Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. I reclaim my time. There have been no hearings. The Department of the Interior has refused to answer a written request from Members of Congress to identify which tribes. So nobody knows what tribes. Nobody knows what tribes. Nobody knows anything in this institution when it comes to this. The Department of the Interior has refused to answer. There is no consultation with the States. This bill is almost a repeat, a repeat of how this Congress and this city and this country got in trouble with the Abramoff thing. This is scandalous. This provision--I don't care if it's a Republican amendment or a Democratic amendment; it is a bad amendment. It will bring about crime, corruption. It attacks on the poor, and it is a bad amendment. And because of all the great reasons that Mr. Lewis said and others said why it's a bad bill, this is another good reason. This bill should be defeated. Because when you vote for this bill, you are voting for expansion of gambling all over this country.

Mr. WOLF. It's not scurrilous. This will bring a major expansion of gambling. And I don't care what subcommittee. I will venture, had the average Member come down here and been told tomorrow that they voted for a major expansion of gambling, they would not have known. It ought not to be on the CR bill. It is a bad bill. It is a bad idea. It brings about crime and corruption and attacks on the poor, and I urge the defeat of this CR.

Mr. WOLF. I thank the gentleman, and I want to thank Mr. Lewis for his service, too. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition. Everyone should know that in this continuing resolution there is the expansion of Indian gambling. There is the expansion of Indian gambling. And probably nobody in this institution, bar one or two people on the Appropriations Committee, has even read the bill. This overturns a Supreme Court decision. Do you all know on my side and that side, this overturns a Supreme Court decision? Has anyone remembered Abramoff and corruption and problems that have come about with regard to that? How did such an erroneous provision, how did expansion get in? No markup. No markup by the Natural Resources Committee. The election just said the American people want to know that we have read the bill. Nobody's read this bill, and now this is slipped in. And I don't know who has slipped it in. But, quite frankly----

Mr. WOLF. Yes, sir, I would like an answer.

Mr. WOLF. I don't care if it's a Republican amendment or a Democratic amendment, it is a bad amendment, and it will bring about major expansion of gambling.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. I want to thank my good friend and distinguished colleague Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey for introducing this important resolution which congratulates Chinese democracy advocate Liu Xiaobo on the award. Congressman Smith--and I think all the colleagues in this House on both sides should know--is one of the greatest human rights advocates in the Congress, and his leadership on this issue and on human rights and religious freedom is really, I think, one of the finest that I have ever served with since I have been here in Congress. I also want to say parenthetically, why hasn't the Church in the West and in the United States also spoken out on some of these more profound issues of human rights and religious freedoms? The silence of the Church in the West is quite disturbing. On Friday, the award ceremony will be held with an empty chair, as my colleague Mr. Wu said, as a solemn reminder that this year's Nobel laureate remains languishing in prison. Chinese authorities have placed his wife under house arrest to ensure that she will not be able to accept the prize on his behalf. Since 1901, only three other Nobel Prize winners have been prevented from attending the ceremony to accept the prize. In 1935, Carl von Ossietzy, a German peace activist, was prevented from receiving the prize by the Nazi government. In 1975, Andrei Sakharov, a Russian nuclear scientist, was barred from leaving the Soviet Union to accept the prize. And in 1991, Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Burma's democracy movement, was not allowed to leave the country by the brutal ruling military junta. China should be ashamed and embarrassed to be in the company of Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, and Burma. Instead, the Chinese Government has launched a diplomatic campaign to encourage other nations to boycott Friday's ceremony. In a public statement, China's vice foreign minister threatened that ``if they make the wrong choice, they have to bear the consequences.'' The 18 countries that have sided with China and will not attend Friday's ceremonies are Afghanistan, Colombia, Egypt, Russia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Morocco, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sudan--the genocide Government of Sudan--Tunisia, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam. And when their lobbyists come up here next year begging for help, remember, they were not willing to go to Oslo even to stand up for human rights. Here we are giving the Moroccan Government $697 million in the Millennium Challenge grant, and they won't even go to Oslo. These countries, which are among the world's worst human rights abusers, will join China in its shameful boycott. This year's Nobel Prize winner is representative not just of Dr. Liu, but of the thousands of Chinese prisoners that remain languishing in prisons and labor camps due to their political and religious beliefs. Chinese authorities continue to crack down on the Protestant house church Christians, Catholics, Tibetan Buddhists, Muslim Uyghurs, and members of the Falun Gong. In passing this resolution, the U.S. Congress sends an important message to the dissidents of China and all those who are being persecuted around the world. The people of the United States stand with those who sit in their jail cells day after day, week after week, year after year in their quest for freedom. Robert F. Kennedy once said: ``Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope'' and ``those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.'' The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Dr. Liu has sent out that ripple of hope that cannot be stopped. And I believe that in my lifetime--and remember, the Berlin Wall fell like that--in my lifetime, the Chinese people will know the true freedom, and I will look forward to celebrating that day. I thank Mr. Smith again for his leadership on this and so many other issues.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 323 and thank the gentleman for yielding. I believe we have a moral obligation to ensure that all members of our society are able to age with grace and dignity and to speak out, to speak out if we notice that a particular group within our society is facing unique barriers toward this goal. As many have noted earlier, there are approximately 127,000 Holocaust survivors living in the United States today. Despite being victims of unfathomable crimes, and crimes that unfortunately the world stood by and looked the other way for years and years and years, these individuals immigrated and assimilated into the United States to become valuable members and contributors to our society. Nursing homes and assisted care settings provide many of my constituents with an invaluable service and caring homes. However, we are noticing that a disproportionate number of Holocaust survivors, many of whom are now in their eighties and nineties, are not able to easily transition to these facilities. This is specifically due to their horrific past experiences. Just remember the movie, Schindler's List. Many facilities simply do not have the additional resources that would be necessary to care for most of these survivors. Given this challenge, it is important we work to raise awareness of existing opportunities to minimize this emerging situation. Many Holocaust survivors and the nonprofit organizations and agencies that work with them daily have found that aging-in-place programs help to alleviate this problem. I urge that the administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the Administration on Aging, and nonprofit groups, work with the Holocaust survivors to address their needs through existing programs and also to work on developing innovative and efficient solutions to address this challenge. I am pleased to work again with my colleague from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), to introduce this resolution to highlight this issue. Again, as I said, for the longest time in the thirties and forties, the world looked the other way. Just go to the Holocaust Museum and see many times people were crying out and the word was coming out of Germany and yet people looked the other way. So I strongly urge support of this and I hope when it's voted on, if there is a roll call vote, it will be a unanimous vote.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5877, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 655 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, as the ``Lance Corporal Alexander Scott Arredondo, United States Marine Corps Post Office Building.'' Madam Speaker, it is altogether fitting and proper that we name this post office in Jamaica Plain for a true American hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Born August 5, 1984, Alexander Scott Arredondo graduated from Blue Hills Regional Technical School in Canton, Massachusetts, in the year 2002. He joined the Marine Corps and was assigned to the 1 Marine Expeditionary Force based out of Camp Pendleton, California. He was deployed to Iraq and served his first tour of duty in 2003, which lasted 9 months. In June, 2004, Lance Corporal Arredondo was deployed back to Iraq. Sadly, Madam Speaker, Lance Corporal Arredondo died in Najaf, Iraq, defending freedom and protecting our Nation. At only 20 years old, Lance Corporal Arredondo was on his second tour of duty supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, proving this young man's bravery, courage, and dedication. He is truly an American hero, and I urge all Members to join us in support of this bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H. Res. 771, supporting the goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. It is a terrible disease, form of cancer, debilitating ailment that is terminal. Madam Speaker, many all over the world have suffered and died from this disease, including a former Member of this body. Bruce F. Vento, a Member who I served with for 19 years died of mesothelioma in the year 2000. He represented Minnesota's Fourth District for 12 terms until his death. I still remember the last time I spoke to Mr. Vento. He was in the back rail there close to the Democratic Cloakroom. So I strongly support and thank the gentleman and gentlelady from Minnesota for offering this and urge all Members to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. I yield myself such time as I may consume. I introduced this legislation to commemorate the life of my constituent, the late Army Colonel George Juskalian, by dedicating the post office of Centreville, Virginia, as the ``Colonel George Juskalian Post Office Building.'' The colonel was born in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He passed away this past July 4 at the age of 96, and he served our Nation for nearly 30 years on active duty, including campaigns in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He joined the United States Army in 1939 and was called to active duty as a first lieutenant in 1940 and served with distinction in World War II. During this time, he was captured by the Germans in Tunisia and spent 27 months in prisoner of war camps in Italy, Germany, and Poland. Colonel Juskalian was in General Eisenhower's secretariat in the Pentagon between 1945 and 1948, and was an adviser to the Imperial Iranian Army in Tehran. He also served our Nation with distinction in France and on the home front, retiring with the rank of colonel in 1967. Awards he received include the Army's highest award, the Legion of Merit, for noncombat service, as well as the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, the Air Medal, and the Parachutist Badge, and the combat Infantry Badge with a Star awarded for World War II and the Korean War. He learned the value of community service at an early age from his parents, who were at the forefront of Armenians immigrating to this country and who worked to establish the Armenian Church in the United States. The colonel was a longtime resident of Centreville and remained actively involved in his community until his death through organizations such as the Armenian Assembly of America, American Legion Post 1995, and the Blue and Gray Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8469. Many knew the colonel through his volunteer work at local schools. I want to thank each Member of the Virginia delegation as they joined with me to introduce this bill. I also want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) for working with me to bring this legislation to the floor for consideration. Naming the Centreville, Virginia, post office facility after Colonel George Juskalian will be a fitting tribute to his many, many years of service, and will also serve as a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by members of the United States Armed Services. I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I would say, as the gentleman and I were talking, I did support the motion to recommit and I thought there were many, many good ideas in it. This bill, though, where we are today I think is a good bill for the country. As someone who has worked on this issue for more than 18 years, I think it is good legislation. There is nothing magic about strapping yourself into a metal box and driving 50 miles and sitting at a metal desk, because that's not necessarily the way that we do things in the 21st century. This bill saves money. It's important for Members to know that this bill saves money. This bill reduces the footprint of the government. This bill is deficit neutral and strengthens the continuation of operations plan in the event of a disaster such as a hurricane, like Katrina, or the massive snowstorm, as was previously mentioned, or in the event of an earthquake such as the Loma Prieta, the 1989 World Series earthquake, or in the event of a terrorist attack. I was here on 9/11. The Pentagon was hit. Cell phones did not work. Nothing worked. The government was fundamentally shut down. If we had had more people teleworking, we would have had the continuity and have been better able to function, particularly during that dark day of the enemy attack. During the February snowstorm, this bill saved money. This legislation adopts many of the best management practices that many companies, most companies now in the private sector are using. Almost every major company in the private sector has telework. And when you say you want the government to be more like the private sector, this is the answer. Lastly, Madam Speaker, every Member, or maybe almost every Member of this institution teleworks when they pick up their BlackBerry or their iPhone. To say that you have to be sitting at your desk office computer to be doing your work is just not accurate. That's like saying every Member is not working if they're not in their office sitting at their laptop. That doesn't make any sense. This brings the government into the 21st century, and I urge strong support of this. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the tireless efforts of the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Sarbanes, and was pleased to work with him to author this legislation. I also thank the gentleman from New York, Mr. Towns, and the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Lynch, for their work to advance this legislation, as well as our colleagues in the Senate who worked on the text of what we are considering today, including Senators Akaka, Voinovich, Lieberman, Collins, and Coburn. This is good, bipartisan legislation, which was also strengthened in the House through the work of my colleague from Virginia, Mr. Wittman, and my colleague from West Virginia, Mrs. Capito. My colleagues will detail why this legislation is important, that it is deficit neutral, that it strengthens our COOP, Continuation of Operations Plans, in the event of disasters such as a hurricane, like Katrina, or a massive snowstorm, like what occurred this past February, or in the event of an earthquake, such as the Loma Prieta, the World Series earthquake, or in the event of a terrorist attack. In all these instances, telework was vital in ensuring that our government continued to operate. In their song The Boxer, Simon and Garfunkel said that ``man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.'' That, unfortunately, has been the case with this legislation. Despite what you may hear, this is good legislation. Telework is good government policy. This legislation is about doing more with less. Let me repeat-- telework is about doing more with less. It is about adapting best practice procedures from the private sector that companies, such as IMB, use daily. It is about saving money. It is about reducing the size, the footprint, of the Federal Government. It is about forcing the Federal Government into the 21st century workplace. During the February snowstorm, telework allowed the Federal Government to recoup the $30 million a day for each day that the government was shut down. Imagine how much would have been saved if more people were teleworking? It was through my work with members, such as the gentleman from Maryland, Mr. Hoyer, that we forced the government to recognize the benefits of telework. When I was chairman of the Science-State-Justice and Commerce Appropriations Subcommittee, I inserted the language to mandate that agencies increase telework opportunities for eligible employees. Why? Because agencies weren't following our directives, our intent. The intent of the Congress to make the government more efficient. And this is what is happening now--telework isn't being used to its fullest extent. And maybe that's because of a lack of information, or reluctant management, or a combination of both. This legislation will not fix all the problems that exist. But it will go a long way toward improvement. Work is something you do, not someplace you go. There is no magic to strapping yourself in a metal box and driving, sometimes up to an hour and a half to our workplaces, and sitting in front of our computers all day. Information accessed at workplaces can just as easily be accessed from computers in our living rooms. With the American family under attack, telework provides the opportunities for parents to spend more time with their families, and everyone to enjoy things they like to do. I urge a ``yes'' vote on the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important work of the Upper Loudoun Youth Football League (ULYFL) in collecting nonperishable food donations for the Tree of Life Food Pantry in Purcellville, Virginia. This fall the Upper Loudoun Youth Football League partnered with Tree of Life Food Pantry to collect food for the individuals and families in the community and stock the food pantry's shelves for the upcoming winter season. The league divided into 25 teams and worked to collect nonperishable food donations. Team Chargers led the pack and collected 3,532 pounds of food and 54 boxes of cereal, and Team Bucs followed close behind with 3,459 pounds of food and 142 boxes of cereal. The other teams included: The Titans/D Cowboys; Bulldogs/Huskies/Vikings; Team Mustangs; Team Oarsman; Team Packers; Team Bengals; Team Giants; The Gators/D Giants; The Tigers/D Ravens; Team Warriors; Team Trojan; The Raiders/D Redskins; The Eagles/ Flag Bengals; Team Vikings; The Wildcats/ Flag Panthers;Team Knights; Team Colts; Team Huskies; Team Aztecs; Team Seahawks; The Cougars/ Flag Pacers; Team Cheerleaders; and The Bandits/D Eagles. All together the league collected 23,550 pounds of food and 614 boxes of cereal. I commend all who volunteered for their tireless commitment and service to those in their community who are unable to make ends meet and put food on the table. I also commend the partnership that has grown between the Upper Loudoun Youth Football League and the Tree of Life Food Pantry in Purcellville to make available leftover food to stock the shelves of the food pantry. In closing, I would like to thank the coaches, the league, the parents, and the players for their dedicated efforts and support for the community.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I submit for the Record an October 31 Reuters article that describes a recent protest that occurred in Morocco. The story opens with the following description: ``About 900 Moroccan rights activists took to the streets in Rabat on Sunday in a rare protest against what they call widespread rights abuses by the authorities, including illegal detention and torture.'' The government of Morocco has long sought to cultivate its image, employing high- powered U.S. lobbyists, as a beacon of tolerance in the Muslim world. This human rights protest is further evidence that Morocco isn't all that it claims to be. Earlier this year the Moroccan government deported, without due process, dozens of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals, many of whom were engaged in vital humanitarian work--for allegedly proselytizing. If the government of Morocco hopes to maintain its image, it is going to take more than some well-positioned lobbyists. Moroccans Stage Rare Human Rights Protest RABAT (Reuters)--About 900 Moroccan rights activists took to the streets in Rabat on Sunday in a rare protest against what they called widespread rights abuses by the authorities, including illegal detention and torture. Protesters chanted: ``Shut down illegal detention centres now!'' and ``Where is the respect for rights and truth?'' Officials were not immediately available to comment on the protest but the government has repeatedly said that its commitment to improve and protect human rights is irreversible. Morocco won international praise for an improvement in its human rights record since reformist monarch Mohamed VI took over in 1999 from his father Hassan during whose rule hundreds of people were tortured and killed at the hands of the government. But local human rights groups at home and abroad argue that the country's rights record has deteriorated since 2003 when it mounted a crackdown against militants linked to al Qaeda. ``The reality of human rights conditions totally belies the government's claim of improvement. Illegal detention, torture and crackdowns on press freedom are pervasive now,'' said Abdeslam Abdelilah, Vice-President of the independent Moroccan Human Rights Association (AMDH). Independent journalists and security officials at the scene estimated the number of demonstrators at around 900. Security forces have in the past broken up similar protests but they did not interfere in Sunday's demonstration.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, we are saddened about the passing of our former colleague, Representative Owen Pickett, who served the Second Congressional District of Virginia from 1987 to 2001. Owen was a respected and principled leader. Sometimes we really never get to know each other in this institution, and sometimes it is at the latest, sometimes almost never. Owen was a good man, a decent man, very honest, very ethical, and very, very committed to the military. He was a tireless representative of the best interests of the Norfolk and Virginia Beach areas. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife, Sybil, his three daughters, and his family. I just want to say ``Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'' [From the Virginian-Pilot, Oct. 29, 2010] Owen Pickett: A Practical Man Tributes to Owen Pickett poured forth from members of both political parties after his death Wednesday at the age of 80. That was testament to the respect that Pickett commanded from Republicans and Democrats across Hampton Roads and Virginia. For decades, he persuaded people of all persuasions to set aside their differences and accomplish important tasks with courage and good humor. His ecumenical politics and practical bent attracted fans of every stripe and generation. No name comes up as consistently in Editorial Board interviews when candidates are asked which local leader they admire. ``I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of my good friend Owen Pickett,'' said Gov. Bob McDonnell. ``Owen dedicated his life to public service. He was a patriot. He served the commonwealth in the House of Delegates and our nation in the House of Representatives. That was his passion: service.'' A centrist Democrat and fiscal conservative, Pickett spent 14 years representing Virginia Beach in the House of Delegates. In 1986, he won election to Congress as the representative for Virginia's 2nd District, succeeding the similarly moderate G. William Whitehurst, a Republican. In Washington, as in Richmond, Pickett burnished a reputation for being steady and unassuming, courtly and nonpartisan. Colleagues described him as an effective legislator who toiled behind the scenes as an advocate not just for military service members but for all of Hampton Roads. Proof isn't limited to the 2nd District. The U.S. Customhouse in downtown Norfolk, for example, wasn't even part of Pickett's territory, but that didn't stop him from securing the federal funds needed to renovate it. Today, the building bears his name. After leaving Congress in 2001, Pickett devoted himself to the community, spreading around some $200,000 in leftover campaign funds to local charities and causes. In Virginia Beach, where he made his home for more than half his life, Pickett helped found the Meals on Wheels program, the Virginia Beach Hospice and the Oceana Lions Club. He was president of the Princess Anne Rotary and Ruritan clubs and in 2003 was honored with the Virginia Beach Jaycees' First Citizen award. But even outside elected office, Pickett retained influence. He spent his final years offering advice to any who sought it, whether they were Democrats, such as U.S. Sen. Jim Webb and Rep. Glenn Nye, or Republicans, including McDonnell and state Sen. Jeff McWaters. ``When I was trying to decide whether to run for state Senate, I called Congressman Pickett and he encouraged me to do so,'' McWaters said. ``Though we sit on different sides of the political aisle, this never seemed to matter as much to him as getting the job done.'' For a practical man like Pickett, there may be no higher praise.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I submit certain sections of the testimony of Mr. Christopher Coates before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in which he discusses the unequal enforcement of federal voting laws by political and career officials in the Department of Justice. THE DECISION TO DISMISS AND TO LIMIT INJUNCTIVE RELIEF IN THE NBPP CASE It was within this atmosphere, with these managers, and with pressure being applied by an organization--NAACP LDF-- that is close to the Obama Administration's CRD management, that the decision to gut the NBPP case was made. Although there have been recent reports that indicate that senior political appointees at higher levels in the Department were involved in the NBPP case, it was Ms. King, along with her Deputy, Steve Rosenbaum, who the Justice Department has claimed made the decision to dismiss three of the party- defendants in the case and ordered the limitation on the broader injunctive relief recommended by both Voting Section and Appellate Section attorneys against the one remaining defendant. It is my opinion that this disposition of the NBPP case was ordered because the people calling the shots in May 2009 were angry at the filing of the Ike Brown case and angry at our filing of the NBPP case. That anger was the result of their deep-seated opposition to the equal enforcement of the VRA against racial minorities and for the protection of whites who have been discriminated against. Ms. King, Mr. Rosenbaum, Mr. Kappelhoff, Ms. Clarke, a large number of the people who work in the Voting Section and the CRD, and many of the liberal private groups that work in the civil rights field believe, incorrectly but vehemently, that enforcement of the protections of the VRA should not be extended to white voters but should be limited to protecting racial, ethnic and language minorities. The final disposition of the NBPP case, even in the face of a default by the defendants, was caused by this incorrect view of civil rights enforcement, and it was intended to send a direct message to people inside and outside the CRD. That message is that the filing of voting cases like the Ike Brown and the NBPP cases would not continue in the Obama Administration. The disposition of the NBPP case was not required by the facts developed during the case or the applicable law, as has been claimed, but was because of this incorrect view of civil rights enforcement that is at war with the statutory language in the VRA and with racially fair enforcement of federal law.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to bring to the attention of my colleagues the use of U.S. taxpayer financed foreign aid to expand Chinese influence around the world. It recently came to my attention that the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) has awarded Chinese state-owned enterprises millions of dollars in contracts to build roads, construct schools, and erect airports in countries with MCC compacts. On June 30, Reuters reported that ``China's Sinohydro Corporations signed a contract with Mali to build a new airport for the capital, Bamako, a $71.6 million project'' financed by the MCC. This is not an isolated incident. China's Sinohydro Corporation was also awarded a contract for construction work in Tanzania. Furthermore, according to news reports, on September 9 and 10 the MCC signed contacts with a Chinese state- owned construction company to renovate and expand 13 schools in Namibia. Thousands of dollars have been awarded to Chinese state-owned enterprises in Ghana for infrastructure construction. The list goes on. According to the Treasury Department, China now holds $846.7 billion in U.S. debt making China our largest banker. At a time of economic hardship at home, the United States should not be giving U.S. taxpayer dollars to China through foreign assistance. Furthermore, the U.S. should not be subsidizing countries with abysmal human rights records. The State Department's 2009 Human Rights Report states that the Chinese ``government's human rights record remained poor and worsened in some areas'' during the reporting period. The report goes on to cite violations including the severe cultural and religious repression of ethnic minorities, the detention and harassment of human rights activists, extrajudicial killings and the use of forced labor. China perpetrates gross human rights abuses outside of its borders as well. In 2008, the international non-governmental organization, Human Rights First, found that China sold over $55 million worth of small arms to the genocidal regime of Omar al-Bashir in Sudan. According to the U.S. Campaign for Burma, China is one of the largest arms suppliers to the brutal Burmese military regime which has been implicated in gross human rights violations including murder, rape and the use of child soldiers. Today, I sent a letter to the inspector general of the Millennium Challenge Corporation asking that he open an investigation into the extent to which Chinese state-owned enterprises have been involved in receiving grant awards through the MCC and determine if such actions are in violation of the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003. I look forward to the inspector general's report and will continue to monitor this issue closely.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I submit a copy of my September 23, 2010, letter to Attorney General Holder strongly supporting the decision of Mr. Christopher Coates to comply with a subpoena to appear before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Mr. Coates contacted me prior to his testimony to share this information and he requested all applicable federal whistleblower protections. I also submit a portion of Mr. Coates' testimony before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in which he discusses the unequal enforcement of federal voting laws by political and career officials in the Department of Justice. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, September 23, 2010. Hon. Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington DC. Dear Attorney General Holder: I write to strongly support Mr. Christopher Coate's decision to comply with a federal subpoena to appear before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. I also wanted to make you aware that prior to appearing before the commission, Mr. Coates contacted me to share similar information relating to the equal enforcement of federal voting laws. Mr. Coates has every right to bring this information to a Member of Congress as well as a responsibility to comply with the commission's subpoena, despite the department's obstruction. I trust that Mr. Coates will face no repercussion for his decision and expect you to inform political and career supervisors to respect his decision. As you are aware, the 1912 Anti-Gag Legislation and Whistleblower Protection Laws for Federal Employees guaranteed that ``the right of any persons employed in the civil service . . . to petition Congress, or any Member thereof, or to furnish information to either House of Congress, or to any committee or member thereof, shall not be denied or interfered with.'' (37 Stat. 555, 1912; codified at 5 U.S.C. 7211, 1994) Additionally, you should be aware that federal officials who deny or interfere with employees' rights to furnish information to Congress are not entitled to have their salaries paid by the taxpayers. As ranking member on the House Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations subcommittee, I assure you that I take this statute very seriously and will do everything in my power to enforce it should any negative actions be taken against Mr. Coates as a result of his decision to contact Congress and appear before the commission. A copy of this letter and Mr. Coate's testimony before the commission will be submitted to the Congressional Record for public review. Sincerely, Frank R. Wolf, Member of Congress

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share with my colleagues the text of a letter I sent today to President Obama, Secretary Gates, Admiral Mullen, and all other parties in the administration charged with executing the war effort. I will enclose in my correspondence to the administration a copy of a letter from a constituent who is a mother of six children, all of whom are currently serving or have served in the U.S. military. I submit for the Record a copy of my original letter to the President as well as a copy of the letter from my constituent. My letter today to the administration will read, in part, ``I implore you to consider my constituent's views--the views of an `American mother with children glad to serve our country,' and to move swiftly to establish an Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group, modeled after the Iraq Study Group, to bring `fresh eyes' to the war effort in Afghanistan. ``The group would be comprised of nationally known and respected individuals who love their country more than their political party and would serve to provide much-needed clarity to a policy that increasingly appears adrift. ``Candidly, after reading yesterday's Washington Post piece adapted from Bob Woodward's Obama's Wars, I have serious concerns that the needed clarity about our aim in Afghanistan ever existed within the administration. Woodward writes, `Even at the end of the process, the President's team wrestled with the most basic questions about the war, then entering its ninth year: What is the mission? What are we trying to do? What will work?' ``These are sobering questions--but they are questions that must be answered, and the Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group is just the means to arrive at these answers in a way that honors our men and women in uniform. ``In the halls of Congress or the White House, at Foggy Bottom or the Pentagon, public discussions can at times be detached from the actual lives that are most directly impacted by the decisions being made. This couldn't be further from the case for this mother. She doesn't have that luxury when it comes to the war in Afghanistan. And we mustn't either. ``This is not a matter of politics--or at least it ought not be--for it is always in our national interest to openly assess the challenges before us and to chart a clear course to victory. Frankly, I've been deeply troubled by Woodward's reporting which indicates that discussions of the war strategy were infused with political calculations. An Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group could help redeem what was clearly a deeply flawed process.'' I close with a line from my constituent. She said, ``The casualties suffered aren't just numbers to me. Each name, each face, represents a family who is paying the ultimate price--the loss of a son or a daughter, brother or sister, father or mother; a family that will never be the same. Therefore, I wholeheartedly support the formation of an Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group in the hope that it will help to turn the tide of this war and lessen the number of casualties as well.'' I hope the President and his advisers will heed the eloquent words of this military mother who has six children serving and another child is married to a marine. And many have served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Congress of the United States, House of Representatives, August 4, 2010. Hon. Barack H. Obama, The President, Washington, DC. Dear Mr, President: On September 14, 2001, following the catastrophic and deliberate terrorist attack on our country, I voted to go to war in Afghanistan. I stand by that decision and have the utmost confidence in General Petraeus's proven leadership. I also remain unequivocally committed to the success of our mission there and to the more than 100,000 American troops sacrificing toward that end. In fact, it is this commitment which has led me to write to you. While I have been a consistent supporter of the war effort in both Afghanistan and Iraq, I believe that with this support comes a responsibility. This was true during a Republican administration in the midst of the wars, and it remains true today. In 2005, I returned from my third trip to Iraq where I saw firsthand the deteriorating security situation. I was deeply concerned that Congress was failing to exercise the necessary oversight of the war effort. Against this backdrop I authored the legislation that created the Iraq Study Group (ISG). The ISG was a 10-member bipartisan group of well-respected, nationally known figures who were brought together with the help of four reputable organizations--the U.S. Institute for Peace, the Center for the Study of the Presidency, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the Baker Institute for Public Policy at Rice University--and charged with undertaking a comprehensive review of U.S. efforts there. This panel was intended to serve as ``fresh eyes on the target''--the target being success in Iraq. While reticent at first, to their credit President Bush, State Secretary Rice and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld came to support the ISG, ably led by bipartisan co-chairs, former Secretary of State James Baker and former Congressman Lee Hamilton. Two members of your national security team, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and CIA Director Leon Panetta, saw the merit of the ISG and, in fact, served on the panel. Vice President Biden, too, then serving in the Senate, was supportive and saw it as a means to unite the Congress at a critical time. A number of the ISG's recommendations and ideas were adopted. Retired General Jack Keane, senior military adviser to the ISG, was a lead proponent of ``the surge,'' and the ISG referenced the possibility on page 73. Aside from the specific policy recommendations of the panel, the ISG helped force a moment of truth in our national conversation about the war effort. I believe our nation is again facing such a moment in the Afghanistan war effort, and that a similar model is needed. In recent days I have spoken with a number of knowledgeable individuals including former senior diplomats, public policy experts and retired and active military. Many believe our Afghanistan policy is adrift, and all agreed that there is an urgent need for what I call an Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group (APSG). We must examine our efforts in the region holistically, given Pakistan's strategic significance to our efforts in Afghanistan and the Taliban's presence in that country as well, especially in the border areas. This likely will not come as a surprise to you as commander in chief. You are well acquainted with the sobering statistics of the past several weeks--notably that July surpassed June as the deadliest month for U.S. troops. There is a palpable shift in the nation's mood and in the halls of Congress. A July 2010 CBS news poll found that 62 percent of Americans say the war is going badly in Afghanistan, up from 49 percent in May. Further, last week, 102 Democrats voted against the war spending bill, which is 70 more than last year; and they were joined by 12 members of my own party. Senator Lindsay Graham, speaking last Sunday on CNN's ``State of the Union,'' candidly expressed concern about an ``unholy alliance'' emerging of anti-war Democrats and Republicans. I have heard it said that Vietnam was not lost in Saigon; rather, it was lost in Washington. While the Vietnam and Afghanistan parallels are imperfect at best, the shadow of history looms large. Eroding political will has consequences--and in the case of Afghanistan, the stakes could not be higher. A year ago, speaking before the Veterans of Foreign War National Convention, you rightly said, ``Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven from which al Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans. So this is not only a war worth fighting . . . this is fundamental to the defense of our people.'' Indeed it is fundamental. We must soberly consider the implications of failure in Afghanistan. Those that we know for certain are chilling--namely an emboldened al-Qaeda, a reconstituted Taliban with an open staging ground for future worldwide attacks, and a destabilized, nuclear-armed Pakistan. Given these realities and wavering public and political support, I urge you to act immediately, through executive order, to convene an Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group modeled after the Iraq Study Group. The participation of nationally known and respected individuals is of paramount importance. Among the names that surfaced in my discussions with others, all of whom more than meet the criteria described above, are ISG co-chairs Baker and Hamilton; former Senators Chuck Robb, Bob Kerrey and Sam Nunn; former Congressman Duncan Hunter; former U.S. ambassador Ryan. Crocker; former Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, and General Keane. These names are simply suggestions among a cadre of capable men and women, as evidenced by the make-up of the ISG, who would be more than up to the task. I firmly believe that an Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group could reinvigorate national confidence in how America can be successful and move toward a shared mission in Afghanistan. This is a crucial task. On the Sunday morning news shows this past weekend, it was unsettling to hear conflicting statements from within the leadership of the administration that revealed a lack of clarity about the end game in Afghanistan. How much more so is this true for the rest of the country? An APSG is necessary for precisely that reason. We are nine years into our nation's longest running war and the American people and their elected representatives do not have a clear sense of what we are aiming to achieve, why it is necessary and how far we are from attaining that goal. Further, an APSG could strengthen many of our NATO allies in Afghanistan who are also facing dwindling public support, as evidenced by the recent Dutch troop withdrawal, and would give them a tangible vision to which to commit. Just as was true at the time of the Iraq Study Group, I believe that Americans of all political viewpoints, liberals and conservatives alike, and varied opinions on the war will embrace this ``fresh eyes'' approach. Like the previous administration's support of the Iraq Study Group, which involved taking the group's members to Iraq and providing high-level access to policy and decision makers, I urge you to embrace an Afghanistan-Pakistan Study Group. It is always in our national interest to openly assess the challenges before us and to chart a clear course to success. As you know, the full Congress comes back in session in mid-September--days after Americans around the country will once again pause and remember that horrific morning nine years ago when passenger airlines became weapons, when the skyline of one of America's greatest cities was forever changed, when a symbol of America's military might was left with a gaping hole. The experts with whom I have spoken in recent days believe that time is of the essence in moving forward with a study panel, and waiting for Congress to reconvene is too long to wait. As such, I am hopeful you will use an executive order and the power of the bully pulpit to convene this group in short order, and explain to the American people why it is both necessary and timely. Should you choose not to take this path, respectfully, I intend to offer an amendment by whatever vehicle necessary to mandate the group's creation at the earliest possible opportunity. The ISG's report opened with a letter from the co-chairs that read, ``There is no magic. formula to solve the problems of Iraq. However, there are actions that can be taken to improve the situation and protect American interests.'' The same can be said of Afghanistan. I understand that you are a great admirer of Abraham Lincoln. He, too, governed during a time of war, albeit a war that pitted brother against brother, and father against son. In the midst of that epic struggle, he relied on a cabinet with strong, often times opposing viewpoints. Historians assert this served to develop his thinking on complex matters. Similarly, while total agreement may not emerge from a study group for Afghanistan and Pakistan, I believe that vigorous, thoughtful and principled debate and discussion among some of our nation's greatest minds on these matters will only serve the national interest. The biblical admonition that iron sharpens iron rings true. Best wishes. P.S. We as a nation must be successful in Afghanistan. We owe this to our men and women in the military serving in harm's way and to the American people.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, on Monday, the King of Morocco travelled to New York to address the UN General Assembly Summit on the Millennium Development Goals, which seek to improve the quality of life for people around the world. I urge Obama Administration officials to seize this opportunity to meet with the King and raise the plight of the dozens of U.S. citizens that have been expelled from or denied reentry into Morocco without access to due process. As a result of the deportations a number of humanitarian organizations which were run by U.S. citizens and provided vital community services have been shuttered: Individuals such as Eddie and Lynn Padilla of Colorado who worked in an orphanage caring for young Moroccan children who were abandoned at birth; and Michael Cloud of Texas, who ran therapy centers for children with disabilities across the country; and scores of American teachers and educators who sought to improve access to education for Moroccan children. Many of these individuals resided legally in Morocco for decades and had a deep love for their adopted country. Their work supported Millennium Development Goals such as child health and universal education. In his address to the General Assembly on Monday, the King of Morocco expressed his support for and commitment to these lofty goals. Meanwhile, his government turned out dozens of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals whose work supported the same goals for which the King professed his support. If the King of Morocco is truly serious about his commitment to achieving the Millennium Development goals, his government should immediately and unconditionally allow those expelled or denied reentry to return. The U.S. government should press for nothing less.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I submit a statement from the Sudan Catholic Bishops' Conference (SCBC) titled, ``A Message of Hope and a Call to Action.'' The bishops gathered in Juba in July on the eve of an historic time for the people of Sudan as they approach the referendum in January 2011. (Addressed to all the people of Sudan, the Sudanese leaders, and all people of good will) ``The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.'' (Luke 4:18-19)

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Virginia Airborne Search and Rescue Squad Air-Wing in Manassas, VA. This organization is the only all volunteer airborne search and rescue squad in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Established in June 2009, the squad is licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia, Office of Emergency Medical Services, as a non-designated area and statewide airborne rescue squad. The organization provides many airborne EMS, fire, rescue, and law enforcement airborne services including a helicopter equipped with trained search and rescue pilots and flight officers who are on call around the clock. It has trained and dedicated volunteer members of the community, consisting of law enforcement officers, professional firefighters and EMTs, pilots, flight officers and many former U.S. military personnel, all providing their time, effort, and funding to ensure the safety of the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, District of Columbia, and state of Maryland. The squad is Project Lifesaver certified and equipped and ready to respond to a lost child or elderly adult registered with Project Lifesaver. The leadership team includes Kevin C. Rychlik, chief of operations, president and CEO, and Ann Rychlik, chairman of the Board of Trustees, both prominent business leaders in our community. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the vision, sacrifice and dedication of those individuals and organizations that have worked together to create the Virginia Airborne Search and Rescue Squad.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I want to share with our colleagues the untimely passing of a brave and heroic man who made the cause of fighting for the people of Tibet his life's calling. Daja Wangchuk Meston served as my guide when I traveled to Tibet in 1997. Accompanied only by my late chief of staff Charlie White and Daja, I was at the time just the second sitting member of the U. S. House of Representatives to visit Tibet since the Chinese occupation began in 1959. We traveled with U.S. passports and on tourist visas issued by the government of China. At no time did anyone ask nor did I make known that I was a member of Congress. Had I done so, I am sure that my visit would not have been approved, just as other members of Congress requesting permission to visit Tibet have been turned down. I couldn't have made the trip without Daja. He knew the Tibetan people and their struggles against iron-fisted Chinese rule. He opened the doors for my meetings with persecuted monks, men and women on the street and others who risked their personal safety and well-being to steal a few moments alone with me to reveal the unspeakably conditions in Tibet and to petition help and support from the West. He later paid the price for his heroism when he returned to Tibet to investigate the Chinese government's population resettlement program underwritten by the World Bank. He was subsequently captured, tortured and imprisoned by Chinese authorities, and badly injured when he tried to escape by jumping from a window. He endured a harrowing experience before his release. In our search for modern-day heroes, Daja Wangchuk Meston is a true hero. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to know him. I submit for the Record a moving account of Daja's life written by Linda Anna Mancini, coordinator of the Boston Tibet Network, who worked closely with Daja. The Boston Tibet Network links various Tibetan support groups, local individuals, national and international organizations, and the Tibetan Association of Boston. Daja Wangchuk Meston was beautiful in his modesty, strength and honesty. Powerful in his choices. This hero would not be called by that title when he was with us, but now that he has left us, I feel compelled to name him the hero that he was. Brave in the face of danger, with strength above tragedy, Wangchuk was a hero. It was my honor to know him. Such a beautiful man. With so much sadness at his death, I look at his brave life for comfort. While remembering his work, I can treasure his dignity and all that he achieved. May the memory of his beauty and achievements sustain his family and all who loved him and cherish him still. Certainly His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the most significant treasure to Tibetans and Tibet supporters. He is a great leader. And, as he knows, the actions of many others also shed a light--Wangchuk was one, a bright light. We are all indebted to him. The moment of his capture in Amdo in 1999 galvanized the Tibetan struggle into the unified grass roots movement that has held strong since that time. The Tibetan issue in itself is truly an ocean of suffering. Each person's story is distinctive, whether born in Tibet, or India, or the states--or, in Wanchuk's case, an American raised as a Tibetan. Wangchuk was born in Switzerland, child of Americans who traveled to Nepal where his mother placed him with a Tibetan family and later, when he was 6, into the monastery. His mother lived as a nun in India, while his father returned to California burdened with great personal challenges. At 17 Wangchuk left the monastery and came to the states. After a few years, he attended Brandeis. How valiant he was when he first arrived, young teenager alone, wearing jeans, not maroon robes. Looking for his birth family, an education and his American self. He found his dear wife--they understood too well both tragedy and exile. They courageously trusted each other, shared love and pain and family, and the struggle for human rights in Tibet. It was the spring of 1999 when I met Wangchuk. He was impressive, knowledgeable. We were just a group of people interested in Tibet who gathered to share ideas. We formed an alliance, the Boston Tibet Network (BTN) to share information and be able to act on it. Present were Tibetan Buddhists, folks from Amnesty, a scholar archivist of Tibetan Buddhist texts, a Harvard professor, those interested in Tibet, in Buddhism, in social justice. All concerned about the well being of Tibetans in Tibet and those in exile, about human rights and non-violent action. The network still exists, we now know each other well and continue to work toward the same goals. A few months after our first meetings, Wangchuk went to Tibet. He went in August to investigate, see what was happening to the nomads in Amdo at the hands of the Chinese. He was outstandingly brave to do this. He knew there was danger. The Tibetan movement had learned that the World Bank, contrary to their own mandate, had financed Chinese population resettlement. Tibet supporters worldwide protested loudly with marches and more. Bowing to international pressure, the Chinese government said all were welcome to visit and explore their nomad resettlement project which they claimed was beneficial; yet the pattern was set--the Chinese were perpetually hard about all things Tibetan. Wangchuk was one of those who decided to take them at their word and go and see their project. Once there Wangchuk was quickly captured by the Chinese, questioned and tortured. Despairing of ever being released, he jumped from a window trying to escape. He was seriously injured and held in a nearby hospital by the Chinese. For BTN our first group action was to announce the terrible news that Wangchuck was imprisoned. We begged the Chinese government to release him and lobbied our own government to assist in freeing him. The Chinese made his release difficult, so Wangchuk's wife Phuntsok and their friend, Carl, went to China to get him. A harrowing experience but finally they returned to the states and he was admitted to Brigham and Womens' Hospital for a long stay. August of 1999, Wangchuk's imprisonment, his subsequent injuries and release, world protests--all this was a pivotal moment for the Tibetan movement. The World Bank relented to demands and stopped the funding to the Chinese for nomad resettlement in Amdo. The Tibetan movement was energized and Tibet supporters became a strongly united grass roots movement that has continued to grow powerful all these years since. Wangchuk was heroic to go to Amdo. He was brave when he endured the endless surgeries needed to rebuild his shattered feet. He was generous to write his autobiography ``Comes the Peace'' and share his personal life, thoughts and feelings. He was happy with his wife and their boutique ``Karma'' where they shared workdays and he told stories to friends and shoppers, and enjoyed his Newton Center community. Yes, it hurts that he is not with us anymore, and that he chose to leave us. But I am so grateful to have known Wangchuk, he was a hero. Such an honest man, he took my breath away. He is remembered well.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I would like to draw the attention of my colleagues to a letter I recently sent to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as reports from nongovernmental organizations, NGOs, regarding human rights and religious freedom in Morocco and the Moroccan occupied territory of Western Sahara. Since March, dozens of U.S. citizens and foreign nationals have been expelled from Morocco without due process on charges of proselytism. In the wake of this action, I have repeatedly called on the board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation to suspend the $697.5 million compact with the government of Morocco. As Americans deal with tough economic times, it is unacceptable for U.S. taxpayer dollars to continue to flow into a country which flagrantly disregards the rights of U.S. citizens. I am continuing to press the MCC to act decisively to suspend the compact with Morocco until the government of Morocco agrees to the return of all United States citizens affected by the expulsions, thereby sending a clear message that these actions by a purported ally will not be tolerated. Morocco's recent actions may seem surprising to many, but to those who have followed events in the Moroccan occupied territory of the Western Sahara, this is business as usual for the Moroccan government. Yet the Obama administration has remained notably silent on these issues despite repeated calls from within the Congress to address these grave injustices. Just yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed its version of the FY 2011 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations measures which ``directed the Secretary of State to submit a report not later than 45 days after the enactment of this act, detailing steps taken by the Government of Morocco in the previous 12 months on human rights, including deportation of U.S. citizens in Morocco without due process of law, and whether it is allowing all persons to advocate freely their views regarding the status and future of the Western Sahara through the exercise of their rights to peaceful expression and association, and to document violations of human rights in the territory without harassment.'' I submit for the Record my letter to Secretary Clinton as well as reports by highly respected NGOs clearly illustrate Morocco's disregard for the basic principles of human rights and religious freedom as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. House of Representatives, Washington, DC, July 28, 2010. Hon. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State, Washington DC. Dear Secretary Clinton: I write today to express my continued concern about the situation involving Americans in Morocco and urge you to issue a strong statement in support of the American citizens whose lives have been uprooted by the Moroccan government's recent actions. I ask that either you or President Obama call on the Moroccan government to unconditionally allow all those expelled or denied reentry to return to Morocco. Just yesterday, yet another U.S. citizen, Mike Hutchinson, was denied reentry into Morocco. This came after repeated assurances by the Moroccan government to the U.S. Embassy in Rabat that the expulsion order issued to Mr. Hutchinson last month had been suspended and he was free to reenter the country at a time of his choosing. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Rabat remained blissfully unaware of the events unfolding at the airport. It is my understanding the U.S. Embassy had been contacted and was fully aware of Mr. Hutchinson's intentions to reenter Morocco and had in its possession the details of his flight itinerary. However, embassy officials failed to communicate Mr. Hutchinson's planned reentry to the Moroccan government to ensure his passage into the country. The U.S. Embassy in Rabat has an obligation to defend and protect American interests in Morocco. This instance demonstrates a clear failure by U.S. government officials to carry out their basic duties. An American embassy should be an island of freedom which vigorously represents the interests of the United States and its citizens. These events clearly reflect that the U.S. Embassy in Rabat is falling short of its obligations. Despite all this, U.S. taxpayer dollars continue to pour into Morocco through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC). The stated purpose of the MCC is to form ``partnerships with some of the world's poorest countries, but only those committed to: good governance, economic freedom, and investments in their citizens.'' As a precondition to receiving MCC funds, the government of Morocco was evaluated on 17 key indicators of eligibility. A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the Millennium Challenge Corporation found that on the 17 key indicators ``Morocco met MCC's eligibility criteria in 2005 and 2006 but has failed each year since.'' The failure of the government of Morocco to meet the criteria for four consecutive years shows a clear unwillingness to live up to the pledges made when awarded the MCC compact. The recent expulsion and denial of reentry to U.S. citizens engaged in work which provided humanitarian services to the people of Morocco should erase any doubt about Morocco's commitment to the core principles of the MCC. It is unacceptable for U.S. taxpayer dollars to continue to flow into Morocco under these circumstances. By failing to suspend the MCC compact with Morocco, the United States sends a message to the world that we are willing to turn a blind eye to injustice, even when the interests of our own citizens are at stake. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and I look forward to your response. Best wishes. Sincerely, Frank R. Wolf, Member of Congress.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I am introducing today the Bring Jobs Back to America Act, which would start the process of bringing real jobs back to America that have gone overseas during the last two decades. My legislation will build on language I included earlier this year in the fiscal year 2011 Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill directing the Commerce Department to launch a job repatriation initiative to bring those jobs back home. I believe that a strong manufacturing and technology development base is critical to job creation and the economic competitiveness of the United States. Something has happened in our country. We're making fewer and fewer things. Today, everything seems to be labeled: ``Made in China.'' If you have ever taken the train from Washington, DC, to New York and looked out the window, you can see our empty factories. You pass through my old neighborhood in Philadelphia. GE's switchgear factory used to be one block from my home. Now there's nothing there but an empty, littered field. You pass through Trenton, New Jersey, and can see the famous bridge sign that reads: ``Trenton Makes, the World Takes.'' Trenton doesn't make anything anymore. Last year, General Electric CEO Jeffrey Immelt noted that in recent years in the United States, ``Real engineering was traded for financial engineering.'' Immelt called on the U.S. to grow manufacturing jobs to comprise at least 20 percent of American jobs--nearly double the current level. In this era of intense global competition, we must work aggressively to bring jobs that have gone overseas back home to the U.S. to immediately start growing the percentage of these jobs, as Immelt called for. It's not enough to talk about creating jobs. We have to take immediate steps to create jobs. I have been, and remain, a staunch supporter of free trade. Free trade has yielded benefits to the American people and our economy. However, we have been far too slow in responding to our international economic competitors in this era of global markets and competition. The irony is that as much as American firms have offshored manufacturing and development jobs, they remain reliant on America for support. And with American unemployment hovering around 10 percent, it's time for some of these American firms to come home. When an American plant manager in Mexico is kidnapped, the firm doesn't call the Mexican Federal Police, they call the FBI. When the Chinese steal an American firm's intellectual property, the firm calls the U.S. Commerce Department. It's time to bring some of these jobs home because America can be competitive in this global economy and it's the right thing to do. My legislation will start this process. Overall, I believe that my bill helps to re-focus the United States to be more proactive and a smarter competitor in the global economy-- both in the short term and long term. Specifically, this bill requires the Secretary of Commerce to set targets for job repatriation and creates multi-agency ``Repatriation Task Forces'' to identify American companies manufacturing abroad and work with states to bring jobs back to the U.S. The goal is to bring back real jobs from overseas to the United States--jobs that are already created and an American could immediately fill. This bill would require the Commerce Department to survey all American firms with significant manufacturing facilities in foreign countries, allowing the Repatriation Task Forces to proactively identify all firms interested in working with state and local governments to facilitate a mutually beneficial repatriation of jobs. The bill would also comprehensively align federal resources in support of repatriation efforts. It allows state and local governments to use a variety of federal funding--at no new cost--to support job repatriation initiatives by state and local governments. For example, my bill aligns Economic Development Agency (EDA) and National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST) grants to allow state and local governments to use this funding for repatriation. It would also direct the Secretary of Commerce and the IRS to quickly study and report on the merits of a new federal tax incentive to encourage repatriation. In addition to repatriating jobs today, we must redouble our efforts to foster emerging technologies to create our manufacturing base of tomorrow. For too long, the U.S. has failed to strategically monitor emerging opportunities and threats in our competitive global economy. We are starting to see the ramifications of this failure in the rise of China as an economic power. My bill would reconstitute President Reagan's ``Project Socrates'' as an independent ``American Economic Security Commission'' to identify and monitor emerging technologies and global economic threats. Project Socrates was initiated during the Reagan Administration to address America's competitiveness challenge and determine the source of the nation's declining competitiveness and develop programs to address the source of the problem. Our Commission--composed of 12 business leaders and economists appointed by the majority and minority leaders--will similarly take a comprehensive and unbiased look at all of our global economic competitors--both strengths and weaknesses--and help inform the Congress on how to bolster American economic security. This will ensure that we have an independent mechanism to monitor new opportunities and threats to ensure that America can capitalize on revolutionary technologies and create new jobs in the U.S. The bill also provides stronger protections for American intellectual property and helps to expedite the patent process for cutting-edge new technologies developed by universities. The faster we can secure our innovations and move them to market, the more jobs we can create in this country. We can no longer afford to ride the coattails of yesterday's innovations; we have to identify and support the emerging technologies of tomorrow that will create American jobs. The Chinese, Indians and other international competitors are actively monitoring new technologies and trends to support their firms. To date, we have not. Are Americans willing to continue to sit idly by and allow the Chinese to dominate new industries at our expense? Norm Augustine, the former chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin, best captured the situation we now find ourselves in when he said: In the technology-driven economy in which we live, Americans have come to accept leadership as the natural and enduring state of affairs. But leadership is highly perishable. It must be constantly re-earned. In the 16th century the citizens of Spain no doubt thought they would remain the world leader. In the 17th century it was France. In the 19th century, Great Britain. And in the 20th century it was the United States. Unless we do things dramatically different, including strengthening our investments in research and education, the 21st century will belong to China and India. Author Richard McGregor wrote in his new book, The Party, that the Chinese government, ``still runs on Soviet hardware.'' It uses the full resources of the state to advance the interests of Chinese firms. The Chinese are spying on us. They are launching millions of cyber attacks against American companies and the federal government every day. The Chinese are funding the genocide in Darfur. They have Catholic bishops in jail, Protestant pastors in jail, and they have plundered Tibet. If the U.S. is to be truly competitive in the global economy, we must be vigilant and proactive--in a manner that is consistent with our national interest and international treaties. Madam Speaker, I urge swift passage of this legislation to help bring jobs back to the United States today and to lay the groundwork for tomorrow's manufacturing and technology base. We cannot afford to wait. Our international competitors aren't.