[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 14835-14838]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               COMMENDING AND SUPPORTING RADIO AL MAHABA

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 784) commending and supporting Radio 
Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and only radio station for women.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 784

       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and only radio 
     station for women, went on the air on April 1, 2005;
       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba is an educational tool, 
     broadcasting in three different languages and giving women 
     freedom to voice opinions and hear other opinions;
       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba airs shows dedicated to women's 
     rights and women's issues;
       Whereas such shows are devoted to relationships, parenting, 
     and other social topics;
       Whereas despite terrible risks, the staff of Radio Al 
     Mahaba works at the station because they want to reach out 
     and touch peoples' lives, and they want to give hope, 
     knowledge, empowerment, support, and a passage to freedom to 
     Iraqi women;
       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba, amid the struggles in Iraq, has 
     followed the examples of the United States which guarantees 
     freedoms of speech and the press, thereby encouraging Iraqis 
     to build an open, democratic civil society;
       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba has a positive, important role in 
     educating women;
       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba provides women with freedom of 
     speech;
       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba provides an opportunity for women 
     to secure their role in the governance of a civil society 
     within Iraq; and
       Whereas Radio Al Mahaba meets a palpable need of Iraqi 
     women: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the efforts of Radio Al Mahaba to provide 
     Iraqi women with freedom of speech and an opportunity for 
     women to be included in and informed of the reconstruction of 
     Iraq with an open, democratic civil society;
       (2) supports the mission of Radio Al Mahaba; and
       (3) urges Al Mahaba to continue its important work.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Ackerman) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.

                              {time}  1600


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 784, introduced by our colleague Mrs. 
McCarthy, and a measure of which I am proud to be an original 
cosponsor, commends and supports Iraq's first and only radio station 
for women, Al Mahaba. All of us who have spent time in the Middle East 
know of the courage that it takes for women to take to the airwaves and 
provide education and information for women.

[[Page 14836]]

  It was April 1, 2005, when Al Mahaba first went on the air. Despite 
personal risk, these courageous people took to the airwaves, in the 
words of the resolution, to reach out and touch people's lives, and 
give hope, knowledge empowerment, support and a passage to freedom to 
Iraqi women.
  Its commitment was to serve as an important education resource for 
women, for broadcasting in three languages, and enabling women to hear, 
some for the very first time, messages about women's rights and women's 
issues. Radio Al Mahaba provides a forum for women to voice their 
opinions and to hear the opinions of other women who face the 
complexities of life for women in the Middle East.
  The programming on Al Mahaba deals with issues specifically focused 
on women, which includes such important topics as relationships, 
parenting and other social issues which are not dealt with in other 
media. This radio station, which operates within the aura of what we in 
America know as our first amendment rights of freedom of speech and 
freedom of the press, is a wonderful example to Iraqi women and Iraqi 
people nationwide of the benefits of freedom. It plays an important 
role in paving the way for women to have more of a fundamental impact 
on Iraqi society.
  House Resolution 784 appropriately commends the efforts of these 
pioneers. It supports the mission of Radio Al Mahaba and it encourages 
it to continue with its important work. I urge my colleagues, Mr. 
Speaker, to support this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, first I would like to commend and thank my good friend 
and colleague from New York, Carolyn McCarthy, for sponsoring this very 
important measure.
  Mr. Speaker, our intervention in Iraq and its aftermath have not been 
without controversy, but there are some developments there that I know 
every Member of this body is happy to embrace. Radio Al Mahaba 
represents just such a development.
  Radio Al Mahaba is a unique phenomenon in the Middle East, a radio 
station for women dealing with issues of interest to women, and, more 
importantly, run by women.
  In a society where a majority of women are illiterate, radio is a 
vital means of imparting information. Of course, female illiteracy is a 
problem in virtually every state in the Islamic Middle East, which is 
precisely why Radio Al Mahaba is a model for the region.
  I am pleased to report, Mr. Speaker, that Radio Al Mahaba is a fully 
independent radio station, both politically and religiously. It is 
surely one of the few Iraqi radio stations, some say the only one, that 
can be described in that way.
  Mr. Speaker, Radio Al Mahaba was founded 1 year ago with a $500,000 
grant from the United Nations Development Fund for Women. It started 
out broadcasting 6 hours a day; and as a result of its incredible 
popularity, it was up to 16 hours a day very soon thereafter. 
Unfortunately, it was forced to cut back after terrorists destroyed its 
transmitter. Nonetheless, Al Mahaba carries on.
  Radio Al Mahaba is a beacon of free expression for Iraqi women, and 
it has the potential to make a remarkable contribution to the political 
and cultural growth of Iraqi society as a whole. It deserves the 
support of every Member of this body, as does the resolution commending 
its work.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution and urge all of our 
colleagues to do likewise
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York, the 
sponsor of the resolution, Carolyn McCarthy.
  Mrs. McCARTHY. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New 
York for allowing me to speak on this, and I also want to thank my 
colleague from Florida, who has been a sponsor. We actually had a trip 
of women that went to Iraq and saw firsthand how important it is for 
the Iraqi women to have a voice.
  Historically, Iraqi women were extremely well educated, but the 
educational suppression brought on by Saddam Hussein led to the 
illiteracy rate of women rising to almost 75 percent.
  After Saddam was ousted, Bushra Jamil, an Iraqi who was living in 
Canada, saw an opportunity to empower the women of Iraq as it 
transitioned to democracy. Bushra returned home and created Radio Al 
Mahaba, the Middle East's only radio station for women. The station 
became so popular that they were broadcasting, as my colleague had 
said, 16 hours a day in three languages, Arabic, Kurdish and English.
  While we take radio shows that cater to women for granted, this was a 
revolutionary concept in the Middle East. Women who had been oppressed 
for years were finally able to hear their side of the story.
  The radio station provided a forum for women to make sure their 
voices were heard. The station received 100 calls a day from women 
asking questions, giving advice and voicing their opinions on the 
rebuilding of their country. The radio station had found an audience, 
and they were now financially sustainable through sponsorships.
  But last October, unfortunately, the radio station fell silent. The 
terrorist attack on the Palestinian hotel in Baghdad destroyed their 
transmitter. And while the station was not the target of this attack, 
many leaders in Iraq were not all upset that these women's voices were 
silenced.
  They found another transmitter, but it wasn't as powerful as the one 
they lost during the terrorist attack. This new transmitter could only 
reach about a third of their listening audience. Fewer listeners meant 
less sponsorship revenue for the station.
  Unfortunately, the rented transmitter broke down about a month ago, 
and they are in desperate need of funds to get back on the air. Once 
they receive this funding, they plan to expand their listening audience 
to include all of Iraq and its neighbors. They are also planning on 
broadcasting in Persian to reach the women of Iran, who have been 
oppressed for nearly 30 years.
  The radio station can be the place for women in Iraq and throughout 
the Middle East to learn about the issues that will affect their lives. 
The right to educate one's self and to be heard are cornerstones of our 
own democracy, and these characteristics should be carried over into 
the new Iraq.
  The station's 28 full-time and part-time staff risk their lives every 
day by going to work. These people are Iraqi patriots, and I am 
confident their sacrifices will be rewarded.
  Mr. Speaker, I recently had a chance to speak to President Bush about 
the station and he was very enthusiastic about the role it will play in 
a democratic Iraq.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this station and the resolution. I 
would like to thank members of the Iraqi Women's Caucus and the 
International Relations Committee. I would also like to thank 
Representatives Osborne, Tauscher, Granger, Solis, my colleague from 
New York, Mr. Ackerman and, of course, my colleague from Florida, Ms. 
Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman Hyde and Ranking Member Lantos for their strong 
support of this station and this resolution. This has been a bipartisan 
effort from the start, and I hope we can continue to work together.
  Mr. Speaker, with all the bad news that is coming out of Iraq, we 
must recognize those who are really trying to make a free Iraq. 
Democracy takes a long time. We can do this, but we all must work 
together.
  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to yield the balance of 
my time to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) who is going to 
close our debate, the cochair of the Iraqi Women's Caucus here in the 
House.
  Mr. OSBORNE. Mr. Speaker, as has been mentioned, I have served as a 
cochair of the Iraqi Women's Caucus. Some people may say, well, why 
would

[[Page 14837]]

you have a Women's Caucus? The reason is at one point we were meeting 
with Paul Wolfowitz, and Paul was mentioning the fact that women had 
been subjugated in Iraq, had not been given a voice. So at that time 
Jennifer Dunn and I thought that maybe doing something to encourage 
Iraqi women would be helpful, because women tend to be oriented toward 
family, toward children, and they tend not to be as isolated by tribes, 
by ethnicity. As a result, we formed the Iraqi Women's Caucus. We felt 
that women could be a key to uniting Iraq.
  So we are very encouraged by Radio Al Mahaba and the fact that they 
are now broadcasting in three languages. They do not recognize 
differences between the Shiia, the Kurds and the Sunnis; and they 
devote themselves almost entirely to women's issues. We feel that this 
is something that absolutely has to be encouraged.
  In talking to Iraqi women who have come to the United States, and we 
have had many groups who come here, they have said that really Iraq is 
not as divided as most people in the United States believe, because 
there is intermarriage and there are cousins who are from one tribe or 
another and they all are related. So we feel that endeavors such as 
this are really important.
  Mr. Speaker, we particularly want to commend the staff at the radio 
station, Al Mahaba, for their bravery, for their fortitude, and for 
what they are doing to try to bring Iraq together. I think one thing 
that we will find is that humanity has certain common instincts and 
needs, and certainly the desire to nurture on the part of women, and 
men as well, the desire to have strong families, the desire to have our 
children have a better life than what we had is something that is 
common to all of us.
  So as we point out these things and as this radio station capitalizes 
on those instincts, I think we certainly are moving toward a better day 
in Iraq.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
784, which commends and supports Radio Al Mahaba, Iraq's first and only 
radio station for women.
  In the midst of all the bad news coming out of Iraq, it is important 
that we recognize one of the positive developments there. Radio Al 
Mahaba provides a unique service to the citizens of Iraq, particularly 
the women. It allows Iraqi women to express their opinions about issues 
important to them, including women's rights.
  For Iraq to have any kind of future, there must be full participation 
and equal treatment under the law for women in Iraq. The voices of 
Iraqi women must be heard in all levels of government, the private 
sector, in schools, and in the media. I am pleased that today this body 
officially goes on the record in support of these efforts.
  However, we should not stop here. We must continue to encourage the 
leadership in Iraq to protect the rights of women, particularly in the 
amendment process for the constitution. Iraqi women and men should be 
guaranteed equality in the constitution to ensure that women will never 
become second-class citizens. Both women and men should have the right 
to vote, access to equal opportunities, and equal treatment under the 
law. I am particularly concerned that final language in the 
constitution could limit women's rights, including in matters such as 
divorce, child custody, and inheritance.
  I have introduced legislation, H.R. 5548, the ``Empowerment of Iraqi 
Women Act of 2006,'' which would establish an Iraqi Women's Fund to 
help Iraqi women and girls in the areas of political, legal, and human 
rights, health care, education, training, security, and shelter, and it 
would authorize $22,500,000 in each fiscal year 2007, 2008, and 2009 
for this fund. I have met with several delegations of Iraqi women 
during my trips to Iraq and here in Washington. I am always inspired by 
their strength and courage to speak out in support of equality, even in 
the face of danger. While these women have hope, they understand that 
the future is very uncertain.
  I know my colleagues join me in expressing our strong support and 
solidarity with the women of Iraq as they fight for the rights to which 
they are entitled. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 784, a resolution that would celebrate Radio Al Mahaba, the first 
and only radio station for women in Iraq. Located in a country that 
only just recently employed a democratic system, Radio Al Mahaba is a 
true symbol of the rights associated with that system.
  In Iraq's history, women were typically denied their basic rights. 
Radio Al Mahaba, which means ``Voice of Women,'' first went on the air 
on April 1, 2005 and represents just the opposite of this norm. It has 
become a forum where women can voice and discuss opinions and practice 
their freedoms of speech and the press. The station offers speaking 
opportunities for local volunteers and female journalists. It has been 
an effective tool not only to reach out to women throughout Iraq, but 
also to encourage greater female participation in the electoral 
process. Thus, the establishment of Radio Al Mahaba was truly a step in 
the right direction towards establishing autonomy and liberties for 
women in Iraq.
  Moreover, Radio Al Mahaba can be a key source for open communication 
among the people of Iraq, delivering information, such as news alerts, 
when necessary. It also represents a positive result of the U.S. 
presence in Iraq.
  Today, it is critical that we commend Radio Al Mahaba for its 
inspiring work and encourage it to stay on the air for years to come. I 
commend Congresswoman McCarthy for proposing H. Res. 784, and I 
strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
support House Resolution 784, the resolution that commends Iraq's first 
and only radio station for women.
  As the women of Iraq continue to fight for their rightful place in 
society, we must recognize the avenues they have engineered for 
themselves that provide the forum for practicing their right to be 
heard.
  Established in 2005, the radio station is appropriately named al-
Mahaba, which means ``love'' in Arabic, is the first and only 
independent women's radio station in Iraq. The station was funded by 
UNIFEM, a United Nations agency that supports women's issues, and is 
not affiliated to any political party.
  Having returned from a recent Codel trip to Iraq, I was very 
fortunate to have met with women representatives from the radio station 
who expressed their commitment to women's issues. These strong and 
courageous women understand much too well the importance of taking a 
stand against oppression and know they have found a new sense of 
empowerment.
  The station's purpose is to reconcile women's rights, which have been 
arbitrarily taken away by political regimes; and to encourage them to 
face their fears and learn to assert themselves as women.
  I support the format facilitated by the radio station because it 
provides women with a long overdue venue where they can tell their 
stories, share their ambitions and express their fears.
  When calling the radio station, these women address a wide range of 
personal and political issues that have a direct affect on them as 
women. The format allows them to candidly share enduring numerous 
beatings from their husbands; share their frustrations with the 
consistent pressure from religious groups to wear the hijab; and 
express their fear of having a strict form of Islamic Law imbedded in 
their society.
  For women who feel as forgotten members of society, the radio station 
provides them a haven to freely express themselves without fear of 
judgment or persecution. These women endure immense atrocities and 
oppressions and we must support and recognize their efforts to assert 
themselves as strong voices in Iraq's society.
  Ms. GRANGER of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House 
Resolution 784 commending Radio Station Al-Mahaba in Iraq.
  Radio Al-Mahaba, which means ``love'' in Arabic, is the only radio 
station in Iraq or the Greater Middle East whose programming is geared 
toward the issues important to women.
  The station's programming is meant to be an educational tool for 
women, focusing on subjects such as parenting, healthcare, 
relationships and other social topics.
  The station broadcasts in three different languages, giving women 
freedom to voice their opinions and hear other opinions.
  Articles about Radio Al-Mahaba have appeared in the New York Times, 
Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune and USA Today.
  I recently had the honor of meeting with employees of Radio Al-Mahaba 
on a delegation I led to Iraq to work with Iraqi women leaders and 
Parliamentarians.
  Right now, they are on the verge of having to shut their doors 
because of terrorist threats against the group and a lack of funding.
  Many insurgents do not want to see women have a voice or play a 
significant role in Iraq. Despite these threats, the employees remain 
determined to stay on the air.
  To do this, they are working for free to keep the station running. If 
this is not a clear expression of a desire for a free and open society, 
I don't know what is.

[[Page 14838]]

  The station eventually hopes to broadcast into Iran in order to let 
Iranian women know that freedom can be achieved but only if they stand 
up for their rights.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a non-partisan issue. Radio Al-Mahaba deserves 
our support.
  It's crucial that women have a strong voice in Iraqi society, 
especially as Iraqis work to form a democracy.
  Radio Al-Mahaba provides women with a vehicle to have that voice.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Wamp). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 784.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________