Ed Towns

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Ingrid S. Mason in recognition of her career as an educator and children's advocate. Ingrid S. Mason's roots became solidly grounded by the legacy bestowed upon her by her maternal grandmother, Alice Crawford. Born in Costa Rica, Ingrid spent her formative years under the nurturing love and guidance of her ``Tia'' and grandmother. Her roots continued to be firmly set, when at the age of five she migrated to the United States to reunite with her mother Irene. It is from her grandmother, mother and aunts that Ingrid gained her most valuable gifts in life a legacy of faith, independence, determination, and commitment to excellence, a strong work ethic and a positive spirit. This legacy has provided her with the wings to soar. As a youngster and young adult Ingrid excelled academically, earning a myriad of honors, citations, awards and scholarships. She graduated from New York University earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. Ingrid's love of children naturally guided her to a profession in education. For the past sixteen years she has been a staunch advocate for children and committed educator, working in Community School District 19 in Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood. She has served the parents and children as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. She is currently the assistant principal of P.S. 346 in Starrett City. She has earned a Master of Science in Bilingual Education and an Advanced Certificate in Education Administration, both from Brooklyn College. She is a member of many professional organizations including the Council of Supervisors and Administrators, the Association of Assistant Principals and the Association for School Curriculum and Development. Ingrid's philosophy on education and working with children stems from her belief that all children possess inner greatness waiting to be awakened. She sees this not only as a challenge, but as a duty. Each day she strives to awaken that greatness by passing on to them the legacy given to her. Ingrid is provided with ``wings'' each day by the love, support and encouragement of her family, daughter, Jahira, sister, Rose, and nephew and niece, Travis and Alice, her greatest fans. Mr. Speaker, Ingrid S. Mason has dedicated her career to education and children's advocacy, As such, she is more than worthy of receiving this recognition, and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Berta May Barker Dyer in recognition of her commitment to her community and her family. Berta May Barker Dyer is a native of Costa Rica. She lived in Colon, Panama for several years before she moved to the United States and became a citizen. Berta's first career was as an elementary-school teacher. After some consideration, she decided to put aside her career as an educator and take care of her eleven children. Recognizing the importance of education, she supported and encouraged her children's pursuit of professional careers. Several of them became professionals working in the areas of education, cosmetics, electricity, medicine, the U.S. Marines, the airline industry, and housewives. She credits her parents the late Joney Dyer de Barker and Steven Parchment with instilling the importance of education in her as well as a guiding and nurturing spirit. At Berta's tender age of seventy-one she has a wonderful rapport with her thirty-three grandchildren and enjoys visiting with her five great grandchildren in Colon, Panama. She still finds time to read and preach to several of her grandchildren about the importance of education. Berta is a devout Seventh Day Adventist who credits her strong religious background to her beloved stepfather, Amos Barker Clark (aka ``Pa''). She is a member of several community organizations. As a retired Nursing Assistant, she acts as a missionary reaching out to the sick and shut ins throughout her Brooklyn community. In addition, Berta is an avid seamstress who crochets and embroiders as a hobby. Mr. Speaker, Berta May Barker Dyer has lead a life dedicated to her community and her family. As such she is more than worthy of receiving this recognition and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Dorothy Isaac Faustino in recognition of her tireless commitment to healthcare and serving those in need. Dorothy Isaac Faustino grew up in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Long Island City. She earned her nursing diploma from Kings County Hospital Center's School of Nursing. Later, she earned her Bachelor's degree from Adelphi University. She also received Adelphi's Eileen Jacobi Leadership Award and was inducted into the National Honor Society for Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau. Dorothy is not one to allow herself a moment's rest. Following her undergraduate education, while raising a family, working and running a Girl Scout troop for 10 years at Sacred Heart Church, in Cambria Heights, Dorothy earned a joint Master's Degree from Columbia University in Nursing and Public Health. While there she also became involved in working with the homeless. Together with several other students, Dorothy and her team developed a hand book and training curriculum for staff and volunteers working with the homeless from 1985 to l988. In addition, to being a tireless worker, Dorothy is a people person who has involved herself in programs that make an impact in her community, such as, teen pregnancy programs and Brooklyn's Perinatal Network--where she worked for over 12 years in the Bed-Stuy and Fort Greene communities. She collaborated with Medgar Evers College's School of Continuing Education and Fort Greene's Youth Coalition program to develop curricula and training programs for welfare recipients to become nurse's aides. In 1987, Dorothy became Director of Nursing for Cumberland Diagnostic and Treatment Center. She and her staff were deeply involved in community and school based outreach programs. They provided health care and education to children and teens in the Beacon School Program in Fort Greene. In addition, Cumberland staff provided one of the first back to school campaigns to get children immunized. Dorothy and her staff also worked nights and weekends to provide health care to families in the Auburn Family Shelter, the Atlantic Avenue Men's Shelter and the Brooklyn Emergency Assistance Unit at the Duffield Center. Dorothy has worked with the Fort Greene Community in providing special outreach and health screening events for its senior citizens, day care centers and its middle and senior high schools. She has mentored students into various careers and continues to work with staff supporting them as their careers progess. Ms. Faustino is currently the Deputy Director for Ambulatory Care Nursing Services for the North Brooklyn Health Network. She was professionally involved in the Queens County Black Nurse's Association for over ten years. Dorothy says she had the loving support of her husband for 34 years until his recent death and their daughters Nancy and Allison. Anyone who has worked with Dorothy knows her motto is ``EACH ONE, REACH ONE, TEACH ONE''. Mr. Speaker, Dorothy Faustino has lead a life dedicated to improving her community through her field of expertise, healthcare. Moreover, she has distinguished herself as a caring and committed person who brings a high sense of integrity to her life and work. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving this recognition and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly remarkable woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Loretta A. Washington in recognition of her service to her community and her commitment to God. Loretta A. Washington was born in Brooklyn. The first of six children, she attended Wingate High School and then went on to Edison College in Florida. Her desire to succeed led her back to New York where she continued her education at Baruch College. Loretta and her husband, Michael have two beautiful children, Chanelle and Micah. Loretta began her career in banking at Chemical Bank (before it became Chase) in the early 1980s. Starting as a teller, she worked her way up the corporate ladder. Loretta understood that education had to be at the top of her list and God at the beginning of the list. She challenged the way things were done at the branch, ruffling feathers along the way; however, she was able to win over the staff and customers with a combination of her kindness, business sense and smile. In the summer of 1999, a Branch manager position opened at the Bedford Avenue branch and Loretta jumped at the opportunity to enhance her career. She welcomed the opportunity to make a difference in the community in which she lived her entire life. Loretta's primary focus is to impart her financial knowledge to businesses in the community, in hopes of building and improving financial awareness for all. She is dedicated to God and the community in which he allows her to serve. Her motto is, ``Let's serve the people with a smile!'' Mr. Speaker, Loretta A. Washington serves her community and her religious beliefs through her work. As such she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition and I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly dedicated spiritual woman.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Ulysses S. Kilgore III in recognition of his commitment and service to the health of the Central Brooklyn community. Ulysses S. Kilgore III possesses a Masters of Business Administration from Long Island University, and a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from Lincoln University (MO). He is a former U.S. Army officer whose assignments took him to the Republic of South Korea, West Germany and Fort Meade, MD. His professional experience includes appointments as fiscal officer at the former Sydneham Hospital and financial management positions at Pfizer and Brooklyn Union Gas Company, respectively. In 1982, Mr. Kilgore was selected as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center, Inc. Over the years--with strong and compassionate management and clinical teams--the FHC has become a major provider of healthcare in the Central Brooklyn, Bedford Stuyvesant community. According to Mr. Kilgore, it is the Center's ultimate responsibility for their own mental, spiritual and physical well-being. The Center seeks to be a participant in that quest. He believes that the greatest source of enrichment comes from service to others. He gives thanks to the Creator for the opportunity to be used to help make life better. Mr. Speaker, for all of his hard work and dedication to improving access to health care in central Brooklyn, I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring Ulysses S. Kilgore III a truly remarkable man.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of this resolution, H. Con. Res. 277, which recognizes the important contributions of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The chamber's mission, to actively promote the economic growth and development of Hispanic entrepreneurs, is important to the free market process and the success of Hispanic Americans. Especially during these times of economic hardship, I fully expect that the Hispanic business community will be an engine for growth and recovery benefiting our whole economy. In the 5-year period from 1992 to 1997, Hispanic businesses across the Nation grew about 82 percent. The programs, services and support that the chamber continues to offer the more than 200 local chambers across this Nation have been integral to the success and vitality of these Hispanic businesses. I have seen the effects of the chamber's initiatives in my own 10th Congressional District in Brooklyn. The Hispanic community has produced some of the most exciting entrepreneurial initiatives, enriching Brooklyn for all of its residents. From small stores and bodegas to supermarkets like Compare Market and ABC Beverages to large construction companies like Park Avenue Building and Roofing Supplies, Hispanic-owned businesses employ hundreds of residents as well as adding to the economic viability of our neighborhoods. Since its formation in 1979, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has represented the interests of more than 1.2 million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States and Puerto Rico. In addition to its annual convention featuring hundreds of domestic and international exhibitors, the chamber also supports Hispanic businesses with legislative and governmental affairs services, business development and marketing services, and active promotion of international trade by networking with Latin American governments. Through its Empowerment Through Entrepreneurship Initiative, the chamber has also established a $20 million venture capital fund and, in partnership with the Ford Motor Company, has formed a bilingual National Director of Hispanic Businesses. It has also sewn the seeds of entrepreneurship by sponsoring programs for Hispanic youth such as Bizfest and funding Hispanic scholarship programs. The chamber's contributions to the Hispanic business community have and will continue to enrich all of our lives. I urge my colleagues to join me in giving the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce the recognition that it deserves.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of P.O. Jeanette Morales and her record of service to Brooklyn as a member of the New York City Police Department. Jeanette Morales was born and raised in East New York. She graduated in 1982 and started working as a bank teller. She moved to various positions within the bank and ultimately became Senior Customer Service Representative. She enjoyed working with and helping people so a friend recommended that she become an Auxiliary Police Officer. Jeanette served as an Auxiliary Police Officer in the 75th Precinct for a year and then applied to become a full-fledged New York City Police Officer. She passed the exam and was sworn in on July 11, 1988. After she graduated from the Police Academy she was assigned to field training within the 88th, 84th, 77th and the 79th precincts. In September 1989, Jeanette was assigned to the 79th Precinct. She was assigned to rotating tours for the first few years and was assigned to various units within the 79th Precinct. She worked in the S.N.E.U. (Street narcotics enforcement unit) and the Anti-Crime unit. In October 1993, she was assigned to Community Affairs. She worked in this unit for 8 years along side her partner, Detective David Allen. They worked extremely will together until the day he passed away. After 13 years in the 79th Precinct, Jeanette was transferred to Brooklyn North Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, P.O. Jeanette Morales has served the people of Brooklyn and New York City as a dedicated member of the New York City Police Department. As such she is more than worthy of our praise. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring this truly committed public servant.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in honor of Police Officers Niurca Quinones and Darrell Clark in recognition of their outstanding work to rid the streets of Bedford-Stuyvesant from the scourge of drugs. Officer Quinones joined the New York City Police Department on April 30, 1991. Officer Clark joined the New York City Police Department on October 15, 1990. Both officers were assigned to the 79th Precinct, where they worked together as partners. As a unit, they have done an outstanding job in serving the community of Bedford-Stuyvesant. In a short period of time, these officers have successfully reduced the presence of drugs and the number of drug-related crimes. In the past two years alone, these officers executed 48 search warrants leading to 97 arrests. Officers Quinones and Clark also recovered 14 guns, 300 rounds of ammunition, 436 decks of heroin, 1 large bag of heroin, 167 vials of crack, 412 glass vials of crack, 10 oz. of crack, three pounds of marijuana, 51 bottles of hydro, 284 bags of marijuana, and over $9,000 in illegal funds. Mr. Speaker, Officers Quinones and Clark are two outstanding examples of New York's finest. They have gone above and beyond the call of duty to help clear the Bedford-Stuyvesant community of dangerous drugs and criminals. As such they are more than worthy of our praise. I urge my colleagues to join me in honoring these two dedicated public servants.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, all over the world, religious and ethnic groups have their own countries. There are numerous countries dominated by Christians and as we have recently been reminded, there are numerous Muslim countries as well. The Hindus rule India and a few other countries. There are a number of Buddhist countries. The Jewish people have Israel. Only the Sikhs do not have their own country. Sikhs declared their independence from India on October 7, 1987, naming their country Khalistan. Unfortunately, Khalistan continues to live under a brutal occupation by India that has cost a quarter of a million Sikhs their lives since 1984. Earlier this year, the Movement Against State Repression issued a report showing that India is holding at least 52,268 Sikh political prisoners, by their own admission, in illegal detention without charge or trial. Some of them have been held since 1984. Former Member of Parliament Atinder Pal Singh noted that ``there is no family in the 12,687 villages of Punjab of which one or the other Sikh member has not been killed by the police.'' As I have previously said, ``The mere fact that they have the right to choose their oppressors does not mean they live in a democracy.'' My colleague, the gentleman from California, Mr. Rohrabacher, has said that for Sikhs and Kashmiris, ``India might as well be Nazi Germany.'' I cannot make a better statement of how brutal India's occupation of the Sikh homeland is. A new Indian law makes any act a ``terrorist offense'' to ``threaten the unity or integrity of India.'' Under this law, anyone who peacefully advocates independence for Khalistan or any of the minority nations such as predominantly Christian Nagaland, Kashmir, or any other can be held as a ``terrorist'' for as long as it suits the Indian government to do so. This is not democracy, Mr. Speaker. When India got its independence from Britain, Sikhs were one of the three nations that were to receive their own sovereign state. Muslims got Pakistan, Hindus got India. Sikh leaders stayed with India because Mr. Nehru and Mr. Gandhi promised them that they would enjoy ``the glow of freedom'' in Punjab and no law would pass affecting Sikhs without their consent. However, as soon as the ink was dry on the agreement for Indian independence, the Indian government put out a memo describing Sikhs as ``a criminal class'' and began the tyrannical harassment of the Sikhs. Accordingly, no Sikh representative has ever signed the constitution of India. Sikhs ruled Punjab as an independent country from 1765 to 1849, when the British conquered the subcontinent. Punjab was recognized by most of the major countries at that time. Under Sikh rule, Punjab was a secular state in which Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, and Christians all had a part in the government. The people prospered. In June 1984, the Indian government attacked the Sikh religion's most sacred shrine, the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Vatican or Mecca of the Sikhs. Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a leader of the Sikh freedom movement had warned that ``If the Indian government attacks the Golden Temple, it will lay the foundation of Khalistan.'' After the Golden Temple attack, the movement for an independent Sikh country, Khalistan, took on steam. As a result, India stepped up the repression. In the words of Narinder Singh, a spokesman for the Golden Temple who appeared on NPR in August 1997, ``The Indian government, all the time they boast that they're democratic, they're secular, but they have nothing to do with a democracy, they have nothing to do with a secularism. They try to crush Sikhs just to please the majority.'' Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. I must join Atinder Pal Singh, the former Member of Parliament in asking, ``why can't the Khalistan, Sikhistan, or whatever name you might like to give it be formed for the Sikhs?'' India claims to be ``the world's largest democracy.'' If that is so, then why can't India do the democratic thing and let the people of Khalistan and the peoples of all the minority nations have a free and fair plebiscite, with international monitoring, to decide the question of independence? Isn't that the democratic way? The United States does it for Puerto Rico, Canada does it for Quebec. Why can't ``the world's largest democracy'' do it for the people of Khalistan, Kashmir, Christian Nagaland, and all the other minority nations? Only when these nations are free will the repression of minorities in India end. The U.S. Congress should go on record in support of self- determination for all the people of South Asia and we should stop American aid to India until the repression ends. The only answer is freedom. Let's do what we can to support it and expand it.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker. With the United States war on terrorism gaining steam, Paraguay, a nation with a disturbing Pro-Nazi past, could become a country of increasing importance for United States foreign policy makers due to the high volume of narcotics traffickers now occurring there as well as various militant movements in that nation, producing an alarmingly volatile situation, according to United States officials. Ross Knutson, Research Associate at the Washington- based Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), has recently authored an article of utmost importance entitled, Paraguay: A terrorist's utopia. The article examines United States monitoring of the clandestine activity in Paraguay that has been occurring for a number of years there. For a long time, the United States as well as the intelligent services of a number of Southern Cone countries has known about the involvement of radical Islamic terrorist organizations in the tri- border region, where Paraguay borders Argentina and Brazil. There is very strong evidence indicating that such extremist groups authored the bombing of two Jewish facilities in Buenos Aires in the early 1990s with the loss of over 100 lives. In the wake of the terrorist strikes in the United States, Paraguay's recent history of serving as a staging ground for such militant Islamic groups as Hezbollah and the Islamic Jihad will certainly deserve closer scrutiny. Paraguayan authorities as well as the governments of Brazil and Argentina are beginning to take a more active role in monitoring these groups especially around Cuidad del Este, a well-known Paraguayan hub for such alleged terrorist activity. Despite such efforts by the tri-border countries, U.S. authorities are becoming increasingly worried over the lack of local control over the region's numerous airstrips and waterways which terrorist groups could use to communicate and move operatives and supplies with near anonymity. As such, the United States is beginning to take greater action, with Washington offering its Special Forces to train and advise the Paraguayan military and national police on a variety of antiterrorism and antidrug tactics. This step is associated with the United States implementing a crackdown on the drug trade by way of its increased efforts through Plan Colombia. If the war on terrorism lasts for years, as the Bush administration has stated it will, the United States could soon find itself involved in a series of protracted and complicated campaigns in countries such as Paraguay. As such, Knutson's article is of utmost importance since any U.S activities in that country appear to be long-stayed. The Council on Hemispheric Affairs The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt independent research and information organization, was founded at the end of 1975 to promote the common interest of the hemisphere, raise the visibility and increase the importance of the inter-American relationship, as well as encourage the formulation of rational and constructive U.S. policies towards Latin America. In 1982, COHA's board of trustees voted to expand its mandate to include monitoring Canadian/Latin American relations. Since its inception, COHA has been one of the most active and broadest-based U.S. private bodies dealing with the entire spectrum of political, economic and diplomatic issues, as well as the economic and political challenges confronting the Inter-American nations. From its founding, COHA's board consisted of the leadership of some of this country's most important trade unions, professional organizations and religious groups, as well as distinguished civic and academic figures who joined together to advance their common belief in support of representative government and pluralistic institutions throughout the hemisphere. COHA subscribes to no specific political credo nor does it maintain partisan allegiances. It support open and democratic political processes just as it consistently has condemned authoritarian regimes of any stripe that fail to provide their populations with even minimal standards of political freedoms, economic and social justice, personal security and civic guarantees. COHA is entirely staffed by a professional core, who contribute their services, supplemented by a large number of volunteer graduate and undergraduate students who often receive academic credit from their home institutions for the experience gained through their work here. Over the years, retired government employees also have cooperated with COHA in preparing monographs on such topics as regional development, trade policies, technology transfer, the operations of multinational corporations and the controversial development strategies of the international agencies. The staff is assisted by a number of extra-mural professionals coming from an academic background who serve as COHA senior research fellows, who are generally considered to be leaders in their respective fields of expertise. COHA's analyses are frequently sought after by the major media, with its long-time director, Larry Burns, as well as other senior personnel regularly being called upon by the major national and international press, along with network radio and TV public affairs programs, to provide commentary on breaking regional issues. COHA contributors also appear regularly in the opinion columns on editorial pages throughout the country, and its findings frequently have been heard and seen over the BBC, Voice of America, CBC, Radio Marti, Radio Havana and U.S. radio programs. COHA personnel also have appeared one or more times on CNN, C-Span, Firing Line, CrossFire, Nightline, the CBS, ABC and NBC evening news, as well as the network Larry King program, ``Good Morning America'' and the ``Today Show,'' and many National Public Radio public affairs programs. COHA's personnel have been interviewed, or the organization's findings have been referred to in such publications as Time, Newsweek, the Atlantic Monthly, U.S. New and World Report, New York Magazine, Harper's, the New Yorker, the New Statesman, Barron's and Maclean's. On almost a daily basis, the results of COHA's work appear in the press of Latin America and Europe. COHA also has been cited in numerous occasions in the New York Times, the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, the Christian Science Monitor, the London Observer, the Boston Globe, the Miami Herald, the Toronto Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the London Independent and the Guardian, among many other newspapers. COHA has been referred to in the floor of the Senate as ``one of our Nation's more respected bodies of scholars and policymakers.'' Paraguay: A terrorist's utopia The coming months should bring an increased focus on Paraguay. In reaction to the growing U.S. presence in Colombia and other South American nations, drug traffickers as well as various militant movements are gradually fanning out, establishing what is an alarming presence, according to U.S. officials. Unstable institutions, rampant corruption and a struggling economy make Paraguay an attractive venue for would-be terrorists and drug smugglers to establish their operations. U.S, agencies have been monitoring clandestine activity in Paraguay for a number of years. However, only recently have they begun to increase their physical presence. According to reports, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) has more than doubled the size of its office in Asuncion. In the wake of the terrorist strikes in the U.S. Paraguay's recent history of severing as a staging ground for militant Islamic groups such as Hezbollah and the Islmaic Jihad will certainly draw closer scrutiny. Terrorist Cells The U.S. as well as the Southern Cone countries have long known about the involvement of radical Islamic terrorist organizations in the tri-border region, where Paraguay borders Argentina and Brazil. Now, as the result of increased U.S. pressure, Paraguayan authorities, and to a lesser extent, the governments of Brazil and Argentina, are beginning to take a more active role in monitoring these groups. In response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, Brazil and Argentina bowed to FBI requests to tighten its borders with their neighbors. Paraguay, worried over its reputation as a country harboring terrorists, has announced that it would temporarily would severely restrict issuing visas and increase security along its borders, particularly focusing on the eastern portion of the country, an area with a large Arab community. On September 21, foreign affairs ministers from the OAS nations met to discuss terrorism- related hemispheric security concerns. Portions of the talks dealt with the Southern Cone countries' long-standing belief that Paraguay has shown little concern in addressing the terrorist elements operating within its borders. For instance, Argentina has maintained that Hezbollah terrorists used Ciudad del Este, Paraguay's principle city in the tri- border area, as headquarters for their attacks on the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and a Buenos Aires' Argentine-Israeli Community Center in 1994. A trial involving 20 low-level defendants accused of assisting the attackers recently began, with some hoping that more knowledge will be reveled concerning who supervised the terrorists. Argentine pressure is mounting, with Enrique Mathov, its new Internet Security Secretary, calling the ``triple border'' area a ``hot zone.'' Indeed, it is possible that the U.S. will step up pressure on the tri-border countries to clean up this area and eliminate ``rouge elements.'' U.S. Involvement President Bush's call to sustain the war ``until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated'' indicates that U.S. authorities will certainly increase this country's monitoring of developments in the area. Triple-frontier countries have indicated that they intend to fully cooperate in helping the U.S. eliminate any terrorist threat in the region. Although Brazil and Argentina have increased their border security, Paraguay has perhaps taken the strongest position in support of the U.S. anti- terrorism efforts by asking the OAS to firmly support any U.S.-led retaliation. Nevertheless, rhetoric and a strong anti-terrorism stance by these nations are not deemed sufficient by U.S. authorities to quell their fears about the potential terrorist threat in the region. Paraguay's foreign minister, Jose Antonio Moreno, stated that 40 FBI agents have arrived in Paraguay and were headed to Ciudad del Este, ``transit point for shadowy groups.'' Many experts foresaw this increased U.S. presence as inevitable; however, a deployment of this magnitude was certainly accelerated by the recent terrorist attack. The inevitability of U.S. involvement in the area was reflected in statements made by the State Department and former director of the FBI, Louis J. Freeh. The FBI's concern is rooted in a trip that Freeh took to South America in 1998 to assess security concerns. At the time, Freeh called for a multinational crackdown on crime, something he saw as an important step to establishing a hemispheric police alliance. He called the tri-border region ``a free zone for significant criminal activity, including people who are organized to commit acts of terrorism.'' Last April, the State Department warned that the governments of Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina are not capable of preventing Islamic terrorist originating from Paraguay's hub of militancy, Ciudad del Este. A primary Washington concern has been the lack of control of the region's numerous airstrips and waterways. Using these modes of transportation, terrorist groups can communicate and move operatives and supplies with near anonymity. To reassert proper governmental control, the U.S. is offering its Special Forces to train and advise the Paraguayan military and national police on a variety of anti-terrorism and anti-drug tactics. U.S. Special Forces already have made their presence felt in Paraguay earlier this year by participating with the country's military on a ``training exercise'' focused on combating drug traffickers. Many thought that the ``training exercise'' closely resembled a counter-insurgency operation. This could signal a change in U.S. military policy in Paraguay, as further training could focus on counter- intelligence operations and counter-terrorism tactics. If the war on terrorism lasts for years, as the Bush administration has stated it will, the U.S. could soon find itself involved in a series of protracted and complicated campaigns in that nation.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the genocide that was committed during Guatemala's 36-year civil war, although far exceeding the death tolls reached in Bosnia, as well as in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Argentina and Chile combined, has yet to receive proper attention from the international community. Fortunately, the slow march of justice may finally be reaching Guatemala, as indigenous Mayan survivors of over a dozen massacres--out of an estimated 600 committed during that era--are speaking out, accusing former dictator Efrain Rios Montt of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. An association of surviving indigenous Maya is specifically suing the ex-general on charges related to the massacres in which 1,200 lives were lost. At these bloodlettings, which occurred between March and December 1982, peasants throughout the Mayan highlands were raped, tortured and murdered, with their bodies tossed into the large pits serving as mass graves. The locations of these ossuaries were known for years, but left undisturbed until recently. During Guatemala's bloody three-decade old civil war, more than 200,000 died and millions were displaced as Rios Montt rose to power, eventually leading a military coup that seized control of the government in 1982. Once in office, Rios Montt took the civil war to new levels of violence by attacking the thousands of indigenous Maya who he claimed comprised the bulk of the revolutionaries. Under the ensuing reign of terror, he utilized notorious Civil Defense patrols and ``model'' villages (officially known as social re-adaptation centers), which were akin to concentration camps. Males thirteen and older were required to serve in Civil Defense patrols, which operated as paramilitary units supervised by the army, with their mission being to act as informants and kill suspected guerrillas. The most devastating of Rios Montt's actions was the implementation of the ``scorched earth'' policy, which called for hundreds of villages to be burned to the ground and thousands of innocent people to be tortured and murdered. To this day, Rios Montt continues to retain plenary power within Guatemala's government, as president of Congress and de facto president of the country, by controlling the country's nominal president, Alfonso Portillo, who has been denounced for alleged corruption by many Guatemalans. Furthermore, since the initiation of the case against Rios Montt, terror and incessant threats have followed those pursuing justice. Observers feel that if successfully argued, the case against Rios Montt could form the basis of hope for national reconciliation regarding the bitter memories of the victims of the atrocities committed against the Mayan community during the 36-year conflict. To only bring the case to trial would represent a most notable victory for those involved, as well as for the country's otherwise discredited judicial system, setting a precedent that hopefully could serve as a formidable deterrent for those contemplating the future use of terror against the public. The Council on Hemispheric Affairs The Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), a nonprofit, tax-exempt independent research and information organization, was founded at the end of 1975 to promote the common interest of the hemisphere, raise the visibility and increase the importance of the inter-American relationship, as well as encourage the formulation of rational and constructive U.S. policies towards Latin America. In 1982, COHA's board of trustees voted to expand its mandate to include monitoring Canadian/Latin American relations. Since its inception, COHA has been one of the most active and broadest-based U.S. private bodies dealing with the entire spectrum of political, economic and diplomatic issues, as well as the economic and political challenges confronting the Inter-American nations. From its founding, COHA's board consisted of the leadership of some of this country's most important trade unions, professional organizations and religious groups, well as distinguished civic and academic figures who joined together to advance their common belief in support of representative government and pluralistic institutions throughout the hemisphere. COHA subscribes to no specific political credo nor does it maintain partisan allegiances. It supports open and democratic political processes just as it consistently has condemned authoritarian regimes of any stripes that fail to provide their populations with even minimal standards of political freedoms, economic and social justice, personal security and civic guarantees. COHA is entirely staffed by a professional core, who contribute their services, supplemented by a large number of volunteer graduated and undergraduate students who often receive academic credit from their home institutions for the experience gained through their work here. Over the years, retired government employees also have cooperated with COHA in preparing monographs on such topics as regional development, trade policies, technology transfer, the operations of multinational corporations and the controversial development strategies of the international lending agencies. The staff is assisted by a number of extra- mural professionals coming from an academic background who serve as COHA senior research fellows, who are generally considered to be leaders in their respective fields of expertise. COHA's analyses are frequently sought after by the major media, with its long-time director, Larry Birns, as well as other senior personnel regularly being called upon by the major national and international press, along with network radio and TV public affairs programs, to provide commentary on breaking regional issues. COHA contributors also appear regularly in the opinion columns on editorial pages throughout the country, and its findings frequently have been heard and seen over the BBC, Voice of America, CBC, Radio Marti, Radio Havana and U.S. radio programs. COHA personnel also have appeared one or more times on CNN, C-Span, Firing Line, Crossfire, Nightline, the CBS, ABC and NBC evening news, as well as the network Larry King program, ``Good Morning America'' and the ``Today Show,'' and many National Public Radio public affairs programs. COHA's personnel have been interviewed, or the organization's findings have been referred to in such publications as Time, Newsweek, the Atlantic Monthly, U.S. News and World Report, New York Magazine, Harper's, the New Yorker, the New Statesman Barron's, and Maclean's. On almost a daily basis, the results of COHA's work appear in the press of Latin America and Europe. COHA also has been cited in numerous occasions in the New York times, the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, the Christian Science monitor, the London Observer, the Boston Globe, the Miami Herald, the Toronto Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the London Independent and the Guardian, among many other newspapers. COHA has been referred to in the floor of the Senate as ``one of our Nation's most respected bodies of scholars and policymakers.''

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, recently Nazar Singh Fagoora, a Sikh leader from Fresno, California, passed away. December 3 would have been his 86th birthday. I was informed of his passing by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, to whom he was an advisor. Nazar Singh Fagoora believed deeply in freedom for all people. He supported the struggle to free the Sikh homeland, Khalistan, with financial contributions and with his political support. In the Fresno Gurdwara, he would post letters from the Council of Khalistan on the bulletin board to inform his fellow Sikhs of what was going on back in Punjab, Khalistan, and to encourage them to get involved in the freedom movement. Nazar Singh Fagoora was a committed, dedicated Sikh, and a staunch Khalistani. He led a simple life. He was active in many efforts to help his fellow Sikhs, whether by trying to help people in the local community or by his financial, moral, political, and personal support of the freedom movement. I know that his family, friends, and the members of his Gurdwara will greatly miss him. Let him serve to remind us all of what it is to be a good citizen. I know I speak for everyone here when I say let God bless him and his family. Mr. Speaker, the Council of Khalistan issued a press release in Mr. Fagoora's memory. I would like to place that in the Record at this time. Sikh Nation Mourns Passing of S. Nazar Singh Fagoora Fresno Sikh Was Dedicated Servant of Khalsa Panth and All People Washington, DC, November 20, 2001.--The Sikh Nation is mourning the loss of Sardar Nazar Singh Fagoora, a dedicated Sikh leader from Fresno, California, who died at the age of 85. He was a dedicated servant of the Khalsa Panth, and he will be greatly missed. ``Sardar Nazar Singh was a great human being, a committed, dedicated Sikh, and a staunch Khalistani,'' said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, the organization leading the Sikh Nation's struggle for the independence of the Sikh homeland. Khalistan is the name of the independent Sikh homeland declared on October 7, 1987. ``Sardar Nazar Singh gave large amounts of money in support of the struggle to liberate Khalistan. He led a simple fulfilling life, according to the principles laid down by our Gurus,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``He was a true follower of Guru. He was a truly noble and dedicated Sikh,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Sardar Nazar Singh really served the Guru very well by serving the Khalsa Panth,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``He was active in many ways in efforts to help the Khalsa Panth, whether by trying to help people in the local Sangat or by his financial, moral, political, and personal support of the freedom movement,'' he said. ``In the Fresno Gurdwara, he made sure every letter written by this office was posted on the walls of the Gurdwara as soon as it arrived. The Sangat would browse through those documents carefully,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``I know that I will miss his counsel and advice. I don't see anyone in this country who can fill the vacuum created by his departure,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``Sardar Nazar Singh understood that Sikhs will continue to suffer oppression in India and will continue to be misunderstood in this country as long as we do not have our own country,'' said Dr. Autakh. ``This kind of repression will continue as long as Khalistan continues to live under Indian occupation,'' he said. ``Only in a sovereign, free Khalistan will Sikhs live with honor and dignity where the Sikh religion can flourish,'' he said. ``Nations that do not have political power vanish.'' The Indian government has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984. More than 52,000 Sikh political prisoners are rotting in Indian jails without charge or trial. Many have been in illegal custody since 1984. Over 200,000 Christians have been killed since 1947 and over 75,000 Kashmiri Muslims have been killed since 1988. The Indian Supreme Court described the situation in Punjab as ``worse than a genocide.'' As General Narinder Singh has said, ``Punjab is a police state.'' U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher has said that for Sikhs, Kashmiri Muslims, and other minorities ``India might as well be Nazi Germany.'' ``Sardar Nazar Singh will be greatly missed by his family and by all Sikhs who care about freedom and about the dignity of the Khalsa Panth,'' Dr. Aulakh said. ``May Guru give peace to this departed, noble soul,'' Dr. Aulakh added.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this time. Let me begin by first thanking the chairman of the full committee, the ranking member, of course, and the chairman and ranking member of the subcommittee. And of course my good friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), who I think has done a magnificent job. I want to say that before I make these comments. Mr. Chairman, this is wrong. New York deserves a whole lot better. We know there are certain religious groups, certain agencies locally that are trying to do all that they can do during this crisis, but this cannot be resolved without the help of the Federal Government. A $20 billion promise was made and only half of that money is now being appropriated. The question is: What do we do about the other $10 billion? Well, somebody said, trust us, we will give it to you. Just trust. And then somebody said, pray and maybe it will happen. I think New York deserves a lot better than that. Anytime there has been a crisis anywhere, New Yorkers have been there on behalf of whoever. That is one thing about us, that we have demonstrated our generosity down through the years. And to come here today and have our colleagues say to us, we will give you this and you just have to trust and wait for later, I think that is the wrong attitude to take. We have hospitals that have already spent $140 million in direct costs, directly related to the World Trade Center disaster, and they have only gotten back $35 million. These hospitals are now laying off people because they do not have enough money to continue to function. And my colleagues are saying do not worry about it, it is all right? I think that when it comes to our hospitals laying off people, I think we should be very, very concerned about that, because that is something that we cannot afford the luxury of. The other thing that I think we should be very concerned about is that we have people now with no health insurance as a result of the sudden action that we are taking. We should move now to keep our commitment that we made. I think we should do it now. What has happened to us, let us face it, can happen anyplace, anywhere, and we all are Americans.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my concern over proposals that would deny investors and issuers access to the U.S. capital markets. As the House prepares to go to conference with the Senate on the Sudan Peace Act (S. 180/H.R. 2052), I would like to urge my colleagues to take a close look at the provisions of the bill that would impose such sanctions. I am fully aware of the human rights atrocities that are going on in Sudan. As Congress works to develop policies to end the violence is important that we be careful and prudent and not act in ways that damage our economy, the free flow of capital, or create greater uncertainty in our capital markets. Closing the U.S. capital markets in order to influence the behavior of foreign countries sets a poor policy precedent that might easily provoke other countries to pursue their own foreign policy objectives through similar sanctions. The continued health of our capital markets is dependent on economic and political certainty and predictability. The historic U.S. commitment to open and fair markets has been fundamental to the U.S. financial service sector's ability to nurture and establish a substantial foreign client base. The imposition of capital markets sanctions could have the unintended effects of redirecting business out of the United States and eroding the certainty and predictability that have been fundamental to the preeminence of the U.S. capital markets. Moreover, capital markets sanctions would seriously disrupt investor confidence--both domestic and foreign--in the U.S. markets, thereby jeopardizing their continued vibrancy. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said ``the motive of the legislation, I think, obviously commendable, but I think it's not been thoroughly thought through and I don't think that the implications of this particular type of statute is useful to the United States and, indeed, I think it is downright harmful.'' Capital markets sanctions have never been imposed by the U.S. These types of sanctions would seriously disrupt investor confidence--both domestic and foreign--in the U.S. markets, thereby jeopardizing their continued vibrancy. The imposition of capital markets sanctions could also have the unintended effects of redirecting business out of the United States and eroding the certainty and predictability that have been fundamental to the preeminence of the U.S. capital markets. U.S. investors--pension funds, other institutional investors, and individuals--would see the liquidity, and the value, of substantial amounts of their holdings drop precipitately even at the suggestion that companies in which they are invested would be forced to delist from U.S. exchanges. In sum Madam Speaker, I believe it is a mistake to unilaterally try to resolve complex foreign policy issues through an untested formula that would greatly impair the U.S. capital markets. The goals of the Sudan Peace Act are laudable, but I object to capital markets sanctions that are included in the bill. As the House prepares to consider the Sudan Peace Act, I urge my colleagues to continue pursuing open and fair financial markets and reject these types of sanctions.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I was distressed to find out that another Sikh was forced to remove his turban at LaGuardia Airport in New York. I am from New York, as you know, and it particularly distresses me to learn that this occurred in my home city. According to the website Rediff.com, Surjit Babra, president of a $100 million company called SkyLink, ``was forced to remove his turban'' at LaGuardia airport in New York, allegedly as part of a security inspection. Mr. Babra is a Canadian Sikh who was trying to board a flight back to Toronto. Previously, a sitting judge who is Sikh was forced to remove his turban at the same airport. We must clean up the security procedures at this airport. Security guards asked Mr. Babra to remove his turban. Mr. Babra suggested that the guard use a hand-held scanner to scan his turban. The security guard wouldn't accept that and made him remove his turban immediately. Mr. Speaker, the turban is a religious symbol. It is required by the Sikh religion. It is one of the five symbols every Sikh is required to carry on his person. Removing a Sikh's turban is an insult to him and to the Sikh faith. Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, who visits my office often, sports a bright saffron turban. It looks very impressive. He is a committed, practicing Sikh and he will not remove his turban in public under any circumstances. I am sure other Sikhs feel the same way. They should not be harassed by asking them to remove their turbans at routine security checks at the airport. I agree with Gurbax Singh Malhi, a Sikh member of the Canadian Parliament, who said that ``while understanding and sharing the terrible circumstances that have led to this point'', the United States should ``train and educate security personnel so that they will respect the right of people of the Sikh religion to wear turbans and not subject them to this undignified and unnecessary procedure''. I urge Transportation Secretary Mineta to order the FAA to stop the harassment of Sikhs and order that their turbans not be removed unless other security means show an absolute necessity to do so. America is a land of freedom. Sikhs come here to escape from the repression they suffer in India. They have contributed to every aspect of American life. We even had one Sikh, Dalip Singh Saund, who served in this House in the early 60s. America must respect the religious freedom of Sikhs just as it respects the religious freedom of other faiths. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place the Rediff.com article on the Babra case in the Record for the information of my colleagues. [From Rediff.com, Nov. 10, 2001] Canadian Sikh Forced To Remove Turban at LaGuardia (By Ajit Jain) Surjit Babra, president of the $100 million portfolio SkyLink, ``was forced to remove his turban'' at LaGuardia airport in New York, allegedly as part of a security inspection. In a press release, Indo-Canadian Member of Parliament Gurbax Malhi, himself a turbaned Sikh, said that ``while understanding and sharing the terrible circumstances that have led to this point'', the United States should ``train and educate security personnel so that they will respect the right of people of the Sikh religion to wear turbans and not subject them to this undignified and unnecessary procedure''. Rediff.com tried to reach Babra several times, but he wouldn't respond to telephone calls. Businessman Garry Singh, a close friend of Babra, recounted that it was on Wednesday evening, when he was going through security before boarding his flight to Toronto at LaGuardia, that the incident took place. Babra was asked to remove his turban by the security guard. The Sikh businessman suggested that the guard use a hand-held scanner to scan his turban. If he were still not satisfied, he would then remove his turban. The security guard wouldn't accept that and made him remove his turban immediately. Malhi said, ``In Canada we have learned to respect religious symbols.'' The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has changed its rules to allow Sikhs to wear turbans on duty. Barbra's SkyLink moves U.N. peacekeeping personnel and equipment to various countries in the world.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, as ranking member on this Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, I am pleased to join the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Stearns), the chairman of the subcommittee, in cosponsoring H.R. 2985, the American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act. The Committee on Energy and Commerce has reported the bill to the House by voice vote and without any amendments. Mr. Speaker, this legislation says to any con artist, do not even think about it, trying to capitalize on national emergencies or disasters. It will not be worth it. For con artists that exploit popular reaction to a presidentially declared emergency or major disaster, this bill requires the Federal Trade Commission to double the maximum civil penalties from $11,000 to $22,000 per violation. The courts have said that each day the fraud occurs constitutes a separate violation subject to the full civil penalties. In other words, it says crime does not pay. At $22,000 a day, it will be very costly for any scam artist to perpetrate frauds that exploit the tragedy of September 11 in New York City. Fortunately, we have not seen a lot of fraud involving the horrific events of September 11. The FTC reports that it is investigating each and every complaint that is made. So far, no frauds have been identified by the FTC investigation, but let me tell you, those investigations are continuing. Although there is no evidence yet of collections for phony charities or sales of gas masks or other products that do not perform as advertised, the best way to prevent fraud is to make sure it is well known that fraud simply will not be tolerated. Experience has shown that, given the opportunity, fraud will occur. This legislation makes clear that the price has just gone way up for taking advantage of people in a time of crisis. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 2985, the American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes. Mr. Speaker, this legislation gives the FTC the power to protect the consumers. Quite often, when people are grieving, they become extremely vulnerable, and people will go in and take advantage of them. But this legislation says that the teeth are there now, and that the FTC can protect people that have these kinds of problems. It is my understanding that we have not had a lot of this up to this point, but I think it would be foolish for us not to put the legislation in place to let people know that if you do do it, you will be penalized and you will be penalized severely. I think this legislation does that. I want to thank my colleagues on the other side, of course, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Stearns), and of course, the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Tauzin), and all the others on the Democratic side for the support of this legislation; because coming from New York and knowing in terms of the kind of tragedies that we have had over the past few months, in terms of September 11, and then yesterday in terms of the crash in Queens, New York, we have had some tough times. I think that we need to make certain that the people do not go through a double kind of tough time by people coming in and defrauding them. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, how soon we forget. I would like to remind my colleagues of the practice of pediatric medicine before 1997. We need to remember just how difficult it was for physicians to know the proper dosages of certain medicines for their small patients. Is half of an adult dose enough, too much or too little? Before 1997, many children were denied access to medicines because drugs were not produced in dosable forms that could be used by pediatric patients. It was not very encouraging to be a pediatrician prescribing medicine to children, breaking pills in half, breaking pills into quarters; and it was mostly guesswork. Let me remind my colleagues of what happened in 1997 that changed the practice of pediatric medicine. Let me remind my colleagues, because it happened right here on this floor. We passed the Better Pharmaceuticals for Children Act, which was enacted into law as part of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act. You remember this, I hope. Our colleagues saw the importance of enacting this legislation and providing an incentive for research-based pharmaceutical companies to conduct research on pediatric indications for medicines. The Better Pharmaceuticals for Children Act provided additional market exclusivity as an incentive for pediatric studies on new and existing pharmaceuticals. This act will expire on January 1, 2002, unless we pass this legislation before us today to reauthorize it. Let us pass it so we can protect our little ones, because the health of our children has been greatly improved as a result of this act. Let us not go away saying that we should continue to do guesswork.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, the Indian government recently detained Mrs. Paramjit Kaur Khalra, widow of a human-rights activist and a human- rights activist in her own right, along with six other human-rights activists, including the Vice President of the Punjab Human rights Organization (PHRO), Kirpal Singh Randhawa. They were apparently arrested under TADA, the repressive ``Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act, '' which expired in 1995. Now India has promulgated an even worse law, known as POTO, which would make advocating the breakup of India a ``terrorist offense'' and would allow the arrest of journalists for publishing information critical of the government. Is this the kind of law promulgated in a democratic and free society? You may remember, Mr. Speaker, that the President of the PHRO, Judge Ajit Singh Bains, testified several years ago before the Human Rights Caucus of the House and was very impressive. After his testimony, you could have no doubt that Punjab under Indian rule is a very tyrannical state. Mrs. Khalra is the widow of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed the Indian government's policy of mass, secret cremations of Sikhs. This policy has been called ``worse than a genocide'' by the Punjab High Court. For exposing it, Mr. Khalra was kidnapped from his house in Amritsar in September 1995 and tortured to death. None of the police officers responsible has ever been punished. Now Mrs. Khalra's efforts to continue her husband's work have gotten her arrested. It is clear that she and the other human-rights activists were arrested to prevent their participation in political events and stop public protest. India still believes, after all the bloodshed, that it can intimidate the Sikhs and other minorities such as the Christians of Nagaland, the Muslims of Kashmir, and others into submission to Hindu supremacy. It is not a good time to be a widow in India, Mr. Speaker. First the Indian government tried to expel the widow of missionary Graham Staines from the country, and now they are harassing Mrs. Khalra. This is Indian democracy in action, and it is not pretty. There was one eyewitness to the kidnapping of Jaswant Singh Khalra, a man named Rajiv Singh Randhawa. Last year, he was arrested in front of the Golden Temple in Amritsar for trying to hand a petition to the British Home Minister. In light of repeated incidents like this, India should be embarrassed to proclaim itself ``the world's largest democracy.'' Mr. Speaker, the United States should not sit idly by and let these acts of repression go on without consequences. Our government must immediately press for the release of Mrs. Khalra and the 52,000-plus Sikh political prisoners currently being held without charge or trial in India, as well as the thousands of other political prisoners of other nationalities. All of them must be released. If they are not, I urge them to secure their release by running for political office from their jail cells. In addition, America should stop its aid to India and support an internationally-supervised vote on the political status of Punjab, Khalistan, of Kashmir, of Nagalim, and of all the countries seeking their independence. Remember that India promised in 1948 to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir, a promise it has not kept. It is time for India to start acting like a democracy. This vote would be a good way to start. Mr. Speaker, I have here an Urgent Action Request from the Canadian branch of the World Sikh Organization demanding the immediate release of Mrs. Khalra. It was brought to me by Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan. I would like to place it in the Record to show my colleagues the real workings of Indian democracy. Urgent Action Request Ottawa, November 3, 2001.--The World Sikh Organization requests your immediate assistance to procure the release of Mrs. Laswant Singh Khalra and six other human rights activists and lawyers who were arrested by the Indian police on November 2, 2001. It is known that these individuals were arrested to prevent their participation in political events in Punjab, and to prevent public protest. Mrs. Khalra's husband, Jaswant Singh was the lead investigator who uncovered illegal cremation grounds maintained throughout Punjab by police. Mr. Khalra and Mr. Jaspal Singh Dhillon both leaders of the Human Rights Wing of the Shiromani Akali Dal were arrested, and presumably tortured by the very same Punjab Police they sought to prosecute. Mr. Khalra was tortured to death, and now Mrs. Khalra and six others have been arrested under a charge of ``threat to the peace''. Soft-spoken and peaceful, Mr. and Mrs. Khalra visited with Canadian and American politicians, including Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien to apprize them of ongoing oppression in Punjab. Providing evidence of the disposal grounds for thousands of unidentified Sikhs murdered by Indian officials with the support of central government, Mrs. Khalra has been an outspoken activist since the murder of her husband. Nonetheless the central Indian government has been seeking general amnesty for the police officers involved in the cremation grounds and thousands of other illegal executions. Since the early nineteen eighties thousands of Sikhs have suffered illegal arrest, detention, torture, and murder at the hands of state and government officials. Arresting human rights activists like Mrs. Khalra and lawyers involved in important human rights cases, once again prevents public scrutiny of the realities of present day Punjab. Recently a professor by the name of Davinder Singh was prosecuted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act, an Act which was purportedly repealed in 1995. Despite the United Nations condemning India's laws, and evidence of coercion and torture of the accused for the purposes of extracting a confession, Mr. Singh has been sentenced to the death penalty. In India, the new Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) seeks to fill the void created following the lapsing of TADA, and makes the TADA legislation look mild. POTO provides for suppression of information and therefore makes journalists subject to terrorism charges if they publish information unfavorable to the government. It makes the disclosure of information to police investigators mandatory with prison terms of up to three years for non compliance. Under the POTO citizens of Punjab will be forced to live in a police state that is even more brutal than the last two decades. We need your urgent assistance to let the Indian government know that democratic nations will not tolerate such abuses of innocent citizens and such shameless violations of civilian rights from a Commonwealth partner. Please take every action possible to obtain the immediate release of Mrs. Khalra and six other lawyers, and to repeal the death penalty sentence against Davinder Singh. Your active and vocal response to these travesties of justice are imperative to the future of all civilians in India.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in recognition of the Honorable Mary Warren for her life long commitment to serving her community. Sadly, Mary passed away suddenly on this past Sunday, November 4, 2001. She began her long career in community service with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). During her thirteen years at NYCHA, Mary held a variety of positions; she worked as a Community Associate, Community Liaison, and Community Service Aide. She was an expert on New York City Housing programs. While she worked for NYCHA, she volunteered for her East New York community as the spokesperson for the Community Police Precinct Council. In addition, she organized tenant patrols, youth patrols, and led her tenant association. After a rewarding career at NYCHA, I was able to lure Mary and her housing expertise to my staff as my Special Assistant. In this role, Mary proved herself to be an outstanding advocate on behalf of community residents. Also, she was a tireless worker, organizing events, working with constituents, and acting as my liaison to groups and agencies concerning crime, drugs, and, most importantly, housing. Of course, Mary's service to her community never ended at the end of the work day, she also continued to be involved with both the youth and elderly in her community. As the Community Relations Associate for the Wartburg Lutheran Home for the Aging, Mary developed and implemented marketing strategies to increase participation for Meals-on-Wheels, Adult Day Health Care, Senior Housing and at the nursing home itself. This effort required the ability to work closely with people from the community of all different backgrounds, an area in which Mary excelled. Her outgoing personality served her well as the Recreation Specialist for the New York City Parks Department's Brownsville Recreation Center. Here, she served as Program Coordinator and Registration Supervisor for the various school and summer programs. In addition, Mary had five children, 15 grandchildren, and one great- grandchild and was still an active volunteer in her Brooklyn community. She served as the District Leader for the 40th Assembly District for three terms. Finally, as a testimonial of her passion for providing affordable housing to her community and her devotion to the children of East New York, she served as the President of the Long Island Baptist Tenant Association at Unity Plaza Housing for over 20 years. Mr. Speaker, the Honorable Mary Warren devoted her life to serving her community on all levels and was an invaluable member of the community and my staff. She will truly be missed. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our recognition today. I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in honoring the life of this truly remarkable community leader.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to stand with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle as well as the American Pilots Association and the Flight Attendants Association in support of airline security legislation that will provide all Americans with renewed confidence in the safety of our airplanes. This is not about politics. This is about safety and reassuring the public that every step that can be taken towards providing safe passage in our skies will be made. I thank the pilots and the flight attendants for their leadership on the front lines in this battle to provide Americans with safe passage. However, it should not be left to pilots and flight attendants to have to protect their passengers from terrorists. We must do more to stop the threat of terrorism from even reaching our planes, freeing pilots and flight attendants to do their respective jobs. I believe that the only way to truly assure the traveling public as well as the flight crews that everything is being done to eliminate the threat of terrorism is to take the responsibility for airline security out of the hands of third parties. Airline security is national security and our national security must never be contracted out. Several airlines have already taken extraordinary steps on their own and with the encouragement of Secretary Norm Mineta and the Department of Transportation to strengthen cockpit doors and install video monitoring systems. Nevertheless, we must do everything possible to reassure the American people that it is safe to go about the business of flying. On September 11, 2001 the world changed, today, I urge my colleagues to help us take back an important piece of our economy and the American way of life, support bipartisan Airline Security bill.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I was distressed to learn that the government of India, which calls itself ``the world's largest demoncracy,'' has filed a criminal case against the website Burning Punjab, which reports news about the abuse of Sikhs in Punjab, Khalistan by the Indian government. The website can be found at http://www.burningpunjab.com/ news.html The government made the case fit under Indian law by falsely claiming that Burning Punjab is ``a newspaper published from Chandigarh.'' There is no newspaper published, just online news, and Burning Punjab uses services in the United States and Britain to publish its news. The case was filed by the Deputy Inspector General of the terrorist Central Reserve Police Force. Previously, viewing Burning Punjab had been prohibited in several states in northwest India, including Punjab, Delhi, and Chandigarh. This is clearly a case filed to harass Burning Punjab for reporting news the government does not like. I'm sorry, Mr. Speaker, but I fail to see the difference between this action by ``the world's largest democracy'' and the repression of the press in the most tyrannical dictatorships of the world. If this is how India treats those who expose its corruption and brutality, it is no democracy. We should support democracy in South Asia in the form of a free and fair plebiscite with international monitoring on the question of independence for Khalistan, Kashmir, Nagaland, and the other countries seeking their freedom from Indian. This will provide the opportunity for every one in the subcontinent to live in freedom, dignity, peace, and prosperity. That is the best way to promote stability in South Asia. I would like to place an article from Burning Punjab on the complaint into the Record at this time. Harassment Continues: Forged Criminal Case Filed Against ``Burning Punjab'' Jalandhar--A forged criminal case against web site Burning Punjab' has been filed in the Court of Judicial Magistrate Mohinder Singh deputed in Jalandhar Courts. The case referred Burning Punjab News' on-line web news as a newspaper' published from Chandigarh, just to cover the Burning Punjab staff under India Penal Code. One Lashkar Singh has filed the case: DIG of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of Indian Hindu Regime. It is pertinent to mention that Burning Punjab web site is aired through European and American based servers and satellites. It's registered address is located in United Kingdom but with a motive to harass human rights activists working for Burning Punjab web site, Indian Police have now manipulated forge case against them by alleging that Burning Punjab News is a daily newspaper published from Chandigarh. Whereas no such newspaper' published from Chandigarh. A formal representation has been sent to Chief Justice of Supreme Court and the High Court, urging them to take initiative and prevent abusing human right activists and also legal process of the land.

Mr. TOWNS

Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, there have been more incidents in which Sikh men were asked to remove their turbans at an airport. Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, has brought these to my attention. Satpal Singh Kohli was about to board a Southwest Airlines flight from Albuquerque to Los Angeles when members of the ground crew demanded that he remove his turban. He told the ground crew that his Sikh religion required him to wear the turban and he could not remove it. The ground crew insisted that he remove his turban. He needed to get to Los Angeles to be with his ailing father. When the agents would not budge, Mr. Kohli demanded to see their supervisor. He was told that if he had a complaint, he should contact customer service. The agents not only searched his turban in full view of other passengers, they searched his unshorn hair--required by his religion-- as well. Mr. Kohli said that ``In my whole life I have never been humiliated like this.'' The agents had only told him that they wanted to search his bag, not his turban or hair. Yet they never checked his bag. Last Saturday, Tejinder Singh Kahlon, a sitting judge in New York, was asked to remove his turban at a New York airport. He refused. He was not allowed to board his plane. He called the media to report his harassment by the airport security personnel. The turban is a symbol of the Sikh religion, to which Mr. Kohli and Judge Kahlon belong. It is religiously mandated. They are required to carry five symbols. Unshorn hair covered by a turban is one of these. More than 99 percent of the people in this country who wear turbans are Sikhs. Turbans should not be removed and searched. Linda Rutherford, a spokeswoman for Southwest Airlines, admitted that the incident had to do with ``passenger profiling'' and claimed that the rules had to do either with what a passenger wears or what he looks like, but she blamed the Federal Aviation Administration for these new rules. If that is true, the FAA should be ashamed of themselves. They have institutionalized racial profiling as a part of their antiterrorism policy. If it is the airline's own policy, then decent Americans should flood Southwest Airlines' headquarters with protests. We must not allow racial, religious, or ethnic profiling. The airport ground crews should be prohibited from stopping Sikh passengers and searching their religiously-mandated turbans. This kind of discrimination is never acceptable. I ask Attorney General Ashcroft and Secretary of Transportation Mineta to look into this matter and stop this harassment of Sikh Americans immediately. Mr. Speaker, I would like to place an India-West article on the Kohli incident into the Record for the information of my colleagues. [From India-West, Oct. 26, 2001] Sikh Asked to Hand Over Turban Before Boarding Plane (By Viji Sundaram) Satpal Singh Kohli was about to board a Southwest Airlines flight from Albuquerque, N.M., to Los Angeles Oct. 22, when ground crew at the security gate demanded that he hand over his turban to them before he enplaned. When Kohli protested, telling them that as a Sikh his religion forbade him from baring his head in public, the agents insisted that he do as he was told. Kohli said that they told him that he would have to fly minus his turban, which would be returned to him at the Los Angeles airport. Kohli said he told them that he had flown Southwest from Los Angeles to Albuquerque just two days earlier and ``my turban wasn't an issue then.'' He also told them that he had to make that flight because his elderly father, who was home alone in Los Angeles, needed to be given medication and may even need to be hospitalized. When Kohli realized he was getting nowhere with the agents, he asked to see their supervisor. He said he was told that if he had a complaint, he should call customer service, Kohli said in a e-mail he sent to India-West. The agents told him that if he wanted to make that flight, he would have to submit to a complete turban and hair search. Because of his father's medical condition, Kohli said he reluctantly agreed, but requested that it be done in a private area, out of view of the other passengers. Kohli said the agents told him there was no private area and that the search would be done at the security area behind the counter. He said an agent not only searched his turban thoroughly in full view of the other passengers and ground staff, she also searched his hair, before allowing him to board the plane. ``My sentiments were hurt,'' Kohli said. ``In my whole life I have never been humiliated like this.'' Kohli said that in pulling him over for a check, the agent had told him he needed to have his bag searched, not his turban or his hair. Yet, after searching his turban and hair, they waved him through, without checking his carry-on bag, according to Kohli, who works as a travel agent. When he arrived in Los Angeles, Kohli said he went to Southwest's customer service center and told the two men there--the customer service supervisor and station manager-- about what he had been put through. Both men, as well as the captain of the plane who happened to stop by, agreed that turban searches were not a part of the new security requirements, Kohli said. He said they apologized for what had happened. Called for a comment, Linda Rutherford, a Southwest Airlines spokeswoman in its corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas, told India-West that following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America, there has been some new Federal Aviation Administration-mandated procedures ``regarding passenger profiling.'' She said she was not aware of the Kohli incident, but noted that ``if a passenger had been flagged as a selectee, there would have been additional security checks.'' She said she was not sure if those additional checks are triggered by what a passenger wears or what he or she looks like. ``Certainly, it could be a bit awkward for passengers to have their personal belongings searched in front of other passengers,'' Rutherford acknowledged, adding: ``It is certainly not our intent to embarrass our passengers.'' Manjit Singh, executive director of the Maryland-based Sikh Media Watch and Resource Task Force, told India-West that since the Sept. 11 attacks, his organization has received at least a dozen complaints similar to Kohli's. ``We are very disturbed by what's happening,'' Singh said. He said his group plans to meet with Norm Mineta, Secretary of Transportation, as well as with FAA officials to make them aware of what was happening. ``A Sikh should never be forced to remove his turban,'' Singh said. ``It's a religiously mandated headdress.'' He said turban searches should only be done if the metal detector beeps. Security agents, he said, should first do an electronic check, then pat down the turban if they suspect something, and only as a last resort should they ask the passenger to remove his turban. Since Sept. 11, Sikhs nationwide have become targets of hate crimes in the U.S., as people misidentify them as Taliban supporters because of their beards and turbans. A number of them have in recent weeks reportedly set aside their turbans and concealed their tresses under baseball caps.