Expressing support to the Government of Argentina for its investigation into the terrorist bombing of the Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aires on March 17, 1992.

Mr. Speaker, next Wednesday, July 18, marks 24 years since the horrific terrorist attack on the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

This attack, carried out by the Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah, left 85 innocent people dead and many more wounded. It shook the entire Jewish community in Argentina, and all across South America, who were targeted by Hezbollah just 2 years earlier with a deadly attack at the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, which left 29 dead and 250 wounded.

The AMIA bombing remains the deadliest terror attack in Argentina's history, yet its perpetrators and those responsible for the Embassy bombing have yet to be brought to justice. But that has not been for lack of trying. In fact, Special Prosecutor Alberto Nisman had dedicated his life to identifying those responsible and to bringing them to justice.

Indeed, my friend Alberto ultimately gave his life in this pursuit, having been assassinated just hours before he was to present his complaint to a court implicating then-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and other high-ranking Argentine officials for covering up Iran's role in the bombings.

In 2015, President Macri of Argentina made the brave decision to assign a special prosecutor to investigate and uncover the truth surrounding

Nisman's death, which, under the Kirchner government, was ruled a suicide. But we knew the truth all along, and ultimately the official report released in 2017 confirmed that Nisman was, in fact, murdered, no doubt by those close to Iran and Hezbollah, or those implicated in Alberto's investigation.

Mr. Speaker, this is just the first step in vindicating the work for which he was murdered. But we still have a very long way to go to bring Alberto Nisman justice and see the culmination of his work, which is to hold Hezbollah accountable for these brutal terror attacks against the Jewish community in Argentina.

Last year, I, along with Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and Congressmen Ted Deutch, Jeff Duncan, and Albio Sires, introduced H. Res. 201, which expressed support for the government of Argentina for its investigation of the AMIA bombing in 1994 and the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in 1992. The resolution also calls on our government to assist Argentina in ensuring all those responsible for these heinous acts are held accountable.

I would urge the Argentine authorities to do everything within their power to bring all responsible parties to justice and to bring at least some form of closure to the families of over 100 killed by Hezbollah in Argentina. Argentina owes them that much. And we all owe them a chance to see Iran and Hezbollah held accountable for their horrific acts of terror.

Though the AMIA bombing was 24 years ago, and the embassy bombing 26 years ago, the Jewish communities still feel the pain, and because Hezbollah is allowed to go unchecked in many places around the globe, they know that another attack may be possible anywhere in the world.

To commemorate the AMIA bombing, and in remembrance of the lives brutally taken, the American Jewish community's Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs will be co-hosting a memorial and candle lighting ceremony with the Skylake Synagogue in North Miami Beach. The south Florida Jewish community holds this event annually to not only commemorate the victims of this attack, but to bring attention to the threat that is Iran and Hezbollah, as well as the hostility and the discrimination that Jews around the world are still facing and the rising tide of anti-Semitism.

Mr. Speaker, as the 24th anniversary of the AMIA bombing nears, let us remember the lives lost and continue working so that these acts do not happen again, and let us work to ensure that Iran and Hezbollah may never be able to carry out such terrible acts again.

Thank you to the south Florida community members for putting together this event and for their work to help bring justice to the families of the lives lost.

Madam Speaker, today I rise to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the bombing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, of the Jewish Community Center, also known as AMIA.

This cowardly terrorist attack killed 85 people, with hundreds more injured. Yet, nearly 25 years later, the Jewish community and the people of Argentina are still waiting for justice to be served.

This was an attack perpetrated by Iran and its terror proxy, Hezbollah. In fact, these individuals you see here on this poster, Madam Speaker, are responsible for the AMIA bombing. We know who they are and the damage they caused.

My friend, Alberto Nisman, was appointed as a special investigator in Argentina to look into this terrible bombing. He found clear evidence that linked the Iranian regime and Hezbollah to the AMIA attack and the attack at the Israel Embassy in Buenos Aires just 2 years earlier, in 1992. Tragically, on January 19, 2015, just a few hours before he was set to produce the evidence to the Argentinian Parliament, Alberto was found dead in his apartment under very mysterious circumstances.

So here we are, another sad anniversary later. Congress can play a crucial role in the pursuit of justice for the victims of the embassy bombing, the AMIA bombing, and for Alberto's family.

This past March, along with Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, Ted Deutch, Jeff Duncan, and Albio Sires, I introduced H. Res. 201, which supports Argentina in its efforts to investigate and hold Iran and Hezbollah accountable for these cowardly acts of terror.

Madam Speaker, today, on the 23rd anniversary of the AMIA bombing, we continue to mourn the lives lost on this tragic day, as we strive for justice. I urge my colleagues to support my resolution, and I urge this body to send a strong message to the Jewish community, the people of Argentina, and the Iranian regime that we will not continue to let another anniversary pass without taking meaningful action.

Ecuador Homes

Madam Speaker, today I rise to commend a constituent, Nina Vaca, for the humanitarian effort she has undertaken in her home country of Ecuador.

On April 16, 2016, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated Ecuador. You can see the devastation still today. It wrecked entire communities, killed hundreds, and left over 25,000 people either injured or homeless.

A year later, Ecuador continues to struggle, with hundreds of families still living in tents. Nina has made it her mission to get these families back into homes.

Determined to make a difference, she founded TRI for Homes, with the goal of building 40 homes for some of these families. Soon, Nina will compete in an IRONMAN triathlon in Ecuador to raise awareness and support for her cause.

I commend Nina for her determination to raise awareness and for building homes for Ecuadorian families. I wish her good luck, and we will all be rooting for her.

Captive Nations Week

Madam Speaker, I rise to commemorate this week as Captive Nations Week.

As a Cuban refugee who had to flee my native homeland of Cuba due to a murderous communist regime, I know how important freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights are. Captive Nations Week serves as a reminder that there are millions of people who continue to live under a brutal, repressive regime.

Tomorrow night, on the east steps of the Capitol, I will speak at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation's Captive Nations Week event called No Che Noche to set the record straight on one of history's most sadistic murderers, Che Guevara.

Madam Speaker, our support for those who yearn for freedom and democracy should not be limited to just 1 week. I urge my colleagues to join those around the world who are suffering under oppressive regimes.

We as Americans benefit greatly, and we can do more to make sure that others get the same rights and freedoms we enjoy in this great country.