Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12]

An amendment in the nature of a substitute numbered 13 printed in part 2 of House Report 109-132 which contains all the reforms of H.R. 2745, with the following differences: (1) Rather than require withholding dues if certain reforms are not met, the substitute authorizes the Secretary of State to withhold up to 50% of our U.N. dues, but would not mandate such a cut; (2) Rather than withhold a portion of U.S. dues to the U.N. if its member states refuse to change certain programs from the `assessed' to the `voluntary' budget, the substitute authorizes the Secretary of State to withhold up to 50% of U.S. dues to the U.N. dues if substantial progress has not been made to carry out such a change; (3) while keeping the U.N. reforms on peacekeeping, the substitute provides the Secretary of State with a waiver in the event that a new or expanded mission is essential to America's national interest; (4) the substitute also ensures that we do not withhold funds from the U.N. when it is separate specialized agencies, such as the World Health Organization or the World Intellectual Property Organization, that have failed to make necessary reforms; (5) the substitute provides for an extension of the authority to pay our peacekeeping dues at 27.1 percent for the next two years, ensuring that we do not immediately go into arrears at the U.N.; and.the amendment includes incentives by supporting an effort to pay our dues on time (we now pay in the last quarter of the calendar year), supports an increased U.N. budget for the large number of new offices that will be needed to implement the reforms, supports a well structured buyout of unneeded U.N. personnel and supports a contribution to the U.N. Democracy Fund.

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An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 108-80 would call for a pilot program of assistance for children and families affected by HIV/AIDS that ensures the inheritance rights of women, particularly women in African countries. Would require the Presidential report on the pilot program include a description of activities undertaken to carry out the pilot program. Calls for an authorization of appropriations to fund thepilot program.

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An amendment numbered 18 printed in House Report 107-62 to express the sense of Congress that the Secretary of State be directed to review the current Travel Warning in place for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza to determine which areas within those regions may be visited safely and which areas present the highest risk to Americans traveling abroad.

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An amendment numbered 36 printed in part B of House Report 109-175 to urge the President and Secretary of State to boost efforts that would aid Mexican authorities in their struggle to pinpoint the identities of yet unidentified remains of murdered young women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.

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An amendment numbered 4 printed in the Congressional Record to add a new title entitled the Hope at Home Act.

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An amendment stating that U.S. policy should support measures to help meet the immediate security needs of Afghanistan, and requires the President to report to Congress within 45 days on a strategy for meeting the immediate and long-term security needs of Afghanistan.

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An amendment numbered 23 printed in House Report 107-62 to prohibit IMET for the armed forces of Lebanon unless the President certifies that the Lebanese Army has deployed to the internationally recognized border between Lebanon and Israel and the Government of Lebanon is effectivley asserting its authority.

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An amendment numbered 24 printed in part B of House Report 109-175 to require the Department of State to develop a strategy to counter widespread perceptions among foreign students that the U.S. is no longer a welcoming place for them; undertake annual consultations with non-governmental organizations, university officials, foreign students, and other interested parties to seek input on the development of this strategy; identify and report on priority posts where important declines in visa application rates have occurred and best practice posts which have developed to improve application rates; and provide enhance training for processing and facilitating student visas.

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An amendment numbered 14 printed in the Congressional Record to cut $325 million from the Foreign Military Financing for Egypt and to add $325 million in Economic Support Funds for Egypt. The amendment also includes language that delays obligation of the additional funds until after Sept. 1, 2005.

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An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 110-174 to make a number of technical, clarifying, and clerical changes to several provisions of H.R. 2446 as reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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An amendment numbered 16 printed in Part B of House Report 109-175 to provide for equal treatment of employees of the Department of State who are residents of the territories of the U.S. in the personnel policies of the Department.

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An amendment numbered 13 printed in the Congressional Record to transfer $570 million in military assistance for Egypt to economic aid for Egypt.

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An amendment numbered 18A and made in order pursuant to section 2 of H. Res.365 (as passed by the House) to insert a new section in the bill titled "Declaration of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization".

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RISE Act

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Removing Impediments to Students Education Act or the RISE Act - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to repeal a provision which makes persons convicted of drug offenses ineligible to receive federal student financial assistance for specified periods.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a National Teacher Day to honor and celebrate teachers in the United States.

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a National Teacher Day should be established to honor and celebrate teachers.

Former Soviet Union Minority Relief Act of 2008

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Former Soviet Union Minority Relief Act of 2008 - Authorizes additional appropriations for Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus for: (1) humanitarian and resettlement assistance for ethnic and religious minorities; (2) hate crime prevention and rule of law assistance; (3) democracy promotion; and (4) broadcasting assistance.

Congratulating Lee Myung-Bak on his election to the Presidency of the Republic of Korea and wishing him well during his time of transition and his inauguration on February 25, 2008.

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Congratulates Lee Myung-Bak on his election to the presidency of the Republic of Korea and wishes him well during his transition and on his inauguration on February 25, 2008.

Condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist organizations, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 29 January 2008

Condemns the ongoing Iranian-enabled rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and places responsibility for launching the attacks on Hamas and other terrorist organizations in Gaza. Supports the government of Israel's right to defend its territory. Recognizes the difficult balance Israel faces with the competing pressures of being the primary supplier of numerous necessities for Palestinian civilians, even while rockets are being fired at Israel from Palestinian areas. Supports Palestinian civilians who reject Hamas and all forms of terrorism. Reaffirms the friendship between the governments and the people of Israel and the United States.

Calling for a peaceful resolution to the current electoral crisis in Kenya.

United States · United States Congress · 23 January 2008

Commends the Kenyan people for their commitment to democracy and respect for the democratic process as evidenced by the high voter turnout and peaceful voting on election day. Condemns the ongoing violence in Kenya and urges all parties concerned to immediately end use of violence as a means to achieve their political objectives. Calls on the two leading presidential candidates to accept offers of external and internal assistance to help find a solution to the current crisis which has the support of the people of Kenya. Calls on Kenyan security forces to refrain from using excessive force and to respect the human rights of Kenyan citizens. Calls for an immediate end to the restrictions on the media, and on the rights of peaceful assembly and association. Condemns threats to civil society groups, journalists, religious leaders, and human rights activists making every effort towards a peaceful, just, and equitable political solution to the current electoral crisis. Calls on the international community, United Nations aid organizations, and all neighboring countries to: (1) assist those affected by violence; and (2) use all the diplomatic means to persuade relevant political actors to commit to a peaceful resolution to the crisis. Urges the President to: (1) support diplomatic efforts to facilitate a dialogue between leaders of the Party of National Unity, the Orange Democratic Movement, and other relevant actors; (2) consider the imposition of targeted sanctions on such leaders who refuse to engage in meaningful dialogue to end the current crisis; and (3) review current U.S. aid to Kenya to restrict all non-humanitarian assistance to Kenya unless the parties are able to establish a peaceful political resolution to the crisis which is credible to the Kenyan people.

Condemning the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan.

United States · United States Congress · 15 January 2008

Condemns the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and expresses condolences to her family and the families of all those who were killed or injured in the attack. Reaffirms the U.S. commitment to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan.

Supporting Taiwan's fourth direct and democratic presidential elections in March 2008.

United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the U.S. government should reaffirm its commitment to Taiwan's democracy and security; and (2) international delegations should be encouraged to visit Taiwan to witness the March 2008 presidential elections.

Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007

United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007

Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act of 2007 - Provides that a federal employee and his or her domestic partner shall be entitled to benefits available to, and shall be subject to obligations imposed upon, a married federal employee and his or her spouse. Defines "domestic partner" to mean an adult unmarried person living with another adult unmarried person of the same sex in a committed, intimate relationship. Defines "benefits" to include federal health insurance and enhanced dental and vision benefits, retirement and disability benefits, family, medical, and emergency leave, group life insurance, long-term care insurance, compensation for work injuries, and benefits for disability, death, or captivity. Excludes members of the uniformed services from the definition of "employee." Sets forth requirements for filing: (1) an affidavit of eligibility as such a domestic partner, which shall include a certification that the employee and the domestic partner are each other's sole domestic partners and intend to remain so indefinitely; and (2) a statement upon dissolution of such a domestic partnership.

Commemorating the courage of the Haitian soldiers that fought for American independence in the "Siege of Savannah" and for Haiti's independence and renunciation of slavery.

United States · United States Congress · 19 December 2007

Commemorates the courage of the Haitian soldiers who fought for American independence in the Siege of Savannah and for Haiti's independence and renunciation of slavery.

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should initiate a bipartisan process to give its advice and consent to ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.

United States · United States Congress · 17 December 2007

Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should initiate a bipartisan process to give its advice and consent to ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.