Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, this year the Riverdale Neighborhood House is celebrating its 145th Anniversary, and to mark the occasion they are honoring the family that started it all for them, the Dodges, at their annual anniversary gala.

Few names are as synonymous with RNH and the Northwest Bronx as the Dodges. Their roots in the community run deep, starting in 1872 when Grace Hoadley Dodge founded the Riverdale Neighborhood House. Grace, at the age of 16, created a small library in one of the greenhouses on her family's property in Riverdale. The library became a hub for the workers in Riverdale and grew from there. In 1884, Grace helped Riverdale Neighborhood House acquire its own building, which provided community based services for the workers of Riverdale.

In 1917, Grace's brother, Cleveland Hoadley Dodge, established the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation. At the time, the Dodge family was profiting greatly off their copper mining business due to the Great War. Dodge was determined, as he wrote to his Presbyterian pastor, that ``I will not burn my pockets by keeping a cent of the money coming to me from war profits.'' He set up the Foundation with the very general provisio that its income should be used ``for the betterment of mankind.'' Ever since its establishment, grants have been made by the Foundation to charitable and cultural institutions in New York City. In many cases, members of the family had helped to found them and subsequent generations have continued to support them.

The combined good works of RNH and the Cleveland H. Dodge Foundation are too many to list. Through the years, many members of the Dodge family have shared their wealth, wisdom and support to the programs and services at RNH: Grace Parish Dodge, (Mrs. Cleveland H. Dodge) contributed to the Bayard Dodge Pool project in 1945; Mrs. Pauline M. Dodge, (Mrs. Cleveland E. Dodge) served on the RNH Board for many years, and Grace's grand nephew and grand nieces, Alfred H. Howell, Elizabeth Dodge R. Haxall, and Ruth Rea Howell, also served RNH during their lifetimes.

The commitment the Dodge family has shown to RNH and our neighborhood is inspiring. They have done a wealth of good for my constituents and I want to thank them as they receive this great honor

Mr. Speaker, I want to take a moment to acknowledge an individual who has been an invaluable asset to the Saint Joseph's Medical Center community, Mr. Michael McHugh.

Mike, as he is better known, was born in Yonkers and graduated from Manhattan College where he received a degree in Civil Engineering. Upon graduation, Mike joined Moretech American Corp. where he remains to this day. At Moretech, Mike serves as the Executive Vice President and is directly responsible for the company's Safety Program in its Northern Regional Offices. He is also responsible for business development in New York City Metropolitan region. Moretech has worked on several big projections in the area, including the Second Avenue Subway, East Side Access, World Trade Center Recovery and Rebuilding, in addition to several projects for the Water Supply. Mike's activity on the construction industry also extends beyond Moretech. He serves as a trustee for The Moles in addition to several committees for the General Contractor's Association of New York.

Mike joined the Board of Saint Joseph's Medical Center in June 2012. Since that time he has also served as member of the Board's Ball Committee and the Planning and Building Committee. And in June 2017 he became a member of the Personnel Committee of the Board. Mike's extensive knowledge and expertise in the construction industry has been a tremendous asset to Saint Joseph's for all the years he has served as a member of its Board of Trustees.

In addition to serving on the Board of Saint Joseph's Medical Center, Mike is a member of the AOH and is currently President of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in Westchester County. He was also active in AYSO, CYO, and was President of the Little League when he was raising his family in Ardsley, another community I represent.

This year, Saint Joseph's Medical Center is honoring Mike at their 2017 Annual Ball with their 2017 Outstanding Service Award. They could not have picked a more deserving honoree. I want to congratulate Mike on receiving this well-deserved honor, and thank him for all he has done to service the community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a medical professional who has done tremendous work in my district, Louis C. Rose, who this year will be honored at the Saint Joseph's Medical Center's Annual Ball.

Louis is a native of the Bronx and a graduate of C.W. Post College. He received his medical degree at Rutgers Medical School and finished his residency in orthopedic surgery at New York Medical College. After becoming Board Certified in Orthopedic Surgery, he was invited to join the faculty in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at NYMC.

In 1999, Louis joined the staff at Westchester Medical Center where he accepted the position of Chief of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the Cornell affiliate hospital in the Bronx. There he served as Chief medical officer and Chairman of the Board, and he was also appointed to the Board of Trustees for the Presbyterian Hospital System. Currently, Louis serves as Chief of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Associate Director of the Department of Surgery at Saint Joseph's Medical Center.

Louis has been very active in the community as well. He has organized many community health programs in the Bronx and his service has been recognized by a wide array of civic and health care leaders. Awards include the New York State Liberty Award, the highest award given to a civilian in the State of New York, the New York State Senatorial Award, and he has received a proclamation from the City of New York for all of his community work. Louis is also an appointed NYC Police Surgeon and has served on the Medical Advisory Board of the NYS Athletic Commission.

In addition, Louis is the Founder and Executive Medical Director of Throgs Neck Multi Care, a comprehensive medical facility specializing in the treatment and care of all orthopedic trauma, injuries, and degenerative changes. He served as President of the Bronx Medical Society from June 2013 until May 2014 and is still an active member.

As you can see, Saint Joseph's is privileged to have such an accomplished and outstanding physician as Dr. Louis Rose. He is most deserving of this recognition, and I wish to congratulate him on the honor.

Mr. Speaker, this year, the Hebrew Home at Riverdale is celebrating its incredible 100th anniversary, and on that special occasion they have chosen to honor two individuals who have given so much back to the community, Wendy and Jeff Maurer.

For Wendy and Jeff, philanthropy comes from the heart and is an integral part of their lives. They have devoted their time and resources to a select group of meaningful not-for-profit organizations, focusing predominately on Jewish and health causes that truly make a difference in countless lives. Wendy and Jeff's ties to the Hebrew Home are strong and deep rooted. Jeff's great grandparents were among the initial families who founded the Hebrew Home in 1917; his grandparents and parents, and Wendy's parents were all residents at the Home. In 1991 Jeff joined the Board of the Hebrew Home and became Chairman of the Board in 2004.

Under Jeff's leadership, and in collaboration with the Home's executive management and Board, the Hebrew Home has expanded significantly, evolving into RiverSpring Health. The organization has grown from 1,000 older adults in its care, to 12,000 throughout New York City, continuing its great legacy.

Wendy served as Sisterhood President and Board member of Temple Israel of Great Neck, and has held a number of roles with the Manhattan chapter of the UJA Federation, most recently as co-chair of Connections, an arm of women's philanthropy. She left teaching in 1975 to raise their two children and to concentrate on the family's charitable interests, as well as to further her own education. She earned her Masters in Social Work in 1991.

Wendy and Jeff have done so much for our community, and have helped countless individuals along the way. They are most deserving of this wonderful recognition from the Hebrew Home and I want to congratulate them both on this great honor.

Mr. Speaker, it is a true privilege for me to honor one of the great institutions in my district, the Hebrew Home, which this year is celebrating its remarkable 100th Anniversary.

Operated by RiverSpring Health, The Hebrew Home for the Aged's history dates back to 1917, when a group of civic minded individuals began providing shelter for poor, aging immigrants in a small synagogue in Harlem. As the needs of the community grew, so did the Hebrew Home. They expanded their reach by moving to a beautiful 32-acre campus in Riverdale, where they then became known as the Hebrew Home at Riverdale.

From there, the Hebrew Home's services continued to expand. Today they offer many options to meet the evolving needs of older adults. In addition to their award winning nursing care, their care solutions include assisted living, independent living, rehabilitation services, care management, home care options, and specialized programs including elder abuse prevention. With a comprehensive and caring approach to healthy aging, the RiverSpring Health family of care solutions offers help and support to over 12,000 residents, patients, and members, empowering them to live the fullest lives they can each and every day.

Of course, to meet its mission of helping older adults live full lives the Hebrew Home must maintain strong leadership. It starts at the top with Dan Reingold, the CEO and President of Hebrew Home, who has been instrumental in the Home's continued success and sterling reputation. Dan and his team have done tremendous work day after day and I am proud to call him a friend.

As Congressman for the Northwest Bronx I am truly fortunate to have such a wonderful institution working with me as a partner in the community. With their countless years of expertise, a commitment to healthy aging, and compassion for our communities, the RiverSpring Health team has been dedicated to helping families live forward, every day. Congratulations to the entire Hebrew Home organization on 100 years of exemplary service to the community.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.

I rise in opposition to this record-breaking closed rule, the 50th closed rule in a year, which is more than any time in any yearly period previously.

I think our rules should be open. I think closed rules are not good for this institution regardless of who does it, and I would urge the majority party to think about open rules so that the legislature can truly work its way.

The legislation itself includes a handful of measures that I authored--I am happy about that--to require reporting on Russia's role in the Balkans, including Serbia's defense relationship with Russia; to enhance congressional oversight of changes made to policies and legal interpretations that govern security operations; a strategy to improve transparency and civilian protection in Nigeria; and a requirement for a Defense Department official to protect cultural heritage, the looting and trafficking of which is a funding source for terrorism. We voted on that here on the floor and it has passed.

I am also pleased that we have included continued support for Israel's missile defense. This system is critical to Israel's security, considering the threats that Israel faces from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.

Mr. Speaker, even though I am ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I am glad to see these measures in this bill because they all belong in this bill. They are related to our national security. Indeed, I strongly support the measures in this bill that provide authorities and resources necessary for our military to carry out its missions.

But, as we have seen again and again in recent years, this defense authorization continues an unsettling trend toward involving the Defense Department in activities outside its core competencies. In my view, we need to preserve and strengthen the important roles of the State Department and USAID.

We wouldn't ask our diplomats or our development experts to do the jobs of our men and women in uniform, so we shouldn't be asking our servicemembers to do the work that has traditionally resided in our civilian foreign policy agencies.

I want to caution against continuing down this road, and I hope that, in the years ahead, we can work to support our diplomatic and development efforts in the same way we support our national defense. After all, America's security depends on all these efforts working together.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding to me.

Let me say, in conclusion, I hope that, in the years ahead, we can work to support our diplomatic and development efforts in the same way we support our national defense. After all, America's security depends on all of these efforts working together, and it is important to remember that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Mr. Khanna for his leadership. I think it is important that our new Members come here and really make a difference for these important events all around the world, so I thank him.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure that shines a light on the carnage and suffering that has defined the conflict in Yemen.

Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank Mr. Khanna, who has shown real leadership on this issue. He understands the critical role Congress has to play in our foreign policy and why it is so important that this body take the time to talk about the civil war in Yemen and America's involvement. The United States wields tremendous power, diplomatic, military, and developmental, and we have an obligation to debate how those tools are used.

We have heard about Saudi and Iranian involvement in the civil war in Yemen. Sadly, Yemenis are caught in the crossfire. The devastation of Yemen's infrastructure has led to 900,000 cholera cases. At least one Yemeni child dies every 10 minutes, on average, from malnutrition, diarrhea, or respiratory tract infections.

Last week, the Saudis intercepted a missile targeting Riyadh. In response, the Saudi-led coalition closed all Yemeni ports of entry. Since last week, no humanitarian assistance has been allowed to enter Yemen. Fuel shortages are limiting access for USAID partners at a time when more than 75 percent of Yemenis require some level of assistance, including 6.8 million people entirely reliant on food aid. The people of Yemen are facing a very dire situation.

Let's be clear, neither military action nor food aid will solve the conflict in Yemen. A political solution is essential for moving Yemen towards stability. That will require some compromise, an exit strategy for the Yemeni Government's Gulf partners, and a real commitment by the international community to prevent Iranian weapons from getting into Yemen.

So what does all this mean for America's role?

As this resolution notes, the United States provides midair refueling for the Saudi-led coalition and participates in intelligence cooperation.

Today's debate reminds us that the United States is engaged with partners around the world under a range of authorities. Some of these activities are covered by a current Authorization for Use of Military Force--AUMF--some are not.

In my view, we should have more clarity about the way we use American military might not just in Yemen, but around the world. After all, it is Congress' responsibility to declare war or to limit a President's authority to wage war when necessary.

I have said for years that we should sunset the 2001 AUMF. We voted then to give the President authorization to go after the people and groups that attacked on 9/11. We never intended it to be a blank check. Today, we face new threats, threats unrelated to the terrorists who attacked my hometown, New York City, on September 11.

We owe it to our men and women in uniform to have a thorough and honest debate before we send them into harm's way, to stand in this body and say ``yes'' or ``no'' before we ask them to put their lives on the line.

This measure helps to move that debate forward. I am glad to support it, and I urge all Members to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Khanna for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, let's put rhetoric aside when it comes to the Republican tax bill. This is a bill that gives tremendous tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires while it hits the middle class.

The facade of it may look like middle class people are getting a tax break, but when you add on all the deductions that they will now no longer be allowed to take, it is a negative for the middle class.

The government is always accused of giving you something in one hand and taking it back in the other hand. A classic bait and switch, that is what this bill is about.

In my home State of New York, which is a high tax State, people will no longer have the ability to deduct State and local taxes or deduct mortgage interest to the degree that they have now.

So when you add it all up, what does it do?

Higher taxes for the middle class, lower taxes for millionaires and billionaires like our President--a classic bait and switch.

When you talk about New York, New York is a donor State. We give more money to the Federal Government than we get back, and this is just hitting New York in the head again.

We should be protecting the middle class and letting people who can afford to pay more, millionaires and billionaires, pay more, not the other way around.

Finally, whatever happened to the fiscal responsibility of the Republican Party? This blows a hole in the deficit--$1.75 trillion.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a late member of the Co-op City community, Mrs. Ethel T. Winfield, who passed away this year at the amazing age of 94 years old. Though Ethel is no longer with us, the legacy she has left with her family, friends, and the community will last forever.

Ethel and her beloved husband, Claude, lived in Co-op City and were quite active. After moving to the area in the 1960's, Ethel, a devoted Catholic, was instrumental in establishing and building the new church, St. Michael the Archangel Roman Catholic Church. While the church was being built, Ethel held services in her home at 920 Baychester Avenue.

Professionally, Ethel worked as a Sample Hand at Vanity Fair in New York City. In 1971, she received certification at the prestigious Mayer School for Fashion Design. Amazed by her skill and talent, she rose from a Sample Hand to become an Assistant Designer at Vanity Fair; the first time anyone ever received this promotion. While at Vanity Fair, Ethel was concerned with equal rights of all workers. She was a shop steward, and as a union leader, she assisted fellow workers. Ethel enjoyed designing, draping and sewing dresses. She wanted her community residents to experience wearing beautiful fabrics and well-fitted clothes. She was committed to providing designer quality fitted clothing and often said, ``The small amount I charged the bride did not yield a profit for me. However, I wanted my community to feel like they were walking down a runway.''

Though Ethel's story is full of inspiration, there was tragedy. In July 1957, Claude and Ethel were driving to Virginia with their son, Willie. During the trip, the car over turned in a ditch. Willie lost his life and Claude was injured badly. He had sustained internal injuries and almost every bone in his body had been broken. Ethel visited her husband for 2 years in the Veteran's Administration Hospital and never doubted her husband would live. She encouraged him to complete his therapy which included learning to use his left hand and arm to shave and complete other tasks. It was her belief and encouragement in those terribly tragic moments that gave Claude the strength to recover.

As you might imagine from hearing that story, Ethel's true passion was her family, which includes sons, Claude L. Winfield, and Siddique Ali Shahbaaz; daughter-in-laws Michelle Deal Winfield and Cynthia Ali Shahbaaz; grand children Gary Winfield and wife Rasheed Winfield, Marie Winfield and spouse Konrad Pust, Michael C. Winfield, Nikkea Winfield, Jason Winfield and Makeda Winfield; nieces Katherine Miles and Vida Hinton with cousin Janett Baughaum; and great grandchildren Sophie and Koemi Winfield-Pust. She loved each of them dearly.

Ethel Winfield lived a long and blessed life. In later years, she took art classes at the Baychester Visual Arts class on Tuesday evenings. Like many budding artist, Ethel gave away sketches and drawings, making friends along the way. That was Ethel--an artist, always thinking of others.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true community servant and long-time pillar of the Riverdale Community Center, Ms. Kathleen Gilson. Kathleen has worked at RCC since 1982, rising through the ranks from Administrative Assistant all the way up to Executive Director. She has done it all at RCC and this year, after 35 years of service to her community, she is celebrating her retirement.

In 1985, three years into her career at RCC, Kathleen became the Fiscal Officer and the Director of Finance and Program Operations by 1997. Then, in 2004, she became the Center's Executive Director. During her tenure as the Executive Director, RCC programs and budgets have tripled, serving over 1,000 people of all ages each year in their free youth programs and Adult and Youth Education Center. Kathleen has overseen an RCC after school program that has become one of the most successful free programs in New York City--receiving ``Excellent'' ratings from all funders and identified as ``Exemplary.'' Kathleen was also quite active outside her work life. She served on her local school board for 13 years, eight as the president, and is currently president of her homeowners' association.

Of course, Kathleen's true passion is her family. She is happily married with three children, and two grandchildren. She currently lives in Orange County, though she is a former Bronxite herself.

Kathleen Gilson has been instrumental to the success of RCC, and its amazing growth can be directly linked to her efforts, in addition to the efforts of her team. I want to congratulate Kathleen on her decades of service and thank her for all the incredible work she has done for Riverdale residents. I hope she enjoys a well-earned retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply saddened by the situation we are in today. Historically, CHIP and community health centers have been bipartisan priorities. We are talking about programs that provide healthcare for millions of American children and serve some of our country's most vulnerable citizens.

Yet my Republican colleagues have inexplicably taken these programs hostage, tucking into this bill new attempts to undermine Medicare, sabotage the ACA, and strip hardworking Americans of their health insurance, not to mention they are trying to extort these harmful policy changes a month after they let CHIP and community health center funding expire. This is absolutely unconscionable because, make no mistake, these cuts will hurt the same Americans who depend on CHIP and community health centers.

My Democratic colleagues and I care deeply about these programs. That is why we have sounded the alarm for months, not just yesterday, for months, and urged the majority to stop wasting time on ACA repeal and get to work on renewing these lifelines for American families.

Mr. Speaker, I am disappointed that didn't happen, and I am disappointed by what is happening now. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this measure.

Mr. Speaker, as a New Yorker, my heart aches today. The appalling loss of life on the streets of Manhattan yesterday is a reminder that terrorism remains a threat that demands our focus.

Confronting violent extremism requires sound, reasoned policies; policies proportional to the threat, policies based on good intelligence, careful analysis, and a clear understanding of what we are up against, not policies based on hysterical reactions or biases against certain faiths or nationalities.

I support this bill because it will ensure that the State Department has the tools to prevent American terrorists from traveling abroad or returning to our country.

Under this legislation, the Secretary of State could refuse to issue a passport or revoke a passport for any American who has provided assistance to foreign terrorist organizations. Importantly, it also affords anyone affected the right to an appeals process, helping to ensure due process rights.

This bill is just common sense. It is also a vital aspect of the fight against terrorism. We don't want known threats crossing our borders or slipping from country to country anywhere in the world.

The bill we are considering today would not have, obviously, prevented yesterday's attack, but this is important. This is just a piece of a larger strategy.

The President yesterday called our judicial system, which would prosecute the perpetrator of yesterday's attack, a joke and a laughing stock. I beg to disagree. That is our judicial system, which successfully prosecuted shoe bomber Richard Reid; Ramzi Yousef, the 1993 World Trade Center bomber; Faisal Shahzad, the Times Square bomber; and Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, Osama Bin Laden's son-in-law, in March of 2014.

Mr. Speaker, the judicial branch has done quite a good job in prosecuting terrorists. Let's show them a little confidence and give credit where credit is due.

This is deadly serious. The man suspected in yesterday's attack was reportedly radicalized after he arrived in the United States. We have seen this before in San Bernardino and Orlando. ISIS inspires its adherents from thousands of miles away. That is a problem. And just as this bill gets at a narrow, specific potential vulnerability, policies to deal with homegrown extremists and terrorists should take a hard look at causes and take appropriate action to prevent this sort of radicalization on American shores.

We won't solve this problem by slamming shut America's front door and clamping down on immigration. In fact, doing so just contributes to the terrorist's ideological ammunition and recruitment efforts. There are proven ways to combat terrorism, but demonizing a religion or chipping away at constitutional rights won't work. Those approaches play right into the tactics terrorists use to radicalize vulnerable Americans, making us less safe and less free.

I want to thank Representatives Poe and Keating, who lead our Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill gets to the real concern in the fight against terrorism. I am pleased to support it.

With all due respect to Mr. Poe, that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating), the ranking member of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade Subcommittee.

Mr. Speaker, let me thank Chairman Royce from California, as well as Representatives Poe and Keating for their remarks.

This is a good bill. It is a commonsense bill. It is a good example of how we need to legislate when it comes to terrorism. We are acting out of innovation, out of careful analysis, not out of fear.

We all feel the sting today of an attack on American soil yesterday. As lawmakers, one of our most important jobs is to help keep Americans safe, and there is no worse heartbreak than when we see innocent lives lost.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad we are moving this bipartisan measure today. I am pleased to support it. I urge all Members to do the same.

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

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

I rise in support of this measure.

Let me start by thanking our chairman on the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce of California, for his leadership and for working with me to bring this measure forward.

I introduced this resolution with Representatives Chabot, Yoho, Sherman, and Smith, and I want to thank them all for their partnership.

I really listened intently to Mr. Yoho and also know that we make progress on the Foreign Affairs Committee because, as Mr. Poe of Texas said, we work in bipartisan measure, and we try to agree on the language and we try to make sure that the U.S. Congress speaks with one voice so that both our friends and adversaries around the world will understand that we put partisanship aside. We leave it at the water's edge, and I think that is very important.

I think the kind of people the Foreign Affairs Committee attracts to serve on the committee, on both sides of the aisle, are the kind who keep perpetuating this bipartisan spirit because we have differences in policies, for sure, but we are all Americans. We all want to keep each other safe, and we all want to make sure that America does the right thing and that others do the right thing to America as well.

So when we have the incident like we had yesterday with the terrible terrorist attack in Manhattan, it makes us pause, as a Congress, and think about what this all means.

People in Hong Kong were made promises as well. They were made promises years ago that China would be one country, including Hong Kong, but two systems, that Hong Kong would be its independent system. And, of course, the Chinese officials and Beijing regime have tried every which way to go after student protesting, curbing the rights and values of the people of Hong Kong, so this resolution is really very, very important.

I thank, again, Representatives Smith, Sherman, Yoho, and Chabot. But I also want to recognize Doug Anderson and Sean O'Neill on the chairman's staff for their contributions to this resolution, and Jennifer Hendrixson-White on my staff. It is a great example, again, of bipartisanship when it comes to foreign policy. We work together and we produce what I regard as superior products.

For decades, Mr. Speaker, the United States has shared an important, unique relationship with Hong Kong. That relationship has been based on Hong Kong's autonomy from Mainland China. This resolution underscores our national security interest in seeing Hong Kong remain autonomous at a time when we have seen some troubling trends.

Twenty years ago, at the time of the handover, China made a commitment that Hong Kong would continue to enjoy its special status. Today, China claims that the 1997 Joint Declaration is a so-called ``historical document'' that has, again, ``no practical significance.'' But the UK and the United States believe in international law, and we are committed to holding China to its word, again, a ``one country, two systems'' form of government in Hong Kong.

This approach was experimental when the Chinese and British first devised it. You may remember that Hong Kong was a British colony. The Chinese Government essentially said that Hong Kong would continue to have its own executive, legislative, and judicial rights, that the people of Hong Kong would continue to enjoy fundamental rights guaranteed in Hong Kong's laws. But Beijing is now backing away from its commitments, even declaring the Joint Declaration a historical document with no relevance today.

Meddling in Hong Kong's elections by China's National People's Congress led to the Umbrella protests in 2014. Hong Kong residents critical of the People's Republic of China have disappeared, while the presence of the People's Liberation Army has grown.

The credibility of Hong Kong's courts has suffered following decisions to send Umbrella Movement student leaders to prison after they had already served their previous sentences. Academic freedoms have eroded. Self-censorship has grown, and journalists face regular harassment.

So we are worried, Mr. Speaker. We are worried about Chinese encroachment, about what is going to happen to the people of Hong Kong, and about the way China's newly aggressive posture is going to affect our relationship with Hong Kong in the future.

Twenty years after accepting the so-called ``one country, two systems'' model, China's objective now seems to be making Hong Kong and the mainland ``one country, one system.'' This is not what the government in Beijing, the international community, the United States, Great Britain, or the people of Hong Kong signed up for.

So this issue raises bigger questions, Mr. Speaker:

To what degree will the Chinese Government live up to its international commitments as China continues to expand economically and grow in stature on the global stage?

This measure says, ``Enough.'' It sends a message to China that we in the United States Congress expect Beijing to keep its word. That is not asking too much. It reiterates that our special bond with Hong Kong is based on our shared values, the values of democracy, and that we want to see that relationship endure for years to come.

So I am grateful to my colleagues for working on this measure with me, especially Mr. Yoho. I ask support from all Members.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me again remind everyone that Hong Kong is special because of its judicial independence and strong rule of law that is supposed to be protected under the ``one country, two systems'' approach. That is also the reason why the United States shares such a strong strategic relationship with Hong Kong.

This resolution is a reminder of why our ties with Hong Kong are so important, and a call for all parties to respect the decades-old commitments that have underpinned Hong Kong's autonomy. At a time when China is growing more and more aggressive in its neighborhood, the United States cannot be seen as ceding ground. We need to stand up for our friends. We need to stand up for our values. We need to stand up for our interests. We need to hold all countries to their commitments, just as the United States lives up to our own.

I ask for all Members to support this measure. I thank our chairman, Ed Royce, and Mr. Yoho for their remarks.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a community mainstay in the northwest Bronx who has helped to promote the area both professionally and personally for three decades.

Terhi Edwards has been a resident of Riverdale since 1987. She has also been a real estate professional in the area for nearly as long. Terhi specializes in selling this wonderful neighborhood, which for those who have lived or visited there is surrounded by beauty and nature.

Currently a homeowner herself, Terhi is particularly aware of the special qualities that make Riverdale unique, and such a wonderful destination for people.

Originally from Finland, Terhi honed her customer service prowess and flair for relating to people of different cultures while traveling the world as flight attendant. As the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I do quite a bit of travel, and know just how effective it is in learning to understand and appreciate people from all walks of life.

Terhi seamlessly transitioned her customer service skill to real estate, drawing upon her love of working with the public, in addition to her passion for architecture and interior design. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, the Bronx Manhattan North Board of Realtors, and Westchester-Putnam Multiple Listing Service. Walk around the community and you'll find plenty of people who say they came to Riverdale because of the job Terhi did as their realtor.

This year, the Kingsbridge-Riverdale-Van Cortlandt Development Corporation is honoring Terhi at their annual Greenway Gala celebration, for all the work she has done in the community. She is most deserving of this wonderful recognition. Congratulations to Terhi on receiving this honor.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a friend and pillar of the Yonkers community, Lorraine L. Palais, who this year is being honored by the Aquehung Women's Democratic Club at their 52nd Annual Luncheon.

Lorraine has been active in the community and the local political scene for many years. Her and her husband, Elliott, moved to Yonkers with their son in 1961 and by April 1962, she had become a member of the ``William Haber Second Ward Democratic Club.'' Lorraine's involvement in the club was only the beginning. She was a Ward Leader for over thirty years, and still is a District Leader. She has served as Treasurer for a successful Mayoral candidate, for City Judges, County Judges as well as a New York State Supreme Court Judge. She also managed and was Treasurer of Elliott's campaigns as well as other state and county candidates.

Lorraine later joined Aquehung Women's Democratic Club when it was open to the entire City. She was the first woman to receive the Americanism Award from the Yonkers Central Committee of Veterans' Organizations, and also received the Exchange Club ``One Nation Under God Award.'' In addition, Lorraine has received the Kiwanis International ``Walter Zeller'' Award, the PTA Jenkins Award and other Honors. And above all else, she is currently serving her thirty-fifth year as President of the Yonkers Police Second Precinct Community Council.

Lorraine Palais has dedicated her life to helping improve the lives of those around her, and she has been an outstanding servant of the people. I am proud to call her a friend and I too would like to congratulate her on this wonderful honor and recognition from the Aquehung Women's Democratic Club. It is well-deserved.