E574 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks April 7, 2005 Sikh nation but a sovereign, independent over to , but remains a Union Terri- rise today to honor him and pay tribute to his Khalistan. Every Sikh leader must come out tory. How can have any freedom living memory. openly for Khalistan. We salute those Sikh under a government that would do these Senator was a devoted family leaders in Punjab who have done so. things? man and dedicated public servant throughout Any organization that sincerely supports Sikhs will never get any justice from Khalistan deserves the support of the Sikh Delhi. The leaders in Delhi are only inter- his entire life, someone who devoted nearly a Nation. However, the Sikh Nation needs ested in imposing Hindu sovereignty over all quarter-century in public service to the resi- leadership that is honest, sincere, consistent, the minorities to advance their own careers dents of . and dedicated to the cause of Sikh freedom. and their own power. Ever since independ- Born on June 19, 1921, the son of Rev- Leaders like Dr. Jagjit Singh Chohan, ence, India has mistreated the Sikh Nation, erend and Mrs. Marvin Heflin, Senator Heflin Harchand Singh Longowal, Didar Bains, starting with Patel’s memo labelling Sikhs was a native of Poulan, Georgia, and spent Ganga Singh Dhillon, the Akali Dal leader- ‘‘a criminal tribe.’’ What a shame for Home his childhood moving from one Alabama com- ship, and others who were complicit in the Minister Patel and the Indian government to munity to another before his family settled in attack on the cannot be issue this memorandum when the Sikh Na- Colbert County. He was a 1942 graduate of trusted by the Sikh Nation. The evidence tion gave over 80 percent of the sacrifices to against them is clear in Chakravyuh: Web of free India. Birmingham-Southern College. Within a short Indian Secularism. The Sikh Nation cannot How can Sikhs continue to live in such a time following his graduation, he joined the believe that these leaders will not betray the country? There is no place for Sikhs in sup- United States Marine Corps and served during cause of Khalistan, just as they betrayed the posedly secular, supposedly democratic World War II in the Pacific Theater of Oper- Sikh Nation in 1984. We must be careful if we India. Let us make Viasakhi Day a day of ations. He was wounded twice during his serv- are to continue to move the cause of freedom freedom. Let us dedicate ourselves this ice and was awarded the Silver Star for gal- for Khalistan forward in 2005 as we did in Vaisakhi Day to living up to the blessing of lantry in action before being discharged in 2004. . Let us take the occasion 1946. Following the completion of his military The Akali Dal conspired with the Indian of Vaisakhi Day to begin to shake ourselves government in 1984 to invade the Golden loose from the yoke of Indian oppression and obligations, he enrolled in the law school at Temple to murder Sant Bhindranwale and liberate our homeland, Khalistan, so that all the and graduated from 20,000 other Sikh during June 1984 in Punjab. Sikhs may live lives of prosperity, freedom, that institution in 1948. Even the Pope spoke out strongly against and dignity. From 1948 until 1970, Senator Heflin this invasion and desecration of our most sa- f worked as a prosecuting attorney in the City of cred shrine. How can these so-called Sikh Tuscumbia before winning election as Chief leaders connive with the people who carried IN RECOGNITION OF MRS. BETH Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. For it out? If Sikhs will not even protect the FREEMAN sanctity of the Golden Temple, how can the the next six years, he served with distinction Sikh Nation survive as a nation? on the court and is known for many accom- The Akali Dal has lost all its credibility. HON. MIKE ROGERS plishments during that time, including imple- The Badal government was so corrupt openly OF ALABAMA menting large reforms of the state court sys- and no Akali leader would come forward and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tem that eliminated years of backlogged tell Badal and his wife to stop this cases. He earned so much respect for his unparallelled corruption. Wednesday, April 6, 2005 If Jathedar Vedanti opposes freedom and work as Chief Justice that, even after having sovereignty for the Sikh Nation, then he is Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I been elected to the United States Senate, not fit to sit in , in the seat of rise today to pay tribute to a distinguished friends, colleagues, and admirers continued to the Panth. The Sikh Nation should public servant of Alabama’s Third Congres- refer to him as ‘‘The Judge.’’ have a Jathedar who is committed to sov- sional District. First elected to the Senate in 1978, Senator ereignty. Mrs. Beth Freeman, hired just two months Heflin served with distinction for 18 years and The Council of Khalistan has stood strong- after she turned 18, has worked for the people ably represented the interests of all Alabam- ly and consistently for liberating our home- of Alabama for more than 30 years. Over her ians. During his three terms, he served most land, Khalistan, from Indian occupation. For over 18 years we have led this fight while career she has progressed from answering notably as a member of the Senate Judiciary others were trying to divert the resources phones and clipping newspaper articles to Committee and as both chairman and vice and the attention of the Sikh Nation away handling nearly every issue addressed by the chairman of the Senate Ethics Committee, a from the issue of freedom in a sovereign, Federal government, from military affairs to position he held for 12 years. Additionally, he independent Khalistan. Khalistan is the only Social Security. served as a member of that body’s Agriculture way that Sikhs will be able to live in free- She has been a faithful and non-partisan Committee and was a strong and able advo- dom, peace, prosperity, and dignity. It is public servant, having served with the four cate for the interests of Alabama’s agricultural time to start a Shantmai Morcha to liberate most recent officials representing this office, community. Khalistan from Indian occupation. The Akal Takht Sahib and Darbar Sahib including the late Congressman Bill Nichols; During his three terms in Congress, Senator are under the control of the Indian govern- Congressman Glenn Browder; and then-Con- Heflin developed a reputation of working with ment, the same Indian government that has gressman Riley. his colleagues to find common ground on nu- murdered more than a quarter of a million While I have only known ‘Ms. Beth’ since merous issues, and always with the best inter- Sikhs in the past twenty years. The Jathedar taking office in 2002, in that short time I have ests of his constituents at heart. Many times, of the Akal Takht and the head granthi of developed a deep appreciation for her hard he put partisanship aside to support issues for Darbar Sahib toe the line that the Indian work and dedication to the people of Alabama. which he saw great benefit, but which others government tells them. They are not ap- were actively working to oppose. And while his pointed by the Khalsa Panth. Otherwise they Families and seniors across this district have would behave like a real Jathedar, Jathedar called upon her expertise for years, and relied personal views tended towards the conserv- , rather than like In- upon her persistence to get their problems ative end of the spectrum on defense and fi- dian government puppet Jathedar Aroor solved. She will be missed here in this office, nancial matters, he was more progressive on Singh, who gave a Siropa to General Dyer for and across East Alabama. social issues. In fact, two African-American the massacre of Sikhs and others at Beth, on behalf of the citizens of Alabama’s federal judges from Alabama, U.W. Clemon of Jallianwala Bagh. These institutions will re- Third Congressional District, thank you for Birmingham and Myron Thompson of Mont- main under the control of the Indian regime your service to our state. We wish you all the gomery, were both championed by Senator until we free the Sikh homeland, Punjab, Heflin. Khalistan, from Indian occupation and op- best in your retirement. pression and sever our relations with the f In an article appearing in the Mobile Reg- New Delhi government. ister following the senator’s death, former Ala- The Sikhs in Punjab have suffered enor- HONORING THE MEMORY OF THE bama Congressman Sonny Callahan was mous repression at the hands of the Indian HON. HOWELL HEFLIN quoted as saying, ‘‘He was always there for us regime in the last 25 years. Over 50,000 Sikh when we needed him. We had common goals youth were picked up from their houses, tor- HON. for Alabama and worked towards those tured, murdered in police custody, then se- goals.’’ Perhaps these words more than many cretly cremated as ‘‘unidentified bodies.’’ OF ALABAMA Their remains were never even given to their IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES others spoken in the days following his pass- ing are an accurate summation of the tremen- families! Another 52,268 are being held as po- Wednesday, April 6, 2005 litical prisoners. Some have been in illegal dous work completed during his long career custody since 1984! Even now, the capital of Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, the entire state and of the faith and trust he in turn earned Punjab, Chandigarh, has not been handed of Alabama recently lost a dear friend, and I from his constituents.

VerDate Aug 04 2004 01:29 Apr 08, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A06AP8.067 E07PT1 April 7, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E575 Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me Lambert said the program is threatened by TRIBUTE TO THE UKRAINIAN PEO- in remembering a dedicated public servant an initiative aimed at rolling a number of PLE AND THEIR PRESIDENT, and long-time advocate for the state of Ala- similar programs together, cutting funding VIKTOR YUSHCHENKO bama, a man whose significant impact and and handing control over to the Department of Commerce. The Department of Housing dedication to the needs and interests of his and Urban Development has always adminis- HON. RON LEWIS constituents will be felt for many years to tered CDBG programs. OF KENTUCKY come. Senator Heflin will be deeply missed by Frankly, any threat to CDBG money is a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES his family—his wife, Elizabeth Ann Heflin, his threat to Fall River. son, Tom Heflin, and his two grandchildren— Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Of course, numerous people will say that as well as the countless friends he leaves be- Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise hind. Our thoughts and prayers are with them the cutting of another ‘‘entitlement’’ pro- gram is a good thing, that ‘‘self-reliance’’ today to applaud the Ukrainian people and all at this difficult time. needs to be encouraged. their President, Viktor Yushchenko. President f Yushchenko’s election last fall marked a pow- It’s difficult to see what these people erful triumph of popular will over the forces of FALL RIVER HERALD NEWS mean. Allowing a community’s water mains fraud and repression. Mr. Yushchenko’s vision SALUTES CDBG to decay does nothing to foster self-reliance. An 80-year-old widow on a small pension, liv- of the Ukraine, shared in his address to Con- ing alone, will probably not be lured from gress this week, is an inspiration to freedom HON. BARNEY FRANK the paths of righteousness if she receives loving men and women in Eastern Europe and OF MASSACHUSETTS some help paying her heating bills. across the globe. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In Fall River, Community Development Through the power of peaceful protest, the Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Block Grants are a good example of tax government of the Ukraine embraced the money being put to a variety of concrete Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, forces of freedom last fall, conducting free uses that directly benefit people. 23 years ago, when Congressional Districts in elections for the first time in over eight dec- Massachusetts were changed, one of the first That kind of government program deserves ades. The world watched as nearly 80 percent issues I worked on involving the newer parts to continue on a steady course. of eligible Ukrainian voters turned out to cast of my district concerned the Community De- ballots on December 26, 2004. This remark- velopment Block Grant Program for the City of f able participation is a measure of the collec- Fall River. Working with then Mayor Carlton tive courage of the Ukraine people, many of HUMANITARIAN FOOD AND Viveiros, I was successful in preserving parts whom voted despite threats to their personal MEDICINE EXPORT ACT of the CDBG Program in Fall River that were safety and employment. being threatened by legislative changes. And President Yushchenko himself carries visual in the years since then, Fall River has contin- scars, a tangible badge of his own strength ued to be a national exemplar of how this pro- HON. RON PAUL and resolute determination in the struggle for gram works for the benefit of our constituents. OF TEXAS freedom. He has demonstrated enormous On Friday, April 1, the newspaper of Fall grace and selflessness in his perseverance. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES River, the Herald News, ran an excellent edi- He is well known as a man of high integrity who surely, with the cooperation of global al- torial, which testifies both to the value of the Wednesday, April 6, 2005 CDBG Program nationally, and to the good lies, will work hard to reject the corrupt polit- work that people have done administering it in Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce ical forces that sought to block him from public Fall River. As the editorial eloquently pointed legislation that will remove current, and pro- office. out, ‘‘Allowing a community’s water mains to hibit future, embargoes on the export of food, We in this Chamber have pledged our sup- decay does nothing to foster self-reliance. An medicine, or medical devices. Embargoes on port for the Ukraine through resolutions, 80-year-old widow on a small pension, living these items, as we have seen time and time words, and deeds. It is an honor to welcome alone, will probably not be lured from the again, do not have the desired policy effect on President Yushchenko to the United States. I paths of righteousness if she receives some the targeted country. In fact, they only punish look forward to working with him and the good help paying her heating bills.’’ As the Herald the innocent and most vulnerable people in people of the Ukraine during this exciting mo- News notes, CDBG funds in Fall River ‘‘are a these countries. Does anyone believe that de- ment in their nation’s history. good example of tax money being put to a va- nying the people of a foreign country food or f riety of concrete uses that directly benefit peo- medicine because of our quarrel with their ple.’’ Given that we are now in a national de- leader will make them more sympathetic to- GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY bate on this program in response to the Presi- ward the United States? We are fond of talk- dent’s proposal substantially to reduce it and ing about ‘‘humanitarian’’ treatment in foreign HON. DAN BURTON reorganize it, I ask that the very thoughtful edi- countries. But it is our policy of embargoing OF INDIANA torial by the Fall River Herald News be printed the export of food and medicine to certain IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES here. countries that is most un-humanitarian. We The most common (and often misguided) need to practice what we preach. Wednesday, April 6, 2005 gripe about government is that you pay your Also, it is very important to remember the Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise taxes and you never see your money at work. harm we do to our own citizens when we deny today to congratulate Greek-Americans on the In fact, it is popular to believe that gov- occasion of Greek Independence Day, and ernment spends its entire budget on ‘‘pork them the right to sell their products to whoever barrel’’ projects of the ‘‘how do butterflies they like. It is not very humanitarian to deny wish all people of Greek descent across the fly’’ variety. our own citizens the right to their livelihood be- globe, peace, happiness and prosperity. In the This kind of thinking is so enshrined in the cause our political leadership does not get same spirit of friendship and brotherhood, I American consciousness that no one really along with the political leadership of another ask all of my Greek friends to use this joyous believes government ever does anything use- country. occasion to renew their commitment to peace ful with taxpayer dollars. by doing all that they can to facilitate and pro- That’s not true. Mr. Speaker, we do ourselves no favors in mote the end of the long-standing stalemate Witness the Community Development denying our citizens the right to export the es- Block Grant Program. That program brings on the beautiful Mediterranean island, Cyprus. sentials for life to citizens abroad. And we do Recent remarks made by Greek Foreign about $5 million to Fall River every year. no real harm to leaders abroad, who actually That $5 million is not spent on pork. Minister Petros Molyviatis with regards to Money from CDBG funding puts police offi- benefit by our sanction policies, as they pro- Greece’s support for the resumption of nego- cers on foot beats, helps poor elderly people vide a convenient scapegoat for their own tiations on the Cyprus question along the lines pay their utilities and has helped reline economic failures. The fact is that trade pro- of the United Nations’ Plan for a settlement miles of city water pipes. motes peace. Forcibly cutting off trade rela- (the ‘‘Annan Plan’’) are deeply encouraging, Does that sound like pork to you? tions with another country promotes militarism and should be supported by the international At a recent press conference, Fall River and conflict. Mayor Edward M. Lambert Jr. spoke strong- community and the United States. Greece’s ly about the need to preserve the CDBG pro- I hope my colleagues will join me by co- role in facilitating negotiations under U.N. aus- gram. sponsoring this legislation. pices and convincing the Greek Cypriot side,

VerDate Aug 04 2004 01:29 Apr 08, 2005 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A06AP8.071 E07PT1