Condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Manchester, United Kingdom, on May 22, 2017, and in London, United Kingdom, on June 3, 2017, expressing heartfelt condolences, and reaffirming unwavering support for the special relationship between our peoples and nations in the wake of these attacks.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 355) condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in Manchester, United Kingdom, on May 22, 2017, expressing heartfelt condolences, and reaffirming unwavering support for the special relationship between our peoples and nations in the wake of these attacks, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I want to recognize Congressman Gregory Meeks, the ranking member of the Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats Subcommittee; and Congressman Paul Cook, the vice chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I recognize them for their work on this timely and important resolution.

On May 22, as the world knows, in a cowardly act of terrorism, a suicide bomber attacked those exiting a concert at the Manchester Arena in England. These were principally teenagers and children who were attending that concert, in some cases, parents. What many had planned to be a night of joy, a festival, a chance for them to gather to celebrate turned with one horrifying blast into a nightmare of chaos and devastation, and 23 innocent people were killed, 166 were severely injured, and many of those victims were children.

This past week, in another cowardly attack, terrorists struck unsuspecting and unarmed pedestrians on London Bridge, and then those terrorists went on an attack against innocent bystanders in London's Borough Market area, slashing and killing, and thus far, at least 7 victims have died and 48 have been seriously wounded. We grieve their loss and send our prayers and condolences to their families.

We also commend the brave and selfless actions of British first responders who, in the wake of both attacks, moved to quickly secure the areas, aid the wounded, and prevent further loss of life.

Our deranged enemies, it is clear, are intent on striking us wherever and whenever possible, often choosing to prey upon the most vulnerable, the most innocent in our society, preying, in this case, on children and teenagers. We must be even more determined in our resolve to stop them and we must continue to build upon our own capabilities, strengthening our cooperation with our friends and allies like the United Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker, the United Kingdom has been a staunch friend and ally, unparalleled in its support for the United States, including as a partner in our counterterrorism efforts. At this sad time, we stand solidly beside our friends and allies as they mourn, heal, and most assuredly rise again following this tragedy. Passage of this resolution is just one way that we can demonstrate this support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in unanimously supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Holding), chairman of the British- American Parliamentary Group and co-chairman of the Congressional United Kingdom Caucus, and he also has strong family ties in Britain.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), chairman of the Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, following the killing in London this past weekend, British Prime Minister May compared the attacks in Manchester and those in the capital, and she said: `` . . . while the recent attacks are not connected by common networks, they are connected in one important sense. They are bound together by the single evil ideology of Islamist extremism that preaches hatred, sows division, and promotes sectarianism.''

``Defeating this ideology is one of the great challenges of our time. . . .''

Those were the Prime Minister's words.

We are committed to standing with our British friends and allies in this important fight. This resolution signals our resolve to deepen our collaboration with our friends and allies in the United Kingdom to counter terrorism and to counter radicalization.

Mr. Speaker, I, therefore, urge my colleagues to join me in unanimous support of this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H. Res. 355. This resolution was submitted by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Cook). It is a strong message condemning in the strongest terms the most recent terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. We worked quickly in the committee to pass this resolution in a bipartisan way. I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel again for their bipartisan efforts.

I would like to lend my voice of condolence to the families and friends of those who were killed and injured. I pray that the Manchester and London communities remain resilient and continue their beautiful human display of kindness in the depths of such tragedy.

I read numerous human stories about neighbors, faith leaders, and local businessmen and -women coming together to aid their fellow citizens with open arms and compassionate hearts. The people of Manchester, London, and the U.K. in general show the rest of the world how to persevere in the face of terror.

Finally, let us remember that the attacks are directed at our open societies that we have built over many generations. Let us remember that our response will set the tone for not only the security of the present day but also the faith in such open societies and the unbreakable bonds of community for years to come.

We will continue to work in the Foreign Affairs Committee to bring about justice and encourage peace. The United States admires the Manchester and London response of stoicism, openheartedness, and solidarity.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the British people are well known for their stiff upper lip, their resolve, and resilience. We have seen all these traits on display in the recent days in the proud European cities of Manchester and London as the dead are mourned, the injured are nursed to health, and the guilty are pursued.

Life must and will go on, and the United Kingdom will remain the beacon of freedom, tolerance, and justice. I am glad we took this time today to send this strong message of solidarity to the people of the U.K. Through the years, they have long stood by us, and we are proud of their friendship. We call them our friends. I support this measure and trust the House will do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 355, which expresses the condolences of the United States to the twenty-two innocent victims who lost their lives and the fifty-nine individuals who were seriously injured in the barbaric attack perpetrated by a terrorist in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution's condemnation of this terrorist attack for the depraved, cowardly act that it is.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims.

Moreover, our heartfelt appreciation goes out to the first responders and others who selflessly came to the aid of those affected by this act.

Manchester will emerge from the attack more vibrant and united than ever before with the same resiliency that has enabled it to grow and evolve from the ``birthplace of the Industrial Revolution'' to the modern, progressive, and welcoming metropolis that it is today.

As Manchester recovers and responds, I hope that Mancunians and Britons as a whole will take comfort in the knowledge that the people of the United States stand in solidarity with them.

This attack is a reminder of the common danger that democratic, peace-loving nations of the world face from those who reject the norms of civilized society and abuse the liberties and freedoms afforded them by free societies.

This terrorist attack in Manchester was a horrific act on innocent civilians perpetrated by a depraved individual who had the support of those who misuse the peaceful religion of Islam for their own misguided purposes.

Those who claim responsibility for this crime against humanity should make no mistake; they will be held accountable for their actions.

Today, however, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Manchester, a city that represents everything terrorists despise--that is, a place that welcomes people from all walks of life to live together in harmony.

That symbol is recognizable to Americans, because we are a society formed by diverse individuals intertwined to create a mosaic that is altogether lovely, strong, and unique.

Given our special relationship with the United Kingdom, the people of the United States of America offer our unwavering support to the people of Manchester and of the United Kingdom.

Today, I ask a moment of silence for the victims killed and injured in the terrorist attack in Manchester.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time and for his work on this very important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, last month, as fans streamed out of a concert in Manchester, they were met by the worst kind of despicable treachery. A terrorist lay in wait with his time bomb to inflict maximum damage on people, killing as many as he could and creating fear among survivors. Twenty-two innocent people were slaughtered, including many children.

The attack claimed by ISIS thugs was, unfortunately, not the last to hit the United Kingdom. Over the weekend, terrorists attacked innocent civilians in London, killing 7 and wounding at least 48 others.

Free countries cannot and must not tolerate these attacks and must not ever accept these attacks as the norm. We must defeat the cancer of Islamic

terrorism and the perverted thinking that inspires it.

I strongly support this resolution which condemns the attack in Manchester and expresses our support to the people of the United Kingdom. We will and must continue to stand together with the United Kingdom for many reasons, but the main reason being the bond of freedom that we have shared for so many years. We must stand together to combat and defeat those who seek to attack freedom and liberty and destroy our way of life. They must not win.

Mr. Speaker, I offer my sincere condolences to the victims of the attacks in the United Kingdom and their families. This evil cannot be allowed to continue without a bold response.

Mr. Speaker, justice demands that we track down these terrorists and hold them accountable for their evil deeds whenever and wherever they attack. Justice must be served because, Mr. Speaker, justice is what free people demand.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for yielding me time, and I rise in strong support of this resolution condemning the terror attacks in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Speaker, the senseless acts of terror that took place in Manchester and London are stark reminders of the threat our allies and our Nation face together. These horrific attacks require strong and coordinated response to not only bring the perpetrators and their enablers to justice but also to combat global terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, Congress stands ready to support our colleagues in Parliament with any assistance necessary. The special relationship that bonds our two nations and peoples is unlike any other relationship that we enjoy.

I am reminded of the events 73 years ago today when the United States stood with Great Britain to execute the largest amphibious landing ever assembled in order to liberate Europe. Our task in fighting terrorism is no less daunting.

I appreciate the efforts here today by the House to condemn these acts of terror and reaffirm our unwavering support for the special relationship that we enjoy with the United Kingdom.