Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, I inadvertently missed Roll Call vote number 161 on the Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, H.R. 3325. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 161.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge all my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 256, Congresswoman Lee's legislation to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force against Iraq.

In 2002, Congress voted to authorize the use of force against Iraq based on what would later prove to be false, baseless, and misleading intelligence provided by the Bush administration. A year later, Saddam Hussein was overthrown; a democratic government was established; and, finally, in 2011, a formal declaration of the end of our mission was announced.

But 10 years later, this authorization for the use of force remains on the books.

We must repeal this 19-year-old authorization that has been used and abused to justify expansive military actions across the globe. If we are serious about preventing forever wars, we must repeal the AUMF and exercise Congress' constitutional authority to declare war and peace.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.

Increasing Corporate Board Diversity

Madam Speaker, I also rise in support of H.R. 1187, the Corporate Governance Improvement and Investor Protection Act, and, specifically, the Meeks-Maloney amendment that we will consider today.

We show our priorities by our actions; and, today, we are not just talking about diversity, we are acting to improve diversity in the corporate boardroom.

I want to thank Mr. Meeks, the sponsor of this amendment. He and I have worked on this issue a long time together, and I thank him for his leadership.

The goal of our amendment, the Improving Corporate Governance Through Diversity Act, is extremely important, increasing diversity on corporate boards. This is something I believe in passionately; and while we have made great progress, we still have a long way to go.

Getting more women, minorities, and individuals from historically underrepresented communities into corporate leadership positions is extremely important. Leaders set the tone, and they set the priorities.

Back in 2015, I asked the Government Accountability Office to look at the gender makeup of corporate boards, and the results were discouraging, and they convinced me that we need to do more.

Women make up roughly 47 percent of the workforce, yet they hold roughly 29 percent of corporate board seats. The GAO found that even if we assume that equal proportions of women and men started joining boards starting right now, it would take more than 40 years for there to be an equal number of women and men in the corporate boardrooms.

We can't wait 40 years for parity. Something needs to change.

But let's also be clear: Increasing diversity on corporate boards is not just a moral issue; it is good for business, too. Study after study has shown that companies with greater diversity on their boards perform better financially, which is why investors want the companies they invest in to make diversity a priority.

In fact, I started working on this bill at the request of investors and investor organizations that wanted to more easily be able to track diversity on boards.

This legislation would help investors accomplish this by requiring public companies to report the voluntary, self-identified racial, ethnic, gender identity, and sexual orientation composition of their board members and executive officers in their annual proxy statement.

By putting this information in one place for investors, the bill would help investors to quickly sort the companies that do and do not have diverse boards.

The legislation would also establish a diversity advisory group at the SEC, which would study strategies to increase diversity on corporate boards because the truth is that making meaningful progress on board diversity is going to require a range of different policies in addition to the improved disclosures in this legislation.

The diversity advisory group at the SEC would continue to study these issues and would continue to make recommendations of best policies for the future.

I urge my colleagues to support this effort, support this bill, support our amendment, and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1187.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 479, I call up the bill (S. 475) to amend title 5, United States Code, to designate Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Member have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on S. 475.

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

Today, I rise in strong support of S. 475, the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.

I thank my good friend and colleague, Sheila Jackson Lee, for introducing the House companion bill, H.R. 1320, which has over 170 cosponsors.

This bill would establish Juneteenth, which is celebrated on June 19th, as a Federal holiday.

Our Federal holidays are purposefully few in number and recognize the most important milestones in our country's history. I cannot think of a more important milestone to commemorate than the end of slavery in the United States.

At the end of the Civil War in 1865, hundreds of thousands of people remained enslaved, despite the Emancipation Proclamation being issued nearly 2 years earlier.

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger traveled to Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order Number 3, which declared that all slaves are free. That is when 250,000 enslaved individuals in Texas finally learned that they were free. The celebration that they held in Galveston on that day is the basis for the Juneteenth celebrations today.

Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African-American holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, and it has been celebrated across the Nation for over 150 years.

First known as Jubilee Day, Juneteenth is marked by food, music, and fellowship. These celebrations honor freedom, recognize life, and uplift the complex history and the beautiful culture of the African- American community.

Forty-seven States and the District of Columbia have made Juneteenth a public holiday, including my own State of New York.

While millions of Americans have celebrated this important day for generations, the Federal Government has failed in its responsibility to recognize its significance. Today, we can change that.

It is often said that those who do not remember their past are doomed to repeat it. If we want to confront the sins of slavery and move forward towards a more equitable, fair, and free society, it is incumbent upon us to recognize not only our past evils, but the moments of triumph over those evils.

Making Juneteenth a Federal holiday is a crucial step in remembering our past, and it will undoubtedly help us build a better future.

I thank Senator Ed Markey for his longtime leadership on this bill. As a result of his hard work, yesterday, the Senate unanimously passed S. 475 to make Juneteenth an official Federal holiday. Democrats and Republicans passed it unanimously.

Senator Cornyn, a conservative Republican from Texas, stated: ``The freedom of all Americans that Texas celebrates every Juneteenth should be celebrated all across the Nation. The passage of this bill represents a big step in our Nation's journey toward equality.''

In this time of increasing partisanship, Senator Cornyn's strong support speaks to the importance and urgency of this bill.

I also thank again my good friend, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who has been advocating for Juneteenth to be a Federal holiday for over 12 years. This bill would not be possible without her steadfast support and hard work.

It is now our responsibility to swiftly pass this bill and finally enshrine this important celebration in national law. As we strive toward a more perfect Union, it is critical that we acknowledge the national significance of Juneteenth. This day not only honors the past and celebrates the present, but it offers an opportunity to reflect upon ways to create an even more just society.

I encourage all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this vitally important bill.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Speaker of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the author of the companion to the Senate bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume), a member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the Democratic whip.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib), a member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), who is a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), who is a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), who is a cardinal on the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman an additional 30 seconds.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty), who is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), who is a former civil rights attorney, judge, and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time remains.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. David Scott), the chair of the Agriculture Committee.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Georgia.

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Veasey).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the chair of the Financial Services Committee.

Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

In closing, I want to thank my good friend and colleague, Sheila Jackson Lee, who had the honor of presiding in the Speaker's chair over this important historic legislation on which she worked for over a decade. Her bill, H.R. 1320, to establish Juneteenth Independence Day, has well over 166 cosponsors and bipartisan support.

I, likewise, want to thank the Congressional Black Caucus for their leadership on this and for their leadership on so many other important issues to our Nation.

Juneteenth is celebrated across our Nation. It marks the end of a very dark chapter in our Nation's history and celebrates the promise of a more hopeful and inclusive tomorrow. I am elated that this bill is before the House.

I urge passage of S. 475. I urge bipartisan support, and I hope this vote is unanimous and victorious.

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

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize Fraydun Manocherian on the 75-year anniversary of his immigration to the United States from Tehran, Iran and for his steadfast dedication to and impactful advocacy for automobile safety. Mr. Manocherian is also a successful entrepreneur embodying the American Dream with his wife Jennifer, their five children, and 13 grandchildren.

In 1932, Fraydun Manocherian emigrated to the United States at the age of 14 with his mother and brother. He soon became an entrepreneur pursing the American Dream, starting his first business venture in high school by buying and selling used cars. Then, while attending New York University, he turned his sights to New York's skyline--embarking on his career in real estate development.

He acquired three adjacent five-story walk up buildings in Manhattan for $15,000 a piece which he then redeveloped. During the 1960's and 1970's, Mr. Manocherian was one of the most prolific developers in Manhattan. In the 1980's he expanded his ventures nationwide through real estate investments and high-rise developments, among a multitude of other enterprises. He was the originator of the mega-health-club concept, opening the first New York Health & Racquet Club in 1973, followed by ten additional Manhattan locations. He also developed The Kimberly Suite Hotel in midtown Manhattan in 1985, and has since acquired other hotels which he still personally oversees.

However, among all this success, Mr. Manocherian is, at his core a public servant and philanthropist. And it is for his accomplishments in automobile safety that I, his family, and all Americans are most proud.

In 1951, two of Mr. Manocherian's high school friends were killed by a drunk driver. At the age of nineteen, he turned his grief into activism and became an advocate for federal funding of public education in traffic safety. After learning that automobile accidents were the number one killer of all young adults aged 16-25 years old, and the number one cause of physical disabilities--causing agonizing tragedy and grief for countless families, a 19-year-old Mr. Manocherian sent a telegram to President Eisenhower. The President arranged a meeting with Senator Irving Ives.

He continued meeting with congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. to urge President Eisenhower's Committee on Traffic Safety to begin a national mass media educational program. While his determined efforts and countless contributions were impressive, he was not satisfied with the speed of progress. In 1962, he founded the National Road Safety Foundation with the purpose of reducing the 55,000 auto related fatalities every year. In 1970, he wrote Flesh, Metal, and Glass, a book on auto safety. Over the past 50 years, more than two million copies of Mr. Manocherian's book have been distributed free to thousands of high schools and drivers' education programs across the country. The publication has been updated several times and is now available online. The National Road Safety Foundation has also produced dozens of educational videos and public service announcements. The book and videos, along with other educational materials, are still used as important tools in driver's education programs throughout the country.

Over the last half century, The National Road Safety Foundation has educated millions on how to become better and safer drivers through collaborating with educators, private groups, legislators, and government agencies to effect national standards in driving competence. The National Road Safety Foundation has also played an important role in seat belt laws, drunken driving policy, safer car regulations, and helmet and tum signal legislation for motorcycles. Mr. Manocherian has been a persuasive and influential force in Congress as this body enacted policies and legislation focused on driver safety.

Mr. Manocherian's voice was among the first to rally the nation against drunk driving and his advocacy for federal funding of public education in traffic safety contributed toward passage of The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which established the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He is currently working to secure increased funding from the Federal Highway Trust Fund for a sustained National Traffic Safety Education media program. These efforts, among countless others, have helped reduce fatalities from 55,000 a year to 38,000 a year. This 30 percent reduction in fatalities is astonishing considering that in that same time, the number of drivers and mile driven have grown exponentially.

For his dedication and accomplishments in the field of auto safety, Mr. Manocherian has received the ``Man of the Year'' award from the New York Council for Civic Affairs, the ``Man of the Year'' award from the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from St. John's University, a Master of Arts degree from the International University of Communications in Washington, D.C., the 1997 Distinguished Service to Safety Award from the National Safety Council, and the 2005 Public Service Award, one of the highest awards given by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He has met with almost every President since President Eisenhower, is a founder of the Carter Center, and was appointed by President H. W. Bush to serve on the National Driver Register Advisory Committee.

At 89 years young, Fraydun Manocherian is not only a nationally recognized powerful public service advocate, but also a rated jet pilot, and, more importantly, a greater husband, father, and grandfather than businessman, entrepreneur, or philanthropist.

Madam Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in recognizing Fraydun Manocherian for his public service and incredible contributions to society and a lifetime of dedication to automobile and driver safety.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Darla Hoover for her commitment to performing and educating, on the occasion of her 60th birthday. Ms. Hoover was a member of New York City Ballet (NYCB) from 1980-1991. Following her retirement from NYCB, Ms. Hoover began a distinguished career as a ballet teacher and repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust. For over 25 years, she has served as Artistic Director of Ballet Academy East (BAE) on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. In 2019 she was named Artistic Director of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Ms. Hoover celebrates her 60th birthday on May 31 of this year.

Darla Hoover trained at the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet before moving to New York City to attend the School of American Ballet when she was 15 years old. In 1980, after choreographing a solo for her in the New York City Opera production of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, George Balanchine chose her to become a member of NYCB.

As a repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust, Ms. Hoover has traveled the globe faithfully teaching the legendary choreographer's most celebrated works. She has done this work at some of the most prestigious ballet institutions in the world. Ms. Hoover has staged Balanchine ballets for The Royal Danish Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, New National Theatre Tokyo, Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg Russia. This performance marked the first time the Vaganova Ballet Academy had ever performed a work by Mr. Balanchine.

As Artistic Director of BAE, Ms. Hoover has--alongside Executive Director Julia Dubno--developed it into one of the most renowned ballet schools in the country. Alumni have become professional dancers in ballet companies around the world, including NYCB, American Ballet Theater, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. The BAE faculty includes world- renowned current and former dancers, and its performances have been praised by publications such as The New York Times.

Ms. Hoover has been recognized as one of the best ballet teachers in the country. She directs a nationally recognized Teachers Workshop, in which she teaches fellow dance educators on the syllabus and methodologies developed by the late Marcia Dale Weary, under whom she studied. Ms. Hoover has been invited to share her successful techniques at some of the Nation's premiere ballet programs, including Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and Miami City Ballet.

Ms. Hoover has made a significant public contribution to American ballet as a teacher and mentor to young dancers. Her investment in the personal success and well-being of her students has positively impacted countless children and adolescents in ways that reach far beyond ballet. She regularly forms close relationships with her students, who remain her ``kids'' even after they move on to pursue professional careers.

Ms. Hoovers dedication to her students and ballet is truly inspirational. The profound connection and skillful instruction Ms. Hoover provides countless young dancers demonstrate both her brilliance and the importance of arts education.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Darla Hoover and expressing appreciation for her dedication to the betterment of her students, the arts, and community.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Dora Bakoyannis for her outstanding career promoting peace and human rights. Ms. Bakoyannis is the Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece and Former Mayor of Athens. Recently, Ms. Bakoyannis was elected Vice President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). Ms. Bakoyannis was named Woman of the Year by the Euro-American Women's Council.

Dora Bakoyannis studied Political Science and Communication at the Ludwig Maximillian University of Munich and continued her studies in Political Science and Public Law at the University of Athens.

Ms. Bakoyannis led the fight against terrorism in Greece and abroad, participating in various legislative initiatives, international conferences, and forums such as the United Nations (UN) and the Council of Europe. Her work was inspired by tragedy, as Ms. Bakoyannis lost her husband Pavlas, a journalist and member of the Greek Parliament, to a terrorist assassination on September 26, 1989.

Ms. Bakoyannis is a member of the Greek Parliament and has been consecutively elected since 1989. From 1990 to 1992 she served as the Under-Secretary of State and from 1992 to 1993 as Minister of Culture.

Ms. Bakoyannis has been an inspiration to women all over the world. She was the first woman mayor of Athens, serving from 2002 to 2006, and the first woman appointed Greek Foreign Minister, serving from 2006- 2009. In 2003, she was awarded the International Leadership Award by the International Centre for Women. She was also voted ``World Mayor'' in 2005, included on the Forbes list of the World's Most Powerful Women from 2006 to 2009, and elected as the first female Foreign Associate of the French Academy in Humanities and Political Sciences in 2009.

Ms. Bakoyannis was also President of the U.N. Security Council in 2006 and Chairperson in Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2009. In 2008, she was awarded the Emperor Maximillian Award by the State of Tyrol and the city of Innsbruck. In 2013, she became a Meritus Doctor of the European Polytechnic University of Bulgaria, for her work on southeastern European nations' path towards membership in the European Union. In the same year she was awarded the OSCE Medal for her work on NATO-Russia relations between Russia and North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states at the 2009 Corfu Summit.

In 2019, Dors Bakoyannis became the Chairperson of the Greek Parliamentary Delegation to PACE, and, in January 2021, she was elected the council's Vice President. She also served as the PACE Rapporteur for the functioning of democratic institutions in Poland and currently serves as Rapporteur for the Syrian crisis. Ms. Bakoyannis is also a member of the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy, the Committee on the Honoring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe, the Bureau of the Assembly, and the Sub-Committee on External Relations.

In addition to these accomplishments, Ms. Bakoyannis is Chairperson of the Cross-party Parliamentary Committee for the Development of Thrace, Chair of the American-Greek Parliamentary Friendship Committee, and member of the Russian-Greek and Chinese-Greek Parliamentary Friendship Committees. She is Chairperson of the Greek Parliamentary Delegation to the International Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie and is on the Board of Directors of the Brussels-based think tank, Centre for European Policy Studies. She lives in Athens and has two adult children. Ms. Bakoyannis is truly an inspirational example of the strength and competency of women at the highest levels of public service.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the accomplishments of Dora Bakoyannis and expressing appreciation for her dedication to the betterment of all people and especially for her diplomatic work on behalf of international amity.

Madam Speaker, as the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I include in the Record a letter from the American Hellenic Institute to President Biden regarding the Institute's present perspective on the state of the U .S.-Greece relations. The letter includes discussion of issues on defense, security, and counterterrorism; international commerce and trade and energy security; and the Cyprus Issue.

April 22, 2021.

President Joseph R. Biden,

The White House,

Washington, DC.

Dear President Biden: On behalf of the nationwide

membership of the American Hellenic Institute (AHI), thank

you for your remarks to commemorate the 200th anniversary of

Greek Independence. Although many aspects of your remarks

resonated with the Greek American community, the following

excerpt struck a chord:

``What really binds us together are our values. We are two

people rooted in a common conviction that every human being

is entitled to be treated with dignity. And it is our shared

commitment to liberty, human rights, and the rule of law,

that empowers us to write our own futures, whether 200 years

ago or today.''

Mr. President, the momentous occasion to mark Greece's

Bicentennial provides the opportunity to convey the

Institute's present perspective on the state of U.S.-Greece

relations, which is flourishing under the ``shared commitment

to liberty, human rights, and the rule of law'' that you

correctly and eloquently stated. Unfortunately, malign actors

in the region, especially Turkey, display a blatant and an

intense disregard for these shared values with provocative

actions that threaten the United States' allies and strategic

partners as well as our interests in the Eastern

Mediterranean.

It is in the United States' best interest for Southeastern

Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean to be politically,

economically and socially stable, and for democratic

principles to flourish, including adherence to the rule of

law. Greece is an immensely valuable link as ``a pillar of

stability'' in the region as several high-level U.S.

government officials have noted.

The U.S.-Greece relationship has reached new heights by

virtue of an ongoing Strategic Dialogue, which include

avenues for cooperation across sectors, such as: regional

cooperation, defense and security, and trade and investment,

among others, are plotted for implementation.

Defense, Security and Counterterrorism

Greece advances U.S. interests as a pivotal and dependable

NATO and a frontline state against terrorism. The Mutual

Defense Cooperation Agreement between the United States and

Greece illustrates the two allies' commitment to address

longterm security challenges in the region. The Agreement

currently is under revision. After it is upgraded, it will

offer more flexibility to deepen cooperation in the defense

sector, according to Greece's Minister of Defense Nikos

Panagiotopoulos, with whom I held a public discussion last

month. For its part, Greece further demonstrates its

commitment to the Alliance as one of a minority of NATO

members to meet NATO's minimum standard on defense

expenditures; second only to the U.S., by percentage. To

demonstrate further:

Souda Bay, Crete: in our view, the most important U.S.

military facility in the Mediterranean Sea from where in the

past joint USN/USAF reconnaissance missions and air refueling

support for U.S. and NATO operations were implemented

successfully and continues to be immensely important.

NATO Joint-Command HQ: Thessaloniki hosts a NATO Rapid

Deployment Corps combined with its Third Army Corps for two

years.

Operation Atlantic Resolve: Greece enables a substantial

portion of the U.S. Army's 10th Combat Aviation Brigade to

enter the European theater through the port of Thessaloniki

and to depart through Alexandropoulis. Alexandroupolis is

being recognized as a city with increased geostrategic

importance, which can also contribute to economic development

and energy security.

USAF temporarily operated MQ-9 Reaper Drones from Greece's

Larisa Air Force Base.

The 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of the U.S. Army, from

October-Nov 20, 2020 and from February-Mar 21, 2021,

stationed and trained at Volos and Stefanovikeio.

It is evident Greece contributes significantly to U.S.

interests. However, it becomes increasingly challenging for

Greece to fulfill this important role when it constantly is

expending valuable resources to defend itself against

aggressive and provocative behavior emanating from a fellow

NATO member, Turkey.

Turkey engaged in over 7,000 violations of Greece's

territorial waters and airspace in 2020. There were 4,605

airspace and 3,215 maritime incidents.

Turkey's routine challenges to Greece's sovereignty must

cease and desist. In fact, Greece's Chief of the Hellenic

National Defense General Staff, General Konstantinos Floros,

called out Turkey's provocative behavior, stating to an AHI

audience on April 1, 2021 that Turkey threatens ``Greece's

sovereign rights.'' In this context, Gen. Floros explicitly

cited as example the maritime border Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) between Turkey and Libya. In addition,

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt has called the MoU

``unhelpful'' and ``escalatory'' in nature in previous public

statements. Ambassador Pyatt also affirmed the

internationally recognized legal concept that ``inhabited

islands as a matter of customary international law are

entitled to the same treatment as continental territory.''

International Commerce and Trade and Energy Security

Greece also is an important player in international

commerce and trade, especially via its shipping industry.

According to Greek shipping industry statistics, 22.5% and

20.3% of the Greek-owned fleet's activity is dedicated to the

U.S. and the European trade, respectively; and ``Greek-owned

ships represent almost 21% of the global tonnage.'''

AHI requests the Administration maintain high-level

engagement with Greece on economic relations and encourages

future U.S.-Greece economic relationships to pursue

commercial partnerships and opportunities for more U.S.

investment in Greece.

However, it is important to note that Turkey also threatens

Greece's economic development. Turkey exploits its control

over the flow of migrants to Europe, in essence, weaponizing

them. Historically, Greece has carried the heavy burden of

migrant flows to Europe, which has had a detrimental impact

upon Greece's economy. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has been

very clear to state that Turkey bears its responsibility due

to Turkey's ability to control ``the flows in the Aegean.''

Moreover, Turkey's threat to energy security in the region

is not in the best interests of the United States and stymies

Greece's potential as an energy hub. Turkey has encroached

upon Greece's continental shelf off the coast of the Greek

island complex of Kastellorizo in the Eastern Mediterranean

Sea. This island complex is sovereign Greek territory. It has

a continental shelf as defined under the UN Convention on the

Law of the Sea which is part of the Greek continental shelf.

The island complex is also part of the Exclusive Economic

Zone (EEZ) which is available to Greece. Ambassador Pyatt

underscored upholding international law when he stated the

U.S. position that islands have ``exactly the same''

continental shelf and exclusive economic zone rights as does

any mainland territory. ``I have also made a point on many

occasions . . . that the United States adheres to the

principal of international maritime law that islands,

including Kastellorizo, have exactly the same continental

shelf and EEZ rights as does any mainland territory,''

Ambassador Pyatt stated to reporters on July 23, 2020.

Turkey also has exercised ``gunboat diplomacy'' in the

Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish drillships have been in

Cypriot waters, conducting activities illegally in violation

of Cyprus' sovereignty and international law. AHI welcomes

the United States' stated support for the Republic of

Cyprus's right to develop its natural resources, including in

its exclusive economic zone.

The Cyprus Issue

A key to peace and stability in the region is for good

neighborly relations among NATO members and respect for the

rule of law. However, Turkey's continuing occupation of

Cyprus, which is a member of the European Union; its

intransigence in solving the Cyprus problem, and its refusal

to recognize the Republic of Cyprus, are detrimental to U.S.

interests. To illustrate Turkey's intransigence, Turkey

insists on maintaining troop levels in Cyprus and on

remaining a guarantor power as part of a solution to the

Cyprus issue, which led to the collapse of settlement talks

in 2017.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken's response on the Cyprus

issue during a March 10th, 2021 House Committee on Foreign

Affairs hearing is welcomed: ``We strongly support a

comprehensive settlement that reunifies Cyprus in a

Bicommunal Federation. We

engage in the effort to advance that prospect, including the

supportive role of the United Nations, and as well, direct

American engagement in that effort. So I think you'll see

American diplomacy fully engage.''

However, Mr. President, as a public servant who advocated

for upholding the rule of law on Cyprus throughout your long

career, I am reminded of your January 27, 1989 letter to then

AHI Chairman Dean Lomis, where you stated: ``. . . we must

urge the new Administration [President George H.W. Bush] to

make Cyprus a higher policy priority in American foreign

policy . . . we cannot lose sight of the fact that the rights

of Greek Cypriots have been trampled upon, and we must ensure

that their claims to ancestral land and property seized

during the 1974 invasion are not compromised. Finally, we

must send a signal to Turkey that until it has removed every

last soldier from Cyprus, it will never be recognized as a

full member of the international community.''

It is this same clear message to Turkey regarding Cyprus

that the United States must send today because the conditions

are the same, if not worse, as recent public discourse

emanating from the Turkish government has called for a two-

state solution.

Mr. President, the United States-Greece relationship is a

strong and healthy one thanks in large part to the shared

values identified in your Greek Independence Day celebratory

remarks. Greece has proven to be a ``pillar of stability,'' a

frontline state to combat terrorism, and a reliable NATO

ally. AHI anticipates that bilateral relations, which are at

a high point, will be taken to even greater heights during

your Administration. By contrast, Turkey is the perpetrator

of instability in the Eastern Mediterranean and broader

region which is detrimental to U.S. security interests.

Turkey is a failed NATO ally that cozies up to Russia and

Iran and is a threat to U.S. allies and strategic partners.

The U.S. must demonstrate strong, unequivocal support of

Greece by continuing to strengthen relations across all

sectors and by applying the rule of law to Turkey for its

illegal actions.

Respectfully submitted,

Sincerely,

Nick Larigakis,

President.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the service of Dave Rapallo, Staff Director of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

For the last decade, Dave has skillfully guided the Members and staff of the Oversight

Committee with his incomparable mastery of strategy, oversight, and detail.

Few individuals have impacted this body as greatly as Dave. Countless Members of Congress have sought his counsel and come away more effective for it. Hundreds of staff learned the art of Congressional oversight and how to use the tools of Congress to demand answers on behalf of the American people.

Dave previously served as Chief Investigative Counsel under Chairman Henry Waxman. He led critical investigations exposing wartime contracting fraud in Iraq, the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, steroid abuse in major league baseball, and the causes of the 2008 financial crisis.

Dave served as General Counsel on the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and then was appointed by President Barack Obama as Senior Director on the National Security Council staff.

In 2011, Dave answered the call of the late Chairman Elijah Cummings, who asked Dave to serve as his staff director on the Oversight Committee. I know Chairman Cummings trusted Dave more than anyone to help make our government more efficient and more effective.

When I took over following the tragic death of Chairman Cummings, Dave helped ensure the Committee had a seamless transition.

Dave has never sought the spotlight but instead uses his talents to make those around him shine.

He demands excellence and gives nothing less himself. Dave worked harder than anyone I know, always thinking two steps ahead and finding the best route to get there.

More than anything, he is a dedicated public servant committed to using the powers of Congress to make a difference.

During the last Administration, Dave oversaw the Committee's efforts to ensure every person in America was counted in the Census, every American could exercise the right to vote, and every child separated from their parents at the border was reunited.

For all of this and so much more, we say thanks to Dave Rapallo. He has made a lasting impact on this body and this country.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member for their extraordinary leadership, for doing the right thing, and for working to make this country safer and stronger.

Like my friend on the other side of aisle from North Carolina, I didn't intend to speak either.

As a New Yorker, I was closely involved in supporting the work of the 9/11 Commission. It, too, like January 6, was one of the darkest days in the history of our country, and we needed answers on how such a horrible thing could happen. Almost 3,000 people were murdered just because they went to work that day. Many things needed to be answered.

This body came together. We were united; we were determined; we passed the Commission. We had two outstanding leaders, Governor Kean and Lee Hamilton. They did everything together. They issued a report that sold more copies than Harry Potter. I nominated it for a National Book Award. It laid out what happened so clearly from their joint investigations. More importantly, it told us what to do about it. They had a series of recommendations to make this country safer.

This body worked together and enacted most of them, and it did make this country safer. In fact, I get periodic reports from the law enforcement in my city on attempts to hurt us and how the reforms and the programs we put in place are helping us, making us stronger and protecting us better.

We need this January 6 commission, for the sake of America. Let's stop fighting long enough to work together to help our country understand what happened.

Why did it take 4 hours for the National Guard to respond? In New York, they would have been there in 10 minutes. Why didn't they respond to all of the news reports about what was happening? We need answers. Let's come together and work together and get them.

A January 6 commission, I urge for the sake of the country, everyone should vote for it.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 403, I call up the resolution (H. Res. 275) condemning the horrific shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16, 2021, and reaffirming the House of Representative's commitment to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous materials on H. Res. 275.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 275, condemning the horrific shootings that led to the tragic loss of eight American lives in Atlanta, Georgia, on March 16. The people of the United States mourn the eight innocent lives lost, six of whom were women of Asian descent, and several of whom were immigrants.

Madam Speaker, I want to thank Congresswoman Judy Chu for her leadership on this issue and for introducing this important legislation.

Over the past year, Asian-Americans have been attacked and harassed because of misinformation and xenophobia that wrongly blamed them for the coronavirus pandemic. And, sadly, incidents of violence against Asian-Americans are on the rise across our country.

The heinous shootings in Georgia was a wake-up call for the public to the reality the Asian-American community is facing each and every day. Acts of violence like these demonstrate why we must always call out bigotry and hate whenever or wherever we see it. We must all speak out against it.

In New York City, the number of anti-Asian hate crimes reported to the police increased by 833 percent last year, the most out of any major city in America. This is simply unacceptable. By voting to pass this resolution, the House of Representatives will clearly state our condemnation of the heinous and inexcusable acts of gun violence that led to the tragic loss of eight lives in Georgia on March 16.

The resolution also condemns any racism and sexism that contributed to the shooter's targeting of the Asian-owned businesses and murder of seven women, six of whom were of Asian descent.

This resolution honors the memory of the victims and the loved ones they leave behind. The healing process will be long and difficult for the Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, and all communities impacted by this tragedy.

Importantly, the resolution affirms the commitment of the Federal Government to combat hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and to prevent tragedies like this in the future, a commitment I hope all of my colleagues can agree on.

I am proud to stand in solidarity with the Asian-American and Pacific-Islander community in calling for an end to the targeted attacks like the one we saw in Atlanta.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support this resolution, I urge all of my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu), who is the chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and sponsor of this important resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Mfume), who is a distinguished member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), a distinguished member of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), a distinguished member of the Oversight and Reform Committee and the chairman of the Government Operations Subcommittee.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. McBath), a co- leader of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Bourdeaux), co- leader of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), a distinguished member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleagues, Representative Chu, Representative McBath, and Representative Bourdeaux, for their thoughtful and important resolution.

The House of Representatives must take a stand against anti-Asian bigotry and hate, and condemn the terrible shootings in Atlanta.

H. Res. 275 does just that. I urge every Member on both sides of the aisle to support this resolution.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong

support of H.R. 1065, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act that just passed this House of Representatives.

Pregnancy discrimination holds working parents back and threatens financial stability, with women of color being disproportionately harmed by the lack of workplace protections.

It is long past time we ensure that every worker is entitled to reasonable accommodations to support a healthy pregnancy.

We just celebrated Mother's Day. What if, in addition to flowers one day a year, we make sure that during pregnancy, workers have fair working conditions and are never in the position of risking their safety to continue providing for themselves and their families?

This bipartisan bill simply requires reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers, like adequate breaks, and protects them from discrimination that can drive them from the workplace. No pregnant worker should have to choose between their and their baby's health or their job.

Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the York Theatre Company as it works to fully reopen. The York Theatre Company was founded by Janet Hayes Walker in 1969. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the York Theatre produced nearly 200 musical theater performances each year, reaching over 37,000 patrons. During the coronavirus shutdown, the Theatre streamed an online series, so that its patrons could continue to experience and enjoy musical theater. Unfortunately, on top of an already difficult year for New York City theaters, the York Theatre Company's physical home was devastated by a flood caused by a municipal water main break in January.

The unique mission of the York Theatre Company is two-fold as it aspires to produce new musical works, as well as rediscover musicals of the past. The York Theatre hosts several programs and activities that encourage musical theatre students to engage in Off-

Broadway productions, greatly impacting the Off-Broadway scene. With programs such as the Mainstage Series, Musicals in Mufti Series, Developmental Reading Series, internship offerings, and a volunteer program, the York Theatre has made its mark on New York City's vibrant theatre community.

Since 2015, the York Theatre Company has offered its Musical Theatre Training Program that brings together working professionals and dedicated theatre students. This program offers training in singing, acting, and movements, as well as master classes with New York's top theater artists. The York Theatre's intensive sessions are offered to students from middle school to college. Many of these intensives offer students an opportunity to perform on the York Theatre's Off-Broadway stage at the conclusion of the program.

In the fall of 2014, the York Theatre celebrated its 100th Musical in Mufti with the production of Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night. The York Theatre's Musical in Mufti ensures that lesser-known musicals of the past are performed and brought into new light for the enjoyment of modern audiences.

All New York City theaters have faced unprecedented challenges over the past year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the important public health restrictions put in place, but the York Theatre also had to face the unexpected and heartbreaking flooding of their physical home. Faced with these ``slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,'' the York Theatre has shown its adaptability. It has produced and streamed an incredibly popular online series. New York--its people and its institutions--are resilient, and I am confident that the York Theatre will soon be able to reopen its doors once again and introduce new audiences to the joys of musical theater.

The York Theatre Company has long been an incredible company that makes musical theatre accessible to New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds, and I look forward to its full reopening. Off-Broadway theatre has played a pivotal role in making New York City the theater capitol of the world. The York Theatre Company has had a substantial impact on this great city's history.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise in recognition of the York Theatre Company, a principal in shaping New York City's theatre culture, as they celebrate the inauguration of their new theatre seats.

Madam Speaker, today, for the second time in two years, the House will vote to end centuries of political repression in the District of Columbia by granting the District statehood.

For too long Congress has denied more than 712,000 Americans in the District the fundamental right to full representation in government. Today we say no more.

All 37 states that have been added to the union were admitted by legislation with a simple majority vote. There is no reason admitting the District should be any different.

The United States is a republic, but the people of its capital lack representation. The

United States is the only democratic country that denies both voting rights in the national legislature and local self-government to the people of its capital.

Today we say no more.

My Republican colleagues would rather continue to deny voting rights for hundreds of thousands of American citizens because they may vote for Democrats.

Today we say no more.

We say no more to taxation without representation. No more to unequal rights for the District's residents. No more to this Nation failing to live up to the foundational principles that make us who we are.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 330, I call up the bill (H.R. 51) to provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the Union, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 51, the Washington, D.C. Admission Act.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia and my dear friend, Congresswoman Norton, for her years of dedicated leadership on this bill. She is not only the author of the bill, but of this moment in history.

Today, for the second time in 2 years, the House will vote to overturn the wrongs of over 200 years of political repression in the District of Columbia. We will vote to honor the most fundamental principle of this Nation--that all people have a right to full and equal representation in their government.

Our Nation has not always lived up to its promise of full and equal representation, but that has not stopped those dedicated to equality from fighting to ensure that all people are fully represented in their government.

This fundamental right is denied to the more than 712,000 Americans living in the District of Columbia. For more than 200 years the District has been fighting for equal rights. Despite 86 percent of its residents voting for statehood in 2016, Congress has still not acted to ensure that the District shares in the blessings of liberty promised by the Founders in the U.S. Constitution.

The United States is a republic, but the people of its Capital lack representation. The United States is the only democratic country that denies both voting rights in the national legislature and local self- government to the people of its Capital. That is wrong and violates everything we stand for as Americans.

The District pays more in Federal taxes than 21 States and more per capita than any State. Think about that. It pays more than nearly half the States in this country, yet D.C. residents have no vote in Congress. That is wrong.

Unfortunately, so far Republicans have opposed our efforts to ensure equality for District residents. But let me be clear what Republican opposition is really about: partisanship. They would rather deny voting rights for hundreds of thousands of American citizens than even consider the possibility that Representatives from the new State could possibly be Democrats. Think about that argument. They are willing to violate the core principles of our democracy merely because the new State might elect Representatives from a different political party.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge every Member in this House to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 51, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton), who is the author of this bill and moment in history.

Mr. Speaker, in this historic moment, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the first female Speaker of the House in history.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), chairman of the Government Operations Subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to clarify that this should be a bipartisan issue. Republicans used to support voting representation in Congress for D.C. residents.

Then-President Eisenhower called for equal political rights for D.C. residents in three State of the Union Addresses.

Then-President Nixon said: ``It should offend the democratic senses of this Nation that D.C. residents do not have voting representation in Congress.''

In 2007, then-Representative Mike Pence said on the floor: ``The fact that more than a half a million Americans living in the District of Columbia are denied a single voting representative in Congress is clearly a historic wrong.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin), the chairman of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

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

Mr. Speaker, under the Admissions Clause of the Constitution, Congress has the authority to admit new States. That is why all 37 new States have been admitted by simple legislation. No State has ever been admitted by a constitutional amendment.

The Republicans want D.C. to use an admissions process that has never been used in the history of this country.

The District Clause of the Constitution gives Congress authority over the Federal District and establishes a maximum size of the Federal District, 100 square miles. It does not establish a minimum size.

H.R. 51 would maintain a 2-square mile Federal District.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the senior chief deputy whip.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), a champion for equality and the 51st State and House majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, how much time remains on each side?

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), the chair of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation.

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

The gentleman describes this, as many on the other side, as a political issue, a power grab. He cites all these other political actions, but the real power grab is denying 712,000 taxpaying American citizens the right to vote. That is the power grab.

This isn't about politics. It is a fundamental voting and civil rights issue. And it is outrageous that Republicans would play partisan politics just to block 712,000 Americans from having full equality in our democracy.

Every American deserves a voice in their government, not taxation without representation, fundamental beliefs in our democracy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer), the chair of the Joint Economic Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining on both sides?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens), chairwoman of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Research and Technology.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jones).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin), a distinguished constitutional scholar.

Mr. Speaker, statehood for D.C. is about fairness, justice, and ensuring that all Americans have an equal stake in our Republic. It is not unconstitutional. It is constitutional. And this is not about politics. It is a fundamental voting and civil rights issue.

The real wrong is denying 712,000 taxpaying American citizens the right to vote. Our Nation is founded upon the principle that all people should have a voice in their government. No taxation without representation. But without voting representation in Congress, the people of D.C. are denied that most basic fundamental right.

Today's debate forces us to confront the fundamental question of who we are as a nation.

Do we believe in the right to full and equal representation? Or are these just empty words?

D.C. residents are Americans, and they deserve the equal rights our national ideals promise them.

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the outstanding Congresswoman for her tireless and selfless advocacy to ensure that D.C. residents finally gain full representation that they deserve. I join many in thanking the leadership of the Democratic Caucus, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Whip James Clyburn.

Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote in favor of this critical civil rights bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, the Muslim ban enacted under the previous administration is a stain on our country and our Nation's history. As we work to rebuild a humane and just immigration system, we must start by outlawing any type of this State- sanctioned religious bigotry. We do that today by passing the NO BAN Act.

This bill strengthens the Immigration and Nationality Act by banning discrimination on the basis of religion. Importantly, it will prevent any future President from enacting something like the Muslim ban in the future by placing appropriate checks and balances on the President's authority in this area.

Discrimination based on religion is not who we are as a nation. Today, we can take the first step towards a more just and humane immigration system, and I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting ``yes'' on the NO BAN Act.