that will be an order that charlie's before the house a communication from the speaker speaker's rooms washington d c april first two thousand and eight and here by appointee honorable steve israel to act a speaker pro tempore on this day sign nancy pelosi speaker of the house of representatives pursuant to the order of the house of january fourth two thousand and seven the chair will now recognize members from listed mid by the majority and minority leaders for morning hour debate chair will alternate recognition between the parties with each party limited to thirty minutes and each member other than the majority and minority leaders in the minority whip limited to five minutes the chair recognizes the gentleman from florida for five minutes thank you mr speaker the strongest argument they can be made for the u s colombia free trade agreement is not that it is good for colombia but that it is good for us the u s has few barriers to trade so currently most of colombia's exports enter the u s with few or no restrictions but colombia has many barriers to our goods this is what opponents of the agreement can't seem to grasp the free trade agreement will remove colombia's barriers to u s goods of course colombia will benefit economically but we will benefit more the second strongest argument is that our friends and enemies in this hemisphere are watching how we treat our true low oil ally that is being threatened from many sides if we do not pass this agreement mr speaker and it is clearly in our interest to do so while the only possible conclusion that these countries can come to is that we made a deliberate choice to back away from an ally at this most crucial and critical time mr speaker this debate should be more about how this agreement will impact in a positive way our u s economy and honest debate the debate can have only one outcome strong support for passage of the u s colombia free trade agreement and as soon as possible the capital of colombia is only three hours away from my district in miami florida the strong ties that have developed between our communities are symbolic of the enduring friendship that our nation shares with colombia as florida's seventh largest global trading partner passage of the f d a f d a has the potential to boost florida's exports to colombia by a one hundred sixty one million dollars in just the first year also significant is the agreements ability to support the creation of nearly five thousand new jobs throughout the state within the first three years of its passage also of positive impact of this f d a could be the prosperity and the security of our two nations and indeed the hemisphere as a whole serving as the steadfast bulwark against radical anti american regimes throughout the region colombia has proven time and time again its commitment to respecting human rights and democracy now it is time for us to step up mr speaker and not only support colombia's efforts but provide americans here at home the opportunity to benefit from our trade with the speaker today i join my colleagues my colleagues in celebrating the life will set such i was eighty one years ago set such i was began its life on march thirty first and he continues to serve as an inspiration to thousands for civil rights and labor rights he was a man that understood that in order to achieve change sacrifices are necessary due to his hard work and dedication to his community he successfully founded the united farm workers union the largest union protecting the rights of our country's many farm laborers currently ten states officially honor the memory of such obvious by celebrating a questions what nation in latin america's the long most longstanding democracy the republic of colombia what nation in latin america is the united states most reliable and dependable partner against narcotics and against terrorism the republic of colombia or what nation today has the most popular elected official year after year after year in their own country that's present your e bay of colombia the u s colombia trade agreement is a good agreement for my state of illinois we're a big winner as is the united states two thousand and six el exported two hundred fourteen million dollars in exports to colombia but that's just the beginning why because el noir exports u s exports to colombia are taxed by terrorists but their exports to the united states are not taxed so right now trade a one way street we want to make it a two way street as a result of this trade agreement eighty percent of u s exports that are currently tax will be duty free immediately and as we know our exports other countries grow fifty percent faster with countries we have trade agreements with so it's a win win win for american workers american farmers american manufacturers we want to be competitive with asia we know colombia is a reliable partner our most important ally we know colombia is a longstanding democracy we also know the president uribe as popular he was elected to stem the violence in colombia he was elected to push the fark the left this narco trafficking terrorist organization out of the country and he's made tremendous progress on that because of his success and expanding government presence around the country bringing stability and order and safety and security to colombia his approval rating and his own country year after years meant over eighty percent compare that to this congress which has a fifteen percent approval rating now there are those who oppose this trade agreement and they are the same people who have opposed every trade agreement they say not enough is done for labor while in peru and colombia trade agreements for finalized my democratic friends need to said we need to do more regarding labor rights and both peru and colombia complied and of course peru it's been ratified but colombia is not now they say that there's too much labor violence in colombia let's look at the facts seventy one percent of colombians say they're more secure under president your e bay seventy three percent of colombian say uribe respects human rights homicides are down forty percent kidnappings are down seventy six percent in fact the murder rate in colombia today is lower than washington d c lower than baltimore and here's the facts and labor violence last year's present  has hired four hundred eighteen new prosecutors five hundred forty five new investigators created over twenty one hundred sixty six new posts overall in the prosecutor general's office and increased funding for prosecution of those who commit five percent carlson agree guess president not workers confederation says about these no posts never in the history of colombia have we achieved something so important that when it comes for ticket early to labor leaders is allocated almost thirty nine million dollars reviving body guards protection for labor union leaders fifteen hundred union leaders and activists provided protection of the second largest protected group and they colombia and it's been successful in fact no labor leader under this protection has lost his life or experienced violence as last in post noted yesterday the murder rate for labor activists is lower than the national rate for the rest of the country rebasing made tremendous progress in reducing violence for those who point to labor activists been the subject of violence he's meeting even greater success reducing violence i would also note that the international labor organization has removed columbia from its labor watch list and clumpy has agreed to a permanent international labor organization present a presence in colombia perhaps the most telling fourteen colombian labor union leaders personally given their support for the trade promotion agreement and they represent seventy nine thousand organized workers we can do in your opposition with no explanation the bottom line is a good trade agreement coming as our best ally you care about the future of thank you mr speaker and colleagues today we rise to honor a hardworking labor leader says our chavez who found the united farm workers union dedicated his life to promote nonviolence the boycotts and strikes that would protect farm workers from the dangers of pesticides low wages and that now free and fair elections i met our chavez and one hundred seventy s when he came to organize farm workers in texas i was a young state representative and it was inspired by his leadership then and as he home this was a hardship to dead them to join the thousands of other migrant farm workers to toil in the california fields and one hundred forty four say the chavez enlisted in the u s navy where he served in fault for the united states in the pacific war during world war two he later married helen bella and fathered eight children although it's a job as was not able to complete high school because his family required his helping hands in the california fields he not only endured the hardships of migrant working conditions but experienced the injustices  that he later made a personal crusade for migrant farm workers his personal struggles as a as a migrant farm worker lead him to found a nonviolent way to help hispanic farm workers in the one nine hundred fifty s says are quietly began to study and work for the better working conditions of migrant workers his persistent struggle to help hispanics led him to organize a national farmworker group in fresno california says their job is one of the first hispanic activists that what begun what a series  criticize local officials after uncovering strike breaking practices against the farm workers the national farm workers union later reached a groundbreaking settlement with the shanley industries that marked the first contract ever signed for farm workers in the united expired chair recognizes general from california mr baucus for five minutes seventy six a resolution urging this stablished and of a national holiday for seesawed chevys this resolution with introduced in support by the united farm workers of america she said arch of his foundation the congressional hispanic caucus and many others of my fellow colleagues we are itching for a holiday to honor seaside its memory and educate our youth our community about his remarkable yet humble leader who paved the way for many of us see such obvious is a true american hero he carried the torch of justice and freedom he was a big can of light for many of us latinos in the community his legacy will live in the hearts and hopes and in our dreams to quote him see sip whether yes it can be done this is the same cry we hear today a cry of justice and equality an opportunity for all to have the american dream here in the united states seaside represents a true essence of hope for many of us from some of the guinean seaside with born in yu isn't a grew up as a migrant labor camp and fight against exploitation of workers at the early ages in one teen forty four seats are joining the united states navy and honorably served this country as a veteran with great courage and passion he fought to preserve the principles of freedom and equality of freedom and equality he used the same courage and passion to stop t worker seaside was a trailblazer in the early one nine hundred sixty s he found that the united farm workers to gain national attention to the exploitation a great farmers a too often forgotten labor force he left the organization to increase protection for workers to increase health and safety standards to ban child labor from the field to win fair wages guaranteed to fight against the employment discrimination and the sexual harassment of female workers c s r s dedication to social justice meant great sacrifices this is the year that marks the fortieth anniversary of this famous public twenty five day hunger strike for nonviolence she sighed organize the farm workers to stand together and one loud voice from this day we demand to be treated like men and we should be respected like human beings we are not slaves we are not animals we are not alone we are lucky enough to be part i was lucky to be part of and attend his funeral thirty first as the sars burst the a state holiday however see sars light reaches beyond california and across ethnic barriers and across income levels across our nation ten states officially celebrates the size birth they as a holiday this month legacy will be remembered publicly all across the nation over twenty five states and thirty five cities these national wide actions are respect  and dignity she saw a common man with uncommon vision a humble leader forged together in national coalition of students middle class consumers religious group minorities another's the  impacts is ours life transit and every one of us in the cause and struggle in one thousand nine hundred four he was supposedly awarded the presidential medal of freedom award the highest civilian honor in america the highest civilian honor in america and yet we should have a holiday for him his slogan see support either yes it can be done still rings in the hearts of many of the latinos and none look the knows that it can be done and never give up because you can achieve whatever you want yes i say seize it whether one day cesar chavez will be honored respected and remembered throughout this nation with a holiday this is only the beginning nationwide we are rising awareness of the great man who was honored in our nation who has served our country and sacrifice himself for the betterment of others we will keep his legacy alive i yield back the balance of my time gemma's time has expired share recognizes the gentleman from california dedicated his life to champion the rights of farm laborers and all working people and he did it through nonviolence recently i returned from a trip with the speaker to india where i visited a memorial to mahatma gandhi and i recall that moment thinking about the nonviolence that was also expressed by sesar charges in his movement to fight for dignity and respect for poor people for people that were being oppressed like gandhi chavez believed that nonviolence is one of the most powerful tools to achieve change including social and economic justice charges was a follower also of martin luther king jr believing in the power of prayer and spirituality i have been inspired by the works of fessor charges and also by the co founder of the united farm workers dolores huerta and with that had introduced a resolution in this house to pay tribute to the laura swears that one of the highest ranking members of the u f w yet until this day we have not been able to bring that resolution up and i wonder why and i ask the question why can't this house also pay tribute to a strong leader a female who represents the workers also with that in mind i introduced legislation chavez study act h r three fifty nine that did pass out of this house that would the first time authorize the department of interior to study public lands important to the life and history of fessor chavez through the national park service right now that bill has made its way out of the house and is over at the senate and i would ask that the senate members there take action on the bill as soon as possible we should be grateful and never forget the accomplishments and achievements assess to improve civil rights for every single american and those individuals who work and toil in the fields let us not forget the fruits and vegetables that we receive on our table come from those very farm workers here who may not even today have the same thank you must be going to iraq as with my colleagues today to remember a great american on his birthday says that chavez was born eighty three years ago would have been eighty three years old yesterday he devoted his entire life to the betterment of this nation and to its people he gave voice to the voiceless in working with the farm workers in organizing their union and fighting for their dignity respect and equal treatment on the job he worked for the for farm workers who were not considered equals in any sense he gave voice to the voiceless and in these times we see these disturbing trends going on in our nation where even on the floor of this great people's hall we hear disturbing trends where people are marginalized demonized dehumanized because of who they are and the circumstances of their life these disturbing trends should remind us of says such legacy and his legacy was not about creating a situation where people are treated less than but creating a society where people were treated as equals with respect and with dignity insisted on the best for us and i'm the best in us he insisted on a sense of faith about the future and our families and our nation he insisted on tolerance that we as human beings should understand and respect each other and with that respect comes understanding and with that respect comes a better nation he insisted on equality that all humans are created equal under our constitution all people are created equal under our constitution and he fought his entire life to make that value a reality for all of us so when we celebrate his birthday and we celebrate his legacy let us not forget  legacy that calls upon us day a after day to continue his work to forward his vision and to make this nation the best it can be and to make ourselves the best we can be thank you so much times expired chair recognizes the general from colorado mr salazar for two minutes thank you mr speaker today mr speaker i am proud to support legislation honoring the great american on his eighty first birthday s is best known as a farm worker labor leader and civil rights activist born in yuma arizona of mexican descent chavez became a champion for his fellow farm workers among his many achievements says out chavis was co founder of the united farm workers association with fellow activists the lot of us what the this is so ca should provided farm workers of the voice that they so desperately need needed mr speaker as a lifetime farmer i can appreciate the sacrifices made by ch a supporters my oldest brother leandro salah saddam the oldest of our family marched with sobs chavis in there in california for nearly two years we believe that forcing workers to endure the labor under dangerous working conditions and without fair pay is absurd the most horrific sight that you can ever see is farm workers working out in the field and an aerial applicator coming down upon them spraying pesticides on them he worked to make sure that those things did not happen again we cannot stand by when labor is forced to work even a specified or spade sprayed on the field when he or she is working in them his dedication to the cause of worker rights and equality address the needs of blue collar men and women across this nation mr speaker his example inspires us to work together to improve the quality of life for all americans thank you mr speaker and i yield back  his time chair recognizes the gentleman from california miss lee for two minutes thank you mr speaker i rise in mourning in strong support first of all of a terrorist seventy six the resolution to create a national holiday in honor of a great human migrant workers but for the poor in the working poor and he also built a coalition of conscience across racial and economic boundaries just as his cofounder a great woman a good friend to laura swear to has i am reminded today of the political support this says are provided me during my first california campaign for the california legislature he truly helped me make and when my first election and for that i am deeply grateful and i had the privilege to attend his funeral with congressman delay no california as i marched behind his humble wouldn't ten out casket i was reminded of the fact that one person one person who stood for nonviolence can and could and did make a difference the martin luther king freedom center in oakland california studies the lives of great freedom fighters such as dr martin luther king jr and also who says our shop is the young people of our country and especially in my district getting to know this human being who really did live a life committed to justice and freedom for all i urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this growing movement for a national holiday in honor and in memory of this great civil and human rights leader he is such an important historical figure in our nation si se puede day yes we can create a country of liberty and justice for all says our chavez showed us how to do it he showed us with his gentle and kind spirit he showed us with his tough love he showed us how to march he showed us how to care about those the least of these who had no voice and for that this country owes him a debt of gratitude and i can think of no other way than to honor him by passing a threat seventy six gentleman's time has expired pursuant to close twelve a of rule one the chair declares the house in recess until noon today