Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to recognize the remarkable Peter J. Freeman, my Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor for the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is a passionate public servant, and talented member of my staff.

Peter first arrived on Capitol Hill, over two decades ago, as a humble House Page hailing from Bainbridge Island, Washington. He returned to the area soon thereafter to attend and graduate from Georgetown University's Walsh School of Foreign Service. He then found himself back on the Hill in the office of Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH), where he rose through the ranks, becoming Deputy Chief of Staff. Along the way, he worked on various bills, including a federal backstop for commercial terrorism insurance, a bill prohibiting job discrimination based on sexual orientation, and various bills impacting affordable housing.

Peter developed an expertise on financial services issues, which served him well when he returned to Capitol Hill in my office. In his position, he helped me with flood insurance reform, economic regulatory relief, anti-money laundering, terrorism financing, housing finance, and credit score competition legislation, among others.

Peter did a remarkable job in managing my office. He helped me assemble a great team, provided valuable counsel; and helped me to fulfill my vision during our time together. While I am retiring, Peter will always be an esteemed and unforgettable member of the Royce Team. His dedicated intellect, his wit, and his ability to connect with people on all levels and all sides of the political spectrum are qualities that make him a rare entity on Capitol Hill. But Peter's greatest asset is his passion to serve. And I am grateful that he chose to serve my constituents of the 39th District of California, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the nation.

I thank Peter, and wish him the very best of luck for the next chapter of his life.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2200) to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, the Senate unanimously passed this amendment version of H.R. 2200, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act, which the House originally passed back in July. It is part of a bipartisan, bicameral package of bills to reauthorize and to strengthen our Nation's effort to combat human trafficking. It deserves our unanimous support.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1023) to reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 through fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 1032, the Tropical Forest Conservation Reauthorization Act, passed the Senate unanimously. It is the Senate version of H.R. 6982, introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot). It is an important bipartisan, bicameral bill that reauthorizes and reforms ongoing international conservation efforts to increase transparency and ensure that assistance does not go to problematic governments.

Mr. Speaker, it deserves our unanimous support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1158) to help prevent acts of genocide and other atrocity crimes, which threaten national and international security, by enhancing United States Government capacities to prevent, mitigate, and respond to such crises.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 1158, the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act, passed the Senate unanimously. It is the Senate version of H.R. 3030, which this body passed on July 17. The vote here on the floor was 406-5.

Mr. Speaker, it is an important bipartisan, bicameral bill that ensures that the United States is a leader in efforts to prevent genocide and crimes against humanity. It deserves our unanimous support.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1580) to enhance the transparency, improve the coordination, and intensify the impact of assistance to support access to primary and secondary education for displaced children and persons, including women and girls, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 1580, Protecting Girls' Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act, passed the Senate unanimously. It is the Senate version of H.R. 2408, which this body passed last October.

Again, this is a very important bipartisan, bicameral bill that will prioritize ongoing efforts to promote access to education for refugee children, especially girls. It deserves our unanimous support.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1862) to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to modify the criteria for determining whether countries are meeting the minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 1862, the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, passed the Senate unanimously. It is part of a package of bipartisan bills negotiated between the House and the Senate to reauthorize, reform, and strengthen our Nation's efforts to combat human trafficking.

Mr. Speaker, it deserves our unanimous support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3247) to improve programs and activities relating to women's entrepreneurship and economic empowerment that are carried out by the United States Agency for International Development, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 3247, the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act, passed the Senate unanimously. It is the Senate version of H.R. 5480, my bill, which this body passed on July 17 of this year. It is an important bipartisan, bicameral bill that would expand women's access to finance and inclusion in the formal economy in emerging markets around this globe.

I thank Jessica Kelch, Andy Taylor, and Meghan Gallagher for their expert contributions to this bill and on this issue.

Mr. Speaker, this bill deserves our unanimous support, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Engel of New York for his friendship for over 20 years on the committee, but also for his shared leadership over the last 6 years on this committee. I would also like to thank him for his commitment over the years and for his focus on American values and spreading those values around the globe.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Blair Alexis Rotert, an outstanding member of my staff who has served my office with distinction for three years.

A California native, Blair graduated from the University of California, Berkeley where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Blair started her career on Capitol Hill in Representative David Valadao's office, who represented part of her home county of Fresno, California.

I am thankful that David was kind enough to let Blair come to work for me, as she has been an integral part of my team, and has served dutifully as a public servant. I personally would like to thank her for her work on the Veterans Dignified Burial Act, the Shark Fin Sales Elimination Act, the Chinese American World War II Veterans Congressional Gold Medal Act, and a national monument proposal. She also has played an integral role in my work as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, serving as a liaison between my personal office and the committee.

Blair managed her duties with professionalism, integrity, and a high degree of respect for the people we serve. Her dedication to the 39th Congressional District of California and the U.S. House of Representatives is an extraordinary example of her strong commitment to her country and fellow citizens. Even though I am retiring from office, Blair will always be part of the ``Royce Team'' and I will be forever grateful for her work.

She will be missed by all who worked with her. And I wish her the very best of luck as she sets forth on the next chapter of her life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and thank Darrin Schrader, who has served this House proudly for over 25 years. He began his career in the office of Representative Bill Baker (R-CA), and then transitioned to my office in 1997. Darrin has been by my side, as my aide-de-camp, for the last 22 years, and I would have it no other way.

His loyalty and dedication to the job of serving the people of Southern California is unsurpassed. As my special assistant, Darrin personally oversaw millions of constituent correspondence; a task that grew exponentially with the advent of email. He also helped secure millions in funding for important infrastructure and homeland security projects.

My office has been served well by Darrin's encyclopedic memory and masterful research skills. He has often known the answer to my question before I even ask it. Few can match his resourcefulness or reliability.

While sometimes presenting a stoic facade, Darrin's subtle charm and hidden humor have permeated my office for the last two decades. He has earned the respect of his peers and become an integral and irreplaceable member of Team Royce.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Darrin Schrader for his selfless sacrifice to public service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to commend Kate Barlow, who has loyally served on my staff as director of scheduling and operations for over six years. Previously she served in a similar role for Rep. Wally Herger (R-CA).

Kate has simultaneously served as expeditor, gatekeeper and manager of my daily schedule. Given my dual role, as Representative of the 39th District of California and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, this has never been an easy task. As we can all attest, the trajectory of a day on Capitol Hill is never a straight line nor does it end as planned.

In her role, Kate has brought order out of chaos and extinguished daily fires with technical skill and humor. Given the sheer volume of meeting requests from embassies and foreign dignitaries, she has learned to say sometimes ``yes'' and often ``no'' with grace and professionalism in many languages. She has shown daily kindness and patience in a place lacking in both.

Over the last year, Kate's role in my office has grown to serve as director of protocol and member services for the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She successfully organized and took part in a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to South America and coordinated committee-wide meetings with visiting Heads of State.

I have no doubt she will continue to grow and succeed in her future endeavors.

I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Kate Barlow for her service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to today to recognize one of my longest serving staff members--Sacha Han. Sacha grew up in Fullerton, California in the heart of my Congressional District.

She came to my office as a High School student, seeking to intern and learn more about the government. We don't take many High School students as interns, but Sacha was smart, poised, and wise beyond her years, and she was a great addition to my District Office. When Sacha graduated from High School, she came East to attend the George Washington University, right here in Washington, D.C. Once again, Sacha interned in our office, doing such a good job that we hired her for a full-time staff position upon her graduation from college.

Sacha became such a key part of my staff, that when she announced that she was leaving the office to attend Nursing School, we persuaded her to continue to work part-time while she attended school. She not only continued through nursing school, but she has remained on my staff to this day--20 years after she first walked into my District Office.

Sacha is a joy to work with, and I am grateful for her service to the constituents of the 39th District of California, to my office, and to the House of Representatives. In addition to working two jobs, she is also a wife to Eduardo, and a mother to Bianca and Liam. I know that they too are very proud of Sacha.

I thank Sacha, and wish her and her family all the best.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express gratitude to Matt Zweig, and to commend his over 17 years of service on the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Matt came to the Committee in 2001, as support staff and quickly worked his way up the ladder to become a Senior Professional Staff Member.

Matt has served the Committee in many different capacities. He was the staff member responsible for providing expertise on sanctions and illicit finance--from Iran, to North Korea, to Burma and Russia. He has been the primary staffer responsible for coordinating the National Defense Authorization Act process for the Committee--an annual exercise that involves dozens, and sometimes hundreds of provisions that fall within our Committee's jurisdiction. In this role, he negotiated some of the most critical measures to pass both chambers and be enacted into law--from the two bills that formed the legislative basis for sanctions against North Korea, to innovative measures to confront Iran's terrorist proxy, Hezbollah. Throughout, Matt has maintained critical relationships on both sides of the aisles in the House and Senate that have allowed the Committee to move so much critical legislation. Matt worked many long hours in service to the Committee and country, and I want to thank his wife Behare and their children--Ari, Isabel, and David--for sharing him with us. We wish Matt the best as he departs the Committee for a new mission.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the outstanding service of Amy Porter, my chief of staff for 17 years, including the last 6 years on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Amy is a skillful manager and leader who has been central to everything I have accomplished in Congress.

Amy has been a tremendous asset to my office in no small part because she has the heart for tackling some of the toughest issues and the drive to see them through. She ensured that issues like combating human trafficking and protecting children in adversity were front and center to our agenda.

When I became chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, she encouraged us to use this platform to call attention to the plight of disadvantaged groups around the world, particularly women and girls. This included holding a series of hearings on ways the United States could support women's empowerment around the globe, from promoting girls' education to women's inclusion in peace processes.

But, of course, Amy made sure we didn't stop there. She pressed us to develop solutions that would make a difference. As a result, the committee has passed many pieces of legislation--the READ Act; the Women, Peace, and Security Act; and the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act--that will give more women and girls a voice in decisions affecting their lives.

Amy traveled during her personal time to Cambodia and to India to work in orphanages and shelters, helping young girls subjected to human trafficking. She was relentless in helping me press governments on human rights, from the discriminating treatment toward those some still call the untouchables, the Dalits of India, to the genocide of the Rohingya of Myanmar, to female victims of trafficking and abuse worldwide.

From day one, Amy has understood how to reach out and connect with my constituents. When she announced over a decade ago that I should hold an annual event for women in my district to network and learn more about what I was doing in Washington, others were quickly dismissive. They questioned whether women who weren't already involved in politics would be interested in attending lectures on various policy issues or foreign affairs. However, 1,000 women in my district came to our seventh annual conference to hear former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discuss lessons from her career.

That is the amazing thing about Amy. For her, it is never enough to point out a problem. She possesses an unshakeable drive to make this world a better place, and the vision and leadership to realize even the most lofty ambitions.

It is thanks to her dedication that we were able to bring hundreds of adopted children home from Congo to their legal parents in the United States after their exit visas were suspended. Children stuck in filthy and underfunded orphanages were dying. Amy heard about it and traveled to Kinshasa on these children's behalf.

When she landed, she ran into a protest against the government. She continued on, made her case, and was rebuffed. She vowed to return.

She returned with a congressional delegation, which I led, and thanks to her effort, hundreds of American families now have new members whose lives are better beyond comprehension. These families thank Amy. My constituents thank Amy.

Thank you, Amy Porter, for your 20 years of service to this country.

Mr. Speaker, I know when her daughter, Sara Jo, is old enough, she will thank Amy for what she has done for the empowerment of women and for what Amy has done for Sara Jo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a dedicated public servant and member of my senior staff, Cory Fritz. The Foreign Affairs Committee has benefited greatly from his sound judgment, skill, and passion for the values, including a free press, that have made America strong.

Cory got his start on the Hill writing speeches, advocating stronger U.S. relations with the former captive nations in Europe, for the late Senator Voinovich of Ohio. He later joined the congressional office of then-Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio. Working for John throughout his speakership, Cory played an important role on a number of foreign policy issues, including efforts to force the administration to step up the fight against ISIS.

Upon John's retirement, it was only fitting that Cory move to the Foreign Affairs Committee. As deputy staff director, Cory has elevated the committee's communications operations and played a key role in shaping strategy and policy.

Cory is one of my most trusted advisers. His counsel helped pave the way for a number of important accomplishments, including the landmark Russia, Iran, and North Korea sanctions enacted in 2017.

Also, I am proud to have inspired him to take special interest in conservation policy, which has long been a priority of mine. With Cory's assistance, I have advanced legislation to combat wildlife trafficking and poaching. We have also advanced legislation to preserve southern Africa's vital Okavango River Basin.

As I leave the House, I thank Cory for his 11 years of service to his home State of Ohio, to this Republic, and also to the Congress. I wish him and his wife, Sarah, all the best as they prepare to welcome their first child in the spring.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1091) calling on the Government of Burma to release Burmese journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo sentenced to seven years imprisonment after investigating attacks against civilians by Burma's military and security forces, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record.

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

Mr. Speaker, with this resolution, the House will take the important step of naming the atrocities committed against the Rohingya people in Burma for what they are. The word for that is ``genocide.''

The Rohingya people, predominantly of Burma's Rakhine State, are often called the world's most persecuted minority. The Rohingya are essentially stateless people, as the Burmese Government refuses to recognize them as citizens, despite the fact that the Rohingya people have lived in Burma for generations. Further, institutional restrictions on the Rohingya have impacted their rights to study, work, travel, access healthcare services, practice religion, and even to marry.

The most recent wave of persecution began in August 2017, when Burmese security forces and civilian mobs began a horrific wave of attacks. Mass murder, rape, and destruction of villages throughout Rakhine State has been well documented. We have talked to the survivors.

These atrocities have driven 700,000 Rohingya from their homes to Bangladesh, bringing the total Rohingya refugee population in that country to nearly 1 million. Bangladesh has been very generous in accepting all these refugees in the face of such dire circumstances.

A year and a half later, the evidence is overwhelming. As I said at our hearing on the subject this past September,

it is time that we take the next step in declaring that these crimes amount to genocide.

In September, the State Department released a report on the stomach- turning, systematic, and widespread acts of violence against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine State, but failed to label these atrocities genocide.

The State Department's investigation revealed countless heart- wrenching pieces of evidence, like the account of one woman who hid in bushes as she watched Burmese soldiers throw infants and toddlers into a river to drown and shot the mothers of these infants who tried to save them.

The United States has a moral obligation to call these crimes genocide. Failing to do so gives the perpetrators cover and hinders efforts to bring those accountable to justice. With this resolution, the House fulfills its part of that duty.

The measure also accomplishes a number of other important goals. It provides a thorough accounting of the crisis, calls out the complicit Burmese Government, urges the Secretary of State to join us in formally declaring genocide, and promotes multilateral agreement on that declaration.

Importantly, the resolution also calls for the immediate pardon and release of two journalists who were framed and jailed by Burmese authorities for shining a light on some of the atrocities by government forces.

Congress has a proud legacy of declaring genocide when warranted, just as we did over 2 years ago when the House voted unanimously to declare ISIS' atrocities against religious minorities in Iraq and in Syria genocide. It is time to take this sober step again.

I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure and fulfilling our responsibility to reinforce the universal values we hold dear.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), the chairwoman emeritus of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot), a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He is the author of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank my colleagues on the committee for actually, again, speaking with one voice on this issue, especially the author, Representative Chabot, but also Representatives Engel, Schiff, Yoho, Sherman, Comstock, and Crowley for joining as original cosponsors.

Mr. Speaker, this past September our committee convened another hearing to examine the desperate living conditions of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and again we heard the story of survivors, all describing the same methodical, unthinkable acts of terror perpetrated by the Burmese military and by the security forces. Witnesses had no doubt that, based on all the evidence, genocide had occurred.

It is time Congress, the administration, and the rest of the world called these atrocities by their rightful name, and that is genocide.

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

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