A resolution condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994 and expressing the concern of the United States regarding the continuing, 25-year-long delay in the resolution of this case and encouraging accountability for the attack.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 441) a resolution condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994 and expressing the concern of the United States regarding the continuing, 25-year-long delay in the resolution of this case and encouraging accountability for the attack.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 441, a resolution condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, 25 years ago this month.

I have been to that community center. It is a vibrant community center.

It was a horrific bombing that happened 25 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank Mr. Deutch for authoring this resolution and for his years of leadership advocating for justice for the victims of the AMIA bombing.

In July of 1994, the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires was bombed. Eighty-five innocent people were killed and at least 300 people were wounded. Almost 25 years later, this heartbreaking tragedy and vicious act of anti-Semitism still is an open wound. Justice has not been served.

This hits close to my heart. I have visited AMIA twice to meet with the community there and pay my respects to the victims and the Argentine Jewish community.

For 25 years, the Argentine people have been waiting for the perpetrators of this horrific act of violence and hate to be brought to justice.

So, I am glad we are considering this resolution today to keep this issue on the front burner and to continue to show solidarity with the victims.

The measure before us condemns the AMIA attack and expresses the United States' condolences to the families of the 85 victims.

This resolution also makes it clear that those responsible for the murder of innocent civilians must be held accountable. Years of investigation have found that the perpetrators of this attack were Hezbollah operatives with strong links to Iranian Government officials.

Despite the international outcry and a stack of Interpol red notices demanding that these individuals be brought to justice, Iran refuses to hold the perpetrators accountable. Par for the course for the Government of Iran.

It is the duty of all of us here in Congress to stand with the Argentine people as they demand that those responsible face consequences for their crimes.

I hope our friends in the Argentine Government and justice system will do everything they can to finally provide closure for the victims' families.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 441.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, it is an outrage that, after all these years, there still hasn't been justice for the AMIA bombing victims and their families.

This resolution today is a message to the Argentine Jewish community, and to marginalized, victimized communities around the world, that the United States will not forget them and will continue to push for justice.

I am glad my colleague mentioned the prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, because what happened to him, to be murdered a day before he was to present his work, is absolutely a disgrace. Some in the government even

tried to say that it was a suicide, but we know it was not.

I hope that we get to the bottom of the truth and that Mr. Nisman is honored, which he should be. It is just an absolute disgrace that he was murdered.

Again, I thank Mr. Deutch for authorizing this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Engel for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the memory of the victims of the 1994 terror attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires.

On July 18, 1994, terrorists detonated a car bomb in the AMIA building, a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, an important part, a central part of that community. It killed 85 innocent people and injured hundreds more.

This attack, which took place just 2 years after the bombing of the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires, shook the Argentine Jewish community, the largest in Latin America.

In the 25 years since the attack, the investigations into the AMIA bombing have been marked by long delays and by judicial misconduct, failing thus far to bring justice for the victims, their families, and their community.

Considerable evidence has linked this heinous attack to the terrorist group Hezbollah and its sponsor, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Now, despite warrants issued by the Argentinian justice system for Iranian and Lebanese nationals thought to be involved in the attacks, and their addition on Interpol's most wanted lists, Iranian and Hezbollah operatives have yet to face accountability for their actions.

We encourage all responsible nations to not allow the perpetrators of this attack to continue to escape justice.

After the previous President of Argentina worked to prevent Iran from being held accountable, Prosecutor Alberto Nisman heroically proceeded investigating this bombing, shedding light on the alarming and growing partnership between leaders in Iran and Argentina. Just 1 day before he was scheduled to present his latest findings, Alberto Nisman was found dead in his home with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.

We are grateful that President Macri's government has continued to push for Iranian accountability.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge the Ambassador of Argentina, who is in the gallery with us today.

Twenty-five years later, Iranian-backed Hezbollah continues to carry out terror operations. Twenty-five years later, anti-Semitism continues to threaten the lives of Jewish communities throughout Latin America, around the world, and even here in the United States.

With this vote, Congress honors the victims of this horrific attack; recalls the brave work by Alberto Nisman, who lost his life pursuing justice; and calls for full accountability for those responsible. It has been far too long.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, the ranking member, Congressman Joe Wilson, ranking member of the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism Subcommittee, and Congressmen Albio Sires and Francis Rooney, the chair and ranking member of the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade Subcommittee, for joining me in introducing this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with us against this despicable act of terror. As we recall the victims today, we stand against terror and hatred and anti-Semitism, and we stand for justice.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 441 which conveys the indignation and concern many of my colleagues and I have regarding the severe delay in the conclusion of and lack of accountability for the July 1994 AMIA Jewish Community Center attacks.

On July 18, 1994, 85 innocent people lost their lives and 300 more were wounded in an act of terror and hate perpetrated against the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association (AMIA).

This attack came two years after the bombing of the Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aires which claimed the lives of an additional 29 civilians.

In both instances, there was considerable evidence that linked the attacks to the Lebanon-based terrorist group Hezbollah, which is supported by the Syrian Arab Republic and is sponsored by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

In the quarter century since the bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, little has been done to bring those responsible, including Iranian officials and their Hezbollah proxies, to justice.

Those charged with bringing the attackers to justice have unfortunately been made victims themselves or since been found to have undermined and misled their investigations into the attacks.

Alberto Nisman, one of the original prosecutors that formally accused the Government of Iran of directing the bombing, was also critical of the Government of Argentina's response to the 1994 AMIA bombing.

Nisman alleged that there was a conspiracy among high-ranking Argentinian government officials, including then-President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, to cover up Iranian involvement.

Unfortunately, Nisman was shot in the head in his apartment the day before he was scheduled to present new findings to the Argentinian Congress.

Other individuals responsible for investigating the AMIA bombing, Argentina's deadliest terrorist attack, have since been convicted by an Argentine court for interfering with the official inquiry and diverting the investigation away from the truth.

As a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 441 and in condemning what has been a systemic failure to carry out justice for the victims of the July 18, 1994 terrorist attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 441, Condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires in July 1994, authored by Mr. Deutch of Florida.

In July 1994, a terrorist tied to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah carried out a murderous bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 85 innocent people and injuring hundreds more.

Unfortunately, 25 years later, the cowardly perpetrators of this attack have evaded justice due to a series of coverups and a botched investigation. This reminds us that terrorism is a continuing threat in our hemisphere and that we must always be vigilant.

This important resolution condemns the attack, expresses concern over the continued delay in the resolution of the case, and it encourages accountability for those responsible.

The resolution also recognizes a series of critical events, including the mysterious death of the lead prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, who formally accused the Government of Iran and Hezbollah for their role and implicated the Fernandez Kirchner government in negotiating immunity for the Iranian suspects.

This resolution demonstrates our commitment to supporting the Government of Argentina, one of our great regional partners, in finding justice for the victims and their families, and combating the continued threat of terrorism in our hemisphere.

I was grateful to work with my colleague, Mr. Deutch, the chairman of the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism Subcommittee, on this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

General Leave