Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 108 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 108 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 149 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2003 No. 83 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. and was morning hour debates. The Chair will and what happened is it resulted in the called to order by the Speaker pro tem- alternate recognition between the par- arrests of many activists after a mass pore (Mr. ISSA). ties, with each party limited to not to demonstration turned violent with f exceed 30 minutes, and each Member hundreds injured. Now, the defendants except the majority leader, the minor- were sent for trial under martial law. DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER ity leader or the minority whip limited The arrests and trials clearly articu- PRO TEMPORE to not to exceed 5 minutes. lated a need for changes in the govern- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- The Chair recognizes the gentleman ment and focused world attention on fore the House the following commu- from Florida (Mr. STEARNS) for 5 min- the political situation in Taiwan. nication from the Speaker: utes. Mr. Chen used his legal skills to de- WASHINGTON, DC, f fend their right to protest an authori- June 9, 2003. HONORING PRESIDENT CHEN OF tarian government. For his service, he I hereby appoint the Honorable DARRELL E. TAIWAN was imprisoned for 8 months. ISSA to act as Speaker pro tempore on this President Chen has served as a Taipei day. Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I would city council member and, of course, as J. DENNIS HASTERT, like to take this opportunity to con- the mayor of Taipei and in the legisla- Speaker of the House of Representatives. gratulate Chen Shui-bian, president of tive Yuan. Now, all of these experi- Taiwan, on his third anniversary in of- f ences helped him to govern Taiwan in a fice. On March 18, 2000, Mr. Chen Shui- way in which I think will prioritize MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE bian and Ms. Annette Lu were elected peace and security without relin- as the 10th-term president and vice A message from the Senate by Mr. quishing democratic principles. Monahan, one of its clerks, announced president of the Republic of China. With their inauguration on May 20, He has continuously expressed his that the Senate has passed with good will to the Chinese mainland and amendments in which the concurrence 2000, the peaceful transfer of presi- dential power to another political opened the possibility of holding a dia- of the House is requested, a bill of the logue and conducting cooperation, House of the following title: party is a profound reminder to all of us that the democratic process is rap- under the premise of maintaining Tai- H.R. 1308. An act to amend the Internal idly maturing in Taiwan. In fact, it is wan’s sovereignty, its dignity and secu- Revenue Code of 1986 to end certain abusive an outstanding example for developing rity. tax practices, to provide tax relief and sim- Taiwan and the United States have plification, and for other purposes. democracies around the world, as well as in the Chinese mainland. enjoyed a close relationship with each The message also announced that the Mr. Chen’s story is one that is often other for almost 50 years. It is a politi- Senate insists upon its amendments to heard in America, but it is an extraor- cally, economically, and culturally the bill (H.R. 1308) ‘‘An Act to amend dinary one considering the political rich association for both. In fact, de- the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to climate in Taiwan at the time he was spite its size, Taiwan is our eighth end certain abusive tax practices, to born. He was born in 1950, but because largest trading partner, and we are provide tax relief and simplification, he was a sickly child and not expected Taiwan’s largest trading partner. For and for other purposes,’’ requests a to live, his family did not officially this and other reasons, the United conference with the House on the dis- register his birth until 1951. He was States must unabashedly stand behind agreeing votes of the two Houses there- born to a tenant farmer family in rural the Taiwan Relations Act, which will on, and appoints Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. Taiwan; but despite serious poverty, communicate our resolve for a peaceful NICKLES, Mr. LOTT, Mr. BAUCUS, and his family encouraged their son to pur- resolution in Taiwan. Mrs. LINCOLN, to be the conferees on sue a brighter future. So important Taiwan also deserves our congratula- the part of the Senate. was education to him and his family tions on the recent accession to the f that the family borrowed money to World Trade Organization, though that help pay for his schooling. He excelled is only the first step. We must support MORNING HOUR DEBATES academically all through grade school Taiwan’s movement to gain member- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- and finally into law school where he ship in the International Civil Aviation ant to the order of the House of Janu- first developed his deep passion for true Organization and especially observer ary 7, 2003, the Chair will now recog- democracy in Taiwan. status in the World Health Organiza- nize Members from lists submitted by Now, in 1980, there was an incident. It tion. The recent outbreak of SARS is a the majority and minority leaders for was called the ‘‘Kaohsiung Incident,’’ good demonstration of what Secretary b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H5047 . VerDate Jan 31 2003 03:31 Jun 10, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09JN7.000 H09PT1 H5048 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 9, 2003 of State Colin Powell said recently: is really an issue of fairness. Is it right, married couple like Jose and ‘‘Infectious disease knows no borders is it fair that under our Tax Code 42 Magdalena Castillo, who like 42 million and requires an effective and coordi- million married working couples on av- other married couples across this coun- nated response at local, national, and erage paid $1,700 more in higher taxes try suffer the marriage tax penalty, international levels.’’ just because they were married? they will have extra money that really, Taiwan is a part of the world that Think about that. Husband and wife, rightfully should be theirs. The has been impacted by SARS and needs they are both in the workforce, they Castillo family should not have to pay to play its proper role in preventing file their taxes jointly when they are higher taxes just because they chose to the spread of the disease. married; and because of that, our Tax get married. It is not right. It is not For this reason, Mr. Speaker, it is Code previously pushed them into a fair. And really it punishes society’s clear that Taiwan deserves active par- higher tax bracket and required them most basic institution, to punish mar- ticipation in the World Health Organi- on average to pay $1,700 more. If you riage. zation. We must lend Taiwan support think about it, that is a lot of money. I want to thank the President. I want of Taiwan’s democracy at home in its Take Jose and Magdalena Castillo of to thank the majority of this Congress campaign to join international organi- Joliet, Illinois. A working family in for passing the Jobs and Economic zations abroad. Joliet. They work hard. They have two Growth Package. And we should be Taiwan is a reliable ally of the children, Eduardo and Carolina. They celebrating the fact that 42 million United States. Taiwan stood with us are construction workers. For this married working couples will see their shoulder to shoulder right after 9–11 family, for Jose and Magdalena marriage penalty tax eliminated this and has given us support with our war Castillo, their marriage tax penalty year. in Iraq and promised humanitarian aid was about $1,450. Now here in Wash- f to support postwar Iraq. ington, for some that is chump change; RECESS Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of and they would rather spend the meeting with President Chen and was Castillos’ income here in Washington The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- impressed with his vision and commit- rather than allow the Castillo family ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair ment to the continual democratization to keep more of what they earn to declares the House in recess until 2 of Taiwan. I want to congratulate him meet their needs. p.m. on his past accomplishments and wish If you think about it, $1,450, that is a Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 44 him continued success. semester’s worth of tuition at Joliet minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- cess until 2 p.m. f Junior College. It is several months of day care for Eduardo and Carolina f JOBS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH while mom and dad are at work. It is b 1400 PACKAGE HELPS MARRIED COU- several months’ worth of car payments. AFTER RECESS PLES It is a mortgage payment or two for The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- the average family in Joliet, Illinois. The recess having expired, the House ant to the order of the House of Janu- So by eliminating the marriage tax was called to order by the Speaker pro ary 7, 2003, the gentleman from Illinois penalty, we really help the Castillo tempore (Mr.