[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E942]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 22, 2006

  Mr. FARR. Madam Speaker, as a Member of Congress who's served in the 
Peace Corps, I've always considered myself a man of peace.
  I strongly support current U.S. law that prevents any funding from 
going to Hamas, which he State Department has rightly classified as a 
Foreign Terrorist Organization. A Hamas controlled Palestinian 
Authority is antithetical to a peaceful Middle East or a two-state 
solution.
  On May 23 the House approved H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-
Terrorism Act of 2006. If I was convinced that passage of this bill 
would foster peace in the Middle East, I would have voted for it. 
Unfortunately, I felt compelled to oppose the bill because I do not 
believe it will help Israel, our only democratic ally in the region, or 
improve grassroots efforts to reach a peace agreement. In particular, 
H.R. 4681 would make it nearly impossible to fund non-governmental 
organization (NGO) reconciliation programs that work to build peace. By 
funding NGOs that work towards reconciliation and peace we undermine 
the ideology of hate that Hamas perpetuates. The Senate version of this 
bill, S. 2370, specifically includes an exception that allows for 
funding for coexistence and reconciliation activities: ``(2) ASSISTANCE 
TO PROMOTE DEMOCRACY--Assistance to promote democracy, human rights, 
freedom of the press, non-violence, reconciliation, and peaceful co-
existence, provided that such assistance does not directly benefit 
Hamas or other foreign terrorist organizations.'' If the joint House-
Senate conference agrees to include the above Senate language in the 
conference report, I will support H.R. 4681.
  A secure Israel and a two-state solution are the cornerstones to 
achieving peace in the region, and grassroots conflict prevention is 
the critical first step of the foundation for peace.

                          ____________________