guru nanak preached the universal message of justice and equality for all. women's empowerment. service others, and devotion to the nature and our environment. every year sikh pilgrims travel to his birth a place to remember his life and message of love and compassion and kindness. these values that we hold true every day. i know from personal experience and my interactions with the sikh leaders across my district and throughout this country that these values are instilled in each and every one of us and them. unfortunately, one such sikh leader tragically passed away a week ago and her loss is heavily felt by so many members not only throughout california but in india. mr. speaker, i rise to celebrate the beloved member of a sikh community and my home of fresno, california. miss jasper, goody sudu. lived an and an -- admirable life and made so many contributions to our communities of for 25 years she produced a weekly television show and founding member of kbif 900, a local radio station. her week long programming featured interviews with community members and cultural figures.

from india to the pakistani border town of qatar poor home to a temple marking west sikh found a guru nanakdied india's sikh minority has long sought easy access to the site but it comes at a time of major tension between the 2 nations after india revoked the autonomy of indian administered kashmir. european parliament has awarded its annual sakharov prize for human rights to totty the economics professor and we go rights advocate is serving a life sentence in china on charges of separatism tortie who has been in jail since 2014 is seen as a moderate voice drawing attention to ethnic tensions in chiang beijing is facing growing international condemnation for its treatment of the weak has rights groups say more than 1000000 a week as an all or mostly muslim ethnic minorities have been rounded up in internment camps in the province. i mean good issues you're seeing you bring your sack out of the parliament has decided to award the secor of prize for freedom of thought to talk to. the i'm told he teaches economy and we hear minority rights in china has done much to improve the comprehension be

between india and pakistan the shrine is believed to mark the spot where the founder of sikhism guru nanak died india has long for access to the site but diplomatic tensions have store progress south korea's prime minister has met japan's leader in tokyo at a time of increased tension lena kyon and shins are both agreed that relations need to be mended it's the highest level meeting since tokyo introduced export controls on materials that are crucial to the south korean tech industry purpose and response to solve demands for compensation from japan for wartime forced labor and entire town has been evacuated in california as a huge wildfire threatens homes there the fire in sonoma county north of san francisco hugely increased in size overnight hundreds of thousands of residents have been hit by blackouts after concern that power lines could go on fire strong winds and hot dry weather hampering efforts of fire crews and increasing the risk of more wildfires elsewhere 2000 years after it was 1st built or one of a kind roman hardens returning to the public eye the bicentenary house was buried

"in the name of nanak, find everlasting optimism. with your will almighty god, may there be welfare of all of humanity." [ speaking foreign language ] amen. the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington d.c., october 16, 2019. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable patrick j. toomey, a senator from the commonwealth of pennsylvania to perform the duties of the chair signed chuck grassley, president pro tempore. mr. toomey: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from pennsylvania. mr. toomey: mr. president, i rise today to mark a very special day for the sikh religion and the sikh community across america and especially in penns