Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to William B. Jones. Dr. Jones is dedicated to the study of science, as he has worked endlessly to contribute his time and attention to the medical field. Dr. Jones was educated at Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later went on to attend Georgetown Medical School in Washington, DC, where he became a Medical Doctor. Dr. Jones is fortuned with the impressive opportunity to have a private practice in Hempstead, New York. He is also the Chairman for the Department of PM&R at Island Medical Center, and Resident Physician at the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, New York. Dr. Jones is a busy member of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports & Occupational Rehabilitation; The New York State Society of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; Nassau Medical Association; American Medical Association; and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the hard work and achievements of William B. Jones, MD. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this kind and tenacious man.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Officer Anthony Saunders of the 79th Precinct. Officer Saunders was born in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and is the second of 4 children. Officer Saunders has been married for 13 years to his wife Michelle, and from that union they have 3 beautiful children. Officer Saunders was appointed to the New York City Police Department on July 5, 1989. He was assigned to the field training unit in South East Queens where he performed foot patrol duties within the confines of the 100th, 101st, 105th, 106th, and 113th Precincts. In October of 1991, he was transferred to the 45th Precinct in the Bronx where he served as a patrolman on the midnight shift for approximately 2 years with ``above standards'' evaluations. In 1993, Officer Saunders was transferred back home to the 79th Precinct where he has performed numerous duties to include the Conditions Unit, the Grand Larceny Auto Unit, the Domestic Violence Unit, and the Street Narcotics and Anti- Crime Units. After 12 years on patrol in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, Officer Saunders was assigned to the Community Affairs Unit and for the past 3 years his experience and expertise has resulted in improving community relations by helping to encourage and foster a strong partnership between the community and the 79th Precinct. Officer Saunders collaborates with local officials; community-based organizations, schools, and houses of worship in Bedford Stuyvesant. He plays an active role in organizing parades, demonstrations, rallies, and various community events. Madam Speaker, I would also like to recognize that Officer Saunders has been instrumental in closing the gap between the community and the New York City Police Department. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this outstanding officer of the New York City Police Department.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Mrs. Sarah V. Kennedy. Mrs. Kennedy has served the Brooklyn community as an outstanding citizen and advocate for fair work ethics and job security. Sarah, born in Brooklyn, NY to the Rev. Febber and Hattie Ruth Kennedy, at Coney Island Hospital is the seventh of ten siblings. She was educated in the New York City public school system. Sarah attended Clara Barton High School where she majored in Cosmetology. After graduation she continued her education by attending Brooklyn College where she majored in Early Childhood Development. Upon completion of her studies, Sarah found employment at P.S. 80 as a Kindergarten teacher. Sarah taught for 3 years and then moved on to the New York City Housing Authority. There, Sarah worked for a grassroot federally- funded poverty program for approximately 8 to 10 years. Sarah later went on to serve as a Social Health Technician in Psychology at Coney Island Hospital and also began her involvement with DC37's Local 420 union under the leadership of the late James Butler. Sarah made it a point to become involved with the union and became the Local 420's Chapter Chairperson. As the chapter's chairperson, Sarah was instrumental in fighting for union members to receive respect, fair work ethics, and job security. Her role in the Local 420's campaign for equality assisted in preventing the closing of Coney Island Hospital by the former Mayor Giuliani. Sarah's many accomplishments and achievements as the Local 420's Chapter Chairperson helped to catapult her into the esteemed position of being the first ever Executive Vice President for DC37, Local 420. Madam Speaker, I would once again like to recognize the impressive achievements of Mrs. Sarah V. Kennedy. The dedication and contributions that Sarah Kennedy has given to the Brooklyn community are greatly appreciated and continue to constructively develop our district. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this extraordinary woman and the great things that she stands for.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, on November 3, Sikhs from up and down the East Coast gathered here in Washington to protest the 23rd anniversary of the Delhi massacres. Over 20,000 Sikhs were killed in that massacre, which followed the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Sikh police officers were locked in their barracks to keep them from interfering with the massacre. State TV and radio called for ``blood for blood,'' inciting the people to kill more Sikhs. This was a massive atrocity by the Indian regime against the Sikhs. It made it clear that the Indian government had no intention of treating the Sikhs like people in a free and democratic country ought to be treated. Instead, they chose to inflict mass terror on their Sikh citizens. This is not the way a democratic government acts, Madam Speaker. It is the action of a terrorist regime. India should be declared a terrorist regime for acts like this, for creating the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, and for its ongoing subversion of Pakistan by sponsoring cross-border terrorism in Sindh, as reported in the January 2, 2002 Washington Times. Sikhs in attendance at the demonstration raised slogans in support of Khalistan as well as slogans in opposition to the massacre. As you know, the Sikhs declared their independence from India on October 7, 1987. Khalistan is their country, but it remains occupied by over half a million Indian forces. I would like to know why ``the world's largest democracy'' insists on maintaining authoritarian control of Khalistan instead of allowing the people there to have a free and fair vote on its status. This congress should put itself on record in support of such a vote, as well as the plebiscite that was promised to the Kashmiri people in 1948 and has never occurred. Nagalim, too, seeks its independence from India. The Nagas should also be granted the right to vote on their status. What would be wrong with that, if India is the democracy it says it is? And if India is the democracy it says it is, then why are so many peoples trying to get out from under its rule? In addition to demanding that India allow the right to self- determination (which is the essence of democracy), we should demand that basic human rights be observed in ``the world's largest democracy.'' The Delhi massacre is just one example of how basic human rights are ignored there. The murders of over 250,000 Sikhs, over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, more 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Gujarat, more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, and tens of thousands of other minorities, including Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and others speak loudly on the lack of human rights in India. So does the fact that Amnesty International has not been allowed into Punjab since 1984. This situation cannot continue. We should cut off our aid and trade with India until it allows basic human rights, including but not limited to the right to self- determination, to all people under its rule. Madam Speaker, the Council of Khalistan issued an excellent and informative press release on the Delhi massacres and the demonstration that was held this month. I recommend it to all my colleagues and I would like to place it in the Record at this time. Sikhs Remember Delhi Massacres With Very Successful Demonstration Washington, D.C., November 13, 2007.--Sikhs from around the East Coast gathered by the Gandhi statue at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC on November 3 to commemorate the Delhi massacres of November 1984 in which over 20,000 Sikhs were murdered while the police were locked in their barracks and the state-run television and radio called for more Sikh blood. The rally was attended by Sikhs from Philadelphia, including Dr. Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, S. Karj Singh, and S. Dharam Singh, as well as Sikhs from New Jersey, Baltimore, Maryland, Virginia, Washington DC, and other locations. New York Sikhs led by Sardar Avtar Singh Pannu also participated. The attendees spoke, carried signs, and chanted slogans. Slogans included ``Khalistan Zindabad'' (``Long live Khalistan''), ``India free Khalistan'', ``India stop killing minorities'', ``India free Kashmir'', ``India free Christian Nagaland'', and others. The Delhi massacres were a brutal chapter in India's repression of the Sikhs, according to Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, which is leading the demonstration. ``This brutal, government-inspired massacre clarified that there is no place in India for Sikhs,'' Dr. Aulakh said. On October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared its independence from India, naming its new country Khalistan. In the twenty years since then, India has continued its illegal occupation of Khalistan and stepped up the repression of the Sikhs while the Sikh Nation has continued to work to achieve its birthright. History shows that multinational states such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like Austria-Hungary, India's longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those countries, thrown together for the convenience of the British colonialists. It is doomed to break up as they did. The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 Christians since 1948, over 89,000 Muslims in Kashmir since 1988, and tens of thousands of Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, and others. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and murdered, and then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police custody. His body was not given to his family. The police never released the body of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna murdered him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial for the Jathedar Kaunke murder. No one has been brought to justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra. According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in illegal custody since 1984! Tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held as political prisoners, according to Amnesty International. We demand the immediate release of all these political prisoners. ``Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the repression and lift the standard of living for the people of Punjab,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. ``Democracies don't commit genocide. As Professor Darshan Singh, a former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, `If a Sikh is not for Khalistan, he is not a Sikh','' Dr. Aulakh noted. ``We must continue to press for our God- given birthright of freedom,'' he said. ``Without political power, religions cannot flourish and nations perish.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, this month marks the 538th birthday of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh religion. As you may know, Guru Nanak was born in 1469 in what is now West Punjab. Every year, Sikhs from around the world gather in Nankana Sahib, where Guru Nanak was born, to honor him. Let me take this opportunity to honor Guru Nanak also and to congratulate the Sikhs of the world on this important occasion. Guru Nanak stood up to tyranny. He worked to liberate his people from the tyranny of the Moghul ruler Babar. Today, Sikhs suffer under oppression from Hindu rulers who have murdered over a quarter of a million of them and hold more than 52,000 as political prisoners. They also killed over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir, and tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits, Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities. This oppression is no more acceptable than the oppression of Guru Nanak's time. Sikhs can honor Guru Nanak by standing up to India to secure their own freedom and helping the other minorities secure theirs too. Freedom is the longing of every human heart. God intends for everyone to be free. We are the primary power in today's world, Madam Speaker. We can use our influence to support the cause of freedom in South Asia. By doing so, we can honor Guru Nanak and all those who have worked for freedom around the world. The time has come to let India know that if it is going to proclaim itself a democracy, it must act like one. That means allowing everyone, including minorities, to exercise their most basic human rights. Freedom is the birthright of all people. If India will not do so, it should be placed back on the list of nations that do not respect religious freedom, as it was at one time, and the appropriate sanctions should be imposed. In addition, unless India is willing to live up to its democratic principles, we should stop our aid to India in all forms. Acting like a democracy also means recognizing the right of self- determination. Self-determination is the essence of democracy. Where is the vote on the status of Kashmir that India promised a mere 59 years ago? Does it take 59 years to set up a free and fair vote? Khalistan, the Sikh homeland, declared itself independent 20 years ago. Where is the vote on its status? And what of the Nagas and all the people simply seeking the freedom to rule themselves? The United States carries a lot of weight in the world. If we are serious about spreading democracy, we should work to bring about self-determination for all the peoples and nations of the subcontinent. That would help all people shake off oppression and live in dignity and prosperity, and it is the right thing to do. Madam Speaker, I would like to place the Council of Khalistan's open letter regarding the birthday of Guru Nanak into the Record. Congratulations to the Khalsa Panth on the Parkash Devas of Guru Nanak Dear Khalsa Panth: As you know, this month marks the birthday (Parkash Devas) of the first Sikh Guru; Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion. Congratulations to the Sikh Nation on this momentous occasion. This year marks the 538th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak. He was born in 1469 and departed this world for his heavenly abode in 1539. Guru Nanak was the founder of the Sikh religion. (``Mary Sikha Jagat Witch Nanak Nirmal Panth Chalaya.'') On November 24 in Nankana Sahib, now in West Punjab, Sikhs from around the world will celebrate this occasion. Last year, over 10,000 showed up for the celebration. Crowds enthusiastically raised slogans of ``Khalistan Zindabad!'' The Sangat showed great devotion and reverence on this pious occasion. Guru Nanak confronted Babar, the Moghul ruler of the time and called him a Jabbar (oppressor) and spoke out against the tyranny of the rulers of that time. He was even imprisoned by Babar, along with his followers. Today, Sikhs face similar oppression by the Hindu rulers of India. Just as Guru Nanak spoke out against the Moghul tyrant Babar, we must work to free our Sikh brothers and sisters from the oppression of the Brahmins. It is incumbent on us to achieve freedom for Khalistan, as is our birthright. As former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Professor Darshan Singh has said, ``If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a Sikh.'' India has murdered over 250,000 of our Sikh brothers and sisters, as well as more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 Kashmiri Muslims, and tens of thousands of other minorities. More than 52,000 Sikhs (and tens of thousands of other minorities) are being held as political prisoners. In 1994, the U.S. State Department reported that the Indian government had paid over 41,000 cash bounties for killing Sikhs. A MASR report quotes the Punjab Civil Magistracy as writing ``if we add up the figures of the last few years the number of innocent persons killed would run into lakhs [hundreds of thousands.]'' The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' Guru Nanak did not tolerate oppression; he struggled against it wherever it reared its ugly head. We must be good followers of Guru Nanak by doing the same today. India is also destroying Sikhs economically. The Indian government fixes the price for fertilizer very high and the price for produce very low so Sikh farmers can't even get the cost of production for their crops. This year it fixed the wheat price at Rs 750 per quintal. Even Badal demanded Rs 1000 per quintal. If Punjab farmers could sell their produce across the border in Pakistan and the Middle East, they could easily get close to Rs 1,500 per quintal and would be able to make a living. India diverts Punajb's river water, its natural resource, to neighboring Haryana and Rajasthan without any compensation. India seeks to destroy the Sikh Nation religiously, economically, and politically. Guru Nanak would not permit them to do so. We must show the spirit of Guru Nanak and reclaim our sovereignty. Guru Nanak travelled extensively, to the Middle East, where he visited Baghdad, and throughout India, along with his two companions, one Hindu, one Muslim. He spread his message of truthfulness, respect for the rights of individuals, earning an honest living, sharing with the needy, and praying to Almighty God. He was revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. When he left this world, his body was not found. The sheet covering his body was torn in two. The Hindus cremated it and the Muslims buried it, each according to their customs. Overcoming oppression in today's world will earn the Sikhs of today similar respect. We must not accept India's tyrannical rule over our homeland. Guru Nanak is remembered as Baba Nanak Shah Faqir, Hindu Da Guru, Mussleman Da Pir. He preached the equality of the entire human race, including gender equality. To this day, these are cornerstones of the Sikh religion. But our Sikh brethren in Punjab, Khalistan do not get to experience equality. Instead, they are subjected to the worst kind of oppression by the Indian regime. India is on the verge of disintegration. Kashmir is about to separate from India. As L.K. Advani said, ``If Kashmir goes, India goes.'' History shows that multinational states such as India are doomed to failure. Countries like Austria- Hungary, India's longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this point. India is not one country; it is a polyglot like those countries, thrown together for the convenience of the British colonialists. It is doomed to break up as they did. Currently, there are 17 freedom movements within India's borders. It has 18 official languages. Montenegro, which has less than a million people, has become a sovereign country and a member of the United Nations. Now it is the time for the Sikh Nation of Punjab, Khalistan to become independent. The sooner the better. Guru Nanak gave the Sikhs our identity. We can honor him by reclaiming the freedom that is our birthright: ``Raj Bina Na Dharam Chaley Hain, Dharam Bina Sab Dale Male Hain.'' (``Without political power, a religion cannot flourish and without religion, people are oppressed and persecuted.'') Let us stand up for the ideals of Guru Nanak and defend the integrity of the Sikh religion and the Sikh Nation. Sincerely, Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh President, Council of Khalistan.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I would like to call my colleagues' attention to an outstanding letter written by Claiborne E. Reeder, RPh, PhD, to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach, expressing grave concern about recent FDA actions which adversely affect the compounding of medications for individual patients which is an important part of the practice of pharmacy. With 35 years of experience as a Pharmacist and educator, Dr. Reeder is a distinguished professor of Pharmacoeconomics and a nationally recognized leader in his field. In his letter, he urges Commissioner von Eschenbach to reconsider the FDA's position on compounding and comply with the federal ruling in Medical Center Pharmacy v. Gonzales which recognizes that the practice of Pharmacy is rightfully governed by the respective State Boards of Pharmacy. Madam Speaker, I am entering Dr. Reeder's letter into the Record. Columbia, SC, October 19, 2007. Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Food and Drug Administration, Office of the Commissioner, Rockville, MD. Dear Commissioner von Eschenbach: I am writing to express my concerns about the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recent actions regarding compounded medications prepared for individual patients as part of the practice of pharmacy. The agency's position on compounding medications, coupled with its actions against several compounding pharmacies and its intervention and influence on recent Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policies on compounded medications, establishes a dangerous precedent that will affect patient access to needed medications. Compounding medicines is an essential component of the practice of pharmacy that provides physicians with the opportunity to provide patients with medicines that are prepared to the specific needs of the individual. Compounding and preparing medications pursuant to a valid prescription or physician's drug order has always been and should continue to be a professional prerogative that is governed by the pharmacy regulatory boards within each state. Governance of the practice of pharmacy is a state responsibility and should not be a matter for federal intervention, Ignoring the recent Federal court decision Medical Center Pharmacy v. Gonzales, 451 F. Supp.2d 854, 865 (W.D. Tex. 2006), the FDA reasserted its legal position ``that all compounded drugs are unapproved new, and therefore illegal, drugs under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)''. Contrary to the FDA's position, the Federal Court held that ``compounded drugs, when created for an individual patient pursuant to a prescription from a licensed practitioner, were implicitly exempt from the new drug definitions contained in the Act''. The Federal Court seems to understand the issue very clearly and recognizes that medications compounded for individual patients pursuant to a valid prescription are not ``new drugs'' and are therefore not under the purview of the FDCA or the FDA. As a pharmacist/educator with 35 years of experience, I appreciate the FDA's concern for quality, safety and efficacy of medicines. That said, I also know that pharmacists are educated and trained in the ``art and science'' of pharmacy which includes compounding medicines for patients who need them. The broad interpretation ``that all compounded drugs are unapproved new, and therefore illegal drugs'' is a very slippery slope of regulatory intrusion on the practice of pharmacy as is FDA's practice of exercising its enforcement discretion through reliance on the 2002 Compliance Policy Guide, Section 460.200. Many patients have medication needs that are unmet by commercially available products. Patients often require a particular strength or dosage form of a drug that is not available on the market. Also, commercially available products may contain additives or excipients to which the patient is allergic or intolerant. To declare compounded medications illegal is to deny these patients access to needed medicines. Compounding medicines is not limited to the typical community environment. Hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and specialty pharmacy providers prepare medications to order as part of their daily practice. Do the FDA and CMS positions mean that preparation of parenteral and enteral solutions as well as other extemporaneous products, within these settings is no longer legal? If not, then a disparity is created. To further illustrate the consequences of the Agency's position on compounding, CMS, without explanation or medical rationale, reversed its long standing policy on inhalation medications by excluding compounded inhalation medications for Medicare beneficiaries stating that they were no longer ``medically necessary''. This new CMS policy, based on FDA's position, may have far-reaching and serious consequences fur Medicare beneficiaries who rely on nebulizer medications. Eliminating compounding will severely restrict access to these and other critical medications for Medicare beneficiaries. Moreover, the policy will limit physicians' abilities to prescribe the medicines in the strengths, formulations, and routes of administration that are best for patient care. I am asking that the FDA to reconsider its position and comply with the Federal court ruling. The practice of pharmacy is governed by the respective state Boards of Pharmacy through the powers granted by their legislatures. Compounding is an integral part of the practice of pharmacy and should thus fall under the governance of the profession at the state level. Thank you for considering my comments in this matter. If you or anyone at the FDA would like to discuss this issue in more detail, I would be delighted to do so. Sincerely, Claiborne E. Reeder, Distinguished Professor of Pharmacoeconomics.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an exceptional and caring woman on this day of her retirement, Elizabeth Shell Carr. Elizabeth Carr, a New York licensed Clinical Social Worker, spent her first years in Virginia with the Harlem Veteran's Center as a Military Sexual Trauma Counselor for combat and non-combat veterans. Elizabeth Carr recalls one of her most gratifying experiences as the organizer of a successful SPA Treatment Day which included breakfast, lunch, and the dissemination of information by the Mayor's Office of Veteran Affairs. Nearly 50 women attended, each of them receiving a gift, as well as a certificate of appreciation from New York State Senator Velmanette Montgomery for their service to our country. For the past 2 years, Elizabeth Carr enjoyed working closer to home at Brooklyn's VA Medical Center. She is a former member of the Social Work Education committee, assisted with annual programs for ``Women in Government'' and Black History Month at the VA. She received a monetary performance award for her outstanding contribution to the Employee Assistance Program. Elizabeth Carr is a clinician with more than 25 years experience in health and mental health. She was previously employed with St. Luke's Roosevelt Medical Center and was also an adjunct professor of Graduate Social Work at both Columbia University and New York University. Elizabeth Carr is a long time resident of the Willoughby Walk Cooperative Apartments in Brooklyn. She is proud of her close knit community and is actively involved. She has served many years as floor captain within the co-op. She is also active in her church, Emmanuel Baptist. She was co-editor of the church newspaper, member and chairperson for the Missions and Benevolence Ministry, and committee member for the church and cooperative's commemorative anniversaries in both 2006 and 2007. Elizabeth Carr has many plans for this new phase of her life including completing a journal and a book of poetry, visiting family and friends, and traveling. Madam Speaker, Elizabeth Shell Carr has given a lot to America's veterans, her church, and her community. I would like to recognize all of her accomplishments and achievements and congratulate her on her retirement. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this wonderful woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, on September 30, Fox News reported an outrageous story. India has a small Jewish community and they are outraged at the emergence in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) of a new line of bedspreads called the ``Nazi Collection.'' The proprietor, one Kapil Kumar Todi, claimed that it stands for ``New Arrival Zone for India,'' but nobody takes that claim seriously. Mr. Todi pretends not to understand the outrage of the Jewish community, saying ``It really does not matter to me who feels bad about it.'' This collection is an outrage, not only against Jews, but against all people who believe in decency and tolerance. India should shut it down. A restaurant in Mumbai used swastikas on its menus and called itself Hitler's Cross. After the Jewish community protested, the restaurant was forced to change its name. This shows the tolerance for Nazi ideas in India, and yet it considers itself the ally of Israel and the Jewish people. As you know, Madam Speaker, India has been plagued by Hindu fundamentalism and many instances of religious intolerance. Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, and others have suffered religious violence that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. There has been destruction and laws have been enacted to prevent a Hindu from converting to another religion. A booklet was published telling people how to implicate Christians and others in false criminal cases. This is merely the latest outrage. But it is one more example of the lack of religious freedom in India. That is one reason that there are 17 freedom movements inside India. This is unacceptable, Madam Speaker. It is one more reason why we should cut off our aid to India and our trade with that country and put the U.S. Congress on record in support of self-determination and freedom for the many nations seeking their freedom from India. [From Fox News, Sept. 30, 2007] Indian Jews Outraged Over ``The Nazi Collection'' Line of Bedspreads Mumbai, India--Leaders of India's Jewish community expressed outrage Sunday over a new line of bedspreads called ``The Nazi Collection'' from a Mumbai-based home furnishing company that used swastikas in its promotional material. The furnishing dealer said the name stands for ``New Arrival Zone for India'' and was not meant to be anti- Semitic. But Jewish groups said they would file a lawsuit against the company. ``This is an enormous insult to Jews and all right-thinking people and must be retracted,'' said Jonathan Solomon, chairman of the Indian Jewish Federation. There are about 5,500 Jews living in India, a predominantly Hindu nation of 1.1 billion people. The bedspread line is not yet on sale, but brochures were handed out in a mall in a northern Mumbai suburb, the Times of India newspaper reported Sunday. Furnishing dealer Kapil Kumar Todi said he chose the name because ``that's what came to my mind,'' according to the paper. ``It really does not matter to me who feels bad about it,'' he said. Some Indians regard Hitler as just another historical figure and have little knowledge about the Holocaust in which 6 million Jews were killed during World War II. The swastika symbol, which was appropriated by the Nazis, was originally an ancient symbol used in Hinduism, Buddhism and other religions, and is still displayed all over India in hopes of bringing luck. Last year, a restaurant in Mumbai, India's financial and entertainment capital, changed its name from Hitler's Cross after the city's Jewish community protested. The restaurant used swastikas on its signs and menus.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, on October 20, Sikhs around the world will celebrate the birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of the Sikh religion, who was born in 1469. There are about 25 million Sikhs worldwide. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Sikhs around the world on this important occasion. Guru Nanak had a spiritual experience in 1499 while bathing in the Bein river. He received revelations for 3 days, then became a travelling preacher, preaching a philosophy of inclusion, tolerance, and univeralism. ``There is neither Hindu nor Muslim,'' he said, and he used both Hindu and Muslim titles for God. Guru Nanak met with both Hindu and Muslim leaders. His following continued to grow. He eventually settled in Kartarpur, Punjab. Guru Nanak taught that humans could approach God directly, that God is a formless, unified being. He taught that we could do this by many means including meditation, purification, spiritual purity, and achieving detachment. He encouraged charity. He taught that caste didn't matter. All that mattered was following the spiritual path. He admonished his followers to oppose tyranny and repression. The teachings of Guru Nanak and his successors are recorded in the Adi Granth, the holy scripture of the Sikh religion, also called the Guru Granth Sahib. It is written in Punjabi, the language of the Sikhs, which was not considered acceptable by the other religious leaders of the time, but which shows that God favors no caste or group. Guru Nanak's birthday is a major occasion for the Sikh Nation and I congratulate Sikhs worldwide on the celebration of his birth, which gave rise to their religion.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, K.P.S. Gill, the former Director General of Police in Punjab, has requested the opportunity to testify before the Major Commission, which is investigating the 1985 Air India bombing. The request comes in response to the testimony of officials from the Punjab Human Rights Organization who had valuable new information to impart. Mr. Gill should not testify. Gill was part of the same machinery of Indian repression that led to the bombing. He was responsible for the murders of tens of thousands of Sikhs while he was DGP in Punjab. Mr. Gill was quoted as endorsing extrajudicial killings, saying that they ``should happen.'' These are incidents where the police kill innocent people, then report it as an ``encounter'' to justify their actions. He was denied passage to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta by every airline because of his terrorism and he had to leave the country immediately after India's field hockey games. He serves as president of the Indian Field Hockey Association. Almost 50 Members of Congress wrote to the State Department urging them to deny Mr. Gill a visa. He stands convicted of sexually harassing a high-level female Indian Administrative Service employee. He is not fit to be a witness in any civilized country. He ought to be in prison. Gill has no information on the Air India incident. Why doesn't the Major Commission call Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew, who wrote the book Soft Target, which details the Indian government's involvement in this terrorist act, or former Member of Parliament David Kilgour, who exposed the story of Ryszard Paskowski? Paszkowski was a Canadian- Polish double agent who was approached by representatives of the Indian government who asked him to be involved in a second bombing. They said, ``the first one worked so well.'' For For that matter, why not just call Mr. Paszkowski himself? Gill's involvement in genocide is well known. Why should the Major Commission accept him as a witness? Gill Should Not Testify Before Major Commission Washington, DC, October 3, 2007.--Former Punjab Director General of Police K.P.S. Gill is seeking to testify before the Major Commission, which is investigating the 1985 Air India disaster. His request comes in response to testimony from two officials of the Punjab Human Rights Organization (PHRO.) Gill should not testify because he is a terrorist,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. ``He is responsible for the murders of tens of thousands of Sikhs. Now he is portraying himself as some sort of expert on the Air India bombing. The Council of Khalistan, the government pro tempore of Kha1istan, leads the struggle to liberate Khalistan from India. Gill was denied passage to the Atlanta Olympics by every airline in 1996 because of his terrorism. He had to be sent to Atlanta in a special train and he was sent out as soon as the hockey game was over. 49 Members of the U.S. Congress wrote to the State Department, urging them not to give Gill a visa. In that same year, he was convicted of sexually harassing a senior IAS official. A few years ago when Gill was visiting Belgium, his turban was removed from him by Sikh activists, who then chased him down to his hotel. In 1999, he was quoted as saying that fake encounters ``should occur'' if they are ``necessary.'' Many innocent people, including a three-year-old child, have been killed in such encounters. In 1994, the U.S. State Department reported that the Indian government paid out over 41,000 cash bounties to police officers for such killings. Gill presided over more than 50,000 extrajudicial killings, which were exposed by the PHRO in a study begun by Sardar Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was picked up by the police in September 1995 and murdered in police custody in October of that year. Many of these were secret cremations, in which Sikhs were arrested, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were secretly cremated and declared ``unidentified.'' Their remains were never even given to their families. It was for exposing this brutal policy that Gill's police arrested and murdered Sardar Khalra. Gill serves as head of the Anti-Terrorist Institute of India, which has so far received $95 million in taxpayer funding from the government of Canada, and of the Institute for Conflict Management, which has received $65,000. ``It is ironic that Gill heads an antiterrorism institute and he is a terrorist himself,'' said Dr. Aulakh. ``Like most police officials, he has escaped any consequences of his actions. Gill should be tried for genocide.'' Information recently released to Tehelka by the PHRO showed that Talwinder Singh Parmar, the leader of Babbar Khalsa (an organization significantly infiltrated and controlled by the Indian government) had identified Lakhbir Singh Brar (Rode), leader of the International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF), as the main culprit behind the bombing and as an Indian government agent. A police official, Harmail Singh Chandi, showing documents that were supposed to have been destroyed, reported that Parmar was murdered in police custody. It is clear that Parmar was killed to keep him from talking about Rode's involvement. As a Canadian Security Investigative Service agent who was quoted in Zuhair Kashmeri and Brian McAndrew's book Soft Target said. ``If you really want to clear up the incidents quickly, take vans down to the Indian High Commission and the consulates in Toronto and Vancouver. We know it and they know it that they are involved.'' ``If Gill can testify, why not call Kashmeri and McAndrew? Former Member of Parliament David Kilgour, who wrote Betrayal: The Spy That Canada Abandoned, should also be invited to testify,'' Dr. Aulakh said. In his book Kilgour reports on a Canadian-Polish double agent named Ryszard Paszkowski, who was approached by representatives of the Indian regime, who asked him to participate in a second bombing because ``the first one worked so well.'' Paszkowski should also be invited to testify. A report issued by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR) shows that India admitted that it held 52,268 political prisoners under the repressive ``Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act'' (TADA), which expired in 1995. Many have been in illegal custody since 1984. According to Amnesty International, there are tens of thousands of other minorities being held as political prisoners in India. The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, over 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir, tens of thousands of Christians and Muslims throughout the country, and tens of thousands of Tamils, Assamese, Manipuris, Dalits, Bodos, and others. The Indian Supreme Court called the Indian government's murders of Sikhs ``worse than a genocide.'' ``How can anyone accept testimony of the representative of this bloody regime?'' Dr. Aulakh asked. ``In a free Khalistan, no one would accept those who carry out genocide against the Sikh religion and the Sikh Nation or against any other people,'' he said. ``The Sikh Nation and the Sikh religion cannot flourish without political power. We must free Khalistan now.'

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mrs. Hazel Baldwin Forbes. Hazel is a native of Lake Waccamaw, North Carolina and the daughter of Colene M. Baldwin Stanley and Prince Baldwin. She showed a genuine interest and aptitude for music at an early age. She first studied piano under the tutelage of Mrs. Tabitha Thompson from age seven through high school. At the age of 15, she became solely responsible for directing the senior choir at the Little Wheel of Hope Baptist Church in Lake Waccamaw. During her years as a teen musical prodigy, she was in great demand for performances at weddings, funerals, concerts, recitals and as an accompanist for soloists and vocalists. Upon Hazel's admission to Shaw University, she auditioned and was selected as a pianist and accompanist for the University Chorale Society under the direction of Professor Harry GilSmyth. Holding a double major in English and Music, she graduated from Shaw University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. She subsequently earned a Master's of Social Work Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. For more than 30 years, Hazel served as a Clinical Social Worker. Her practice includes work with adolescent girls, families, couples, parents and children; individuals living with mental illness, abuse, neglect, fears, and violence that interfere with meaningful relationships and a positive sense of self. Hazel now focuses her practice on providing clinical supervision and coaching to psychiatrists, nurses, other clinical social workers, and case managers. Though Hazel remained true to her trade, she never lost her passion for music. She found time to keep active in a variety of musical interests. She has served choirs as their directress and accompanist for more than 25 years in New York City, Richmond, Virginia, and Raleigh, North Carolina. In New York, she was employed as a music instructor at Bedford Stuyvesant's Junior High School 35. She also served for a number of years on the faculty of the Hampton Ministers' Conference and Organist and Musicians Guild and most recently as Directress of the Adult Choir at Christian Faith Baptist Church from which she is now retiring. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize the impressive achievements of Hazel Baldwin Forbes and her commitment as a social worker and a gifted musician. I also want to thank and applaud Mrs. Forbes for sharing that gift with the rest of us. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to this wonderful, caring and talented woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, on August 3, India-West reported that during former British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to India shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the Indian regime bugged Prime Minister Blair's hotel room. According to the article, they didn't do a very good job of it, either. India-West reported that Prime Minister Blair's associate, Alistair Campbell, wrote in his book that Blair's people found the bugs but decided not to make a fuss about them. According to India-West, Campbell writes that ``On his way to the hotel, Blair asked the then British High Commissioner in India if the car was bugged only to receive a `kind of noncommittal no.' '' Campbell also describes the discovery of two listening devices in Prime Minister Blair's hotel room. Campbell reported that the bugs couldn't be removed ``without drilling the wall,'' so Mr. Blair simply used a different room. He also writes about a valet named Sunil who was there wherever Campbell went. ``I was beginning to wonder whether he had been put there either by spooks or by a paper,'' Campbell wrote. Madam Speaker, this is an outrage. The fact that India feels the need to spy on a democratic leader who is fighting the same war on terror that India claims to support shows that India's sympathies do not lie on the side of the Free World. It also shows that India's claims to be a democracy ring hollow. Perhaps they can hear their claims ring hollow in one of their listening devices. Those claims are further belied by India's ongoing repression against Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and other minorities. We all know that India has murdered more than a quarter of a million Sikhs, over 300,000 Christians in Nagaland, more than 90,000 Muslims in Kashmir, 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Gujarat, and tens of thousands of other minorities such as manipuris, Tamils, Bodos, Assamese, Bengalis, Dalits, et cetera. We all know of the tens of thousands of political prisoners. Harassment and false arrest are common. Some Sikh activists were arrested for making speeches and raising a flag! Does that sound like democracy to you, Madam Speaker? Why do we accept this? America is founded on the idea of freedom for all. There is something we can do about the tyranny in India. We owe it to the oppressed people there to stop our aid and trade with India (especially since more than 836 million people there live on less than 40 cents per day) and we should demand self-determination for the people of Punjab, Khalsitan, Nagalim, Kashmir, and all people seeking their freedom. Self-determination is the essence of democracy. Our actions can help bring real freedom and prosperity to all the people of the subcontinent. Let us do whatever we can. [From the Times of India, Aug. 3, 2007] Delhi Clumsily Bugged Tony Blair's Room During 2001 Visit (By Rashmee Roshan Lall) London.--Indian intelligence clumsily bugged Tony Blair's hotel room in Delhi during the British prime minister's visit to India one month after the 9/11 attacks, his chief spin doctor Alastair Campbell has said. In his newly published diaries released in India July 25. Campbell said Blair's entourage found the bugs but decided not to make a fuss. On his way to the hotel, Blair asked the then British High Commissioner in Delhi if the car was bugged, only to receive a ``kind of noncommittal no.'' Campbell writes about Blair's passage to India on Oct. 5, 2001. Later, he describes an ``incriminating'' discovery of two bugs in the British prime minister's hotel room. ``At the hotel, our security service guys had found two bugs in TB's bedroom and said they wouldn't be able to move them without drilling the wall, so TB used a different room,'' he wrote. Campbell's revelations are probably the first time someone within the innermost circle of a British prime minister has openly accused the Indian authorities of bugging and dirty tricks. Campbell also claims in the diaries, titled ``The Blair Years,'' that he too was probably spied upon by Indian intelligence, via the services of a ``valet'' named Sunil. The ``valet,'' says Campbell drove him ``bananas everywhere I went, he was there. I was beginning to wonder whether he had been put there either by the spooks or a paper.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, last week most of the Republicans once again marched in lockstep with the Bush administration. I have just been informed that the President has vetoed the CHIP bill. That is a shame and it is a disgrace. Despite the fact that this Democratic Congress crafted a bipartisan bill with Republican input, most Republican Members chose to ignore the health care needs of 10 million children. It is a shame and a national disgrace. The Children's Health Insurance Program has helped our Nation reduce the number of uninsured children. During each of the 8 years of the program, the number of uninsured children decreased, but over the last 2 years these numbers have actually gone up. Based on these troubling trends, this Democratic Congress did not believe that a straight reauthorization was enough. We needed to strengthen the CHIP program, and that is exactly what we did. And now I have been informed that the President has vetoed it. That's a disgrace.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make technical corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 928, to include corrections in spelling, punctuation, section numbering and cross-referencing, and the insertion of appropriate headings.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, the committee also supports this amendment by Mr. Miller. One of the problems that we have seen is that recent IG appointments have had far more experience in politics than they have had in investigating and auditing. The council created by this amendment is advisory, but it will provide an independent evaluation of whether a candidate for appointment has the professional background and experience to succeed in the IG role. This information should be valuable to the President and to the Senate as they fill IG vacancies. Mr. Chairman, I think this is a fine amendment and I am hoping that both sides of the aisle will support it. This is what strengthening legislation is all about, dialogue on both sides and then supporting. So I am hoping this amendment gets a strong, strong vote. It is a good amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I am opposed to the amendment, I think. I am not sure. Let me ask some questions and then I can make up my mind. As I understand it, under your amendment, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), each Inspector General's appropriations request as originally made to his or her agency head would be noted in the President's budget submission to Congress. Mr. Chairman, is that correct?

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee, who has been very instrumental in bringing forth this legislation, Mr. Cooper.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 928, the Improving Government Accountability Act, focuses on the important role of the Inspector General in providing independent oversight within Federal agencies. By investigating and reporting waste, fraud and abuse to both agency leaders and to the Congress, Inspectors General play a critical role in maintaining checks and balances in the Federal Government. When Congress created the Inspectors General nearly 30 years ago, the idea was that having independent officials inside the Federal agency would help detect and prevent wasteful spending and mismanagement. This concept has been a tremendous success. Investigations by IGs have resulted in the recovery of billions of dollars from companies and individuals who defrauded the Federal Government. These investigations have led to thousands of criminal prosecutions, contractor debarments, employee suspensions, and in some instances, dismissals. In sum, the work of IGs to expose criminal and abusive action in government has gone a long way to create the cleaner and more efficient government the taxpaying public expects and deserves. Of course, even the best systems need some improvement from time to time, and that is the reason for this bill today, to effectively carry out that mission. Inspectors General must be independent and objective, which requires that they be insulated from improper management and political pressure. To preserve the credibility of the office, Inspectors General must also perform their duties with integrity and apply the same standards of conduct and accountability to themselves as they apply to the agencies that they audit and investigate. In recent years, there have been several episodes which raised questions about the independence and accountability of IGs. These episodes have been well documented in hearings of the Oversight Committee as well as other standing committees of the House. In some instances, IGs who are seen as too aggressive in pursuing waste at their agencies had their budget cut or were threatened with dismissal. In other cases, IGs who abused their authority remained in office in part because there were no statutory standards or procedures for removal. This bill is designed to address both of those problems. H.R. 928 creates fixed terms of office for Inspectors General and specific reasons for their removal. It allows IGs to submit their budget requests directly to the Congress. The bill establishes an Inspector General council and sets procedures for investigation of potential IG misconduct. And the bill increases the rank and pay of IGs as well. This is a strong bill and a necessary bill. Passing this bill will send a message that Congress values the work of the Inspectors General and the oversight that they provide. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, reclaiming my time, with that in mind, I do support the amendment, and, of course, I am prepared to accept the amendment. It achieves the goal of the budget provision in this bill, which is to expose whether IGs are having their budgets slashed in retaliation of their investigations. I look forward to working with you as this bill moves through the legislative process to clarify the language of the amendment to ensure that its intent is fulfilled. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the chairman of the full committee, the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman).

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the instructions of the House in the motion to recommit, I report H.R. 928 back to the House with an amendment.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, this is a very good amendment. It is especially important that the Department of Justice IG have the authority to examine a broad range of issues in that Department. Considering all the problems that congressional investigations have recently uncovered, I think that this is a very timely amendment. I really feel that we should aggressively get behind it and support it and encourage our colleagues also to support it.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, this is a well thought-out amendment. I want to commend the gentleman from North Carolina for this. It makes it clear that the bill is not intended to protect poorly performing IGs from removal. There was some question about an IG who managed his office so poorly that it caused most of the senior career staff to quit, and then the IG would still be there. At least this amendment addresses that issue as well by adding gross mismanagement and gross waste of funds and abuse of authority as grounds for removal. This amendment clarifies that an IG who is not an effective leader can be removed for that reason. We also support the technical and procedural changes that Mr. Miller has included in this amendment. This is a very, very good amendment, and I hope that it has support coming from both sides of the aisle, because this is an amendment that is long overdue.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to support the amendment. I think it is a very good amendment because it deals with waste, fraud and abuse. I think anything that strengthens this bill, I am for. There is no question about it, my colleague from New York definitely improves the legislation. Therefore, I am in total support of the amendment, and would encourage my colleagues to do likewise.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 928.