Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H.Con. Res. 415) condemning the repression of the Iranian Baha'i community and calling for the emancipation of Iranian Baha'is.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 415, introduced by my colleague from Illinois, Mr. Kirk. H. Con. Res. 415 condemns the repression of the Iranian Baha'i community and calls for their emancipation. This resolution notes the long-standing concern by Congress for the protection and status of religious minorities in Iran. The resolution requests that the President call for the Government of Iran to emancipate the Baha'i community and guarantee them basic freedoms in accordance with international and human rights standards and obligations. It emphasizes that Iran's treatment of religious minorities and human rights practices are a significant consideration for the U.S. in formulating our policy toward the Iranian regime. The Baha'i faith originated in Iran during the 19th century, and their community is one of the largest minorities in religion in Iran. The current government recognizes them as not in true keeping with the faith of the Iranian regime. They are not allowed to practice their faith, and they are further undermined by their inability to maintain contact with Baha'is living abroad. Baha'is are discriminated against in nearly every sector of Iranian society. In October of 2005, the text of a secret Iranian Government document calling for the identity and monitoring of all Baha'is living in Iran became public. According to Human Rights Watch, Madam Speaker, the anti-Baha'i letter came amid a campaign in the state-run press that began 1 year ago. Madam Speaker, I recommend that all interested parties who want to learn more about the plight of religious minorities in Iran read the recently released ``International Religious Freedom Report'' published by our Department of State. This report reaffirms the brutal and oppressive nature of the regime in Tehran. The persecution of the Iranian Baha'is is but one grim example in point. Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor of this resolution, I strongly support the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 415, and I ask my colleagues to vote ``yes.'' Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As the House author of this legislation, I rise in strong support of Senate bill 2784, the 14th Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act. I would like to thank my dear friend and colleague, the ranking member of International Relations Committee, Congressman Tom Lantos, for his dedicated work on this legislation as the Democratic lead of this House bill. I also would like to commend the Financial Services chairman, Michael Oxley, and his staff for their great work on this resolution as well as the House leadership and their staff for their assistance in bringing this important legislation to the floor. Mr. Speaker, as a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and as a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I have had the opportunity to meet personally with the Dalai Lama on several occasions, most recently in November 2005, when he spoke to Congress on issues relating to democracy, human rights, and Tibet. Born to a peasant family, His Holiness was recognized at the age of two, in accordance with the tradition of Tibet, as the reincarnation of his predecessor, the 13th Dalai Lama, and thus an incarnation of the Buddha of Compassion. His enthronement ceremony took place in the capital of Tibet on February 22, 1940, at the tender age of five. A decade later, on November 17, 1950, His Holiness was called upon to assume the position of head of state for the people of Tibet. His Holiness is the embodiment of serenity and understandings. His inner peace and calm demeanor give us hope that a resolution can be reached on the issue of Tibet. As the 14th Dalai Lama, he is the manifestation of compassion. To look at him is to understand the meaning of Dalai Lama, which is ``Oceans of Wisdom.'' By awarding the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal, we are recognizing his lifelong advocacy on behalf of peace, tolerance, human rights, nonviolence, and religious understanding throughout the world. By definition, a Congressional Gold Medal is the highest expression by Congress of national appreciation for the most heroic, courageous, and outstanding individuals. Given the overwhelming support of this legislation as evidenced by the bipartisan support of 312 cosponsors in the House companion legislation, I am confident that Members of this Chamber deem that the Dalai Lama is indeed such an individual. However, we are not the first to recognize the tremendous achievements of this humble man. In 1989, the 14th Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize for his work bringing democracy and freedom to his people. In the recommendation, the committee members of the Nobel Prize wrote: ``The committee wants to emphasize the fact that the Dalai Lama in his struggle for the liberation of Tibet consistently has opposed the use of violence. He has instead advocated peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect in order to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people.'' The 14th Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act comes at a crucial and hopeful turning point in the ongoing negotiations between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the People's Republic of China. In a speech delivered following His Holiness' acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize, he said, ``It is my dream that the entire Tibetan plateau should become a free refuge where humanity and nature can live in peace and in harmonious balance. It would be a place,'' he continues, ``where people from all over the world could come to seek the true meaning of peace within themselves, away from the tension and pressures that occur in much of the rest of the world. Tibet could indeed become a creative center for the promotion and development of peace,'' he concluded. Join me, I ask my colleagues, in paying homage to this fearless leader who has led the efforts to preserve the rich cultural, spiritual, and linguistic heritage of the people of Tibet while also promoting the safeguarding of other endangered cultures throughout the world. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the 14th Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and insert extraneous material thereon.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 2784) to award a congressional gold medal to Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in recognition of his many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights, and religious understanding.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to share this same floor with our distinguished chairman of the House International Relations Committee. Today we had what probably would be the last markup of the session and the last markup of his incredible tenure as chairman of our committee and great statesman of our country. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution to reaffirm our country's commitment to freedom, to democracy and to the right to live without fear, free from the threat of Islamic jihadists. I rise to pay homage to those at the forefront against this insidious enemy. And more importantly, I rise today to honor the victims and the heroes of this deplorable attack against our Nation on that fateful day 5 years ago. Those who died working in the towers, spent their days helping our country grow financially and globally, while those in the Pentagon worked to defend it. The brave men and women on Flight 93 and the first responders sacrificed themselves for others, sending a strong message to the jihadists worldwide that America would not be intimidated. The resolution before us recognizes the threat that we face today against Islamic terrorism. It is essential that not only Americans but indeed citizens from all countries acknowledge the imminent threat of these radical ideologies that are manipulating Islam for their own selfish destructive ends. These jihadists didn't just declare war on the United States, but on the West as a whole. Lady Thatcher recently said in a statement released during her visit when she was accompanying President Bush and the First Lady at the 9/11 remembrance ceremony, ``That heinous attack on America was an attack on us all.'' Ultimately it will be our strength of character and our moral fiber, our unity of purpose which will help freedom prevail over tyranny and help us triumph over evil. As Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1811: ``It is impossible to subdue a people acting with an undivided will.'' We must never forget the sacrifices of all who died on September 11. They were not just victims, they were the first warriors in the new struggle of our survival. With today's discussion taking place in the shadow of this sad fifth anniversary of the September 11 attack, it will help us to remember the brutal nature of these extremists. It will provide us greater insight into their nature in order to refine our policies and defeat them. We must never, never forget. We must remain vigilant. The enemy is just waiting for us to flinch, before its agents descend like vultures to prey on our weakness. Some are prepared to murder in what they feel are their religious duty. Others are supportive or protective of these jihadists. Still others do not embrace the tactics employed by the jihadists, but share the convictions and the perceptions of these extremists. We must remain vigilant and I hope that all of our colleagues support this strong resolution before us today

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5434) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 40 South Walnut Street in Chillicothe, Ohio, as the ``Larry Cox Post Office''.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Ohio (Mr. Ney), the author of this bill.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5434 offered by the distinguished gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) would designate the post office building in Chillicothe, Ohio, as the Larry Cox Post Office. Larry Cox began his career with the Chillicothe police department in 1986. From that point until his untimely death in April of 2005, he devoted himself to protecting and improving the community around him. He served as a DARE officer for city and parochial schools teaching students about the dangers of drug use, and made a positive impact on their lives that really is immeasurable. He devoted much of his personal time to mentoring students and greatly enjoyed chaperoning school dances and functions. The day of Officer Cox's death is marked both by his courage and his commitment to the police force. He was off duty, but he did not hesitate to come to the aid of fellow officers who were pursuing a fleeing suspect. The suspect shot and killed Officer Cox, and he will be deeply missed by his family and the community of Chillicothe, Ohio. In recognition of this brave officer, I hope that all Members will join me in naming the Chillicothe postal facility in his honor. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I also have no other demands for time. I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5434, and I yield back the balance of our time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House Resolution 983 honoring the life of Mr. Robert E. O'Connor, Jr.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, a lifelong resident of the city of Pittsburgh and a devoted husband and father of three, Robert E. O'Connor, Jr., brought compassion and dedication to every project that he undertook. His political career began in 1991 when he won a Pittsburgh City Council seat, and his tenure with the council set the tone for the rest of his career. Mr. O'Connor was passionate about giving the citizens of his city tangible results and focused on making neighborhoods safe, on cleaning up the streets, and giving city workers the tools they needed to do their job. Mr. O'Connor became president of the council in 1998; and after waiting patiently while continuing to serve his city, he won the mayor's election in 2005. As mayor, Mr. O'Connor devoted himself to fixing Pittsburgh's financial problems and fostering relationships with the county and State governments. His leadership and friendship were what defined him to the citizens that he served, and one resident spoke of him by calling him ``a pillar that cannot be shaken.'' Just 185 days into his administration as mayor, Mr. O'Connor was admitted to the hospital and was eventually diagnosed with primary central nervous system lymphoma. He bravely fought the disease until he passed away on September 1, 2006; and he leaves behind him a legacy of integrity, compassion, dedication, and intelligence that the city of Pittsburgh will not forget. I urge all Members to come together to recognize the remarkable life and accomplishments of Mr. Robert E. O'Connor by adopting House Resolution 983. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 983) honoring the life and accomplishments of the late Robert E. O'Connor, Jr.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 5428, as amended, the Joshua A. Terando Princeton Post Office Building, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from the State of Illinois (Mr. Weller), the author of this resolution.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 5428, as amended, offered by the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Weller), would designate the post office building in Morris, Illinois, as the Joshua A. Terando Post Office Building. By all accounts, Joshua Terando's love for his country was second to none, and his patriotism was evident in his service to our United States Army. After completing basic training, Joshua graduated from Ranger school and went on to become the leader of his platoon. He completed his third year of active duty in 2001 and had just 18 months left in the Reserves when he was called back to serve in Iraq in June 2005. Twenty-seven year-old Joshua Terando was killed in November of that year when his tank was attacked by enemy forces. His family and friends remind us that Joshua believed our country is worth fighting and dying for. It is with great gratitude that we thank him for his service. We thank him for his bravery and sacrifice and for the sacrifice of those who loved him. I ask all Members to join me in naming the Morris, Illinois, postal facility in honor of Joshua A. Terando. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5428) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 East Washington Street in Morris, Illinois, as the ``Joshua A. Terando Princeton Post Office Building'', as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish a full and healthy recovery to Lance Corporal Patrick T. Howard, who suffered extensive injuries while on guard duty in Iraq on July 18. Lance Corporal Howard was born and raised in Miami, and enlisted in the Marines directly after graduating from high school. In March of 2006, he was deployed to Ramadi, Iraq, and was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. I am deeply saddened about the grave nature of the injuries inflicted upon such a selfless young man from South Florida. The entire community is grateful to Lance Corporal Howard for his contributions in the struggle to spread liberty to Iraq, and values the sacrifices of all those currently defending our Nation overseas. I ask that you please keep Lance Corporal Howard and his family in your thoughts and prayers as he completes the recovery process.