April 7, 2005 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 5933 Khalsa’’ (‘‘the Khalsa shall rule’’) every The has lost all its credibility. IN RECOGNITION OF MRS. BETH morning and evening? Has he forgotten our The Badal government was so corrupt openly FREEMAN heritage of freedom? How can the spiritual and no Akali leader would come forward and leader of the Sikh religion deny the Sikh Na- tell Badal and his wife to stop this tion’s legitimate aspiration for freedom and unparallelled corruption. HON. MIKE ROGERS sovereignty? Is he not stung by the words of If Vedanti opposes freedom and OF ALABAMA one of his predecessors, former AkalTakht sovereignty for the Sikh Nation, then he is IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Jathedar Professor Darshan Singh, who said, not fit to sit in , in the seat of Wednesday, April 6, 2005 ‘‘If a Sikh is not a Khalistani, he is not a the Khalsa Panth. The Sikh Nation should Sikh’’? Is Akal Takht occupied by a person have a Jathedar who is committed to sov- Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I who does not believe in Sikh values and Sikh ereignty. rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished apsirations? public servant of Alabama’s Third Congres- The flame of freedom continues to burn The Council of Khalistan has stood strong- brightly in the heart of the Sikh Nation. No ly and consistently for liberating our home- sional District. force can suppress it. On Republic Day, Sikh land, Khalistan, from Indian occupation. For Mrs. Beth Freeman, hired just two months leaders raised the Sikh flag in and over 18 years we have led this fight while after she turned 18, has worked for the people made speeches in support of Khalistan. 35 others were trying to divert the resources of Alabama for more than 30 years. Over her were arrested for raising the Kesri and the attention of the Sikh Nation away career she has progressed from answering Nishan. Eleven of them continue to be held from the issue of freedom in a sovereign, phones and clipping newspaper articles to and they have been denied bail. Is this the independent Khalistan. Khalistan is the only way that Sikhs will be able to live in free- handling nearly every issue addressed by the freedom that Guru Gobind Singh bestowed Federal government, from military affairs to upon us? Is this the ‘‘glow of freedom’’ that dom, peace, prosperity, and dignity. It is Nehru promised us when Master time to start a Shantmai Morcha to liberate Social Security. and the Sikh leaders of the time chose to Khalistan from Indian occupation. She has been a faithful and non-partisan take our share with ? The Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib public servant, having served with the four Punjab’s Chief Minister, Captain are under the control of the Indian govern- most recent officials representing this office, , was declared a hero of the ment, the same Indian government that has including the late Congressman Bill Nichols; Sikh Nation for asserting Punjab’s sov- murdered more than a quarter of a million Congressman Glenn Browder; and then-Con- ereignty and preserving Punjab’s natural re- Sikhs in the past twenty years. The Jathedar gressman Riley. source, its river water, for the use of Punjab of the Akal Takht and the head granthi of While I have only known ‘Ms. Beth’ since farmers by cancelling Punjab’s water agree- Darbar Sahib toe the line that the Indian taking office in 2002, in that short time I have ments. In so doing, Amarinder Singh and the government tells them. They are not ap- Legislative Assembly explicitly declared the pointed by the Khalsa Panth. Otherwise they developed a deep appreciation for her hard sovereignty of the state of Punjab. In De- would behave like a real Jathedar, Jathedar work and dedication to the people of Alabama. cember former Member of Parliament Gurdev Singh Kaunke, rather than like In- Families and seniors across this district have Simranjit Singh Mann again reverted to pub- dian government puppet Jathedar Aroor called upon her expertise for years, and relied lic support of Khalistan. He pledged that his Singh, who gave a Siropa to General Dyer for upon her persistence to get their problems party will lead a peaceful movement to lib- the massacre of Sikhs and others at solved. She will be missed here in this office, erate Khalistan. Obviously, Mr. Mann is Jallianwala Bagh. These institutions will re- and across East Alabama. aware of the rising support of our cause. main under the control of the Indian regime Beth, on behalf of the citizens of Alabama’s Mann joins Sardar Atinder Pal Singh, Sardar until we free the Sikh homeland, Punjab, D.S. Gill of the International Human Rights Khalistan, from Indian occupation and op- Third Congressional District, thank you for Organization, and other Sikh leaders in Pun- pression and sever our relations with the your service to our state. We wish you all the jab in supporting freedom for Khalistan New Delhi government. best in your retirement. openly. Jagjit Singh, President of Dal The Sikhs in Punjab have suffered enor- f Khalsa, was quoted in the Deccan Herald as mous repression at the hands of the Indian HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE saying that ‘‘the Indian government can regime in the last 25 years. Over 50,000 Sikh never suppress the movement. Sikh aspira- youth were picked up from their houses, tor- HON. HOWELL HEFLIN tions can only be met when they have a sepa- tured, murdered in police custody, then se- rate state.’’ There is no other choice for the cretly cremated as ‘‘unidentified bodies.’’ Sikh nation but a sovereign, independent HON. JO BONNER Their remains were never even given to their OF ALABAMA Khalistan. Every Sikh leader must come out families! Another 52,268 are being held as po- openly for Khalistan. We salute those Sikh litical prisoners. Some have been in illegal IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES leaders in Punjab who have done so. custody since 1984! Even now, the capital of Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Any organization that sincerely supports Punjab, , has not been handed Khalistan deserves the support of the Sikh over to Punjab, but remains a Union Terri- Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, the entire state Nation. However, the Sikh Nation needs tory. How can Sikhs have any freedom living of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I leadership that is honest, sincere, consistent, under a government that would do these rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his and dedicated to the cause of Sikh freedom. things? memory. Leaders like Dr. Jagjit Singh Chohan, Senator Howell Heflin was a devoted family Harchand Singh Longowal, Didar Bains, Sikhs will never get any justice from Ganga Singh Dhillon, the Akali Dal leader- Delhi. The leaders in Delhi are only inter- man and dedicated public servant throughout ship, and others who were complicit in the ested in imposing Hindu sovereignty over all his entire life, someone who devoted nearly a attack on the cannot be the minorities to advance their own careers quarter-century in public service to the resi- trusted by the Sikh Nation. The evidence and their own power. Ever since independ- dents of Alabama. against them is clear in Chakravyuh: Web of ence, India has mistreated the Sikh Nation, Born on June 19, 1921, the son of Rev- Indian Secularism. The Sikh Nation cannot starting with Patel’s memo labelling Sikhs erend and Mrs. Marvin Heflin, Senator Heflin believe that these leaders will not betray the ‘‘a criminal tribe.’’ What a shame for Home Minister Patel and the Indian government to was a native of Poulan, Georgia, and spent cause of Khalistan, just as they betrayed the his childhood moving from one Alabama com- Sikh Nation in 1984. We must be careful if we issue this memorandum when the Sikh Na- are to continue to move the cause of freedom tion gave over 80 percent of the sacrifices to munity to another before his family settled in for Khalistan forward in 2005 as we did in free India. Colbert County. He was a 1942 graduate of 2004. How can Sikhs continue to live in such a Birmingham-Southern College. Within a short The Akali Dal conspired with the Indian country? There is no place for Sikhs in sup- time following his graduation, he joined the government in 1984 to invade the Golden posedly secular, supposedly democratic United States Marine Corps and served during Temple to murder Sant Bhindranwale and India. Let us make Viasakhi Day a day of World War II in the Pacific Theater of Oper- 20,000 other Sikh during June 1984 in Punjab. freedom. Let us dedicate ourselves this ations. He was wounded twice during his serv- Even the Pope spoke out strongly against Vaisakhi Day to living up to the blessing of ice and was awarded the Silver Star for gal- this invasion and desecration of our most sa- Guru Gobind Singh. Let us take the occasion cred shrine. How can these so-called Sikh of Vaisakhi Day to begin to shake ourselves lantry in action before being discharged in leaders connive with the people who carried loose from the yoke of Indian oppression and 1946. Following the completion of his military it out? If Sikhs will not even protect the liberate our homeland, Khalistan, so that all obligations, he enrolled in the law school at sanctity of the Golden Temple, how can the Sikhs may live lives of prosperity, freedom, the University of Alabama and graduated from Sikh Nation survive as a nation? and dignity. that institution in 1948.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:04 Mar 29, 2017 Jkt 059102 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0689 Sfmt 9920 E:\FDSYS\BOUNDRECORD\BR07AP05.DAT BR07AP05 ejoyner on DSK2TWX8P1PROD with BOUND RECORD 5934 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS April 7, 2005 From 1948 until 1970, Senator Heflin FALL RIVER HERALD NEWS It’s difficult to see what these people worked as a prosecuting attorney in the City of SALUTES CDBG mean. Allowing a community’s water mains to decay does nothing to foster self-reliance. Tuscumbia before winning election as Chief An 80-year-old widow on a small pension, liv- Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. For HON. BARNEY FRANK ing alone, will probably not be lured from the next six years, he served with distinction OF MASSACHUSETTS the paths of righteousness if she receives on the court and is known for many accom- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES some help paying her heating bills. Wednesday, April 6, 2005 In Fall River, Community Development plishments during that time, including imple- Block Grants are a good example of tax menting large reforms of the state court sys- Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, money being put to a variety of concrete tem that eliminated years of backlogged 23 years ago, when Congressional Districts in uses that directly benefit people. cases. He earned so much respect for his Massachusetts were changed, one of the first That kind of government program deserves work as Chief Justice that, even after having issues I worked on involving the newer parts to continue on a steady course. been elected to the United States Senate, of my district concerned the Community De- f velopment Block Grant Program for the City of friends, colleagues, and admirers continued to HUMANITARIAN FOOD AND Fall River. Working with then Mayor Carlton refer to him as ‘‘The Judge.’’ MEDICINE EXPORT ACT Viveiros, I was successful in preserving parts First elected to the Senate in 1978, Senator of the CDBG Program in Fall River that were Heflin served with distinction for 18 years and being threatened by legislative changes. And HON. RON PAUL ably represented the interests of all Alabam- in the years since then, Fall River has contin- OF TEXAS ians. During his three terms, he served most ued to be a national exemplar of how this pro- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES notably as a member of the Senate Judiciary gram works for the benefit of our constituents. Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Committee and as both chairman and vice On Friday, April 1, the newspaper of Fall River, the Herald News, ran an excellent edi- Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, a torial, which testifies both to the value of the legislation that will remove current, and pro- position he held for 12 years. Additionally, he CDBG Program nationally, and to the good hibit future, embargoes on the export of food, served as a member of that body’s Agriculture work that people have done administering it in medicine, or medical devices. Embargoes on Committee and was a strong and able advo- Fall River. As the editorial eloquently pointed these items, as we have seen time and time cate for the interests of Alabama’s agricultural out, ‘‘Allowing a community’s water mains to again, do not have the desired policy effect on community. decay does nothing to foster self-reliance. An the targeted country. In fact, they only punish 80-year-old widow on a small pension, living the innocent and most vulnerable people in During his three terms in Congress, Senator these countries. Does anyone believe that de- Heflin developed a reputation of working with alone, will probably not be lured from the paths of righteousness if she receives some nying the people of a foreign country food or his colleagues to find common ground on nu- help paying her heating bills.’’ As the Herald medicine because of our quarrel with their merous issues, and always with the best inter- News notes, CDBG funds in Fall River ‘‘are a leader will make them more sympathetic to- ests of his constituents at heart. Many times, good example of tax money being put to a va- ward the United States? We are fond of talk- he put partisanship aside to support issues for riety of concrete uses that directly benefit peo- ing about ‘‘humanitarian’’ treatment in foreign which he saw great benefit, but which others ple.’’ Given that we are now in a national de- countries. But it is our policy of embargoing were actively working to oppose. And while his bate on this program in response to the Presi- the export of food and medicine to certain personal views tended towards the conserv- dent’s proposal substantially to reduce it and countries that is most un-humanitarian. We reorganize it, I ask that the very thoughtful edi- need to practice what we preach. ative end of the spectrum on defense and fi- Also, it is very important to remember the torial by the Fall River Herald News be printed nancial matters, he was more progressive on harm we do to our own citizens when we deny here. social issues. In fact, two African-American them the right to sell their products to whoever federal judges from Alabama, U.W. Clemon of The most common (and often misguided) gripe about government is that you pay your they like. It is not very humanitarian to deny Birmingham and Myron Thompson of Mont- taxes and you never see your money at work. our own citizens the right to their livelihood be- gomery, were both championed by Senator In fact, it is popular to believe that gov- cause our political leadership does not get Heflin. ernment spends its entire budget on ‘‘pork along with the political leadership of another barrel’’ projects of the ‘‘how do butterflies country. In an article appearing in the Mobile Reg- fly’’ variety. Mr. Speaker, we do ourselves no favors in ister following the senator’s death, former Ala- This kind of thinking is so enshrined in the denying our citizens the right to export the es- American consciousness that no one really bama Congressman Sonny Callahan was sentials for life to citizens abroad. And we do quoted as saying, ‘‘He was always there for us believes government ever does anything use- ful with taxpayer dollars. no real harm to leaders abroad, who actually when we needed him. We had common goals That’s not true. benefit by our sanction policies, as they pro- for Alabama and worked towards those Witness the Community Development vide a convenient scapegoat for their own goals.’’ Perhaps these words more than many Block Grant Program. That program brings economic failures. The fact is that trade pro- about $5 million to Fall River every year. motes peace. Forcibly cutting off trade rela- others spoken in the days following his pass- That $5 million is not spent on pork. ing are an accurate summation of the tremen- Money from CDBG funding puts police offi- tions with another country promotes militarism dous work completed during his long career cers on foot beats, helps poor elderly people and conflict. and of the faith and trust he in turn earned pay their utilities and has helped reline I hope my colleagues will join me by co- miles of city water pipes. sponsoring this legislation. from his constituents. Does that sound like pork to you? f Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me At a recent press conference, Fall River in remembering a dedicated public servant Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. spoke strong- TRIBUTE TO THE UKRAINIAN PEO- ly about the need to preserve the CDBG pro- and long-time advocate for the state of Ala- PLE AND THEIR PRESIDENT, gram. VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO bama, a man whose significant impact and Lambert said the program is threatened by dedication to the needs and interests of his an initiative aimed at rolling a number of constituents will be felt for many years to similar programs together, cutting funding HON. RON LEWIS and handing control over to the Department come. Senator Heflin will be deeply missed by OF KENTUCKY of Commerce. The Department of Housing IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES his family—his wife, Elizabeth Ann Heflin, his and Urban Development has always adminis- son, Tom Heflin, and his two grandchildren— tered CDBG programs. Wednesday, April 6, 2005 as well as the countless friends he leaves be- Frankly, any threat to CDBG money is a Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise threat to Fall River. hind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them Of course, numerous people will say that today to applaud the Ukrainian people and all at this difficult time. the cutting of another ‘‘entitlement’’ pro- their President, Viktor Yushchenko. President gram is a good thing, that ‘‘self-reliance’’ Yushchenko’s election last fall marked a pow- needs to be encouraged. erful triumph of popular will over the forces of

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