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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

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ or

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/

(II)

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairman 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey 

DAN BURTON, Indiana 

ELTON GALLEGLY, California 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

RON PAUL, Texas 

MIKE PENCE, Indiana 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

CONNIE MACK, Florida 

JEFF FORTENBERRY, Nebraska 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas 

TED POE, Texas 

GUS M. BILIRAKIS, Florida 

JEAN SCHMIDT, Ohio 

BILL JOHNSON, Ohio 

DAVID RIVERA, Florida 

MIKE KELLY, Pennsylvania 

TIM GRIFFIN, Arkansas 

TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania 

JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina 

ANN MARIE BUERKLE, New York 

RENEE ELLMERS, North Carolina 

ROBERT TURNER, New York 

HOWARD L. BERMAN, California 

GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York 

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

RUSS CARNAHAN, Missouri 

ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

DENNIS CARDOZA, California 

BEN CHANDLER, Kentucky 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

ALLYSON SCHWARTZ, Pennsylvania 

CHRISTOPHER S. MURPHY, Connecticut 

FREDERICA WILSON, Florida 

KAREN BASS, California 

WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

YLEEM D.S. POBLETE, Staff Director 

RICHARD J. KESSLER, Democratic Staff Director 

(III)

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

Page

IV

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

(1)

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 RosLehtinen (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:]

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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 

92

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 atVerDate 0ct 09 2002 18:09 Oct 16, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00096 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 F:\WORK\FULL\060712M\74638 HFA PsN: SHIRL
93

tempts 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 

94

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 

95

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 onethird 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. 

96

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 

97

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 JacksonVanik 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 sayVerDate 0ct 09 2002 18:09 Oct 16, 2012 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00101 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 F:\WORK\FULL\060712M\74638 HFA PsN: SHIRL
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ing. 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 nonCypriot 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. 

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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——

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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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A P P E N D I X 

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PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE GUS BILIRAKIS, A REPRESENTATIVE IN

CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF FLORIDA

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