Ed Royce

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege and honor to recognize Patty Shay, who is retiring after 34 years of distinguished service to the U.S. House of Representatives. Patty is the Director of Constituent Services and Office Manager for my office, and will retire on August 31, 2013. Patty began her career in civil service in 1977 with the office of Assemblyman Bill Dannemeyer and remained on staff after he was elected to Congress in 1979. Fourteen years later, Patty continued her service by joining my office when I succeeded Dannemeyer as Representative of the 39th District. By this time, Patty knew that she preferred casework and that the U.S. Service Academy process was her specialty. Patty has enjoyed the challenge of helping people. Her motto is always, ``do the best that I can in the place where I am and be kind.'' Over her years of service, Patty has handled thousands of cases. And often, people will call after years have gone by and continue to say thank you. Her favorite casework is the Department of Veterans Affairs, and in particular dealing with those who served in WWII. The stories told by these humble warriors left her forever grateful for the Greatest Generation. Patty's true passion during her service was the U.S. Service Academy process. She developed a very structured nomination system in order to develop the young nominees, which has helped them to succeed at the academies. She became known as Mama Shay due to a Cadet from the 3rd class that attended West Point. Patty has worn this as a badge of honor. Many officers continue to write messages to Mom/Mama Shay today. Through the years, the long line of Patty's kids that received appointments grew to 607. Of that number, 414 graduated and are serving all over the world today. Many have accomplished fulfilling military careers while others have become lawyers, doctors, or dentists. She feels privileged to know so many bright, capable nominees, and has been happy to provide them with support, guidance, and direction throughout the years. As a testament to her work, Patty has received numerous public service awards including; the ``Duty Honor Country'' award by the West Point Society of Orange County; ``The Donald'' which is an award selecting the legislative staffer of the year by fellow Orange County staffers; and the ``Everyday Hero Award'' from the Fullerton Rotary Club. Patty is extremely thankful and grateful for the years she has spent in public service. Patty has always kept family close and of the highest priority. Having raised two active boys as a single parent, she was constantly running from one event to another. Who knew this would be the prologue to her duties handling the Academy Nominations. Her non-stop energy and attitude toward teaching and helping others has always translated into family. Now that her sons are grown, she continues that same philosophy with her three grandsons. She is constantly researching and providing pathways to higher learning for each of her grandsons. She does this by taking each one of their strengths individually and providing a specific learning goal for each one, which is very similar to the approach she uses to provide Military Academy Appointments each year. Patty loves sharing the accomplishments of her sons & grandsons to her many friends and extended family members. She stays in close contact with her sister, niece, and nephew who all live in Oregon and Washington. So I ask all of my colleagues to join me in thanking Patty Shay for her service to Congress, and the Nation. I wish her all the best in her retirement.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, due to a runway accident at LaGuardia Airport in New York, I was unavoidably detained. On rollcall No. 375 had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' On rollcall No. 376 had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.'' Personal Explanation

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations and happy birthday wishes to Mrs. Violet B. Hanna, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday on July 23. Born in Los Angeles on July 23, 1913, to Albert Wogatzke and Ella Bussjaeger, Violet is the oldest daughter of nine children. She married William Hanna on August 6, 1936. She lovingly raised a family of two children, has seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She has enjoyed wonderful health all of her life. She was raised on a farm, was a straight A student, and was so devoted to family that after graduating from high school, she gave up a full scholarship to Occidental College to start working in L.A. to support the rest of her family in Imperial Valley. Violet has witnessed momentous changes in our Nation's history. Her life reflects a contribution to that history. I hope her century of memories brings much pride and joy to herself and family members. I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Violet on this remarkable milestone. I wish her a special day shared in the company of her family and friends, and all the best in the years ahead.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of a document of great significance, the Cyrus Cylinder, that will be touring the United States for the duration of this year and will be on display in museums across this country. On October 2, the Cyrus Cylinder will be displayed to the public at the Getty Museum in Malibu, California. In what historians call the ``first bill of human rights,'' the Cyrus Cylinder, out of Persia, remains important, particularly as the Cylinder's inheritors, the people of Iran, continue to suffer under the repressive Islamic Republic in Iran. Jews, Babylonians, and Greeks left laudatory accounts of Cyrus' actions. The Cyrus Cylinder is widely considered to be not only the first human rights document, but a document to protect other cultures. In the Torah, it is written: King Cyrus issued a decree concerning the house of God in Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt. The cost will be paid from the cost of the King. In what now can be considered a defining moment in history, Cyrus permitted the Jews to take their statues, their ceremonial vessels, and important cultural and religious objects back with them to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. Cyrus the Great holds a special position in the history of civilization. His humanitarian values of freedom for all people, respect for culture and religious diversity, and recognition of the fact that it is better to be loved than feared are remarkable attributes for any ruler. But as Ali Razi, who left Iran in the wake of the Iranian Revolution, shares with us, for someone who lived 2,600 years ago, such beliefs are truly exceptional. Ali Razi makes a second point about the document's influence on Persian and Greek culture, and on the European Enlightenment. Cyrus' values and ideas for governance have long inspired political thinkers and leaders of men, including the Founding Fathers of this country, who wove these same ideals into the very Constitution of the United States. Thomas Jefferson owned two copies of ``Cyropedia,'' a book of histories by the Greek historian Xenophon that told the story of King Cyrus--Cyrus the Great, as the Persians call him. Such was Jefferson's admiration for this work that Jefferson wrote to his own grandson: I would advise you, go first through the Cyropedia, and then read Herodotus and Thucydides. Unfortunately, contrary to the traditions of the Cyrus Cylinder, the Iranian Government continues to engage in widespread human rights abuses. While the Cyrus Cylinder highlighted peace and acceptance as its ideals, the current regime in Iran has steadily increased its discriminatory practices and repression of the country's ethnic and religious minority populations--from Azerbaijanis to Baluchis, to Kurds and Arabs, to the Baha'is and Christians and Zoroastrians. Iranian authorities routinely deny its citizens the most basic human rights through harassment, intimidation, detention, and violence. And for those minorities who have served in the prison system in Iran, they can tell you the stories of how horrible that violence can be. Actions that often violate Iran's own international obligations routinely occur there in that country, and I hope that the tour of the Cyrus Cylinder across the United States brings attention to the oppressiveness of the Iranian regime and serves as a symbol, a symbol that promotes human rights around the world, a symbol to remind people of what that culture once stood for under Cyrus the Great. So, in 2013, on the occasion of the first-ever visit of the Cyrus Cylinder from the British Museum to the United States, and to the Getty Museum in Malibu from October 2 to December 2, we call attention to this important historical document for the example it set over two millennia ago.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman has expressed concern about accountability. With all due respect, allow me to dispel a myth. We are not talking about sending bags of cash to foreign governments so they can spend it on whatever they want. No matter the form, U.S. food assistance is now and will continue to be subject to multiple levels of scrutiny and monitoring and evaluation. The Food for Peace Program maintains strong accountability for funds. Food aid will continue to be branded with U.S. aid logos, prominently displayed on all program- related materials regardless of whether the food is purchased in the United States or in the affected region. That is the way this program works. And according to the Secretary of Defense, the Defense Department supports the President's proposed reform, supports this reform of the food aid program, and the Defense Department has assessed that it will not affect U.S. maritime readiness or national security obviously in any way since these are non- militarily useful ships under foreign ownership anyway, for the most part. Mr. Chairman, this is about fixing a broken system. Our food aid takes too long to arrive and costs too much to get there. A former top aid official told our committee last week that in fast-onset famines such as Somalia and wars involving mass population displacements, such as Darfur: ``I watched people die waiting for food aid to arrive.'' He wants a change so that the aid can be purchased right there, and during that first month when they are waiting for the ship to arrive, to feed those people before they starve to death. That's what's driving this amendment. In Syria, a shipment of U.S. food just arrived, yes it did, 2 years after the onset of this--2 years afterwards. It would have been helpful if we'd had a little ability in the program to handle this on the ground. U.S. interests are being undermined here by archaic food aid programs, and I urge adoption. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the very hard work of Chairman Lucas, but there is one program in glaring need of reform. This bipartisan amendment will make our well-intentioned, but grossly outdated, international food aid programs more flexible, more efficient, and far more effective. Under the current system, which was designed 60 years ago, all of our food aid must be purchased in the U.S., and at least 50 percent has to be shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels. Yet, today, 60 years later, food prices and U.S. agricultural exports have reached historic highs, and this makes this program of negligible value to the U.S. farm economy. Food aid purchases now account for less than half a percent of net farm income. Businesses at the ports are booming, and there are only a handful of U.S.-flagged ships. When asked how the proposed reforms would impact American farmers, the Secretary of Agriculture stated: Far from ending a partnership between our Nation's humanitarian and development mission and our world-class agricultural and food system, we are recommitting to the role that American agriculture plays in food security and tapping into the ingenuity of American farmers and the powers of science and innovation to avoid future shortages and global hunger. Mr. Chairman, these subsidies can no longer be justified. They only add to the cost of the program, and they delay by months the time that it takes for food aid to reach desperate disaster victims. The Royce- Engel amendment would enact two commonsense reforms: First, the amendment would allow up to 45 percent food aid to be purchased closer to the crisis. This change will yield an estimated $215 million in efficiency savings; it's going to reduce mandatory spending by $150 million over the bill's life; and it's going to allow us to reach 4 million more disaster victims. Second, the amendment curtails a process called ``monetization,'' which the Government Accountability Office found is inefficient and disrupts local markets. In other words, it wastes money; it slows economic growth; and it harms those we are trying to help. In recent years, it has wasted $215 million. There are real-life consequences to clinging to an inflexible, inefficient program that puts the interests of the few over those of the taxpayers, not to mention over those of the millions in desperate need of humanitarian aid globally. With this reform, by investing in local markets, we help nations become more food secure; we develop more U.S. trade partners; we break the cycle of aid dependency. This amendment enjoys wide bipartisan support. Both administrations-- this one and the last--have sought these changes. The amendment is supported by a long list of relief organizations. Mr. Chairman, the question is not: Why should we reform food aid? It is: Why have we waited so long? I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE. I yield myself 3 minutes. Before beginning, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) be permitted to control 5 minutes of the debate time allocated to me.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, it has been over 40 years since Taiwan last had a seat at the International Civil Aviation Organization. The volume of air traffic in and out of Taiwan's airports back then cannot be compared with that incredible volume of traffic, millions of planes a year, that come in and out of modern-day Taiwan. Under the Visa Waiver Program, airlines have added even more flights in order to take advantage of greater demand for tourists and business travel from Taiwan into the United States. This number is only going to grow as more and more Taiwanese take advantage of the Visa Waiver Program. It is time that we readmit Taiwan into ICAO so that everyone who boards a plane can have the utmost confidence about the safety of their trip. Aviation technology has progressed by leaps and bounds, and the idea that Taiwan cannot directly communicate with the United States or any other nation engaging in issues regarding air safety is not in anyone's interest. That's not in the interest of any nation. I urge my colleagues to join in supporting H.R. 1151. Taiwan is one of America's closest friends in the world. We share so much in common, including a steadfast dedication to democracy and the rule of law and human rights; and it is time that we fixed this problem. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentleman from American Samoa, and I'd like to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), chairman emeritus of the Foreign Affairs Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. She is also a cosponsor of this measure.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1151) to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain observer status for Taiwan at the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly, and for other purposes.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this legislation.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of bipartisan legislation that I authored to help secure observer status for Taiwan at the International Civil Aviation Organization. This legislation requires the Secretary of State to develop and execute a strategy to ensure that Taiwan has a seat at the table for ICAO's upcoming September plenary meeting. It has been over 40 years since Taiwan was last a member of ICAO. Indeed, a lot has changed in those 40 years. As it stands now, all communications between Taiwan and the U.S. on aviation safety must be channeled through the American Institute in Taiwan, which is our Nation's de facto embassy in Taiwan. The fact that Taiwan can't speak directly to the Federal Aviation Administration without this added layer of bureaucracy makes no sense. After all, we are talking about air safety information that is otherwise readily available to all of ICAO's members. Taiwan's entry into the U.S. Visa Waiver Program last year has dramatically increased both the frequency of flights between our airports and the real number of travelers coming here to the United States. For my home State of California, the increase in visitors from Taiwan has resulted in a significant boost for the local economy, especially for the travel industry, the leisure industry, for restaurants, for example, and shops. I'm proud to have worked on Taiwan's entry into the Visa Waiver Program because I know that, as a result of this agreement, Taiwanese Americans in Southern California have a much easier time staying connected to their families. Mr. Speaker, as the number of visitors from Taiwan has grown exponentially, there is an urgent need to ensure that Taiwan has real- time access to air safety information. Strengthening air safety benefits American citizens as much as it does the Taiwanese. Every year, tens of thousands of Americans fly through Taiwan's air space, which must be as safe as it can be, and this bill will certainly help. Just as Taiwan was allowed to join the World Health Organization as a result of the SARS outbreak, so, too, should Taiwan be afforded the opportunity to observe the proceedings of the ICAO. We all share the responsibility to ensure that international air travel is safe. Taiwan's unique political status has thus far hindered its inclusion in ICAO. With this piece of legislation, we're sending a clear message that air safety is a priority and not a geopolitical issue. Earlier this year, my good friend Eliot Engel of New York and I traveled to Taiwan to see firsthand the immense progress that the people of Taiwan have made over such a short period of time. Taiwan is indeed a beacon of freedom in the Asia-Pacific region. We share many values with Taiwan, including an unwavering commitment to democracy, to human rights, to free markets, and to the rule of law. Helping Taiwan gain entry as an observer into the ICAO is the right thing to do, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentleman. Chairman McKeon, I know you share my concern with this growing transnational threat of poaching. And I am hopeful that, looking ahead, we can work together to address any concerns that may exist and support a more aggressive U.S. commitment to this problem.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I have a colloquy on an amendment I intend to withdraw. Mr. Chairman, we are facing a serious and growing national security threat in central Africa. Rebel groups, long active in the region, have taken on a new form of illicit activity to fill their coffers, and that form is poaching. On the black market, ivory from elephant tusks runs over $1,000 per kilo. Rhino horns are worth more than their weight in gold--$30,000 per pound. The black market for wildlife is now in the league of drug smuggling. The low risk and high reward of poaching makes it ideal for criminal groups, but also for extremist groups. Indeed, groups like the Lord's Resistance Army, which the U.S. military is helping Africans to track down, and the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabaab are reaping the benefits by brutally slaughtering these majestic, defenseless animals. These aren't your poor man's poachers either. Many poachers today are outfitted with night-vision goggles and sophisticated GPS equipment. They fly helicopters, slaughtering these endangered species from above. A recent U.N. report cites an increase in advanced weapons used in poaching, which can be traced back to the fall of Qadhafi in Libya. Earlier this year, testifying on worldwide threats, the head of our intelligence community noted that the multibillion-dollar industry of illicit wildlife trade ``threats to disrupt the rule of law in important countries around the world,'' and that this trade involves ``disparate actors-- from government and military personnel to members of insurgent groups and transnational organized crime organizations.'' Unfortunately, African nations trying to fight off transnational poachers lack the capacity to address the problem. With relatively few security resources dedicated to combating them, poachers operate freely. This amendment would have provided authority for the Defense Department to advise and assist Africans to suppress this illicit wildlife trade. AFRICOM is rightly involved in many of these regions, focusing on counterterrorism and on counternarcotics. Since these illicit activities are interwoven, this is an ideal area to further our cooperation with African partners, helping their stability, our security, and the chances that magnificent species aren't extinguished.

Mr. ROYCE. I appreciate the Chairman's comments.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and I are proud to have the opportunity to welcome Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami, the spiritual leader and head of Kauai's Hindu monastery. He has come here today to give the opening prayer on the Hindu American Foundation's 10th Annual Capitol Hill Advocacy Day, and he is a true leader in the Hindu community. Satguru has been head of the monastery since 2001, and works to spread the principles of peace and inclusiveness around the community. Additionally, his achievements have international reach. Not only does he oversee the Himalayan Academy's various publications, he serves as a publisher of the international magazine Hinduism Today. Furthermore, Satguru dedicates his time to cultivating the religious instruction of Hindu youth around the world through producing a series of books that teach Hinduism's ethical restraints, and teach religious observances as well. Thank you, Satguru, for your opening prayer.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, let me make it abundantly clear here: the pipeline is going to be built. The question is whether it's going to be built west to Vancouver, and then we're going to see the product shipped to our economic competitors; or will the pipeline be built south to our refineries in the United States. There's a second point. We've got the cleanest burning refineries in the world. That is not true in terms of our economic competitors. So from an environmental standpoint and from the standpoint of energy needs in the U.S., it makes no sense to advance the interests of our economic competitors. Now, the U.S. energy costs have been declining. China's energy costs have been rising. Our country is becoming a more attractive place to manufacture goods. We are also becoming more competitive, both with Europe and with Asia. U.S. gasoline prices right now are 30 percent lower than China's, and U.S. electricity prices are 50 percent lower than Europe's. For those of us that have been involved in manufacturing in the past, we understand how important that is. We want energy prices lower here in the United States than they are overseas, not the other way around. A reliable and efficient energy supply is, frankly, vital to our economic competitiveness; and unless we reverse course, we could squander the advantage we have right now. The Keystone pipeline will have a major positive impact on the economy at a time when millions of hard-pressed Americans are searching for work. Keystone will create an estimated 20,000 new direct jobs and we know hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs, not only in the States where the pipelines will be built and operated, but throughout the entire country. Keystone is going to enhance our national security. Think about this for a minute. And, frankly, our Foreign Affairs Committee members, 24 of our Republican Members, wrote to the President in February saying that by providing secure access to petroleum from Canada, we would reduce our reliance on energy imports from countries in the OPEC cartel. The U.S. would be less vulnerable to political and security- related disruptions of our energy supply. Well, that's the point. That's the objective here. And in the same vein, energy from Canada will enable us to reduce our dependence on unstable and unfriendly oil exporters. For example, while the Venezuelan regime remains openly hostile to the U.S., the country is our fourth largest source of oil. By contrast, Canada has long been one of our closest allies. Our economies are joined together with Canada and our energy sectors are already integrated. We want to spend the money in Canada and have it circulated back over that border. Ninety percent of what Canada buys is made in the United States. We could have no better partner in our effort to ensure our energy security. By obstructing the approval process, the administration not only prevents the benefits of the pipeline from materializing; it also chills the development for new projects. Think about this. At the present time, Canada and Mexico are major sources of American energy and offer enormous potential for the development of new oil and gas fields and greatly expanded cross-border energy trade. Yet if our existing Federal bureaucracy is willing to impose excessive costs and continued delays on a project as sound as Keystone, what reasonable business will want to assume similar risks going forward? I tell you what will happen: that pipeline will be built instead to Vancouver, British Columbia, and instead of the imports coming into the United States.

Mr. ROYCE. The role of the State Department in the approval process is to determine whether the project serves the national interest. No one familiar with the facts would deny that it does, but the delays continue based on unfounded claims. The State Department's own draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on Keystone concluded that, in effect, there was no environmental reason not to approve the pipeline; yet still no action has been taken. But it appears that not everyone in the administration got the message to slow this project down. This month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service concluded that the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would have no negative impact on a wide range of threatened species--from the gray wolf, to the whooping crane, to the prairie fringed orchid. While it found that the project was likely to affect the American burying beetle, ABB, it concluded that Keystone XL's conservation measures ``would likely result in a net increase in protected ABB habitat.'' So the one animal affected will actually be better off after the Keystone pipeline. It is time to stop this charade. All reasonable objections to the pipeline have been fully addressed. Please pass the legislation.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the systematic and brutal enslavement of women during World War II by the Imperial Government of Japan. What is known today as ``comfort women'' is, in reality, a state-sponsored program of sexual brutality against 200,000 women from Korea, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The fact that women and girls as young as 13 years old would be forced into this kind of misery is appalling. It runs counter to every recognized international norm against human dignity. Anyone seeking to justify or deny the existence of comfort women is ignoring history. The sheer amount of evidence regarding this terrible time in history is staggering. Not only are there documents chronicling the existence of comfort women camps, but there is also the gut- wrenching testimony of survivors and of eye witnesses. Countless governments around the world have come to the conclusion that, yes, the Imperial Government of Japan did indeed condone this most reprehensible of actions during World War II, along with such brutal violence as the rape of Nanking. That is why I rise today to condemn the unfortunate remarks of the mayor of Osaka, Japan, who, as recently as yesterday, denied the existence of comfort women. The mayor not only questioned the existence of comfort women, but he sought to justify the use of a ``comfort woman system'' as a means to boost morale for the military. The mayor's remarks are absolutely outrageous, and it adds insult to injury for survivors and their families. The rise of ultranationalism in Japan is very worrisome and, as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I strongly condemn it. Mr. Speaker, the House went on record in 2007 to express our outrage regarding the forced enslavement of 200,000 women during World War II. The civilian populations of Korea, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines suffered so much from the imperialism and aggression of the Imperial Government of Japan. We speak with one voice when we speak against grave violations of human rights. It is in America's interest that we continue to press for justice and to never forget.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1580, which reaffirms current policy to preserve and advance the successful multi- stakeholder model that governs the Internet, which is so very critical to our economic and social well-being. In June 2011, the thirty-four member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, business representatives, and technical experts agreed on principles that included a commitment to promote the open, distributed and interconnected nature of the Internet. The 34 OECD members range from the United States to France to South Korea to Mexico. This landmark OECD communique recognized the importance of the multi- stakeholder approach, stating that ``The Internet's openness to new devices, applications and services has played an important role in its success in fostering innovation, creativity and economic growth.'' That's right. Yet somehow the United Nations missed the memo. In December 2012, the U.N.'s International Telecommunications Union--a government-only membership body--took a vote on a binding global treaty that would establish the ITU as the forum for Internet standard setting. Despite U.S. opposition, 89 of 144 countries voted for the revised International Telecommunications Regulations. They included China, Cuba, Russia and other countries hostile to political freedom. In a UN system where each country has one vote--no matter how undemocratic--this UN overreach could shift the idea of Internet governance from what is best for netizens to what is best for a group of governments. There is no need for a UN Internet treaty. The Internet is flourishing in the current multi-stakeholder framework just fine. In addition, there are serious concerns around the lack of transparency and inclusivity of the UN's ITU process. The Internet has transformed our ability to access and share information--surely Internet policy should not be developed behind the closed doors of the UN. The U.S. State Department, Commerce Department, business community and civil society leaders must step up their outreach. We must clearly explain the huge economic and social benefits that are derived from the Internet and the policy framework that is needed to maximize those benefits. Going forward, a concerted effort must be made to turn around as many as possible of the 89 votes for the International Telecommunications Regulations. Congress is unified in our support of an open Internet--we recognize the importance of the Internet to our economy and society. We recognize the threat of proposed international control of the Internet. It is now time to rally the international community against this dangerous policy. I want to thank Chairman Walden for his work on H.R. 1580 and want to recognize the excellent cooperation between the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Foreign Affairs committee on Internet governance. Our committees held a joint hearing in February entitled ``Fighting for Internet Freedom: Dubai and Beyond.'' We will continue to coordinate. And we will certainly continue to fight for Internet Freedom.

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today regarding my recent absence from the House on Wednesday, May 8th. During this time, as Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I travelled back to Southern California to participate in the official visit of President Park Geun-hye of South Korea. Because of this absence, I missed several important votes on the House floor, and would like to submit how I would have voted had I been in attendance. The votes were: Rollcall No. 135, on Agreeing to the Amendment to H.R. 1406, the Gibson of New York Amendment No. 1. I would have voted ``aye.'' Rollcall No. 136, on the Motion to Recommit H.R. 1406 with instructions, I would have voted ``no.'' Rollcall No. 137, on Passage of H.R. 1406, the Working Families Flexibility Act, I would have voted ``aye'' Rollcall No. 138, on Ordering the Previous Question for H. Res. 202, To Provide for Consideration of H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act I would have voted ``aye.'' Rollcall No. 139, on H. Res. 202, Providing for consideration of the bill H.R. 807, the Full Faith and Credit Act I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. ROYCE

Mr. ROYCE. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. This is important legislation to help protect women and families from domestic violence. I have long championed the rights of crime victims, especially women. So I am glad we are passing this legislation today, and that it will soon become law. This will ensure we continue our efforts to address the issue of violence against women from a variety of angles, including prevention, intervention, and prosecution. Today I want to address specific aspects of Title XII of this Act, entitled ``Trafficking Victims Protection.'' Human trafficking is an egregious offense against human dignity that oppresses tens of millions of people around the world, and disproportionately victimizes women and girls. But even those jarring statistics can obscure the depressing reality: the harm of trafficking is probably most clearly seen in the eyes of a girl who is being robbed of her freedom, her youth, and her hope for the unjust benefit of someone else. As Chairman of the Committee of primary jurisdiction for the original Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and the three subsequent reauthorization statutes, I am proud of the strong, bipartisan role that the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Congress have played in the global fight against modern-day slavery over the past 13 years. Title XII of the bill before us today extends and amends those anti- trafficking authorities with language that was not considered under regular order by House committees. I rise to register my concern with certain sections that normally would fall within Foreign Affairs jurisdiction, because I do not want that language to harm the important work already being done by the Department of State, and particularly its Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, known as the ``TIP Office.'' While our limited resources must be put to their best uses, I don't understand why the Senate has slashed funding for the TIP Office, in contrast to the funding increases elsewhere in Title XII. That is a mistake. I just hope it is not a mistake that is fatal to the integrity and vitality of anti-trafficking efforts at the Department of State. Within State, the TIP Office has been the Congressionally-authorized anchor that has kept trafficking advocacy and the annual tier rankings from being subordinated to the usual pressures of bilateral diplomacy. That is, the frequent temptation for the State Department to compromise our human trafficking concerns for interests perceived, and often misperceived, as being more important than pressing another country on this crime against humanity. This bill weakens the hand of the TIP Office. Section 1201 of the bill directs the regional bureaus at the State Department to develop annual, country-specific anti-trafficking goals and objectives in cooperation with the TIP Office. With its deep expertise in implementing and assessing interventions to combat modern slavery, the TIP Office has the lead role on such issues within the Department, and should maintain that lead. Section 1201 should not provide the basis for a mechanism that is independent from the work of the TIP Office, or from the recommendations set forth in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. Rather, it should be used to increase regional bureau support for those priorities at the country level. Furthermore, the host government consultations contemplated by section 1201 should focus on implementation of Department-set goals and objectives, rather than become a bilateral negotiation on their initial formulation in a way that might subvert the purpose of section 110 of the original TVPA, which mandates actions against governments that fail to meet minimum standards. Section 1204(5) of the bill would change the TVPA ``minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking'' to include consideration of whether a foreign government has entered into effective partnerships or agreements with other governments, civil society or nongovernmental groups, or others, ``that have resulted in concrete and measurable outcomes.'' I regret that the bill is vague about what those outcomes must be. The numbers of traffickers prosecuted and convicted, and the number of trafficking survivors assisted, should be indispensible components of any concrete, measurable outcomes for purposes of this section. At least the language is clear that such outcomes must already have occurred in order to qualify. This section must not be used to allow a government to avoid a Tier 3 designation by signing a new agreement or MOU promising prospective progress, even if that new agreement is with the U.S. Government. Foreign government promises to take action just don't count. I appreciate the considerable anti-trafficking work of the TIP Office at the Department of State over the past dozen years, under both Republican and Democrat administrations. During that time, the leadership of the United States has helped to fuel the passage of more than 130 anti-trafficking laws around the world, though much work remains to be done. I hope that the elements of Title XII that I have discussed will not undercut those efforts. The Foreign Affairs Committee will be working to assure that.