    [House Hearing, 112 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                         VARIOUS BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

    =======================================================================

                                     MARKUP

                                   BEFORE THE

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                          ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS

                                 SECOND SESSION

                                       ON

                H.R. 4405, H. Res. 506, H.R. 4141, H. Res. 526,
                          H. Res. 583 and H. Res. 663

                                   __________

                                  JUNE 7, 2012

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 112-175

                                   __________

            Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                     ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairman
    CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey     HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
    DAN BURTON, Indiana                  GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York
    ELTON GALLEGLY, California           ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American
    DANA ROHRABACHER, California             Samoa
    DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois         BRAD SHERMAN, California
    EDWARD R. ROYCE, California          ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
    STEVE CHABOT, Ohio                   GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
    RON PAUL, Texas                      RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri
    MIKE PENCE, Indiana                  ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey
    JOE WILSON, South Carolina           GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
    CONNIE MACK, Florida                 THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
    JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska           DENNIS CARDOZA, California
    MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas             BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky
    TED POE, Texas                       BRIAN HIGGINS, New York
    GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida            ALLYSON SCHWARTZ, Pennsylvania
    JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio                   CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, Connecticut
    BILL JOHNSON, Ohio                   FREDERICA WILSON, Florida
    DAVID RIVERA, Florida                KAREN BASS, California
    MIKE KELLY, Pennsylvania             WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts
    TIM GRIFFIN, Arkansas                DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania
    JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina
    ANN MARIE BUERKLE, New York
    RENEE ELLMERS, North Carolina
    ROBERT TURNER, New York
                       Yleem D.S. Poblete, Staff Director
                 Richard J. Kessler, Democratic Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

                                   MARKUP OF

    H.R. 4405, To impose sanctions on persons responsible for the
      detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky, and for other
      gross violations of human rights in Russian Federation, and for
      other purposes.................................................     2
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4405 offered by
        the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Representative in
        Congress from the State of Florida, and chairman, Committee
        on Foreign Affairs...........................................    19
    H. Res. 506, Calling upon the Government of Turkey to facilitate
      the reopening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Theological
      School of Halki without condition or further delay.............    36
    H.R. 4141, To direct the Administrator of the United States
      Agency for International Development to take appropriate
      actions to improve the nutritional quality, quality control,
      and cost effectiveness of United States food assistance, and
      for other purposes.............................................    41
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4141 offered by
        the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen............................    51
    H. Res. 583, Expressing support for robust efforts by the United
      States to see Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's Resistance
      Army, and his top commanders brought to justice and the group's
      atrocities permanently ended...................................    61
      Amendment to H. Res. 583 offered by the Honorable Ileana Ros-
        Lehtinen.....................................................    68
    H. Res. 663, Expressing support for the International Olympic
      Committee to recognize with a minute of silence at every future
      Olympics Opening Ceremony those who lost their lives at the
      1972 Munich Olympics, and for other purposes...................    69
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 663 offered
        by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.........................    72
    H. Res. 526, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
      with respect toward the establishment of a democratic and
      prosperous Republic of Georgia and the establishment of a
      peaceful and just resolution to the conflict with Georgia's
      internationally recognized borders.............................    75
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 526 offered
        by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.........................    83

                                    APPENDIX

    Markup notice....................................................   102
    Markup minutes...................................................   103
    Prepared statements of:
      The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen..............................   105
      The Honorable Gregory W. Meeks, a Representative in Congress
        from the State of New York...................................   113
      The Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in
        Congress from the State of New Jersey........................   121
      The Honorable Russ Carnahan, a Representative in Congress from
        the State of Missouri........................................   128
      The Honorable Dan Burton, a Representative in Congress from the
        State of Indiana.............................................   129
      The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly, a Representative in Congress
        from the Commonwealth of Virginia............................   130
      The Honorable Joe Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the
        State of South Carolina......................................   132
      The Honorable Allyson Schwartz, a Representative in Congress
        from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania........................   133
      The Honorable Gus Bilirakis, a Representative in Congress from
        the State of Florida.........................................   134

                         VARIOUS BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS

                                  ----------

                             THURSDAY, JUNE 7, 2012

                      House of Representatives,
                                  Committee on Foreign Affairs,
                                                        Washington, DC.
        The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 o'clock a.m.,
    in room 2200 Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ileana Ros-
    Lehtinen (chairman of the committee) presiding.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. The committee will come to order.
    Pursuant to notice, the committee meets today to markup several
    bipartisan measures. Without objection, all members may have 5
    days to insert written remarks into the record on any of
    today's measures or amendments. According to the expedited
    procedures shared with members earlier this week, we will
    consider and approve all the measures en bloc. Afterwards, I
    will recognize myself, the ranking member, Ms. Schmidt, any
    other members seeking recognition for remarks.
        All of these items are in the packets in front of members,
    were provided to your offices, and posted online earlier this
    week. And so, without objection, the following measures are
    considered as read and will be considered en bloc.
        H.R. 4405, the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability
    Act of 2012, and the bipartisan substitute amendment offered by
    the Chair.
        H. Res. 506, calling upon the Government of Turkey to
    facilitate the opening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's
    Theological School of Halki.
        H.R. 4141, the Donald M. Payne International Food
    Assistance Improvement Act of 2012, and the bipartisan
    substitute amendment offered by the Chair.
        H. Res. 583, expressing support for robust efforts by the
    United States to see Joseph Kony, the leader of the Lord's
    Resistance Army, and his top commanders brought to justice, and
    the bipartisan amendment to H. Res. 583 offered by the Chair.
        H. Res. 663, expressing support for the International
    Olympic Committee to recognize a minute of silence for those
    who lost their lives at the 1972 Munich Olympics, and the
    bipartisan substitute amendment offered by the Chair.
        And H. Res. 526, expressing the sense of the House of
    Representatives with respect to the establishment of a
    democratic and prosperous Republic of Georgia, and the
    bipartisan amendment substitute offered by the Chair.
        [The bills and amendments referred to follow:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. The Chair moves that the measures
    just listed be adopted by the committee. All those in favor say
    aye.
        All opposed, no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the
    measures and the amendments considered en bloc are approved.
    Without objection, each of those underlined measures, as
    amended, is ordered favorably reported as a single amendment in
    the nature of a substitute. Staff is directed to make technical
    and conforming changes, and the Chair is authorized to seek
    consideration under suspension of the rules.
        Having concluded the operative part of today's business, I
    will now recognize members who wish to make statements on the
    adopted measures, beginning with myself and the ranking member.
    Then we will go to Ms. Schmidt and anyone else seeking
    recognition.
        I want to thank the ranking member, all of our committee
    members and our staff for the good work that went into the
    measures we have just adopted. Whether it be the desire for
    accountability in the death of Sergei Magnitsky, the right of
    Ecumenical Patriarchate to reopen its Halki Seminar, ending the
    murderous rampage of Joseph Kony, commemorating the Israeli
    Olympians murdered 40 years ago in Munich, or expressing our
    hopes for the security and prosperity of a democratic Georgia,
    I am proud of this committee's ability to speak with one voice
    on these timely issues of shared concern.
        With that, I will place my remarks on these measures into
    the record, and recognize the ranking member for any remarks
    that he may have. Mr. Berman is recognized.
        Mr. Berman. Well, thank you very much, Madam Chairman, both
    for recognizing me but also for working with us in the minority
    and your staff and ours on all the items in this markup,
    including several Democratic measures. I support all of the
    bills and resolutions that we are taking up today.
        The Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012
    is a very important piece of legislation. Later this year,
    Congress may consider lifting the Jackson-Vanik provisions
    concerning immigration from Russia, and granting Russia
    permanent normal trade relations. But if we are to consider
    such changes to our trade law, it should be done in conjunction
    with legislation to address serious human rights violations in
    Russia. In addition to Sergei's tragic death, we are deeply
    concerned about the range of human rights violations including
    extrajudicial killings, the serious irregularities in recent
    elections, and legislation elected by several city councils,
    including St. Petersburg, to constrict the ability of Russia's
    LGBT community to exercise their rights of expression,
    association, and assembly.
        This substitute differs from the original in that it only
    sanctions human rights violators in Russia. My preference is
    worldwide application of these provisions as opposed to
    singling out one specific country, which is consistent with
    steps already taken by the Obama administration to deny visas
    to human rights violators and to curb corruption by foreign
    government officials. As this legislation moves forward, I hope
    we will reexamine the issue of whether or not to take a more
    expansive approach to human rights violators and those that
    facilitate financial corruption.
        I also want to commend Mr. Bilirakis for his very important
    resolution, H. Res. 506, Calling upon the Government of Turkey
    to facilitate the reopening of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's
    Theological School of Halki without condition or further delay.
    The Ecumenical Patriarchate has numerous fully legitimate
    concerns about the unjust treatment the Turkish Government has
    accorded it over the years, including policies that have
    threatened the very existence of the Patriarchate. And those of
    us who have been seized with those concerns for some time
    remain fully committed to them. But the message of this
    resolution, which I strongly support, is very specific--simple
    but powerful--and directed toward the Turkish Government.
    Reopen the Halki Seminary!
        The Halki Seminary, located on an island near Istanbul, was
    the preeminent seminary of the Greek Orthodox world until
    Turkey closed it in 1971. For the past 41 years, its
    classrooms--which produced the top theologians of the Greek
    Orthodox world--have been silent. This balanced resolution
    notes some positive gestures by the Turkish Government in
    recent years, including the return of some church property and
    the unprecedented meeting of the Turkish Prime Minister with
    Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. But a flourishing Halki
    Seminary would be a true sign that Turkey is serious about
    moving toward religious freedom and fully joining the family of
    democratic nations. I call on the Turkish Government to reopen
    Halki without any further delay.
        H.R. 4141, the Donald Payne International Food Assistance
    Act of 2012, honors and builds on the tireless efforts of our
    late colleague to protect the world's most vulnerable
    populations. With Don's untimely passing we not only lost a
    dear friend and respected colleague, but a wise and determined
    champion for those who live in chronically food insecure
    environments. All too often, the food rations designed to
    address short-term crises end up being relied upon for
    multiyear feeding programs, but they are unsuited to provide
    adequate nutrition over longer periods of time.
        With H. Res. 583, introduced by Mr. McGovern, this
    committee reiterates its condemnation of Joseph Kony and the
    Lord's Resistance Army, which continues to terrorize
    communities in Central Africa. The resolution underscores our
    support for U.S. and international efforts to stop the LRA and
    bring Joseph Kony to justice. It emphasizes the importance of
    regional cooperation, local capacity building, and civilian
    protection and recovery programs, which will be necessary even
    after Kony and his allies are removed from the battlefield.
        And H. Res. 526 offered by Mr. Shuster is a strong
    statement in support of Georgia's progress on democratic
    reforms, its territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic
    aspirations. It recognizes the reforms since the 2003 Rose
    Revolution, calls on the Government of Georgia to continue this
    progress so that we can strengthen our partnership and expand
    our bilateral relationships. A critical measure of this
    progress will be the upcoming parliamentary and presidential
    elections. I am concerned by efforts to prevent a prominent
    political opponent from running in the parliamentary election
    and reported attempts to intimidate local opposition leaders
    including denying them access to media. We will watch this
    process closely.
        And I am almost done. I want to thank my friend from New
    York, Mr. Engel, for introducing H. Res. 663. This resolution
    encourages the International Olympic Committee to hold a minute
    of silence during the upcoming London Olympics to commemorate
    the 40th anniversary of the 1970 Munich Olympics terrorist
    attack in which 11 Israeli Olympians, including a dual U.S.-
    Israeli national lost their lives. The 40th anniversary year of
    that tragedy is an appropriate time to honor those lost that
    day, and a moment of silence at all future Olympics will remind
    the victims' families and friends that the international
    community has not forgotten their loved ones.
        Thank you very much, Madam Chairman. I look forward to
    working with you at our next markup on the state authorization
    legislation.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you very much, Mr. Berman, for
    your excellent statement. Ms. Schmidt is recognized for 5
    minutes.
        Ms. Schmidt. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for
    today's markup. Balancing religious concerns is a delicate
    dance and we recognize that this, I believe, is Hellenic Week
    and brings to light concerns that the Greek community may have.
    And one of those is the issue of the Halki Seminary. And I do
    believe that it should be reopened, and I understand that the
    Turkish Government is committed toward that.
        But I do want to bring to light some of the concerns that
    the Turkish Embassy shared with me regarding Mr. Bilirakis'
    resolution. And I am going to read what they said.

              ``Turkey is committed to finding a viable solution to
            reopen the Halki Seminary and to overcome the remaining
            restrictions which apply to all religious communities.
            However, the actions of the House of Representatives on
            these issues are neither necessary nor productive. On
            the contrary, such action risks backfiring and
            undermining political-mentum obtained.
              ``Turkey fully understands the needs of the Greek
            Orthodox minority to train its clergy. However, the
            difficulty is not related to the status of the
            Patriarchate. Turkey, by its virtue of its
            constitution, is a secular state. Thus, in line with
            the Turkish constitution and the principles of
            secularism, which constitutes a fundamental tenet of
            Turkish democracy, religious instruction is placed
            under the supervision of the State. It is with this
            understanding that Turkey is exploring a viable
            solution to reopen the Halki Seminary and to overcome
            the legal restrictions.
              ``H. Res. 506 is outdated and it omits the recent
            historic steps taken by Turkey as such, the return of
            all immoveable properties to non-Muslim community
            foundations. The perennial singling out of Turkey on
            such issues is both unwarranted and discriminatory. As
            acknowledged by the State Department, religious
            freedoms have steadily improved in Turkey. The HFAC
            markup will invariably turn into a Turkish bashing
            session. This will be very unfortunate, especially
            during Secretary Clinton's visit to Turkey and the run
            up of the annual ATC Conference.''

        By the way, we understand that the resolution is in place
    for reasons that are apparent. Turkey is always sensitive to
    the tone, content in general, atmospheres of such congressional
    action, and moreover it is a secular democracy, and it is more
    than ironic that Turkey is a country of setting of a positive
    example in this region, and they believe that, they are fearing
    that they are being singled out by this Congress.
        I bring this to light because I have had groups come to me
    regarding this resolution, and while I believe that the Halki
    Seminary needs to be open, I just wanted to share what the
    Turkish Embassy's concerns are during this resolution. And I
    yield back my time.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you very much, Ms. Schmidt.
    Mr. Connolly is recognized for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Connolly. Thank you, Madam Chairman. And I wish to
    associate myself, particularly with the remarks and all of the
    resolutions we have marked up today, with the ranking member,
    Mr. Berman.
        As the co-chair of the Turkey caucus, I want to express my
    strong support for House Resolution 506. I think it actually is
    something that ought to be welcomed by all of us who are
    friends of Turkey and support Turkey, and I want to quote what
    President Obama said at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey
    in 2009. He said, ``Freedom of religion and expression lead to
    a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the
    State,'' which is why steps like reopening the Halki Seminary
    will send such an important signal inside Turkey and beyond.
        I believe the resolution is balanced. It recognizes strides
    that the Turkish Government has made with respect to the
    Ecumenical Patriarchate, and to broaden religious freedoms and
    respect for the diversity of religious expression. For example,
    the resolution welcomes the historic meeting between the Prime
    Minister and the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It welcomes the
    positive gestures of the Government of Turkey allowing
    liturgical celebration by that Patriarchate at the historic
    Sumela Monastery and the return of the former Greek Orphanage
    of Buyukada Island to the Ecumenical Patriarchate. It urges the
    Government of Turkey to facilitate the opening of the
    Ecumenical Patriarchate's Theological School without delay,
    which I support, and urges the Government of Turkey to address
    other long-standing concerns relating to the Ecumenical
    Patriarchate.
        I believe Turkey is a vibrant, secular society. It is a
    society striving to make sure that it respects religious
    diversity, and I think this resolution is intended to be
    supportive of those efforts, not even inferentially necessarily
    critical of the Government of Turkey, and as such I welcome the
    resolution and glad to support it.
        With that I yield back. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. I thank the gentleman. Judge Poe is
    recognized for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Poe. I thank the chair for the time. I want to make two
    comments, one about the resolution in Turkey. Turkey has done a
    remarkable job in moving forward for religious freedom
    especially in the area of being open to more religious freedom.
    However, I do think the proof is in the pudding in this
    specific case, and it would be a great step forward to show the
    world that if the Halki Seminary was reopened that they are
    serious about religious freedom. Then to Turkey, have a lot of
    friends both in the United States and abroad that are of
    Turkish heritage, and so I commend them on their efforts. Let
    us hope that the seminary can be opened as soon as possible and
    to show that Orthodox Christians in Turkey have religious
    freedom just like other folks have religious freedom.
        On the issue of Georgia, Georgia seems to be one of those
    countries where the world is not paying any attention to what
    took place or is taking place. The Russians decided they wanted
    to invade Georgia and so they did. They went in, and in a few
    days they took over one-third of the sovereign territory of
    Georgia. The world made some political statements, especially
    the Europeans. The Russians ceased on their aggression, stopped
    after they took over two territories, or one-third of the
    sovereign territory of Georgia, and the world has moved on.
        The Russians still occupy a foreign land. They occupy the
    sovereign nation of Georgia. This resolution, I think, is good
    to promote the awareness of what took place and what is taking
    place in Georgia. It is a democracy like all democracies. The
    United States doesn't necessarily agree with everything taking
    place but we do believe, and I do believe, we should support
    their strong effort to be a democratic state, a state of
    freedom and liberty, and eventually the world is going to have
    to make a decision about where we stand on the issue of the
    Russians still occupying one-third of the sovereign territory
    of a nation that is our friend.
        And with that, Madam Chair, I will yield back.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. That is just the way it is. Thank
    you, sir.
        Mr. Poe. Just the way it is.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Mr. Sires of New Jersey is
    recognized.
        Mr. Sires. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for having
    the markup so swiftly on these important measures. I am proud
    to be a cosponsor of many of them. But I am particularly proud
    and pleased to see that the Donald Payne International Food
    Assistance Improvement Act is on the agenda.
        If passed into law, this bill will serve as an appropriate
    legacy for a man that dedicated his congressional career to
    improving the lives of the most vulnerable across this globe.
    As a good friend, as a colleague and as serving on the adjacent
    district, I saw his work for many, many years.
        I would also like to associate myself with some of the
    comments that were made here, especially when it comes to
    Russia and Georgia, and I also like to stand firmly on the
    human rights and targets of those that are continued to be
    neglected. And certainly the Turkey issue with the theological
    school, I am a strong supporter hopefully that Turkey can work
    and open a theological school, which is something that is
    sorely needed.
        So thank you very much.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you very much. Mr. Meeks of
    New York is recognized.
        Mr. Meeks. Thank you, Madame Chair. First, I want to agree
    with my colleagues that I support just every bill that we are
    marking up this morning, and want to make specific comments,
    first, about the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability
    Act of 2012, H.R. 4405.
        This bill largely addresses a tragedy in Russia and
    Congress' frustration at the inadequacy of the Russian
    Government's response to this affair. But let me be clear,
    however, that we do not intend this legislation to define our
    bilateral relationship. We strive to expand and strengthen our
    partnership with the Russian Federation, and that is the goal
    even of this human rights legislation. We encourage reforms and
    acknowledge accomplishments, their vibrant civil society and
    space for public debate. We do not turn, however, our backs on
    serious shortcomings.
        To the extent that governments fail to punish human rights
    violators, they are complicit. To the extent that governments
    tolerate or perpetuate human rights violations, they invite the
    world's complaint or worse. We in the United States want better
    for the people of Russia. We want better for the Americans in
    Russia. We want better for the Americans doing business in
    Russia. We want honorable partners.
        The people of the United States have a tradition older than
    our Nation of relying on government to protect their liberty
    and their basic rights. Promotion and protection of human and
    political rights is so fundamental to our understanding of the
    responsibility of government that Congress annually looks at
    the executive branch to report on the human rights performance
    of foreign governments. Our compassion and conviction compel us
    to seek universal adherence to shared standards of civility.
        This is far, far from saying that the United States has a
    perfect record of protecting citizens' rights and liberties.
    Sadly, our history documents horrors of African Americans who
    slaved and fought to make this country long before the law
    recognized them as full personhoods, much less their
    citizenship. Similarly, too many chapters of our national
    history were written before women had the right to vote or
    control their own property. Too few chapters tell the story of
    the slaughter of Native Americans and the exploration of their
    lands.
        But here is an important point. The American public demands
    truth-telling. We confront our history, documenting the
    government's role in enslavement, torture, corruption and
    killings. We make public the stories of Abu Ghraib, of
    innocence detained and forgotten in cells of those falsely
    convicted and in prison. We will continue to examine and
    criticize these tragedies and mistakes and will strive to do
    better. If we want our partners to be model citizens of the
    world then we need to do a better job of modeling the behavior.
        What we do today is important, but it is as least as
    important to understand that the type of action we legislate
    today is only one way to inspire change. The flow of people,
    goods and ideas is transformative. Exposure to American books,
    media and fashion influences the way people across this globe
    thinks, dress and behave. American businesses modeling ethical,
    efficient and profitable corporate culture are incubators of
    changing values abroad. Increased trade and business investment
    with Russia will improve the business climate and strengthen
    the rule of law. Engagement is a key to understanding and
    change. If we want to improve the climate for doing business in
    Russia, if we want the world to be safe for whistleblowers, if
    we want to encourage civil society and if we want to fight
    corruption in business, government, education and scientific
    pursuits we need to increase the world's exposure to our best
    business, government, educational and scientific practices.
    This is why we need immediately to authorize PNTR. And let me
    repeat, to improve the rule of law in Russia, to strengthen
    civil society, to create jobs in the United States, we must
    immediately authorize PNTR for Russia.
        So as important as it is to keep malefactors from whatever
    country from our shores, it is equally important to look for
    ways to increase our engagement with Russia. As this
    legislation passes with bipartisan support, I look forward to
    legislation that will facilitate engagement with Russia by
    lifting the trade-restricting Jackson-Vanik Amendment and
    authorizing permanent normal trade relations with Russia, and I
    look forward to bipartisan support. This legislation will put
    Americans on a level playing field with all of the members of
    the WTO.
        And I just want to say again just real quickly that on H.R.
    4141, I just have to mention it is an honor for me to support
    that bill, the International Food Assistance Improvement Act,
    because this bill before us is important for my dear friend and
    the leadership and the vision of the late Donald Payne, who was
    a champion for hunger. H.R. 4141 will improve the nutritional
    quality, the quality control and cost effectiveness of the U.S.
    food assistance, and ultimately it will improve lives,
    particularly the lives of the most vulnerable.
        And I had other statements that I want to submit for the
    record in regards to----
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Without objection.
        Mr. Meeks [continuing]. Turkey and to Georgia. And I yield
    back.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much for a powerful
    statement, Mr. Meeks. Mr. Engel of New York is recognized.
        Mr. Engel. Thank you, Madam Chair. And let me say, I have
    been on this committee for 24 years and this is the first time,
    I think, we have been in this room in this fashion. So there is
    always something new and interesting on the Foreign Affairs
    Committee.
        Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you, Ranking Member
    Berman, for holding this markup. We are taking up several
    important pieces of legislation today, one of which I want to
    highlight because I have introduced it with my colleague from
    New York, Representative Lowey. This resolution, H. Res. 663,
    urges the International Olympic Committee to schedule a minute
    of silence to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the massacre
    of 11 Israeli athletes in the Summer Olympic Games in Munich,
    Germany, on September 5, 1972. I remember that day. Let us not
    forget what happened on that day.
        In the early morning hours, eight members of a Palestinian
    terrorist group called Black September broke into the Munich
    Olympic Village and entered the building where the Israeli team
    was saying. An athlete and a coach were killed in the dormitory
    while nine others, four athletes, three coaches and two
    referees were taken hostage. Less than 24 hours later, after
    several failed rescue attempts in a gunfight that left a German
    police officer dead, the nine hostages were also killed. The
    massacre of the Munich 11 was a jarring reminder that the
    Olympic Games, long a symbol of international cooperation and
    camaraderie, are not wholly divorced from the hatred and
    intolerance which still exists throughout the world. So I very
    strongly believe that a minute of silence at this year's games
    would be a long overdue symbol that such terrible acts of
    violence will not go unremembered.
        Madam Chair, the Olympic Games are more than just a swim
    meet or a javelin throw. They represent a time when the world
    supposedly comes together in friendship to honor the commitment
    of thousands of athletes to competition in the spirit of sport.
    I know of no better way to honor the participants than to hold
    a minute of silence at the London games in honor of the Munich
    11, so that 40 years after the tragedy the world can say as
    one, we remember. It is really an absolute disgrace that the
    Olympic Committee is refusing to do this. They really ought to
    be ashamed of themselves, and I think that the Congress ought
    to strongly go on record as supporting this.
        I would also like to speak very briefly about a few of the
    other resolutions. First, I strongly support H. Res. 526
    regarding the Republic of Georgia. As a cosponsor of this
    resolution, I believe that Georgia is a democratic and stable
    partner and ally of the United States and that the United
    States should wholeheartedly support Georgia's aspirations for
    NATO membership.
        Secondly, I am glad that the committee is taking up H. Res.
    506, which calls on the Government of Turkey to facilitate the
    reopening of the Theological School of Halki. The continued
    closure of the school has been an ongoing issue of concern for
    me, for the United States, and I am glad that there has been
    some positive gestures lately by the Government of Turkey. Let
    us hope it becomes more than just gestures. I think we have to
    remain focused until the Halki Seminary is reopened.
        And finally, while we are discussing Turkey, I would like
    to inform my colleagues that on Tuesday, Representative
    Bilirakis and I introduced H. Res 676, which expresses deep
    concern about Turkey's efforts to colonize areas of the
    Republic of Cyprus. Not only does this violate the sovereignty
    of the Republic of Cyprus and international law, but by
    relocating hundreds of thousands of non-Cypriot citizens of
    Turkey to Cyprus, Ankara is attempting to change the basic
    character of Cyprus. Cyprus is a country for all Cypriots,
    Greek, Turkish and others, not for colonists from another
    country. So it is time for Congress to tell Turkey to stop, and
    that is why Congressman Bilirakis and I have introduced this
    resolution.
        So thank you again, Madam Chair, for holding this markup,
    and for the opportunity to speak. And I yield back.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you very much, Mr. Engel.
    Thank you for your participation. Mr. Smith of New Jersey is
    recognized for 5 minutes.
        Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Madam Chair, and thank you
    for bringing forward six totally bipartisan and very important
    measures to the committee and ultimately to the floor. I do
    have a statement on all of them and would, unanimous consent
    that it be----
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Without objection.
        Mr. Smith [continuing]. Made a part of the record. Just
    briefly, we so importantly honor our deceased colleague, Donald
    Payne, and the naming of the legislation after him on food
    security, I think, is so appropriate, and I thank you for
    taking the lead on that. Food security remains an enormous
    problem worldwide and especially in Africa, and Don was such a
    tenacious champion of food security, so it is so appropriate
    that this legislation proceeds as his bill and named after him.
        On Georgia, I strongly support H. Res 526 supporting the
    territory integrity of the Republic of Georgia, while
    encouraging reforms that will move Georgia along the path
    toward democracy. After Russia's 2008 invasion of Georgia, the
    Russian Government recognized the independence of the
    territories it occupied effectively dismembering Georgia. I
    might add that I was in Georgia in August 2008, a couple days
    after the invasion, helping to recover three of my
    constituents, very young girls, who were trapped behind Russian
    lines, so I saw something of the terrible cost of the invasion.
    And my office then was able to work with our embassy to secure
    others who were also in like manner trapped.
        At the same time, the resolution focuses important
    attention on the need for further democratic reforms in
    Georgia. I believe the parliamentary elections scheduled for
    October of this year is a critical moment in the country's
    post-Soviet development. It is essential that this election be,
    and be considered, free and fair not only by OSCE monitors, but
    more importantly by the Georgians themselves. So this is a
    very, very timely resolution.
        On the H. Res. 583, which obviously focuses on Joseph Kony,
    an indicted war criminal, a man who ought to be at the Hague
    facing prosecution, with the estimates are 380,000 thousand
    people have been displaced across the Central African Republic,
    the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, because of LRA
    attacks. More than two million Ugandans were displaced by this
    awful group before being effectively expelled from that
    country. The LRA is responsible for serious and widespread
    human rights abuses throughout the region including murder,
    mutilation, abduction, sexual enslavement of women and
    children, and forcing children to take part in its incredibly
    vicious attacks.
        I would note parenthetically that in 2006 we had in this
    room, Grace Akello, who testified she was one of those young
    girls who was abducted by the LRA and she was one of the lucky
    ones who made it out, wrote a book and told us about her
    harrowing experiences at the hands of the LRA.
        Again, I want to thank Mr. Bilirakis for his legislation.
    Obviously it is important that this committee and the Congress
    again assert, and assert strongly, support for the
    Patriarchates' efforts to return the theological seminary. So
    on all of these issues, and then I thank you, Madam Chair, for
    this outstanding markup----
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you very much, Mr. Smith.
    Thank you for your statement. Mr. Burton, always saving the
    best for last, is recognized.
        Mr. Burton. That will probably be, because I am going to be
    very brief. I have heard my colleagues' comments. I agree with
    all of them. I have a statement for the record and I would like
    to submit it. And with that I yield back.
        Chairman Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you very much. The Chair
    definitely likes to hear that kind of statement.
        And with all business having concluded, the markup is now
    adjourned. Thank you.
        [Whereupon, at 10:38 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]

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