H2140 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 26, 2012 to the political transformation of Mr. Speaker, I want to just simply In short, we need to implement Burma.’’ say that these women act as a role SMART Security, the strategy that is from Colom- model for all women across the coun- I’ve spoken of from this spot hundreds bia and at age 38 is an investigative try, across the world; and we must of times since 2004. SMART Security journalist. While on assignment, she stand up for women’s rights. would replace our military surge with was repeatedly raped and left in a f a civilian surge. It would put humani- Dumpster. She was left in this Dump- tarian aid in front and center. It would SMART SECURITY: A STRATEGY ster by her attackers and told that emphasize development and diplomacy THAT INVESTS IN AFGHANISTAN they were sending a message to the Co- instead of invasion and occupation. AND ITS PEOPLE lombian press. Since that horrific at- It would mean, in place of troops and tack, she has spoken out against sexual The SPEAKER pro tempore. The weapons, we send experts with tools violence and has become a role model Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from and resources to rebuild Afghan infra- for women in Colombia. She was given California (Ms. WOOLSEY) for 5 min- structure, hospitals, and schools. It this award for ‘‘her unfailing courage, utes. would mean investing in programs to determination, and perseverance fight- Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, last improve maternal health and child ing for justice’’ all around the globe. weekend, the United States Govern- mortality. It would mean a focus on de- Hana Elhebshi is a 27-year-old archi- ment and Afghanistan reached a stra- mocracy promotion and rebuilding tect from Libya who contributed to the tegic agreement to define the terms of civil society in Afghanistan. It would proper documentation of the violence the relationship between our two coun- also mean shifting the emphasis to during the revolution in her country. tries in the near-term future. peace-building, conflict prevention, First of all, this agreement affirms She also is an advocate for women’s and human rights education. rights in her country and received this that our combat troops will not leave This approach would save lives. It award for ‘‘courageous advancement of Afghanistan until 2014, which is far too would promote peace. It is a superior the cause of freedom of expression and slow a timetable. Don’t we have counterterrorism and national security promotion of women’s rights during enough evidence right here after 10- strategy. It will keep the American times of conflict and transition in plus years that we’re not making people safe. It will advance our values Libya.’’ America safer with this war, we’re not in a way that a decade of war clearly is from Maldives and minimizing the terrorist threat, and has not. founded Hope for Women. She advo- we’re not bringing stability and secu- We can’t wait until 2014, Mr. Speak- cates for ending gender-based violence rity to Afghanistan? er. We need a SMART Security ap- in Maldives and has served as the Dep- How much more will Americans be proach in Afghanistan, and we need it uty Minister of Women’s Affairs. She asked to sacrifice? How many more now. And we need to start by bringing received this award for ‘‘courageous ad- tens of billions in taxpayer dollars will our troops home. vocacy of women’s rights and protec- be wasted when we have so many needs tion from domestic violence.’’ right here at home? How many more f is 33 and is from Paki- Americans have to come home in a cas- HONORING OUR COUNTRY’S stan. She is a courageous human rights ket? How many more will take their VETERANS activist. She provides political train- own lives because the mental health The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ing, microcredit information and more distress of serving in a combat zone be- Chair recognizes the gentleman from to women in her country. There have comes too much? How many more have South Carolina (Mr. DUNCAN) for 5 min- been numerous attempts to end her to spend the rest of their lives in a utes. life, but she remains committed to ad- wheelchair, or without a limb or limbs, Mr. DUNCAN of South Carolina. Mr. vancing women’s rights and even won a because of injuries suffered in an im- Speaker, I rise today in honor of our local office in her country. She re- moral and unnecessary war? country’s veterans, and I want to begin ceived this award for ‘‘fearlessly cham- briefly by mentioning an organization pioning Pakistani women’s political b 1030 that helps veterans that was recently and economic rights.’’ Believe me, Mr. Speaker, there is not is from Saudi Arabia a minute to waste. Now is the moment brought to my attention, Patriot Out- and at 31 monitors human rights in her to end this war and bring our troops reach, a nonprofit organization to as- country. She is the first woman in home. sist our military with getting the help Saudi Arabia to file a lawsuit against The meeting this weekend does, how- they need to deal with the trauma as- the government demanding that ever, show the importance of a plan sociated with aspects of military serv- women have a right to vote. She won going forward, a plan that will define ice. You can learn more about that at this award for ‘‘demonstrating signifi- the terms of our engagement with Af- PatriotOutreach.org, and I think cant courage in her activism while be- ghanistan after the war is over. they’re doing a great service for our coming a champion in the struggle for I’ve always said that ending the mili- veterans. women’s suffrage and legal rights in tary occupation does not mean aban- Benjamin Disraeli once said that Saudi Arabia.’’ doning Afghanistan. The question is, ‘‘the legacy of heroes is the memory of Hawa Abdallah Mohammed Salih is what form will our partnership take? a great name, and the inheritance of a from Sudan and is a human rights ac- And on that question, the agreement great example.’’ In our country, some tivist. Forced to flee Darfur, she lived signed this weekend provides very lit- of our greatest heroes are veterans, in- in an internally displaced persons camp tle guidance. dividuals who answered our Nation’s and has since spoken out against According to The Washington Post, call to protect and defend our freedom. human rights abuses in these very in fact, and I’ll quote them, they say: Our veterans are one of our Nation’s camps and has advocated for women’s ‘‘The specifics of the U.S. commitment greatest treasures and, as such, our rights in her country. She has been to Afghanistan have yet to be formally country has given them a firm promise. persecuted by the Government of outlined.’’ Because of their willingness to protect Sudan and forced to flee her country. Then The Post adds that ‘‘the docu- us with their service, when their serv- She received this award for ‘‘giving a ment provides only a vaguely worded ice ends, we promise to take care of voice to the women and children of reassurance, leaving many to guess at them. But, unfortunately, if you talk Darfur.’’ what the U.S. commitment means in to veterans today, they don’t believe Safak Pavey is a member of the Par- practice.’’ that our government is living up to liament in Turkey and is the first dis- Well, Mr. Speaker, we need more their promises. abled woman elected to Parliament in than a guess. We need a clear strategy When we made the commitment to her country. She is working to em- for investing in Afghanistan and it’s take care of our troops when they re- power the disabled, women, and mi- people. And while a lot of the talk has turned home, we never said anything norities in Turkey. She received this been about continuing to shore up Af- about making them jump through award for ‘‘her personal dignity and ghan security forces, we need a much hoops or navigate a complicated bu- courage.’’ more comprehensive approach. reaucracy. We promised our veterans

VerDate Mar 15 2010 23:40 Apr 26, 2012 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K26AP7.006 H26APPT1 smartinez on DSK6TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE April 26, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2141 the Moon and, instead, have failed, in DISCRIMINATORY VOTER ly, and other at-risk voters, such as the many instances, to provide them with IDENTIFICATION LAWS poor, who are unlikely to have the the most basic of care. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The technical kinds of ID that these pieces As of March 16 this year, the Colum- Chair recognizes the gentleman from of legislation demand. bia, South Carolina Regional Office of Georgia (Mr. JOHNSON) for 5 minutes. After the spotlight has started to the Veterans Administration had over Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speak- shine on ALEC, they have come out 21,927 pending cases, with an average er, today I rise to talk about the dis- publicly and said, Okay, we’re going to wait time of 232 days. criminatory voter ID laws that are un- get out of the public policy business. Survivor benefits for veterans’ democratic and simply un-American. They’re not going to not write any spouses can take between 10 and 18 The American Legislative Exchange more model legislation like the Florida months to be disbursed, and sometimes Council, also known as ALEC, has long ‘‘shoot first and ask questions later.’’ even longer, depending on the health been a secretive collaboration between They’re not going to introduce any status of the beneficiary. big business and conservative Tea more of that type of legislation. They also have announced they’re going to My office is currently assisting a Party Republican politicians serving in this Nation’s State and Federal legisla- shut down their Public Safety and constituent who contacted us because Elections Task Force, which is the he has had 12 claims pending before the tures. ALEC’s goal is to advance the special interests of large corporations committee that produced the voter VA, which date all the way back to suppression legislation. 2004. Another constituent has had her and the super-rich and wealthy by any means necessary. That’s a good thing. But the damage claims delayed over 18 months because has already been done, and we’re going she’s been told by the VA that they Yesterday, I discussed how ALEC has fiendishly and unabashedly produced to have to remain vigilant about this don’t have medical records. Now, this group, this shadowy group, ALEC, this is despite the fact that she’s already legislative policy that degrades our air and water quality and wrecks our envi- unholy alliance between Tea Party Re- sent the VA her medical records twice publican legislators and big business. by certified mail. ronment. Last week, I outlined how ALEC has infiltrated our criminal jus- We’ll have to keep our eyes open. I’ll Unfortunately, claims aren’t the only tice system by producing legislation have more to talk about in the coming backlog facing the VA. Veterans are that stimulates higher and higher lev- days. also facing delays in seeking medical els of incarceration, to the benefit and f attention. A lack of doctors and ineffi- to the surging profits of the private JONATHAN FRANK DAVIS ciency in the system have forced some for-profit prison industry. veterans to have to wait months to re- And if that wasn’t enough, with 194 The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ceive medical care. days left until the general election, Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mr. Speaker, to put it simply, the VA ALEC has been working hard to sup- Georgia (Mr. WESTMORELAND) for 5 isn’t clicking and ticking. Despite the press the votes of the most vulnerable minutes. best intentions of VA personnel to de- in our society. ALEC has met with its Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, liver a high level of service and care to corporate allies and right-wing State I’ve come to the floor this morning our veterans, too many of our former officials behind closed doors to pro- with great sadness but also with a servicemen and -women are falling mote legislation to suppress the votes great sense of pride to honor the serv- through the cracks. of likely Democratic voters. ice of a Georgia hero, Private First In the Third District of South Caro- By making it more difficult for peo- Class Jonathan Frank Davis. lina, we recently created an advisory ple to exercise their right to vote, On March 29, 2012, Jonathan gave the committee composed of retired mili- ALEC’s model voter ID act grants an ultimate sacrifice in Kandahar prov- tary veterans to provide insight into electoral advantage to Republicans, ince, Afghanistan, while supporting Op- some of the problems that they’re fac- while undermining the right of individ- eration Enduring Freedom. ing today. Their view is not that the uals to vote. Jonathan was the son of Reverend law needs to be changed necessarily, In addition, ALEC has worked to and Mrs. Kerry Davis of Griffin, Geor- but that the spirit of the law is not make it easier for corporations to par- gia. His mother, Tracey, described him being followed. Veterans were promised ticipate in the political process. Their as tenderhearted, a tenderness that ex- certain benefits and, in too many Public Safety and Elections Task tended to both his peers and animals. cases, they are still waiting to receive Force promotes model legislation that His heart was so large that they now them. would disenfranchise millions of vot- have numerous pets running around their home due to Jonathan not being In addition to the mounting pile of ers, devastate campaign finance re- form, and allow for greater corporate able to turn away a single stray. problems regarding veterans services, His nurturing and giving nature was I’m deeply concerned that veterans will influence in elections. Mr. Speaker, it has injected these one of the things that was loved most be negatively impacted by the imple- about him. As a child, Jonathan always mentation of ObamaCare. The clear corrosive laws into our States, and they have spread like untreated cancer. stood up for his classmates who were goal of the Obama administration’s un- being bullied, and many of Jonathan’s conditional and unconstitutional Bills based on ALEC’s model legisla- tion have already been introduced in 34 peers remember that he was the first to health care law is to begin lumping our come to their defense. He was willing servicemen and -women into the bu- States and passed in many of those States. to give his shirt off his back to help reaucracy of ObamaCare. Not only do I others and was always concerned about think that this breaks a promise made b 1040 the well-being of everyone around him, to our veterans, but I’m afraid it will Voter suppression comes in many especially those less fortunate. make an already bad situation worse. forms, from new voter ID laws to elimi- Jonathan was playful and strove to In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, we can nating Election Day registration to re- make others happy, either by playing do better; and for the sake of our living stricting voter registration drives by funny pranks on them or with his un- heroes, we must do better. Let us not community groups to reducing the forgettable smile that could light up a forget the promises that we’ve made to number of days for early voting and room. Jonathan attended Griffin High our veterans, and let us not just honor limiting the number of days for voter School, where he played soccer, and our veterans with our words, but let’s registration. There is no doubt that after graduation, he, like myself, mar- also honor them with our actions. ALEC is directly tied to the prolifera- ried his high school sweetheart. Her Thank you. May God bless our troops tion of these voter ID laws in the name is Kristen. in the field, those here at home. May States’ legislatures. Kristen is expecting their first child, God bless those who have served our These policies are not about pre- and Jonathan talked all the time of country in uniform, and may God con- venting fraud in the voting process. how excited he was to become a father. tinue to bless the United States of This legislation is solely about He carried the sonogram of baby Ben- America. disenfranchising minorities, the elder- jamin in his wallet everywhere he went

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