E434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 1, 2007 Spring may be nearly upon us, but hot sum- The United States must embrace the con- administrator who was always committed to mer temperatures and another winter are just cept of bilateral cooperation in order to win the public service. As she gets set to spend more months away. I believe the Energy Policy Act war on terrorism, and I believe that this bill is time with her husband, Brent, I wish her con- provision to help low-income consumers is an an important step in that direction. H.R. 884 tinued success and good luck in all her future innovative tool that must be allowed to work. will establish a Science and Technology endeavors. The Royalty-in-Kind for Energy Assistance Im- Homeland Security International Cooperative f provement Act would make this possible. I Programs Office to facilitate international co- urge my colleagues to support this legislation operative activities throughout the Directorate RECOGNIZING THE FAIRFAX COUN- and to support energy assistance for this na- of Science and Technology. TY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 2007 tion’s most vulnerable residents. This legislation does not seek to duplicate VALOR AWARD RECIPIENTS Here is a brief outline of the bill: other efforts underway. Rather, it will strength- Section One—provides a short title (‘‘Roy- en ongoing partnerships with homeland secu- HON. TOM DAVIS alty-in-Kind for Energy Assistance Improve- rity allies such as Israel, the United Kingdom, OF VIRGINIA ment Act of 2006’’). Canada, Australia, and Singapore, while en- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Section Two—sets forth findings regarding couraging new ones. The United States cur- Thursday, March 1, 2007 the importance of LIHEAP and the intent of rently participates in similar bilateral programs the relevant provisions of law regarding pay- such as the Binational Industrial Research and Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Madam Speak- ment of royalties-in-kind and the conclusion of Development, or BIRD foundation, in which er, I rise today to recognize an outstanding the Interior Department that the provision of the United States and Israel cooperate on de- group of men and women in Northern Virginia. the 2005 Energy Policy Act intended to allow fense-related R&D. The office would conduct The Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce use of royalties-in-kind to benefit low-income similar activities, but would be run by the De- annually recognizes individuals who have consumers cannot be implemented. This sec- partment of Homeland Security rather than a demonstrated superior dedication to public tion also states the bill’s purpose, which is to private foundation. safety with the prestigious Valor Award. Sev- amend that part of the Energy Policy Act in This office within the Department of Home- eral members of the Vienna Police Depart- order to make it possible for it to be imple- land Security will foster partnerships with for- ment have earned this highest honor that Fair- mented in order to assist low-income people eign governments and businesses by requiring fax County bestows upon its public safety offi- to meet their energy needs. that the foreign partner equitably match U.S. cials. Section Three—amends the relevant provi- funding expended through direct funding or There are several types of Valor Awards sion (Section 342(j)) of the Energy Policy Act funding of complementary activities, or through that can be awarded to a public safety officer: by— provision of staff, facilities, material, or equip- the Lifesaving Award, the Certificate of Valor, (1) adding explicit authority for the Interior ment. or the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal of Valor. Department to sell royalty-in-kind oil or gas for This country has a proud history of recog- It is with great pride that I enter into the as little as half its fair market value in imple- nizing the value of and promoting international record the names of the recipients of the 2007 menting that part of the Energy Policy Act cooperation, particularly in the field of tech- Valor Awards in the Vienna Police Depart- under an agreement that the purchaser will be nology. I am pleased to be an original cospon- ment. Receiving the Lifesaving Award: Master required to provide an appropriate amount of sor of this bipartisan legislation, and encour- Police Officer Trent H. Nelson, Sergeant resources to a Federal low-income energy as- age my colleagues to support H.R. 884. Jamie L. Smith, Police Officer First Class sistance program; f Jarod B. Evans; the Certificate of Valor: Ser- (2) clarifying that such a sale at a dis- geant Michael R. Reeves, Officer Christopher counted price will be deemed to comply with RECOGNIZING LINDA HOLBROOK W. Shaver. the Anti-deficiency Act; and Madam Speaker, in closing, I would like to (3) authorizing the Interior Department to HON. JIM COSTA take this opportunity to thank all the men and issue rules and enter into agreements that are OF CALIFORNIA women who serve in the Vienna Police De- considered appropriate in order to implement IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES partment. Their efforts, made on behalf of the that part of the Energy Policy Act. citizens of Fairfax County, are selfless acts of Thursday, March 1, 2007 These changes are specifically designed to heroism and truly merit our highest praise. I correct the legal deficiencies that the Interior Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in applauding Department has determined currently make it pay tribute to the distinguished public service this group of remarkable citizens. impossible for it to implement this part of the of Linda Holbrook. After 35 years with the U.S. f Energy Policy Act. Department of the Treasury—Internal Rev- IN HONOR OF AFLAC, INC. BEING f enue Service, IRS, she will retire. During her tenure, Linda worked her way NAMED ONE OF THE BEST COM- H.R. 884—PROMOTING ANTITER- from an entry-level data transcriber to her cur- PANIES IN AMERICA RORISM COOPERATION THROUGH rent position for the past 13 years as Territory TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE ACT Manager of the IRS Real Estate and Facilities HON. SANFORD D. BISHOP, JR. Management Operations, Fresno Territory. I OF GEORGIA SPEECH OF have had the pleasure of working with Linda, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and her dedication to the community is to be HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN Thursday, March 1, 2007 OF RHODE ISLAND commended. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES During her time in Facilities Management, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I Linda guided the acquisition of over 500,000 rise today to recognize and commend a com- Tuesday, February 27, 2007 square feet of space in eight buildings in pany that has made Columbus, GA, the Sec- Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I join my col- downtown Fresno, bringing thousands of Fed- ond Congressional District of Georgia and the leagues today in support of H.R. 884, the eral employees and visitors into our central United States proud. Aflac, Inc., a company ‘‘Promoting Antiterrorism Cooperation through business district. Her support of the city of that epitomizes corporate citizenship and re- Technology and Science Act.’’ Fresno’s downtown revitalization effort has sponsibility towards its employees, recently While touring the northeast United States in been widely recognized and has served as a was named by Forbes magazine to their Plat- 1955, President Eisenhower spoke of the im- stellar example of the benefits that can arise inum 400 List of America’s Best Big Compa- portance of international diplomacy and co- from partnership among congressional, Fed- nies. operation to solve the rising problems posed eral Government and local officials. Linda To create the list, Forbes looked at more by communism in the Far East. It was Eisen- serves as an example to staff throughout the than 1,000 publicly traded companies with at hower who said ‘‘Only strength can cooperate. Federal Government of how a local program least $1 billion in revenue, and chose 400 Weakness can only beg.’’ Just as Eisenhower manager can work closely with local officials based on metrics, earnings forecasts, cor- envisioned the role of international cooperation to assure that each group’s work complements porate governance ratings, and other public to address the communist threat in the 20th the others in such a way that both are en- company information. Of course, Forbes se- century, so too must we solicit international hanced. lected these companies not just for their finan- cooperation to solve the terrorism threat in the Throughout her career at the IRS, Linda cial performance, but also for their leadership, 21st century. Holbrook has proven to be a highly effective innovation, and execution.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 07:07 Mar 02, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A01MR8.011 E01MRPT1 bajohnson on PROD1PC60 with REMARKS March 1, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E435 Founded in downtown Columbus, GA, in lndian government itself that created the Lib- a Sikh is not a Khallstani, he is not a 1955 by brothers John, Paul and Bill Amos, eration Tigers of Tamil Eelam, identified by the Sikh.’,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. After human-rights activist Jaswant Singh the American Family Life Insurance Company U.S. government as a terrorist organization. Khalra exposed the Indian government’s pol- ended its first year with 6,426 policyholders Madam Speaker, the essence of democracy icy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which and $388,000 in assets. Today, Aflac has over is the right to self-determination. It is time for over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tor- $56 billion in assets and insures 40 million India to end the repression of its minorities tured, and murdered, then their bodies were people worldwide. Additionally, Aflac is the and allow them to exercise their basic demo- declared unidentified and secretly cremated, number one provider of guaranteed-renewable cratic right to a free and fair vote on the ques- the police kidnapped him. Khalra was mur- insurance in the United States. tion of independence. This Congress should dered in police custody. No one has been As it has gained respect around the world, put itself on record demanding that India do brought to justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra. Rajiv Aflac has been an asset to my district, pro- so. Further, we should cut off our aid to India Singh Randhawa, who was the only witness viding 3,800 employees in our area with good and our trade with that country until full human to the Khalra kidnapping, has been repeat- jobs and a positive work environment. In addi- rights, including the right to self-determinatlon, edly subjected to police harassment. This in- tion to this year’s award from Forbes, Aflac are enjoyed by all the people there. cludes being arrested for trying to hand a has received many others, including being Madam Speaker, I request permission to piece of paper to then-British Home Sec- named among Fortune magazine’s ‘‘Best place the Council of Khalistan’s press release retary Jack Straw in front of the Golden Places to Work’’ for 9 years running, as one on the Punjab ejections into the RECORD at Temple. The police never released the body this time. of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht of the ‘‘Best Companies for Diversity’’ by Black Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran [From the Council of Khalistan—Press Enterprise magazine, and among the ‘‘100 Singh Ghotna murdered him. He was never Release] Best Companies for Working Mothers’’ by punished for this crime. Working Mother magazine. AKALI DAL WINS PUNJAB ELECTIONS—MUST In 1994, the U.S. State Department re- Aflac also makes significant contributions to PUT INTERESTS OF SIKH NATION FIRST— ported that the Indian government had paid the community, including a gift of nearly $34 KHALISTAN IS THE ONLY SOLUTION over 41,000 cash bounties for killing Sikhs. A million to the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood WASHINGTON, DC., FEB. 28, 2007.—The report by the Movement Against State Re- Shlromani Akali Dal, under the leadership of pression (MASR) quotes the Punjab Civil Disorders Service at Children’s HealthCare in Parkash Singh Badal, won the state elec- Magistracy as writing ‘‘if we add up the fig- Atlanta. tions for the Punjab Legislative Assembly, ures of the last few years the number of in- Indeed, I am proud to have this company in winning 48 of 117 seats to 44 for the Congress nocent persons killed would run into lakhs my district. Please join me in congratulating party, 19 for the Bharatiya Janata Party, 5 [hundreds of thousands.]’’ The Indian Su- Aflac and its 69,000 U.S.-based agents on re- Independents. and one seat still to be elect- preme Court called the Indian government’s ceiving this award. ed. Since the Akalls and the BJP are coali- murders of Sikhs ‘‘worse than a genocide.’’ tion partners, this puts the Akall coalition The MASR report states that 52,268 Sikhs are f back in charge with a 67-seat majority. As a being held as political prisoners in India COUNCIL OF KHALISTAN COM- reward, the BJP got the position of Deputy without charge or trial, mostly under a re- MENTS ON PUNJAB ELECTIONS Chief Minister. pressive law known as the ‘‘Terrorist and ‘‘It is sad that the people of Punjab are re- Disruptive Activities Act’’ (TADA), which enacting the cycle of choosing between the expired in 1995. Many have been in illegal HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS Congress Party, which presided over the custody since 1984. There has been no list OF NEW YORK massacre of Sikhs and the Akalis, whose coa- published of those who were acquitted under IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lition partner, the BJP, wants to wipe out TADA and those who are still rotting in In- the Sikhs and all minorities,’’ said Dr. dian jails. Tens of thousands of other minori- Thursday, March 1, 2007 Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the ties are also being held as political prisoners, Mr. TOWNS. Madam Speaker, the Council Council of Khalistan. ‘‘Captain Amarinder according to Amnesty International. Last of Khalistan recently issued a press release Singh is to be given credit for doing some year, 35 Sikhs were charged and arrested in pro-Sikh things like cancelling the water on the elections in Punjab and the victory of Punjab for making speeches in support of agreements that permitted the diversion of Khalistan and raising the Khalistani flag. the Shiromani Akali Dal. Dr. Gurmit Singh Punjab’s water to non-riparian states,’’ said ‘‘How can making speeches and raising a flag Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, Dr. Aulakh. ‘‘But he is still trapped by the be considered crimes in a democratic soci- noted the unfortunate cycle between the Con- Congress Party. Badal, who presided over the ety?’’ asked Dr. Aulakh. gress party, which was primarily responsible most corrupt government in Punjab’s his- India is on the verge of disintegration. for the genocide against Sikhs, and the tory, has pledged clean government. He has Kashmir is about to separate from India. As Shiromani Akali Dal, which is in coalition with promised free electricity for Punjab farmers L.K. Advani said, ‘‘If Kashmir goes, India the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and Rs4 per kilo for wheat flour and Rs20 per goes.’’ History shows that multinational kilo for lentils to the poor. Let’s see if he states such as India are doomed to failure. (BJP), which is the political arm of the keeps his word, Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Countries like Austria-Hungary, India’s Rashtriya Swayamsewak Singh (RSS), an or- ‘‘Radal is the head of a Sikh religious and longtime friend the Soviet Union, Yugo- ganization formed in support of the Fascists of political body. His party controls the slavia, Czechoslovakia, and others prove this Europe which has been responsible for acts of Gurdwaras in Punjab. That’s where he got point. India is not one country; it is a poly- violence against minorities. The RSS also the money to buy the alcohol for his elec- glot liKe those countries, thrown together published a booklet on how to implicate mi- tion,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. He noted that the for the convenience of the British colonial- norities such as Sikhs, Christians, and others BJP, the Akalls’ coalition partner, is the po- ists. It is doomed to break up as they did. in false criminal cases. An alternative to these litical arm of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak There is nothing in common in the culture of Sangh (RSS). a pro-Fascist organization that a Hindu living in Bengal and one in Tamil two parties is sorely needed. The Sikh nation has worked to eliminate minorities from Nadu, let alone between them and the minor- needs leaders who are committed to pro- India. ‘‘Is Badal on the side of the Sikhs or ity nations of South Asia,’’ Dr. Aulakh said. tecting their interests. the RSS?’’ Dr. Aulakh asked. He called on ‘‘Freedom is the God-given right of every As you know, Madam Speaker, former the Badal government to get Chandigarh nation and every human being,’’ said Dr. President Bill Clinton, in his foreword to Mad- back for Punjab. ‘‘Punjab built Chandigarh Aulakh. He noted that the Indian govern- eline Albright’s book, wrote that 38 Sikhs in to be its capital. It properly belongs to us. ment was already spinning the results. Chithisinghpora were murdered while he was The government of Punjab should be press- ‘‘Their wholly-owned U.S. Congressman, ing to get our capital back,’’ he said. Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) has already visiting by Hindu militants. New York Times re- ‘‘Remember that the Akalls once called on portrayed the elections as a rejection of porter Barry Bearak has concluded that the In- the Sikh Nation to carry out ‘the long strug- Khalistan, even though the voters defeated dian government’s forces were responsible. gle to liberate Khalistan,’’’ Dr. Aulakh said. the Congress Party, which is against Although the killers dressed as ‘‘militants,’’ ‘‘These elections show why we must liberate Khalistan,’ Dr. Aulakh said. ‘‘Congressman they spoke to each other in the language of Khalistan from Indian occupation and op- Pallone sounds like he is being compensated the Indian army. It appears that this is just an- pression,’’ said Dr. Aulakh. ‘‘That is the only by the Indian regime,’’ Dr. Aulakh noted. other of the many incidents where either the way for Sikhs to protect ourselves from In- ‘‘Sikhs must be allowed to have a free and Indian military or its paid ‘‘Black Cats’’ para- dia’s brutality. Elections under the Indian fair plebiscite on the issue of Khalistan. In a constitution will only perpetuate it. The democracy, you cannot continue to rule military units have been caught carrying out only way that the repression will stop and against the wishes of the people,’’ he said. terrorist incidents in the guise of alleged ‘‘mili- Sikhs will live in freedom, dignity, and pros- ‘‘The essence of democracy is the right to tants.’’ perity is to liberate Khalistan,’’ said Dr. self-determination. Currently, there are 17 Remember that according to India Today, Aulakh. ‘‘As Professor Darshan Singh, freedom movements within India’s borders. India’s leading news magazine, it was the former Jathedar of the Akal Takht, said, ‘If It has 16 official languages. It cannot hold

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