Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, like many who came to our shores, Jose Peixoto moved to America in search of opportunities.

Jose Peixoto was born in the City of Braga, in the northernmost region of Portugal. The youngest of five children, Jose learned to value honest work and education. He joined the Portuguese Air Force when he was 17 years old, serving honorably for 3 years.

Jose arrived in Yonkers when he was just 23 years old. His wife Celeste and his children, Joe Jr. and Aurora, later followed. Today Jose is blessed to be the proud grandfather of five grandchildren: Sophia, Sabrina, Angelica, Gabriela and Monica.

Upon settling in Yonkers in 1967, Jose immediately began serving his community, quickly becoming a member of the Portuguese-American Community Center. Throughout his association with the Community Center, Jose has held a diverse range of challenging and important positions, but perhaps none more so than guiding the Center through the difficult transition period.

His legacy is literally within the foundations of the Portuguese- American Community Center. Jose was intricately involved in selling the old building, buying the land to build a new Center and leading efforts to raise money for its construction. Jose also played an important role in developing the Center's by-laws and negotiating its tax-free status. It is clear that little would have been achieved without his leadership and drive.

Jose has also been a keen supporter of other programs within the community. Jose and Celeste sponsor the Center's Folkloric Group, an important link to Portuguese traditions and culture. Jose has also served on the Center's Advisory Council and Scholarship Committee, along with many other ad hoc committees.

At every opportunity Jose has sought the opportunity to serve the community he cares so deeply for. He is a testament to what can be accomplished in the communities around the country when an individual puts the interests of others above themselves and works tirelessly for the betterment of our society.

It is clear that the Portuguese-American Community holds Jose Peixoto in high regard and I join them in thanking him for his steadfast commitment and enduring legacy of service.

Mr. Speaker, competitive sports allow youth to test their skills, while learning the importance of fair play and good sportsmanship. Dominic Cecere has spent 50 years coaching baseball at Eastchester High School. His joy for teaching and love of the game has inspired generations of youth.

Current and former athletes say he inspired them to give the game their all, which shows in the school's winning streak. Thanks to Dom's leadership, the Eastchester Eagles have won 15 league titles, six sectional titles and a regional championship. He has also traveled with players to Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Cuba.

A former rookie player for the New York Yankees, Dom also worked as a professional talent scout for the Cincinnati Reds, the Montreal Expos, and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dom started coaching the Eastchester varsity baseball team in 1965. He was captain of the Varsity Baseball team at New York University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. He later earned a degree in Administration and a Master of Science in Physical Education from the University of Bridgeport.

Westchester County has recognized him as their coach of the year eight times and the New York Daily News has named him ``New Coach of the Year'' twice. Dom has also been honored by the New York State Coaches' Associations Award and the National H.S. Coaches Associations.

Dom was inducted into the Westchester County Sports Hall of Fame in 2001, the Eastchester Hall of Fame in 2006, and now the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame.

A number of his former students have gone on to coach baseball too. They will be among those honoring Dom at the inaugural Dom Cecere tournament, which raises money for graduating seniors going to college.

I am pleased to honor Dominic Cecere for his contributions to Eastchester High School, as well as to America's great pastime. I am hopeful he will inspire another generation of young players.

Mr. Speaker, immigrants from around the world have come to our shores in order to seek new opportunities. Like so many others, Lloyd George Burnett has found the American dream. He has also worked hard to serve and enrich the community in which he lives.

Lloyd immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1969, where he lived in Connecticut for two years before moving to the Bronx. Lloyd quickly established himself professionally in his new homeland. In just four years after moving to America, Lloyd rose to become the chief mechanic for the Professional Linen Corp., where his responsibilities included managing the company's fleet of vans and trucks. But he had set even higher goals for himself.

After working for several years as a mechanic, Lloyd finally achieved his dream of becoming an entrepreneur, opening Lloyd's Auto Repair in 1981. It was not an easy start for Lloyd. He started his shop with only two bays, then he did something very brave, but also very risky: he invested all of his savings into his fledgling business, after the banks refused to lend to him. This proved to be a very savvy move. Lloyd's Auto Repair first opened its doors some 32 years ago, and continues to serve customers in the tristate region.

Lloyd has generously shared his knowledge with other aspiring small business owners. He lent his expertise to help Henry Carter, Radcliff Simpson, and Dahkia Thompson secure a location for a business they recently opened on Sandford Blvd., in Mount Vernon.

Not only should Lloyd be recognized as an example of a small business owner, but for being a good neighbor who is always looking for ways to make a positive impact to his community. Lloyd has long been a strong supporter of the All Islands Association, a local Caribbean-American civic organization, as well as other civic groups in his community. Lloyd is the proud father of Tony, Robin and Lloyd Jr. He has also been blessed with five wonderful grandchildren. Jewel, T.J., Kyla, Triston, and Tyler.

Lloyd George Burnett has clearly worked hard to achieve his dreams, as well as lend his talents to his community. His tenacity, leadership and service to the community is truly commendable.

Mr. Speaker, the strength of our Nation is built on the positive impact that individual Americans make in the service to their country, their communities and to one another. The decisions and actions of every citizen matter because they have the power to

make a difference to the lives of fellow Americans and even those abroad.

Farooq Kathwari, and his family, are examples of this notion--of individuals working to improve the lives of others--both near and abroad.

Farooq has been the Chairman, President, and CEO of Ethan Allen Interiors since 1988. His admirable success in business has afforded him the opportunity to pursue his interests in community service. Alongside his family, Farooq has been involved in a variety of nonprofit organizations. His dedication to improving the well-being of others is truly exceptional, as is his success in business, which was recognized with an induction into the American Furniture Hall of Fame.

Farooq is a member of President Obama's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a former Chairman Emeritus and current Director of Refugees International, and a Director of the International Rescue Committee. In addition to his work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable around the world, Farooq is also well respected in America's foreign policy establishment. He is a Director of the Henry L. Stimson Center, the Founder and Chairman of the Kashmir Study Group, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and served as a member of the Center for Strategic and International Studies' Advisory Board. Such distinguished recognition has allowed Farooq to pursue his passion to advocate on behalf of the voiceless, a campaign which has never ceased to be at the forefront of his concerns.

The Kathwari family has been well recognized within our community for their leadership and dedication to the protection of those less fortunate, to the advancement of humanitarianism and advocacy for religious freedom and tolerance. Farooq is a recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal, which recognizes the significant contribution to society in the arts, education, citizenship and humanitarian concerns. He has also been awarded the Outstanding American by Choice Award from our government, the Anti-Defamation League's Humanitarian Award, and the National Human Relations Award from the American Jewish Committee.

Such awards symbolize the dedicated effort that individuals such as Farooq make to bridge societal divides, reduce antagonisms wherever they might arise, and implore our leaders to think locally and act globally.

Farooq and his family are exemplary citizens. Their sense of justice and commitment to the protection of vulnerable individuals and to humanitarianism is a reflection of values we most cherish as a Nation. I commend Farooq Kathwari and his family for their past work and continued dedication. They are the deserving recipients of the Commitment to Service Award from Hope Community Services.

Mr. Speaker, communities rely on individuals like Sabrina Antoinette HoSang to further strengthen the ties that bond them, and prepare the next generation for success.

Sabrina, a 2001 graduate of Villanova University, worked for her family business, Caribbean Food Delights, during her school breaks. She continued working for Caribbean Food Delights after she graduated. With a keen eye for marketing, Sabrina created the Mr. & Mrs. Patty mascot, revived the Patty Eating Contest, and created the Bun and Cheese event.

In February 2006, she was promoted to her current position, Chief Operating Officer, in which she oversees production, quality assurance, customer service, food safety, and a host of other divisions. Caribbean Food Delights launched a new product line called Sabrina's Delights in September 2012.

Sabrina has received many awards during her tenure. Under her management as COO, Caribbean Food Delights received the Forbes Enterprise Award in February 2007. She was inducted as a 2007 Business Visionary from the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI).

She has earned the Women Celebrating Women Award of Excellence from the Progressive Democrats Political Association, a City Council Citation from Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, and a New York State Assembly Citation from Assemblyman Carl Heastie for community service. She has also received the Consul General's Award from the Jamaica Consulate for helping the underserved communities in both New York and Jamaica. In November 2007, the Universal Peace Federation recognized her as an Ambassador for Peace.

She has been honored for her outstanding commitment to the Caribbean community at the 6th Anniversary Celebration of Caribbean-American Heritage Month by Former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and Deputy Borough President Yvonne Graham. And finally, adding to her impressive public service resume, Sabrina received a Community Leadership Award from Jamaica College Old Boys Association of New York and received a ``20 Under 40'' Award from Caribbean Life in November 2013.

Sabrina has helped award six scholarships totaling $150,000 for the entrepreneurial program at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, through the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation. A G.O.O.D for Girls mentor, Sabrina, hopes to inspire young people to become leaders and entrepreneurs.

Sabrina Antoinette HoSang's many contributions to her community are admirable. She has truly made a difference in the lives of many.

Mr. Speaker, the moral fabric of our neighborhoods and communities in the United States are tightly knitted together by the actions of individuals who selflessly benefit us without public spotlight. In this, Patricia Lanza is an unsung hero.

Patricia has been a dedicated benefactor to many organizations in Westchester that help women, children and families in need. Patricia has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to high school girls who dreamed of going to college but didn't have the means. She has been a generous, dedicated contributor to scholarship programs, believing that an investment in education reaps many great rewards. She is an important asset to community groups that work for peace, equality and feed the homeless.

Abroad, Patricia has found many ways to direct her caring and concern towards some of the world's most vulnerable communities. Working alongside UNICEF and the Ford Foundation, Patricia helped construct and staff three centers for children with disabilities in Vietnam. The centers focus on birth defects that are directly attributable to the residue of Agent Orange left behind from the Vietnam War.

Patricia has also funded projects in Africa that address local needs. In Swaziland, she responded to imminent famine and food shortages by building and outfitting a 400 hectare working farm in Malkerns Valley, which provided food and jobs for hundreds of area families. She has helped women in Zimbabwe who are suffering from AIDS. Recently, she funded construction for a school in Southern Sudan in one of the toughest to reach areas in that war-torn country.

These are not the actions of an ordinary individual--it shows the extraordinary achievements of a woman whose selfless dedication is fueled by the generosity of her spirit. Quite simply, Patricia brings hope where ever she goes.

Our late President John F. Kennedy once noted that, ``we must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.'' We as her neighbors, friends, and colleagues should be honored by her presence in our lives. Her legacy in Westchester County and around the world will have enduring value in this world.

I am proud to congratulate Patricia on receiving the Spirit of Excellence Award from Hope Community Services. Her devotion to her community, both at home in Westchester and abroad, knows few bounds.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to formally recognize Lisa and Rob Patchen for their outstanding service and commitment to Beth El Synagogue in New Rochelle, New York.

Lisa is a past member of the Nursery School Board and, for several years, has led the synagogue's handprint tile fundraiser, the success of which is evident outside the Nursery School office.

Rob is in his second term as a member of the Board of Trustees, and just recently completed a two-year term as recording secretary. He has also served as the chairman of the Assistant Rabbi Search Committee, the Nominating Committee, Hazzan Search Committee, and is currently an active member of the Families Initiative Committee and the Youth Services Committee.

The pair will be honored by Beth El with the President's Ne'emanim Service Award for all they have done to support and serve their local Jewish community.

I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Lisa and Rob Patchen for their service and commitment to Beth El Synagogue.

Mr. Speaker, Barbara and Joel Rascoff have been steadfast in their commitment to the New Rochelle community. The community is truly indebted to their selfless service and the legacy that they are continuing to build.

As part of the Young Israel of New Rochelle Community (YINR), Barbara and Joel have chaired numerous dinners and dinner journals, and Joel has even helped document shul events by serving as a photographer. Both Barbara and Joel are known for their kind and giving nature, making newcomers feel exceedingly welcome in the New Rochelle Jewish community. Their efforts were crucial in bringing Rabbi Reuven Fink to

Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. Chairman, on May 24, 2011, President Obama issued a memorandum on Federal fleet performance that requires all new light- duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, natural gas, or biofuel, by December 31, 2015.

My amendment echoes the Presidential memorandum by prohibiting funds in the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act from being used to lease or purchase the new light-duty vehicles, except in accord with the President's memorandum.

This amendment has been supported by the majority and minority on appropriations bills eight times over the past few years, and I understand it will receive similar support today.

Our transportation sector is, by far, the biggest reason we send $600 billion per year to hostile nations to pay for oil at ever-increasing costs, but America doesn't have to be dependent on foreign sources of oil for transportation fuel.

Alternative technologies exist today and, when implemented broadly, will allow any alternative fuel to be used in America's automotive fleet.

The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty vehicles in America. According to GSA, there are over 660,000 vehicles in the Federal fleet. By supporting a diverse array of vehicle technologies in our Federal fleet, we will encourage development of domestic energy resources, including biomass, natural gas, agriculture waste, hydrogen, renewable electricity, methanol, and ethanol.

When I was in Brazil a few years ago, I saw how they diversified their fuel by greatly expanding their use of ethanol. When people drove to a gas station, they saw what a gallon of gasoline would cost and what an equivalent amount of ethanol would cost and could decide which was better for them.

If they can do this in Brazil, then we can do it here. We can educate people on using alternative fuels and let consumers decide which is best for them.

Expanding the role these energy sources play in our transportation economy will help break the leverage over Americans held by foreign government-controlled oil companies and will increase our Nation's domestic security and protect consumers from price spikes and shortages in the world oil markets.

I also want to mention that Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and I have a bill which would mandate that, by a certain amount of time, all cars in America would be flex-fuel cars. We can build these cars for under $100 per car, and I think it is ridiculous that we don't do it.

I want to thank Mr. Wolf and Mr. Fattah for their courtesies, and I ask that the Engel amendment be supported.

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

Madam Chair, this en bloc includes two of my amendments. The first amendment provides an incentive for NATO member countries to align their policies on defense exports to Russia with the restrictions that the United States has imposed.

As of March 1st, the United States stopped approving licenses of munitions and dual-use items to Russia if they would be used by the Russian military. The U.S. restrictions would apply to any defense items of other countries if they contain U.S. components.

While several European governments have imposed restrictions similar to ours, neither NATO nor the European Union has moved to restrict defense exports to Russia that are not covered by the U.S. restrictions.

This raises the disturbing prospect that a NATO member could transfer military items to Russia during this dangerous period when Russia forcibly occupies Ukrainian territory in Crimea or, worse, could seize territory in the Baltics, the Balkans or elsewhere in Eastern Europe.

The risk is real. For example, France has a contract to provide Russia with two Mistral-class helicopter assault ships, the first one to be delivered as early as this October. These warships would significantly strengthen Russia's ability to launch an amphibious attack.

Under my amendment, if a NATO member country transfers significant defense items to Russia, inconsistent with the restrictions that the U.S. has imposed, then there would be a ``presumption of denial'' for applications to export U.S. defense items to that NATO country. This policy would be in effect during any period when Russia either occupies Ukrainian territory or the territory of a NATO member.

A ``presumption of denial'' is a well-established concept in U.S. export controls. It provides sufficient flexibility to the Executive Branch to approve defense transfers, if the presumption of denial is over-ridden by U.S. security interests.

If NATO countries continue to arm Russia at this dangerous time, we have to ask ourselves: ``what kind of alliance is NATO?'' My amendment is not a sanction, but it is a warning to our NATO allies that we have to stand together against Russian aggression, or risk arming a country that might become an adversary.

The en bloc also includes my amendment requiring the Secretary of Defense to do a one-time report on activities of the Department of Defense with regards to protecting cultural property abroad, including activities undertaken pursuant to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

War is inherently destructive, and all too often it results in the ruin of irreplaceable artifacts, monuments, and archeological sites.

In Egypt, political instability has led to the ransacking of its museums and destruction of countless ancient artifacts that will forever leave gaps in humanity's knowledge of the ancient Egyptian civilization.

In Syria, the ongoing civil war has resulted in the shelling of medieval cities, damage to World Heritage Sites, and the looting of museums and archaeological sites. Historic sites and artifacts in Syria date back more than six millennia and include some of the earliest examples of writing.

In Mali, the Al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group Ansar Dine destroyed tombs and shrines in the ancient city of Timbuktu--once a major center for Islamic learning and scholarship in the 15th and 16th centuries-- and threatened collections of ancient manuscripts.

In Afghanistan, the Taliban destroyed the Bamiyan Buddhas, ancient statues carved into a cliff, leading to worldwide condemnation.

In Iraq, after the fall of Saddam Hussein, thieves looted the Iraq Museum in Bagdad, resulting in the loss of approximately 15,000 items. These included ancient amulets, sculptures, ivories, and cylinder seals. Many of these items remain unrecovered.

Threats to cultural property are not new. Just as Adolf Hitler and the Nazis aimed to eliminate entire groups of people from the planet, they also sought to erase culture by stealing or destroying Europe's great works of art and other cultural property.

Protecting cultural property abroad is a vital part of United States cultural diplomacy, showing the respect of the United States for other cultures and the common heritage of humanity.

The Armed Forces have played and continue to play an important role in preserving and protecting cultural property in countries at risk of destruction due to political instability, armed conflict, or natural or other disasters.

On June 23, 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas to provide expert advice to the military on the protection of cultural property. The Commission formed Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) teams which became part of the Civil Affairs Division of Military Government Section of the Allied armies. The individuals serving in the MFAA were known as the ``Monuments Men'' and have been credited with securing, cataloguing, and returning hundreds of thousands works of art stolen by the Nazis during World War II.

The amendment included in the en bloc requires the Secretary of Defense to do a one-time report on all Department of Defense activities related to the protection of cultural property abroad--including those taken pursuant to the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

This report will not only highlight the Defense Department's critical role in protecting cultural property and sites, but will also help us determine what more the United States can do to ensure that priceless work produced over the ages will remain with us for generations to come.

I thank the managers for including both of my amendments in the en bloc.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4573, known as International Megan's Law, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Before I begin, I would first like to commend our colleague, Mr. Chris Smith of New Jersey, for his leadership on human rights, on antitrafficking issues, and for his and his staff's hard work on H.R. 4573. I can't begin to tell our colleagues how relentless Mr. Smith has been and his staff has been. This has really been almost a personal crusade for him.

I know, if it weren't for the gentleman from New Jersey, we would not be this far on this legislation, so I really think our colleagues should know of his dedication and hard work on this matter.

I also want to thank the Judiciary Committee for its bipartisan input on this bill. I know all of the parties worked hard to make sure that the bill is a practical and effective mechanism which will help make a difference in the lives of those victimized by sexual predators.

We worked very closely with the Judiciary Committee on this bill as well. This is a really good product with many bipartisan inputs from several committees, primarily from Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary.

International Megan's Law aims to prevent child sex offenders and traffickers from exploiting vulnerable children when they cross an international border.

In many countries, extreme poverty and gaps in law enforcement create zones of impunity in which sex offenders exploit vulnerable children. Sometimes, local officials have no idea that this is going on. Sometimes, they turn a blind eye; and sometimes, unfortunately, officials are even complicit in this crime.

H.R. 4573 establishes an Angel Watch Center within Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would provide advance notice to foreign countries when a convicted child sex offender travels to that country.

The bill also calls on the President to negotiate agreements with foreign governments that would encourage information sharing on known child sex offenders.

Around the world, as many as 27 million people are victims of human trafficking, many of them children exploited in prostitution. These repugnant practices amount to modern slavery. They violate our deepest moral values, and they demand a timely and effective response.

Madam Speaker, we need to do all we can to encourage governments around the world to live up to their responsibilities and confront this crime. Protecting trafficked children requires timely victim identification, placing them in safe environments, and providing them with comprehensive support services--physical and mental health care, educational opportunities, legal assistance, and the reintegration with family and community.

No single government or single law will put an end to child sex tourism or to child sex trafficking, but every step we take strengthens our ability to prevent these crimes, to protect its victims, and to punish those responsible. So, Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4573.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Madam Speaker, in closing, I want to once again thank Chairman Royce, Representative Smith of New Jersey, and the Judiciary Committee for their hard work on this legislation.

Again, I want to single out Representative Smith for being relentless in this bill.

I appreciate the willingness of all interested parties to make the compromises necessary to ensure that this is a truly bipartisan product. The result is an important tool in the fight against child sex tourism and trafficking.

I want to thank Chairman Royce as well.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 573.

I would like to begin by thanking our former committee colleague and our colleague, Ms. Frederica Wilson of Florida, for offering this important resolution. I would also like to thank our chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce, for working with us on this piece of legislation in a bipartisan manner.

This resolution strongly condemns the abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls by the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram and supports U.S. and international efforts to assist in their recovery.

On April 14, these schoolgirls were doing what young women and girls all over the world do every day, studying for tests, playing with friends, and building a future for themselves.

That day, Boko Haram--which roughly translates to ``Western education is forbidden''--abducted these girls, tore them away from their families and their communities. Today, more than a month later, we still don't know where they are. Our thoughts are with their families, and we pray that they are safely reunited with their children as soon as possible.

This mass abduction is only the latest atrocity committed by Boko Haram. Since 2010, they have launched hundreds of attacks and murdered over 5,000 people. The group has burned schools and killed students, attacked churches and mosques, murdered Christian and Muslim religious leaders, and set off bombs in the capital city of Abuja.

The United States and other international partners have offered assistance to bring the schoolgirls home, and we all hope these efforts will prove successful, but we must also recognize that Nigeria's approach to countering Boko Haram has not been effective. With its heavy-handed approach, the Nigerian military has often alienated the very population that could be providing valuable information about Boko Haram's activities.

Instead of fostering relationships with the community, the military has built a record of indiscriminate destruction, theft of personal property, arbitrary arrests, indefinite detention, torture, and extrajudicial killing of civilians--all this with impunity. This serves only to help Boko Haram recruit and radicalize new members.

I hope the Nigerian Government will see this kidnapping and the reaction of Nigerian citizens as a wake-up call to reevaluate their counterterrorism strategy and that we can work with them to develop a comprehensive strategy to combat Boko Haram, one that included civil society, development, and better civil-military relations.

Meanwhile, we in the United States must do all we can to ensure that these girls are returned home to their families safely and soundly.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), our Democratic leader.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wilson), the author of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee).

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time both sides have remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

I yield an additional 10 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

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

In closing, I would like to once again thank Congresswoman Frederica Wilson and Chairman Royce for helping to move this resolution forward in a timely manner. The Senate passed a similar resolution last week, and I am pleased that we will soon follow suit.

We must do all we can to hold Boko Haram accountable for the mass abduction of schoolgirls and the many other terrorist attacks it has committed.

Our thoughts and prayers remain with the families and friends of the abducted girls, and we will not rest until they are returned to their loved ones. We will do everything in our power to get them home safely and soundly.

I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the state of Israel and its people on the 66th anniversary of Israel's founding.

Israel is the only stable democracy in the Middle East and the United States' closest ally and friend. Our relationship, built on trust, shared values and a common experience, serves to advance the cause of democracy and freedom worldwide.

Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people. It has been the spiritual center for Jews for thousands of years. In recent years, Israel has become a hub of technology and innovation. In 66 short years, the Jewish people have built a thriving economy in the shadow of their ancient ruins.

Last month, I stood at the Babi Yar memorial in Ukraine. Alone at the site of a massacre with only a yahrtzeit candle flickering, where Einzatzgruppen killed tens of thousands of Jews, I reflected on my heritage. My four grandparents were from Ukraine, and I've often thought that if it weren't for their foresight in leaving Ukraine when they did, I would never have been born. I reflected on the thousands who have been killed because of their faith.

While Israel was not founded because of the Holocaust, the Holocaust is a powerful reminder of what the world could look like without a safe haven for the Jewish people. Israel is its own protector and the United States must stand with Israel as Israel seeks to defend itself against existential threats.

As we celebrate Israel's Independence Day, we also remember those who have fallen in service to their country. I am proud to stand here in celebration of the freedoms that Israel stands for.

Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act of 2014, a bill that will create an independent commission to evaluate U.S. policies aimed at reducing drug production and trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. A similar bill passed the House of Representatives unanimously on December 8, 2009 with a bipartisan group of 30 cosponsors.

I thank my good friend and colleague Congressman Matt Salmon, the Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, for being the lead Republican sponsor of this legislation. I also thank Representatives Sires, Ros-Lehtinen and O'Rourke for being original co-sponsors of the bill.

With $15.7 billion spent on counternarcotics programs in Latin America and the Caribbean between 1980 and 2012, it is important to take stock of what has worked, what has not worked and what future U.S. drug policy should look like. This independent commission will be required to submit recommendations on future U.S. drug policy to Congress, the Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy 12 months after its first meeting.

The time to examine U.S. drug policy is long overdue. While billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been spent over the years to fight the drug trade, illegal drug use in the United States remains high. In 2012, there were an estimated 23,900,000 illicit drug users in the United States. In particular, I am concerned by the dramatic increase in heroin use in our country. Attorney General Eric Holder recently noted that heroin overdose deaths in the United States increased by an alarming 45 percent between 2006 and 2010.

On the supply side, nearly all cocaine consumed in the United States originates in South America while most of the heroin consumed here is from Colombia and Mexico. In addition, Central America and the Caribbean are key transit regions for drugs entering the United States.

To tackle our nation's horrific drug problem once and for all, we must have a better sense of what works and what does not work. Our partners in the Americas, who have worked closely with us in fighting drug trafficking for years, and the citizens of our great country, who deal every day with illegal drugs on their streets, deserve no less.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New York for yielding me this time.

I rise in strong opposition to both the rule and the bill. It is really a political charade and a pointless attempt to find a scandal that simply doesn't exist.

What happened in Benghazi in September 2012 was a tragedy. The loss of those four Americans broke our hearts, and it reminded us that diplomacy can be dangerous work and that we need to do all we can to protect those who represent our country around the world.

What have we seen from certain members of the majority since that day? Partisan games. And this select committee would be nothing more than the next chapter in this political farce, just in time for the midterm elections and with 2016 peeking over the horizon.

What is it exactly that my colleagues are after? After the attack in Benghazi, we all wanted answers: What happened that night that led to the death of Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty? Where did we fall short in protecting our people, and who was responsible? What could we do to make sure something like this wouldn't happen again?

Well, an Accountability Review Board led by Ambassador Thomas Pickering and Admiral Michael Mullen, two men with seriousness of purpose and no partisan agenda, helped answer those questions. They found serious management and leadership failures at the State Department. Bipartisan reports from the Senate Homeland and Intelligence Committees supported those findings.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton sat before committees in both Houses and took full responsibility. She and her successor, John Kerry, have said over and over again that the State Department is implementing all of the recommendations of the Review Board.

That didn't satisfy some of my friends on the other side. They started moving the goalpost, and so began this long, costly exercise. They tried to tie Secretary Clinton directly to the security failures that led to this tragedy, but that didn't turn up anything. Then they floated the idea that our military was told to stand down in the moment of greatest need in Benghazi. Even the Republican chairman of the Committee on Armed Services said that claim had no merit.

Since there is no wrongdoing to be found with respect to the actual attack, now we are focused on the talking points and the so-called coverup. I ask again: What is it my colleagues are after? What is allegedly being covered up?

At the time the attacks took place, American Embassies from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, to North Africa, to England were surrounded by protestors angered over an anti-Islamic video. In Egypt, our Embassy was stormed.

So as the fires in Benghazi were still burning and the air was thick with smoke, the CIA's assessment was that the attack was the result of a spontaneous protest. They were wrong. In the days that followed, they corrected that mistake, confirming that the attack was a deliberate and organized terrorist attack carried out by extremists.

In the days after the attack, these protests in the region were still raging. Some of them were violent. In Yemen, additional marines were deployed to protect our personnel. The latest conspiracy theory centers on an email sent at the time. In context, it is clear that Ben Rhodes, the Deputy National Security Adviser, was concerned about protecting Americans amid a volatile climate around our diplomatic facilities all over the world.

Those who want to create a scandal where none exists call this a smoking gun. That is not much to go on. Nevertheless, after more than a year of turning up nothing new, my colleagues want to create a new committee with sweeping powers, a broad mandate, and no fixed timeline for producing any sort of report.

When I heard of the terrible idea to create this special committee, I could not help but think of Iraq where, not four, but 4,000 Americans died. My Republican colleagues conducted virtually no investigations into that tragedy based on a lie. They set up no committees to uncover the truth behind the phony intelligence, the torture, the secret prisons, or the spin about how Iraqis would greet us with flowers. Nothing.

So I have to ask a final time: What is it my colleagues on the other side are after? I think the answer is pretty clear. They are after a political win. They want to tear down leaders in the Democratic Party and raise money for their campaign committees, and they are willing to politicize the deaths of four Americans to do it.

Our constituents aren't interested in this. They want us to do our jobs, not waste millions of taxpayer dollars on a fabricated scandal.

Let's do what they sent us here to do. Let's protect our diplomats and development experts. Let's work to create jobs and shore up our crumbling infrastructure. Let's fix our immigration system and promote energy security. Let's vote ``no'' on this resolution and get back to governing.