors Cobb, but if we could glean a single lesson from the half century that they have spent together, Mr. Speaker, it would be how unbelievably far a man and a woman can go when the faith they have in each other is as unwavering as it is so clearly shown in Ambassadors Sue and Chuck Cobb.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the life and work of Dr. Jeana Brunson. Dr. Brunson was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama, a city located on the resplendent coast of the Gulf of Mexico which is best known for being the home of the first and true Mardi Gras in the Americas. Dr. Brunson would remain in Mobile until she earned her bachelor's degree in studio art from the University of South Alabama. She then moved from her beloved Mobile to the University of Texas in Austin where she earned her certification as a teacher. Her pursuit of academia then took her to Lubbock, Texas, where she would earn her master's degree in museum science from Texas Tech University while also serving as a research assistant for the costume and textile division for the Museum of Texas Tech. Her work in Lubbock earned her a position of cataloger and curatorial assistant for the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka, Kansas, and then on to the curator for the Camden County Historical Society in Camden, New Jersey. The position of registrar for the Museum of Science in Tallahassee, Florida, finally brought her to the place which she has been calling home for the past 20 years. She quickly moved up the ranks as she proceeded from registrar to curator to senior curator. During her time as head of research and collections, she earned her Ph.D. in historic costume and textiles. Finally in 2001, she was able to enjoy the fruition of her labor and the realization of her dreams when she became the director and chief curator for the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee, Florida. From this post in Tallahassee, Madam Speaker, she has been able to collect political materials, women's suffrage materials, garments, and assorted other pieces of historical significance for a new exhibit to be produced in 2013 honoring the accomplishments of the women of my home State of Florida. Among the honorees will be another great woman of Florida and a person whom I have always admired, a constituent of my congressional district but a person who belongs to our entire State and to our Nation, Roxcy Bolton. Roxcy Bolton is a pioneer among Florida's women. She was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame for forcing police and prosecutors to make rape crime a priority as well as illustrating to health departments the need for rape treatment centers. In fact, the rape treatment center in our public hospital in Miami-Dade Florida is named after Roxcy Bolton. Dr. Brunson also has traveled across the country earning prestigious positions and meritorious accolades for her fine work. Each stop has had its pitfalls and its windfalls, but she has never succumbed to the temptation of acquiescence in the face of adversity. The lessons that the good doctor learned on this long road have been to the benefit of our entire Nation. As the director and chief curator for the Museum of Florida History, Dr. Brunson has become the steward of Floridian culture. She has worked tirelessly to preserve the work of courageous women, like Roxcy Bolton, so their stories can be preserved for the benefit of our next generation. I pray that we may all learn from the examples set by Dr. Jeana Brunson, that we may never let our passions be eroded by our difficulties, and that we may persevere and never falter in the pursuit of our dreams. Congratulations, Dr. Brunson.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that my name be removed as a cosponsor of House Resolution 123.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to commend a wonderful organization in my congressional district, the Women of Tomorrow Mentor and Scholarship Program. Founded in 1997 by veteran TV journalist, Jennifer Valoppi, and Telemundo President Don Browne, the program has been a pioneer institution for inspiring at-risk young women to achieve their fullest potential through education and job training. The participants of the Women of Tomorrow program receive mentoring and guidance from highly accomplished professional women in our community. These women share their experiences and techniques for achieving academic and professional success, and their efforts bear fruit, as the high school graduation rate of Women of Tomorrow participants is 90 percent, well over the national average. Thanks to the Women of Tomorrow organization, under the leadership of its executive director, Bianca Erickson, countless at-risk teenagers are given the encouragement to dream big for the future. Nearly all of the program's high school graduates pursue a college education. I am grateful to all the individuals who have dedicated their time to this tremendous organization, and I ask that the names of the board of directors be inserted in the Congressional Record: Dr. Diane Walder, Marisa Toccin, Donna Feldman, Jamie Byington, Judge Judith Kreeger, Betty Amos, Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, Don Browne and Jennifer Valoppi.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the life and work of Dr. Luis Conte-Aguero who has devoted himself to fighting communism in Cuba and spreading democracy throughout the entirety of Latin America. While Dr. Luis Conte-Aguero is not a native-born American, he has served as a shining example of patriotism for all in our community. Since his arrival to the U.S. in 1960, he has worked tirelessly for freedom and democracy around the globe. As a young philosophy student at the University of Havana, Dr. Conte- Aguero befriended another student named Fidel Castro. However, after the fall of President Fulgencio Batista, Castro revealed his true intentions for Cuba. Dr. Conte-Aguero vehemently fought Castro in hopes of preventing Cuba from becoming a communist state. In 1960, Dr. Conte-Aguero was forced to flee Cuba, leaving his home and everything that he knew and loved. He took with him nine handwritten notes in his pocket which Fidel Castro wrote him while in prison in the 1950's. The Prison Letters of Fidel Castro has since served as a platform from which Dr. Conte-Aguero could expose the atrocities committed by Castro to the world. The Prison Letters of Fidel Castro was only the beginning for this storied and well celebrated poet whose honors are numerous, meritorious, and well-deserved. The Dominican Republic has honored him as ``The Highest Voice in America''; in Uruguay, he was selected by delegates from 14 nations to be the President of Alliance for Freedom; and his contributions to the Dominican Republic and its quest for freedom were recognized by the country's armed forces in 1965 when he was awarded the title of ``Continental Leader and Standard Bearer of Democracy in America.'' I pray that many more in America and around the world will choose to follow the example of Dr. Luis Conte-Aguero. It is a blessing that the elegance of his pen will preserve his legacy for future generations so that they may also choose to expose the crimes of tyrants and fight for the freedom of all people. Thank you, Dr. Conte-Aguero.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I would like to make five simple points that get to the heart of what is happening right now. First, Israel is a democratic Jewish state that respects human rights and desires peace with its neighbors, innocent civilians, innocent Palestinians included. The jihadists in Gaza continue to terrify thousands of innocent Israelis with their attack, while Israel continues to facilitate the transfer of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Second, Hamas is a hate filled, violent, Islamic militant group that is backed by Iran and Syria regimes and seeks Israel's destruction. Third, like any sovereign nation, Israel has the right to defend herself, her existence and to protect her citizens from attack, whether by Hamas or Hezbollah or other radical Islamists. I have been to Sderot, and I have watched as air raid warnings forced the entire population, including children, to hide from an incoming attack. Fourth, the actions and aims of violent Islamist extremists and their state sponsors is not just a threat to the Middle East peace and security, but to global peace and security. Today it's Hamas, tomorrow Hezbollah, the Taliban, al Qaeda, and so on. Fifth, the U.S. and Israel are in this together. We have a saying in Spanish about close alliances that describes the U.S. and Israel friendship perfectly, we are two wings of one bird. We depend on each other for our security and our existence. America and Israel are engaged in a broader conflict throughout the world, a struggle between liberty and tyranny, between those who love life and those who preach death. We did not seek this struggle, but we must win it. As we stand at this important day in our living history, let us remember the consequences of inaction in the face of evil. For many years, responsible nations turned the other way, refused to accept the reality of what Israel was subjected to. But no responsible nation could stand by and allow such attacks to continue, allow thousands and hundreds of its people to continue to live in constant fear of being murdered at any moment. No responsible nation could defer its security of its people to entrenched bureaucrats, the European Union, the United Nations, who constantly chastise Israel for taking all necessary actions to protect her own people. Despite the U.N.'s rhetoric, there is no moral or legal equivalent between militant Islamic extremists who target civilians and a democracy that responds by targeting them. This false moral equivalence only persuades militants to persist in the unlawful action against civilians. So, Madam Speaker, I hope that the House will carefully consider this resolution, will look at the actual language of the United Nations' resolution that points no finger at Hamas and its violent action and only points its finger at the democratic State of Israel. It's an unbalanced resolution. The United States was correct in not voting in favor of it. Israel must not abide by it. We all want peace, but Israel wants peace with security as well. With that, Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I rise in strong support of House Resolution 34, recognizing Israel's right to defend herself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirming the United States' strong support for Israel. Madam Speaker, the conflict between Israel and violent Palestinian extremist groups is not, to paraphrase Chamberlain, a quarrel in a faraway country between people of which we know nothing. This conflict is one part of a broader struggle that we're all engaged in, a struggle between liberty and tyranny, between democracy and violent Islamic extremism, between those who love life and those who preach death. It is a struggle Israel did not seek but one which she must, nonetheless, fight and win. For 8 years, while Israel has sought just and lasting peace and security, Hamas and other Islamic militants have launched thousands of rockets from Gaza against innocents in southern Israel. Israel, a democratic state, chose to exercise remarkable restraint. Finally, on December 19, Hamas unilaterally broke the calm, the so- called calm, and began launching scores of rockets against Israel. Israel chose to protect itself and her people. Israel has made every effort to prevent civilian casualties and has provided significant humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. Meanwhile, Hamas has again committed war crimes by placing its militants and its weapons in or at schools, in hospitals, in private homes, and in other civilian buildings. How has much of the world reacted? Too many states and too many officials in the United Nations have responded by blaming Israel and only Israel. The U.N. swung into action, holding four Security Council meetings in less than 2 weeks, including last night, when it passed a resolution that did not even mention rocket attacks against innocent Israeli civilians, that did not even mention Hamas and its war crimes, and it called for an immediate cease-fire, not a sustainable cease- fire. Sadly, these officials do not recognize that only Israel would consider itself bound by such an agreement. Hamas would continue to pursue Israel's destruction, and such a devil's bargain without holding Hamas and its state sponsors of terror accountable will only embolden these Islamic extremists to intensify their destructive agenda. The desire to stop all violence now is understandable. We all desire peace. We all regret the loss of innocent lives on both sides of the conflict, but as the ancient rabbis have stated, those who are merciful to the cruel, as the U.N. has been, will end up being cruel to the merciful, in this case, Israel. The right way forward is not easy; it is not pleasant, but upon it rests the security of the Israelis, of the Palestinians, of the Americans, and of all freedom-loving people. The following is my full statement for the Record: Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 34, recognizing Israel's right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirming the United States's strong support for Israel. Madam Speaker, the conflict between Israel and violent Palestinian extremist groups is not, to paraphrase former British leader Neville Chamberlain, a quarrel in a faraway country, between people of which we know nothing. On the contrary, this conflict is one part of a broader struggle that we are all engaged in--a struggle between liberty and tyranny; between democracy and violent Islamist extremism; between those who love life and those who preach death. It is a struggle which the United States and Israel did not seek, but which we must, nonetheless, fight and win. On the outcome, rests our freedom, our security, and our very existence. Today, this House sends a strong and unequivocal signal that America stands with Israel in its fight to exist. To some of the ``high-minded'' who feel comfortably removed from this struggle, such language is old-fashioned, or out of style, or undiplomatic. In the United States, Madam Speaker, we prefer to call it the truth. For 8 years, while Israel has sought just and lasting peace and security, Hamas and other Islamist militants have launched over 8,000 rockets from Gaza against innocents in southern Israel. Even after Israel took the risk of withdrawing from Gaza in 2005, Hamas rejected peace and chose to use its new sanctuary to plan and carry out more attacks against the Jewish state and its people. Six months ago, Hamas agreed to a so-called state of ``calm,'' then proceeded to break it repeatedly by using other groups to do its dirty work and fire rockets. Israel, a democratic state, chose to exercise remarkable restraint. Finally, on December 19, Hamas unilaterally broke the ``calm'' and began launching scores of rockets into Israel. Israel chose to protect its people and defend itself. Hamas and its fellow violent hate-mongers do not seek a few more square miles of land. They do not seek a Palestinian state. They seek to destroy Israel, impose an Islamist dictatorship in its place, and fight on throughout the world. Such an outcome is unacceptable to Israel. It is unacceptable to the United States. It must be unacceptable to all other responsible nations--because in a compromise between good and evil, only evil benefits. Israel has made every effort to prevent civilian casualties, and has provided significant humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians. Meanwhile, Hamas has again committed war crimes by placing its militants and weapons, in or near schools, hospitals, private homes, and other civilian buildings. In the real world, Hamas's use of civilians as human shields would provoke international condemnation and action to stop this menace. But how has much of the world reacted? Too many states, and too many officials at the United Nations, have responded by blaming Israel and only Israel. Let us remember that in the months and years before Israel started its defensive operation on December 27, the U.N. did not make any meaningful effort to stop the relentless attacks by Hamas or diminish the threat posed by its state sponsors. But once Israel rose to protect its citizens, the U.N. swung into action, holding four Security Council meetings in less than two weeks, including last night, when it passed a resolution--that did not even mention rocket attacks against Israeli civilians; that did not even mention Hamas and its war crimes; and that called for an immediate ceasefire, not a sustainable ceasefire. This Security Council resolution and other developments throughout the U.N. system, reflect the short-sightedness and bias that pervade that body. The so-called President of the U.N. General Assembly called Israel's behavior a ``monstrosity,'' and the Secretary-General called for an immediate cease-fire. Sadly, they do not recognize: that only Israel would consider itself bound by such an agreement; that Hamas would continue to pursue Israel's destruction; and that such a devil's bargain without holding Hamas and its state-sponsors accountable would only embolden these Islamist extremists to intensify their destructive agenda. The desire to stop all violence now is understandable. We all desire peace and regret the loss of innocent lives on both sides of the conflict. But as the ancient rabbis stated, those who are merciful to the cruel (as the U.N. has been) will end up being cruel to the merciful (in this case, Israel). If the U.N. wants to regain its credibility, it should advance peace and security by moving to compel Hamas and their state sponsors to: immediately stop their attacks, shut down their militant infrastructure, and recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. Madam Speaker, we've been here before. In 2006, the violent extremist group Hezbollah kidnapped Israeli soldiers and fired rockets relentlessly against northern Israel. In response, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire between Israel and the violent extremist group Hezbollah, which would supposedly strengthen the ability of a U.N. force in Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from rearming. In the last 2\1/2\ years, Israel has held up its end of the deal, while a legitimized Hezbollah has rapidly re-armed under the U.N.'s nose and has, along with its state-sponsors Iran and Syria, increased its control in Lebanon. As a result, U.S. interests in the region have been damaged. If we act the same way this time, we will get the same result or worse, and we are running out of second chances. Not again, Madam Speaker. We must support Israel's right to defend itself by rooting out the Islamist militant infrastructure in Gaza and by ending--not reducing, not postponing, but ending--the threat Hamas poses to Israel's existence; to regional stability; and to global peace and security. Then, and only then, Madam Speaker, can a ceasefire work. Consistent with the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, we should also tighten U.S. and international sanctions against Hamas. Additionally, the U.S. and our allies must seek to stop Iran and Syria from providing financial and other support to Hamas and other violent Islamist extremist groups. The right way forward is not easy or pleasant, but upon it rests the security of Israelis, Palestinians, Americans, and all other peoples. With that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina, Congresswoman Virginia Foxx.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas who says, ``That's just the way it is,'' Judge Poe.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), a senior member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am so pleased to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Cantor), our distinguished Republican whip.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Paul). (Mr. PAUL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I am proud to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Pence), our distinguished Republican Conference chairman. (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638, The Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Requesting Member: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18). Account: Defense, Research Test and Evaluation (Army). Legal Name of Requesting Entity: University of Miami. Address of Requesting Entity: 1252 Memorial Dr, Ashe Administrative Building Room 230, Coral Gables, FL 33146. Description of Request: I received an earmark of $5,000,000 of funding for the Center for Ophthalmic Innovation at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute be used to help develop new modalities of treatment and ensure direct treatment of military personnel through the development of relevant ophthalmic telemedicine initiatives. The Center for Ophthalmic Innovation (ONOVA) is located within the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, which has been rated as the #1 eye hospital in the nation. This funding will aid ONOVA in continuing research on advanced ocular imaging technology enabling more accurate diagnosis of hereditary retinal disease, better monitoring of treatments for wet and dry macular degeneration, rapid and cost-effective screening for diabetic retinopathy, better evaluation of refractive surgical outcomes, and the ability to qualify dry eye disease. Additionally, the Center is developing new operational systems for ophthalmic telemedicine to bring high quality eye disease screening to military personnel as well as every United States citizen. Eye health is vitally important to the Department of Defense as active military personnel must have perfect visual acuity to carry out their duties effectively. At least 16% of war casualties are due to eye trauma, and millions of retired military personnel suffer from age-related eye disease. A spending plan for the project will include Spending Plan: Center for Ophthalmic Innovation Budget. There are three separate programs and we have separated the salaries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Imaging and Telemedicine................................... $445,205 Prevention and Restoration................................. 454,797 Retinal Degeneration Florida Eye Disease Project Prevention 245,853 Minor equipment and supplies............................... 120,945

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor one of south Florida's most distinguished residents, Rabbi Solomon Schiff. For more than 40 years, Rabbi Schiff has dedicated his efforts to increasing and strengthening interfaith cooperation in south Florida. Due to his service and his undying commitment to our community, he will be awarded the Papal Medal Benemerenti by Pope Benedict XVI. This prestigious award was instituted by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832. The medal is awarded to recognize those individuals who have helped foster outstanding interfaith collaboration with the Catholic church. Rabbi Schiff served as executive vice president of the Rabbinical Association of Greater Miami for 42 years before retiring in 2006. He has also worked as staff chaplain for patients of all faiths at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach. His devotion to his work led him to serve as Chairman of the Dade County Community Relations Board and as President of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. Rabbi Schiff's guidance and expertise on interfaith cooperation earned him appearances on CBS's ``60 Minutes'' and NBC's ``Nightline'' news magazine shows. His love for people of all faiths and his conviction that common ground can be found among all is an example for us all. I am blessed to have him represent my district, but even more grateful to call him a friend.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to Republican Leadership standards on earmarks, I am submitting the following information for publication in the Congressional Record regarding earmarks I received as part of H.R. 2638, the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009. Name of Requesting Member: Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Account: Defense, Research Test and Evaluation (Army). Project Name: Mass Scale Biosensor Threat Diagnostic for In-Theater Defense Utilization at FlU. Amount: $8,000,000. Contact: Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, Executive Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Medicine; Florida International University (FIU) 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, Florida 33199. Detailed Budget: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Requested Requested Item funds year funds year Total 1 2 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salaries and Fringes for 1 $1,000,000 $500,000 $1,500,000 Biomedical Engineering, 1 (University Electrical/Computer Engineering, match and 2 College of Medicine $500,000 faculty (1 Genetic; 1 year-02) Reproductive Endocrinology) ($250,000 each)................. 3 lab tech. (@75K ea.) (salary 225,000 ........... 225,000 and fringe)..................... Supplies......................... 100,000 50,000 150,000 Sample Collections............... 20,000 30,000 50,000 Research Coordinator (salary and 75,000 ........... 75,000 fringe).........................

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize and celebrate the contributions of our Nation's Nicaraguan-American population. The South Florida community that I represent is blessed to have many of these hard-working and talented individuals. Their contributions to our community's success and growth are a testament to their dedication and service. It is fitting that this recognition occurs in the month of September. The rapid growth of Nicaraguan immigrants started in September 1972 following a devastating earthquake. The largest group of refugees arrived on our shores in September 1979 as they escaped the communist Sandinista regime. Out of this tragedy came the triumph of a people who were determined not be victims of circumstance. They took charge of their life and decided to make a better life for themselves and their children in our great country. They have contributed to the fabric of American society and helped strengthen the ties between both our nations. During the next Congressional session, I will be introducing a resolution to designate September as Nicaraguan-American Heritage month. It is a fitting tribute for a people who have truly realized their own American dream.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to reiterate the warm friendship and great cooperation that we have gotten from our chairman, both as Members and as members of our staff coordinate these sometimes thorny bills, controversial measures, and we are able to compromise and come to an agreement and understanding and help the House develop a good foreign policy for this greatest nation in the world, the United States of America. It is an honor for me to work with Chairman Berman. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank my good friend, the chairman of our committee, Howard Berman. It is a delight to work with him in a bipartisan manner, and I appreciate the close cooperation that we've enjoyed in these months. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 7177, a measure to authorize certain naval vessel transfers, to strengthen U.S. security assistance to Israel and to upgrade the foreign military sale status of our allies in the Republic of Korea. Mr. Speaker, this bill contains many provisions identical or similar to those contained a bill previously passed by this House this spring, H.R. 5916, the Security Assistance and Arms Export Control Reform Act of 2008. The bill before us strengthens the U.S. commitment to the security of our dear friends in Israel by requiring an objective analysis of Israel's military capability with respect to conventional and unconventional threats while authorizing an increase in U.S. foreign military financing that is consistent with the August 2007 U.S.-Israel memorandum on military assistance. These provisions are of vital importance because as we all know, Israel is surrounded by a number of threats which threaten its very survival. Thus, the provisions in this bill enhancing our relationship with Israel are critical to Israel's security but also to our vital interests in the region. This legislation also upgrades the Foreign Military Sales status of our staunch ally, the Republic of Korea. Elements of this provision were included in H.R. 5443 which passed the House earlier this week. This upgrade is an important symbol of a renewed and transformed U.S.- ROK alliance. It reaffirms that South Korea continues to be a close and a much-valued strategic ally of the United States in a relationship that is, and must remain, a bedrock of stability in Northeast Asia. Mr. Speaker, our actions here tonight will help to advance a new strategic framework for the alliance, not only for the purpose of managing a range of North Korea contingencies, but also to cement a common, democratic partnership for the 21st century. Finally, Mr. Speaker, this bill authorizes the grant of surplus Navy vessels. According to our Secretary of the Navy, these proposed transfers would improve our political and military relationship with these countries. The United States would also incur no cost in transferring these vessels, as the recipients would be responsible for all costs associated with the transfers. I urge support for this important measure, Mr. Speaker. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my highest commendations to Sheriff Richard Roth and to thank him for the nearly twenty years of service that he has selflessly dedicated to Monroe County. It is a testament to the greatness of our nation that a native of Minneapolis, Minnesota can find his calling in the Law Enforcement community of Florida and work his way up from a radio dispatcher to the Sheriff of Monroe County. Sherriff Roth has committed himself wholly and unwaveringly to the safety of our community. Throughout his career, he has sought to further his expertise in law enforcement with a degree in Police Administration from Florida Keys Community College, as well as successfully completing courses at the National Sheriff's Academy and the prestigious FBI National Academy for police executives all so that he may better serve our community. As Sheriff, his efforts to boost community involvement have resulted in nearly 140 Crime Watch groups in Monroe County and recognition at the State and National level for its accomplishments; not the least of which is reducing crime in Monroe County by fifty percent during his tenure as Sheriff. His service to his country in the United States Navy and to his community in the Monroe County Sheriff's Department have benefited us all, and I know that I sleep soundly at night knowing that Sheriff Richard Roth is watching over all of our neighbors.