Tom Tancredo

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Ms. Shana Khader of Occidental College. Ms. Khader is a teaching student and is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Award. This grant is given to promising individuals to aid them in their academic and cultural pursuits abroad. The Fulbright Program was established by Congress in 1946 and is sponsored by the U.S. State Department. This program was designed to help build mutual understanding between Americans and the global community. Individuals who are awarded this distinction have demonstrated outstanding academic or professional achievement and have proven themselves as leaders in their field. Madam Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to Ms. Khader and wishing her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Ms. Krista Brune of Princeton University. Ms. Brune is a Latin American and Caribbean studies student and is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Award. This grant is given to promising individuals to aid them in their academic and cultural pursuits abroad. The Fulbright Program was established by Congress in 1946 and is sponsored by the U.S. State Department. This program was designed to help build mutual understanding between Americans and the global community. Individuals who are awarded this distinction have demonstrated outstanding academic or professional achievement and have proven themselves as leaders in their field. Madam Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to Ms. Brune and wishing her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Mr. Zachary Barter of Brown University. Mr. Barter is a teaching student and is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Award. This grant is given to promising individuals to aid them in their academic and cultural pursuits abroad. The Fulbright Program was established by Congress in 1946 and is sponsored by the U.S. State Department. This program was designed to help build mutual understanding between Americans and the global community. Individuals who are awarded this distinction have demonstrated outstanding academic or professional achievement and have proven themselves as leaders in their field. Madam Speaker, please join me in paying tribute to Mr. Barter and wishing him the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I spoke recently in support of Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization. Unfortunately, despite the fact that Taiwan has a world-class health care system and is willing and able to make meaningful contributions to the WHO's efforts, Chinese pressure to block Taiwan's efforts once again triumphed over fairness and common sense. President Chen recently penned an editorial that was printed in the Washington Post that I would like to commend to my colleagues. In the piece, President Chen makes an eloquent and indisputable case for why Taiwan deserves membership in this and other international organizations. I hope my colleagues will take the time to read the editorial, and to support Taiwan's future endeavors to contribute to international organizations like the WHO. [From the Washington Post, May 11, 2007] The Shunning of a State (By Chen Shui-bian) In recent years the outbreak and spread of avian flu has brought illness, death and economic peril to countries in Asia and elsewhere. Memories of the fear, pain and suffering that accompanied the 2003 SARS outbreak--after failed coverups by the Chinese government--are still vivid in many places. While disease heeds no national borders, Taiwan has had to fight pandemics without help from the World Health Organization--a humanitarian agency that is supposed to serve all humankind. Taiwan is not a member of the WHO, nor is it an observer at the World Health Assembly (WHA)--unlike the Palestinian Authority or the Malta Order of Chivalry. But under mounting international pressure prompted by fear of an avian flu pandemic, China was persuaded in 2005 to consent, in principle, to Taiwan's meaningful participation in WHO conferences focusing on that threat. China conceded after demanding that the WHO secretariat sign a secret memorandum of understanding. As a result, Taiwan's participation in the WHO is subject to China's approval, even for technical meetings. Such participation is minimal rather than meaningful. It is improper and unprecedented for an international humanitarian organization to enter into a secret pact with one of its member states, especially an authoritarian one. More important, the memorandum has been used to obstruct Taiwan's participation in WHO activities. Our representatives were unable to attend the majority of conferences they sought admission to last year. The WHO secretariat has effectively jeopardized the health of people in Taiwan and other countries. For a decade, we have striven relentlessly to participate in the WHO, to no avail. Even our humble pursuit of ``meaningful participation'' has yielded little success. With 95 percent of the Taiwanese people supporting full WHO membership, I must act upon the will of my people as a democratically elected president. On April 11, I sent a letter to the WHO formally requesting our nation's application for membership under the name ``Taiwan.'' The secretariat responded on April 25, claiming that Taiwan is not a sovereign state and therefore is not eligible for WHO membership. This is legally and morally deplorable. Article 3 of the Constitution of the World Health Organization stipulates: ``Membership in the Organization shall be open to all States,'' while Article 6 provides that states such as Taiwan that are not members of the United Nations ``may apply to become Members and shall be admitted as Members when their application has been approved by a simple majority vote of the Health Assembly.'' Rule 115 of the WHA Rules of Procedure stipulates that ``Applications made by a State for admission to membership . . . shall . . . be addressed to the Director-General and shall be transmitted immediately'' to WHO members. Clearly, the authority to determine whether Taiwan is eligible for admission to the WHO belongs to its members, many of which have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and cannot be co-opted by any individual or administrative office. When East Germany applied for WHO membership in 1968, many questioned its sovereignty and the legitimacy of its government. But East Germany's application was circulated, and although it was voted down that year, it was approved in 1973. Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China, is indisputably a sovereign state, satisfying all of the criteria cited in Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention on the Duties and Obligations of States: It has a permanent population, a defined territory, a functional government and the capacity to conduct relations with other states. It also has its own internationally traded currency and issues its own passport, honored by virtually all other nations. Another broadly affirmed criterion for recognizing the legitimacy of a state is the principle, enunciated in the U.N. Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that the sovereignty a state exercises should be based on the will of the people. A truly ``sovereign'' state, in other words, is free and democratic. We find no better words to describe Taiwan. Ultimately, the question of Taiwan's participation in the WHO is a moral one. The systematic shunning of Taiwan is unconscionable not only because it compromises the health of our 23 million people but also because it denies the world the benefit of our abundant public health and technical resources. Taiwan's public and private sectors have donated more than $450 million in medical and humanitarian aid to more than 90 countries over the past 10 years. We in Taiwan are grateful that many governments and legislative bodies such as the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament have supported our bid for observer status in the WHA. As humankind seeks to control global pandemics, victory will require collaboration that is not restricted by political obfuscation or subject to discriminatory picking and choosing of participants. We must not allow an all-but- one scenario to undermine our common mission--health for all.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, dedicated and passionate teachers are vital to the education and development of our future generations. Today, I am honored to recognize Ms. Pam Schmidt, an eighth grade science teacher, in Aurora, Colorado. Ms. Schmidt is a recipient of the 2007 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence for her exceptional efforts and commitment to provide her students with an outstanding science curriculum. Ms. Schmidt, the 1997 Colorado Teacher of the Year, seeks to inspire her students to explore the world around them by providing hands-on experiences such as collecting fossils in the Badlands of Wyoming or caring for one of the 47 classroom snakes. Through her efforts and example, Ms. Schmidt has helped foster a love of science and provided a better learning environment for her students. The Award for Science Teaching Excellence is given by Amgen, an internationally known biotechnology company with branches in Colorado. The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence is given to teachers in public and private schools whose dedication to imparting a love of learning and interest in science to the future generations. The recipients are selected by an independent panel that judges the applicants on effectiveness and creativity of teaching methods and how they plan to use the grant money to further science education in their schools.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, dedicated and passionate teachers are vital to the education and development of our future generations. Today, I am honored to recognize Ms. Carolyn Crapo, a high school physics teacher, in Aurora, Colorado. Ms. Crapo is a recipient of the 2007 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence for her exceptional efforts and commitment to provide her students with an outstanding science curriculum. Ms. Crapo seeks to inspire her students to explore the world around them by providing hands-on. Through her efforts and example, Ms. Crapo has helped foster a love of science and provided a better learning environment for her students. The Award for Science Teaching Excellence is given by Amgen, an internationally known biotechnology company with branches in Colorado. The Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence is given to teachers in public and private schools whose dedication to imparting a love of learning and interest in science to the future generations. The recipients are selected by an independent panel that judges the applicants on effectiveness and creativity of teaching methods and how they plan to use the grant money to further science education in their schools.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, dedicated and well-prepared first responders are one of the greatest assets to a community during an emergency. Today, I am honored to recognize Mr. Robert Waples of Rural/ Metro Ambulance in Aurora, Colorado. Mr. Waples has been named as a Star of Life Award recipient by the American Ambulance Association for his exceptional service and commitment to the Colorado community. Mr. Waples has been a member of EMS for the past 30 years, over which time he has sought to improve the standard of medical transportation for the Aurora region. His hard work and efforts are shining examples of leadership and vision, helping the ambulance community better respond to the public. The Star of Life Award is given to outstanding individuals nationwide within the ambulance service field who have shown above-and-beyond dedication to their profession and society. Recipients are medics, dispatchers, and EMS personnel who have promoted the success of pre- hospital care and the effectiveness of medical transportation. This May, the American Ambulance Association will honor these men and women in Washington D.C., recognizing their heroic, life-saving achievements and contributions to their local communities. Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating Mr. Waples for this honor. May he continue to be an inspiration to his organization as well as to the medical transportation community as a whole.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Ms. Amber Rose, an outstanding young woman from Elizabeth, Colorado. Ms. Rose, a student at Elizabeth High School was recently named a recipient of the 12th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award as a State recipient. The award honors this young woman as one of the top two youth volunteers in Colorado for 2007. Created in 1995 in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Prudential Financial's Spirit of Community Award program has become America's largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteerism. It is designed to emphasize the importance of service and encourages young Americans to give back to their communities. Nominated by her high school, Amber founded a nonprofit organization that distributed more than $30,000 worth of art supplied to disadvantaged children around the world. As a State Honoree, Amber will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion and a trip to Washington, DC, from May 5 to 8 for the program's national recognition events. During this trip she will be considered to become 1 of 10 National Honorees. Ms. Rose should be commended for her commitment and selflessness. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Ms. Morgan McDonald, an outstanding young woman from Aurora, Colorado. Ms. McDonald, a student at Prairie Middle School was recently named a recipient of the 12th Annual Prudential Spirit of Community Award as a state recipient. The award honors this young woman as one of the top two youth volunteers in Colorado for 2007. Created in 1995 in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, Prudential Financial's Spirit of Community Award program has become America's largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteerism. It is designed to emphasize the importance of service and encourages young Americans to give back to their communities. Nominated by her middle school, Morgan helps lead a school group that works to build leadership skills and improve the scholastic achievement of African-American students. Morgan will receive a $1,000 award, an engraved silver medallion and a trip to Washington, DC from May 5th to 8th for the program's national recognition events. During this trip she will be considered to become one of ten National Honorees. Ms. McDonald should be commended for her commitment and selflessness. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere congratulations to NumbersUSA on achieving its 10-year anniversary. For the past decade, NumbersUSA has worked to advocate for common-sense immigration reforms. Formed in 1997 by Roy Beck, NumbersUSA has grown dramatically from 300 a decade ago to over 300,000 activist members today. They have provided a voice for the hundreds of thousands of Americans that expect their government to enforce our immigration laws and pursue policies that enhance the security, prosperity, and overall well-being of our Nation. NumbersUSA honors our immigrant heritage and our commitment to the rule of law through its work toward a more sustainable national immigration policy. So once again, Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mr. Beck and the staff and members of NumbersUSA on the achievement of this important milestone, and wish them the best of luck in the future.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, today I am honored to recognize Nick Nemeth of Chapparal High School in Parker, Colorado. As a sophomore, Mr. Nemeth received an invitation to attend a 10-day National Young Leaders Conference this summer in Washington, DC. Mr. Nemeth has demonstrated outstanding academic and leadership qualities as a young man, and is an archetype of his school and community. Completing the academic school year first in his class, he was chosen as a National Scholar, an honor presented to less than one percent of all qualified high-school students. Students chosen to attend the National Young Leaders Conference are hand selected based on both their academic achievement and recommendations by educators, mentors, and community leaders. The National Young Leaders Conference is a forum for promising youth designed to inspire and foster their full leadership potential. Supported by over 400 members from the U.S. Congress, this program provides young men and women a rare opportunity to gain an insider's perspective into the legislative and political process of Washington D.C. This unique interaction and exposure enables them to formulate valuable perspectives which will help them guide their communities into the future. Madam Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to acknowledge one of Colorado's own as one of America's young leaders. Please join me in congratulating Mr. Nemeth and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, Taiwan President Chen Shui-Bian recently announced that his country plans to pursue full membership in the World Health Organization. I wish President Chen and the 23 million people of Taiwan the best of luck in this endeavor, and I hope that all Americans will support their effort. Taiwan has a modern, world-class health care system and has lent its talents and resources in the field to people around the world. Taiwan's expertise and contributions to world health are particularly important at this time when people, products, and threats to health and safety can travel great distances in relatively short periods of time. The WHO's mission is ``. . . the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health.'' Providing accurate information about the spread of health threats is a critical part of that mission. Last year, however, the WHO disseminated an inaccurate map which classified Taiwan as an area affected with human cases of the bird flu--even though no cases had been documented on the island. Unfortunately, because the WHO--like many organizations pretends that Taiwan is a part of China, the WHO depicted Taiwan as an ``infected area'' because there had been an avian flu outbreak on the Chinese mainland. This is not only unfair, it is dangerous. Madam Speaker, I am sure that the intent of the WHO is not to knowingly disseminate false information about such a dangerous health threat--yet because of Chinese pressure to exclude Taiwan from this body, that is exactly what happened. And unfortunately, unless the problem of Taiwan's exclusion from this body is remedied, this could easily happen again. When China and the WHO play politics with people's health, it isn't just dangerous for Taiwan, it is ``bad medicine'' for the whole world. I hope that the Administration recognizes this fact, and I hope they will actively support Taiwan's bid for full membership in this world body.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to one of my constituents, Ms. Patsy Spier of Centennial, Colorado. Ms. Spier, a former Peace Corps volunteer, was recognized by both the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Office for Victim Assistance with the ``Strength of the Human Spirit Award,'' as well as by the U.S. Department of Justice with the ``Special Courage Award.'' Ms. Spier was among a group of schoolteachers who were attacked while based in Indonesia in 2002. Patsy and several others were severely wounded in the attack, while three were killed, including her husband Rick. When investigators concluded that there was a strong possibility that the Indonesian military had been involved, Ms. Spier began to lobby Members of Congress and the Departments of State and Defense to gain attention to her fight for justice. Working with several legislators, including myself, she was twice able to successfully block U.S. funding toward a military training program for the Indonesian military. Having gained the support of the Indonesian president, she was also successful in her pursuit of a life sentence for the leader of the attack. Patsy should be commended for her bravery, determination and commitment to justice. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, a humanitarian crisis is occurring in Burma where political dissidents and ethnic groups are being suppressed. The existence of over 1,000 political prisoners, the practice of land confiscation and forced migration, demonstrates the totalitarianism with which this military government rules over its people. Citizens are being imprisoned for peaceful opposition while state members continue to violate fundamental rights to property and security. The house arrest of non-violent, prodemocracy activist Aung Sang Suu Kyi demonstrates this oppressive state of affairs. Practices like forced evictions and internal displacement cements military control, especially in ethnic areas, at the expense of basic freedoms. I am here today to ask the government of Burma to address these numerous concerns. The government must draft a constitution with the input of all political actors, including members of the National League for Democracy. Land use, property rights, and political rights are issues that must be addressed. Human rights abusers must be punished and civilians brought to justice under a government that defends their freedoms.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Ms. Annie Luu, an accomplished Gonzaga University student from Colorado's 6th District. Ms. Luu and a team of fellow Gonzaga students were recently honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, becoming finalists in the third annual EPA student design competition. Since 2004, the EPA has honored college students from across the country for their research efforts towards environmental sustainability through the ``P3--People, Prosperity, and the Planet'' contest. This year, only 41 proposed projects were chosen for development out of more than 100 submissions. The 41 student teams will exhibit their designs on the National Mall on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at the National Sustainable Design Expo. The National Academy of Engineering will judge the competition and recommend the winners to the EPA. Ms. Luu and her teammates will present their project, entitled ``Decentralized Waste Treatment and Energy Recovery in Rwanda,'' during this event. Ms. Luu and her peers should be commended for their commitment and contributions to environmental sustainability. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I would like to congratulate Ms. Karen Brown, an outstanding school teacher from Littleton, Colorado. Ms. Brown, who teaches at Coronado Elementary School, was recently named a recipient of the 2006 Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. The award program is one of the most prominent in the United States. Honoring teachers, principals and specialists from across the nation, recipients are chosen based on such criteria as effective instructional practices, student learning results and educational accomplishments as well as their potential for leadership within the field. Ms. Brown joins a network of more than 2,200 Milken Educators who have been honored by the program since 1985. In addition to a $25,000 individual award, Ms. Brown also attended the annual Milken National Education Conference in Los Angeles, California from the 21st to 24th of April. Ms. Brown should be commended for her commitment to community and her contributions to education in Colorado. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a fallen policeman from Colorado, Doug Byrne. Officer Byrne was killed earlier this week when he swerved to avoid a vehicle which stopped directly in front of him. At the time he was rushing to the aid of an individual in a life threatening medical emergency. He was just 37 years old. Madam Speaker, Officer Byrne has a long and distinguished record of public service. Before becoming a police officer he was a member of the United States Marine Corps and a veteran of the first gulf war. Prior to working for the Aurora Police Department Doug Byrne was an officer for the Glendale Police Department for 6 years. He was awarded the Medal of Valor for rescuing several people from an apartment fire in 2003. After becoming an Aurora policeman, he was entrusted with the important task of training other officers. Officer Byrne was a graduate of Gateway High School. Madam Speaker, all Coloradans morn the loss of such a good person and dedicated public servant. The loss of Officer Doug Byrne will be felt not only by those who knew and loved him, but the community as a whole.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor as I have so many times in the past to address an issue dealing with our extradition policy. Mr. Speaker, a gentleman by the name of Duane Chapman, a bounty hunter that goes by the name of ``Dog,'' faces the strangest of rewards for heroic action. In 2003, Mr. Chapman received a tip regarding the whereabouts of a millionaire by the name of Andrew Luster. Mr. Luster was a convicted felon who had fled as an escapee from the California Department of Corrections 6 months earlier by jumping $1 million bail on charges that he drugged and raped three women. He was also on the FBI's Most Wanted List, convicted and sentenced to a term of 124 years of imprisonment in absentia for 86 counts of rape, drug and weapons offenses. Mr. Chapman went to Mexico to act on this tip and was accompanied by a local Mexican police officer. He was also in communications with U.S. officials, who were aware of his activities. Much to his credit, Mr. Chapman successfully located Mr. Luster and apprehended him. However, on the way to the jail to book Mr. Luster, Chapman's police escort disappeared, strangely. As a result, Mr. Chapman was detained for several days on the relatively minor charge of deprivation of freedom and conspiracy. Mr. Chapman then returned to the U.S. after posting bail. Thanks to Dog, a serial rapist is now rightly serving a 124-year sentence and the situation seemed to have worked out for the best. But now, years after the fact, it seems that the Mexican Government is intent on extraditing and prosecuting Mr. Chapman. Incredibly, our State Department seems to have no problem being complicit in these proceedings. I have written the Department of Justice at least once and the Department of State several times just asking them to justify what they have done. I wanted to figure out exactly what their reasoning is for handling this specific case in this way. There are a lot of legitimate questions. For instance, how is it possible that the Department of Justice would decide to use taxpayer resources to send U.S. Marshals to Hawaii to take Mr. Chapman into custody? This is an administration that routinely tells Congress that they cannot secure our borders and immigration system due to lack of resources. We are told that the U.S. Attorney's Office in the border States are simply overwhelmed with cases and cannot prosecute all of the violations, even very serious ones. We are told that ICE can't possibly tackle the task of deporting illegal aliens from the interior of our Nation. We are apparently supposed to accept the presence of roughly 100,000 criminal aliens inside our borders, a number that is growing every year, while the U.S. Marshals track down a successful bounty hunter instead. After formally apprehending Mr. Chapman and putting him into a bevy of new legal proceedings, the question of extradition is raised. Though my observations of our extradition treaty with Mexico indicate that it is not absolutely binding, conventional wisdom has seemed to assume that the treaty between the U.S. and Mexico requires Chapman's extradition. But it is just this, conventional wisdom. It is not part of the treaty, apparently. I am not the only one to question whether extradition ought to proceed. One recent news story reported that although the U.S. and Mexico informally agreed to recognize trans-border captures by bounty hunters as extraditable offenses, this provision was never fully incorporated into the extradition treaty. The report indicates that this ``informal'' addition to the treaty came after bounty hunters captured a gentleman by the name of Humberto Alvarez-Machain, a Mexican physician implicated in the torture and execution of a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agent. Alvarez-Machain maintained that his capture violated the U.S.-Mexico extradition treaty. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Alvarez-Machain's claim in 1992. In the decision, Justice Rehnquist wrote that the treaty ``says nothing about the obligations of the United States and Mexico to refrain from forcible abductions of people from the territory of the other nation, or the consequences under the treaty if such an abduction occurs.'' That is his quote. Mexico's Government was upset by the decision which gave rise to its ``informal'' addition to the treaty. Alan Kreczko, then deputy legal adviser to the Secretary of State, then James Baker, said in congressional testimony that the U.S. and Mexican governments had exchanged letters recognizing that trans-border abductions by so-called bounty hunters and other private individuals would be considered extraditable offenses by both nations. This international dispute should have remained amicably resolved by virtue of the fact that justice has clearly been served in the case of ``Dog'' Chapman. But now that these events have been set in motion anew, the best resolution in which we can hope for would come from the Mexican government and judiciary when they dismiss the charges pending against the Chapmans and also to withdraw their request for extradition. Let's just say that I am not over optimistic for this stand by Secretary Rice to refuse extradition to Mr. Chapman, and I hope this good deed does not go unpunished.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, it has been two years since the ``legislature'' of the People's Republic of China passed the so-called ``anti-secession'' law. The enactment of this law by China's rubber- stamp parliament represented a clear-cut, belligerent and dangerous step toward a military attack of a peaceful and democratic ally of the United States. Moreover, it underscored once again that the government in Beijing is not sincere about resolving its differences with Taiwan in a peaceful or rational manner. America's position is clear: Any change in the status quo between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan must have the assent of the people of Taiwan. As such, resolving the differences between these two nations can only be achieved through honest and direct state-to-state negotiations without preconditions. They cannot be resolved by intimidation, indignant bluster or threats of military force from Beijing. Unfortunately, in the two years since Beijing created this ``legal framework'' for starting a war with Taiwan, little has changed. China continues to point some 900 ballistic missiles at Taiwan and continues to ramp up its military spending and its military activities--none of this indicates that China is pursuing a peaceful settlement with its neighbor across the strait. Madam Speaker, the truth is that Taiwan and China are not united. They are not ``one country'' as the communists in Beijing are so fond of asserting. If they were there would be no talk of ``unification.'' China must accept that it does not have jurisdiction over Taiwan, and abandon this kind of counter-productive saber rattling. I hope that the family of free nations will join me in condemning the ``anti-secession law'' with a unified voice, making it clear to China that any resolution of cross-straits tensions must be peaceful and above all acceptable to the people of Taiwan.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, the approaching vote on this resolution has caused me and I am sure many of my colleagues to give serious and considerable thought to the most difficult issue that faces America today. Like many of my friends on both sides of the aisle, and like many Americans I am opposed to increasing our troop presence in Iraq. I am sure we have all asked ourselves individually what we would do if we were in the oval office at this time. If I were in the oval office, if I were Commander in Chief, I would tell the Iraqis something similar to what Benjamin Franklin told a woman who asked him as he came out of the negotiations on the Continental Congress, Dr. Franklin, what have you given us? He answered, a Republic if you can keep it. Mr. Speaker, I believe we have with our blood and treasure already won a great victory when we deposed a dictator and helped the Iraqis set up a fledgling democracy. Frankly, I believe it is up to them to keep it. Mr. Speaker, the fall of Saddam has helped create a situation in the Middle East that we did not anticipate but one that can be exploited. I believe that the ethnic and sectarian earthquake inside and across the broader Middle East is underway. I believe the fault lines in this conflict can be seen moving today, not just in Iraq, but in Lebanon, Iran and elsewhere. If I were Commander in Chief, I would do what I could to exploit the situation. I believe it can be exploited, but not if we are acting as a referee in what has become a civil war. I believe that prolonging or increasing the U.S. presence in Iraq will virtually guarantee this fault line will move in a way not advantageous to us. Sure, if I was President, Mr. Speaker, I can tell you unequivocally I would not be sending an extra 20,000 soldiers. But I am not President of the United States, I am not Commander in Chief, I am a Member of Congress. And while I have every right as a Member of Congress to voice my concerns and objections to what I see as flaws in the strategies this President may choose to employ, neither I nor this Congress has the right to micromanage a war. Mr. Speaker, our Constitution vests sole authority of the U.S. military in the President of the United States, not in 435 Congressmen or 100 Senators. Our Founding Fathers empowered the President, not the Congress, with the authority precisely to avoid the kind of group micromanagement of our military strategy that we are seeing on this floor today. I differ with the President on many things, Mr. Speaker. Indeed one of them is the recently announced surge strategy. But while I am concerned about the wisdom of the strategic military decision, Congress does not have the authority nor the ability to manage this war or any other by committee. I fear that this resolution is just the beginning of a long-term attempt by Congress to become the micromanager of the conflict in Iraq. As many Members have correctly noted, this resolution is nonbinding, but it has been described by its authors as just the bark from the Congressional dog. The bite will come as they say during the appropriations process. As I said at the beginning, Mr. Speaker, for a time this resolution posed a dilemma for me. But after hours of listening to the debate, reading the Constitution, it helped me to decide how to vote, there is no longer a doubt in my mind. I accept the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and bend to the constraints of the document that we swear to uphold and defend. I hope that Members of both sides will think carefully about the precedent that this debate will set for the future, for future Presidents, future wars, future soldiers. I would ask them to join me in opposing this ill-conceived resolution.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to applaud our government's decision to allow Taiwan President Chen Shui Bian to visit the United States earlier this month. As you know, President Chen visited both Los Angeles and San Francisco as part of a larger North American trip. Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, the government of Mexico was not nearly as hospitable to our democratically elected friend. While President Chen was on his way to Los Angeles, however, he was informed by Mexican authorities that his plane was prohibited from flying over Mexican air space. This unexpected notification forced the President's plane to make a detour over the Pacific Ocean, extending his flight time to Los Angeles from 5 to 10 hours. This arbitrary decision delayed some of President Chen's meetings with U.S. officials, and more importantly, put President Chen and the other passengers on his plane in danger. Mexico had given Chen permission to fly over Mexican air space on Chen's way to Nicaragua, so why did Mexican officials refuse to grant Taiwan's democratically elected President the same courtesy on his return flight? I think we all know the answer to this question, Madam Speaker. In all likelihood, Mexico's sudden change of heart is attributable to pressure exerted by the People's Republic of China. Beijing has been relentless in its efforts to isolate our democratic friends on Taiwan, and this shameless move by the mainland is just the latest in a long series of indignities that the Beijing authorities have visited on the Taiwanese people. Madam Speaker, communist China is always quick to talk about how much they respect the ``Taiwan Compatriots'' across the Taiwan Strait. Unfortunately, their hostile actions never reflect that deceptively rosy rhetoric. By continuing to insult and disrespect Taiwan's democratic government, China insults and disrespects the people of Taiwan who elected that government. By outsourcing their campaign of intimidation to other countries like Mexico--who seem more than willing to subcontract their foreign policy to Beijing--China continues to drive the people of Taiwan further and further away. I hope that the next time Taiwan's democratically elected president visits the United States; we can host him here in Washington. And finally, Madam Speaker, I hope next time Taiwan's democratically elected president visits North America, that other democratic countries in our region will treat him with the courtesy and respect they would afford to any other democratically elected head of state.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my praise for the heroic actions of several law enforcement agencies in Colorado. Authorities from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Park County Sheriff's Office and Colorado State Patrol acted in a swift and competent manner during the hostage standoff at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colorado on September 27, 2006. Mr. Speaker, these men and women risked their lives to help save students that had been taken hostage by an adult gunman. The situation sparked strong reminders of Columbine High School from April 20, 1999. Mr. Speaker, that day a young woman lost her life. As Emily Keyes escaped her captor, he shot and fatally wounded her. Her family has requested that this tribute be made to law enforcement. In my conversation with the family, they thankfully praised the Jefferson County Special Weapons and Tactics Regional Team for their actions. The family has since been in consistent communication with them and thankful for the role that they have played in the community. The Keyes family has also expressed gratefulness for Park County Sheriff Fred Wegener. He was the man who gave the go ahead that day to storm the classroom in an effort to save the lives of the remaining hostages. The Keyes' family has continued to honor their daughter since her tragic death. Her memorial and a charity bike ride have attracted thousands of supporters; a testament to what I'm certain was a wonderful and bright young woman. Mr. Speaker, while the events at Platte Canyon are tragic, the Keyes family has carried the memory of their daughter and support the actions made by law enforcement that day.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor the Castle Rock Young Marines for their support of our World War II veterans. The Young Marines is open to all youth ages 8 through completion of high school. The only membership requirement is that the youth must be in good standing at school. Since the Young Marines' humble beginnings, in 1958, with one unit and a handful of boys, the organization has grown to over 240 units with 10,000 youth and 3,000 adult volunteers in 46 States, the District of Columbia, Germany, Japan and affiliates in a host of other countries. On Veteran's Day, the Nation's Marine Corps Museum held their grand opening celebration. The Castle Rock Marines from Colorado had heard that the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II would not be attending due to financial reasons. These young marines organized various fundraisers in order to pay for the Navajo Talkers to attend not only the opening ceremony of the Nation's Marine Corps Museum but other important events in the Capital area. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the Castle Rock Young Marines for their support of this unique set of World War II veterans.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor a school in my district for their excellence in physical fitness. The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recognized Beacon Country Day School as a state champion in physical fitness far Category I schools. The winner of this award is the school with the highest percentage of students performing above the 85th percentile in various physical assessments. The test included various endurance challenges to measure the overall physical fitness of the individuals. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the students of Beacon Country Day School as repeat winners of the President's physical fitness award.

Mr. TANCREDO

Mr. TANCREDO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this time to honor a school in my district for their academic excellence in being named a Blue Ribbon School. The schools are selected based on one of two criteria: schools with at least 40 percent of their students from disadvantaged backgrounds that dramatically improve student performance to high levels on state tests; or schools whose students regardless of background, achieve in the top 10 percent of their state on state tests or in the top 10 percent of the nation on nationally-normed tests. St. Thomas More Parish School met the criteria for this award because it ranks in the top 10 percent of the nation in ITBS scores. This is the first time this Catholic school has received this honor. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to honor the students of St. Thomas More Parish School as recipients of the No Child Left Behind-- Blue Ribbon Schools Award.