John Shimkus

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, the military Code of Conduct reads: I am an American, fighting in the forces which guard my country and our way of life. I am prepared to give my life in their defense. I will never surrender of my own free will. If in command, I will never surrender the members of my command while they still have the means to resist. If I am captured, I will continue to resist by all means available. I will make every effort to escape and aid others to escape. I will accept neither parole nor special favors from the enemy. If I become a prisoner of war, I will keep faith with my fellow prisoners. I will give no information or take part in any action which might be harmful to my comrades. If I am senior, I will take command. If not, I will obey the lawful orders of those appointed over me and will back them up in every way. When questioned, should I become a prisoner of war, I am required to give name, rank, service number, and date of birth. I will evade answering further questions to the utmost of my ability. I will make no oral or written statements disloyal to my country and its allies or harmful to their cause. I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me just say, as I try to wait for a few more colleagues, I would ask my colleague to define multistakeholder. They can't. The Internet community says it is us. The international community, the Russias and the Chinas say it is us. So all we are asking is for a Government Accountability Office, the IG, nonpartisan, to whatever the agreement comes from NTIA, to say look at it. Do some due diligence. Make sure that this is in our national interest. This is the most curious debate I have ever seen. Go slow. ICANN and NTIA say they want to go slow. What is the harm of having additional eyes on this process? So the real debate is define multistakeholder. No one can do that because they don't know what that is. The Internet community says it is us, and we are going to have control, and all our net folks are going to drive this, and it is going to be okay. While our friends--or not friends--Vladimir Putin and China say: this is a way in. I would rather make sure that, when we relinquish this, we know what the agreement actually is. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, the Shimkus amendment would require the Government Accountability Office to look at this agreement, to make sure it is in our national interest. The Shimkus amendment would ask the Government Accountability Office to look at this agreement to ensure that it is in our national interest. That is what this amendment does. The world has significantly changed since our vote of last year, and for anyone to say it has not is not reading the paper. You have got Russia, you have got China, you have got Iran, you have got Turkey--all meddling and trying to usurp and get involved in the World Wide Web. We should not relinquish this unless it is in our national interest. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Madam Chair, it is great to be here. I know it is at the end of the debate. First, let me thank Buck McKeon for doing a great job as the chairman, and I know as Adam will do, will recognize his years of service, and this is a great bill. Adam, thank you for your friendship and support. Part of this en bloc amendment is the Black Ribbon Day. I worked really closely with Congressman Engel to make sure that it was vetted and cleared. The basic premise is the country has to understand the importance of knowing the past to survive in the world of the present. Shimkus is ethnically Lithuanian. I deal with the Baltic issues and Eastern European causes, and the world has significantly changed, as I said earlier in this debate, about the threat from Russia. So the Black Ribbon Day recognizes the victims of communism and the Holocaust and the gulags and the deportation and the Russification. So when Vladimir Putin makes a claim protecting the Russian minority, it is because what they did post-World War II was they removed forcefully to Siberia ethnics and moved in Russians. The world is not a safer place today. It is important for us to remember the events of the past so we can defend the freedoms of the future. Mr. Chairman, thank you for including this in your en bloc amendment. To my friend Adam from Washington State, thank you for your support. I don't get a chance to talk about defense and NDAA. As you all know, I served in the military. I have great respect for what you have done in trying to strengthen the force and protect freedom. So thank you for the work you do. It is just an honor to get a chance to work with both of you.

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

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, for over two decades, U.S. oversight of the Internet's domain name system has kept the global Internet free and open. Though dismissed by NTIA as merely a clerical role of assigning and matching domain names with IP addresses, U.S. stewardship of these basic functions has prevented authoritarian governments from censoring content or restricting access to Web sites beyond their borders. That all could change, Mr. Chairman, if the administration's announced intention to relinquish our oversight role to an undefined multistakeholder community is not carefully considered. This isn't a hypothetical concern. Russia and China have already tried to put domain name authority in the hands of the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union, the ITU; and while the administration says it won't accept a proposal that puts the Internet in the hands of another government or government-led entity, there is no guarantee that won't happen after the initial transfers takes place. One thing is for sure: once our authority is gone, it is gone for good. Now, some of my friends across the aisle will tell you, in a few minutes, that this Chamber voted in support of a transition to a multistakeholder model in the past. I voted for that resolution because I didn't--and I still don't--have an objection to the concept of a multistakeholder Internet governance, but that structure must be insulated from government influence. We know bad actors will certainly try to interfere with whatever overseer takes our place, so that is why I am offering this trust but verify amendment today. My amendment will simply require the GAO to review the proposals NTIA receives to replace our oversight. What is the harm, Mr. Chairman, in taking this slow, deliberate process and making sure that we get this right? I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Rokita).

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor and privilege to pay tribute to an exceptional Air Force leader, General William M. Fraser III, Commander, United States Transportation Command. General Fraser is retiring after honorably serving this great nation with an incredibly distinguished 40-year career. General Fraser graduated from the Texas A&M University ROTC program in 1974. As a command pilot with more than 4,300 flying hours, General Fraser has held command and staff positions at the squadron, group, wing, major command, and Department of Defense levels and is considered one of the finest strategic logistics experts in the nation. USTRANSCOM serves as the key logistics synchronizer for the Department of Defense. It provides global mobility for rapidly projecting national power and influence, anywhere, anytime. Whether sustaining our combat troops in remote parts of Afghanistan, ensuring critical cargo moves through ports in the South Pacific, or re- supplying our forces at the South Pole, General Fraser and his command have shown the world why we truly are an exceptional nation. No other nation can project power globally or sustain its forces in every far corner of the globe as we can, and we have achieved this ability largely through General Fraser's leadership and the efforts of his command. Equally important, General Fraser cultivated trust with our allies and forged bonds that will endure for many years. These relationships are reaping diplomatic, economic, and geopolitical benefits that contributing directly to regional security and stability and enabling our military to remain effective and efficient as we downsize and rebalance our forces. General Fraser will tell you that his accomplishments were due to the hard work from the men and women of USTRANSCOM, but we know they were highly inspired by his leadership. We, in Congress, will miss his ``Giddy Up'' and ``Aggie'' persona and his proactive approach to keep us informed and to help us understand the impact of our work. But most of all, we will be forever grateful for General Fraser's unwavering support to our men and women in the Armed Forces, their dependents, and our entire nation. Mr. President, while we recognize General Fraser for his 40 years of service, I also wish to recognize his wife, Beverly, and wish her the very best for the future, as well as their son Mac who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and their daughter, Ashlee, a military spouse of an Air Force officer. The Air Force will lose not one, but two, exceptional people upon General Fraser's retirement. Will and Bev, we wish you well in your future endeavors and pray that those who follow in your footsteps may continue the legacy of your unprecedented support for our great nation.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, every individual has a right to live in a free society. This May, the Ice Hockey World Championship 2014 will take place in Minsk, Belarus, challenging the Belarusian Government to demonstrate that it lives up to the core principles of good sportsmanship and fair play. This global sports competition promotes integrity and emphasizes the fair application of rules and regulations. It is thus fitting that Belarus should do the same and show its citizens and the international community that it can play by the rules. I then call upon the Belarusian officials for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners, including Ales Bialiatski, Mikalai Statkevich, and Eduard Lobau, whom Amnesty International regards as prisoners of conscience, imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the centennial of the Heath Brothers Confectionary in Robinson, Illinois. Founded one hundred years ago by L.S. Heath and his sons Bayard and Everett, this once small business has expanded to become a global franchise. Over the past 100 years, the Heath Confectionary has produced many successful products, chief among them the Heath Bar, a delicious toffee candy covered in milk chocolate and almonds. Made by hand until 1942, production of Heath Bars was eventually ramped up to commercial scale to supply American troops during World War II. Throughout the conflict, Heath Bars were a staple of soldiers' rations, providing them with a small taste of home during their long deployments. Known as ``America's Finest,'' popularity for the candy grew steadily after the war. Recognizing the potential of the Heath Confectionary, the company was eventually acquired by Leif, Inc. in 1989, itself acquired by Hershey in 1996. Today, Hershey maintains a plant in Robinson, Illinois, producing iconic candies such as Heath Bars, Paydays, Whoppers and Milk Duds. I applaud Hershey for maintaining the plant's roots in Robinson and for their contribution to the community through the creation of jobs and their generous corporate giving. I invite all members to stop by my office to try a Heath Bar and all of the various other Hershey products produced in our district for themselves.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment today to recognize the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, TRA, enacted April 10, 1979. While our friendship with Taiwan spans longer than 35 years, the TRA has been vital in strengthening this mutually- beneficial partnership. Since the enactment of the TRA, Taiwan has emerged as a model democracy and an economic powerhouse in the Asia-Pacific region and the world. The People of Taiwan enjoy self-governance with a democratic system and direct elections. They also enjoy a booming economy with an innovative tech community. The success of the TRA cannot be understated. Because of the TRA, the U.S. has been able to enjoy mutually beneficial trade with Taiwan, greater national and international security, and a rich cultural relationship. Our trade relationship with Taiwan is stronger than ever. Time and time again, Taiwan has proven its willingness to engage in substantive trade negotiations. We have enjoyed a positive relationship with them, and it is my hope that Taiwan will soon be admitted to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPP. Over the last 35 years, we have watched Taiwan's contributions to international development and security. Continually, they have come to our aid to assist our antiterrorism efforts. These contributions, and more, have made it clear that, as we strengthen our relationship with Taiwan, we succeed in advancing U.S. interests.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Greenville, Illinois, on its Bicentennial Celebration. The city will celebrate throughout the year with a variety of community events, including a Labor Day gala featuring a parade, historic re-enactments and musical performances, a July 4th opening of a time capsule buried in 1990, and the burial of a new time capsule on New Year's Eve with mementos from the year's festivities. The city will also erect a permanent monument within city limits to commemorate this historic occasion. The City of Greenville was founded in 1815 by pioneer George Davidson and is one of the oldest communities in the state. Throughout its history, Greenville has played host to many important events. Notably, the city served as a key stop on the Underground Railroad, shepherding slaves to freedom from the slaveholding southern states. The city also hosted speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas during their 1858 campaign for the United States Senate. Since its founding, the city has grown and now is the home to more than 7,000 residents. Over the past 200 years, Greenville has produced numerous noteworthy individuals. It was once the home of Colorado Governor Job Adams Cooper, Emmy-Winning television producer Robert Brinner and Nobel Prize Laureate Edwin G. Krebs, among others. I extend my congratulations to the City of Greenville upon this special occasion. It is my prayer that the Lord blesses its residents with another 200 years of health and prosperity.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, last week I came down to the floor to ask the community of world democracies to provide immediate financial help to the country of Ukraine. I would like to report that the United States has committed a billion dollars, and the European Union has committed, as of the news reports today, another $15 billion. This is critical in the need to help them get their economy back strong after the incidences over the last couple of months. It is unlikely that Russia will pull back from the Crimea. Prime Minister Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov have said that they cannot control these self-defense forces. Who are they kidding? Russian soldiers with no unit identification does not qualify them as self-defense forces. If the world stands by and lets this happen, it will be like Neville Chamberlain in the Sudetenland, quoting ``peace in our time'' as Russia continues to gobble up sovereign states. I want to applaud the Ukrainian commander who was the only calm man on the peninsula, Colonel Yuliy Mamchuk, when he marched his soldiers to the Belbek airbase to continue the job that they do in securing and fixing the facilities. It was a tough standoff, but Colonel Yuliy was astonished by the change of events in that he has had such a great working relationship with the Russian military over the years, and obviously, this relationship no longer resides in the relationship between Ukraine and Russia. On September 4 through 5 of this year, the next NATO summit will be held in South Wales. I call upon members of NATO to now do what they should have done in the last summit. NATO now must offer membership action plans to those aspirational countries that are moving towards democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. In particular, they need to grant membership action plans to Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova. Now is also the time for us to continue to license LNG facilities so that we can export natural gas to our free and democratic countries around the world, to those who are signatories of the World Trade Organization and also to those who are members of NATO. It is difficult times as you know, Mr. Speaker, but the coalition of free democratic countries must stand united against totalitarianism.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I first want to recognize Annie Lowrey and Michael Gordon--they are reporters from The New York Times--because I will summarize their article and plagiarize other portions of it in talking about Ukraine. The world watched in wonder, concern, excitement, and sometimes horror, and marveled at the tenacity and the resiliency of the Ukrainian people. However, Ukraine is in desperate need now of billions of dollars--and quickly. Its economy is shrinking; its government treasury is empty; its foreign exchange funds are low; and its banking system is fragile. Which brings us to the point of: What are the next steps? The first step is for the Ukrainian people to organize an interim government. I call upon them to do it as rapidly as they can so that the international community has someone then to negotiate with and deal with some of these pressing matters, and that they go into a positive direction in doing that. The second thing is for the capitals of Brussels and Washington, D.C., to take immediate action to help offset some of these dire financial constraints that Ukraine has. I want to applaud Secretary Kerry for already trying to address this and floating the idea of $1 billion that would then go to immediate aid, and I want to call upon the European Union, headquartered in Brussels, and all the individual European countries to do the same. It is important now for this financial faith and confidence so that the people of Ukraine can continue to move forward and develop some financial security in this transitional period. This is also critical in that this occurs as a bridge before the International Monetary Fund weighs in. The International Monetary Fund obviously needs to have a stable government to deal with. It also needs to have--and will ask for--reforms, transparency, rule of law, and some financial controls to get the ledger solidified in Ukraine, and that is what they should do. So the important aspect of this debate is that the individual countries that have concern about the stability of what were formerly called the captive nations, the Eastern Bloc, now countries that want to be in the European community of free, democratic institutions, that there has to be a bridge so that, obviously, the chaos that has been involved in the country of Ukraine will not continue post the departure of their President and so that stability can reign. I call upon the people of Ukraine to keep the faith and work hard and move forward on these reforms. I call on the governments--as I mentioned before, my own government, and the governments of the European Union--to offer immediate assistance, and I call for the International Monetary Fund to move as expeditiously and as quickly as possible to help stabilize the situation in Ukraine.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, as Rob departs the Chamber, let me thank him for his service and for his family's service. As, obviously, the first Republican Member to be able to respond to your comments, let me say what most of us always know, that although many of us disagree on public policy, no one has ever questioned your commitment, your sacrifice, your focus, and your tenacity, and I think I value that more than almost anything we do. Your words are very important for us and for the American people to understand that spirited debate is not bad. It is a part of this process. As a former high school teacher in government history, we would relish this in our classrooms, to have this type of exchange between our students. So thank you for that, and I am just fortunate to be here when you made your comments. Now, Mr. Speaker, I would like to focus and turn my comments to Sochi, Russia. As the world focuses on that area of the world, let me talk about what is going on on the southern side of the Caucasus mountain range. In the country of Georgia, a small country, people have to understand that the Russian Federation occupies two provinces of the country of Georgia, actually, with military troops: one for a long time, South Ossetia, one relatively recently in Abkhazia. That kind of changes the understanding of this great show that the Russian Federation is putting on with the treatment of their neighbors in occupying provinces. That would be like a country occupying one or two of our States and occupying one or two of the provinces in Georgia. So, Mr. Speaker, it is important to just remind the public of this, especially when the world's focus is there. And I want to specifically talk about what has happened with the Olympics and the Abkhazia region, using Olympic security as an excuse. Russia has actively created a so-called buffer zone between Abkhazia and Georgia, pushing the cease-fire line established in 2008 7 miles further into Georgia territory. So here we have an international peace agreement that kind of sets a line allowing the occupation in Georgian territory of Russian forces, and then the Russian Federation decides, based upon the Olympics, to push that line further into the country of Georgia 7 more miles. It is a very troubling extension of Russia's earlier efforts to enclose South Ossetia, this other province, in a barbed wire enclave. And this new incursion of Georgian territory is a violation of Georgia's sovereignty as it stands in stark contrast to Russia's many commitments under international law. According to the cease-fire signed on August 12, 2008, Russian military forces were to return to their pre-war positions, yet they have now established militarized security perimeters on the Georgian side of the administrative border with both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This is a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Russia is a signatory, and a violation of customary international law. Russian President Putin claims that he must close borders within the internationally recognized territory of Georgia to prevent security threats in Sochi. This move is nothing more than a power grab. I will continue to support Georgia's sovereignty and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. We are not going to let Trudi get off that easy because she is going to have to listen to some 1-minute speeches. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the farm bill conference report. As Illinois farmers look forward to spring planting season, this bill provides them with a stronger crop insurance program and gives them a choice of commodity programs that work best for their farm. It takes important steps to end direct payments, streamline conservation programs, close food stamp loopholes, and saves $24 billion over the next decade. However, one issue the bill does not address is Country of Origin Labeling, or COOL. Current COOL regulations could potentially put American livestock producers in violation of our trade obligations and could put the U.S. meat under retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico. The WTO announced just last week that they will be holding hearings on this issue. I have been told by the leadership of the House, who had this provision in the House part of the bill, that the bill would be filed, hearings will be conducted, and we will move legislation to address this concern. I want to thank Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson for all the hard work that the Ag Committee has done to provide Illinois farmers certainty.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. I thank my colleague, my friend from Pennsylvania, for calling attention to this concern that you raised. In our open, deliberative process which we had in the markup, this was added as an amendment to the bill by my friends on the other side. This was prior to the President's rollout of his working group, prior to the President's stated concern about the sensitive nature of this information; and so it is one of the few times I would agree with the President that this information is very, very sensitive. So it might have been inappropriate at that time to accept this portion of the bill. In our view, protecting this information, especially keeping it away from terrorists, is of utmost concern; and I want to assure you that this will be our guiding principle as we consider whether to include section 106 or any version of it in the final draft of the legislation.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, well, it is great to be here on the floor with my friends as we talk about moving pieces of legislation. It is unfortunate that we are no longer a debating society; we are just a statement society, whether we are going back to what is true and right in language of the bill or what is not. Let me talk to folks about how we got to this position. Upon becoming subcommittee chairman in the last Congress, I talked to members of my committee and staff and I said, There is no perfect piece of legislation. There is no perfect piece of law. What are some things that we can fix to make this process go better? And it wasn't just our ideas; we went to the States. The States have a huge responsibility. And I think if people watched the body of information of what is coming out of our committee, we have given a lot of deference to the States because they are the ones who live closest to these locations. So we bring in the Council of the States, the Environmental Council of the States and all the stakeholders and we say, What is it about the Federal law that drives you crazy and if we fixed it would make your life better? Hence, these three pieces of legislation that have been rolled into one bill to make it to the floor. The Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act, it allows the EPA to review regulations on solid waste disposal only when necessary. You know what the law says; regardless if the law works or not, you have to review it every 3 years. And you know what happens when that law is in there; regardless if it works, regardless if there are no complaints, you have to review it. So that is ripe for litigation. You don't do it within the time line, whether you need to or not, let's sue and settle. Let's do something. So all we are saying is, if the law works, if the regulations are good, if there are no complaints, don't have an automatic time line of having to review it in 3 years. The States said, Yes, we would like that because we are spending more time. Part of the problem with the Superfund is huge amounts of money go to litigation. Surprise, surprise. We want to get money away from litigation to remediation. That is all we are trying to do. The bill also requires EPA, prior to developing new financial responsibility requirements--and that is the key. What is a financial responsibility requirement? What do you have to have available if you are going to do this site and in case something goes wrong and you need cleanup? What are the financial requirements? What is the bonding you need? All we are saying is don't change the rules. And if you are going to change the rules for financial bonding while the process and the site is being operated, wouldn't it be good to talk to the States and let people know that the Federal Government is going to change the rules in the operation of a new site? The States said, Good idea. You ought to look at that. One other part of the bill is the Federal and State Partnership for Environmental Protection Act of 2013, which requires the EPA to consult with States when undergoing a removal action. So usually what happens at a Superfund site, the Federal Government gets involved. They are going to help do the majority of the cleanup. But guess who has the long-term observation and administration costs of the site? The States do. All we are saying is, if we are going to start to remediate in a State, let's have the State sit down and work with the EPA so the State knows its long-term costs. Pretty simple. And the last one, which I always find pretty amazing that my friends on the other side are arguing about, protecting the Federal Government to pollute. All we are saying is, when the Federal Government has polluted a site, the Federal Government ought to clean it up. We make everyone else do it. We hold everyone else responsible. But no, if the Federal Government has polluted, we give them immunity. Sovereign immunity. They don't have to do anything. So this law says that it is about time the Federal Government comply with the same laws that States do and other individuals do. This is a position my colleagues have had for many, many years. And of all the portions of this bill that I thought that they would be all for is moving this position that the Federal Government should comply with the same laws as everyone else does. And for my colleagues on the other side to protect governmental polluters I just find is unbelievable. So the process was good. We had hearings. We had markups. We had amendments agreed to. I am proud of my colleagues in bringing these bills to the floor. I am glad of the participation by the States, and I look forward to the moving of the bill.

Mr. SHIMKUS. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, for the last few years, Ukraine has been working towards the signing of an association agreement with the European Union to increase economic and political ties with the bloc and to solidify democratic values and principles. The association agreement was to have been signed on November 28 through 29 at an Eastern Partnership Summit meeting in Vilnius. On November 21, the Cabinet of Ministers in Ukraine unilaterally suspended negotiations with the European Union due to excessive pressure from Russia. Outraged by this, Ukrainians began to protest by creating European squares, or Euromaidans, across the country, including the capital of Kiev. In the early morning of November 30, the Ukrainian Government sent special forces to clear the Euromaidan in Kiev by using physical force and tear gas, resulting in many protesters and journalists with traumatic injuries and several still who are unaccounted for. In response to the unprecedented use of force against peaceful protesters in Ukraine's history, several high-ranking deputies and officials in the governing party defected from the Party of Regions. Since then, protests have continued with a reported 1 million Ukrainians taking to the streets on December 1. Every Sunday since has brought at least 50,000 to the Euromaidan. In the early morning of December 11, special forces, using chain saws and metal batons, broke through many makeshift barricades made of park benches and other available materials in order to encircle thousands of peaceful protesters on the Euromaidan in Kiev. In a 9-hour standoff with security forces, peaceful protesters on the Euromaidan stood their ground, singing the national anthem and praying every hour with local churches that were ringing their bells in support of the protesters. In 2013, violence was used against more than 100 journalists in Ukraine, with almost half of the incidents occurring in December. On December 25, a well-known and respected Ukrainian journalist and civic activist, Tetyana Chornovol, was brutally beaten on her way home. Protest leaders tie her beating to her anti-regime reporting. Her severely bruised face is now used as a symbol of government repression. The United States calls on the Ukrainian Government to respect Ukrainians' freedom of speech, their right to free assembly; and it calls on them to refrain from using force against peaceful protesters.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I have been watching the live feed online of the protest in Kiev, and I would like to encourage Ukrainians to stand firm and continue to voice their opinions. I also call upon the Ukrainian Government to respect the Ukrainians' right to free assembly and to refrain from using force against peaceful protesters. I again urge Ukraine to look toward the West for their future success as the success of their nation depends upon democratic policies and freedom. The door is still open. Strengthening ties with Russia will only bring more of the same desolation, disunity, frustration, distrust, and anger that has been so prevalent in the past. Ukraine, the whole world is watching.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to condemn the recent actions taken by the Ukrainian Government on its own citizens. A couple weeks ago, I stood here hopeful, urging their government to look westward as they entered the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius. While Georgia and Moldova have moved forward in signing association agreements with the European Union, the Government of Ukraine failed to sign this agreement. This move is disappointing and even more so for the Ukrainian citizens who long for closer ties with Europe. Due to President Yanukovych's lack of action, Ukrainians have taken to the streets in protest and have been met with extreme brutality. I join with the State Department in urging the Ukrainian Government to respect the rights of its people and allow freedom of expression and assembly. Ukraine should not bully or take violent action if they desire to be a peaceful, democratic nation. I will continue to support the citizens of Ukraine as they pursue democracy and freedom in their country. It is my wish that Ukraine will seek other means of integration with Europe and not fall to demands and pressure from Russia. It is time to look to the future, not to the Soviet-style rule that has plagued their past for countless years.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Chairman, I applaud my colleague and fellow subcommittee chairman on Energy and Commerce for helping bringing H.R. 1900 to the floor. This legislation will help ensure that the key elements of our critical infrastructure will be improved and constructed on a timely and predictable basis. This is a goal we all can and should support. On a closely related subject, I too wanted to associate myself with Chairman Whitfield's recent statement regarding the growing tendency among certain States to engage in obstructionist tactics aimed at key infrastructure projects. In some cases, States have even used federally delegated authority to block federally approved projects. Let me say again that States have used federally delegated authority to block federally approved projects. The most prominent example is the use of the Clean Water Act to deny otherwise routine permits and approvals. As my colleague suggested, we have legislated on that issue previously, but our clear intent in doing so was frustrated in the court system. It may well be that we may need to address this issue further, and I stand ready to work with my colleague to do so. In other instances, States have tried to use their authority under the Coastal Zone Management Act to impose consistency requirements on federally approved projects, even when those projects have already been found to be consistent with the States' Coastal Management Plan. This is clearly taking a second bite at the apple. The law is abundantly clear that a State has no authority to review an existing project a second time if it underwent a previous consistency review. Only in the event that there is an applicable program change or a significant alteration in the nature of the facility would a State ever be entitled to render a second consistency determination. For this reason, I see no need to legislate on that subject at this time, but I am well aware that even the clearest of statutory provisions can sometimes be distorted by determined States, so I will join with my colleague, Chairman Whitfield, to keep a watchful eye on this situation. Mr. Chairman, once again, I support passage of H.R. 1900.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this time to talk about some European issues, especially in eastern Europe. First, I want to talk about the country of Belarus. Three years after the brutal and bloody crackdown on peaceful demonstrators after the December 10 presidential elections, nine political prisoners remain behind bars under deplorable conditions in Belarus. This includes Nikolai Statkevich, who ran against Lukashenko in 2010; Ales Bialiatski, the head of Viasna, a human rights organization; and Mikalai Autukhovich, who sliced open his stomach in September to protest his poor treatment by prison guards. While the regime recently released three political activists--Zmitser Dashkevich, Aliaksandr Frantskevich, and Pavel Seviarynets--it continues to restrict their freedom of movement and activities. The general human rights situation in Belarus also continues to deteriorate. Recent laws passed to regulate demonstrations and political information have greatly curtailed freedom of assembly, and independent journalists and political activists are under a constant threat of intimidation and arbitrary detention. In October, the regime made amendments to the Electoral Code designed to undermine the ability of opposition candidates to receive funding and compete in the 2014 local elections. The EU voted in October to expand sanctions on the Lukashenko regime for an additional year citing the regime's failure to release or effectively rehabilitate political prisoners and its disregard for human rights or democratic principles in their decision making. The United States should continue to work with the European Union to remain consolidated, impose economic sanctions, and have a single plan of action regarding the promotion of dramatic processes in Belarus. Tensions with Russia increased when the Lukashenko regime arrested Vladislav Baumgertner, a Russian citizen who is the head of a major Russian potash firm. The move was in retaliation for this firm dropping its joint venture with a local Belorussian potash firm, resulting in a steep drop in the commodity price and harming the Belarus economy. This began an ongoing ``potash war'' with Russia. Meanwhile, negotiations to put a Russian airbase in Belarus have proved controversial and allowed opposition parties an opening to criticize the regime and focus attention on national independence and sovereignty issues. The United States should continue to support Belorussian citizens as they fight to maintain their sovereignty. Also, Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about the Eastern Partnership. On November 28 through 29, just coming up soon, the European Union will host the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. The goal of the event is to promote closer ties between the EU and its eastern neighbors and, in particular, to further the progress on association agreements with Georgia, Moldova, and the Ukraine. The governments of these countries have worked for years to meet conditions for signing the agreements, and the summit is viewed as an historic step in European integration for these countries. Russia has responded to the Eastern Partnership initiative by applying intense pressure on these countries to abandon EU engagement and join a Russian-led Eurasian union instead. Russia has started erecting barbed wire fences on Georgian territory, prompting a stern rebuke from the EU condemning the action and calling for their removal. In Moldova, Russia has resorted to its tactics of banning Moldova wine imports and threatening to cut off gas during the winter months. Russia has banned dairy products from Lithuania and certain chocolate products from the Ukraine and threatened both countries with disruption or price hikes on gas supplies. The EU has warned Russia to stop these actions, and the U.S. should join in the condemnation of Russia's aggressive behavior towards the sovereignty of nations on its border. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate this time for talking about these emerging democracies in eastern Europe, the threat that still continues, and the importance of the United States Government being involved in promoting democracy, freedom, and the rule of law.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, on October 27, I was honored to observe the recent presidential elections in the Republic of Georgia in which Giorgi Margvelashvili was elected. It was characterized by the International Republican Institute as ``calm and . . . with a substantial reduction of complaints filed with the election commission.'' The President was elected with a 62 percent vote in an election that was described also as an important milestone in Georgia's democratic development. In keeping with this promise to step down following the election, Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili appointed a successor, Irakli Garibashvili, on November 2. He was most recently the Minister of Interior appointed by the Prime Minister after the Georgia Dream Coalition's victory in the 2012 parliamentary elections. Prior to his work in government, he headed Mr. Ivanishvili's charitable organization Cartu. He holds a graduate degree from the University of Paris, Sorbonne; and I was pleased to visit the country, the Republic of Georgia, and be involved in the democratic process and principles.

Mr. SHIMKUS

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to share two stories with you. I have a 30-year-old self-employed farmer. He had a major medical plan with a $2,500 deductible and paid 80 percent. He paid $122.17 a month. This plan was canceled. To get a plan now with a $6,000 deductible and pay 80 percent, it is $259.02 a month, but it will cover pediatric, dental, and maternity. He is an individual bachelor, self- employed. He is single and a male. His point is, ``I had a plan. I liked it. The President said I could keep it. That was a lie.'' I also want to share the story of Tara, Eric, and Ky Manzano. They are both employed with a son. Their premium is doubling. They are not sure how they will be able to save for college for Ky and pay for this insurance.