Benjamin Gilman: “I rise in support of H.R. 3969, the Freedom Promotion Act. Mr. Speaker, Chairman Hyde has crafted a superb bill and I am…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3969, the Freedom Promotion Act. Mr. Speaker, Chairman Hyde has crafted a superb bill and I am proud of him and of our Committee. The bill, as our Committee report states, is intended to ``enhance in scope and substance, redirect, redefine, and reorganize United States public diplomacy.'' It is clear that we have not been getting the desired results from our public diplomacy efforts. Even with the major reorganization of the last decade, our efforts have not met the challenge of the post-September 11 world. The team assembled by the President, including Under Secretary Beers and, of course, Secretary Powell, a most formidable communicator in his own right, are working overtime. But they need the tools and resources that this bill provides them. I am especially interested in the special authorities for outreach to the Muslim world that are incorporated in this bill. The governments of too many Muslim states have been directing the energies of their people at the United States, or at Israel, in the search for an excuse for mismanagement at home. We need to tell our story and deflect this improperly-placed blame, which can only lead to hatred, terrorism, and war. Mr. Speaker, I applaud the work of Chairman Hyde and my colleagues and urge them to support the bill.”