SEND OUR ATHLETES TO THE BEIJING OLYMPICS BUT NOT OUR POLITICIANS

Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, as the Olympic torch goes through San Francisco today, I would just like to bring attention to the fact that I, as well as others on each side of the aisle, will be introducing legislation to ensure that we send our athletes to the games but not our politicians.

In the past, America has sent their athletes to the Olympics to show what free people can achieve, most notably in 1936 when Jesse Owens won gold and disabused the world of the Fuhrer's propaganda that there was an inferior race amongst us. FDR did not go to the Olympics.

I would encourage American politicians, including the President of the United States, not to politicize the games by their attendance, but rather stay home and attend to the pressing issues which face us as a people. This would be the proper way for the United States to both honor the spirit of the Olympics and the spirit of our free people.

CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF CHINA TO END ITS CRACKDOWN IN TIBET

Mr. McCOTTER. Madam Speaker, we stand at a historic moment. In the stream of history, it is oftentimes overlooked as we circumnavigate around time, fate and circumstance the momentous era and the momentous deeds which must be undertaken. This is one of them.

I thank the Speaker for bringing this resolution. I thank her for bringing with it the moral weight of her opposition to Communist China's abysmal human rights record throughout her career in this Congress, and for uniting Republicans and Democrats behind it.

But at this moment, I am also reminded of someone who is no longer with us, someone from whom I learned very much. That man is the late Chairman Tom Lantos, a man who embodied the human spirit in its ability to triumph over evil. How many people in this Congress understood the moment when the tanks rolled into Budapest and the Soviets went into Hungary, that that was a seminal moment in the Cold War, that the desire to breathe free, of the Hungarian people, could not be quelled by tanks and could
only be quenched by freedom? And throughout the history of the Cold War, their example was emulated by others, including the Czechs in 1968, and of course the Poles, and that eventually brought down the Soviet Union.

Today, what may appear a resolution of the moment for a specific incident is not that. It is our generation's Budapest. It is this generation of Americans who get to witness the Tibetans trying to breathe free from beneath the Communist yoke of the Chinese regime. And as we Republicans and Democrats stand together today, we stand with them, and we send a clarion message to the Communist Chinese Government. They will be free. And as the Olympic torch goes from town to town and you see people gathering
together of all political persuasions and all walks of life to protest the abominable suppression of the Tibetans, let us remember that we here have come together to make sure that the torch of Lady Liberty still shines bright as a beacon of hope for all the world.

On Lou Dobbs to Discuss CFIUS, Huawei, and 3Com deal.

Rep. McCotter: America's Protected from Stealth Assault on National Security

WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), who was the first member of the U.S. Congress to oppose the proposed merger of communist China’s Huawei Technologies Co., Massachusetts based Bain Capital and 3Com - an American company which provides the Pentagon with security technologies - today responded to the failure to reach an agreement:

"While some called such national security concerns over the deal everything but right, the truth remains: the collapse of the Huawei deal is a victory for America's cyber-security and national security.

"But we must not be lulled to sleep by this lone victory in protecting America's cyber-security and national security. We must remain even more vigilant to ensure American national security is not for sale; and to stop communist Chinese stealth assaults on our national security."

McCotter was the first member of Congress to bring this issue to public attention and oppose it. In early October 2007 Congressman McCotter circulated a letter signed by his colleagues and subsequently sent to CFIUS. McCotter also continued to oppose the deal, despite communist Chinese inspired personal attacks in the media.

Ironically, just last week the Financial Times quoted the chief marketing officer at Huawei Technologies, Xu Zhijun, who said McCotter's opposition to the deal on national security grounds were "bullshit". The quote came out on the same day as several Chinese nationals were being held for spying charges for possibly selling military secrets to the communist Chinese government.

Nevertheless, the three companies withdrew their applications to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CIFIUS), because Bain and Huawei, who were trying to buyout 3Com, could not calm national-security concerns with the U.S. government panel. Specifically in question was 3Com's TippingPoint unit, which sells security software used by U.S. government agencies.

McCotter, the Republican House Policy Committee Chair who has been the leading opponent of unconditional engagement with communist China, added:

"They are testing us every day to no good end. So we must be unwavering in our support of liberty and national security against communist China's perpetual pressure. And let them make no mistake: as it did against the Soviet Union, liberty will prevail."

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McCotter Asks U.S. Ambassador to Urge China's Chief Religious Persecutor to Implement Reforms

U. S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom scheduled to meet today with China’s Director for the State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA)



Washington, D.C. – In a letter to U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, John V. Hanford III, Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI), Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, and Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-NC) joined additional House colleagues to express their concerns over the Ambassador’s meeting scheduled today with Ye Xiaowen, communist China’s Director for the State Administrations for Religious Affairs (SARA). The letter urges Ambassador Hanford to insist that communist China implement reforms to end the religious persecution of its citizens, and immediately release its prisoners of conscience.

"As Director of SARA, Ye has implemented, overseen, and assisted authorities in carrying out communist China’s systematic policy for discrimination, harassment, imprisonment, torture, and execution of Chinese citizens practicing their faith outside the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) dictates," the letter states. "Recently, under Ye’s leadership, communist China has increased its persecution of Chinese religious believers."


For "the best interest of the United States and religious freedom around the world," the letter encourages Ambassador Hanford to insist that SARA and communist China end their practice of:


**requiring all house churches to register with the government;

**prohibiting the public expression and practice of religious beliefs (as established in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which China is an original party);

**restricting the printing and distribution of the Bible and other religious literature;

**restricting religious education for children under the age of 18 years; and

**designating religious groups as cults and thus causing them to become targets for government-sponsored violence, torture, and execution.

"While these reforms are urgently needed, simple promises from Ye and the communist Chinese Government will likely do little to stop communist China’s state-sponsored discrimination, harassment, imprisonment, torture, and execution of the Chinese people for practicing their religious faith," the letter states. "To hold communist China accountable for their persecution, please request that they allow impartial international or United States’ observers to verify the steps taken or not taken by their government."

A Message from Representative McCotter

Dear Friends,

I hope this finds you and your family doing well and getting ready for a wonderful Thanksgiving. As one of your humble public officials - I continue to fight for our conservative principles and values in Michigan, our nation’s capitol, and around the world.

I am writing you today to tell you about legislation affecting your job and your family’s safety. Recently, a House bill tried to ensure communist China’s products could keep coming into our country. I opposed this bill, because I oppose trade with communist China. No amount of money can make communist Chinese imports absolutely safe; and none of your hard-earned money should be spent trying to do it. We must keep communist China’s products out of America, so we can keep our jobs and our kids safe in America.

Importantly, you should also know I introduced legislation, last week, (H. Res. 821) condemning Communist China's discrimination, harassment, imprisonment, torture, and execution of its prisoners of conscience.

I have included a link to a radio interview I did with Frank Beckman on WJR, in which I talk about this and other crucial issues facing Michigan and America. click here to here the interview

Additionally, Human Events published an article I wrote, entitled The Liberty Alliance: Championing Liberty and Dignity in our Human Community. You can read this article online by clicking here.

Finally, an exciting new organization - The Big Red Tent - is dedicated to generating grassroots support through new and innovative ideas, and I am pleased to introduce them to you click here to visit their site.

Thank you for your continued help and support as we face critical challenges to our state and our country. May you and your family enjoy the blessings of liberty during this holiday season.

Sincerely,

Congressman Thaddeus McCotter