Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007

FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, FISCAL YEARS 2006 AND 2007 -- (House of Representatives - July 20, 2005)

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AMENDMENT NO. 25 OFFERED BY MR. MACK

Mr. MACK. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mack). I want to commend the gentleman from Florida for his leadership on this very important issue.

We are currently engaged in a war on terror halfway around the world, a war to bring freedom and democracy to a part of the world that has never seen it. That is a noble and just fight. However, we must also ensure the viability of freedom and democracy in our own neighborhood. Twenty years ago, we fought against Communist forces attempting to gain footholds in the Western hemisphere, and now we face threats from an agent of Castro, China and Iran.

On several occasions, President Chavez has attempted to intimidate the United States and has launched unfounded attacks on our President. He has threatened to shift all oil sales away from the United States and towards China. He has aligned himself with the only remaining Communist dictator in the Western hemisphere. And he has allegedly approached Iran in search of nuclear technology.

Since his election, Chavez has worked to break down the most basic principles of freedom, including the right to free speech and unbiased information. He has restricted the media that has been critical to his government and he has opened a state-run media outlet. This amendment would create parity of information and allow the people of Venezuela the opportunity to hear more than just the propaganda of Hugo Chavez. It will allow the people of Venezuela to hear the truth.

I urge my colleagues to support this pro-democracy amendment. I thank the gentleman from Florida for bringing this to the floor.

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AMENDMENT NO. 38 OFFERED BY MS. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

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Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), and I would like to thank her for having the courage under fire to bring forth what should be a noncontroversial amendment.

In recent months, certain Members of Congress have called upon the President to discuss his exit strategy, to give the date when the last American soldier will leave Iraq. There will come a day when we will leave Iraq, but, as the President stated, "Our strategy can be summed up this way. As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down."

Demanding that we simply put a date on the calendar is not only naive, but it poses a danger to our troops, a grave threat to our interests in the Middle East and a victory for the terrorists. By signaling to them when we intend to leave, the terrorists can simply wait it out and then strike the Iraqi people.

We have had great progress in the training of Iraqi forces. With the passing of every day, Iraq is becoming a more secure and free nation. We must remain steadfast in our determination to defeat the terrorists and only leave Iraq when we have accomplished the job we promised to do. To demand otherwise is a desecration to the memory of those who have died for the cause of freedom.

Tomorrow I will be participating in a signing ceremony at the White House with Bill and Janet Norwood, who were recognized by the President of the United States at the State of the Union. They lost their son, Byron, in Fallujah as he saved seven Marines' lives. Like all the Bill and Janet Norwoods I meet out there, they all say the same thing to me, "finish the job."

Mr. Speaker, we will finish the job. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

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