Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

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

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chairman, I accept the amendment. I think it is a very good amendment. I congratulate the gentlelady from Arizona, and I urge a ``yes'' vote. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chairman, this is a good amendment. We accepted Mr. Nugent's amendment earlier this evening, I think for $2 million. For this we accept the amendment. I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I rise in strong support of this amendment. The gentleman from West Virginia is exactly right. One of the frustrating things to keep in mind is that, in China, there are 24 Catholic bishops under house arrest, and nobody seems to care. There are big law firms in Washington that represent the Chinese Government, and nobody seems to care. They have plundered Tibet, and yet American companies have to go up against American law firms that are paid for by Chinese filthy money, so I think it is a very good amendment. I would have made it double the amount, but we will try to add that when we get to conference. I accept the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, we have already increased this, but I think it is meritorious, so I have no objection to the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. I support the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. I think it is a good amendment, and I accept the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I oppose the amendment. Chairman Goodlatte, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, who was here and just left, strongly opposes the amendment. There is no authorization. There is no appropriation. Congress never approved it. It is almost like an executive order out of nowhere. Again, so the chairman of the full committee, we try to work closer together. We have had a better relationship than we have had for a long time. The authorizers oppose it, and so I strongly oppose it and ask for a ``no'' vote on the amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I support the gentleman's amendment. I was just reading the dangers and consequences of marijuana abuse. What is happening to our country? I saw a report today in The Hill newspaper, ``Buyers' remorse on marijuana?'' The growers in Mexico are not growing marijuana now. They are going into the poppy business because they are now doing it in Colorado. I cast the deciding vote against smoking on airplanes, and now we are encouraging or allowing people to use marijuana? I think the gentleman is right. And I have been disappointed in the Justice Department because, you know, we should follow the law. The law is the law, and I think the gentleman is right. You are seeing the skirting of the law. There is much more. We are going to have a big debate tomorrow, I guess, on this whole issue a little bit differently than this. But I think the gentleman is right. The law is the law, and the Justice Department should be seeking justice and enforce the law. If they don't like the law, they should come up here to Congress and change the law. Reasonable people can debate it and have differences. But I think the gentleman makes a very powerful point, and I strongly support the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I submitted the full text of the Pledge of Solidarity and Call to Action on Behalf of Christians and Other Small Religious Communities in Egypt, Iraq and Syria, signed by well over 200 U.S. Christian leaders. These individuals, representing the American church, have recognized the gravity of the situation facing religious minorities in these countries, and by signing the pledge have agreed to speak out on behalf of these ancient faith communities. Below is the full list of signatories to the Pledge: Fr. Tateos R. Abdalian; Rt. Rev. Keith L Ackerman, Bishop Vicar of the Diocese of Quincy, Anglican Church in North America; Susan Agel, Resurrection Free Methodist Church; Charles P. Ajalat; Jhonny Alicea-Baez, Director of Global Missions, Reformed Church in America; Rt. Rev. Kevin Bond Allen, Bishop, Diocese of Cascadia, Anglican Church in North America; Rt. Rev. Roger C. Ames, Diocese of the Great Lakes, Anglican Church in North America; Melodee Andersen, Wooddale Church; Rt. Rev. David Craig Anderson, Sr., American Anglican Council; Dr. Leith Anderson, National Association of Evangelicals; Fr. Bishoy Andrawes, St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church, Washington, DC; Auday P. Arabo, Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers; Don Argue, EdD, Ambassador at Large, Convoy Of Hope; Maged Atiya, Physicist, Businessman; Rt. Rev. Will G. Atwood, III, Bishop, International Diocese, Anglican Church in North America; Toufic Baaklini, In Defense of Christians; Wade Baho, Syriacs Assembly Movement; Dr. Mark L. Bailey, Dallas Theological Seminary; Dr. Ryan Baker, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (USA), Louisville, KY. Bashir Bakoz, Syriacs Assembly Movement; Rt. Rev. Thad Barnum, Bishop, PEARUSA, Anglican Church in North America; Gary Bauer, American Values; Rt. Rev. Dr. Foley Beach, Bishop, Diocese of the South, Anglican Church in North America; Chorbishop Seely Beggiani, Professor of Theology, Catholic University of America; Mindy Belz, Editor, World Magazine; Rt. Rev. David Bena, Assisting Bishop, Diocese of CANA East Anglican Church in North America; William Bennett; Prof Thomas E. Bird, CUNY; Joel Boot, Christian Reformed Church in North America; Gerard V. Bradley, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame; Rt. Rev. Dr. Steven Breedlove, Presiding Bishop, PEARUSA, Anglican Church in North America; Douglas Britton, Missionary, Global Outreach Mission; Kurt Brown, Pastor, Living Springs Community Church; Most Rev. Tod Brown, Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange; Rt. Rev. David C. Bryan, Bishop, PEARUSA, Anglican Church in North America; Dwight Burchett, Pastor, Centerpoint Community Church; Paolo Carozza, University of Notre Dame; Bishop Kenneth H. Carter, Jr., Resident Bishop, Florida Conference, United Methodist Church; Joseph Cella, Founder, National Catholic Prayer Breakfast; Most Rev. Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia; Bishop Abner Chauke, Free Methodist Church; Most Rev. David R. Choby, Catholic Diocese of Nashville; Archbishop Oshagan Cholayan, Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Evan Alevizatos Chriss, Baltimore, MD; John E. Chowning, Vice President for Church & External Relations, Campbellsville University; Betty Clark, Wooddale Church, Eden Prairie, MN; Luis Cortes, Esperanza; Janice Shaw Crouse, The Beverly LaHaye Institute; Jim Daly, Focus on the Family; Dr. Ramsay F. Dass, American Middle East Christians Congress; Wendy J. Deichmann, United Theological Seminary; Greg Delamarter, Free Methodist Church; Most Rev. Gerald N. Dino, Bishop of the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix; Rev. Dr. Gilbert Doan; Rt. Rev. Julian Dobbs, Bishop, Diocese of CANA East, Anglican Church in North America; Dr. James Dobson, Family Talk; Bill Donohue, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights; Andrew Doran, In Defense of Christians; Hon. Michael S. Dukakis, former Governor of Massachusetts; W. Cole Durham, Jr., International Center for Law and Religion Studies, Brigham Young University; Most Rev. Robert Duncan, Archbishop, Anglican Church in North America; Dr. John Eibner, Christian Solidarity International (CSI-USA); Prof. John P. Entelis, Chair, Department of Political Science, Fordham University; Gregory R. Erlandson, Our Sunday Visitor Publishing; Jonathan Falwell, Senior Pastor, Thomas Road Baptist Church; Fr. Athanasius K. Farag; John Farina, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, George Mason University; Thomas Farr, Religious Freedom Project, Georgetown University; Armando Fernandez, Pastor, The Rock Church; Harold Fickett, Aleteia America; David F. Forte, Professor of Law, Cleveland State University; A.J. French, Sacred Creations; Rt. Rev. Alphonza Gadsden, Sr., Bishop, Diocese of the Southeast, Reformed Episcopal Church, Anglican Church in North America; Edward McGlynn Gaffney, Prof. of International Law and Genocide Studies, Valparaiso, IN; Mr. Joseph Gamero; Gerry Garbis; Richard W. Garnett, Program on Church, State & Society, Notre Dame Law School; Most Rev. John R. Gaydos, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City; Mimi Geerges, Focal Point Radio; Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence, Princeton University; Dr. Timothy George, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University; Amb. Joseph Ghougassian; Scott Gibbons, Pastor, Big Rapids Free Methodist Church; Lela Gilbert, writer; Rt. Rev. R. Charles Gillin, Suffragan Bishop, Diocese of the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Canada, Reformed Episcopal Church Anglican Church in North America; Amb. Mary Ann Glendon; Rt. Rev. Terrell Glenn, Bishop of the Anglican Church in North America; Katharine Cornell Gorka, Council on Global Security; Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; David E. Greer, American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East; Rev. Marcel Guarnizo, Educational Initiative for Central and Eastern Europe; Rt. Rev. John A. M. Guernsey, Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic, Anglican Church in North America; Os Guinness, Author; Mary Habeck, Visiting Scholar, American Enterprise Institute; Lee Habeeb, Vice President of Content, Salem Radio Network; John Hajjar, Middle East Christian Committee MECHRIC USA; Joseph Hakim, International Christian Union; Ambassador Tony Hall; William Hamel, Evangelical Free Church of America; George Hankhe, Suryoyo American Association; Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Asian Access; Jeff Hanna, Pastor, Living Hope Free Methodist Church; Dr. Samir Hanna; Tom Harb, American Maronite Union; Rev. Jose Hernandez, Free Methodist Church-- USA; Allen D. Hertzke, David Ross Boyd Professor of Political Science at the University of Oklahoma; Rt. Rev. David L. Hicks, Bishop of the Diocese of the Northeast & Mid-Atlantic and Eastern Canada, Reformed Episcopal Church Anglican Church in North America; Alec Hill, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship; Waiel Afram Hindo, Professor; Dennis P. Hollinger, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary; Rev. Dr. Joel C. Hunter, Senior Pastor, Northland-- A Church Distributed; Bill Hybels, Founder and Senior Pastor, Willow Creek Community Church; Lynne Hybels, Advocate for Global Engagement, Willow Creek Community Church; Rt. Rev. Jack L. Iker, Bishop of Fort Worth, Anglican Church in North America; Rt. Rev. William H. Ilgenfritz, Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints Anglican Church in North America; Bassam Ishak; Wally Jadan, MEA TV and Radio; Ned Jalou, United Christians Organization; Dr. Jerry A. Johnson, National Religious Broadcasters; Dr. Douglas M. Johnston, International Center for Religion & Diplomacy; Rt. Rev. Derek Jones, Bishop of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy, Anglican Church in North America; Kristine Kalanges, Associate Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame; Asaad Kalasho, Iraqi American Christian Language Association; George Karcazes, Executive Board Member, Orthodox Christian Laity; Joseph T. Kassab, Iraqi Christians Advocacy and Empowerment Institute; Ismat Karmo, Nineveh Council of America; Bishop David W. Kendall, Free Methodist Church--USA; Magdi Khalil, Coptic Solidarity International; Dr. Audisho Khoshaba, US Rep. of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrian Popular Council; Sami Khoury, World Maronite Union; Rev. Dr. Walter Kim, Park Street Church; Rev. Mrs. Martha Kirkpatrick, Free Methodist Church; Melanie Kirkpatrick, author; Rev. Mr. Virgil (Jim) Eugene Kirkpatrick, Free Methodist Church; Msgr. John E. Kozar, Catholic Near East Welfare Association; Sami Kurter, Suryoyo American Association; Daniel Kurtz, Vice-President, The Free Methodist Foundation; Dr. Richard Land, Southern Evangelical Seminary; Cheryl Laske, Green Oak Free Methodist Church; Rt. Rev. Dr. Quigg Lawrence, Bishop, PEARUSA, Anglican Church in North America; Rt. Rev. Neil G. Lebhar, Bishop of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese, Anglican Church in North America; Most Rev. Peter Libasci, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester; Rt. Rev. Richard Lipka, Suffragan Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints Anglican Church in North America; Jim Liske, Fellowship Ministries; Rt. Rev. Clark W. P. Lowenfield, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast Anglican Church in North America; Michael Lunceford; Michael Lundberg, Valley Baptist Church; Jo Anne Lyon, General Superintendent, Wesleyan Church; Rt. Rev. Frank Lyons, Assistant Bishop, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Anglican Church in North America; Most Rev. Denis Madden, Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore; Beverly Maier, Pastor, Free Methodist Church; Martin Manna, Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce; Most Rev. Gregory John Mansour, Bishop of the Eparchy of Saint Maron of Brooklyn; Dr. Noon i Mansour, United Chaldean Democratic Forum; Rt. Rev. Peter Manto, Suffragan Bishop, Diocese of the Central States, Reformed Episcopal Church Anglican Church in North America; His Eminence Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Armenian Apostolic Church of the Western United States; John Marks; Michael J. Marks; Nikki Marks; George J. Marlin, Aid to the Church in Need-USA; Paul Marshall, Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute, Center for Religious Freedom; Peter Marudas; George Matsoukas, Executive Director, Orthodox Christian Laity; Kevin McBride, Pastor, Raymond Baptist Church; Rt. Rev. Dorsey W. M. McConnell, D.D., Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh; Prof. Michael W. McConnell, Stanford University; Bill Mefford, Director of Civil and Human Rights, United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society; Margaret B. Melady, Ph.D.; Rt. Rev. Dr. Eric Vawter Menees, Bishop of the Diocese of San Joaquin, Anglican Church in North America; His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Fr. Christopher Metropoulos, Orthodox Christian Network; Rt. Rev. John E. Miller, III, Bishop of the Anglican Church in North America; Myron M. Miller, Retired Professor, Michigan State University; David Moberg, Professor of Sociology Emeritus, Marquette University; Dr. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Johnnie Moore, Senior Vice President, Liberty University; Dr. Russell D. Moore, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; W. Allen Morris, The Allen Morris Company; Anne Morse, The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview; Rt. Rev. Dan Morse, Bishop, Diocese of the Central States, Reformed Episcopal Church Anglican Church in North America; Rt. Rev. Winfield Mott, Bishop of the Diocese of the West, Anglican Church in North America; Most Rev. Mikael Mouradian, Bishop of the Eparchy of Our Lady of Nareg for Armenian Catholics in the USA and Canada; Mark L. Movsesian, Center for Law and Religion, St. John's University School of Law; Jimmy Mulla, Voices for Sudan Inc.; Rt. Rev. William L. Murdoch, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese in New England, Anglican Church in North America; Brian C. Murphy, Member of the Board of Trustees, American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East; Most Rev. William F. Murphy, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Center; William J. Murray, Religious Freedom Coalition; Penny Young Nance, Concerned Women for America; George P. Nassos, Sts Peter & Paul Greek Orthodox Church, Glenview, IL; Andrew Natsios, Executive Professor, Texas A&M University; Jerry Newcombe, Truth in Action Ministries; George Nicholaou, Downers Grove, IL; Gerry Nicholaou, Downers Grove, IL; Tamer Nicola, businessperson; Dave Nona, Chaldean Federation of America; Michael Novak, US Ambassador to the Human Rights Commission of the UN 1981-83 and the Helsinki Commission Bern Round 1985; Archdeacon David Oancea, Chancellor, Romanian Diocese, Orthodox Church in America; Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix; Rt. Rev. Dr. Felix Orji, Bishop of the Missionary Diocese of the West, Anglican Church in North America; Robert Ozgun, Head of Foreign Affairs, Suryoyo American Association; Most Rev. Richard E. Pates, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Des Moines; Doug Perkins, Teaching Elder, Heritage Presbytery; Tony Perkins, Family Research Council; Dr. Walid Phares, Professor; Daniel Philpott, Center for Civil and Human Rights, University of Notre Dame; Pepper Pike, Vice President, Orthodox Christian Laity; Lee Poteracki, Deer Park, IL; Kirsten Powers, Columnist; Dr. Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Visiting Assoc. Prof., Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University; Bob Poydasheff, Col. (Ret.) USA,, Former Mayor of Columbus, GA; Samira Qasguargis, Iraqi Human Rights Society; Grover Joseph Rees, U.S. Amb. (Retired); Steve Rembert, Pastor, Presbyterian Church; Nermien Riad, Coptic Orphans; Most Rev. Leonard W. Riches, Presiding Bishop, Reformed Episcopal Church Anglican Church in North America; Rev. Protobresbyter Martin Ritsi, Orthodox Christian Mission Center; Senior Pastor Ed Rob, The Woodlands United Methodist Church of Texas; Rev. Ronald G. Roberson, Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Larry Roberts, Chief Operating Officer, Free Methodist Church--USA; Bishop David Roller, Free Methodist Church; Rt. Rev. Ken Ross, Bishop, PEARUSA, Anglican Church in North America; Ronald D. Rotunda, Doy & Dee Henley Chair and Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence, Chapman University; Nabil Roumayah, Iraqi Democratic Union of America; Emanuel L. Rouvelas, Washington, DC; Marilyn Rouvelas, Arlington, VA; Mar Awa Royel, Bishop of California & Secretary of the Holy Synod, Assyrian Church of the East; Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski, Seton Vicar, Vicar for Hispanic Ministries of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore; Rt. Rev. Stewart E. Ruch II, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the Upper Midwest Anglican Church in North America; Dr. Zina Salem, Chaldean and Middle Eastern Social Services; Gabriel Salguero, National Latino Evangelical Coalition; Most Rev. Nicholas J. Samra, Eparchial Bishop of Newton, Melkite Catholic Church in the USA; William Saunders, Human Rights Lawyer, Washington, DC; Mark Schlechty, Pastor, Free Methodist; Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church; Rt. Rev. Sam Seamans, Assisting Bishop, Diocese of Mid-America, Reformed Episcopal Church Anglican Church in North America; Stacy Sennott; Timothy Samuel Shah, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, Georgetown University; Jane Shallal, Chaldean American Ladies of Charity; Linda Shea, West Orange, New Jersey; Nina Shea, Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom; Peter J. Shea, New York, New York; Dr. Ronald J Sider, Evangelicals for Social Action; William Simon, Jr., Co-Chairman, William E. Simon and Sons; Most Rev. William Skylstad, Bishop Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Spokane; David M. Stanley, United Methodist Action Steering Committee/Director and Treasurer, Institute on Religion and Democracy; Jean Leu Stanley, United Methodist Action Steering Committee; Paul R. Stanley, Political Opinion Editor, The Christian Post; Rt. Rev. James M. Stanton, Bishop of Dallas; Peter Steinfels, University Professor Emeritus, Fordham University; Rev. Columba Stewart, Hill Museum & Manuscript Library, Collegeville, Minnesota; Dave Stone, Senior Pastor, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Kentucky; Helen Rhea Stumbo, Institute on Religion and Democracy; Rt. Rev. Ray R. Sutton, Bishop Coadjutor, Diocese of Mid-America, Reformed Episcopal Church Anglican Church in North America; Msgr. Stuart W. Swetland, Archbishop Flynn Professor of Christian Ethics, Mount St. Mary's University; Very Rev. Archimandrite Dr. Nathanael Symeonides; Dr. L. Roy Taylor, Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, Presbyterian Church in America; Very Rev. Dr. Justyn Terry, Trinity School for Ministry; Alan B. Terwilleger, Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview; Helen Theodoropoulos, Skokie, IL; Bishop Matthew Thomas, Free Methodist Church--USA; Rev. Clancy Thompson, Free Methodist Church of NA; Rt. Rev. William A. Thompson, Bishop of the Diocese of Western Anglicans, Anglican Church in North America; Peter Tremblay, Pastor, Free Methodist Church; Mark Tooley, Institute on Religion and Democracy; Fr. Joseph Varghese, Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church; Rt. Rev. William C. Wantland, Assisting Bishop of Fort Worth, Anglican Church in North America; Mark L. Wasef, Esq.; Jim Wallis, Sojourners; John P. Walters, Hudson Institute; Todd Watkins, Pastor, Liveoak Bible Church; Bishop Mark Webb, Upper New York Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church; George Weigel, Ethics and Public Policy Center, Washington, DC; Deacon Greg Wilson, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas; Rt. Rev. Steve Wood, Bishop, Diocese of the Carolinas, Anglican Church in North America; His Eminence, Cardinal Donald Wuerl; The Rev Dr John W Yates II; Robert R. Yohanan; Nabby Yono, Arab American and Chaldean Council; Sam Yono, Chaldean National Party; Pastor Ed Young, Second Baptist Church, Houston; Most Rev. Elias Abdallah Zaidan, Bishop of the Maronite Eparchy of Our Lady of Lebanon; Linda Zimmerman, Calvary Lutheran Golden Valley; Rt. Rev. J. Mark Zimmerman, Bishop, Diocese of the Southwest Anglican Church in North America; Dr. James J. Zogby, Arab American Institute.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, the clock is ticking for Meriam Ibrahim in Sudan. It is 7 p.m. now in Khartoum, and a young, frightened Sudanese woman is shackled in a prison cell for refusing to renounce her Christian faith. Her husband, an American citizen, is seeking to draw attention to her plight and that of her 18-month-old son who languishes in jail with her. Meriam Ibrahim is 8 months pregnant, and her draconian sentence of death by hanging is being delayed until she gives birth. The clock is ticking. Congressman Trent Franks has sought to shine a bright light on this injustice, and today, Senators Blunt and Ayotte of New Hampshire are urging the Secretary of State, John Kerry, to provide political asylum to Meriam. The administration should urgently act to save this innocent woman's life. President Obama should immediately appeal for her release and offer her safe haven here in the United States.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and remember former Congressman Mick Staton, fellow member of the freshman class of 1980 and a respected political, business and community leader in West Virginia. Mick passed away last month at the age of 74. Mick was born and raised in Parkersburg, West Virginia and graduated from Parkersburg High School in 1958. He then attended Concord College in Athens, West Virginia, and played on the 1962 conference championship football team. Mick married his wife Lynn, herself a 1960 graduate of Parkersburg High School, and have two children and five grandchildren. Mick was Vice President for Data Processing for One Valley Bank (now BB&T), which was at the time, the largest bank in West Virginia, before first running for Congress in 1978, opposing 20-year incumbent John Slack (D-WV). In the race, Mick garnered 41 percent of the vote. In January 1980, Congressman Slack died in office and a special election was held. Although he did not win the special election, Mick went on to win the seat in the general election. In Congress, Staton had a reputation of service to his constituents in what is now the 2nd District of West Virginia. He served on the Small Business Committee and Interior & Insular Affairs Committee, now known as the Natural Resources Committee. After leaving Congress in 1983, Staton served as chief political advisor to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was National Executive Director of the Chamber's political action committee. In 1992, he founded and served as president of Capitol Link, Inc., a government affairs consulting firm. Most recently, Mick served as County Chairman of the Berkeley County GOP Executive Committee, from 2007 through December 2012. In recognition of his lifelong service, this March the West Virginia State Republican Executive Committee unanimously passed a resolution naming Mick an Emeritus Member. I submit the following article from West Virginia MetroNews on former Congressman Staton. [From WV MetroNews, Apr. 20, 2014] Mick Staton To Be Remembered Monday (By Jeff Jenkins) Winchester, Va.--The life and service of former West Virginia Third District Congressman Mick Staton will be remembered in a memorial service set for Monday afternoon in Winchester, Virginia. The 74-year-old Staton died last week. ``Certainly anyone who was elected 30 years ago as a Republican in West Virginia showed a lot of tenacity, a lot of strength and was a trailblazer for our movement and set the stage for the successes we are having right now,'' West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas said. Staton, a Parkersburg native, lived in South Charleston when he defeated John Hutchinson in the 1980 election for what was then West Virginia's Third District seat. Hutchinson had beaten Staton in a special election earlier that year to fill the seat in the interim following the death of 11-term congressman John Slack. Staton served just one term. He lost to Democrat Bob Wise in 1982. ``Mick certainly set the stage for ultimate Republican successes and went on always to be a dedicated member of the party,'' Lucas said. ``He may have lost his congressional seat but he still stayed very active in the internal aspects of the party.'' Lucas said he was pleased Staton attended a GOP meeting earlier this year where he was given emeritus status. ``I was happy he could make the ceremony so we could honor his service, his long service, and very dedicated service to the Republican Party and people of West Virginia,'' he said. The memorial service is scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. at Braddock Street United Methodist Church in Winchester, Virginia.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize over 200 individuals who signed a Pledge of Solidarity and Call to Action on Behalf of Christians and Other Small Religious Communities in Egypt, Iraq and Syria. I was honored to co-host a press conference earlier this month with my colleague Representative Anna Eshoo. Together, we co-chair the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus. The group of signatories to the Pledge represents the diversity of American Christianity, with individuals hailing not only from the Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox traditions but also a variety of sectors: thought leaders, clergy, parachurch heads and university and seminary presidents, among others. They have recognized that unless the American church begins to champion this cause, the foreign policy establishment will hardly lead the way. I regularly meet with beleaguered Christians from this part of the world. Their stories are eerily similar: believers kidnapped for ransom; churches--some full of worshippers--attacked; clergy targeted for killing. In the face of this violence, Christians are leaving this region in droves. The resounding theme that emerges is quite simply a plea for solidarity, and an appeal for help. Where is the West, they wonder? With the release of this Call to Action, I am heartened to say, that these cries have been heard. The following individuals spoke at the press conference: Leith Anderson, Chair, National Association of Evangelicals; His Eminence, Cardinal Donald Wuerl; Archbishop Oshagan Cholayan, Armenian Apostolic Church of America; Jim Liske, President and CEO, Prison Fellowship Ministries; Canon Andrew White, Chaplain of St George Anglican Church, Baghdad; His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; Pastor Jerry Johnson, President and CEO, National Religious Broadcasters; Nina Shea, Director and Senior Scholar, Hudson Institute Center for Religious Freedom; George Marlin, Chair, Aid to the Church in Need-USA; Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Visiting Associate Prof. of Conflict Resolution, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University; Johnny Moore, Senior Vice President, Liberty University; Barrett Duke, Vice President for Public Policy and Research Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; and Joseph Kassab, Founder and President, Iraqi Christians Advocacy and Empowerment; Institute (reading a statement by Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako). The text of the Pledge of Solidarity follows: [May 7, 2014] Pledge of Solidarity & Call to Action on Behalf of Christians and Other Small Religious Communities in Egypt, Iraq and Syria

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of a great American, Sgt. Rob Jones, who not only served our nation honorably in Iraq and Afghanistan, but continues to serve his fellow veterans here at home. Sgt. Jones grew up in the 10th District--in Lovettsville, Virginia and graduated from Loudoun Valley High School. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps--where he was injured by an IED in 2010--he recovered and joined the U.S. National Rowing team, winning a bronze medal 2012 Paralympics. Last October, Sgt. Jones began a long and difficult cycling journey across the country. His purpose was to shine a light on the struggles that young veterans face when they return home and to thank the military charities that have provided him with hope through his recovery. Specifically, Sgt. Jones has recognized three organizations that helped him through his recovery: Semper Fi Fund, Ride2Recovery and the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. The Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, which is headquartered in my district, is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, non-partisan organization established in 2004 to provide severely wounded veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with emergency financial assistance and other support services. The Coalition has done tremendous work in Virginia and across the country. Besides donating nearly $1 million in direct aid to veterans, the Coalition has provided thousands of dollars through grants to other notable veterans' organizations in Virginia. Under the leadership of David Walker, who serves as President and CEO, the Coalition has increased its efforts. Most recently, the Coalition hosted a meaningful tribute to veterans at the new Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, where they were joined by the Boulder Crest Retreat for Military and Veteran Wellness, another organization in my district that is also doing tremendous work. I look forward to seeing the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes continue to make a difference in so many lives. I also want to thank Sgt. Jones, for his inspirational journey and for his invaluable contribution to his fellow veterans. He proves that anything is possible and I wish him continued success in all his future endeavors.