E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 109 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 152 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JULY 24, 2006 No. 98 House of Representatives The House met at 12:30 p.m. and was Consider, for example, that life ex- agriculture sector as well, including 600 called to order by the Speaker pro tem- pectancy is only 45 years; 71 percent of farmers in the Jalalabad region who pore (Mr. CONAWAY). Afghans over 15 cannot read or write; have received training in harvest han- f 91 percent of all rural women are illit- dling, packaging and marketing to im- erate. Three out of five girls do not go prove their business opportunities. DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO to school, and most of the existing in- This program is developing a regional TEMPORE frastructure has been destroyed. Under market information system to develop The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- those conditions, we realize that quality standards and retail marketing fore the House the following commu- progress still is able to proceed. measures for farmers and business peo- nication from the Speaker: Now, in testimony before the House ple. WASHINGTON, DC, Armed Services Committee, James Over 4,000 women in 13 districts have July 24, 2006. Kunder, the Assistant Administrator benefitted from the micro-enterprise I hereby appoint the Honorable K. MICHAEL for Asia and the Near East for USAID development projects that train them CONAWAY to act as Speaker pro tempore on said, ‘‘Historically, the vast majority and increase their income potential. this day. of Afghans have not had access to elec- Said one of these recipients, a mother J. DENNIS HASTERT, tricity or safe water. In some remote, of five in one province, quote, I learned Speaker of the House of Representatives. mountainous villages, the nearest how to sell and to market my products f paved road is a 2-week walk away. And during the USAID training, so I now MORNING HOUR DEBATES when USAID first arrived in Kabul, sell cheese in the neighborhood and in much of the population had been se- the nearest markets. The skill of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- verely traumatized after years and cheesemaking has helped me and my ant to the order of the House of Janu- years of war. Most Afghans did not re- family to stand on our own two feet ary 31, 2006, the Chair will now recog- member a time when conflict was not a and depend on this, instead of poppy nize Members from lists submitted by major part of their lives.’’ cultivation. the majority and minority leaders for So, my colleagues, against this back- Furthermore, Afghanistan’s recon- morning hour debates. The Chair will ground, the overthrow of the Taliban struction has made considerable alternate recognition between the par- by the United States and coalition progress during the past 4 years. Re- ties, with each party limited to not to forces, the rebuilding of roads and in- cently, the World Bank reported that exceed 30 minutes, and each Member, frastructure, and the widespread par- ‘‘led by the government with inter- except the majority leader, the minor- ticipation by the Afghan people in national support, but relying most on ity leader, or the minority whip, lim- presidential and parliamentary elec- the energy and initiative of the Afghan ited to not to exceed 5 minutes. tions is a monumental and historic people themselves, reconstruction has The Chair recognizes the gentleman achievement. Afghanistan continues to resulted in solid achievements. Eco- from Florida (Mr. STEARNS) for 5 min- confront obstacles, but the colossal nomic growth, unprecedented primary utes. steps forward that have already been school enrollments, including for girls, f taken should not be underestimated. great expansion of immunization, reha- In order to increase business opportu- bilitation of major highways, a new PROGRESS IN AFGHANISTAN nities and develop a private sector in and stable currency, promulgation of a Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I come Afghanistan, the USAID’s Alternative new constitution, presidential and par- to the floor to talk about progress in Livelihoods’ Private Sector Develop- liamentary elections, return of refu- Afghanistan. There has been a lot of ment Unit opened their first Eastern gees and the demobilization of militias publicity lately about questioning that Regional Business Development Center . Yet the challenges still remain progress. in Jalalabad. Now, my colleagues, this enormous.’’ My colleagues, since the onset of Op- office works closely with local govern- Since 2001, the United States has eration Enduring Freedom, Afghani- ment, national and international com- dedicated $60.5 million for primary edu- stan has made real and substantive munities, to promote business enter- cation to construct schools, train progress. To understand the degree to prises, effective services and full em- teachers, provide books and supplies. which this progress can be measured, it ployment. Currently, approximately 5.3 million is important, of course, to remember Approximately 6,000 businesses have Afghan children are enrolled in the many obstacles that we faced in Af- already registered in one of the prov- schools, and 40 percent of them are fe- ghanistan. inces. There have been successes in the males. 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. H5569 . VerDate Aug 31 2005 02:06 Jul 25, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A24JY7.000 H24JYPT1 jcorcoran on PROD1PC62 with HOUSE H5570 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE July 24, 2006 In contrast, on June 11, 2006, the Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Jour- That the Senate passed without amend- Taliban extremists burned a school and nal stands approved. ment H.R. 4995. That the Senate passed without amend- have been implicated or have claimed f responsibility for damaging more than ment H.R. 5245. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE That the Senate passed without amend- 45 schools, assassinating teachers and ment H.R. 4101. intimidating school-age children in the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the With best wishes, I am, past year. Notwithstanding the Taliban gentleman from Texas (Mr. POE) come Sincerely, threat, three volunteer teachers and 60 forward and lead the House in the KAREN L. HAAS, students traveled as far as 9 miles to Pledge of Allegiance. Clerk of the House. Mr. POE led the Pledge of Allegiance attend the first day of school outside of f their city in Afghanistan. That is as follows: progress. I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the PEACE, PEACE, AT ANY PRICE The United States has provided more United States of America, and to the Repub- PEACE? than $87 million to health care pro- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, (Mr. POE asked and was given per- indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. grams throughout Afghanistan. This mission to address the House for 1 funding includes programs to train f minute and to revise and extend his re- women as health care workers, commu- COMMUNICATION FROM THE marks.) nity midwives, and improving health CLERK OF THE HOUSE Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, people cry care, including the construction of The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- peace, peace. But there can be no peace women’s wings at hospitals and dor- fore the House the following commu- as long as there is one side that enjoys mitories. As of March, 2006, USAID has nication from the Clerk of the House of the shooting and refuses to stop. completed 454 clinics that serve 340,000 Representatives: Hezbollah, a gang of psychothugs and patients per month. Overall, the U.S. criminals, kidnapped Israelis and are has provided basic health services to OFFICE OF THE CLERK, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, firing rockets from their hole in the more than 5 million people in 14 prov- Washington, DC, July 21, 2006. wall in southern Lebanon into Israel. inces. USAID has trained over 6,000 Af- Hon. J. DENNIS HASTERT, Israel has responded and their com- ghan community health care profes- The Speaker, House of Representatives, manders say they are going to take out sionals. Washington, DC. these terrorists. As we can see, Mr. Speaker, much DEAR MR. SPEAKER: Pursuant to the per- Now appeasement peaceniks who be- progress has been made in Afghanistan, mission granted in Class 2(b) of rule II of the lieve in peace at any price, like Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives, but much work still remains. We must France’s Chirac, want Israel to stop continue this process towards a free the Clerk received the following message from the Secretary of the Senate on July 21, and talk things over, probably over a and prosperous Afghanistan. 2006, at 12:40 pm: bottle of French wine. f That the Senate Agreed to without amend- But Hezbollah won’t stop shooting. RECESS ment H. Con. Res. 448. These are the same pseudopeace ex- With best wishes, I am, perts that told Israel to withdraw from The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Sincerely, occupying Lebanon. Israel did just that ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair KAREN L. HAAS, back in 2000, then gave up Gaza to the Clerk of the House. declares the House in recess until 2 Palestinians so there would be so- p.m. today. f called land for peace. Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 37 COMMUNICATION FROM THE But the terrorists in Gaza, Hamas, minutes p.m.), the House stood in re- CLERK OF THE HOUSE are shooting rockets into southern cess until 2 p.m.