A Tribute to Rep. Tom Lantos, Champion of Terrorism Victims

By Andrew Cochran

Rep. Tom Lantos, chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and a champion in the fight against terrorism, died earlier today. Rep. Lantos, the only Holocaust survivor to win a seat in Congress, was a consistent supporter of counterterrorism efforts and the victims of terrorism. Last year, his first as chairman of that influential committee, he moved the bipartisan Iran Counter-Proliferation Act and the Afghan Freedom and Security Support Act through the committee and the U.S. House. He was also one of the principal co-sponsors for the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, the only House-passed bill which enables public companies to divest from business with Iran. Recently, he condemned the statement by the PLO's representative in Washington praising its founder, George Habash, upon his death. He was also vocal in pressing for aid to Darfur to save innocent civilians from slaughter and was one of five Congressmen arrested in 2006 for protesting outside the Sudanese Embassy.

The victims of terrorism across the globe always had a vocal supporter and solid vote for their interests in Tom Lantos. He will be missed.

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