Congressional Record—House H7762
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H7762 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 12, 2007 we will proceed with next week’s work and Defense; Commander, Multi-Na- ried Karnit when he was captured, and next week. tional Forces—Iraq; the United States his wife had to spend their 1-year anni- f Ambassador to Iraq; and the Com- versary alone, wondering where her mander of United States Central Com- husband was and what condition he was HOUR OF MEETING ON TOMORROW mand. in. His family and friends wrote: AND ADJOURNMENT FROM FRI- GEORGE W. BUSH. ‘‘He’s a loving, caring person, always DAY, JULY 13, 2007 TO MONDAY, THE WHITE HOUSE, July 12, 2007. ready to offer a helping hand in any JULY 16, 2007 f situation. He is a man of principles and Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask values, knowledgeable in many varied unanimous consent that when the SPECIAL ORDERS subjects.’’ House adjourns today, it adjourn to The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under Unfortunately, Eldad and Udi are not meet at 4 p.m. tomorrow, and further, the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- alone among Israel’s missing soldiers. when the House adjourns on that day, uary 18, 2007, and under a previous Three weeks before their capture, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on order of the House, the following Mem- Hamas kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Monday, July 16, 2007, for morning- bers will be recognized for 5 minutes Shalit. The Shalit family has also met hour debate. each. with many communities across the The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. f United States, urging people to remem- ELLISON). Is there objection to the re- ber their son and speak out on his be- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a quest of the gentleman from Maryland? half. previous order of the House, the gentle- There was no objection. I rise tonight to make sure that the woman from California (Ms. WATERS) is plight of these soldiers is not forgot- f recognized for 5 minutes. ten. I rise to honor the sacrifices of DISPENSING WITH CALENDAR (Ms. WATERS addressed the House. these soldiers and their families who WEDNESDAY BUSINESS ON Her remarks will appear hereafter in wait every day for news of their cir- WEDNESDAY NEXT the Extensions of Remarks.) cumstances. Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I ask f Here in my hand I have a copy of unanimous consent that the business GENERAL LEAVE their dogtags. The United Jewish Com- in order under the Calendar Wednesday munities around the country delivered rule be dispensed with on Wednesday Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I a copy of the dogtags to every Member next. ask unanimous consent that all Mem- of Congress to help raise awareness The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there bers may have 5 legislative days within that it has been 1 year since the fami- objection to the request of the gen- which to revise and extend their re- lies have heard from their loved ones. tleman from Maryland? marks and include extraneous material It has been 1 whole year since they There was no objection. on the subject of my Special Order. have seen their husband, son, and f The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there brother. These families have heard not objection to the request of the gen- one word from the captors about APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO tleman from Florida? BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE whether they are alive or okay. There was no objection. I join the families of these soldiers HARRY S TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP and all freedom-loving Americans in FOUNDATION f calling for the immediate and uncondi- FREE THE ISRAELI SOLDIERS The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- tional release of Eldad, Udi, and Gilad. ant to 20 U.S.C. 2004(b), and the order of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a America stands with Israel in its re- the House of January 4, 2007, the Chair previous order of the House, the gen- fusal to let these soldiers be forgotten. announces the Speaker’s appointment tleman from Florida (Mr. KLEIN) is rec- Let their dogtags on the floor of the of the following Members of the House ognized for 5 minutes. United States House of Representatives to the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Mr. KLEIN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I serve as a symbol of unwavering vigi- Truman Scholarship Foundation: rise today with great solemnity to lance and support. American families Mr. SKELTON, Missouri; and mark the 1-year anniversary of the and Israeli families are united in the Mr. HULSHOF, Missouri. killing of three Israeli soldiers and the hope that these families should suffer f kidnapping of two others, Eldad Regev no longer. and Udi Goldwasser. On July 12, 2006, INITIAL BENCHMARK ASSESSMENT Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, one year ago Hezbollah terrorists crossed into Israel REPORT—MESSAGE FROM THE today, Hezbollah militants executed a brazen and attacked two IDF armored jeeps as PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED cross-border attack on an Israeli patrol that they were patrolling Israel’s northern STATES (H. DOC. NO. 110–45) killed three and kidnapped Israeli reservists border. Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev. Weeks The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Eldad is 26, born in Kiryat Motzkin. I before, on June 25, Hamas terrorists infiltrated fore the House the following message met Eldad’s brother, Benny, in Israel Israel from Gaza, killing two and abducting from the President of the United last summer, just weeks after his Corporal Gilad Shalit. States; which was read and, together brother’s kidnapping. He begged us to Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to with the accompanying papers, without spread the message back to the United travel to the region with Speaker NANCY objection, referred to the Committee States that we must do everything pos- PELOSI. With each Arab leader our delegation on Foreign Affairs and Committee on sible to bring the missing soldiers pressed the plight of these soldiers. The Armed Services and ordered to be home. Eldad’s family and friends pray Speaker personally handed their dog tags to printed: every day for Eldad’s safety and his Syrian President Assad and urged him to act To the Congress of the United States: swift return. They wrote of him: on a humanitarian basis to achieve their swift Consistent with section 1314 of the ‘‘One of the qualities that makes and unconditional return. U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Eldad so special is the kindness of his Sadly, these three brave soldiers join a Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Account- heart, never hesitating to donate and longer list of MIAs that includes Zachary ability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public offer aid to anyone in need. He always Baumel, Yehuda Katz, Zvi Feldman, taken Law 110–28) (the ‘‘Act’’), attached is the likes to stay informed and is con- hostage in 1982, and Ron Arad, an Israeli mili- report that assesses the status of each stantly involved in everything that is tary pilot taken captive in 1986. As long as of the 18 Iraqi benchmarks contained in happening around him.’’ they are missing, their families, the people of the Act and declares whether satisfac- Udi is 31 from Nahariya. I met Udi’s Israel, and supporters of Israel around the tory progress toward meeting these mother just a few months ago when she world hold a constant vigil praying for their re- benchmarks is, or is not, being visited Members of Congress on Capitol turn. I want to recognize the dedicated work of achieved. Hill. She came to raise awareness the United Jewish Communities, the Jewish This report has been prepared in con- about the plight of her son and others Council for Public Affairs, and a multitude of sultation with the Secretaries of State who were kidnapped. Udi had just mar- synagogues, camps and schools around the VerDate Aug 31 2005 06:19 Jul 28, 2007 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00104 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 9920 J:\CRONLINE\2007BA~3\2007NE~2\H12JY7.REC H12JY7 mmaher on PROD1PC70 with CONG-REC-ONLINE July 12, 2007 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H7763 country for their efforts to make sure these that unambiguously belongs to Israel under To commemorate the one year anniversary soldiers are not forgotten. international law, launching an assault into of the kidnapping of Goldwasser and Regev ‘‘Leave no soldier behind,’’ is the mantra of Israel’s north that killed three soldiers on pa- by Hezbollah, the United Jewish Communities many armies. In a nation as small as Israel, trol, wounded two, and took two others hos- recently organized a campaign to send copies where military service is mandatory, the com- tage. of these dog tags to every member of Con- mitment to rescue POWs and MIAs is a na- The two hostages, Ehud ‘‘Udi’’ Goldwasser gress. I commend them for their admirable tional imperative. It is our responsibility as a and Eldad Regev, were injured in the attack, and thoughtful activism drawing attention to fellow democracy and steadfast ally to do all and yet Hezbollah refuses to allow representa- the ongoing plight of the three captives. we can to help win their freedom. tives of the International Committee of the Red Mr. Speaker, Israel is a steadfast ally of the Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call Cross to visit them, a flagrant breach of inter- United States, and it is on the frontline of the the House’s attention to a very sad anniver- national law and practice. They have also re- war against terrorism. Israeli soldiers face sary. One year ago today, Hezbollah terrorists fused to give the hostages’ families any indi- such threats every day, much like our own in- crossed into Israel to attack Israeli troops pa- cation that their loved ones are alive.