Adam Schiff

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Martha Burns of La Canada Flintridge. Ms. Burns was born and raised in Minnesota. She obtained her degree in Mathematics from Colorado College, where she joined Kappa Alpha Theta, a sorority she continues to be active. After graduation, she worked as a Financial Analyst at General Mills in Minneapolis. Seven years later, she moved back to Colorado Springs, where she met and married Tom Burns while both were working for Burroughs Corp. In 1979, a job transfer moved the family to Glendale, and in 1981 they purchased a home in La Canada Flintridge. Ms. Burns wasted no time in joining the La Canada Flintridge Newcomers Club and the La Canada Junior Women's Club. As a young mother, Ms. Burns served as President and Treasurer of the La Canada Elementary School Parent Teacher Association (PTA). She has also served in various positions with La Canada High School's PTA and Canada Council of PTA. Ms. Burns has also volunteered as a Leader and Den Mother for Campfire Girls and Cub Scouts, a Team Mom for American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and as a ``Classroom Mother.'' Well-known in the area for her accounting and computing skills, Ms. Burns has volunteered her services to numerous service groups and businesses. She was the first woman to lead the softball arm of the La Canada Jr. Baseball/Softball Association, for which she also served as Treasurer. She is an active member Assistance League of Flintridge (ALF) and previously served as Chairperson of the Summer School Program, Summer School Treasurer, Computer Chair, and Treasurer of ALF's Auxiliary. She was also the Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the La Canada Flintridge Educational Foundation, the La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce, and the La Canada-AM Kiwanis Club. Ms. Burns modernized the bookkeeping system for La Canada Congregational and St. George's Episcopal Churches and their pre-schools. She has also developed database and accounting systems for the Community Center of La Canada Flintridge and its pre-school. An avid animal lover, Ms. Burns has volunteered as a bookkeeper for the Recycled Pets Rescue Organization and as Treasurer for the Pasadena Animal League, an auxiliary of the Pasadena Humane Society. Ms. Burns also received a La Canada Council of PTA Service Award and a La Canada Flintridge Coordinating Council Les Tupper Community Service Award. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Martha Burns.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Drian Juarez of Hollywood. Born in Juarez, Mexico and raised by her grandmother, a five-year- old Ms. Juarez joined her mother in the United States after her grandmother's passing. Ms. Juarez's artistic talents were noticed early on by many of her teachers. She entered a Los Angeles Times art contest, won, and was awarded with art lessons throughout middle school. With these art lessons, Ms. Juarez was able to build a portfolio and gain entry into the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Upon graduation, she was accepted to Otis College of Art and Design, where she attained a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art. In 2005, Ms. Juarez was shot in the face at a Halloween event and lost sight in her right eye. After this tragic incident, Ms. Juarez decided to make a change in her life. For the first time, she connected with Los Angeles transgender support groups and increased her involvement in local events and activism. She became a member of the West Hollywood Transgender Task Force, which is now known as the West Hollywood Transgender Advisory Board, and also became a member of the Transgender Service Provider Network. In 2009, Ms. Juarez was invited to become a member of the Transgender Law Center's Transgender Leadership Council and the Transgender Economic Development Initiative. For the past 6 years, Ms. Juarez has served as Program Manager of the Transgender Economic Empowerment Project (TEEP) at the Legal Services Department of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. She has demonstrated remarkable entrepreneurial skills and passion for empowering clients who are struggling with immigration, employment, and race issues due to their gender identity. TEEP, in conjunction with Trans-Unity Pride, held its first job fair in 2008. Since then, TEEP has collaborated with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on a yearly job fair. As part of this job fair, Ms. Juarez has provided Gender and Sexual Diversity in the Workplace trainings to human resources professionals and employers. Ms. Juarez has presented over 400 transgender cultural competency trainings to thousands of people, including at conferences sponsored by the Transgender Service Provider Network and the HIV Drug & Alcohol Task Force, LA Youth at Work, the City of L.A. Career Fair, Women's Resource & Job Fair, Trans Action/Friends Community Center, among others. In addition to all of her accomplishments, Ms. Juarez designed a plaque with an inscribed poem for the City of West Hollywood, which was dedicated in 2009 during the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred and prejudice. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Drian Juarez.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Nadine Trujillo of Silver Lake. Ms. Trujillo has lived in Los Angeles since 1956. In 1993, Ms. Trujillo launched her own business and opened a Mexican restaurant. She is the proud owner and operator of the Alegria on Sunset, where she also serves as its Executive Chef, and can still be found cooking for the daily lunch crowd in addition to fulfilling her CEO duties. Ms. Trujillo first got involved in her community by providing local schools, charitable organizations and churches with discounted menus for teachers as well as donations to school events. She has continued to give back by volunteering her time and sharing her knowledge of catering and event planning. She has organized Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic's annual fundraisers and continues to support HSFC by providing pozole to over two hundred ``Pilgrims'' in the annual observance of the traditional Mexican Christmas Posada. In 2010, Ms. Trujillo joined the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council after she completed Level One Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. She has served as Co-Chair of the Public Safety Committee and today serves as an at large board member. Ms. Trujillo organized the first annual ``September is National Preparedness Month'' Expo. Ms. Trujillo and her two daughters are residents of Silver Lake. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Nadine Trujillo.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Sonia Tatulian of Tujunga. Born in Armenia, Ms. Tatulian and her family immigrated to the United States in 1974 when she was a teenager. While attending Hollywood High School, she went to work in a Beverly Hills bridal shop doing a variety of jobs, including pressing, altering, and selling wedding gowns. This began her career in the retail industry, which would go on to span two decades. In 1989, Ms. Tatulian bought her home in Tujunga, and soon after she obtained her real estate license and began a part-time flower business. After changing careers for a position with Wells Fargo, Ms. Tatulian realized she wanted to help businesses and become more involved in her community. She was able to fulfill this aspiration once she started her new position as Manager at the Sunland Bank of America. Ms. Tatulian then became a member of the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce, Sunland-Tujunga Rotary Club and the Sunland-Tujunga Lions Club. She served as President of the Sunland-Tujunga Chamber of Commerce and increased membership from 63 to 175 members, all while being the Treasurer of the Rotary and Lions Clubs. Ms. Tatulian also founded the non-profit organization, the Sunland- Tujunga-Shadow Hills Community Fund, which is the parent company of Voice of the Village, a local newspaper. The Fund took over the organization of the annual Fourth of July Fireworks event, with the proceeds and matching grants going to Verdugo Hills High School programs. Proceeds from the newspaper support the high school's journalism class. Recently, Ms. Tatulian founded the ``Welcome to the Foothills'' company, a free service where she visits new home owners, welcomes them and provides them with important information about the community. In addition, she volunteers with the Verdugo Hills Family YMCA. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Sonia Tatulian.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Barbara Ferris of Los Feliz. Ms. Ferris is the Managing Director of Symphony In The Glen (SIG), which she co-founded in 1994 with Arthur B. Rubinstein, a renowned film and television composer. Since the organization's founding, Ms. Ferris has fostered cooperative relationships with city agencies, managed the organization's finances, spearheaded fundraising efforts, and reviewed the day-to-day operations that helped shape the vibrant, thematic programming that SIG audiences have come to expect. Ms. Ferris also developed SIG's pre-concert child/parent activities to introduce children to basic musical concepts such as how to play notes, how to conduct an orchestra, and how to recognize different instruments in the orchestra. Through her work organizing free concerts with Symphony In The Glen, Ms. Ferris has been instrumental in fulfilling the organization's mission of cultivating new generations of classical music enthusiasts. Concerts were held at the Old Zoo at Griffith Park, on the lawn of the Griffith Observatory, and at the Los Angeles Zoo. This year Symphony In The Glen also coordinated the fourth annual ``EEK! at The Greek,'' a community Halloween celebration held in collaboration with the Greek Theatre and Nederlander Concerts. In addition to her work at SIG, Ms. Ferris is also an avid participant in civic life. She has long been involved with the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council and served a four-year term as Vice President of Administration. In 2011, Ms. Ferris was elected to the Board of the Los Feliz Improvement Association, which is the oldest residents' association in Los Angeles. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Barbara Ferris.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Alice Coulombe of Pasadena. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Ms. Coulombe received her Bachelor's degree in Humanities and her Master's degree in Education from Stanford University. At Stanford, she met Joe Coulombe, and they got married when both were still students at the university. In 1958, the Coulombes founded Pronto Markets, a chain of grocery stores in Southern California. In 1967, Joe, the original Trader Joe, added a South Seas motif to the stores and changed the name to Trader Joe's. During this time, the Coulombes moved to San Marino, where they raised their three children, Joe, Charlotte and Madeleine, and eventually moved to Pasadena in 1983. A community volunteer for over forty years, Ms. Coulombe is a passionate advocate for the arts and arts education. She was a founding member and former Chair of the Pasadena Arts Commission, a member of the City of Pasadena's Centennial Committee, and a docent at the Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens for thirty- five years, where she helped design its school tours of the Japanese Garden. As a volunteer at the Music Center of Los Angeles for three decades, Ms. Coulombe served as Chair of Music Center Presentations and Coordinator of Volunteer Activities. Ms. Coulombe's special love is opera, and to that end, she was founding president of the Music Center Opera League, as well as one of the founders of the Los Angeles Opera Company, where she currently serves on its board. For the past nine years, she has served on the Colburn School Board of Directors as a member of their Governance Committee and as Chair of the Board Relations Committee. Additionally, she is President of Metropolitan Associates, a local non-profit that raises funds to support the arts for children. For her selfless service to supporting the arts, Ms. Coulombe received the YWCA Pasadena- Foothill Valley's Woman of Distinction Award and has been honored by the Los Angeles Master Chorale. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Alice Steere Coulombe.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Blaire Lennane of Elysian Valley. Since 2011, Ms. Lennane has been an unstoppable force in the Elysian Valley community. Especially dedicated to serving the area's youth, she is the Founding President of Partners of Dorris (POD). POD is a non- profit organization committed to supporting public education programs affected by budget cuts and the advancement of students at Dorris Place Elementary School. POD supports the school's teachers and contributes to the beautification and safety of Elysian Valley through outreach and volunteerism. A consummate organizer, Ms. Lennane has formed partnerships with local businesses, non-profit organizations, community groups, and corporations to generate funds and in-kind donations for the school. She spearheaded the complete makeover and re-opening of the school library, partnered with Home Depot to accomplish the leveling, re-building, and planting of the school garden and worked with Office Depot to provide supplies for the entire school. Ms. Lennane's greatest achievement through POD is the Instrumental Music Program, where she partnered with the non-profit group Education Through Music-Los Angeles, to bring musical instrument instruction (violin, cello, ukulele, and recorder) to the school, as well as organized afterschool ensemble practice. Ms. Lennane has founded and organized many events which have become beloved annual traditions highly anticipated by the community. Such events include the Training Day Fitness Fair & Walkathon, the Fine Arts Expo, and the Save the Music Program Fall Festival. Ms. Lennane is also active with the Elysian Valley Arts Collective, the Los Angeles City Parks Advisory Board for the Elysian Valley Recreation Center, and the Los Angeles Unified School District's Parent Community Advisory Committee. She sits on several committees for Dorris Place Elementary School. Ms. Lennane and her husband, Chad Gordon, have one daughter, Gala Lennane-Gordon. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Blaire Lennane.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Alexandra Helfrich of Burbank. When her eldest daughter began elementary school, Ms. Helfrich learned that the school did not have any arts programs. She began to fundraise and sought out grant opportunities to bring arts education back into the classroom. Ms. Helfritch worked with other parents, the PTA and Booster organizations to provide opportunities so every Burbank Unified School District (BUSD) student could experience music, visual art, theater, dance, and media arts. Through these collaborations, art programs became available at schools during the school day and after school as well. Ms. Helfrich has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Burbank Arts For All Foundation since 2007 and served as its co- chair from 2010 to 2013. The Burbank Arts For All Foundation works to ensure every student in Burbank public schools receives a quality arts education as a part of their core curriculum. To support the foundation's mission, Ms. Helfrich continues to serve on its Executive Committee. Ms. Helfrich's volunteer efforts have provided opportunities as well as increased access for children to become creative learners. Ms. Helfrich has also served the Burbank Unified School District as a parent representative to the District Safety Committee, where she helped update the Special Education Parent Handbook. She is currently serving on the District Local Control Accountability Plan Committee. In addition, Ms. Helfrich, who is a committed school fundraiser, has consistently served on Booster Club Boards since 2007. Ms. Helfrich is married to Mark Helfrich, a feature film editor and director, and they have two teenage daughters. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Alexandra Helfrich.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Shelli-Anne Couch of Atwater Village. As President of Friends of Atwater Elementary, Ms. Couch has led the turnaround of this Title I public elementary school, bringing new life to the volunteer support group which serves nearly 400 families in the Atwater Village area. She found innovative ways to generate new revenue streams, raised over $100,000 in support of enrichment, educational and capital improvement programs for Atwater Avenue Elementary School, and created strategic partnerships with local, national and international businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals. Ms. Couch has founded and produced many events and programs that support the elementary school, including the First Annual Day of the Dead Festival with celebrity chef Curtis Stone which drew close to one thousand attendees and raised a substantial amount of money for the school. Ms. Couch also formed a partnership with executives from Paul Mitchell Hair Products and Enrich LA to sponsor the school's first outdoor classroom program, which provides free tuition for students to learn how to make healthy life choices by gardening, eating seasonal produce, and composting. She also led the effort for school uniforms and created a ``Care Closet'' for families in need. In addition, she forged partnerships between the school and local organizations such as the Northland Village Church, which provides free weekly tutoring called ``Homework Helpers,'' and the local Lions Club, which provides scholarships and free eye tests to students. Prior to her dedicated volunteer work in Atwater Village, Ms. Couch was an international business and media executive with over twenty-five years of experience transforming how companies and people build their commerce, content and community, guiding clients like Universal Studios, Diane Von Furstenburg, and the Australian Consulate. She co- founded Billion Dollar Babes, the world's first global designer fashion sales event. Her agency's showrooms in Los Angeles, New York and London pioneered celebrity dressing and editorial placement. An award-winning journalist, Ms. Couch, who moved from her native Australia to Los Angeles in 1997, has been featured in magazines and newspapers such as Vogue, The New York Times, The LA Times, and People, and on the television show, Good Morning America. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Shelli-Anne Couch.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Cheryl Davis of La Crescenta. Ms. Davis was raised in San Jose and moved to Southern California to attend the University of California, Los Angeles, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Currently, Ms. Davis is a Law Firm Administrator at Bradley & Gmelich in Glendale. Ms. Davis is very active in her community. She served as President of the Crescenta Valley Town Council for four years, and now serves as the Corresponding Secretary. Ms. Davis is the current coordinator for the Montrose-Glendale Christmas Parade, Treasurer for Prom Plus and the CV Fireworks Association, and Secretary for the Glendale Educational Foundation--Summer School. In addition, Ms. Davis is a member of CV DOGS, the volunteer group responsible for establishing the first Los Angeles County operated dog park at Crescenta Valley Park. Ms. Davis is also an avid volunteer at the Fire House Youth Center. Ms. Davis and her husband Mark have one daughter, Katie, who is a student at Crescenta Valley High School. I ask all Members to join me in honoring an exceptional woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Cheryl Davis.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Nicholas Choung Lee, a Los Angeles police officer who selflessly served his community. Nicholas served for years in the LAPD, first in the Van Nuys division and later in the Hollywood division, assigned to a patrol car. He had worked as both a field training officer and vice officer in Wilshire before returning to patrol in the Hollywood division in 2008. In his 16 years of service he received more than 70 commendations. Even as a police officer, family came first for Nicholas, who had a wife, Cathy, and two young daughters, Jalen and Kendall. Tragically, and much too soon, Nicholas passed away on April 6 when a truck hit his patrol car in Beverly Hills. We depend upon the bravery and dedication of police officers every moment of every day, and we often forget the dangers and challenges they face on our behalf. I ask all members to join me in expressing our condolences to the Lee family and the entire LAPD.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Nicholas Choung Lee, a Los Angeles police officer who selflessly served his community. Nicholas was born on May 8, 1973, in Seoul, Korea. When he was six years old he moved to California with his father Heung Jae Lee, mother Choung Ja Lee, younger brother Danny, and sister Jenny. They settled in Los Angeles' Koreatown, and Nicholas attended high school in Los Angeles and college at California State University Fullerton. He joined the Los Angeles Police Department on August 31, 1998. After probationary training, Nicholas transferred first to the Van Nuys Division, and later to the Hollywood Division, where he was assigned to a patrol car. He worked as both a Field Training Officer and Vice Officer in Wilshire, before returning to patrol in the Hollywood Division in 2008. In his 16 years as a police officer, Nicholas received more than 70 commendations. He was recently among the officers featured in a birthday video for a 7-year-old-boy with leukemia, which was just one of the many ways Nicholas constantly demonstrated his selfless desire to help others. As much as he contributed to Los Angeles as a police officer, everyone who knew him would agree that his family always came first. Nicholas married Cathy Kim in 2001, and they went on to have two daughters, Jalen and Kendall. He could frequently be seen riding a scooter alongside the two girls on their way to school. When the family would have barbecues, Nicholas was always the person serving his family and friends. His wife described him as a great provider and loving husband and father. Tragically, and much too soon, Nicholas passed away on March 6, 2014, when a truck hit his patrol car in Beverly Hills. He is survived by his wife Cathy, and daughters Jalen and Kendall. We depend upon the bravery and dedication of police officers every moment of every day, and we often forget the dangers and challenges they face on our behalf. I ask all members to join me in expressing our condolences to the Lee Family and the Los Angeles Police Department and pledge to remember the courage and commitment of Officer Nicholas Lee, a man who cared deeply about his family and the Los Angeles community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I stand today with the people of Ukraine and in strong support of this legislation, which will provide the administration with additional and immediate flexibility to assist Ukraine. I look forward to working with the gentleman from Kentucky and my good friend from New York on further ways to assist Ukraine in the appropriations process. This effort cannot be just about helping Ukraine. It must also be about reversing Russian aggression, curbing Vladimir Putin's revanchist policies in Russia's ``Near Abroad.'' President Obama's action this morning to cut off access to assets and place travel restrictions on those involved in the violation of Ukraine's sovereign is a positive first step. The pressure must be increased in the coming days if Russia fails to reverse course. I support a slate of economic sanctions led by the United States and Europe to isolate Russia's economy and its leadership, so that Putin is made to understand that his violation of international law and the sovereignty of his neighbors will not be tolerated. The collapse of the Soviet Union was one of the seminal events of the 20th century. The Cold War is over. Territorial aggression by Russia will not resurrect its empire but only diminish its standing in the world and the future of its people.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the twenty-sixth anniversary of the pogrom against people of Armenian descent in the town of Sumgait, Azerbaijan, where Armenian civilians were massacred at the hands of the Azerbaijani regime. Beginning on February 27, 1988 and for three days, Azerbaijani mobs assaulted and killed Armenians. Hundreds of Armenians were wounded, women and young girls were brutally raped, and many victims of all ages were burnt to death after being tortured and beaten. The carnage created thousands of ethnic Armenian refugees, who had to leave everything behind to be looted or destroyed, including their homes and businesses. The Sumgait Pogroms were part of an organized pattern, and were proceeded by a wave of anti-Armenian rallies throughout Azerbaijan, which culminated in the 1990 Pogroms in Baku. These crimes were never adequately prosecuted by Azerbaijan authorities. Despite efforts by the Government of Azerbaijan to cover up the events which occurred in February 1988, survivors of the pogrom have come forward with their stories. They told of enraged mobs, which threw refrigerators and furniture, among other belongings from apartment balconies and set them afire. Armenians were dragged from their apartments. If they tried to run and escape, the mob attacked them with metal rods, hatchets and knives before the victims were thrown into the fire. The Sumgait massacres led to wider reprisals against Azerbaijan's ethnic minority, resulting in the virtual disappearance of a once thriving population of 450,000 Armenians living in Azerbaijan, and culminating in the war launched against the people of Nagorno Karabakh. That war resulted in thousands dead on both sides and created over one million refugees in both Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the years since the fighting ended, the people of Artsakh, the region's ancestral name, have struggled to build a functioning democratic state in the midst of unremitting hostility and threats from Azerbaijan, as well as incursions across the Line of Contact between the two sides, such as the recent murder of yet another Armenian soldier, Hrant Poghosyan, in an unprovoked attack by Azerbaijani troops against Armenian forces. Hatred towards Armenians is both celebrated and inculcated in Azeri youth, as exemplified by the case of Ramil Safarov, an Azerbaijani army captain who had confessed to the savage 2004 axe murder of Armenian army lieutenant Gurgen Margaryan, while the latter slept. At the time, the two were participating in a NATO Partnership for Peace exercise in Budapest, Hungary. After the murder, Safarov was sentenced to life in prison by a Hungarian court and imprisoned in Hungary. In 2012, Safarov was sent home to Azerbaijan, purportedly to serve out the remainder of his sentence. Instead of serving out his sentence in an Azeri jail, he was pardoned, promoted to Major, given back pay and paraded through the streets of Baku in a disgusting and bloodthirsty welcome home. With these appalling acts, the Azeri state reminded the whole world why the people of Artsakh must be allowed to determine their own future and cannot be allowed to slip into Aliyev's clutches, lest the carnage of Sumgait 26 years ago serve as a foreshadowing of a greater slaughter. Mr. Speaker, the memory of the victims of Sumgait must not be forgotten, and it is our moral obligation to condemn crimes of hatred, in hope that history will not be repeated.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, this evening, from the dais behind me, President Obama will deliver his annual State of the Union message; and while there are hopeful signs and a brightening of the economic outlook for the country as a whole, the President will almost certainly concentrate on the battles ahead. Even as America struggles to shake off the effects of the worst downturn since the Great Depression, our economy and our society are being challenged by a yawning inequality gap that affects tens of millions of American families and threatens to erode the underpinnings of our social contract. Last fall, economists Emmanuel Saez and Thomas Piketty released an analysis of 2012 tax returns, and they found that the top 10 percent of American earners took more than half of the country's total income in 2012--the highest level ever recorded. The top 1 percent received more than 20 percent of the income earned by Americans, a level not seen since 1928, the year before the stock market crash and the beginning of the Great Depression. Top earners have also recovered more quickly over the last 3 years as their wages and investments have recouped value at a much brisker clip than those of the rest of Americans. Inequality has also been a persistent political theme here and around the world, and it helped to launch the Occupy Wall Street movement. Last year, Pope Francis spoke out against what he termed an ``economy of exclusion'' while New York City's new mayor, Bill de Blasio, won the election by highlighting inequality there. President Obama, himself, made expanding opportunity a major theme in a speech in December, and he discussed the issue at length in his past two State of the Union addresses. I expect him to return to the theme tonight and in the coming months of the 113th Congress as we prepare to go to the polls in November. There is a broadly held, national consensus that an overly high concentration of wealth spawns a host of economic social and political ills, but that agreement has not fostered a concerted strategy on expanding opportunity and closing the wealth gap. America has always rewarded hard work, and the possibility for a better life has been part of the attraction for generations of immigrants and others struggling to climb the economic ladder; but economic mobility, as a recent study from Harvard and Cal demonstrates, varies greatly within the United States, and while economic mobility has not changed significantly over time, it is consistently less prevalent in the United States than in most developed countries. We should never seek to punish success or to, as some describe it, soak the rich, but we must take steps to address the problem of growing inequality both in the short term and in the long term. I believe there are three things that Congress and the President can do to give Americans and the middle class and those who aspire to join it the chance to move up: First, we need to extend emergency unemployment assistance for those who are still looking for work and who cannot find a job on their own. The weekly litany of those who are losing benefits is disheartening, and we must not turn our backs on our fellow Americans; Second, we need to raise the minimum wage nationwide, and it is shameful that it has been 5 years since the last increase. In fact, according to one study, the minimum wage today is actually worth $2 less than in 1968. Raising the minimum wage to just over $10, as I support, would push millions of hardworking Americans out of poverty and stimulate economic activity throughout the country; These two steps can be part of a short-term solution that stops the bleeding, but real change requires giving American workers the education and training to compete domestically and internationally for the high-skilled, high-wage jobs that are the ticket to the middle class and beyond. Investing in education and building schools and curricula for the 21st century is a long-term project, but it is the one that has the greatest potential in terms of economic growth and increased opportunity while preserving the spirit of free enterprise and entrepreneurship that built this country. Mr. Speaker, tonight the President will challenge us to join him in an effort to reinvigorate the American Dream for another generation. Let us join him in that sacred task.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, the political standoff between the two main political parties in Bangladesh has rocked that country and threatened its democracy, its stability, and its economic progress. Throughout 2013 and in the run-up to elections last week, a series of general strikes paralyzed Bangladesh, and hundreds were killed in clashes between rival political factions. Opposition leaders and human rights activists were arrested, and Bangladeshi courts were used to target opposition figures and their sympathizers. The feud in Bangladesh pits Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the ruling Awami League party, against Khaleda Zia, a former Prime Minister who is the leader of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP. The leaders, known to their countrymen as the ``two ladies,'' have dominated Bangladeshi politics since democracy was restored in the mid-1990s, when Hasina's Awami positioned itself as secular and social democratic in ideology and Zia's BNP as more centrist and religious. Tense relations between the two women and their supporters were further inflamed last year when a third party allied with BNP was barred from participating in the elections and the government declined to dissolve itself in favor of a caretaker government that would exist only to supervise the elections. This had been the custom in Bangladesh in prior elections. Prime Minister Hasina's actions convinced Ms. Zia that BNP would be better served by boycotting the polling, which the BNP did in the hopes that the government would be pressured into resigning before the vote. When the government did not accede to the BNP's demands, the opposition took to the street. But the government held firm and, amid diminished voter turnout and widespread violence, Awami swept last week's vote, deepening the crisis. Born from a brutal civil war in 1971, Bangladesh has faced enormous challenges in its 43-year history--endemic poverty, one of densest populations in the world, and unpredictable weather that both sustains and destroys the country's year-round agricultural production. Governance, too, has been a challenge, with the country consistently ranked among the world's most corrupt and the nation's institutions highly politicized. And nothing has come to symbolize the failure of governance like the garment industry and its horrific record on worker safety, a record that threatens the cornerstone of Bangladesh's economy. In spite of these and a host of other challenges, Bangladesh has made remarkable strides. According to a report issued by the World Bank last June, from 2000 until 2010, Bangladesh experienced steady and strong GDP growth of nearly 6 percent per year on average. Even so, about a third of Bangladeshis live in poverty, and economic hardship is especially prevalent in the rural parts of the country. Given the country's history, its recent progress and the hurdles remaining, if Bangladesh is to reach its goal of becoming a middle- income country by 2021, the question of governance is central and makes the political standoff that has gripped the country even more tragic and counterproductive. Bangladesh's middle-income aspirations are contingent on a significant rise in GDP growth and a broad reform agenda, neither of which is possible under current conditions. Fortunately, there is a precedent that could allow for an exit from the impasse through new elections. In February 1996, elections were boycotted by Awami and other opposition parties, and the BNP took nearly all of the seats, touching off a crisis of legitimacy similar to that now gripping Dhaka. Four months later, new elections were held under the auspices of a caretaker government, and the outcome favored Awami. Now, as then, the time has come for cooler heads to prevail and for a new election to be called that will give all parties the time and space needed to organize and campaign. The recent release of Ms. Zia from house arrest should be followed by the release of others detained for political reasons. There should be a mutual pledge of nonviolence, guarantees of noninterference in political campaigning by police and security forces, and a pledge to respect the people's mandate. The people of Bangladesh, who have suffered mightily and who have also risen to every challenge over the course of more than four decades, deserve better than to be caught between two stubborn matriarchs. New elections should be scheduled and Bangladeshi voters given a free and fair chance in determining their country's future.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 5, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 6, had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, when it was first opened in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the Guantanamo Bay prison may have seemed a reasonable stopgap measure as a shocked Nation marshaled its resources and figured out how to dispose of detainees taken in Afghanistan and elsewhere. But even in those early days, the problems we were creating with Guantanamo's patchwork of military rules and commissions were readily apparent. Since 2002, I have introduced numerous bills and amendments to try to bring Guantanamo into conformity with American and international law and to stop it from becoming a jihadi recruiting tool. But reform of this prison system has been elusive and progress towards bringing its detainees to justice almost nonexistent, as U.S. courts have taken strong issue with its improvised legal process. In one of his first acts as President, Barack Obama ordered the closing of Guantanamo, but the Congress almost immediately stepped in and erected a series of statutory barriers that have prevented the transfer of detainees to the United States and made transfer to third countries extremely difficult. Today, there is a renewed push by the administration to shutter Guantanamo for good. Doing so will not be easy, but the cost of keeping the prison open--to our values, to our pocketbook, to our reputation, and to our security--have become too great to bear. There are now 164 detainees at Guantanamo, 84 of whom have been cleared for transfer to their home country or another country willing to accept them. These detainees should be processed and transferred as soon as security considerations will allow. This would leave 80 remaining detainees, who are roughly split into two groups. The first group, which includes Khalid Sheikh Mohamed and other key 9/11 plotters, consists of detainees slated for trial under the military commissions that were established by the Bush administration. These proceedings have been mired in pre-trial wrangling; and the longer they drag on, the less legitimate the overall system appears. Meanwhile, our civilian judicial system, which many congressional critics have derided as not up to the task of handling terrorism cases, has disposed of a long line of defendants--from Richard Reid, the Shoe Bomber, to Omar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Underwear Bomber, and Faisal Shaizhad, the Times Square Bomber--all successfully prosecuted in America's civilian courts, and none will ever be released again. By lifting its restriction on transferring these detainees to the United States for trial, Congress could give the administration the flexibility to transfer many of those now in the military commission system to Article III courts for prosecution. These civilian courts can be more expeditious, more effective, and, in the eyes of the world, more just than military tribunals. The remaining detainees--some 46 men--will be the most difficult cases. These are detainees considered too dangerous to release or transfer, but who cannot be prosecuted. For some, evidence cannot be presented without revealing critical sources of intelligence and methods. Others were tortured, or evidence against them was collected through torture or some other unlawful means. For still others, the evidence of past acts and future dangerousness, while not sufficient to prosecute, argues compellingly against any release or transfer. The administration announced over the summer that it would begin a review of these cases, and as a result, others may be cleared for transfer or prosecution. It is likely that many, if not most, of the detainees in this final category will remain in American custody. But where? Even if we ultimately decide to maintain these detainees in custody, that does not justify continued operation of Guantanamo Bay. Instead, they should be transferred to civilian or military confinement in the United States, an option currently blocked by Congress. Every day that it remains open, Guantanamo Bay damages the United States. Because there are other, better options for prosecution and detention of these inmates, we are not safer for Guantanamo's existence. In fact, it makes us more vulnerable by drawing new generations to the jihad. The Congress, the administration, and the military can work together to find a solution that protects our people even as we maintain our principles and devotion to the rule of law. The President has indicated that he would like to work with Congress to end the Guantanamo era. We should take him up on that important challenge.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on Speaker Boehner to allow passage of the comprehensive immigration reform legislation. It is vital that we approach the issue of immigration with a sense of urgency, a spirit of compassion, and a commitment to security. Most important, reform must provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and allow them to emerge from the shadows. My congressional office has one of the highest volumes of immigration cases in California, and the stories that are shared with me are heartbreaking. I receive calls from constituents every day describing the hardships that our broken immigration system has placed on their families, and I have heard their pleas for help. The current wait time for many family members to reunite in the United States can be 10 years or more. DREAMers who came to the United States as young children and are pursuing a college degree or serving in the military have limited or no career opportunities and are stuck in endless limbo. Our broken immigration system takes a terrible toll on innocent families, local law enforcement, and our economy. We must not further delay action. The time to fix it is now.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, as winter descends upon the Middle East, the plight of Syria's people who have endured nearly 3 years of savage civil war grows more desperate with each passing day. Fighting rages on throughout much of the country, and with the government forces making headway in recent months, many of the rebel groups have splintered, turning on each other. As in wars throughout history, it is civilians, especially children, who have borne much of the suffering. More than 9 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance, and a quarter of these, 2.2 million, have fled the country, mostly to neighboring Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey. Half of those refugees, more than a million people, are children. Another 6.5 million Syrians are internally displaced, having fled their homes, but remaining inside the country, often in parts of Syria that have changed hands on multiple occasions and with attendant civilian suffering. While all of Syria's people have been affected by fighting, it is Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the country's population, who are at greatest risk, given their small numbers and the increasingly religious nature of a war that started out as a broad- based secular movement that sought to change the character of the Syrian regime but not the regime itself. For two millennia, Syria has been home to one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, a population dominated by the eastern churches, but also including smaller numbers of Catholics and Protestants. Syria's Christians have been comfortably and fully integrated into the economic, political, and cultural life of modern Syria and, despite their small numbers, are well represented among the country's elite. Tragically, this long, peaceful coexistence has been shattered, and half a million Syrian Christians, nearly one in four, have fled the country since the fighting began. Like minorities the world over, Syrian Christians have tried to avoid getting dragged into the fighting that has gripped their homeland; but with their top two population centers, Aleppo and Homs, having seen some of the most savage fighting in the war, Christians have been unable to avoid being drawn into the conflict. While the uprising against Syrian President Bashar Assad did not start out as a sectarian conflict, it has increasingly taken on a religious tone, as many of the rebels have wrapped themselves in the mantle of fundamentalist Islam. Initially, the Free Syrian Army and other large rebel groupings distanced themselves from the more religious rebel factions, some of whom are linked to al Qaeda, but even they have adopted an increasingly Islamist tone in recent months. This has exacerbated the plight of the Christians who are increasingly targeted simply because they are Christian and because they are seen by many Muslims as having backed the government. The truth is that Syrian Christians, many of whom have family members among my Armenian American constituents, did not rally to the regime. Syrian Christians, like most other Syrians, simply wanted a freer, more open society and a greater voice in their own government. It is a testament to the depth of Christian desperation that atrocities perpetrated by radical Islamists have done more to test Christian neutrality than the use of chemical weapons and war crimes by the Assad regime. Ending the Civil War through a negotiated solution represents the best prospect for peace, and the international community must insist that any agreement reached at the upcoming peace talks in Geneva or thereafter will guarantee the safety of Syria's minority populations. In the meantime, America can do more to help those seeking refuge. That is why I have been working for much of the past year to convince the administration to allow humanitarian parole for the nearly 6,000 Syrians with approved immigrant petitions to the United States. As hundreds of millions around the world prepare to celebrate the most joyful day of the Christian calendar, the international community must intensify its efforts to end this terrible war, and also to protect Syria's Christians and ensure the continued vitality of this 2,000-year-old community.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, for much of the past decade, Iran's nuclear weapons development program has been a top national security concern for the United States. An Iran armed with nuclear weapons, capable of threatening Israel and other regional states, would touch off a nuclear arms race in the world's most volatile region. For this reason, I have pressed for ever-increasing sanctions to isolate Iran from the global economy and have supported a policy that leaves all options on the table, including military force. The stakes are too high to risk any miscalculation of our resolve by Iran's leaders. In pushing for ever more punitive sanctions, I have held out the hope that increased economic pressure might force Iran to give up its nuclear weapons ambition and rejoin the community of nations. Now we are at a moment in the standoff with Tehran that will test that assumption. In repeated statements since his election as Iran's new President in June, Hassan Rouhani expressed interest in exploring a negotiated end to the sanctions in exchange for walking back its nuclear program. While the first Geneva meeting did not lead to a breakthrough on an interim deal, the parties reportedly came close and will be reconvening today for a second round. Some have called on the Senate to continue work on a new round of sanctions that was passed by the House with my support earlier this year. Advocates of this approach say that sanctions brought us to this point, and increased pressure during the negotiations will improve the likelihood of success at the bargaining table. I disagree. President Obama and Secretary of State Kerry have asked for more time to test Iran's willingness to enter into a tough and verifiable agreement, and I think we should give it to them. I am pleased to see reports that there appears to be a bipartisan agreement in the Senate that we will hold off for now. We will know soon enough if the Iranian regime is serious about a new direction in its nuclear program and in its relationship with the West. If it is not, there will be ample opportunity to tighten the stranglehold on Iran's economy, and further sanctions will have my full support. Some have warned that any relaxation of sanctions in an interim deal risks unraveling the whole sanctions regime. This is not an illusory concern, and for this reason, any partial lifting of the freeze on Iranian assets must be quickly reversible if the Iranians balk on a final deal; but the absence of an interim deal is also problematic if it means another 6 months of Iranian enrichment. The Iranians must be made to understand that, if they walk away or cheat, the sanctions will be tightened to the point of strangulation--and the international community must be prepared to make good on that threat. I have no illusions about the character of the Iranian regime; nor do I trust it. I do not believe that we can look into Rouhani's eyes and see the truth, let alone his soul. Even if Rouhani were serious about his intentions, there is no guarantee that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, would bless any agreement that forces Iran to verifiably foreswear the development of the bomb. Ultimately, this is not about trust. It is not about making concessions to Iran or awarding the mullahs for thwarting the will of the international community for many years. It is about seizing the opportunity to see whether we can end Iran's nuclear weapons program without resorting to military action; and if we cannot, no doubt it will remain that the United States made every effort to resolve this grave threat diplomatically. No negotiation is without risk, and the Iranians' track record is cause for great skepticism. The administration must not accept a bad deal, but neither should it be prevented from testing whether it can obtain a good deal that advances our security interests and those of our allies. Yitzhak Rabin, the former Israeli Prime Minister who signed the Oslo Accords two decades ago, once noted: You make peace with your enemies, not the Queen of Holland. I agree and urge us to give diplomacy a chance.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the importance of the Special Diabetes Program, which represents 35 percent of the Federal investment in type 1 diabetes research, and to encourage my colleagues to support a multiyear renewal of the program at current funding levels. Type 1 diabetes among Americans under the age of 20 rose by 23 percent between 2001 and 2009. People with type 1 diabetes, including one of my constituents, 8-year-old Charlie, need daily finger sticks and insulin injections to stay alive. As part of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's ``Promise to Remember Me'' campaign, I recently met with Charlie and his father and another constituent, Nancy, whose 17-year-old daughter also has type 1 diabetes, to discuss their daily struggle with the disease and their hopes for better treatment options and, someday, a cure. The Special Diabetes Program has delivered groundbreaking research for type 1 diabetes, including artificial pancreas systems, a revolutionary technology in the research pipeline that will automatically control blood sugar levels, keep patients healthier, and help avoid many dangerous and costly long-term complications due to diabetes. Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the program.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate The Creative Life (TCL) Chinese Theatre on hosting the Beijing Film Panorama in America Festival and recognizing acclaimed Chinese Film Director, Feng Xiaogang during a Handprint Ceremony. TCL Chinese Theatre, formerly known as Grauman's Chinese Theatre, has long stood as a tribute to the great men and women of film and television. The iconic signatures, handprints, and footprints in cement that have graced the theater's entrance since the 1920's, are visited by millions of people every year. It is fitting as we witness the growth of Chinese film internationally, that Hollywood celebrates this achievement in the cinematic arts throughout the world. To mark this auspicious occasion, Feng Xiaogang will be immortalized in cement with a Handprint Ceremony. Mr. Xiaogang is an accomplished Chinese film director whose comedic films have been box office hits in China over the last two decades, and who has recently begun making dramatic period films. As the first Chinese director to receive this honor, Feng Xiaogang will join Cecil B. DeMille, Ron Howard, Steven Spielberg, Gene Kelly and Clint Eastwood, among other great film directors whose handprint impressions remind us of the talent that has brought so many stories to life through film. I ask all Members to join me in congratulating TCL Chinese Theatre and Mr. Xiaogang upon this historic occasion.

Mr. SCHIFF

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, for nearly 3 years, the Arab Middle East, an enormous arc stretching from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, has been in turmoil. Restive millions, frustrated by a lack of economic opportunity, repressive politics, and a social structure often at odds with modernity, have taken to the streets demanding change. Their revolution hangs in the balance with the entrenched interests of the former regimes on one side and the stultifying religious rule on the other. Faced with these daunting realities, the Obama administration may be in the midst of a strategic reevaluation of our role in the region--one that is far more modest in ambition, more tempered in expectation, and certainly more reliant on the use of its diplomatic, not military, resources. This new approach stands in stark contrast to the effort by the George W. Bush administration to deliver a ``freedom agenda''-- sometimes through the barrel of a gun--that would bring democracy to a region that has known mostly misrule. That doctrine, or its application, proved entirely unworkable, as the societies freed of their authoritarian shackles had nothing upon which to build. This is a lesson we may be bitterly learning in Libya as well. These setbacks and the realization that democracy building is a generational undertaking must not lead us to disengage from the region. The forces freed by the Arab Spring will not be contained, and I still believe they can lead hundreds of millions of people to more representative forms of government, more economic opportunity, and, we must hope, more tranquility and peace within their borders. The United States needs to help build institutions capable of supporting a transition in the Arab world in three dimensions: political, economic, and civil society. Unmet economic needs are the most pressing. At its heart, the Arab Spring is the expression of discontent of millions of idle, young Arabs, who have seen the economic opportunities that the outside world offers, but whose own economic realities are plagued by stagnation, mismanagement, and cronyism. The cure is not outright assistance, which will do little to unleash or occupy long-term energies of Arab youth. It is investment that will allow this generation of Arabs to drag inefficient, antiquated, and highly statist economies in the 21st century. Since the ouster of Ben Ali and Mubarak, I have pushed for the creation of enterprise funds and other nimble vehicles that will allow us to direct resources at specific sectors that can help to drive economic growth, as well as improve the quality of life for ordinary people. In coming years, these economies will need to produce sufficient jobs and wealth to both sustain workers and their families and to provide the economic conditions for sustainable political stability. But that cannot be an excuse to put off political reform now, because capital flows will not resume until investors have some confidence that their money is safe. The experience of both Egypt and Tunisia serve to reinforce the inchoate nature of their political transitions. Both countries emerged from their respective revolutions with energized Islamist movements that were able to triumph over less well-organized secular parties--in large measure because the old governments had atomized their opposition and left political Islamist governments as the only viable alternative. In both countries, this experiment failed as a result of overreaching and a misreading of the people's wishes--a development that should ease the fears of those who saw a ``green wave'' sweeping across the Middle East. The dysfunction in both Cairo and Tunis, and the Egyptian military deposing of President Mohammed Morsi in a coup, are a reminder that a democratic outcome is never assured or to be assumed. The United States must stand ready to assist Arab nations with the long-term institution- building and political spadework that are necessary preconditions for democracy. In Tunisia, which is small, relatively prosperous, and not nearly as divided as some of its larger neighbors, prospects for a peaceful transition and transfer of power from the current Islamist government to a technocratic government that would oversee elections are alive, if not entirely well. But while a framework for the installation of a caretaker government remains, squabbling between the Islamists and the secular opposition has slowed the process and reintroduced uncertainty into Tunisia's fragile politics. Political institution-building and creating a culture of good governance will require targeted assistance, training programs, and a lot of patience. Egypt and Tunisia may be a mess now but 10 years from now will not be the same as they are today, and we can play a role in helping to shape that future. Think of some of the other countries that have democratized in recent years in Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The transitions have not been quick or smooth, and many of them are still ongoing. Amid the euphoria that accompanied the collapse of the Communist bloc in Eastern Europe, we were tempted to believe we were all witnesses to the ``end of history,'' as one academic put it. The reality has been far messier vestiges of communist oppression still remain throughout the former Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact. These experiences hold an important lesson for the Arab states--that persistence pays and that democracy is possible, even where it had not existed previously. The United States must support these transitions, and we must be willing to use financial inducements and other levers to steer their political development in a direction that will best serve the Arab peoples and preserve regional and global peace. The partial cutoff of military aid to Egypt and the broader conversation it has sparked about how best to configure assistance may presage a new diplomatic strategy that is less reliant on military relationships devoted to the status quo and more supportive of civil society, economic and political reform. This leads to the third area where the United States can play an important role--in trying to support the transition of Arab civil society from one that was imposed from above to one driven primarily by the needs and interests of its people. Free expression, women's empowerment and respect for minority groups are essential to the growth of democracy. Focusing assistance to groups in these areas can help to broaden the constituency for change and also give the young and disaffected an alternative to jihad. Today's Arab twentysomethings face even greater challenges than the Europeans of 1990s. But President George H.W. Bush and his successor, Bill Clinton, both understood that the investment in Eastern Europe was one that would pay dividends for decades. They were right and it has. I believe that we have a similar opportunity to help the Arab people. It will take longer and there will be setbacks. But the alternative is to watch a generation succumb to despair--a despair that is likely to have negative consequences for us and for our allies. I prefer to bet on hope and work for change.