More on Foreign Affairs
Reps. Space, Maloney and Bilirakis Send Letter Urging Extension of Visa Waiver Program to Greece
WASHINGTON, DC - This week, Representatives Zachary T. Space (OH-18), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14) and Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-09) were joined by eighteen of their House colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff urging them to extend the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to Greece. Greece is the only member of the original fifteen European Union nations not to belong to the VWP.
Reps. Maloney and Jackson Lee Introduce Legislation to Help Afghan Women and Girls
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Today, Representative Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-14) and Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18) were joined by eleven cosponsors in introducing the Afghan Women Empowerment Act of 2007. The legislation would authorize $45 million each year from FY2008 through FY2010 for programs in Afghanistan that benefit women and girls as well as the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission and the Afghan Ministry of Women’s Affairs. The funding would be directed toward important needs, including medical care, education, vocational training, legal assistance, protection against trafficking, and civil participation. Senator Boxer has also introduced this legislation, S. 147, in the Senate.
Statement on President's Iraq Escalation Plan
Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) today released the following statement about President Bush's plan to send more than 21,000 additional American troops to Iraq:
New Proposal Would Create Federal Offices to Ensure Women’s Rights Around the World
WASHINGTON, DC – New legislation in Congress would create two new federal offices to monitor and help promote women’s rights around the world. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) introduced the legislation (H.R.6293), entitled the International Women’s Freedom Act.
Reps. Maloney, Bilirakis Introduce Resolution Urging Turkey to Respect the Rights and Religious Freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarch
WASHINGTON, DC - Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Congressman Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), founders and Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, have introduced H.Res. 999, a resolution urging Turkey to meet the standards of the European Union for the protection of human rights by respecting the rights and religious freedoms of the Ecumenical Patriarch (text of resolution). Nine of their colleagues joined them as original co-sponsors of the resolution.
For the Fifth Straight Year, the Bush Administration Blocks Funding for the World’s Most Impoverished Women
WASHINGTON, DC – The Bush Administration has once again blocked United States’s $34 million contribution to UNFPA (the United Nations Population Fund). The money was appropriated by Congress for FY06, but this is the fifth consecutive year in which the contribution has been withheld. The determination to de-fund UNFPA was apparently made on Wednesday (notification of determination), but the State Department failed to notify the public.
Rep. Maloney Joins Rally in Support of Israel
NEW YORK, NY – Today, at a rally near U.N. headquarters, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-Manhattan, Queens) strongly supported Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorist attacks. Dozens of religious and political leaders, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, also spoke at the rally, which drew thousands of people to the East Side of Manhattan.
Representatives Maloney and Pallone Lead Effort Urging the EU to Press Turkey on Meeting its Accession Criteria
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) were joined by twenty-one of their colleagues in sending a letter to His Excellency José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, expressing their support for ensuring that Turkey meets all criteria set forth within its negotiation framework. Of particular concern is Turkey’s lack of progress in the diplomatic recognition of Armenia, the removal of its blockade against Armenia, and ending its official policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide by coming to terms with its genocidal legacy. A copy of the letter can be found at http://maloney.house.gov/documents/foreign/armenian/20060616_EU_Armenia.pdf “It’s time for Turkey to get serious about meeting its European Union accession criteria,” Maloney said. “I hope that the EU will make very clear to Turkey during these talks that it must remove its blockade against Armenia and end its official policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide.” Signers of the letter include Representatives Maloney, Pallone, Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bilirakis (R-FL), John Conyers (D-MI), Jim Costa (D-CA), Jim Gerlach (R-PA), Charles Gonzalez (D-TX), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Sue Kelly (R-NY), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Edward Markey (D-MA), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Michael McNulty (D-NY), Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Joe Schwarz (R-MI), John Sweeney (R-NY), Nydia Velázquez (D-NY), and Diane Watson (D-CA). ###
Statement on “Global War on Terror” Resolution: It Mentions Iraq 18 Times, Osama bin Laden Not Even Once, Says Rep. Maloney
WASHINGTON, DC – During the floor debate of H. Res. 861 – the “Global War on Terrorism” resolution – in the House of Representatives today, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) made the following statement:
Law Co-Authored by Rep. Maloney Leads to Release of New Nazi War Crimes Records
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday, the Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group (IWG) released new records detailing the U.S. Government's contact with Nazi war criminals. The documents show that the CIA knew the whereabouts of Adolf Eichmann, the chief architect of the Holocaust, but failed to take action to arrest the notorious Nazi war criminal.
