August 2, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1503 Do you know that it is dalits, atheists and Year by the Jewish Federation, and the Ha- U.S. RELATIONS WITH even moslems who have taken up the issue of dassah National Leadership Award. The com- the present Bill which is bound to affect the munity cannot express the debt that we owe Christians the most? Dr. Satinath Choudhry HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS is one of the earliest to respond. The objec- to my friend Ruth who has shown us all that OF NEW YORK tions to the Bill have appeared before the selflessness will never go unrecognized. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES secular and dalit E-fora even before the head I want to personally thank Ruth Hyman for Wednesday, August 1, 2001 of any Church has even taken note of the Bill. Fascism is here and now. The very being a leader of the Jewish community and Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, U.S. relations rights of individuals are at stake. Have you an excellent role model for our youth. with Peru have recently become a matter of done enough??? concern due to the shoot-down of the U.S. f missionary plane, with the death of two U.S. f nationals, a mother and her child, and the PERSONAL EXPLANATION HONORING CONNEE GARTLAND ON continued imprisonment of Lori Berenson. At HER 80TH BIRTHDAY the same time, we have been witnessing the HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON growing accusations of corruption and abuses stemming from the arrest of OF TEXAS HON. DONALD M. PAYNE former Peruvian spy chief Vladimiro IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Montesinos. The fact that Berenson was ar- OF NEW JERSEY Wednesday, August 1, 2001 rested and convicted at a time when Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Montesinos virtually controlled the country’s ju- diciary system is enough to arouse suspicion Mr. Speaker, on rollcall Nos. 298 and 299, Wednesday, August 1, 2001 final passage of H.R. 2647, Legislative Branch over the country’s ability to have fairly admin- istered justice. Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2002 and the Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I would like my Berenson’s recent sham retrial, under approval of the Journal, I was detained at the colleagues here in the U.S. House of Rep- Peru’s current provisional government, has White House in a meeting on World Con- resentatives to join me in honoring a very spe- served to bolster those suspicions. As a result ference Against Racism. Had I been present, cial person, Mrs. Connee Gartland, on the oc- of the judiciary’s long ties to the country’s cor- I would have voted ‘‘yea’’ on both. casion of her 80th birthday. Family and friends rupt political system, Berenson’s second trial f will gather this weekend in Dennisport, Massa- before a civilian judge, which sentenced her to TRIBUTE TO RUTH HYMAN chusetts to celebrate this milestone. twenty years in prison, marked only a slight Constance Doris Fischer Gartland was born improvement over the original 1996 military HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR. on August 7, 1921 in Boston, Massachusetts trial in which a hooded judge sentenced to Alfons and Louise M. Fischer. She earned Berenson to life imprisonment. OF NEW JERSEY On the eve of a potential new era of politics a B.S. Degree in Education from Salem State IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in Peru, the time to act on the Berenson case College in 1943 and a Master’s in Business Wednesday, August 1, 2001 is now. On July 28th, president-elect Alejandro from Boston University in 1945. During her Toledo will be sworn in as Peru’s new presi- Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I would like to distinguished career as an educator, she held dent and the country, which had been gripped call the attention of Congress to an event on the position of Business Education Teacher at by autocracy for the last ten years under now- Thursday, August 16 in New Jersey. The Jew- Mary Brooks School and Academie Moderne, disgraced former President , ish Family and Children’s Service of Greater both in Boston; and Weston High School in will be given a genuine opportunity to break Monmouth County is holding a dinner and trib- Weston, Massachusetts. with its corrupt past. President Bush and the ute at Temple Beth El of Oakhurst to honor On October 7, 1950 Connee married Ed- U.S. Congress should do all that they can to Ruth Hyman. Ruth will have the distinction of ward V. Gartland, Jr. They became the proud assist President Toledo and the whole of Peru being honored for her work as a philanthropist in their recovery from ten years of corrupt parents of four children: Susan, Pamela, and her support of Jewish causes in the area, leadership, if the new administration ensures Deborah and Edward V. III and eventually the as well as in Israel. that Lori Berenson be granted justice. Regard- Ruth, a close friend of mine, was born in my proud grandparents of five grandchildren; ing the Berenson case, we would like to know hometown of Long Branch, New Jersey into a Brian and Kevin Anderson, Delaney and Riley if the State Department did enough to protect family of four boys and four girls. She says Cruickshank, and Edward V. Gartland IV. this U.S. national and what exactly were the that her parents’ direction and teachings of They lived in Newton, Massachusetts and ties between this country and Montesinos, and tzedakah, menschlichkeit, and the Torah guid- spent summers in their home in Dennisport. did we do enough to publicize the villainy of ed her to be the person that she is today. With warmth and generosity, Connee and this man. I’m afraid the answers to these Ruth’s teachings as a child can well be Ed opened their hearts and home over the questions may prove embarrassing. seen in her community involvement. She is a years to neighbors and friends of all ages and Beyond the moral obligation to intervene on life member of Daughters of Miriam, charter from all parts of the country. There was al- Berenson’s behalf, the President has a legal and life member of the Central Jersey Jewish obligation to seek Berenson’s release. Under ways lively and enjoyable conversation in their Home for the Aged, founder and past chair- U.S. Code 22 Section 1732, the President home because of their may interests and ac- person of the Federation Women’s Business must do everything in his power, short of acts tivities. and Professional Division, benefactor and of war, to obtain or effectuate the release of board member of the Jewish Community Cen- During the winter, Connee now lives in Fort a U.S. citizen wrongfully incarcerated by a for- ter, and an active member of B’nai Brith, Myers, Florida where she is a member of the eign government. AMIT, and Congregation Brothers of Israel. Development Committee at her church. Other The following press memorandum was au- For the past twenty-five years Ms. Hyman has memberships include the Women’s Club, the thorized by Mariah Freark and Sabrina Blum, been the Chairperson of the Women’s Division 9-Holers Golf League, where she held the po- Research Associates at the Washington-based of Israel Bonds, and for the past twenty-six sition of Treasurer; and the staff of the Lake Council on Hemispheric Affairs (COHA), an or- years she has been the president of the Long Fairways Newsletter, The Informer. ganization that has been long-committed to Branch Hadassah. addressing issues associated with democracy This is not the first time that Ruth has been Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues join me and human rights throughout the hemisphere. honored for her service to the community. in sending our congratulations to a wonderful COHA’s researchers have often spoken out Ruth has received the Service Award from the person, Connee Gartland, who has touched so about controversial issues regarding U.S. rela- Jewish Federation Women’s Campaign, may lives as a former educator, parent, grand- tions with Latin America. The attached press Woman of Valor of the Long Branch chapter parent, and friend. Let us extend our best memorandum addresses information con- of Hadassah, Israel Bonds Golda Meir Award wishes for a Happy 80th Birthday and contin- cerning Lori Berenson and Peru, and should and the Ben Gurion Award, Lay Leader of the ued health and happiness. serve to enlighten us.

VerDate 112000 03:49 Aug 03, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A01AU8.043 pfrm04 PsN: E02PT1 E1504 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 2, 2001 [From the American Prospect, May 25, 2001] tinues to maintain that Reich and Noriega enforce’’ anti-dumping and laws to combat OUR MAN IN LITTLE HAVANA are the best qualified candidates to fill the unfair trade practices. THE SECRET COLD WAR HISTORY OF OTTO JUAN vacancies, then the Secretary of State can Immigration: While Bush is strongly op- REICH, GEORGE W. BUSH’S FRIGHTENING NOMI- expect to soon be hearing from Saturday posed to illegal immigration, he has said NEE FOR ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE OF Night Live.’’ more should be done to welcome legal immi- WESTERN HEMISPHERE AFFAIRS grants. He supports expanding temporary ag- ricultural workers program and increasing (By Jason Vest) [From the News Mexico, Jan. 20, 2001] the number of high-tech worker visas. He fa- It was the summer of 1985 and John FAREWELL TO CLINTON, WELCOME TO BUSH vors a six-month standard for processing im- Lantigua, then ’s Nica- BUSH SEEN AS MAN WHO CAN DO BUSINESS WITH migration application and would encourage ragua stringer, discovered he had a new nick- MEXICO family reunification. He has said he would name, at least among American right- (By Krista Larson) support legislation to divide the immigra- wingers: ‘‘Johnny Sandinista.’’ WASHINGTON—Throughout his campaign, tion and Naturalization Service into sepa- For many senior politicos in the Reagan rate agencies for naturalization and for en- Administration, Nicaragua was a black and the former Texas governor who will become the 43rd president of the United States on forcement. He has also pledged that ‘‘with white issue. If you weren’t pro-Contra and expanded patrols, we can make our borders anti-Sandinista, you were a dupe of two ma- Saturday emphasized his experience leading a border state with strong economic ties to something more than lines on a map.’’ Wants levolent forces: What one senior official to hire more agents and focus a reformed euphemistically called ‘‘the source’’ of evil its southern neighbor. He even demonstrated his Spanish in stump speeches. INS ‘‘on the job of defending our border.’’ in this hemisphere——and the power be- Drugs: Bush has said that the United hind Cuba that then Director of Central In- As George W. Bush is inaugurated, experts say there appear to be new opportunities for States is the market that sustains the nar- telligence William J. Casey held was the cen- cotics trade and has pledged to improve ter of all world and subversion: the improved bilateral relations between neigh- bors, but that potential obstacles also lie interdiction. His ‘‘Southwest Border initia- Soviet Union. tive’’ would provide 5 million dollars annu- John Lantigua’s reporting didn’t reflect ahead. ally to reimburse border counties for pros- such a Manichean worldview, and for that, ‘‘Obviously Mexico is going to be predomi- ecuting federal drug cases and would appoint the Administration would try to smear him nate on the radar screen, and that can result a coordinator responsible for working with and others who didn’t ‘‘come on-side.’’ In a in more activity,’’ said Armand Peschard- federal and local agencies. ‘‘report’’ produced by the far-right ‘‘media Sverdrup, director of the Mexico Pro´ ject at watchdog’’ group Accuracy in Media, Daniel the Center for Strategic and International James—identified only as a ‘‘Latin America Studies. ‘‘With the more activity, chances [From , May 6, 2001] are you could also have points of tension.’’ expert,’’ but, in fact, a longtime CIA con- NEW CHALLENGE TO THE BOGOTA´ LEADERSHIP tract propagandist—reported that, according There is an image that Bush will be a ‘‘big- POOR REGION’S GOVERNORS UNITE TO OPPOSE to unnamed U.S. government officials, ger ear in Washington’’ for Mexico-U.S. rela- DRUG PLAN AND SEEK AID Lantigua was being furnished with live-in fe- tions than in the past, said Larry Birns, di- male Sandinista sex slaves in exchange for rector of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs. (By Juan Forero) penning Sandinista agitprop. ‘‘It may not easily play out in specific poli- IBAGUE, Colombia—Normally, Guillermo To those who covered Central America, the cies, but certainly in lingo and rhetoric the Jaramillo, governor of a poor and debt-rid- charges were absurd: Not only was Lantigua White House is going to refer to its relations den province, could expect to be ignored by living with his American fiancee´, but he was with Mexico as being all-important,’’ Birns Colombia’s highly centralized government in in the middle of a freeze-out by the Sandi- said. far off Bogota´ . nistas, who, along with the Reagan Adminis- Bush’s experience in Texas was cited by It has been this way since colonial times, tration, sometimes found Lantigua’s report- Peschard-Sverdrup as significant. ‘‘The bor- with the capital, high in the , dictating ing to be inconvenient. Lantigua got a kick der is definitely the frontline of the relation- policies as it sees fit, often regardless of the out of the item, assuming that it had origi- ship,’’ he said. ‘‘With Bush being a former wishes of local officials. nated with , a particularly ideo- border governor, he definitely has first hand But these days, Mr. Jaramillo and five logical State Department official who experience of managing the relationship at like-minded governors—all from southern Lantigua and his Newsday colleague Morris the state level, and I think that’s gong to provinces mired in civil conflict and where Thompson had met for lunch when Reich had give him a better perspective than someone most of the country’s illicit drug crops are made a brief visit to ‘‘’s foreign from a state that obviously doesn’t have as grown—have not only attracted the atten- policy does not depend on the ambassadors much interaction with Mexico.’’ tion of Bogota´ but also angered entrenched Bush has already met with President in Caracas.’’ Eventually the U.S. prevailed politicians who frown on insolent regional Vicente Fox when Fox traveled to the United on Venezuela to honor Reich’s diplomatic leaders. States shortly after his July 2 presidential credentials, though he wasn’t an entirely be- The reason is that the governors, all of victory. loved figured in Caracas: In 1989, for in- whom won office last October, have orga- ‘‘The good thing is at least at the level of stance, the newspaper La Republica re- nized into a formidable political bloc that the presidency, there’s an affinity toward ported, with some umbrage, that Reich had has harshly criticized the central govern- each other’s country and they personally turned the U.S. Embassy into something of a ment for everything from the handling of fi- seem to get along,’’ Peschard-Sverdrup said. support base for the Panamanian Civic Cru- nances to the drug war. ‘‘Once you have that type of engagement at sade, an anti-Noriega group backed by the That has embarrassed officials in Bogota´ the presidential level, you would expect that CIA. and highlighted the lack of support in rural In the view of Larry Birns, the head of would then transcend down to the Cabinet.’’ Colombia for an American-financed program During his campaign, Bush said he had a Washington’s Council on Hemispheric Af- that largely relies on aerial defoliation to vision for the two countries and declared fairs, the combination of Reich’s hard-line stamp out drug production. that the United States is ‘‘destined to have a views, current business connections, and Indeed, the governors have gone as far as special relationship with Mexico, as clear Iran-Contra past would make him a disas- Europe and Washington to criticize the pro- and strong as we have had with Canada and trous choice to be the United States’ point gram, which has destroyed coca fields across Great Britain.’’ He pledged in August to look person for Latin America. ‘‘It would be of in- southern Colombia but displaced and alien- south ‘‘not as an afterthought, but as a fun- terest to anticipate the violent polemical ated farmers. damental commitment of my presidency.’’ struggle between Fortune 500 U.S. multi- The governors instead propose their own And he said he’d ‘‘fulfill the promise of hemi- nationals, most of whom denounced Helms- voluntary eradication program of coca and spheric free trade’’ by building on the North Burton for interfering with trade with Cuba, heroin poppy fields, and have sought out for- American Free Trade Agreement and other and the State Department’s Latin American eign governments for financing and tech- regional trade initiatives. office under an ideologically driven Reich.’’ nical expertise. That doesn’t mean the new administra- (Birns is also alarmed at the prospect of Most troubling to Bogota´ , some of the gov- tions won’t be without potential disagree- Roger Noriega, another favorite, ernors have expressed the desire to hold ments. ‘‘There are disruptive issues out being named Ambassador to the Organiza- their own talks with insurgencies that have there,’’ said Birns, noting there will be pres- tion of American States.) been at war for years, leftist rebels and sure to address the certification process that ‘‘If confirmed, [Reich’s] tenure will inevi- right-wing paramilitaries. Some in Bogota´ , has been an irritant to Mexicans for years. tably be littered with hemispheric vendettas, however, see such a proposal as nothing ‘‘Republicans are much less likely to elimi- abusive run-ins with strong-willed regional short of treason, since peace negotiations are nate the drug certification process than the leaders, and a cheerful indifference to state held under the sole mandate of President Democrats would have been.’’ department rules and regulations,’’ Birns Andre´s Pastrana. says. ‘‘During his years in the public sector, BUSH ON KEY ISSUES ‘‘This is a threat against the Constitution Reich seemingly has found it against the Trade: Bush wants to restore fast-track ne- and against the peace process,’’ said Robert very marrow of his personality and basic na- gotiating authority and said his priorities Camacho, a Bogota´ congressman. ture to be able to walk down a straight path. will include expanding free trade ‘‘within our Some Colombia experts say that the gov- If [Secretary of State Colin] Powell con- own hemisphere.’’ Also plans to ‘‘vigorously ernors’ efforts, while understandable in a

VerDate 112000 03:49 Aug 03, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A01AU8.048 pfrm04 PsN: E02PT1 August 2, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1505

country whose rural regions have long been The governors acknowledge that local offi- WASHINGTON REPORT ON THE HEMISPHERE forgotten, could prove damaging to the coun- cials have more control since the country’s try as a whole. 1991 Constitution gave regional leaders more Washington Report on the Hemisphere is a The governors’ movement, called the decisionmaking powers and resources. biweekly newsletter from the Council on southern bloc, has stirred enough concern But revenue is still raised by the central Hemispheric Affairs that keeps a sharp eye that new life has been injected into proposed government. The six provinces, the size of on the rest of the Americas outside the congressional legislation that would sanc- Kansas and with a combined population of United States. The Aug. 7 and 16 issues tion local officials who are seen as meddling six million, also remain desperately poor and (COHA is no slave to the calendar) both lead in the peace process. The bill was first pro- rural in a largely urban country. off with updates on the exploits of Hugo Cha- posed last fall, before the governors took of- The region also contains three-quarters of vez, Venezuela’s immensely popular though fice. the country’s coca crops and nearly all the unconventional president. I’d forgotten he ‘‘These governors are popularly elected, poppy fields, employing 335,000 people in all. had engineered the renaming of his nation and they are realizing a program contrary to The very fact that an alliance exists is ‘‘es- the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, after their duties: dividing the state,’’ said Fer- sentially a cry for help, a collective petition Simon Bolivar, the Venezuelan leader in nando Giraldo, dean of the political science for the government to do something,’’ said early 19th-century South American struggles department at the Javeriana University in Larry Birns, a Colombia expert and director for independence from Spain. Bogota´ . of the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Chavez ‘‘made a healthy start on his cam- Because of the southern bloc, said Mr. Washington. ‘‘These are governors that, be- paign promise to weed out the systematic Giraldo, Colombia is ‘‘before the inter- cause they come from peripheral states, have corruption infesting the ranks of the bu- national community displaying a frag- been neglected.’’ reaucracy, by sacking hundreds of judges mented voice, the president on one side and The issue that most unities the governors from all layers of the country’s notorious ju- the governors on the other.’’ is their opposition to defoliation, which they diciary that was plagued by unabated nepo- In interviews, the governors said their goal warn alienates their constituents without re- tism and inefficiency. His next move was to is not to destabilize. Rather, they said, the solving the problems, that lead farmers to bring about some badly needed new manage- aim is simply to draw attention to their re- cultivate illegal crops. ment to this state oil company (Petroleos de gion’s problems and to obtain resources for Juan de Jesu´ s Ca´ rdenas, governor of Huila, Venezuela) that, as stated in the new con- regional public projects and agricultural de- said regional leaders across the south be- stitution, will forever be insulated from pri- velopment programs seen as alternatives to lieved that defoliation would simply drive vatization.’’ defoliation. farmers to cultivate coca and poppies in If the aid comes from Bogota´ , so be it, the Business investors are unenthusiastic other regions. about Chavez. Note is made (crediting an governors say; but they say they will con- ‘‘That is what has happened with defolia- tinue to appeal to foreign governments, too. Economist Intelligence Unit report) of ‘‘the tion of Putumayo, with the movement of dis- rapid rate at which foreign firms are packing The southern bloc’s proposals are still in the placed people into Narin˜ o,’’ said the gov- planning stages, and little financial support up and leaving over concerns of an increas- ernor, whose province serves as a corridor for ingly hostile business climate. Historically, has gone their way. drugs and rebels. ‘‘What we want for the regions, for the foreign investment has been an Achilles heel The governors want to replace illicit crops for Venezuela, averaging a mere 2 percent of provinces as well as the towns, is the possi- by prodding farmers to eradicate in exchange bility to express ourselves,’’ said Mr. its [gross domestic product] over the past for subsidies and markets for their products. decade.’’ Jaramillo, speaking in his office overlooking The Colombian government, with American a public square here in Ibague´, the capital of money and expertise, is running such a pro- Chavez has visited Cuba five times since the province of Tolima. ‘‘That is why we’ve gram, but the governors said they were 1998, recently praising Fidel Castro’s ‘‘vision- gone out to explain our ideas, and present working to tailor their own programs to ary work,’’ and has been cultivating leaders what we think is a bit different from the na- meet the needs of farmers in their provinces. in ‘‘oil-exporting hubs including Libya, Iraq tional government’s concepts.’’ ‘‘We need gradual eradication,’’ said Mr. and Iran in an effort to convince these OPEC The governors said that they supported Mr. Tunubala´ . ‘‘We need to put in new crops, and nations to sustain the high price of gaso- Pastrana’s peace efforts and respected his we need to look for markets nationally and line . . ’’ Chavez has been criticized within authority when it came to negotiating, but internationally.’’ his own country for his bold moves to freely they said they wanted the particular con- That was the reason for Mr. Jaramillo’s re- associate himself with rogue nations, there- cerns of their provinces to be aired by local cent trip to a mountainous rebel-controlled by going out of his way to damage relations officials in those talks with the insurgencies. region in southern Tolima. There, Mr. with the U.S., which remains the largest im- The governors and other provincial offi- Jaramillo meet with farmers to urge them to porter of Venezuelan oil.’’ cials also hinted, as many local officials in participate in the eradication program fi- Colombia do, that the government should nanced by the Americans. It was not easy. open dialogue with paramilitary groups, Most had felt ignored by a central govern- [From the New York Times, Dec. 18, 2000] something Mr. Pastrana’s government has ment they view as inept and unresponsive. refused. Recently, in fact, Mr. Jaramillo met LATIN AMERICA IS PRIORITY ON BUSH TRADE Several farmers, after meeting with Mr. with the paramilitary leader, Carlos AGENDA Jaramillo, said they would not have agreed Castan¯ o, and also paid a visit to the rebels. to meet with or participate had it not been (By Anthony DePalma) ‘‘What we’ve said is we cannot sign a peace for the governor, whom they view as inde- pact, but we can do a peace process,’’ said pendent from Bogota´ . Leftist rebels who He may not be comfortable discussing un- Floro Tunubala´ , the governor of Cauca. ‘‘And showed up uninvited—and had the power to rest in East Timor, or pronouncing the name to do a peace process means talking.’’ quash any government plan in the region— of the leaders of Turkmenistan, but Presi- The southern bloc is a mixture of tradi- allowed farmers to move forward in part be- dent-elect George W. Bush considers the rest tionalists and upstarts. They include cause of Mr. Jaramillo’s involvement. of the Western Hemisphere ‘‘our backyard’’ Parmenio Cue´llar of Narin¯ o, a former sen- ‘‘He from these lands,’’ said one farmer, and will have several opportunities in his ator and minister of justice, and Mr. Ramiro Pe´rez, 38 standing on a steep moun- first year in office to make Latin America a Jaramillo, a pediatric heart surgeon who has tain where he grows poppies. ‘‘We’ve seen trade and foreign policy priority. operated on 1,200 children. ‘‘This is something that can jeopardize the him here. He has worked hard to get here. During the campaign, Mr. Bush said he country’s well-being,’’ added Mr. Camacho, Maybe that means good news.’’ would kickstart the stalled process of get- who in recent speech said the governor’s bloc ting a free trade agreement of the Americas signed by 2005. The agreement would build on is akin to a secessionist movement. ‘‘It is [From the Berkshire Eagle, Sept. 2, 2000] about war and peace and too delicate for the North American Free Trade Agreement, SOME AMERICAN STRUGGLES them to do what they want.’’ which went into effect in 1994, and would The group also has the most unlikely gov- (By Mark Miller) unite 34 of the countries in North, Central ernor in Colombia, Mr. Tunubala a PITTSFIELD—This week, the president of and South America into what President Clin- Guambiano Indian who won office in a prov- the United States spent part of a day in ton once said would be ‘the world’s largest ince well known for discrimination and so- Cartagena, Colombia, talking about the drug market.’ cial inequality. Mr. Tunubala´ ’s political trade and democracy. The president of Peru The first order of business would be a movement—composed of Indians, union lead- announced a new trial for an American serv- bruising battle in a divided Congress over ers, poor farmers, intellectuals and others ing a life sentence as a convicted terrorist. fast-track authority, the legislative tool outside the province’s circle of power—has Venezuela’s politics were eclipsed by reports that Mr. Bush will need to negotiate a com- already angered some people in Cauca and of lawsuits over defective Firestone tires prehensive trade deal. Under fast track, prompted death threats. there. Nicaragua continue to be absent from trade deals are brought to Congress for ap- The other governors, longtime local politi- our news while, as usual, we Americans proval only when complete. Congress then cians, are from Huila and the two provinces could walk into a discount store and get bar- votes on the agreement without having the where most of Colombia’s coca grows, gains on back-to-school clothes stitched in chance to add amendments that suit the Putumayo and Caqueta´ . Nicaragua. needs and wishes of individual members.

VerDate 112000 03:49 Aug 03, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A01AU8.052 pfrm04 PsN: E02PT1 E1506 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks August 2, 2001 ‘‘I’d expect that within the first 100 days in fore Mr. Fox was inaugurated on Dec. 1, a The State Department and National Secu- office he’ll propose approval of fast-track au- signal that the administrations of both coun- rity Council always have viewed Aristide as thority,’’ said Sidney Weintraub, an econo- tries, starting at roughly the same time, a liability rather than as the island’s prin- mist at the Center for Strategic and Inter- would work in tandem to resolve common cipal political asset. Allegations against him national Studies and a former deputy assist- problems like illegal immigration, illicit routinely understate his wide support. ant secretary of state for international fi- drugs and environmental pollution. Because Aristide towers over potential alternatives nance and development. of the extraordinary delays in the American and has worked hard to cooperate with Even though Republicans narrowly control election, the meeting never took place, but Washington’s often arrogant demands. the House of Representatives, Mr. Bush will Mr. Bush sent a congratulatory message to In December, the Clinton administration need to reach across the aisle to Democrats Mr. Fox on the day of his inauguration. agreed to restore aid once the Haitian leader for help in getting fast-track authority ap- Mr. Fox has already taken a preemptive adopted eight conditions that addressed elec- proved. Mr. Weintraub expects that the need lead on some of these areas. During the sum- toral and economic reforms along with nar- for bipartisan cooperation will provide mer he visited Mr. Clinton and both presi- cotics smuggling, illegal migration and Democrats an opportunity to attach environ- dential candidates, and talked freely about human-rights violations. Later, Aristide ment and labor standards to the bill, al- his ideas for deepening Nafta and taking agreed to all of them. though Mr. Bush has made it clear that he measures to reduce barriers that prevent does not support such standards if they are Mexican workers from entering the United After several requests by Haiti for help in too rigidly drawn. States to find work. addressing the election issue, the Organiza- tion of American States belatedly decided to In negotiating a trade deal, Mr. Bush Mr. Fox’s ideas were not warmly embraced dispatch a delegation to discuss election re- would also have to heed strongly voiced op- by either Democrats or Republicans, and a forms. Since Washington largely determines position to such side agreements from some close relationship with him and Mexico OAS Haiti policy, its initiative’s bona fides Latin American nations, led by Brazil, that could put Mr. Bush into a difficult position will require scrutiny. fear that labor and environmental standards with members of his own party. attached to a trade deal could be used as pro- ‘‘He will, as he said, have a ‘special rela- tectionist shields by American businesses LITTLE SUPPORT tionship’ with Mexico, but the question now that feel threatened by Latin American com- is what kind of relationship will it be,’’ said There is a danger here, which comes far petition. Larry Birns, director of the Council on Hem- less from the fact that relatively few Hai- In a campaign speech in Miami in August, ispheric Affairs in Washington, who sup- tians have any respect for the opposition co- Mr. Bush said the Clinton administration ported Mr. Gore. ‘‘Here is where a Bush pres- alition. Any outside imposed government dropped the ball on Latin America after los- idency might run into real trouble.’’ and revitalized military, as hinted by ing the legislative battle to win fast-track Gourgue, could destroy the country’s fragile authority. In the speech, he said that by the human-rights situation, its enfeebled judi- time the third Summit of the Americas [From the Miami Herald, May 30, 2001] cial system and its lame democratization meets, a fast-track bill will already have process. been introduced in Congress. GIVING HAITI A CHANCE ‘When the next president sits at the Amer- (By Larry Birns and Sarah Townes) The Bush administration would do well to icas Summit in Quebec next April, other na- honor the commitments made by President Haiti’s seemingly eternal malaise is, if Clinton. tions must know that fast-track authority is anything, worsening as a result of disruptive on the way,’ he said during the campaign. local politics, shrill rhetoric and the near Failing to display some basic amity to Hai- Although Mr. Bush criticized President elimination of overseas assistance. ti’s population will only add more yellowed Clinton for stalling the drive for a free trade Even though President Jean-Bertrand pages to the profoundly jaundiced and mean- agreement of the Americas, the process has Aristide (who last November again won the spirited links to Port-au-Prince, which his- actually been chugging along, though largely presidency by a huge margin) agreed to a torically have been characterized by con- out of sight. Negotiating teams have contin- number of mischievous conditions for U.S. descension rather than respect. ued to work on technical details, and when aid to resume, Washington has given no indi- trade officials gather in Quebec, a substan- cation that it would be forthcoming. The tial framework for the trade negotiations U.S. campaign of economic asphyxiation and [From the Columbia, Missouri, Tribune leading to a 2005 deal will be in place. political isolation is not only unseemly, but Online, July 8, 2000] ‘The 2005 date was set at the first Americas also gravely damaging to U.S. interests. Summit in Miami in 1994 and reconfirmed at CITIZENS OF PERU LEFT TO FIGHT FOR If this policy continues unaltered, it could the second in Santiago.’ said Richard E. NATION’S DEMOCRACY bring added turmoil to the island, inevitably Feinberg, a former senior director of the Na- followed by renewed efforts of desperate Hai- Editor, the Tribune: Scores of women, clad tional Security Council’s Office of Inter- tians willing to risk the dangerous 800-mile in black and carrying coffins symbolizing American Affairs under President Clinton voyage to Florida. the death of democracy in Peru, Marched and now a professor at the graduate school of through the streets of on June 28m de- international relations at the University of Such an exodus would greatly embarrass manding new balloting in protest of Presi- California in San Diego. ‘‘All the major play- the Bush White House, just as it did the Clin- dent Alberto Fujimon’s scandal-ridden re- ers remain committed to the 2005 date.’’ ton administration, particularly as the election. As the march headed toward the During the campaign, Mr. Bush talked interdiction pact has now lapsed. hotel hosting the Organization of American about developing a ‘‘special relationship’’ The ‘‘Democratic Convergence,’’ a 15-party States delegation, the women faced a bar- with Mexico, which is one of the few foreign coalition of mainly micro-factions that vehe- rage of tear gas from the security forces. The countries he has ever visited. Referring more mently reject Aristide’s legitimacy based on OAS, much like the United States, has been broadly to all of Latin America, he said he charges of electoral fraud in last May’s sen- would ‘‘look south, not as an afterthought atorial balloting, has named Gerard Gourgue largely ineffective in trying to promote de- but as a fundamental commitment of my ‘‘Provisional President.’’ This is bringing mocracy in what has become Fujimon coun- presidency.’’ chaos closer. Gourgue called for the return of try. Like a couple of ill-whelped dogs, the As governor of a border state, Mr. Bush has the commanders of Haiti’s repressive armed OAS and the United States have skulked had a front-row seat on the expansion of forces, expelled by the U.S. military in 1994. away from the indignant attitude of ‘‘El international trade, and the effect on Texas Despite its modest popular standing, the Chino’’ and left the Peruvian people to be has been substantial. According to a recent convergence effectively has been awarded a the sole defenders of the nation’s democracy. study by the Council of the Americas, Texas crippling de facto veto by Sen. Jesse Helms, Even with the recent OAS proposal to re- exports to Mexico have more than doubled Aristide’s relentless avenger, with U.S. pol- form the system, there are no guarantees since Nafta came into force in 1994. icymakers also insisting that it is the demo- that the government will follow the guide- Mr. Bush will not have to worry about cratic alternative. lines. In fact, Fujimori has amply shown union opposition to new international trade The convergence is the main obstacle to that he has nothing but contempt for both deals as much as Vice President Al Gore negotiations and the resumption of aid. OAS secretary-general Cesa´ r Gaviria and the would have, but there is a segment of the Re- Aristide first met with its leaders in Feb- Clinton administration, but as the police at- publican Party that has become increasingly ruary to discuss possible solutions to the tack on the women’s march reveals—and as protectionist and could complicate any trade stalemate. Regrettably, his offer to include Bastille Day approaches—he does indeed deal. That could force Mr. Bush to take a some convergence leaders in his government have good grounds to fear the citizenry who page from Mr. Clinton’s playbook and cast and appoint a new impartial electoral body will no longer tolerate his false claims to increased trade in political and strategic were peremptorily rejected. Aristide’s call power. Where else can change begin but at terms, as Mr. Clinton did in winning a trade for initiating a dialogue also was rejected by home? Hopefully, the recent mass dem- vote on China. the convergence, though he has offered to onstrations will spark positive change to- Mr. Bush had promised to meet with Mexi- move up the next round of legislative elec- ward democratic reforms even if a feckless co’s president, Vicente Fox Quesada, even be- tions. OAS is unable to mandate new elections.

VerDate 112000 03:49 Aug 03, 2001 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A01AU8.056 pfrm04 PsN: E02PT1 August 2, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1507 HOLOCAUST VICTIMS INSURANCE level, and it has provided the insurance com- the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles. RELIEF ACT panies with a powerful incentive to comply In 1985, Gitta spoke before the Federation of with the law. It is time for us to extend this re- Humanities in Stockholm, Sweden in a cere- HON. HENRY A. WAXMAN lief to survivors across the country. mony recognizing the 40th anniversary of the OF CALIFORNIA I would also like to thank my colleague Rep- disapperance of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swed- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES resentative ENGEL, who is an original cospon- ish diplomat responsible for saving the lives of sor of this bill and who was instrumental in in- over 100,000 Jews during the end of World Wednesday, August 1, 2001 troducing similar legislation in the 105th and War II, including my wife Annette and me. She Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am in- 106th Congresses. was also a featured speaker before the Aus- troducing H.R. 2693, the Holocaust Victims In- Less than six months from today, the trian Parliament during the celebration of the surance Relief Act, a bill to require all compa- ICHEIC deadline for accepting claims will ex- 90th birthday of Simon Wisenthal. nies operating in the United States to disclose pire. We must act swiftly to make sure that Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues in Con- the names on Holocaust-era insurance poli- survivors have the necessary information to gress to join me in recognizing Gitta Nagel’s cies. The legislation would also enable sur- file their rightful claims. I urge my colleagues contributions and commitments to Jewish af- vivors to access to this information by estab- to support this legislation and I hope we can fairs and community service worldwide. She lishing a Holocaust Insurance Registry at the bring it to the floor for a vote in the near fu- has had a major impact in strengthening the National Archives. ture. ties of the Jewish people and ensuring that At its core, this is a moral issue. Insurance f the Holocaust will never be repeated. I invite companies holding Holocaust-era policies my colleagues to join me in congratulating have a responsibility to disclose any informa- TRIBUTE TO GITTA NAGEL Gitta Nagel for her very deserved honor. tion that will help survivors finally reclaim their f policies with dignity and equity. In many HON. TOM LANTOS cases, company archives contain the only ex- OF CALIFORNIA TRIBUTE TO KOREY STRINGER isting files related to the countless policies that IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES were stolen from victims of Nazi ghettos and Wednesday, August 1, 2001 HON. JAMES A. TRAFICANT, JR. death camps. OF OHIO Just one year ago, on July 17, 2000, the Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my col- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES United States and Germany signed an Execu- leagues to join me today in paying tribute to Wednesday, August 1, 2001 tive Agreement establishing the German Foun- a dedicated champion of Jewish affairs and dation ‘‘Remembrance, Responsibility, and the public service, Mrs. Gitta Nagel of California, Mr. TRAFICANT. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply Future,’’ a $5 billion fund to settle all Holo- who will soon be receiving an Honorary Doc- saddened to share the news of the passing of caust-era claims, including slave and forced torate degree from Bar-Ilan University in Korey Stringer. labor, banking, and insurance. During the pre- Israel. Mrs. Nagel has continually strived to Fans of football, the Minnesota Vikings, and ceding ceremony, U.S. Holocaust Envoy Stu- ensure a brighter, more cohesive future for the the community of the greater St. Paul and art Eizenstat said, ‘‘It is critically important that Jewish community by encouraging stronger Minneapolis area have suffered a great loss. all German insurance companies cooperate academic programs and an everlasting re- All-Pro Offensive Tackle Korey Stringer was with the process established by the Inter- membrance of the Holocaust. more than a great athlete; he was a great national Commission on Holocaust Era Insur- As a young child living in Amsterdam during American. ance Claims, or ICHEIC. This includes pub- the Holocaust, Gitta saw first hand the de- This native of Warren, Ohio has his life cut lishing lists of unpaid insurance policies and structive force and brutality of the Nazi regime, short while training for the game he loved. subjecting themselves to audit. Unless Ger- an experience that would continue to drive her However, in that short life Korey contributed man insurance companies make these lists throughout her life as a philanthropist. After much to the teams he played for and commu- available through ICHEIC, potential claimants the war, she emigrated to the United States nities he lived in. While in high school at War- cannot know their eligibility, and the insurance where she attended UCLA and met her future ren Harding High School, in my district, Korey companies will have failed to assume their husband, Jack Nagel. personally achieved status as an all-Ohio play- moral responsibility.’’ Through her efforts to promote a stronger er twice and was a unanimous All-American Unfortunately, little progress has been made Jewish community, Gitta Nagel has held lead- his senior year. As a senior, Korey recorded since then and the urgency of this issue grows ership roles in numerous organizations includ- an incredible 52 tackles as a defensive tackle as Holocaust survivors are dying every day. ing the United Jewish Communities, the Union and was named Ohio Division I Lineman of Although the ICHEIC was established in1998 of Orthodox Jewish Congregations, and Israel the Year. These accomplishments are impres- to expeditiously resolve unpaid Holocaust-era Bonds. In addition, she was a founding mem- sive, but Korey was always more proud of claims, more than 84% of the over 72,675 ber of the Golda Meir Club, an organization Warren Harding’s undefeated season that led claims inquiries filed remain unresolved be- that supports the State of Israel through her to a state title his junior year. Korey was a cause the claimants cannot identify the com- annual purchase of $5,000 worth of Israeli player that was consistently concerned with pany holding their assets. government bonds. Gitta also started a chap- those around him and made every effort pos- Furthermore, it is outrageous that regardless ter of Bnei Akiva, a testament to her unwaver- sible to aid them. of their level of compliance with ICHEIC rules ing support for Zionism and the State of Israel. Many players with impressive high school insurance companies that contribute to the She has also shown a perpetual commit- accolades never quite make it in college, but Foundation fund are given a minimal $150 mil- ment to a prosperous future through her sup- this was not the case for Korey Stringer. After lion cap on all liabilities, virtual legal immunity port of education. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, it is doing a fine job representing his hometown, in U.S. courts, and an arbitrary January 31, no surprise that Gitta is an original founder of Korey did an excellent job representing the 2002 expiration of their obligation to accept Yeshiva Yavneh of Los Angeles High Schools. entire state while playing for Ohio State Uni- claims. She had lent her support to Bar-Ilan University versity. In his first year, Korey was selected as The insurance companies must be held ac- through an endowment for immigrant students, Big Ten Freshman of the Year. The awards countable. H.R. 2693 will ensure that Con- doctoral fellowships, research grants, and nu- continued for Korey as he was named Big Ten gress will not stand by and allow them to shirk merous other academic programs. Offensive Lineman of the Year for both 1993 their obligation. Mr. Speaker, in addition to Gitta Nagel’s un- and 1994, Ohio State’s Most Valuable Player This bill also expresses congressional sup- wavering support for Jewish organizations, I in 1994, and two time All-American. port for states seeking to adopt and enforce would like to both emphasize and commend After being drafted as the 24th overall selec- their own laws to address the issue of unpaid her work to preserve the memory of the Holo- tion in the 1995 draft, Korey joined the Min- Holocaust-era policies, and recognizes the ef- caust. Gitta has selflessly worked to secure a nesota Vikings. He played with dedication to forts of legislatures in California, New York, special place in history for Holocaust victims. the game, the fans, and his teammates as he Florida, Washington, and Minnesota. I also un- She has given incredible amounts of time, en- only missed three games in six seasons. Last derstand that similar efforts are underway in ergy and resources to make sure that the season was a breakout year for Korey as he the legislatures of Texas, Illinois, and Massa- atrocity of the Holocaust is never forgotten. was named to the All-Pro team and helped chusetts. The Nagel’s are founders of the U.S. Holo- Robert Smith set the team records for single- California led the nation in enacting a Holo- caust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., season and career rushing total. Playing as an caust insurance reporting statute at the state and are members of the Board of Trustees of offensive lineman, it is hard to assess the

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