Diane Watson

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. I have no further requests for time, Madam Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for her strong support and giving us the background for which this resolution was introduced. I have the largest Korean, South Korean, community in the United States in my district, all of Koreatown; and they are struggling with the challenge ahead of them. We are there behind them to support them, and I want you to know in August I will be going to Korea. I invite my colleague to go with us if she can spare the time. What we do, we spread good will and let the South Koreans know how appreciative we are with them coming here to America. And particularly in Los Angeles, with their stimulating and vigorous entrepreneurship, they have added so much to the culture, and that added value makes us a little stronger. I hope that we can return the favor to add value to South Korea.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1464) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security and expressing appreciation to the Government of Japan and the Japanese people for enhancing peace, prosperity, and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. This resolution commemorates the 50th anniversary of the United States-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, which entered into force on June 23, 1960. This treaty formed the basis for the presence of U.S. Armed Forces in Japan, which has contributed to Japan's security and prosperity and to regional peace and stability. Our alliance with Japan has advanced American interests by ensuring a stable balance of power in the Asia- Pacific region, providing a platform for managing tensions on the Korean peninsula and serving as a means to enlist Japan's cooperation on regional and global security issues. For example, Japan is the second largest international contributor to Afghanistan, pledging $5 million in economic assistance over the next 5 years. Japan sent rapid humanitarian aid to Haiti, and the Japanese Self- Defense Force provided medical relief following the earthquake there this past January. Japan to this day remains a steadfast ally with the United States in combating the nuclear threat from North Korea and responding to the North's provocative behavior. The success of our alliance with Japan would not have been possible without Japan's broad support and understanding, and I would like to thank the Government of Japan and the Japanese people, and especially the people of Okinawa where I taught for 2 years, for their continued hosting of American Armed Forces in Japan. I taught the children of these Armed Forces. While Japan is an important partner and friend and we agree on many important issues, there is one important matter on which we disagree: the issue of American children taken to Japan by one parent against the wishes of the other parent. This issue is a very real and serious concern for those left-behind parents and for those of us representing them here in Congress. It is imperative that our two governments create the best possible situation for these tragic cases to be resolved, not only for the sake of those families but to ensure that U.S.-Japan relations continue on a positive trajectory. As we commemorate this week the 50th anniversary of our alliance with Japan, we know that the importance of this alliance remains as vital as ever, even if the treaty's original Cold War backdrop has long faded from view. We only have to look at North Korea's belligerent actions over the past few years to be reminded of the relevance of the U.S.- Japan security treaty. Now is the right time to pursue an ambitious, forward-looking agenda to ensure that the fundamentals of the alliance remain in place and to expand our security cooperation to meet the many challenges of the 21st century. I would like to thank my friend, the distinguished gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the ranking member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, for introducing this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, last month, Colombia held the first round of their presidential elections. In an outcome that surprised many observers, the Green Party and the National Unity Party both failed to receive an outright majority of the votes, so a runoff was required this past Sunday. Over 13 million Colombians participated in the second round, with former Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos receiving 69 percent of the vote and becoming the President-elect of Colombia. With this resolution, the House of Representatives honors the Colombian people and their commitment to democracy. Since gaining its independence from Spain in 1819, Colombia has remained democratic, sometimes as an outlier in this region. We applaud the free and fair nature of these multiparty, internationally recognized elections. Colombia is not without problems, some of them significant. The human rights situation in Colombia leaves much to be desired, and Colombia has over 3 million internally displaced peoples, second in the world only to Sudan as a result of its long struggles with armed groups that the United States and most of the world considers terrorists. While these issues must remain on the front burner of our common agenda, it is important to recognize that Colombia remains an important friend and ally of the United States, and their resilience in the long hemispheric battle against narcotrafficking is worthy of respect and admiration. As we congratulate President-elect Juan Manuel Santos on this victory in Colombia's June 20, 2010, presidential election, we have every expectation that he and his new administration will continue the tradition of a strong relationship with the United States. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 879) supporting the goals and ideals of American Education Week, as amended.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Representative Ruben Hinojosa.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, it is my great privilege to rise in support of H. Res. 879. This measure encourages the people of the United States to observe National Education Week by reflecting on the positive impact of all those who work together to educate America's children. American Education Week spotlights the importance of providing every child in America with a quality public education from kindergarten through college and the need for everyone to do his or her part in making public schools great. Madam Speaker, America's success in the 21st century will be determined by our ability to innovate, foster entrepreneurship, and constantly improve the skill base of our workforce. We believe that the evolving demands of the global economy make education vital to sustainable social and economic success. We also believe that education is a fundamental human right and is the single most important investment in the future of individuals, communities, the Nation, and the world. We in Congress and we as a Nation must make it one of our highest priorities. H. Res. 879 was introduced by our colleague, the gentleman from Idaho, Representative Walter Minnick, on October 29, 2009. The measure was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which ordered it reported by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. The measure has the support of over 70 Members of the House. I thank the gentleman from Idaho for introducing this measure. And I'd also like to thank Chairman Towns and Ranking Member Issa for their support for the bill. I urge my colleagues to support this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Minnick).

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1357) commending and congratulating the Hollywood Walk of Fame on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today and to vote for H. Res. 1357, a bill I introduced to honor one of the most well-known historical landmarks in the world, the Hollywood Walk of Fame. For 50 years, the Hollywood Walk of Fame has existed as a tribute to those who have contributed to the unparalleled success of America's entertainment industry. As the chairwoman of the Congressional Entertainment Industries Caucus and a Representative from the City of Los Angeles, I am uniquely aware of the role Hollywood has played in presenting the values, the culture, and the creativity of the United States to audiences around the world. Across the globe, Hollywood means glamour and excitement, and in our district it also means solid jobs and revenue. In 1953, E.M. Stuart, the president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, came up with the idea of creating the Hollywood Walk of Fame as a tribute to the industry, and on March 28, 1960, filmmaker Stanley Kramer was awarded the first star. Fifty years later, an average of two stars are added each month, and the Walk of Fame has become one of the top visitor attractions in the City of Los Angeles and also a destination in the United States. I was proud to submit H. Res. 1357 to recognize this important cultural landmark, and I urge my colleagues to vote in support of the resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I am now proud to yield such time as he may consume to my good friend, my distinguished friend from the State of New York, Representative Towns.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1429) celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals and ideals of Flag Day.

Ms. WATSON. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, each one of our States proudly flies its own flag, but the flag that reigns supreme flies above ours. In each one of our offices here in the Capitol, we have the flags from our States or from our territories and the flag of the United States. I proudly say that the flag of California has a bear on it because we are the last frontier, and the strength of the bear represents the strength of our State. Also, current Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is one of those who serves under the California flag, and he has his star on the Walk of Fame. So I am so proud that the flag that the Speaker stands in front of in this Chamber and that adorns this Chamber is the flag that we celebrate. Every single American and every single person who lives in our country pays homage to our flag by flying it high. I again urge all of my colleagues, Madam Speaker, to join me in supporting this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. WATSON

Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, and to the authors and cosponsors of this resolution, I just want to add to the testimony that you have already heard in support of this resolution commending the NAACP, that many of us would not be here if not for the work and the support of others of the NAACP. I am a case in point. I remember being elected as the first African American woman to the second largest school board in the United States, that's LA Unified School District, and in the California State Senate as the first ever. And I was so proud that members came to me to show me their membership in the NAACP. I then knew that the work that was done over 100 years ago was of such vision for the future of this country, and particularly my State of California, the largest in the Union, and the first State to be a majority of minorities, that that vision, that hard work, that dedication brought about justice so that the State of California and the United States of America could be reflective of who we are as a people. The justice, the fairness, the freedom, the liberty all came about for people like me because of this organization and others who supported it. So I am pleased, I am pleasured, and I do hope that all men and women of fair mindedness with division will support wholeheartedly this resolution. Thank you, Congressman.