Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for his leadership on this very, very important issue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of my bill, H.R. 285, the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation, or SAVE, Act.

But Madam Speaker, I also rise today in support of all the good work done by my colleagues here in Congress on the issue of human trafficking.

Madam Speaker, as a former United States Ambassador, I was exposed firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on an international level. I witnessed and reported on the devastating consequences of human trafficking, where innocent women and children were dragged into the dark abyss of sexual slavery.

But never, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think human trafficking was so rampant right here in the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, right now there are young women being forced into prostitution in virtually every district across this Nation. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, has been identified as one of the top 20 areas for sex trafficking in the United States.

Madam Speaker, this is a problem that is hiding in plain sight. Every year, thousands of young American lives are impacted by this despicable crime.

However, there is hope. I take hope from the work that is done by law enforcement professionals who are on the front lines every day protecting our Nation's children from those who would seek to exploit them.

I take hope from those who work in victims' services and their tireless efforts to help survivors recover, heal, and forge new lives out of the horrors of sexual enslavement.

Most importantly, I take hope from all the survivors of this hideous crime. This bracelet, Madam Speaker, was made by survivors at a safe house called Crisis Aid International in my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.

Their strength gives us strength, their resolve gives us inspiration, and their steadfast commitment to ending sex trafficking gives us the courage to fight.

I am grateful for the many colleagues that I have who have supported legislation and held events in their home districts to raise awareness and education of this crime. Our work has yet to begin.

However, Madam Speaker, there is much, much work to do still. Legislators, we have an obligation to come together and to do something because we can, because we should, and because we must.

Over the last 10 years, prostitution has slowly but persistently migrated to an online marketplace. Classified services like backpage.com and others are the vehicles for advertising the victims of sexual slavery in this world.

Pimps and traffickers blatantly advertise their victims' sexual services with provocative photographs and unsubtle messages, complete with per-hour pricing. The traffickers pay Web sites like Backpage and others to display their messages, and these Web sites, accordingly, reap enormous profits at the expense of victims of sex trafficking.

Many of these ads feature children and trafficking victims, and they are resulting in thousands of children every year being openly sold for sex on the Internet.

Madam Speaker, government intervention is necessary to end facilitation of sex trafficking by Web sites like backpage.com and others who commercially advertise this criminal activity.

Companies that base their business models off the profits made by selling sex with children should not be allowed to operate.

The SAVE Act seeks to criminalize this behavior, thereby dramatically reducing the victimization of vulnerable children and women forced into sexual slavery in the United States.

Madam Speaker, this legislation passed the House last year in an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 392-19.

I recognize that it is critically important that innocent actors are protected from the liability, while giving prosecutors the means to combat human trafficking.

To be clear, Madam Speaker, this legislation prohibits only those advertisements that the government can prove actually offer sex with a child or sex with an adult who is involved due to force, fraud, or coercion.

There is well-established precedent for Congress to criminalize the advertising of legal goods and services, as the chairman has outlined previously. Surely, advertisements offering sex with children should also be subject to the same restrictions.

Criminalizing the advertisement of trafficking victims will stem the flow of money, resulting in a reduction of both demand and supply.

The victims of sex trafficking are not nameless, faceless children. They are our daughters, our granddaughters, our nieces, and our neighbors. They are the vulnerable youth of our society, the ones who should be protected the most, Madam Speaker, not exploited for money and greed.

I urge my colleagues to support the SAVE Act because it will provide the tools necessary for law enforcement to combat the sexual exploitation and enslavement of women and children in the United States.

I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his leadership on this issue.

I also want to thank Judge Poe, who has fought this fight for so very many years.

It is marvelous to have seen in the 113th Congress five pieces of legislation on human trafficking move through this Chamber. Now, tomorrow, we will pass 12 pieces of human trafficking to end the scourge of sex slavery in this country and beyond, and I could not be more proud of this Chamber and of the bipartisan effort to get this done.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 469, the Strengthening Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act of 2015, sponsored by Representative Karen Bass.

Congresswoman Bass has been a long-time leader in Congress on the issue of human trafficking. Her legislation will strengthen the child welfare response to trafficking by ensuring that each State develops a plan that would identify children at risk of becoming victims of human trafficking. According to the Department of Justice, upwards of 300,000 American children are at risk of becoming the victims of crime.

One of the greatest challenges we face in combating this problem is a lack of accurate and reliable statistics. Frequently, those most at risk of falling victim to human trafficking are not identified early enough to intervene. By ensuring that child welfare agencies have systems in place to properly identify, to assess, and to document child victims of trafficking, H.R. 469 will move us towards a comprehensive, total solution to the scourge of human trafficking in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to be sponsoring, at the end of our debate here, a Special Order on the issue of human trafficking. I invite all of my colleagues to join me on the floor as we talk about this important issue and about the 12 pieces of human trafficking legislation that will come forward tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous materials on the subject of my Special Order.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of packages of human trafficking legislation to be considered by the House of Representatives this week, 12 different pieces of legislation. I also rise today in support of all the good work done by my colleagues here in Congress on the issue of human trafficking.

Mr. Speaker, as a former United States Ambassador, I was exposed firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on an international level. I witnessed and reported on devastating consequences of human trafficking, where innocent women and children were dragged into the dark abyss of sex slavery. But never in my wildest dreams did I ever think human trafficking was so rampant right here in the United States of America. Americans are being forced into sexual slavery by ruthless human traffickers.

Mr. Speaker, right now there are young women being forced into prostitution in virtually every district across this Nation. It is hiding in plain sight. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, has been identified as one of the top 20 areas for sex trafficking in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, this problem is before our eyes. It is in our communities, it is in our neighborhoods, and it is in our cul-de-sacs. It is right here before us. Every year, thousands of young Americans' lives are impacted by this despicable crime. However, there is hope.

I take hope from the work done by the law enforcement professionals who are on the front lines every day protecting our Nation's children from those who would seek to exploit them. I take hope from those who work in victims services and their tireless efforts to help survivors recover, heal, and forge new lives out of the horrors of sexual enslavement. Most importantly, Mr. Speaker, I take hope from all the survivors, the survivors of this hideous crime. Their strength gives us strength, their resolve gives us inspiration, and their steadfast commitment to ending sex trafficking gives us all the courage to fight.

Mr. Speaker, because of the efforts of many individuals and groups, I am happy to report that Congress has taken notice of this serious problem. Years of work by Representatives Noem, Poe, Paulsen, Hultgren, Reichert, Smith, among many others, have raised awareness of this issue and have laid the foundation for the long overdue action Congress is presently taking. I am grateful that many of my colleagues have held events in their home districts to raise awareness and education of this crime.

Last year in St. Louis, I participated, along with Judge Poe, in a conference at which the private and public sectors came together to share best practices about combating human trafficking. Representatives Davis, Hudson, Walberg, Roskam, Coffman, Huizenga, and Heck, among so many other Members of my colleagues, have all held human trafficking events in their districts to raise awareness and offer solutions to end sexual assault and human trafficking. I applaud these efforts, and I look forward to continuing this work for years to come.

However, Mr. Speaker, there is much, much work to be done. As legislators, we have an obligation to come together and do something because we can, because we should, and because we must.

The legislation that we are voting on this week in the House of Representatives will provide prosecutors with the tools they need to prosecute traffickers and will provide social service providers with the resources they need to assist victims in healing. These bills will mandate much-needed awareness and training, and will provide government agencies with the accurate, dependable statistics they need to combat this terrible crime.

I am so proud of the action this body has taken to recognize and address this problem, which has so long festered in the shadows.

I am equally proud of all my colleagues today who have come to the floor to speak up for the victims of human trafficking, to show them they are not alone, that we are with them, and that we will no longer be silent in the face of such depravity.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to one of my colleagues, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hultgren). He is reintroducing his bill, the Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act. The bill urges nations to recognize the link between the purchase of commercial sex and the prevalence of human trafficking in society, and to confront the former in order to effectively combat the latter. The bill targets demand.

He has hosted anti-trafficking forums for Members of Congress at which the anti-trafficking documentary ``Nefarious'' was shown. The producers of the film from Exodus Cry attended.

He is a member of the House leadership Human Trafficking Task Force and the Human Trafficking Caucus, and he has worked with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on efforts to help human trafficking victims both in the U.S. and abroad.

Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Illinois, Randy Hultgren.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to draw attention to this bracelet that I have on that many of my colleagues are going to be wearing over

the next 2 days as we pass 12 pieces of human trafficking legislation. This tab bracelet was handmade by dedicated volunteers to raise funds for Crisis Aid International safe homes in my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. The safe homes provide comfort and support for young women rescued from the horrors of sex trafficking.

The bracelet project, which was inspired by an 11-year-old victim wanting to make a difference, has become the symbol of hope for these precious young people.

Join me. I ask all my colleagues to join me in wearing this bracelet to spread awareness about the scourge of sex slavery.

Next, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio, Representative Joyce Beatty.

Last year, Congresswoman Beatty partnered with Senator Portman from Ohio to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation, the Bringing Missing Children Home Act, to improve law enforcement reporting and response procedures in cases of missing children, the most vulnerable victims of child trafficking and sexual exploitation.

This Congress, she introduces H.R. 246, which would improve and update the Missing Children's Assistance Act in order to reflect the current state of Federal law and reinforce that children who are sex- trafficked or sexually exploited are victims and not criminals.

I am a proud cosponsor of the gentlewoman's legislation, and it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlelady from Ohio, Representative Joyce Beatty.

I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership and her friendship. Thank you so much, Congresswoman Joyce Beatty.

Next, Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield to the gentleman from Texas, Congressman Ted Poe. Judge Poe has been a longstanding advocate for victims of crime. He has dedicated his life to promoting justice and giving voice to survivors and, as a Member of Congress, has been a tireless advocate for legislation that provides a comprehensive approach to address the problem of human trafficking in the United States. Congressman Poe has been a friend and a colleague and a kindred spirit to me in the House of Representatives. His championing of victims' rights has inspired countless survivors of crime to stand up for their rights and demand change.

I yield to the Congressman from Texas, Judge Ted Poe.

Thank you, Judge Poe, for your tremendous leadership in this area and so many others dealing with victims' rights.

It is now my pleasure to recognize the gentlewoman from New Hampshire, Representative Ann Kuster. Representative Kuster has been a strong proponent of human and women's rights, advocating for a number of bills that support fighting sexual assault and human trafficking, including her bipartisan legislation to improve whistleblower protections which was passed into law last year to protect military members who report instances of sexual abuse.

Last Congress, Representative Kuster and I joined together in coauthoring a letter condemning the kidnapping of nearly 300 girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram and calling on the United States Government to work with the United Nations to enact more comprehensive financial sanctions against the organization.

I thank her for her leadership on this area, and it is my pleasure to yield to the gentlewoman from New Hampshire, Representative Ann Kuster.

I thank the gentlewoman from New Hampshire for her leadership and her friendship on so many matters that we come together.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to introduce the gentlewoman from Tennessee, Representative Diane Black. She was an original cosponsor of my SAVE Act that we will be introducing tomorrow and that I will have the pleasure to talk about on the floor during debate tomorrow.

She has sponsored roundtables in her district with law enforcement and community leaders on the impact of human trafficking in her home State of Tennessee, and she has worked with End Slavery Tennessee to see firsthand their efforts to combat trafficking in her State.

She is a leader among us for all victims, all those who have no voice. She is a friend and a dear colleague. It is my pleasure to yield to the representative from Tennessee, Congresswoman Diane Black.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for her leadership on this issue and so many others.

It is now my pleasure to yield to a brandnew freshman Member, the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Walker). Combating human trafficking is a priority for Congressman Walker, and this is his very first bill introduced here in Washington, the Human Trafficking Detection Act of 2015. It aims to help end this unconscionable industry. North Carolina is ranked as a top State for labor and sex trafficking, and this vital legislation works to effectively train and inform Department of Homeland Security personnel to better detect and intersect human traffickers and their victims.

I thank Congressman Walker for his leadership, and congratulations on your first piece of legislation--it is so very important--that you will be bringing forward tomorrow.

Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure for me to cosponsor with the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) this Special Order on human trafficking. I look forward tomorrow to a number of bills that are going to pass in this United States House of Representatives. I look forward to speaking tomorrow on the SAVE Act that will go after advertisers of this hideous and heinous crime.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield back the remainder of my time so the gentlewoman from South Dakota (Mrs. Noem) may speak. She has been a friend and a partner on the issue of human trafficking since her time in Congress. She has been a real partner to me as we moved this legislation forward. We were able to move, as I said, five pieces of legislation last Congress and will be moving 12 tomorrow with her leadership and support on this very, very important issue. She has a wonderful piece of legislation, H.R. 350, the Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act of 2015. I am a proud cosponsor and look forward to its passage tomorrow.

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

I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I thank him for his leadership on this very, very important issue.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of life. Today is a very joyous and hopeful day on what is a very sad anniversary. Today is the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade. Hundreds of thousands of pro-life advocates from across the country, and many from my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, will be on The Mall as we march in honor of the over 56 million precious angels we have lost over the last 42 years.

Madam Speaker, I believe in the sanctity of life, I believe that life begins at conception, and that every life is a gift.

There is an area where most Americans agree and where elected officials should all come together, and that is on the Federal funding of abortion. The majority of Americans do not want their hard-earned tax dollars going to pay for abortions, and Congress has consistently worked together over the years by attaching the Hyde amendment to appropriations bills to prevent taxpayer funds from going towards abortions.

That is why I am proud to cosponsor and support H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act. There is no more appropriate day than today to consider such important legislation.

This bill does exactly what the name implies. It permanently ensures that no taxpayer dollars go to pay for abortion or abortion coverage. This bill codifies the Hyde amendment and also addresses taxpayer funding for abortion that, unfortunately, the Hyde amendment does not cover.

For example, ObamaCare expressly allows funding for plans that include abortion through taxpayer subsidies. During the health care debate, the President assured the American people that no Federal dollars would be used to fund abortions under ObamaCare. It was yet again another broken promise.

However, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act not only prevents taxpayer funding for abortion under ObamaCare, it also requires transparency to ensure the consumers are fully informed about which plans on the exchanges contain abortion coverage and surcharges.

Madam Speaker, throughout my life I have worked to draw attention to the pro-life movement--to change hearts and minds and to approach this issue with love and compassion. I will continue to work throughout my time in Congress towards the day when abortion is not only illegal but abortion is unthinkable.

I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this important legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate and thank the gentleman for yielding and for hosting this very important Special Order today and for his lifetime of service in protecting the rights of the unborn, those who have no voice.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the sanctity of life. Sadly, tomorrow is the 42nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, and hundreds of thousands of people, including pro-life advocates from my own hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, will gather in our Nation's capital in honor of the over 56 million precious angels we have lost since that infamous Supreme Court decision, not to mention the millions of women who have been adversely affected in the aftermath of their abortion, both physically and emotionally.

I first participated in the March for Life 25 years ago this week, in 1990. I was 28 years old with a real bad hairdo, and I was 12 weeks pregnant with my son Stephen. At that point, at 12 weeks in my pregnancy, Stephen was able to suck his thumb. A few weeks later, at 15 weeks, he could make facial expressions and he had taste buds. By 17 weeks, Stephen began to kick. By week 18, his ears had developed and he could hear. By week 20, not only was Stephen able to recognize my voice as his mother, but he was capable of feeling pain.

While killing an unborn child is unconscionable at anytime, it is especially abhorrent at the 20-week mark when a child is able to feel the pain of an abortion.

Mr. Speaker, the theme of this year's march is ``Every Life is a Gift,'' and I truly believe that life at all stages, from conception to natural death, is, indeed, a gift. I am for the life of the baby. I am also for the life of the mother and oftentimes the victim.

I will continue to work and to pray for the day when abortion is not only illegal, but abortion is unthinkable.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 3329) to enhance the ability of community financial institutions to foster economic growth and serve their communities, boost small businesses, increase individual savings, and for other purposes, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment.

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my friend and colleague from North Carolina for yielding me this time, and the gentleman from Vermont also for his tremendous support and commitment to honoring our fallen heroes.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of a great American hero. On March 16, 2006, Missouri's Second District lost a brave young woman when United States Army Sergeant Amanda N. Pinson was killed in a mortar attack while serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of this young patriot.

Army Sergeant Amanda Pinson was a signals intelligence analyst assigned to the 101st Military Intelligence Detachment of the 101st Airborne Division based in Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

On a personal note, I have to say that the Screaming Eagles are very personal to me, as my oldest son is presently serving as an Army officer in the 101st.

Amanda is survived by her mother, Chris; her father, Tony; and her younger brother, Bryan.

Growing up in Lemay, Missouri, Amanda enlisted in the Army after graduating from Hancock Place High School, where she won several scholarships and was on the basketball and the softball teams.

Amanda was always concerned about helping others. In high school, she started her own group called HELP, the Hancock Environmental Leadership Program. She enlisted all of her friends to join, and Amanda and the HELP group planted trees at local parks and volunteered with local seniors.

The group also planted and maintained flowers at the entrance of Jefferson Barracks Park. The park where she used to plant flowers is adjoined to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, where Amanda is laid to rest.

Amanda also had the respect and admiration of her fellow soldiers. She was described, indeed, as a model soldier and ``a breath of fresh air'' by Lieutenant Colonel Lucinda Lane, who spoke at her service.

Upon her death, Sergeant Pinson was awarded a Bronze Star, a Good Conduct Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Medal, and a Purple Heart.

Her impact on the people privileged to know her during her life is evidenced by the many memorials honoring Amanda. In 2006, the U.S. Army honored Amanda by dedicating the building where she worked in Tikrit, Iraq, naming it ``Pinson Hall.'' A pink willow tree was planted in her honor at her alma mater, Hancock High School, in 2006. And now, the Amanda N. Pinson Post Office will join these memorials as a testament to the bravery, valor, and kindness of this American hero who gave the ultimate sacrifice for her country.

It is my honor to sponsor H.R. 5385, a bill that names the Affton branch, Grasso Plaza post office after such a courageous young woman, immortalizing a hero who gave up her life in service to the Nation she loved. May it bring comfort to her family and friends and give witness to Sergeant Pinson's bravery and her sacrifice.

To quote the phrase that adorns so many of the tributes and memorials to Amanda: ``If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever.''

So today, on behalf of a grateful nation, I say: ``Thank you, Amanda, and you are, indeed, loved.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from North Carolina for yielding the time and the gentleman from Vermont for his always kind and compassionate words about our fallen heroes and these great opportunities that we have to represent them and give living testament to their bravery and their sacrifice.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a great American hero, Sergeant Zachary M. Fisher, of my hometown of Ballwin, Missouri.

On July 14, 2010, Missouri's Second District lost a brave young man when United States Army Sergeant Zach Fisher was killed by an IED while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sergeant Fisher was assigned to the 27th Engineer Battalion of the 20th Engineer Brigade based out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was, indeed, 24 years old when he died at Forward Operating Base Lagman in Afghanistan.

Zach was, again, from my hometown of Ballwin, Missouri, and he graduated in 2004 from Marquette High School, where his history teacher remembered him as a patriotic student with an interest in how the United States developed as a country.

Zach met his beautiful and loving wife, Jessica, just before his earlier deployment in Iraq. At the time of his death, they had been married for just 2 years.

Zach is survived by his parents, Sue and Jim Jacobs and Bob and Alicia Fisher; three brothers, Andrew, Clayton, and Alexander; and two sisters, Emily and Zoe.

Zach initially enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves, and when he told his parents that he wanted to report for Active Duty, they asked him to give two good reasons why he would choose to put himself in harm's way for the service of his country. His reply said a lot about the character of the man, Zach Fisher. First, he wanted to join the Army because he wanted the discipline it would provide, and, more importantly, he wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself.

Although the United States of America can never fully repay the priceless debt we owe to Sergeant Fisher, we can do our part to ensure that his memory lives on. Therefore, it is my honor to

sponsor H.R. 5794, a bill that names the Chesterfield main post office after such a courageous young man, immortalizing a hero who gave up his life in service to the Nation that he loved.

All of Zachary's friends would say that Zach was their best friend. He was a dedicated warrior whose commitment to family, friends, and country will be long remembered.

I am proud that this legislation will serve as a testament to the dedication and sacrifice of Sergeant Zachary Fisher, standing as a physical reminder of the bravery of one American from Missouri's Second Congressional District who chose to serve a cause greater than oneself.

Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor today to speak about one of our greatest national security challenges: the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran.

I am deeply troubled by the Obama administration's recent 7-month extension of nuclear negotiations with Iran. The extension means that Iran will continue to have access to $700 million a month in sanctions relief.

Every day that we continue these talks is another day given to Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. A nuclear-armed Iran would start a new arms race in the Middle East and pose an intolerable threat to the national security of the United States and our allies, especially Israel.

The House has passed H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, which would increase sanctions on the Iranian regime. Now it is time for the United States Senate to do its part and pass legislation that would impose additional sanctions on Iran.

Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 529 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, today, I rise in honor of a great hero.

On June 23, 2007, Missouri's Second Congressional District lost a brave young man when United States Army First Lieutenant Daniel Riordan made the ultimate sacrifice for his country while serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the life of this young patriot. Daniel Patrick Riordan was born to Rick and Jeanine Riordan on February 17, 1983. He had a twin brother, Nick, and an older sister, Suzanne.

After graduating from St. John Vianney High School in Kirkwood, Missouri, Dan attended Southeast Missouri State where he was in the Air Force ROTC program. After graduation, Dan decided to follow his father into the military and joined the U.S. Army, quickly becoming known as ``Lieutenant Dan.''

Lieutenant Dan became a tank commander, and in 2006, he was deployed to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. As a member of Demon Company in the First Cavalry Division, Dan served with courage and determination. Despite frequently being outnumbered in enemy territory, Dan was always out on point, leading his platoon into battle. Dan took his leadership responsibilities literally. As he put it, ``How can I order my men forward if I'm not willing to go first?''

To those who knew Dan, his devotion to his country through service and sacrifice came as no surprise. He was both a fierce and dedicated warrior in the service of our country and a caring and loving gentleman who felt a duty to help those in need.

From a very young age, Dan showed sensitivity beyond his years. At the age of 5 or 6, while attending a funeral, Dan's mom found him sitting with an elderly woman. When she asked him why he was sitting with her, he said, ``She looked sad and lonely.'' It was this kind of compassion that drew him to the U.S. military, his desire to serve, help, and protect those in need.

While at home on leave from Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dan consistently reassured his family that our country's military efforts were truly bringing empowerment and freedom to the people of Iraq. He believed in a cause greater than himself, that of freedom, democracy, and the dignity of all people.

While in the Army, Dan wrote his mother a letter in case he didn't return. One thing he said was, ``Don't mourn for me, mom. Celebrate my life.'' So today, we celebrate First Lieutenant Daniel P. Riordan's life by designating the Sappington Branch Post Office in St. Louis, Missouri, as the Lt. Daniel P. Riordan Post Office.

The United States of America owes Dan a priceless debt that we will never be able to fully repay, but we can do our part to ensure that his memory lives on; therefore, it is my honor to sponsor H.R. 5386, a bill that names the Sappington Branch Post Office in Missouri's Second Congressional District after such a courageous young man, immortalizing a hero who gave up his life in service to the Nation that he loved.

Will the gentleman yield?

I would like to say that I have had the great pleasure and honor of sponsoring several of these post office namings for our fallen heroes, and I have to say it is one of the most moving, touching, and important things that we can do, I think, for our entire community and certainly for the families. So it is a great privilege and honor for me to support the Riordan family today, and I thank the gentleman for his kind words and the chairman for putting all of this forward.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about one of the greatest threats to the United States of America and our allies. An evil that is so barbaric and ruthless that it can't be ignored but only dismantled and destroyed. Madam Speaker, I am talking about the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, also known as ISIL.

Many of you, many of all of us, have watched in horror as two American journalists--James Foley and Steven Sotloff--and a British citizen, David Haines, were gruesomely murdered by ISIL. As a mother and as an American, my thoughts and prayers go out to their families and to all the victims of this vile terrorist group.

Madam Speaker, ISIL is the most ruthless and well-financed terrorist group in the world. Their goal is simple: kill the innocent and ultimately terrorize the United States of America and our allies. We have an obligation, one that has been long overdue, to stop this barbaric terrorist organization before they strike us at home.

Madam Speaker, we must not let that happen. We must stand together, stand together as a Nation, a people, in a unified bipartisan fashion, to stop ISIL once and for all. Make no mistake about it, we are at war with radical Islam.

ISIL must not have a safe haven in Syria, or anywhere else, with the time and the space to operate and carry out attacks against our allies and our homeland. They must be destroyed.

Our Commander in Chief has asked for the ``tools'' to defeat ISIL. Madam Speaker, I will support the President in our effort to complete the mission and to defeat the enemy. But I do remain

concerned that the President does not have the long-term vision and the will to complete the mission.

As Americans, we should all want the President to succeed. The cost of failure is far too great. However, the cost of not acting is even greater. The President's rhetoric must match his action and his resolve.

Madam Speaker, Congress will answer the call of the American people and give the President the tools that he has asked for while providing rigorous oversight and requiring accountability for the duration of this military campaign. We must complete the mission.

I, for one, stand ready to work with anyone to defend our national security and protect our very way of life.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of a package of human trafficking legislation to be considered by the House today. I also rise to recognize and support all the good work done by my colleagues to combat the hideous crime of human trafficking.

Madam Speaker, as a former United States Ambassador, I was exposed firsthand to the horrors of human trafficking on an international level. I witnessed and reported on the devastating consequences of human trafficking, but never in my wildest dreams did I ever think human trafficking was so rampant right here in the United States of America.

Madam Speaker, right now, there are young women and children being forced into prostitution in virtually every district across this Nation. In fact, I was shocked to learn that my own hometown of St. Louis has been identified as one of the top 20 areas for sex trafficking in the United States.

Madam Speaker, this problem is hiding in plain sight. Every year, thousands of young Americans' lives are impacted by this despicable crime. However, I take hope from all the good work being done by law enforcement and those who work in victims' services. Most importantly, I take hope from all the survivors of this hideous crime. Their strength gives us strength; their resolve gives us inspiration; and their steadfast commitment to ending sex trafficking gives us all the courage to fight.

Madam Speaker, because of the efforts of many individuals and groups, I am happy to report that Congress has taken notice of this very serious problem. Years of work have raised awareness of this issue and have laid the foundation for the long overdue action that Congress is presently taking. I applaud these efforts, and I look forward to continuing this work for years to come.

However, Madam Speaker, there is much work yet to be done. As legislators, we have an obligation to come together and do something because we can, because we should, and because we must. I urge Senator Reid to take up the bills that the House has already passed that take steps to address this horrible crime, including the Stop Advertising Victims of Exploitation, or SAVE, Act, which I had the pleasure of passing with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Madam Chair, on rollcall No. 393 I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Stated against:

Mr. Speaker, there is no bigger problem facing our country right now than getting hardworking Americans back to work with the skills they need to compete in a very tough economy.

The biggest travesty is that June marked the 49th month in the last 50 months when more people gave up looking for a job than found one, and that the only increase in hiring is for part-time employees.

That is why the House will vote this week on the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, based on the foundation of the SKILLS Act we passed earlier this year.

This commonsense solution eliminates more than a dozen failing programs, saves taxpayer dollars, and provides skills training for in- demand jobs. Such key, in-demand jobs are needed in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri.

It is time we start investing in nurses, medical assistants, manufacturing technicians, and computer support specialists and stop wasting billions of dollars every year on ineffective government programs that do little to train individuals with the skills they need.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for more opportunity, ``yes'' for more jobs, and ``yes'' for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.