September 11, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5847 

in this issue related to Taiwan’s status 

in the International Civil Aviation Organization. 

Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentlelady 

for yielding. 

I do rise in support of this measure. 

For too long, Taiwan has been left out 

of international organizations at the 

demand of China. Taiwan was denied 

access to the World Health Organization. It was unable to participate as 

even an observer for over 40 years. 

Thankfully, though, that changed in 

2009, when a Taiwanese delegation was 

allowed to observe meetings in Geneva. 

Infectious disease knows no borders. 

And it was only proper that that 

change was made. Congress had long 

pressed for this action through bills 

and resolutions. 

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So it is fitting that we once again 

take to the floor to press for Taiwan’s 

inclusion in the International Civil 

Aviation Organization. Despite being 

home to the world’s 18th busiest airport, Taiwan has been kept out of an 

organization that aims to keep passengers safe. 

Indeed, as this resolution finds, Taiwan’s exclusion from the ICAO has impeded Taiwan’s government from keeping up-to-date with aviation standards 

and prevented the implementation of 

new systems and new procedures. The 

35 million passengers that travel to and 

from Taiwan each year are done a 

great disservice by Taiwan’s exclusion. 

Mr. Speaker, in a relatively short period of time, Taiwan has gone from 

poverty to prosperity. It has gone from 

autocracy to democracy. We have a 

strong relationship that stretches back 

for over half a century. Today, our relations remain strong. Passage of this 

resolution will only serve to strengthen this relationship, and I urge my colleagues to support this measure. 

Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in 

strong support of S. Con. Res. 17 and 

yield myself such time as I may consume. 

I’d like to thank the sponsor of the 

legislation, the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. MENENDEZ), and the chairman 

of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, for their 

leadership on this issue. 

This resolution expresses the sense of 

Congress that Taiwan should be accorded observer status in the International Civil Aviation Organization, 

ICAO. Taiwan has made significant 

progress in its economic and political 

development. Today, Taiwan is a leading trade partner of the United States 

and stands as a beacon of democracy in 

Asia. 

However, Taiwan has been excluded 

from meaningful participation in 

ICAO, an international organization 

which is dedicated to ensuring safe and 

efficient air transportation around the 

globe. 

Taiwan clearly deserves to be 

brought into ICAO as an observer—a 

status specifically recognized under 

ICAO’s own rules. 

Taiwan has jurisdiction over airspace 

comprising 176,000 square nautical 

miles and provides air traffic control 

services to over 1.3 million flights each 

year. It has the eighth largest airport 

in the world by cargo volume, and the 

18th largest by the number of international passengers. 

Taiwan’s exclusion from ICAO has 

impeded Taiwan’s efforts to maintain 

civil aviation standards to keep up 

with rapidly evolving international 

standards. It is unable to even contact 

ICAO for up-to-date information on 

aviation standards and norms, nor can 

it receive ICAO’s technical assistance 

implementing new regulations or participate in ICAO technical and academic seminars. 

Despite these impediments, Taiwan 

has made every effort to comply with 

ICAO’s standards, but their continued 

exclusion not only hurts Taiwan, it 

puts the entire international aviation 

system at risk. Indeed, Taiwan’s exclusion has prevented ICAO from developing a truly global strategy to address 

security threats. 

With this resolution, Congress calls 

on the international community to 

grant Taiwan observer status at ICAO, 

not only to help Taiwan, but to ensure 

ICAO can fulfill its own mission and 

address international threats to aviation security. We call on the United 

States government to take the leading 

role at ICAO to assist Taiwan in gaining that status and look forward to 

working with our administration officials to track the development of these 

efforts. 

I urge my colleagues to support the 

resolution, and I yield back the balance 

of my time. 

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I 

will make some remarks, and then I 

will also yield back the remainder of 

our time. 

I rise in strong support of this important resolution which calls upon the 

International Civil Aviation Organization, ICAO, to grant meaningful participation for Taiwan. 

Is there any doubt in a post-September 11th world that air traffic safety constitutes one of the first lines of 

defense against those who would do 

harm to the United States or to our 

friends and allies? Are not the people of 

Taiwan deserving of the same level of 

protection against air assault as provided to the other peoples whose governments participate in ICAO? 

The Taipei flight information region, 

under the jurisdiction of Taiwan, covers an airspace of 176,000 square nautical miles. Taiwan’s main international airport is recognized as the 

eighth largest in the world in cargo 

traffic and the 18th in the number of 

international passengers who make use 

of its services. 

Can there be any doubt, therefore, 

that Taiwan, which provides air safety 

control services for well over 1,350,000 

flights annually needs meaningful participation in the international organization responsible for air safety and security? 

Beijing, like some haughty overlord, 

condescendingly informed Taipei and 

the U.N. system in the year 2009 that it 

would allow, at least temporarily, Taiwan’s participation in the World 

Health Assembly. Meaningful participation in international organizations 

for Taiwan represents too important an 

issue to be determined only by the 

whims of Beijing. 

It is time to open the door to Taiwan’s constructive and meaningful participation in ICAO, and that time is 

now. 

The State Department, as this resolution suggests, should assume a leading role in providing an action plan to 

ensure that this happened as quickly as 

possible. We owe this, Mr. Speaker, to 

the people of Taiwan. We owe this to 

ensure as well for the air safety of 

those American passengers flying over 

the skies of the western Pacific. 

And here I am not speaking just in 

theoretical terms, Mr. Speaker. Let us 

not forget that it was less than three 

decades ago when, due to a tragic confusion in air communications, a Soviet 

military fighter shot down a Korean 

Air Lines civilian flight as it left western Pacific and flew inadvertently over 

Soviet territory. As we know, this resulted in the death of all 269 people on 

board, including a Member of this 

House, Congressman Larry McDonald 

of Georgia’s Seventh District. The Congressman was traveling to Seoul to 

commemorate the 30th anniversary of 

the United States-South Korea Mutual 

Defense Treaty. 

So air safety control is, therefore, a 

very serious matter. Taiwan needs 

meaningful participation in ICAO not 

only for the safety and security in the 

air of its own citizens but also for all of 

the peoples of the vibrant Asia Pacific 

region. 

ICAO will be holding its 12th Air 

Navigations Conference in November, 

and Taiwan should be, must be represented there in Montreal. 

So, Mr. Speaker, I urge that my colleagues join Mr. BERMAN and me in expressing their overwhelming support 

for this important resolution. 

With that, I yield back the balance of 

our time. 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

question is on the motion offered by 

the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. 

ROS-LEHTINEN) that the House suspend 

the rules and concur in the concurrent 

resolution, S. Con. Res. 17. 

The question was taken; and (twothirds being in the affirmative) the 

rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was concurred in. 

A motion to reconsider was laid on 

the table. 

f 

COMMUNICATION FROM CHIEF OF 

STAFF, THE HONORABLE FRANK 

R. WOLF, MEMBER OF CONGRESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from Daniel F. Scandling, 

Chief of Staff, the Honorable FRANK R. 

WOLF, Member of Congress: 


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H5848 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 11, 2012 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2012. 

Hon. JOHN A. BOEHNER, 

Speaker, House of Representatives, 

Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: This is to notify you 

formally, pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules 

of the House of Representatives that I have 

been served with a subpoena for documents 

issued by the Fairfax County Circuit Court 

in connection with civil litigation currently 

pending before that court. 

After consultation with the Office of General Counsel, I have determined that compliance with the subpoena is inconsistent with 

the privileges and precedents of the House. 

Sincerely, 

DANIEL F. SCANDLING, 

f 

Chief of Staff. 

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COMMUNICATION FROM THE HONORABLE FRANK R. WOLF, MEMBER OF CONGRESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Honorable FRANK R. 

WOLF, Member of Congress: 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

Washington, DC, September 10, 2012. 

Hon. JOHN A. BOEHNER, 

Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington DC. 

DEAR MR. SPEAKER: This is to notify you 

formally, pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules 

of the House of Representatives that I have 

been served with a subpoena for documents 

issued by the Fairfax County Circuit Court 

in connection with civil litigation currently 

pending before that court. 

After consultation with the Office of General Counsel, I have determined that compliance with the subpoena is inconsistent with 

the privileges and precedents of the House. 

Best wishes. 

Sincerely, 

FRANK R. WOLF, 

f 

Member of Congress. 

CONGRATULATING RICHMOND, 

TEXAS, ON ITS 175TH ANNIVERSARY 

(Mr. OLSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today 

to congratulate the city of Richmond, 

Texas, for its 175th anniversary. There 

would not be a State of Texas without 

Richmond. 

In 1822, members of Stephen F. Austin’s Old Three Hundred built a fort on 

a bend in the Brazos River. Stephen F. 

Austin is known as the ‘‘Father of 

Texas.’’ He built his colony around 

that fort where Richmond sits today. 

In the wake of Texas independence, 

Richmond was incorporated by the Republic of Texas as Fort Bend County’s 

seat of government in 1837. Richmond’s 

current iconic mayor, Hilmar Moore, is 

the longest-serving mayor in American 

history, serving the people of Richmond since 1949. 

Historically a center of commerce, 

the heart of an early livestock industry 

and a powerhouse of natural resources, 

the city continues to be something its 

people are darn proud of. It’s an honor 

to share that pride with the people of 

Richmond, Texas. Congratulations on 

our 175th anniversary. 

f 

REMEMBERING 9/11 

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. 

MARINO). Under the Speaker’s announced policy of January 5, 2011, the 

gentleman from Texas (Mr. GOHMERT) 

is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. 

Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, 11 

years ago today, the worst attack in 

American history on American soil occurred; more loss of life than Pearl 

Harbor. It was a day that those of us 

who are alive and old enough to know 

what was happening will never forget. 

It was a day of commitment as well 

that we would do whatever was necessary to protect our country, that we 

would do whatever was necessary to 

prevent future such attacks from occurring. 

I recall there in east Texas where I 

live, I was a judge at the time. The day 

after, September 12, 2001, was an extraordinary day as well. It was a day 

that I also will not forget. I had never 

seen communities come together as we 

did across America on September 12, 

2001, not in my lifetime. In World War 

II, from history, I’ve read accounts 

about some in America that felt like 

war with Germany was a bad idea, that 

we ought to be nice to them. There 

were even people that were divided in 

America back then. But the overall resolve was to protect democracy, make 

democracy safe—‘‘Make the World Safe 

for Democracy’’ was the slogan. 

But we were so united on September 

12, 2001. There in Tyler, Texas—and I 

know it happened all over east Texas 

the same way—people came together. 

It didn’t matter what race anyone was. 

It didn’t matter where they came from, 

their national origin—man, woman, religious preference didn’t matter, we 

came together as one people. There 

were no hyphenated Americans that 

day—no Anglo-Americans, AfricanAmericans, Asian-Americans. We were 

Americans. We stood united, and we 

wept together and we prayed together 

and we held hands and sang together. 

Here in Washington, D.C., once again 

today we sang ‘‘God Bless America’’ 

without regard to party, without regard to House, Senate. I think there 

was less mention of the word God 

today. I’m grateful for Speaker PELOSI, 

who at the end of her remarks asked 

for God to bless and comfort those who 

lost loved ones on 9/11 and asked that 

God would still bless America. I’m 

grateful she did that. Other leaders did 

not. 

Andy McCarthy—Andrew McCarthy— 

was the prosecutor of those who were 

involved in the 1993 World Trade Center 

bombing. He is a man that understands 

the Constitution. He understands the 

law. He is a fantastic prosecutor, a 

brilliant mind, and a great writer. And 

I won’t read the entire article, but it’s 

an article worth noting from Andrew C. 

McCarthy, entitled ‘‘Remembering 9/11 

. . . At Least for a Day.’’ He says: 

It is difficult to say what’s harder to believe: that it has been 11 years since the 9/11 

atrocities, or that national security has become an irrelevant issue in the most consequential Presidential election in decades. 

The first observation reminds us that 

today is a day of remembrance: of the loss of 

nearly 3,000 of our fellow citizens; of the 

bravery of those who willingly gave their 

lives to save others; and of the heroism of 

the men and women who put on the line all 

that they have. That includes the love and 

well-being of their families, on whom the 

burden of American national security has 

been imposed while the rest of us go on with 

our lives—too often, without giving them a 

first thought, never mind a second. 

No matter which political party has been 

in power since 9/11, there has been a great 

deal of bloviating about the ‘‘rule of law.’’ It 

is as if we had evolved beyond anything so 

crude and benighted as armed force and national interest—especially national defense. 

Let’s remember today that we have the luxury of living under something resembling the 

rule of law only because dedicated Americans sacrifice themselves to confront evil— 

in this case, the adherents of an evil ideology, Islamic supremacism, that is closer to 

the law of the jungle. 

And for those who do not understand—I’m saying this parenthetically, 

it’s not in the article—Islamic 

supremacism is not talking about all of 

those who worship and follow Islam 

and Islamic teachings. We have friends 

around the world who do not want to 

live under totalitarian, radical Islamic 

supremacism, such as the Taliban, such 

as al Qaeda. They don’t want to live 

under that, and they’re Muslims. They 

want to live their lives. They want to 

worship in their own religion without 

totalitarians telling them how they 

must. 

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Unfortunately, as in Afghanistan, 

those Muslim friends, and Pakistan, for 

that matter, Iran and Iraq as well, 

there are Muslims who have admired 

the United States until we abandoned 

them. 

Going back to Andrew McCarthy’s 

article: 

The rule of law has precious little to do 

with why we have gotten through 11 years 

without a reprise of 9/11. A better explanation is that terrorists who have been captured or killed cannot commit more terrorism. 

I’ll insert, parenthetically, there are 

terrorists who were captured, some 

confined at Guantanamo Bay, some 

confined at other facilities, who have 

been released and who have been found 

again on the battlefield killing Americans. They were captured, prevented 

from enacting further terrorism, and 

then released under some false notion 

that that would win friends and influence people, only to have other Americans killed by these same thugs. 

Back to Andrew McCarthy’s article. 

He says: 

On the matter of evil, it is good to remember that it exists. Evil is not a misunderstanding, a cultural gulf, or a natural reaction to political policies adopted in pursuit 

of American interests or Israeli self-defense. 

That brings us to the second observation: the 


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