Frank Wolf

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Norman Longfellow Smith, a dedicated and outstanding public servant from the 10th Congressional District of Virginia. Mr. Smith passed away on May 26 at his home in Middleburg. Mr. Smith, the former deputy chief of operations in the CIA's counterintelligence services, committed 27 tireless years to the Agency as an analyst, missile specialist, and counterintelligence officer. Mr. Smith also served in the United States Army and achieved the rank of colonel in his tenure along with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. I am inserting, for the record, the obituary which appeared in The Washington Post on June 7. Mr. Smith was an exemplary public servant and a fine example of devotion and allegiance to his country and family. Norman Longfellow Smith, 83; CIA Official (By Patricia Sullivan) Norman Longfellow Smith, 83, a former deputy chief of operations in the CIA's counterintelligence service, died of congestive heart failure and complications of Guillain-Barre Syndrome on May 26 at his home in Middleburg. Mr. Smith, who joined the CIA in 1951, analyzed Soviet armaments and, after the Soviets launched Sputnik, specialized in ballistic missiles and space vehicles. In 1960, he chaired an intelligence community task force to monitor missile activity outside the Soviet Union. Dino Brugioni, an imagery analyst with the CIA's National Photographic Interpretation Center who worked with Mr. Smith, described him as a defensive-missile specialist in the agency's Office of Scientific Intelligence who focused on surface-to-air missiles. Brugioni, who wrote ``Eyeball to Eyeball: The Inside Story of the Cuban Missile Crisis'' (1990), said others in the interpretation center spotted surface-to-air missile sites in spy satellite photographs taken over Cuba in fall 1962. The short, pipe-smoking Mr. Smith was called in, and he began writing daily reports, concluding that construction was rushing forward and that some sites would be operational in two weeks, Brugioni said. A short time later, when a U.S. U-2 spy plane was shot down over Cuba and low-altitude spy flights came under fire, Mr. Smith did the analysis about how and why it happened, Brugioni said in an interview. Intercepted radio traffic was in Russian, so it was clear that the Soviets were involved. The information sparked what came to be known as the Cuban missile crisis. Mr. Smith was reassigned in 1968 to the CIA's counterintelligence staff. He rose to the top ranks of the division, which handles clandestine operations overseas. He held that job until the CIA was reorganized in 1975 and 1976, in the wake of newspaper and Senate investigations over revelations that the agency had assassinated foreign leaders and conducted surveillance on thousands of American citizens active in the antiwar movement. Mr. Smith then became executive director of a task force to modernize and reform management procedures in the Directorate of Operations, and he retired in 1978. He worked 10 more years as a consultant for several defense contractors. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., he was drafted into the Army during World War II and spent several years at Purdue University in Indiana until he was sent to Europe with an infantry division. He became an officer in the Army Reserve and retired in 1980 as a colonel. Among his military awards were a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He graduated from Colgate University and in the 1950s completed a doctoral degree at the London School of Economics. He also attended the National University of Mexico, Heidelberg University in Germany, New York University and Georgetown University. He was past president of the International Order of the Knights of the Round Table in Arlington and treasurer of the Arts Club of Washington. He was a member of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers, Retired, the Central Intelligence Retirees' Association, the Association of Former Intelligence Officers, the Fairfax Hunt Club and the Evergreen Country Club. He was a Republican Party precinct chairman in Fairfax County and a member of the Emmanuel and Trinity Episcopal churches in Middleburg and Upperville. His marriage to Deana Browne Smith ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Carolyn L. Tillotson-Smith of Middleburg.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, pursuant to rule IX, I rise to notify the House of my intention to offer a resolution as a question of the privileges of the House. The form of my resolution is as follows: Directing the Chief Administrative Officer and the Sergeant At Arms of the House of Representatives to take timely action to ensure that all Members, committees, and offices of the House are alerted of the dangers of electronic attacks on the computers and information systems used in carrying out their official duties and are fully briefed on how to protect themselves, their official records, and their communications from electronic security breaches. Understanding that the Clerk will finish the rest of the resolution, I ask unanimous consent that it be considered as read.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I call up the resolution just noticed.

Mr. WOLF. Before I yield the gentleman 5 minutes, I would say this is bigger than just the House, though. The computers of the House have been violated and when Members go abroad, but also, it deals with people in the administration. And so I think there need to be public hearings by the Armed Services Committee and by the Judiciary Committee. This Congress is never reluctant to hold a hearing on different things. This is a major issue so it must be broader than just the House Administration Committee. I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey.

Mr. WOLF. I recognize the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), a member of the Appropriations Committee whose computer was also stripped from someone in China, for 1\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I recognize the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes) for 2 minutes.

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time I have remaining?

Mr. WOLF. How much time do I have left, Mr. Speaker?

Mr. WOLF. I thank the gentlelady for her agreement. I think we have to, one, read the National Journal. This is a very respected magazine. And this is a serious problem. Up until now, it has been neglected by many in the administration and many in Congress. Secondly, I think the American people are ahead of this Congress. And quite frankly on this issue with China, I think they are ahead of the administration. They are ahead of the administration on human rights, religious freedom, persecution and bad goods coming in from China. This Congress and this administration ought to wake up. Thirdly, people are not anxious to talk about this in the Congress, nor are they anxious to talk about it in the administration. They are not anxious to talk about it. There was an effort to have me not go ahead with this using different techniques and different ideas. And we complied. We worked with the majority every way we can. I want to say this. I will not let this issue rest. I may not be the fastest person in this institution. But I am as dogged as anyone. And I expect the leadership, I expect the leadership to deal with this not just by the House Administration Committee, I expect the leadership to deal with this on the Armed Services Committee. I expect the leadership to deal with this with regard to the House Intelligence Committee. I expect the Government Operations, has the Government Operations Committee ever been reluctant to hold a hearing on anything? And the answer is ``no.'' They must deal with this issue. And I tell the gentlelady, who has been very good, and I thank her for that, that if this is not resolved, I will be down here on the floor. I will rework this resolution. It will be a privileged resolution. And the next time there will be a vote on this. And then the American people, the American people can see how aggressive this administration and this Congress will be on a major national security issue and the issues of religious freedom and persecution. Keep in mind that 35 Catholic bishops are in jail in China. Two hundred Protestant pastors are in jail in China. They have plundered the Tibetans, and they're persecuting the Uighurs. This is not a government that is very friendly. And also they are the leading supporter of genocide in Darfur. With that, knowing this will be dealt with, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Motion to Refer Offered by Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Con. Res. 332, which recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On December 10, 1948, the United Nations General Assembly came together to pass the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which serves as a set of standards for all people and all nations of the world to strive toward. Drawing upon principles from both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights recognizes the fundamental human rights bestowed to each person on this Earth regardless of race, religion, or ethnicity. Ronald Reagan once described the U.S. Constitution as ``a kind of covenant. It is a covenant we've made not only with ourselves but with all of mankind.'' The Universal Declaration of Human Rights shines light in the darkest corners of the world and reminds those in the most desperate of situations that every person is entitled to respect and dignity. It has been my distinct privilege to serve as co-chair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus for the past 7 years. The Caucus was founded in 1983 by the late Congressman Tom Lantos and former Congressman John Porter for Members of Congress to work to defend the rights of individuals worldwide as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. With the passage of this important resolution, I reaffirm my commitment to serve as a voice for the voiceless and continue to ensure that human rights remains a priority in the U.S. Congress. General Leave

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 366, expressing the sense of Congress that increasing American capabilities in science, mathematics, and technology education should be a national priority. Two years ago, a National Academies panel led by Norm Augustine produced the ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report, highlighting the critical state of our science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce. Although this Congress passed America COMPETES Act last year, much more remains to be done to ensure our Nation is prepared to compete in the global economy in the 21st century. And we simply will not be able to compete if we cannot produce a workforce that excels in STEM fields. We have barely begun to turn the page in meeting our workforce and innovation demands. I am pleased that the resolution provides us the opportunity to raise awareness of this dire situation. Consider that: We still graduate half the number of physicists that we did in 1956-- before Sputnik spurred our last ``great awakening'' in science and engineering. One-third to half of those we graduate with science and engineering degrees are foreign students; and most of them will return to their home countries rather than applying their skills in the U.S. U.S. patents are down and our companies are spending more on tort legislation than on research and development. Tests still show that one-third of U.S. students lack the competency to perform the most basic mathematical computations. Half of the money we made available for grants for college students in STEM fields is going unused. Our edge in aerospace research is in danger. Our historic prominence in automobiles and electronics manufacturing has long since eroded; we cannot afford to lose our aerospace leadership. Above all else, I worry about our staggering $9 trillion debt and $54 trillion unfunded liability. This debt is being fueled by uncontrollable entitlement program growth--which has grown from one- third of the federal budget in 1960 to over two-thirds today. This is critically important to our competitiveness because, without reforming entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and tax policy, we simply won't have the resources to prepare our workforce to compete or to make the necessary investments in research. For the past year, Congressman Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Tennessee, and I have been working closely together on the Cooper-Wolf SAFE Commission Act. It has since garnered nearly 100 bipartisan cosponsors. Modeled after the base-closing process, the bill would create a bipartisan 16-member commission to review entitlement spending, tax policy, debt, and all other Federal spending. The commission will look beyond the Beltway for solutions, holding at least 12 town meetings--one in each of the Nation's Federal Reserve districts--over the span of 12 months in order to hear directly from the American people. And just like the base-closing process, the SAFE Commission Act would require and up-or-down vote on the commission's proposal--ensuring that Congress finally considered a comprehensive solution to this great challenge. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution. It is yet another reminder that the next president and Congress must make both entitlement reform and American competitiveness top priorities.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply disappointed that the FY 2009 budget resolution conference report represents another missed opportunity to address the financial crisis facing our nation. Focusing on these economic challenges, reining in entitlement spending, and curbing Congress's appetite for autopilot spending will take strong bipartisan commitment from both sides of the aisle. Our ``long-term'' spending crisis has arrived, and our children and grandchildren will bear the burden if Congress does not act. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German theologian who was at the heart of the German resistance against Nazism, said, ``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children.'' This Congress is leaving the next generation saddled with $54 trillion in unfunded liabilities and $9 trillion in debt, $1 trillion of which is held by the Chinese. They also face potential loss of our country's triple-A bond rating--as early as 2012, according to Standard & Poor's, or by 2018, according to Moody's Investors Service. This is an economic issue, but also a moral and generational issue. Representative Jim Cooper and I have been working together with over 100 cosponsors on a solution that would put everything--entitlements and tax policy--on the table in order to turn things around. The Cooper-Wolf SAFE Act would create a bipartisan entitlement review commission, culminating in a required up or down vote by Congress on a legislative proposal born from the commission's work. Mandating action is what makes the SAFE Commission unique. We had the opportunity in this year's budget process to take the initial steps to get our financial house in order. But again this budget cycle, Congress is choosing to look the other way. I am hopeful that my colleagues will recognize that the budget resolution makes little progress on this pressing issue and join our efforts with the SAFE Commission. When educating his colleagues in the British Parliament about the horrors of the slave trade in 1789, William Wilberforce said, ``Having heard all this you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.'' Not one member of the 110th Congress can say they don't know about the category 5 storm off our shores, which former Comptroller General David Walker says could result in a ``tsunami of spending and debt that could swamp our ship of state.''

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4106, the Telework Improvements Act of 2008. I would like to thank Congressman Danny Davis for introducing this important and necessary legislation. I also want to recognize Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis on the Oversight and movement Reform Committee for reporting out a good bill for our consideration today. As many of my colleagues know, I have been a long-time and staunch supporter of telework or telecommuting. Telework offers a 21st century workplace option that can reduce traffic congestion and air pollution, as well as cut gasoline consumption and dependency on foreign oil. Study after study has shown that telework benefits employees and employers. It gives employees the flexibility they need to meet daily demands. Employers--both government and private businesses--get the benefit of increased productivity, improved morale, fewer sick leave days used, better worker retention, and reduced costs for office space. My legislation enacted in 2001 mandated a phased-in program to expand the number of federal employees who telework with the goal of giving every eligible federal worker this workplace option by the end of 2005. While annual surveys by the Office of Personnel Management on telework by federal employees have shown some progress in meeting the law's mandate, there is much more that agencies can do to expand the number of federal telecommuters and this legislation is an important next step in making the Federal Government a model telework employer. To emphasize the importance of telework in the federal workplace, when I chaired the Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations subcommittee, I included provisions in the FY 2005, FY 2006 and FY 2007 spending bills for the departments of Commerce, Justice, and State and related agencies to withhold $5 million from the agencies which fail to meet the 2001 law. I am proud to be an original cosponsor and strong proponent of the Telework Improvements Act that we are considering today. It will require the head of each executive agency to establish a policy under which employees may be authorized to telework and allow authorized employees to be allowed to telework at least 20 percent of the hours worked in every two administrative workweeks. Given the soaring cost of gas, I can think of no better time for us to be passing this bill and encouraging further adoption of telework. In the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including my district in northern Virginia, telework has the added benefit of taking cars off the road and reducing congestion and air pollution. It is also a good policy to have in place for continuity of operations in the event of an emergency. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to vote in support of this legislation so that we can ensure that the federal workforce is making full use of teleworking.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2420, the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008. This bill would require a clause in federal food services contracts greater than $25,000 to encouraging donations to nonprofit organizations, such as food banks and food pantries. I have been active in the fight against hunger for over two decades. Following my first visit to Ethiopia during its famine in 1984, I worked across the aisle to fight hunger both at home and abroad. I was pleased to work for the passage of the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act of 1996 that protected organizations donating food to charitable organizations from liability in order to spur greater donations. However, I am concerned that rising food commodity prices and gasoline prices could hamper efforts by food banks and food pantries to meet the needs of the hungry. In meeting with charitable organizations in my congressional district, it is clear that the business community and government agencies could be doing much more to support efforts to a growing number of families relying on food assistance from charitable organizations. Anyone who has visited a grocery store in the last year understands the challenge our food banks are facing. U.S. grocery prices increased 5.1 percent overall during the last year, with a 17-percent increase in cost for dairy products, a 13-percent increase for rice and pasta, and a 12-percent increase in the cost of breads. This has a tremendous impact on the bottom line for American families. For example, if a family earns $45,000 a year, it now costs them an extra $1,000 to maintain the same food, gas, and basic goods purchases compared to 2006--a 9.6-percent increase. This makes more families dependent on food assistance, and even more affluent families less likely to donate to food banks and food pantries. I am proud that the food banks and food pantries, grocery stores, and chambers of commerce in my district are coming together to raise awareness of this challenge and develop community-based solutions. Given the large federal agency presence in my district, I believe that this bill will help supplement their efforts. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this pragmatic and necessary legislation.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I continue to be extremely concerned about the treatment of Baha'is in Iran. Recent reports indicate that on May 14, Iranian intelligence agents forcibly raided the homes and subsequently arrested six of seven prominent members of the Baha'i leadership in Tehran. The seventh member of the leadership group was arrested 2 months ago in Mashhad. They have reportedly been taken to the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Many former prisoners have given horrifying accounts of the abuse, torture, and rape that takes place inside the prison walls. The Baha'is are Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority and have faced continuous persecution since the government banned all formal Baha'i activity in 1983. Under President Ahmadinejad, harassment, attacks and arrests of Baha'is have become increasingly common. In the early 1980s, 17 Baha'i leaders were arrested and either executed, abducted and disappeared in a systematic campaign to eliminate Baha'i influence in Iran. I pray that this is not the fate of the six arrested this past week. Iran continues to break its promises to the international community. I call on the international community to follow the lead of the U.S. State Department and strongly condemn the unwarranted arrests and detention of the Baha'i leadership.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share with our colleagues the news about an outstanding recognition recently given to one of our House employees, who I am proud to say is a member of my staff. I pay tribute today to Benjamin B. Dutton, Jr., a man who is called ``Mr. Winchester.'' I am fortunate to have Ben representing my office in Winchester, Virginia, one of the best small cities in America. Along with diligently serving constituents not only for my office since 1990, when Winchester became part of the 10th Congressional District, but also for my predecessors George Allen and the late French Slaughter, Ben has played an active and key role in the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival since it began in 1927. The Apple Blossom Festival is a special event in Winchester each spring and I look forward to participating in the Grand Feature Parade every year. Ben was recognized this year in the Festival program as the ``Keeper of the Flame'' for the Festival. He served as the president of the festival from 1970-1972 and currently serves on the Board. Even as Ben approaches his 83rd birthday this June, he is still actively involved in making sure the Apple Blossom Festival is a success every year. Ben is very deserving of all the honors and accolades coming his way and is truly committed in his service to his community. I am proud that he is a member of my staff and I am proud to call him my friend. The Festival program recognition of Ben as ``Keeper of the Flame'' follows: Ben Dutton: Keeper of the Flame The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival is constantly in a state of flux; constantly reinventing itself. At the same time, the Festival works very hard to maintain its balance; to maintain its place in history; and, to never lose contact with its roots and its purpose. We know all too well how the Greatest Generation is being taken from us at an alarming rate these days; but, one of the ``Keepers of Flame'' for the Festival; one of the guardians of our roots, Mr. Ben Dutton, is still carrying on an active role in the Festival world even as he approaches his 83rd birthday. When asked recently when he reckoned that his involvement with the Festival started, Ben replied, ``From the beginning!'' Shortly after the Festival was founded, the Washington Post ran a pictorial article in 1927 called ``The Little Blossoms of Winchester''; and, Ben, aged two, was one of the local children featured in the article. Ben is quick to credit his Mother's very close friendship with Tom Baldridge, the original ``Mr. Apple Blossom'', for instilling in him early in life a great love and devotion for the Festival. Mrs. B. B. Dutton, Sr., was the Chairman of the Queen and Court Department those many years ago; and, Tom Baldridge had started his incredible run as Director General of the Festival in 1937 when Ben was just a child. Growing up around Mr. Tom's boundless enthusiasm, seemingly inexhaustible energy and undying love for the Pink and Green lit a Festival fire in young Ben that has never been quenched. Following graduation from Handley High School, Ben served three years in the U.S. Army during World War II; graduated from the University of Virginia in 1950; and, married his lovely wife, Jean Whipple Dutton, in 1952. They began their family of three beautiful daughters shortly thereafter; and, Ben began working in the insurance business in Atlanta, Louisiana and Southwest Virginia. In 1963, Ben returned to Winchester for good; joining the firm of J. V. Arthur as a Vice President and partner; and, immediately returning to the Apple Blossom World. He served as President of the Festival in 1970, 1971, and 1972. He served as the Festival's volunteer Executive Director in 1971; and, professionally in that capacity from 1995 to 1997. Ben remembers fondly from the early 70s, the establishment of the ties between the Festival and the then-new Disney World in Orlando; and, the beginning of the visits of Disney's World Ambassador (always a pretty girl); and, of Mickey Mouse. He also enjoyed helping to establish an adults' beer, peanuts and dance party at the National Guard Armory called ``Your Father's Mustache''. Another memory from the past: the balls that used to be held in old, dry, wooden packing sheds, filled with wooden apple crates and bulk bins; and, decorated with cascades of crepe paper and lanterns. While the memory sounds quaint and charming, it is obvious that the insurance agent in Ben winces at the through of the old-fashioned barn-dance-type fire hazards involved. When asked to describe his favorite Festival guests from the early 1970s, Ben had no problem zeroing in on two very special people; people who are not only very special in their places in the history of the world; but, who are obviously very special people in Ben Dutton's life. In 1972, Ben sought out and received the services of the Reverend Billy Graham as Grand Marshal of the Festival. It is not at all hard to imagine the electric effect Graham had on the Festival crowds that year. It is also obvious, listening to Ben tell the story, that his time spent with Dr. Graham is something that he will never forget. Ben says that the met him at Dulles Airport and that Billy told him that ``he had always wanted to cross the Blue Ridge and descend into the Shenandoah Valley in the springtime.'' Ben's other favorite was the Festival appearance in 1971 of Admiral Alan Shepard, who was in town to crown his daughter, Juliana, as Queen. Shepard had recently returned from an Apollo Mission to the Moon. Ben is still fascinated by the fact that the raucous crowd at the Stag Luncheon was instantly hushed to silence when Admiral Shepard stepped to the microphone to describe his trip to the Moon. When asked how he feels after all these years when he sees the lead units of the Grand Feature Parade coming up Washington Street Hill, Ben said that ``He still had; and, always would have a tender spot in his heart for that scene.'' He continued, ``What would springtime be like without it?'' Ben, admittedly, had a rough winter of 2007- 2008. Health problems kept him away from one Festival Board Meeting after another; and, this was tough for a man who has remained active enough in the Festival to have played a key role in the establishment of a new event, the Men's Commonwealth Luncheon, just two years ago. The February 2008 Board Meeting had already started when, unexpected and unannounced, in the door walked Ben Dutton. The immediate burst of applause was instantaneous, genuine, affectionate and relieved. Festival people do know who the Keepers of the Flame are; and, they are cherished!

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. I had wanted to offer two amendments, one that would have prohibited government officials from attending the genocide Olympics on taxpayer money, and also Members of Congress. And no Member of Congress who speaks out on human rights should go to that Olympics. Secondly, I wanted to offer an amendment that would create a bipartisan commission, much like the Iraq Study Group, to look at everything, to put everything on the table, all of the spending and tax policies, to get control of our spending and where we are. We have $54 trillion of unfunded liabilities in this Nation. We have $9 trillion of debt, $1 trillion that the Chinese hold, and the Saudis also hold a large portion, the Saudis who had 15 Wahabbies on those airplanes that went into our buildings. Standard & Poor's says we will lose our AAA bond rating in 2012, and Moody's says we will lose it in 2018. The value of the dollar is falling like a rock. Gasoline is increasing. Mr. Speaker, what kind of country are we leaving to our children? Are we leaving a country whereby China and Saudi Arabia will be their bankers? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the Lutheran pastor who stood up to the Nazis, said, ``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children.'' This Congress, on both sides of the aisle, Republican and Democratic side, is not leaving a very good situation to their children and their grandchildren. I would ask you as Members of this Congress, as parents and grandparents, what kind of country do you want to leave? What are you going to tell your kids and your grandkids later on when you say, When I was there, there was $54 trillion of debt, and I did nothing. There was $1 trillion held by the Chinese, who are spying against us, and Mr. Murtha knows how they are spying against us, we did nothing. We lost our AAA bond rating, Mom or Dad or Grandma or Grandpa while you were there, did you do anything? And the answer will be: We did nothing. I rise in opposition to this legislation. I have been a member of the Appropriations Committee since 1995, yet I cannot recall a time that the House has avoided the Appropriations Committee process with such a critical nationally and internationally important piece of legislation. Members of the Committee--including the minority--are being shut out of the process. I wanted to offer an amendment that would prohibit U.S. government employees from attending the Olympics on the taxpayer's dime. When awarded the honor of hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics, China had the opportunity to show the world that it has changed. But the China of today is worse than the China of yesterday, or of last year, or of the last decade. China is not progressing. It is regressing. It is more violent, more repressive, and more resistant to democratic values than ever before. China, which jails Catholic bishops, Protestant house church leaders, Tibetan Buddhists, Muslim Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners; which is spying against us and supplying weapons to regimes like Khartoum; which has an extensive system of slave labor camps, was awarded the honor of hosting the 2008 summer Olympic games. We should not reward the Beijing regime with our taxpayer dollars. U.S. officials should not be permitted to use Federal funds to attend the 2008 Olympics. But I am being prevented from offering this amendment because the Democrat leadership has gone around the Appropriations Committee and brought this bill to the floor under a closed rule. I also wanted to offer an amendment that would create a bipartisan commission--much like the Iraq Study Group--to look at everything--tax policy and entitlement spending--and recommend legislative action to rein in our Federal debt. We have $53 trillion in unfunded liabilities, and over $9 trillion dollars in debt. Standard and Poor's Investment Service has indicated that we could lose our triple-A bonding rating as early as 2012. The value of the dollar is falling through the floor. China holds our debt. OPEC countries like Saudi Arabia hold our debt. Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, ``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children.'' Our grandchildren will bear the burden of out-of-control entitlement spending if we do not act. It's on our watch to fix, and the process being used today shuts out critical issues that we must face. This House needs to come together and work in a bipartisan manner to address the critical issues facing our country. This legislation today is the product of the heavy hand of the Democrat leadership in foreclosing an open and fair process and I cannot support it.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share a speech I gave to the National Academies' convocation on April 29, 2008 on the second anniversary of the release of the ``Gathering Storm.'' I was honored to have had the opportunity to address some of our nation's top business, academic, and scientific leaders at the convocation. As you may recall, the report painted a very bleak picture of our Nation's high-tech workforce, innovation, and global competitiveness. It prompted swift congressional action to authorize new funding and resources to bolster our science and high-tech workforce, culminating with the enactment of the America COMPETES Act last fall. However, I am concerned that we still have much work to do to secure our economic future in this global marketplace. And we will never be competitive if we cannot get the Federal Government's finances in order and begin to reduce our dependency on foreign debt. Madam Speaker, my address as prepared to the ``Gathering Storm'' convocation follows: Thank you for the opportunity to address this gathering. As the fourth of five ``congressional perspectives'' on the program this morning, I'm reminded of the old Congressman Mo Udall quote: ``Everything has been said but not everyone has said it.'' First, I want to thank you all for your efforts. I am pleased that so many of our nation's science, business, and government leaders have once again gathered to discuss this most pressing of issues challenging the United States. Perhaps the greatest success of the ``Gathering Storm'' report thus far is the tremendous awareness and urgency it has raised among the American people. It was only a few years ago, in 2005, that Rep. Vernon Ehlers, Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, and I went to the White House to urge the administration to make this a priority. With the support of the councils of National Academies of Science and Engineering, we announced a national summit on science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing at the Department of Commerce which helped lead to the creation of the Committee on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century. I want to thank Norm Augustine and the other members of the committee who helped educate me to the critical importance of this as I served as Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee funding these programs. I appreciate President Bush for laying out the American Competitiveness Agenda in his 2006 State of the Union and his support for more funding this year. Congress followed suit and adopted many recommendations from the ``Gathering Storm'' report into the America COMPETES Act which was signed into law last year. I appreciate the leadership of Science Committee Chairman Bart Gordon and Ranking Member Ralph Hall in the House, as well as Sen. Lamar Alexander in the Senate for seeing this bill through. It is rare in Washington that good ideas move so far, so fast. And it is in many ways a testament to the people in this room who tirelessly worked to educate Congress, the Administration, business community, and the American people. There is so much more work to be done. We have been successful in raising public awareness of these issues, but we have barely begun to turn the page in meeting our workforce and innovation demands. I worry that we still graduate half the number of physicists that we did in 1956--before Sputnik spurred our last ``great awakening'' in science and engineering. I worry that one-third to half of those we graduate with science and engineering degrees are foreign students; and most of them will return to their home countries rather than applying their skills in the U.S. I worry that U.S. patents are down and our companies are spending more on tort legislation than on research and development. I worry that tests still show that one-third of U.S. students lack the competency to perform the most basic mathematical computations. I worry that half of the money we made available for grants for college students in STEM fields is going unused. I worry that our edge in aerospace research is in danger. Our historic prominence in automobiles and electronics manufacturing has long since eroded; we cannot afford to lose our aerospace leadership. I worry about losing competitiveness with China--they may even beat us back to the moon. I worry about the country my children and grandchildren will live in if we fail to deal with this. But you don't need me to rattle off any more statistics. The real experts will help put these trends and developments in context later today. Instead, I'd like to talk about a different, yet inextricably linked, issue that is further undermining our competitiveness. To turn Udall's phrase, I would like to talk about something that hasn't been said, in hopes that everyone will say it. While we are working hard to stave off the ``Gathering Storm,'' we are losing sight of the tsunami right off our coasts--a tsunami of debt. Former Comptroller General David Walker calls this tsunami powerful enough to ``swamp our ship of state.'' This is particularly relevant as we consider the state of our nation's competitiveness. If we can't pay for our current obligations, how can we begin to afford the resources we will need to compete globally in the twentyfirst century? These two efforts go hand-in-hand. America is $9 trillion deep in federal debt, and the Government Accountability Office has estimated $54.3 trillion in unfunded promised benefits if we don't change our current course. That's trillions, with a ``T''. The Social Security and Medicare Trustees reports issued last month only reinforce the dire condition of our fiscal health. Both reports make very clear that we must address these tremendous shortfalls very soon. The U.S. dollar is dropping like a rock--it lost 15 percent against the Euro last year. Gasoline reached $120 per barrel this week. What will happen when the well runs dry and we no longer have money for the vital technology programs that we're discussing today? How will we remain competitive when there is no money to fund science and math education initiatives? Our children can't compete in the global marketplace if we can't provide U.S. students with a first-class education. How will we remain competitive when there is no money to fund medical research? Without discretionary funding to develop cutting-edge technology, advance research, and perform clinical trials, we will not be able to make critical strides toward cures for cancer, Alzheimer's, autism, and other devastating diseases. How will we remain competitive when there is no money to fund our infrastructure? How will we remain competitive when there is no money to pay for the National Science Foundation and NASA? America will no longer be able to provide leadership and inspiration to the rest of the world. These bleak scenarios only scratch the surface of how concerned we should be about America's future. These are the realities we face. Sadly, much of this falls on deaf ears in Washington. So many bright people delude themselves into thinking that we have a long-term plan to bring our finances into order. The long-term has arrived. The next President will have to address this. It reminds me of the refrain from songwriter Paul Simon's ``The Boxer'': ``Man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest.'' That could describe Congress's and Wall Street's reaction, or lack thereof, to the financial crisis staring America square in the face. We can't afford to put off reform anymore. With every year that Congress prolongs making the difficult decisions to deal with this runaway mandatory spending--the portion of the federal budget available to fund discretionary programs decreases. And just so we're clear: nearly every science, technology, research, manufacturing, and competitiveness program we discuss here today is funded through discretionary dollars. In 1962, mandatory spending--Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and debt interest payments--comprised less than one-third of the federal budget. Today it's doubled to over two-thirds of the budget. The Office of Management and Budget projects that in less than 5 years, non-defense discretionary spending will fall to less than 15 percent of the federal budget. And the competitiveness programs we're working so hard for are but a small fraction of that. Because mandatory programs get funded first, we will have to fight harder for fewer dollars to fund this important initiative. Without mandatory spending reform, we simply won't be able to fund the necessary increases in competitiveness programs without significant cuts in other discretionary programs. Clearly, this is a pressing economic issue, as the first baby boomer has just signed up for promised Social Security benefits and our nation's longterm IOUs are coming due. Just recently, Moody's Investment Service indicated that the U.S. triple-A bond rating will be at risk by 2018. Standard and Poor's Investment Service indicated that it may be as early as 2012; and if present trends continue would plummet to junk-bond status by 2025. What will that mean to our economy? Should the U.S. lose its AAA rating in a few years, the cost of borrowing for both the Treasury and for U.S. private businesses would significantly increase. It would also increase the likelihood of a devastating capital flight. This is a very real risk to our economic growth and global competitiveness. Again, this debt has very real implications. More than $2.6 billion a day is needed to fund our budget shortfall, which has left nearly 40 percent of our domestic economy in foreign hands. These IOU's are held by foreign countries--with significant shares held by non-democratic countries like China and Saudi Arabia. We should care that countries that do not share our democratic values have growing leverage over the U.S. Borrowing hundreds of billions of dollars on the Chinese and Saudi credit cards puts not only our future economy, but also our national security at serious risk. Ironically, the Chinese will be some of our greatest economic and technology competitors in the twenty-first century. How well will we be able to compete when we depend on their credit to fund our programs? They have become our banker. This is also a moral issue. Last month, Pete Peterson penned an editorial that ran in Newsweek. He ends by quoting Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who was instrumental in the resistance movement against Nazism. Bonhoeffer said, ``The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children.'' I can't help but wonder what sort of future today's partisan Washington is leaving to our children and grandchildren. Fortunately, we still have options--if we act soon. I am truly impressed by the bipartisan and broad ranging coalition that the ``Gathering Storm'' report has assembled in its cause. I believe we can replicate this success in addressing entitlement reform, tax policy, and fiscal solvency. We need to replicate the ``Gathering Storm'' effort to deal with the issue of our debt. For the past year, Congressman Jim Cooper, a Democrat from Tennessee, and I have been working closely together on the Cooper-Wolf SAFE Commission Act. It has since garnered over 80 bipartisan cosponsors, including Republican leadership in the House as well as the chairs of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition. The Heritage Foundation, Brookings Institution, Concord Coalition, and former Comptroller General David Walker helped us draft this and it is supported by David Broder and David Brooks. Modeled after the base-closing process, the bill would create a bipartisan 16-member commission to review entitlement spending, tax policy, debt, and all other federal spending. The Commission will look beyond the Beltway for solutions, holding at least 12 town meetings--one in each of the nation's Federal Reserve districts--over the span of 12 months in order to hear directly from the American people. Everything must be on the table--including tax policy. If anyone has another viable plan to address our entitlement tsunami, we are anxious to hear it. But it has to be able to pass. Doing nothing is not acceptable. And just like the base-closing process, the SAFE Commission Act would require and up-or-down vote on the Commission's proposal--ensuring that Congress finally considered a comprehensive solution to this great challenge. So far, Rep. Cooper and I have reached out to every Member of Congress, the President and his potential successors, Fortune 500 leaders, small business owners, think tanks, thought leaders, and the religious community. And today I'm reaching out to you--our science, technology, engineering, manufacturing and workforce development leaders. I ask for your support in this endeavor so that it may put us back on track financially, just as the ``Gathering Storm'' report spurred us to fix our nation's education and competitiveness programs. William Wilberforce, who, in his first speech in the British Parliament in 1789 describing the evils of the slave trade, concluded by telling his colleagues, ``Having heard all this you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.'' Not one of us can say we do not know about the nation's long-term financial outlook. We know, and it's on our watch to fix. This must also be a part of this year's presidential debate. We need to make the next president understand that entitlement reform. And the media needs to do a better job covering it. We should insist on a presidential debate devoted to these issues. I am confident that, with your support, we will succeed and it may well lead to a renaissance in America--a renaissance in innovation, education, and economic development.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my frustration and disappointment with the leadership's decision to bypass the Appropriations Committee and to bring up the 2008 supplemental without giving Members an opportunity either on the floor or in the committee to offer an amendment. I wanted to offer an amendment to prohibit U.S. Government employees from attending the Beijing Olympics on the taxpayers' dime because of China's violent repression of religious minorities and human rights activists. Catholics, Protestants, Tibetan Buddhists, Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners and other religious minorities in China face harassment, imprisonment, even torture and death. China is actively engaging in espionage against our country and now participating in a genocide in Sudan. The political prisoners in China and the dissidents around the world will be deeply demoralized if senior American officials attend the games.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 1011, a resolution I sponsored expressing the concern of the House regarding the crisis in Chad. I want to acknowledge the support of my colleague and Africa subcommittee Chairman Donald Payne in working together to introduce this resolution, and also thank Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard Berman and ranking member Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen as well as Africa subcommittee ranking member Congressman Chris Smith for their support in this effort. Since its independence in 1960, Chad has struggled through civil war and political unrest. Recent fighting in Chad has demonstrated beyond doubt the fragile conditions in the region and the continuing destructive behavior of the Government of Sudan in Chad and Darfur. While Chadian rebel groups and their Sudanese allies who laid siege to the capital in early February have since fled toward the east and Darfur, the fighting claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians and forced tens of thousands more out of the capital city and into neighboring Cameroon. This resolution calls on the United States government and the international community to promptly develop, fund, and implement a comprehensive regional strategy to protect civilians, facilitate humanitarian operations, contain and reduce violence, and contribute to conditions for sustainable peace and good governance in Chad. It also calls for a strategy for the wider region that includes northern Central African Republic and the Darfur region of Sudan, as recent developments in Chad illustrate the terrible threat facing civilians and the risk of another major humanitarian disaster in that region. The resolution acknowledges the concern about the safety and well being of innocent civilians in Chad, Chadian refugees and internally displaced persons, and refugees from Darfur and the Central African Republic that have taken refuge in Chad and strongly condemns Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the National Congress Party for their support of the armed rebellion and aggressive behavior in Chad and throughout the region. It also urges the Government of Chad to engage in an inclusive national dialogue with all stakeholders of the current conflict to reach a comprehensive agreement that would address the root causes of the Chadian crisis and strengthen democratic institutions. The resolution also urges the government to work to protect its civilians from violence and to honor its May 9, 2007, agreement with the United Nations Children's Fund, ensuring its commitment to end all recruitment of persons under the age of 18 and demobilize all children under the age of 18 from its security forces. The resolution further urges the Government of the Central African Republic to fulfill its obligation under international law to protect civilians and engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue with opposition and armed groups. The resolution also calls on armed opposition groups to renounce violence and respect the rule of law, engage in political dialogue to resolve the current crisis in their respective countries, and immediately end cooperation with the Government of Sudan and others that encourage and support armed rebellion. Recognizing the importance of the United Nations Security Council in ending this crisis, the resolution urges the Security Council to remain focused on the crises in Chad and the Central African Republic, and to ensure the effective and impartial protection of civilians, including internally displaced persons and refugees, particularly local populations, by preempting, preventing, and deterring attacks on civilians. The United States also has an important role to play in resolving the situation in Chad, and the resolution calls on the president to continue United States humanitarian assistance to the refugees and internally displaced persons in Chad and the Central African Republic, provide support to strengthen democratic institutions and respect for human rights and rule of law, and seek punitive measures against the Government of Sudan by the United Nations Security Council for its aggression and destructive activities in Chad and the region. Mr. Speaker, it is important for this House to express its concern about the crisis in Chad and how the political instability and humanitarian crisis there is impacting the entire region. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of Dr. Robert Collins, esteemed author and expert on Africa's Upper Nile Valley, particularly Sudan. Dr. Collins' expertise in Sudan was a tremendous asset to academia and policymakers alike. First traveling to Sudan in 1956, the year Sudan achieved independence from Great Britain, Dr. Collins spent literally decades traveling in and writing about Sudan and its many wars. I had the honor of knowing Dr. Collins and am deeply saddened by his death. Dr. Collins' seminal works included Alms for Jihad, which he co- authored with J. Millard Burr. This critical analysis details the use of Islamic charities to fund terrorist activity around the world. It reaches back into history, particularly into Sudan where much of the activities of fundamentalist Islamist groups found their origins, and traces them to the modern-day struggle against extremist forces around the world. We cannot understand the current war on tenor, which extends far beyond the terrible events of September 11, without examining this important book by Collins and Burr. I have attached Dr. Collins' obituary printed in the Los Angeles Times. The loss of this bright mind will be felt acutely by all whose lives Dr. Collins touched with his scholarship. I extend my condolences to his family and friends. [From the Los Angeles Times, Apr. 25, 2008] Robert O. Collins, 75; UC Scholar's bin Laden Book Was Withdrawn by Publisher (By Jocelyn Y. Stewart) In a career devoted to the study of Africa's Upper Nile Valley, particularly Sudan, historian Robert O. Collins wrote books and articles that were considered required reading for scholars and students of Africa. The U.S. government sought his insight on the conflict in Darfur and on Osama bin Laden. Hollywood filmmakers asked his advice in depicting the region on screen. A former president of Sudan presented Collins with a distinguished award for scholarship. But when Collins and a colleague wrote the 2006 book ``Alms for Jihad: Charity and Terrorism in the Islamic World,'' the two historians found themselves in the middle of what the New York Times called an international cause celebre. To avoid a defamation lawsuit in British courts--where the burden of proof is on the defendant--the publisher of ``Alms'' apologized to a wealthy Saudi mentioned in the book, Sheikh Khalid bin Mahfouz, and paid a settlement. The publisher, Cambridge University Press, also destroyed all unsold copies of ``Alms,'' an act of pure heresy to Collins and other scholars, Until his death from cancer in Santa Barbara on April 11, the 75-year-old Collins maintained that he and J. Millard Burr had written a good book that deserved to exist. ``The Shaykh can burn the books in Britain, but he cannot prevent the recovery of the copyright by the authors nor their search for a U.S. publisher to reprint a new edition of `Alms for Jihad,' '' Collins said in an essay posted online at George Mason University's History News Network. The ``Alms'' debacle was a rare incident in the life of the professor emeritus who was a preeminent scholar in his field. Robert Oakley Collins was born in Waukegan, Ill., on April 1, 1933. His interest in Africa was ignited while browsing the library at Dartmouth University in the 1950s. He found the Africa area and he just became enthralled,'' said his daughter, Catharine Collins Kristian. ``At the time, it was an emerging area. All the colonial countries were either leaving or talking about granting independence.'' Collins traveled to Sudan in 1956, the year the country gained independence. It was the first of many trips and the beginning of a lifelong relationship with the nation, Kristian said. After earning a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth in 1954, Collins earned many other degrees in history: bachelor's and master's degrees from Oxford University's Balliol College in 1956 and 1960, as well as a master's degree and a doctorate from Yale University in 1958 and 1959. He was fluent in Arabic. Collins taught for brief periods at Williams College in Massachusetts and at Columbia University in New York before joining the faculty of UC Santa Barbara in 1965. For 10 years Collins served as dean of the graduate division. After his retirement in 1994 he continued to teach, write and mentor. With his doctoral students he was demanding, affable and always available. ``He wanted us to have a holistic understanding of African history from the beginning of times to modern times. And he was tough,'' said Scopas S. Poggo, a native of Sudan who is now an assistant professor of African American and African studies at Ohio State University. Collins wrote or co-wrote at least 30 books and many articles. His book ``Shadows in the Grass: Britain in the Southern Sudan, 1918-1956'' won the John Ben Snow Foundation Prize for the best book in British studies in 1984. An eloquent public speaker, Collins brought strong storytelling skills to his writing, melding them with meticulous research. ``Alms'' was also thoroughly researched, ``our interpretations judicious, our conclusions made in good faith on the available evidence,'' Collins wrote in his online essay. But ``Alms'' may be on the shelf again with a new publisher, Kristian said. Collins' book ``A History of Modern Sudan'' is scheduled for release in May. The book traces Sudan's history over 200 years and reveals the link between tragedies of today and events of the past. ``I wish all of his books could be reprinted,'' Poggo said. ``He has made very significant contributions to the history of southern Sudan. He left a very strong legacy.'' In addition to his daughter, Collins is survived by two sons, Randolph William Collins of Healdsburg, Calif., and Robert Ware Collins of San Jose; two brothers, Jack Gore Collins of Portland, Ore., and George William Collins II of Chesterland, Ohio; and five grandchildren. There will be no public memorial service. Memorial donations may be sent to the Sudan-American Foundation for Education (SAFE), 141 N. Henderson Road, No. 1205, Arlington,

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank the ranking member, Mr. Bishop, for his fairness as we went through this process. And I want to thank the chairman, Mr. Rahall, for his leadership in moving this. I am very, very grateful. I want to rise in support of this bill, which includes a provision to establish the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area. Establishing this heritage area spans 175 miles through four States. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground winds its way along U.S. Route 15 from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, to Jefferson's home of Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. Starting as a trail used by the Susquehannock and Iroquois, America's early history can literally be traced along this corridor. Jefferson's Monticello, Madison's Montpellier, Monroe's Oak Hill and Ashlawn Highland, Zachary Taylor's homes, Eisenhower's cottage, Teddy Roosevelt's cabin, John Marshall's home, General George Marshall's home, and Camp David are situated along this route, which is also dotted with numerous Civil War battlefields. I close with Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, spoken at the northern terminus of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground corridor and signifies the history, and he said: ``We cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men and women, living and dead, who struggled here, have hallowed it far above our poor power to add or detract.'' I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, Pursuant to the Republican guidelines on earmarks, I submit the following statement for the Record regarding S. 2739, the Consolidated National Resources Act, which includes the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area. Requesting Member: Congressman Frank Wolf. Bill Number: S. 2739. Provision: Title II, Section 2010. Legal Name of Requesting Entity: Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership. Address of Requesting Entity: P.O. Box 77, Waterford, VA 20197. Description of Request: The legislation authorizes the appropriation of up to $1,000,000 a year for the purpose of carrying out a management plan, which must first be approved by the secretary of Interior. The management plan will describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and recommendations for telling the story of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area and encouraging long- term resource protection, enhancement, interpretation, funding, management, and development of the Area. The authorization is limited to $15 million total. The legislation also requires a non-federal cost share match for each dollar contributed by the federal government. The Partnership must also submit an annual report to the secretary for each fiscal year for which the local coordinating entity receives federal funds under this subtitle, which specifies the performance goals and accomplishments of the local coordinating entity and other related information, including uses of funds and amounts of non-federal funds leveraged in the effort. The Partnership is authorized, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the approved management plan for the National Heritage Area, to use federal funds made available under the legislation to make grants to political jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and other parties within the National Heritage Area; enter into cooperative agreements with or provide technical assistance to political jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and other interested parties; hire and compensate staff, and other purposes related to the national heritage area. The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership is the designated local coordinating entity for this national heritage area. The Partnership is comprised of over 150 partners, including every elected body within the four-state region, including Virginia. West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, the convention and visitor associations of each of the included 15 counties, and the directors of tourism from each of the four states. The legislation does not permit the Partnership to use any federal funds provided under the Act to acquire any interest in real property. In addition, Section 408 of the Act sets forth numerous safeguards for private property and makes unmistakably clear that nothing in the Act abridges the rights of any property owner (whether public or private), including the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity conducted within the National Heritage Area.

Mr. WOLF

Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in remembrance of the 1.5 million men, women and children who were killed and the 500,000 survivors who were expelled from their homes during the Armenian Genocide. Today marks the 93rd anniversary of the beginning of a systematic effort carried out by the Ottoman Empire, which ultimately resulted in the elimination of ethnic Armenians from their historic homeland. On April 24, 1915, the Ottoman authorities arrested approximately 250 Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Istanbul. Following this episode, the military proceeded to round up hundreds of thousands of Armenians and force them to march hundreds of miles into present day Syria, denying them food and water along the way. Those that were not slaughtered and survived the treacherous journey were brutally raped and beaten along the way. The root of this occurrence can be attributed to an official policy of discrimination, which culminated in genocide. I urge my colleagues to read Samantha Powers widely acclaimed book, A Problem From Hell: America and the Age of Genocide, which clearly describes this as genocide. May we all take a moment to remember the victims of the Armenian Genocide, one of the most horrible tragedies of the 20th century. We remember, not so that we may dwell on the events of the past, but so that we may renew our personal commitments to never stand idly by and let such a tragedy happen again.