H996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 15, 2006 The gentleman from North Carolina the people of the great United States of who also challenged military rule. This (Mr. WATT); America. By this invitation, you have House came to our rescue with a reso- The gentleman from Rhode Island paid one of the greatest tributes there lution threatening to cut off aid to the (Mr. KENNEDY); is to all those who laid down their lives country unless all political prisoners The gentlewoman from Michigan for my country to be free and demo- were freed. Months later, I was put in (Ms. KILPATRICK); cratic. I can only say a big thank you. jail again, this time in a cell with 15 The gentlewoman from California The people of Liberia and the people men. All of them were executed a few (Ms. LEE); and of the United States are bound to- hours later. Only the intervention of a The gentlewoman from California gether by history and by values. We single soldier spared me from rape. (Ms. WATSON). share a deep and abiding belief in the Through the grace of almighty God and The VICE PRESIDENT. The Presi- power of freedom, of faith, and of find- the mercy of others, I escaped and dent of the Senate, at the direction of ing virtue in work for the common found refuge here, in Washington, D.C. that body, appoints the following Sen- good. But long before that, our country and ators as members of the committee on The national motto of Liberia, found- I benefited from Liberia’s special rela- the part of the Senate to escort Her ed, as you know, by freed American tionship with the United States. My Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the slaves, is: ‘‘The love of liberty brought family exemplifies the economic and President of the Republic of Liberia, us here.’’ We became the first inde- social divide that has torn our nation. into the House Chamber: pendent republic in Africa. Our capital, Unlike many privileged Liberians, I The Senator from Tennessee (Mr. Monrovia, is named for your President, can claim no American lineage. Three FRIST); James Monroe. Our flag is a star in a of my grandparents were indigenous The Senator from Alaska (Mr. STE- blue field and red and white stripes. Its Liberians; the fourth was a German VENS); one star makes us the ‘‘lone star state’’ who married a rural market woman. The Senator from Indiana (Mr. in Africa. Our constitution and our That grandfather was forced to leave LUGAR); laws were based upon yours. The U.S. the country when Liberia, in loyalty to The Senator from Illinois (Mr. DUR- dollar was long our legal tender and the United States, declared war on Ger- BIN); still is used alongside the Liberian dol- many in 1914. The Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. lar today. Both of my grandmothers were farm- FEINGOLD); and But our ties greatly exceed the his- ers and village traders. They could not The Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. torical connection. I stand before you read or write any language, as more REED). today as the first woman elected to than three-quarters of our people still The Assistant to the Sergeant at lead an African nation, thanks to the cannot today; but they worked hard, Arms announced the Dean of the Diplo- grace of almighty God; thanks to the they loved their country, they loved matic Corps, His Excellency Roble courage of the Liberian people, who their families, and they believed in Olhaye, Ambassador from the Republic chose their future over fear; thanks to education. They inspired me then, and of Djibouti. the people of West Africa and of Africa their memory motivates me now to The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps en- generally, who continued to give hope serve my people, to sacrifice for the tered the Hall of the House of Rep- to my people. Thanks also to President world and honestly serve humanity. I resentatives and took the seat reserved Bush whose strong resolve and public could not, I will not, I cannot betray for him. condemnation and appropriate action their trust. The Assistant to the Sergeant at forced a tyrant into exile; and thanks My parents were sent at a young age Arms announced the Cabinet of the to you, the Members of this august to Monrovia, where it was common for President of the United States. body, who spurred the international ef- elite families to take in children from The Members of the Cabinet of the fort that brought blessed peace to our the countryside to perform domestic President of the United States entered nation. chores. They endured humiliations and the Hall of the House of Representa- It was the leadership of the 108th indignities, but my mother was fortu- tives and took the seats reserved for Congress, more than 2 years ago, that nate to be adopted by a kind woman, them in front of the Speaker’s rostrum. paved the way for a United Nations and both my parents were able through At 2 o’clock and 6 minutes p.m., the force that secured our peace and guar- this system to go to school, a rarity at Assistant to the Sergeant at Arms an- anteed free and fair elections. It was that time for poor people. My father nounced the President of Liberia, Her your $445 million addition to a supple- even became the first native Liberian Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. mental appropriations bill that at- in the Liberian national legislature. The President of Liberia, escorted by tracted additional commitments from I was not born with the expectation the committee of Senators and Rep- international donors. With those funds, of a university education from Harvard resentatives, entered the Hall of the we have laid the foundation for a dura- or being a World Bank officer or an As- House of Representatives and stood at ble peace, not only in Liberia, but in sistant Secretary-General of the the Clerk’s desk. the whole West African subregion. Spe- United Nations. When I was a small [Applause, the Members rising.] cial appreciation goes to the 109th Con- girl in the countryside, swimming and The SPEAKER. Members of the Con- gress, those of you in this room, for the fishing with twine made from palm gress, it is my great privilege and I effort in recent weeks to meet Libe- trees, no one would have picked me out deem it a high honor and a personal ria’s developing needs. as the future president of our country. pleasure to present to you Her Excel- Honorable ladies and gentlemen of I graduated from the College of West lency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President this Congress, I want to thank you. Africa, a United Methodist high school. of the Republic of Liberia. The Liberian people have sent me here I waited tables to support my studies [Applause, the Members rising.] to thank you for your vision. Our tri- in the United States, college in Wis- f umph over evil is also your triumph. consin and graduate school in Massa- Our special relationship with the chusetts. I went on to enjoy the bene- ADDRESS BY HER EXCELLENCY United States brought us benefits long fits and advantages of a world-class ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF, before the autumn of 2003. Thousands education. PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC of our people, including myself, have So my feet are in two worlds, the OF LIBERIA been educated in American missionary world of poor rural women with no res- President JOHNSON SIRLEAF. Mr. schools and gone on to higher training pite from hardship, and the world of ac- Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members in this country. You have generously complished Liberian professionals, for of the United States Congress, and dis- welcomed tens of thousands of our peo- whom the United States is a second tinguished guests, I am deeply touched ple as they fled war and persecution. and beloved home. I draw strength by the honor bestowed on my small but I was among them. In 1985, after chal- from both. proud West African Republic of Liberia lenging the military regime’s failure to But most of our people have not been and on myself by inviting me to ad- register my political party, I was put as fortunate as I was. Always poor and dress this body of representatives of in jail with several university students underdeveloped, Liberia is only now

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:38 Mar 16, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15MR7.047 H15MRPT1 hmoore on PROD1PC68 with HMHOUSE March 15, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H997 emerging from two decades of turmoil Young adults, who have been called that so much was paid to secure, and that destroyed everything we managed our lost generation, do not consider we must work to heal the wounds of to build in a century and a half of inde- themselves lost. They, too, aspire to war. We must create an emergency pendence. The costs of our conflict run learn and to serve their families and public works program to put the whole wide and deep, manifested in varied their communities. We must not betray nation to work and give families an in- ways: mismanagement, corruption, bad their trust. come through the rebuilding of critical governance, massive looting of public Women, my strong constituency, tell infrastructure, strengthening security treasury and assets. Unlike the tsu- me that they want the same chances and attracting investment. We must nami in Asia and Katrina here in your that men have. They want to be lit- rehabilitate the core of an electricity own country, where the destruction erate. They want their work recog- grid to high-priority areas and institu- and human casualty were caused by na- nized. They want protection against tions and visibly demonstrate to the ture, we participated in or stood si- rape. They want clean water that won’t people that government can provide lently by in our own self-destruction. sicken and kill their children. We must necessary services. Our country agonized with your citi- not betray their trust. We must bring home more of our ref- zens and the victims and families of Former soldiers tell me they are ugees and resettle the displaced. We these natural tragedies and our coun- tired of war. They do not want to have must give them the tools to start try also agonized with itself over the to fight or run again. They want train- anew, and encourage more of our effects of a senseless civil war. ing. They want jobs. If they carry guns, skilled expatriates, who have the In the campaign months, I traveled they want to do so in defense of peace knowledge and the experience to build to every corner of our country. I and security, not war and pillage. We our economy, to return home. For trudged through mud in high boots, must not betray their trust. those unable to come home, we must where roads did not exist or had dete- Entrepreneurs who have returned appeal to you to grant them continuing riorated past repair. I surveyed ruined from abroad with all their resources, protective status, and residency where hospitals and collapsed clinics. I held risking everything to invest in their appropriate, to put them in a condition meetings by candlelight, because there country’s future, tell me they want a to contribute to their country’s reform is no electricity anywhere, including fair and transparent regulatory envi- and development. the capital, except from private gen- ronment. They want honesty and ac- We must complete the demobiliza- erators. I was forced to drink water countability from their government. tion of former combatants and restruc- from creeks and unsanitized wells, all We must not betray their trust. ture our army, police and security of which made me vulnerable to the Farming families who fled the fight- services. We must create legal systems diseases from which so many of my ing for shelter in neighboring countries that preserve the rule of law, applied to people die daily. or found themselves displaced from all without fear or favor. I came face to face with the human their communities want a fresh start. We must revive educational facili- devastation of war, which killed a They want to return home. They want ties, including our few universities. We quarter of a million of our 3 million seeds. They want farm implements. must provide essential agricultural ex- people and displaced most of the rest. They want roads to get their goods to tension services to help us feed our- Hundreds of thousands escaped across market. We must not betray their selves again, developing the science borders. More, who could not, fled into trust. and technology skills to ensure that we the bush, constantly running from one I have many promises to keep. As I prosper in a modern global economy. militia or another, often surviving by won elections through a free and peace- We must create an efficient and trans- eating rodents and wild plants that ful process, I must preserve freedom parent tax system to ensure the flow of made them sick and even killed them. and keep the peace. As I campaigned government revenues and create a hos- Our precious children died of ma- against corruption, I must lead a gov- pitable investment climate. laria, parasites and malnourishments. ernment that curbs it. As I was elected With few resources beyond the will of Our boys, full of potential, were forced with the massive vote of women, I my people, I want you to know, we to be child soldiers, to kill or be killed. must assure that their needs are met. have made a strong beginning. During Our girls, capable of being anything We are not oblivious to the enormity my first few weeks in office, by curbing they could imagine, were made into sex of the challenges we face. Few coun- corruption we have increased govern- slaves, gang-raped by men with guns, tries have been as decimated as ours. ment revenue by 21 percent. We have made mothers while they still were In the chaos of war, our HIV rates have canceled noncompliant forestry conces- children themselves. quadrupled. Our children are still dying sions and fraudulent contracts; re- But listening to the hopes and of curable diseases, tuberculosis, dys- quired senior government appointees to dreams of our people, I recall the words entery, measles, and malaria. Schools declare financial assets; implemented of a Mozambican poet who said, ‘‘Our lack books, equipment, teachers, and cash management practices to ensure dream has the size of freedom.’’ My buildings. The telecommunications age fiscal discipline and sharpen efficiency; people, like your people, believe deeply has passed us by. We have a $3.5 billion met the basic requirements for eligi- in freedom; and in their dreams, they external debt, lent in large measure to bility under the U.S. general system of reach for the heavens. some of my predecessors who were preferences and initial Ex-Im Bank I represent those dreams. I represent known to be irresponsible, unaccount- support; restored good relationships their hope and their aspirations. I ran able, unrepresentative, and corrupt. with bilateral and multilateral part- for President because I am determined The reality that we have lost our inter- ners; commenced the process leading to to see good governance in Liberia in national creditworthiness bars us from an IMF-supported staff monitoring pro- my lifetime. But I also ran because I further loans, although now we would gram; accelerated implementation of am the mother of four, and I wanted to use them wisely. the Governance Economic Management see our children smile and play again. Our abundant natural resources have Plan, the GMAP; and launched a Truth Already, I am seeing those smiles. been diverted by criminal conspiracies and Reconciliation Commission to in- For even after everything they have for private gain. International sanc- vestigate the abuses of war. endured, the people of Liberia have tions, imposed for the best of reasons, But while we seek national unity and faith in new beginnings. They are still prevent us from exporting our raw reconciliation, we must not sacrifice counting on me and my administration materials. Roads have disappeared and justice. I respect the lifesaving role to create the conditions that will guar- bridges have been bombed or washed that our West African neighbors, par- antee the realization of their dreams. away. We know that trouble could once ticularly Nigeria, played at no small We must not betray their trust. All the again breed outside our borders. The cost to them in accepting to host Mr. children I meet, when I ask what they physical and spiritual scars of war are Charles Taylor. Liberians are deeply want most, say, ‘‘I want to learn.’’ ‘‘I deep indeed. grateful. But I say here, as I have said want to go to school.’’ ‘‘I want an edu- So with everything to be done, what before, Liberia has little option but to cation.’’ We must not betray their must we do first? We must do every- see that justice is done in accordance trust. thing we can to consolidate the peace with the requirements of the United

VerDate Aug 31 2005 05:38 Mar 16, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K15MR7.048 H15MRPT1 hmoore on PROD1PC68 with HMHOUSE H998 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE March 15, 2006 Nations and the broad international Monrovia, I am told, is the most evacu- cort, retired from the Hall of the House community. ated U.S. embassy in the world. I am of Representatives. I know that my government must go determined that you will not need to The Assistant to the Sergeant at beyond these strong beginnings, must rescue your people from our shores for Arms escorted the invited guests from do much more than we have done so a 10th time. You contribute hundreds the Chamber in the following order: far, and we must do it quickly. Our of millions of dollars to a U.N. peace- The Members of the President’s Cabi- people’s courage and patience are for- keeping force in Liberia. A fraction of net; midable, but their expectations are this will be required to support a The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps. high. And their needs are urgent. peaceful and stable Liberia. f This does not mean that we want big Honorable Members of this great government. We cannot afford it, and Congress, think with me about this. JOINT MEETING DISSOLVED we believe that government should not What is the return on an investment The SPEAKER. The purpose of the attempt to do what civil society and that trains young combatants for life, joint meeting having been completed, business can do better. The people of rather than death? What is the yield the Chair declares the joint meeting of Liberia know that government cannot when our young men can exchange the two Houses now dissolved. save the country. Only their own their guns for jobs? What is the savings Accordingly, at 2 o’clock and 50 min- strength, their determination, their in food aid when our people can feed utes p.m., the joint meeting of the two creativity, resilience and their faith themselves again? What is the profit Houses was dissolved. can do that. from educating our girls to be sci- The Members of the Senate retired to But they have the right to expect the entists and doctors? What is the divi- their Chamber. essentials that only a government can dend when our dependence ends, and we provide. They have the right to a gov- become true partners rather than f ernment that is honest and that re- supplicants? ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER spects the sanctity of human life. They Honorable Members, we know that The SPEAKER. The House will con- need and they deserve an economic en- there is no quick fix for the reconstruc- tinue in recess subject to the call of vironment in which their efforts can tion of our country; but Liberians, the Chair. succeed. They need infrastructure, and young and old, share their govern- they need security. Above all, they ment’s commitment to work, to be f need peace. honest, to unite, to reconcile, and to b 1544 That is the task of my administra- rebuild. A nation so well endowed, so tion. To meet that challenge, to do blessed by God with natural resources AFTER RECESS what is right, I ask for the continuing should not be poor. Starting from a The recess having expired, the House support of this Congress and the Amer- small base, as we do, we have rubber was called to order by the Speaker pro ican people. and timber and diamonds and gold and tempore (Mr. BOOZMAN) at 3 o’clock Honorable ladies and gentlemen, my iron ore. Our fields are fertile. Our and 44 minutes p.m. appeal comes with the recognition of water supply is plentiful. Our sunshine all that you have already done. In addi- is warm and welcoming. f tion to the financial assistance to dis- With your prayers and with your PRINTING OF PROCEEDINGS HAD arm our fighters and feed and house help, we will demonstrate that democ- DURING RECESS our displaced, the artful diplomacy of racy can work, even under the most Mr. KOLBE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unan- the United States was central to end- challenging conditions. We will honor imous consent that the proceedings ing our long conflict. We thank you the suffering of our people, and Liberia had during the recess be printed in the with all our hearts. will become a brilliant beacon, an ex- RECORD. As small and impoverished as we are, ample to Africa and to the world of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there we cherish the friendship we have had what the love of liberty can achieve. objection to the request of the gen- with you. During the Second World We will strive to be America’s success tleman from Arizona? War, we stood together, even if only story in Africa, demonstrating the po- There was no objection. symbolically, to fight Nazi expan- tential in the transformation from war sionism and tyranny. At the request of to peace; demonstrating the will to f President Roosevelt, we planted rubber join in the global fight against ter- RECESS trees after the Japanese seized the In- rorism; demonstrating that democracy donesian supply. When U.S. law prohib- can prevail, demonstrating that pros- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ited sending ships to a Europe at war, perity can be achieved. ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair we agreed to establish a shipping reg- The people of Liberia have already declares the House in recess subject to istry to help transport American rolled up their sleeves, despite over- the call of the Chair. goods. During the Cold War, we hosted whelming obstacles, confident that Accordingly (at 3 o’clock and 45 min- a submarine tracking center, an intel- their work will be rewarded, confident utes p.m.), the House stood in recess ligence listening post, and one of the in the hope and promise of the future. subject to the call of the Chair. largest Voice of America transmitters The women of Liberia and the women f in the world. of Africa, some in the marketplaces Again, we ask that we continue and some in the high levels of govern- b 1644 working together, but we do not ask ment, have already shared their trust AFTER RECESS for patronage. We do not want to con- and their confidence in my ability to tinue in dependency. The benefits of succeed and ensure that the doors of The recess having expired, the House your assistance must be mutual. competitive politics and profes- was called to order by the Speaker pro Honorable Members of Congress, sionalism will be opened even wider for tempore (Mr. BOUSTANY) at 4 o’clock much is at stake for all of us. Liberia them. and 44 minutes p.m. at war brought misery and crimes Honorable Members, I will succeed. I f against humanity to its neighbors, a will not betray their trust. I will make WAIVING POINTS OF ORDER toll that is beyond calculation. A them proud. I will make you proud in AGAINST PROVISIONS IN H.R. peaceful, prosperous Liberia can con- the difference which one woman with 4939, EMERGENCY SUPPLE- tribute to democracy, stability, and de- abiding faith in God can make. velopment in West Africa and beyond. God bless you. MENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT Nine times—nine times—in the past [Applause, the Members rising.] FOR DEFENSE, THE GLOBAL 15 years, the United States has been At 2 o’clock and 49 minutes p.m., Her WAR ON TERROR, AND HURRI- forced to evacuate official Americans Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, CANE RECOVERY, 2006 and their dependents from our country, President of the Republic of Liberia, Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speak- at enormous cost to your taxpayers. accompanied by the committee of es- er, I ask unanimous consent that all

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