House Proceeding 05-12-09 on May 12th, 2009 :: 2:52:40 to 3:04:45
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2:47:30 to 2:52:40( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Howard L. Berman

2:52:23 to 2:52:40( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: stability and the considerable cost of letting it slip away. although the united states and european union are consumed by other foreign policy priorities we must not lose sight of our balkans or waiver our

2:52:41 to 2:53:01( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Poe: commitment to peaceful process across europe. i strongly support this resolution. i urge my colleagues to do the same, and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from california reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from texas. mr. poe: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized.

2:52:45 to 2:55:20( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Ted Poe

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Ted Poe: mr. poe: chaian berman and ranking member ros-lehtinen for bringing house resolution 171 to the floor. this resolution expresses support for the progress made by the state of bosnia and herzegovina towards stability and greater international cohesion. bosnia has come a long way in the 14 years since the signing of the so-called dayton accords that end the terrible ethnic-based conflict there. while this short resolution

2:53:24 to 2:53:45( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Poe: speaks to much that has been accomplished in bosnia, much work needs to still be done. some would suggest, for example, that the greater constitutional reform within bosnia is necessary for its future growth and its stability for the progress of democracy and tolerance in that country. another important issue confronting the state of bosnia and herzegovina is the burden placed on its economic progress

2:53:46 to 2:54:06( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Poe: by its extensive bureaucracy that is now in place in that country. that bureaucracy reportedly consumes a great deal of that small country's revenues, confronting its economy with serious obstacles to growth. this measure as considered on the floor today does include a short statement that was added after agreement by the majority

2:54:07 to 2:54:27( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Poe: and minority that i believe makes an important point. among its resolved clauses h.res. 171 now specifically calls for continued assistance to bosnia to help it investigate al qaeda activities and those of related networks. that is an important point when we consider the reported

2:54:28 to 2:54:49( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Poe: increase of islamic extremism in the broader balkan region. such repts should serve as a warning that islamic extremists are looking there as a potential launching platform for future attacks somewhere else. i am pleased that the bosnian government is working to address important issues such as these reports of the use of bosnian passports by islamic

2:54:50 to 2:55:10( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Poe: militants. and i am also pleased by reports that some reports that some in the bosnian muslim opportunity have been strong advocates for peace and reconciliation. the call for continued support for bosnia and such important efforts enhances the other important statements this resolution makes with regard to our policy toward bosnia.

2:55:11 to 2:55:21( Edit History Discussion )

Ted Poe: mrspeaker, many of us would like to ensure that bosnia becomes a greater anchor for stability in the balkans region. this resolution is an important message of encouragement and

2:55:22 to 2:55:43( Edit History Discussion )

Russ Carnahan: support of all people of bosnia as they seek to promote stability, peace and prosperity. i support its adoption by the house and i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from texas reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from missouri. mr. carnahan: thank you, mr. speaker.

2:55:25 to 2:57:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Russ Carnahan

2:55:44 to 2:56:04( Edit History Discussion )

Russ Carnahan: i yield myself two minut. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman will control the time . the gentleman is recognized. mr. carnahan: i rise? strong support of h.res. 171. i want to thank chairman berman and ranking member ros-lehtinen for bringing this bill to the

2:56:05 to 2:56:26( Edit History Discussion )

Russ Carnahan: floor. i have asked for increased attention in the balkans and especially to the needs of bosnia and herzegovina, a country with a long rich tradition of multiethnic communities living and working together. i asked secretary clinton about this just a few weeks ago when she appeared before the house committee of foreign affairs. i think she too agrees that

2:56:27 to 2:56:47( Edit History Discussion )

Russ Carnahan: there needs to be renewed attention to this country. i hope this resolution is another step toward u.s. re-engagement in the region and offering bosnia the support that it needs. this resolution recognizes the need for constitutional reform in bosnia, herzegovina and highlights the importance of sustained u.s. engagement in

2:56:48 to 2:57:10( Edit History Discussion )

Russ Carnahan: partnership with the european union. as a founding member and co-chairman of the congressional caucus on bosnia from new jersey, i have the distinction and pleasure of growing and vibrant community of bosnian americans in the st. louis, missouri, region, one of the largest area of bosnian

2:57:11 to 2:57:32( Edit History Discussion )

Russ Carnahan: americans. i want to highlight two clauses in this resolution that i think are of particular importance. first, we need to continue our efforts, both here at the iccti to achieve justice for victims of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide as well as to promote reconciliation among ethnic groups. secondly, that the appointment of a special enjoy to the balkans who can work in

2:57:33 to 2:57:36( Edit History Discussion )

Russ Carnahan: partnership with the e.u., bosnia and other leaders will

2:57:37 to 2:57:57( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: commitment to the region. i thank you, and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: does the gentleman from missouri reserve the baffle his time? mr. carnahan: i reserve. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the lance of his time. the gentleman from texas. mr. poe: mr. speaker, i yield to the gentleman from new jersey, mr. smith, ranking member of the subcommittee on africa and global health, of

2:57:40 to 3:03:55( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Christopher H. Smith

2:57:58 to 2:58:18( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: the health senior commission and co-chair of the house bosnia caucus. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. . smith: mr. speaker, i rise in strong support of h.res. 171, a powerful statement calling for meaningful constitutional reform and strengthened u.s. engagement in bosnia and i want to thank chairman berman for authoring this legislation. i am very proud to be one of

2:58:19 to 2:58:39( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: the co-sponsors. mr. speaker, this resolution makes all the important points on the need for real constitutional reform. it notes that the dayton accords notwithstanding their merits in stopping the war and the genocide quote, including many compromised imposed by the

2:58:40 to 2:59:00( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: need of quick action to help human rights. everyone involved in dayton -- in the dayton accords understood that intended to be more than a turn get designed to halt the genocide andto act as a bridge towards good governance and a workable constitution. and that time has come.

2:59:01 to 2:59:21( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: the resolution notes the progress bosnia has made since 1995, and by almost all accounts that progress is truly remarkable. i visited bosnia again in july of 2007 and was deeply impressed by the economic and social recovery that has taken place within the past 12 years.

2:59:22 to 2:59:43( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: on the constitutional arrangements, mr. speaker, the resolution points to the history of strong u.s. support for the legal continuity and territorial of bosnia and herzegovina and notes that the current dayton based constitutional arrangements are neither efficient nor rational. the resolution praises the

2:59:44 to 3:00:04( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: value of a united multiethnic country and full incorporation into the euro-atlantic community and stabilizing the balkans. mr. speaker, efficient irrational arrangements to unite the multiethnic country and to have it fully incorporated into nato and e.u. means a reform that abolishes

3:00:05 to 3:00:25( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: the entity voting system so that the vote of every bosnian citizen will be of equal weight. under the current yton-based system, only 22% of the deputies can block any proposed legislation. .

3:00:26 to 3:00:46( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: in the past 13 years such a super minority has blocked over 260 bills. in the same period, the national legislature passed less than 150 laws. mr. speaker, this is a serious problem. it is the reason that we are here today talking about constitutional reform in bosnia. mr. speaker, as chairman or

3:00:47 to 3:01:07( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: co-chairman for 12 years of the commission on security and cooperation in europe known around here as the helsinki commission and co-chairman of the bosnian caucus and chairman of the house human rights committee for eight years, i have had the opportunity to chair numerous bosnia hearings and offer congressional

3:01:08 to 3:01:29( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: resolutions on bosnia including h. res. 199. my most recent trip to bosnia s in july of 2007 and i joined relatives of those killed, murdered, massacred in the genocide in a ceremony interning hundreds of the approximately

3:01:30 to 3:01:50( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: 8,000 bosnian muslims who were killed. the ceremony was solemn, it was holy and it was numbing. there was a very powerful speech, a sermon, to all of those who had gathered.

3:01:51 to 3:02:13( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: the president of bosnia, a good friend, also spoke very eloquently about the loss as well as about the future. during that trip and after that trip, meaning here as well as in europe with members of the community, we have heard over and over again that they need to move on, look back, there needs

3:02:14 to 3:02:34( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: to be accounting for the atrocities committed, but they need constitutional reform to move forward. sometimes we hear ethnic tensions are rising and the constitutional reform process has to be slowed for a while. th w bosnia is in a position similar to that of poland, romania and

3:02:35 to 3:02:55( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: other countries of eastern europe in the 1990's. when we debated their admission to nato some said it would destabilize the region. they were flat wrong. what could have destabilized europe was continuing uncertainty as to whether these countries to join the west or have to remain under russian

3:02:56 to 3:03:17( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: influence. we resolve that uncertainty and stabilized eastern europe by welcoming to the west. bosnia, it's long past time to send a signal that bosnia does not have to remain a country forever preserved in the amber of the dayton accords.

3:03:18 to 3:03:38( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: with this resolution, we invite the bosnians to reform their constitution and become a one person-one vote democracy and join the euro-atlantic community. our country has played a constructive role through both republican and democrat administrations and i know the bosnians appreciate that very

3:03:39 to 3:03:55( Edit History Discussion )

Christopher H. Smith: much. the great majority will welcome our strengthening engagement to repeat the american legacy of spreading democracy and security in bosnia. the appointment of a special envoy as the resolution urges, is an excellent idea. we would have someone there to

3:03:56 to 3:04:16( Edit History Discussion )

support the constitutional reform this resolution invites the bosnians to undertake. this is a good reso urge its passage. the speaker pro tempore: t gentleman from texas reserve or yield his time? mr. poe: we have no other speakers. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back the balance of his time. the gentleman from missouri.

3:04:17 to 3:04:40( Edit History Discussion )

mr. carnahan: if the gentleman has no further speakers, i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the question is will the house suspend the rules and agree to house resolution 171 as amended. those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. in the opinion of the chai 2/3 being in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the resolution is agreed to. and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on