Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2548, the Electrify Africa Act, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to begin by thanking our chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Royce, for working with us in a bipartisan manner on this important legislation and for his longstanding commitment to improving U.S.-Africa relations and lifting Africans out of poverty.

Mr. Royce has long, for many years on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, worked with and been very concerned about Africa. This bill is, in part, a culmination of his hard work and his longstanding dedication.

In the United States, we take reliable electricity for granted. When we flip the switch, we expect the lights to come on. This winter many of us were frustrated when storms knocked out our power. Life was harder as we impatiently waited for the electricity to be restored. Imagine if the power never came back and that was your life every day, year in and year out. That is the stark reality facing many families in Africa.

Indeed sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most energy-deficient regions of the world, with nearly 70 percent of the population, more than half a billion people, lacking access to electricity. In some countries the figure is even higher: in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 85 percent of the population has no power; in Kenya, 82 percent of the population has no power; and in Uganda, 92 percent. These are truly staggering statistics.

The lack of reliable electricity has a major impact on day-to-day life and many negative consequences. In desperation, people burn anything they can find for heat and cooking: wood, plastic, trash, and other toxic materials. These dirtier fuels cause greater harm to people's health and also to the environment.

Many businesses have had a hard time succeeding because they are forced to pour expensive diesel fuel into generators day and night or deal with constant power outages from unreliable electrical grids. Hospitals cannot provide adequate services because they are unable to provide consistent cold storage, light, or power for lifesaving devices. The list goes on and on.

This legislation directs the executive branch to develop a strategy to increase electrification in Africa and to employ U.S. assistance programs to help accomplish that goal. This long-term strategy will focus not only on providing incentives for the private sector to build more power plants, but also on increasing African government accountability and transparency, improving regulatory environments, and increasing access to electricity in rural and poor communities through small, renewable energy projects.

Only by addressing all of these challenges in a comprehensive way will millions of people in Africa finally have access to electricity that will allow them to grow their economies and ultimately reduce their reliance on foreign aid.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this amendment. It is a very important piece of legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, when this bill was submitted it had, and continues to have, strong bipartisan support.

I yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), one of the original cosponsors on the bill, our ranking member on the Africa Subcommittee.

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

In closing, I would like to once again point out that this is a bipartisan bill. The four original cosponsors are Chairman Royce and Chairman Smith on the Republican side, myself as the ranking member, and Ms. Bass as the ranking member on the Africa Subcommittee on the Democratic side. So this is truly a bipartisan collaboration that is very important, well thought out, and I agree with everything the chairman said. This bill will reform OPIC and will reform how this kind of aid is done.

I would like to again thank Chairman Royce for being an outstanding

partner in drafting this legislation and for his leadership in passing the bill out of our committee unanimously. That is another thing that I think is so important to what we do on the committee. We try to pass things in consensus and try to let everybody put his or her thoughts into the bill. This passed unanimously out of the committee, and that doesn't happen lightly or easily. It is done because lots of concerns were taken into consideration, things were ameliorated, things were changed, and what we have is a very, very good product.

As has been said, this legislation has the potential to impact millions of people in Sub-Saharan Africa. A doctor in Kenya will be able to treat a patient without worrying about her equipment shutting off, a child in Congo can continue studying long after the sun sets. The bottom line is that reliable access to electricity will help build African economies and reduce their reliance on foreign aid, saving the United States money.

I hope the Senate will also take action on this bill, again, which has broad bipartisan support in the Senate. I urge my colleagues to support this positive piece of legislation for Africa.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in strong support of H. Res. 418, a resolution urging the Government of Burma to end its persecution of the Rohingya people.

I would like to thank my good friend and cochairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), for authoring this important resolution.

H. Res. 418 calls on the Government of Burma to end its persecution of the Rohingya people and to respect the human rights of all ethnic and religious minority groups. The plight of the Rohingya gets very little public attention, and I am pleased that this House is addressing the abuses they and other minorities have suffered.

The State Department's 2013 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices acknowledges ``credible reports of extrajudicial killings, rape and sexual violence, arbitrary detentions and torture and mistreatment in detention, deaths in custody, and systematic denial of due process and fair trial rights overwhelmingly perpetrated against the Rohingya.''

Last month, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Burma stated that the recent developments in Burma reflect a ``long history of discrimination and persecution against the Rohingya Muslim community, which could amount to crimes against humanity.''

The U.N. has also described the Rohingya community as virtually friendless because they are denied citizenship and face severe restrictions on marriage, employment, health care, education, and daily movement.

In February, the Burmese Government expelled Doctors Without Borders; and since then, deaths due to preventable complications during pregnancy have occurred on an almost daily basis in Rohingya camps, where pregnant women make up a quarter of the group's emergency referrals.

Mr. Speaker, as the Government of Burma transitions from decades-long military rule to a civilian government, it is important to hold it accountable for persistent human rights abuses.

The killings, arbitrary detentions, and the destruction of homes have caused 140,000 people to be internally displaced; and hundreds of thousands have been forced to flee to neighboring countries, including to Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.

If Burma truly seeks to rejoin the international community, the manner in which it treats its own people will be a key marker of the government's sincerity. Burma must abide by human rights principles of equality and human dignity, and this resolution calls upon the Burmese Government to do just that.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 418, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the author of the resolution.

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

In closing, I would like to thank Congressman McGovern, the gentleman from Massachusetts, for drafting this important legislation. Once again, I thank Chairman Royce for his continued bipartisan leadership.

As has been said, this resolution calls upon the Burmese government to end the persecution of the Rohingya people and to respect the human rights of all ethnic and religious minority groups.

Until now, the treatment of the Rohingya has been largely ignored by the international community. That is the purpose of this resolution--so they cannot be ignored any longer.

It is time for the United States to send a clear and strong message to the government of Burma that we will not tolerate the persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, and that it must abide by human rights principles of equality and dignity if it is to rejoin the international community.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dr. Agshin Mehdiyev, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations since November 30, 2006, who also served with distinction on the United Nations Security Council from 2012 to 2013. While at the United Nations, he also was Azerbaijan's non-resident Ambassador to Cuba (since February 2007), Nicaragua (since June 2008), Jamaica (since September 2008), and Venezuela (since October 2008).

Ambassador Mehdiyev will shortly conclude his term at the United Nations and return to Azerbaijan. His dedication to his diplomatic craft and his contributions to the United Nations and to U.S.- Azerbaijan relations richly deserve to be recognized. In particular, he brought leadership and wisdom to his position in the United Nations and to the United Nations Security Council during a period of considerable turmoil and significant challenges.

Furthermore, Ambassador Mehdiyev has a long and distinguished record of serving his country. He first worked overseas at the USSR Embassies in Egypt (from 1971 to 1975) and in Yemen (from 1977 to 1982), and also in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Azerbaijan SSR in several capacities, including as chief of the Ministry's Information and Media Office (from 1975 to 1977). He returned to Yemen from 1987 until 1991, and from 1991 to 1992 was Azerbaijan's official Representative to the Republic of Yemen. Between 1993 and 2001, he was the Director of Europe, USA and Canada Department of Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And prior to his current position at the United Nations, he was Permanent Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Council of Europe from 2001 to 2006.

Ambassador Mehdiyev graduated from Azerbaijan State University in 1971 (from the faculty on oriental studies). Between 1969 and 1970, he studied at the Cairo University, and from 1985 to 1987, he studied at the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry of the former USSR. Ambassador Medhiyev holds a PhD degree in the history of international relations (1987) and is Honorary Professor of the Baku Eurasian University Academic Council since 2007. He also is the author of the book, ``Azerbaijan in the Council of Europe,'' published in 2011, as well as of many articles and other publications focusing on international affairs and political studies.

For his distinguished career and contributions to Azerbaijan, Ambassador Mehdiyev was awarded a medal on the occasion of the ``90th anniversary of Azerbaijan's diplomatic service,'' at which time he also received the Foreign Ministry's ``Honor Award'' and an order for ``Service to the Fatherland.'' Ambassador Mehdiyev was born in 1949. He and his wife Sevda have three children.

Mr. Speaker, on March 23, 2014, I attended a farewell reception and dinner in New York in honor of Ambassador Mehdiyev and Sevda. The event was hosted by my friends Ranju Batra, Chair of the Diwali Stamp Project and former president of the Association of Indians in America NY, and Ravi Batra, an accomplished attorney who is the Chairman and CEO of Greenstar Global Energy Corporation and Chair of the National Advisory Council on South Asian Affairs. Their son Neal Batra also was there. The gathering also was attended by numerous UN Ambassadors with spouses, including by U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative Rosemary DiCarlo and the Permanent Representatives from Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Honduras, South Korea, Finland, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, and inter alia, Somalia. Also attending were senior members of the UN Secretariat, including Won-soo Kim and Ion Botnaru, and members of the judiciary, local elected officials, Rabbi Yitzchok Waldman, who is the Director of the Laniado Hospital in Israel, Martin and Grace Riskin, and my dear friend and colleague Representative Carolyn B. Maloney, in whose district the event was held. Numerous other officials and prominent individuals sent their greetings and good wishes.

I mention this not only to thank the Batras for their incredible warmth and hospitality, but also to demonstrate the great respect and affection with which Ambassador Mehdiyev is held by his colleagues and acquaintances. Diplomacy at its most basic level is about building connections between people, and the attendance of so many prominent individuals, from all walks of life, is a testament to Ambassador Mehdiyev's character and skills. He is a true professional in every sense of the word and I am pleased to pay tribute to him today.

Mr. Speaker, since my election to the United States House of Representatives in 1988, I have been immensely proud to be a part of New York's congressional delegation.

My colleagues from New York and I--both Democratic and Republican-- have united many times to fight for causes that are critical for our State. In the wake of terrible tragedies, like September 11, 2001, and, most recently, Hurricane Sandy, we have come together to perform our most important duties as Members of Congress, which is our obligation to do what is best for the people of New York.

It is important, though, that we don't solely band together in times of tragedy; rather we must also gather in celebration of the people and occasions that make our Empire State a great State. That is why I am delighted to rise today in recognition of the Hudson River School of painters, the first school of art indigenous to the United States.

The Hudson River runs through my district and the districts of many of my colleagues, some of whom will be speaking here today as well; and we are very, very proud of that river and proud of what it represents.

The Hudson River School of Art is comprised of a group of 19th century painters, including Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church, Asher Brown Durand, Jasper Francis Cropsey, Sanford Robinson Gifford, Albert Bierstadt, John Frederick Kensett, George Inness, Worthington Whittredge, and Thomas Moran.

Today, these artists' paintings can be found in the United States Capitol, the National Gallery of Art, and the State Department, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Next to me are portraits of two of the Hudson River School's most celebrated painters, Jasper Francis Cropsey and Thomas Cole, the father of the Hudson River School.

Now, the artist who did these sculptures is Greg Wyatt, my friend who is with us today, whose primary medium of artistic expression is cast bronze, and I would like for everybody to see these because they are truly magnificent and represent the greatness of our State and the greatness of the Hudson River.

On the third easel--right here--is Cropsey's 1860 masterpiece ``Autumn on the Hudson.'' It is truly beautiful, just as this portrait shows.

As its name suggests, some of the Hudson River School's most notable works portray the majesty of New York's Hudson River Valley. However, the Hudson River painters capture the grandeur of a variety of New York's national treasures, and, again, I am proud to represent part of the Hudson Valley.

From the Hudson Valley's lushness in Durand's ``The Beeches,'' to the majesty of the Catskills in Gifford's ``A Gorge in the Mountains,'' to the tranquility of the ocean in Kensett's ``Eaton's Neck, Long Island,'' the Hudson River School brilliantly encapsulated New York's diverse, yet unparalleled beauty.

I rise today not only to celebrate the Hudson River School's contributions to America's artistic canon, but also to the environment they so beautifully immortalize.

Hudson River School paintings helped Americans across the Nation understand the natural magnificence found across distant corners of the U.S. This understanding, in turn, helped nurture the idea that such magnificence ought to be preserved for future generations.

This idea culminated in 1916 with the creation of the National Park System and persisted into the 1960s when an environmentalist used Hudson River School paintings to demonstrate the need for legislation, such as the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act, to protect America's stunning resources.

How glad we are that this Congress passed those laws. It follows then that the Hudson River School illustrates not only what art can do for the individual spirit, but also for the health of the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, it is my hope that the residents of New York and the United States might gain an appreciation for the Hudson River School and its tremendous impact on our Nation and its culture. To help show our appreciation, I have introduced House Resolution 480, honoring the Hudson River School painters for their contributions to the United States.

As a New Yorker, I am truly grateful to these artists for immortalizing the pristine beauty of New York's past. In the forthcoming speeches, my colleagues from New York will highlight their own appreciation for the Hudson River School and its invaluable contributions to our Nation.

I want to also add, Mr. Speaker, that we have a number of people who have journeyed here from New York to celebrate these contributions and witness this Special Order.

Among those is our distinguished former colleague, the gentleman from New York, Congressman Maurice Hinchey, my good friend. I welcome Maurice, his wife, and his daughter back to Washington and all the people here today, including Greg Wyatt, Barnabas McHenry, and so many other wonderful people.

I now yield to my colleague from New York (Mr. Tonko).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 4152.

Let me first open by commending our chair once again, Congressman Royce, for making such a statesmanlike statement. I agree with everything he said in that our bipartisan work in support of Ukraine and our bipartisan work on the entire Foreign Affairs Committee has been a treasure for both sides of the aisle and, certainly, for me as ranking member and for Mr. Royce as chair. I thank him again for working with us in such a bipartisan fashion.

Last Thursday, the House passed H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act, by the overwhelming margin of 399-19. Think about what that means. We have said that Congress can't agree on anything, and it has been said that Congress can't agree on anything, that we can't work together and that nothing gets done. This proves it wrong, as 399-19 is pretty bipartisan and is a very strong showing to the world and to our country as well that we get together when things are important. What is happening in Ukraine is very, very important.

At that time, I made an extended statement about how important it is for the United States to stand with the people of Ukraine and to make it clear to Putin and his cronies that there will be serious consequences for Russia's aggression. With Russian forces massing on Ukraine's borders, tension and fear are spreading throughout the region, and our legislation sends a clear signal that Congress will not stand for further violations.

Today, we consider the Senate version of our Ukraine legislation. This bill originated in the House as a measure to provide loan guarantees to Ukraine, and it passed this body on March 6 by a vote of 385-23, again another overwhelming bipartisan majority. The Senate then took up this legislation, stripped out our text, inserted the Ukraine bill, authored by Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member Corker, and sent it back to the House.

Like the House bill, this legislation authorizes assistance to Ukraine as it attempts to right its struggling economy, increase energy security, strengthen civil society, and prepare for democratic elections this spring. It supports enhanced security cooperation with Ukraine and with other countries in the region, and it provides assistance to help Ukraine recover stolen assets. It also imposes sanctions on those responsible for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, for looting Ukraine's economy, and for violating human rights in Ukraine.

While the two bills are very similar, I wish that a number of provisions in the House legislation had been included in the Senate bill. For example, our bill would provide immediate assistance to Ukraine as it attempts to right its struggling economy, increase energy security, strengthen civil society and the rule of law, and prepare for democratic elections this spring, while the Senate bill does not authorize assistance until the next fiscal year, which doesn't begin until October 1. The House bill includes an important provision supporting efforts to professionalize Ukraine's law enforcement, and the House bill includes language that would require the extra scrutiny of Russian banks that may be involved in nefarious activities in Ukraine or in other parts of the world.

But in the interest of time, I support the House passage of this measure so we can get it to the President for his signature as soon as possible. The most important thing here is that both the House and Senate are united in sending a strong, bipartisan signal of support to the people of Ukraine and in providing needed assistance at a critical moment. So I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

In closing, let me stress once again that this bill sends a strong message of support to the people of Ukraine at a critical moment. We are the greatest country in the world. We have interests all over the world. I think that it is important that we don't shirk from those interests, but rise to the top with them.

When there are problems around the world, the United States needs to be there. It doesn't mean being the policeman of the world, but it means standing with our friends and allies against brutal aggression. When countries stand up for democracy, they look to the United States as the role model and the leader.

Today, we are leading. Today, we are acting as a role model. Today, we are helping the beleaguered people of Ukraine.

The coming weeks and months will be very difficult for Ukraine. The country faces significant challenges as it seeks to return to political and economic health, so it is very important that the people of Ukraine know that the U.S. stands with them. They should know that we will support them as they seek to build a more democratic, prosperous, and just state and society.

They will know that we support them in urging them to look westward rather than eastward. That is what Russia fears. They fear that these countries will look westward. They will look west and see the Western allies and see what we have to offer.

Then they look eastward, and they see Putin as a bully, someone who will do whatever it necessary to keep them in line, and they don't want that.

Putin may think that he is rebuilding the old Soviet Union, but we will continue to press forward with democracy and stand foursquare with the people of Ukraine in their quest for democracy.

I urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 2183, a bill to provide surge news broadcasts to the people of Ukraine and the surrounding region, in order to counter Russian propaganda.

I want to, again, concur with everything that Chairman Royce said. I agree with every word he mentioned. I am, again, very happy to have been working closely with him on this legislation in a bipartisan fashion.

Chairman Royce feels as I do, particularly strongly about broadcasting. It is something that is very important. It is something that helped to win the cold war.

It is something that we are able to get into countries, so they hear the truth when they are denied the truth from their own governments, and that is what this bill does.

Over the past few weeks, the people of Ukraine, Russia, and much of Eastern Europe have been bombarded by the state-controlled and directed Russian media. Among other things, these so-called reports claim that fascists and neo-Nazis have taken control of the government in Kiev, that they have been attacking ethnic Russians in Ukraine and similarly in Crimea, and that they have engaged in widespread anti-Semitic acts.

Despite the complete lack of evidence, President Putin and other Russian officials have repeatedly referred to these alleged events to justify the invasion of Crimea and their massing of troops on Ukraine's border.

It is important to note that a number of prominent Jewish leaders in Ukraine, including Chief Rabbi Yaakov Dov Bleich, have recently made clear that the Russian allegations about ant-Semitic acts in Ukraine are false and that this baseless propaganda has been used as a pretext for the illegal annexation of Crimea.

I will insert in the record a letter from Ukrainian Jewish leaders debunking the fabrications emanating from Russia.

The legislation before us today, which is very similar to a provision included in the bipartisan Ukraine Support Act that passed the House last week, is a critical piece of our comprehensive approach to address the crisis in Ukraine.

S. 2183 directs Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America to significantly increase radio, TV, and Internet programming in Ukraine and other countries in the region.

It also requires RFE/RL and Voice of America to expand their network of reporters in eastern Ukraine and Crimea and focus on news and information that directly rebuts misinformation from the Kremlin- controlled Russian media.

I would note, Mr. Speaker, that this legislation originated in the House as part of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Ukraine Support Act and was broken off in the Senate to create a separate bill.

In the interest of expediting passage, I will support the bill, but in the future, I might expect that Congress would follow a different process.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 2183 to help ensure that the people of Ukraine, Moldova, the Balkan States, and other countries in the region have access to objective and comprehensive news.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Open Letter of Ukrainian Jews to Russian Federation President Vladimir

Putin

to the president of the russian federation vladimir vladimirovich putin

Mr. President: We are Jewish citizens of Ukraine:

businessmen, managers, public figures, scientists and

scholars, artists and musicians. We are addressing you on

behalf of the multi-national people of Ukraine, Ukraine's

national minorities, and on behalf of the Jewish community.

You have stated that Russia wants to protect the rights of

the Russian-speaking citizens of the Crimea and all of

Ukraine and

that these rights have been trampled by the current Ukrainian

government. Historically, Ukrainian Jews are also mostly

Russian-speaking. Thus, our opinion on what is happening

carries no less weight than the opinion of those who advise

and inform you.

We are convinced that you are not easily fooled. This means

that you must be consciously picking and choosing lies and

slander from the entire body of information on Ukraine. And

you know very well that Victor Yanukovich's statement used to

describe the situation after the latest treaty had been

signed--``. . . Kyiv is full of armed people who have begun

to ransack buildings, places of worship, and churches.

Innocent people are suffering. People are being robbed and

killed in the streets . . .''--is simply a lie, from the

first word to the very last.

The Russian-speaking citizens of Ukraine are not being

humiliated or discriminated against, their civil rights have

not been infringed upon. Meanderings about ``forced

Ukrainization'' and ``bans on the Russian language'' that

have been so common in Russian media are on the heads of

those who invented them. Your certainty about the growth of

anti-Semitism in Ukraine, which you expressed at your press-

conference, also does not correspond to the actual facts.

Perhaps you got Ukraine confused with Russia, where Jewish

organizations have noticed growth in anti-Semitic tendencies

last year.

Right now, after Ukraine has survived a difficult political

crisis, many of us have wound up on different sides of the

barricades. The Jews of Ukraine, as all ethnic groups, are

not absolutely unified in their opinion towards what is

happening in the country. But we live in a democratic country

and can afford a difference of opinion.

They have tried to scare us (and are continuing their

attempts) with ``Bandera followers'' and ``Fascists''

attempting to wrest away the helm of Ukrainian society, with

imminent Jewish pogroms. Yes, we are well aware that the

political opposition and the forces of social protests who

have secured changes for the better are made up of different

groups. They include nationalistic groups, but even the most

marginal do not dare show anti-Semitism or other xenophobic

behavior. And we certainly know that our very few

nationalists are well-controlled by civil society and the new

Ukrainian government--which is more than can be said for the

Russian neo-Nazis, who are encouraged by your security

services.

We have a great mutual understanding with the new

government, and a partnership is in the works. There are

quite a few national minority representatives in the Cabinet

of Ministers: the Minister of Internal Affairs is Armenian,

the Vice Prime Minister is a Jew, two ministers are Russian.

The newly-appointed governors of Ukraine's region are also

not exclusively Ukrainian.

Unfortunately, we must admit that in recent days stability

in our country has been threatened. And this threat is coming

from the Russian government, namely--from you personally. It

is your policy of inciting separatism and crude pressure

placed on Ukraine that threatens us and all Ukrainian people,

including those who live in Crimea and the Ukrainian South-

East. Southeastern Ukrainians will soon see that for

themselves.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, we highly value your concern about

the safety and rights of Ukrainian national minorities. But

we do not wish to be ``defended'' by sundering Ukraine and

annexing its territory. We decisively call for you not to

intervene in internal Ukrainian affairs, to return the

Russian armed forces to their normal fixed peacetime

location, and to stop encouraging pro-Russian separatism.

Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are quite capable of protecting

our rights in a constructive dialogue and in cooperation with

the government and civil society of a sovereign, democratic,

and united Ukraine. We strongly urge you not to destabilize

the situation in our country and to stop your attempts of

delegitimizing the new Ukrainian government.

Signed:

Josef Zisels, Chairman of the Association of Jewish

Communities and Organizations of Ukraine (VAAD) Ukraine,

Executive Vice President of the Congress of National

Communities of Ukraine; Alexander Suslensky, D.Sc., Vice

President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine,

businessman; Andrei Adamovsky, First Vice President of the

Jewish Confederation of Ukraine, member of the ``Hillel''

Jewish Student organization Observation Council (citizen of

Russia); Evgen Chervonenko, Vice President of the European

Jewish Congress, businessman; Rabbi Alex Dukhovny, Head Rabbi

of the Ukrainian Progressive Judaism communities; Rabbi

Reuven Stamov, Head Rabbi of the Ukrainian Traditional

Judaism communities; Alexander Paskhaver, Member of the VAAD

Ukraine Coordation Council, economist; Leonid Finberg,

Director of the NaUKMA Center for the Studies of History and

Culture of Eastern European Jewry, VAAD Ukraine Vice

Chairman; Anatoliy Podolsky, Director of the Ukrainian Center

for Holocaust Studies, Vice Chairman of VAAD Ukraine; Igor

Kuperberg, Chairman of the Zionist Federation of Ukraine,

Vice Chairman of VAAD Ukraine; Semen Belman, Vice President

of the Jewish Council of Ukraine, President of the Chernigiv

Jewish Community; Alexander Gaidar, Leader of the Union of

Ukrainian Progressive Judaism Religious Communities;

Vyacheslav Likhachev, CNCU Chief expert in monitoring and

analysing xenophobia and anti-Semitism, member of the VAAD

Ukraine Coordination Council (citizen of Russia and Israel);

Michael Gold, Editor-in-chief of the VAAD Ukraine newspaper

``Hadashot''; Galina Haraz, Engineer (citizen of Ukraine and

Israel); Igor Turov, PhD in history, Director of the Jewish

Studies Certificate Program of VAAD Ukraine, VAAD Ukraine,

Presidium member; Diana Gold, VAAD Ukraine Presidium member;

Alexander Roitburg, Artist; Evgen Greben, Director of the

``Maccabi'' Jewish Cultural and Sports Society (Kyiv);

Grigoriy Pickman; ``B'nei B'rith Leopolis'' President; Igor

Kerez, VAAD Ukraine Trustee Board member; businessman;

(Signatures still being collected); March 4, 2014.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), a very respected member of our Foreign Affairs Committee.

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

In closing, I would like to say that information is power, and we must not yield the media landscape to intentional efforts by the state- controlled and directed Russian media to mislead the people of Ukraine and the surrounding countries by providing false and deceptive information. These reports, as was mentioned, have been used as a pretext to the annexation of Crimea and possible incursions into eastern Ukraine and even Moldova and, I might say, even Georgia. That is why this bill is necessary to ensuring that there is access to objective news and information.

I again urge the Congress to pass this with an overwhelming, bipartisan majority.

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

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 4278, the Ukraine Support Act.

Let me begin by thanking the chairman of our Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce, for his strong leadership on Ukraine. As always, he is working with us in a bipartisan and constructive manner on this very important and timely bill. I am very pleased to be the lead Democratic cosponsor. I would also like to thank my other Democratic and Republican colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee for their important contributions.

The United States has long been a steadfast supporter of a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine, and with the people of Ukraine now in dire need of assistance and under imminent threat, there has never been a more critical moment to show our support.

President Putin's invasion of Crimea is a flagrant violation of international law and Russia's commitments to its neighbor. The phony and illegal referendum Putin orchestrated at the barrel of a gun has resulted in the first outright annexation of territory in Europe since the end of World War II. And now Putin is amassing troops on Ukraine's border, threatening to seize more Ukrainian territory and incite further violence and conflict.

Putin's destabilizing and dangerous moves threaten not only Ukraine, but other states in the region, including Moldova and Georgia and, indeed, all of Europe. The United States, our European partners, and the entire international community must take a stand against Putin's naked aggression.

This legislation reaffirms our strong support for the people of Ukraine at this critical time. It authorizes assistance for Ukraine as it attempts to right its struggling economy, increase energy security, strengthen civil society, and prepare for democratic elections this spring. It supports Ukraine's efforts to recover missing assets, to bolster the rule of law, and to professionalize its law enforcement. It supports additional broadcasting to Ukraine--and Chairman Royce has been a champion of that--and other countries in the region to counter the dangerous and hateful propaganda coming from the Kremlin and its media outlets. And it endorses the deployment of significant numbers of international monitors throughout Ukraine to help reduce tensions and ensure the security of all Ukrainians.

The legislation also sends a clear message to Putin and his cronies that their landgrab and reckless actions will have serious consequences. Specifically, it supplements the President's efforts to sanction those responsible for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and international integrity, looting Ukraine's economy, and violating human rights in Ukraine.

And here I would like to applaud President Obama for imposing measures which have already impacted Putin's inner circle, for taking the lead in suspending Russia's participation in the G8, and for rallying support and coordinating actions with our European partners and others throughout the world.

Finally, the bill expresses support for continuing U.S. security assistance to Ukraine and reaffirms our commitment to the security of NATO, the security of our NATO partners in Eastern and Central Europe.

Mr. Speaker, the coming days, weeks, and months will be very difficult for Ukraine. Its leaders must continue the process of reconciliation and reach out to all regions of the country. They must scrupulously respect minority and human rights, and they must make the hard decisions and take the difficult steps that will return their country to political and economic health. And they must do all of this in the face of opposition and likely provocations from Putin and his cronies.

But as they do so, they and the people of Ukraine should know that they have our support. By passing this bill, we are making clear that the United States stands with Ukraine, that we are committed to helping its people build a more democratic, prosperous, secure, and just state for themselves and their children.

You know, if we continue to work with Ukraine and continue to help Ukraine and turn them westward, rather than eastward, then Putin will have lost. He may have a landgrab in Crimea, but he will lose the rest of Ukraine. And we should be doing everything possible to make sure that our European allies are working closely with Ukraine, offering them the incentives they need so that they will look westward and not eastward.

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

Finally, I want to say, foreign policy should be bipartisan whenever possible. I think this is bipartisanship as its best.

We send a clear message to the people of Ukraine that the United States stands with them. It is not a Republican or a Democratic stand. It is an American stand, and I am proud to be part of it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), a very distinguished member of our committee.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the

gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the Democratic whip.

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

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire about how much time each of us has?

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from California be allowed to control 3 minutes of my remaining time.

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

What we are doing this morning is the Congress at its best. What we are doing this morning is standing up to a bully and telling him that his actions will not stand. What we are doing is saying that in the 21st century it is no longer acceptable for dictators to invade other countries.

What we are saying to the people of Ukraine is that we stand behind you, we are with you, we haven't forgotten you, and we are going to do everything possible to make you whole again. We are going to do everything possible to let you know the West wants to partner with you. We are going to do everything possible to stand up for freedom and democracy with you.

I think that is a very noble cause. It is not pie in the sky. No one is advocating a war with boots on the ground against Russia, but we are advocating that there have to be some standards in the world.

If we let Putin get away with this, then it sends a green light to Putin that he can continue to do this and to every other despot and dictator around the world that they can do whatever they like and the world is just indifferent or too afraid to act.

I think this is an opportunity, and I think that this is a time when one day we will be able to say to our grandchildren that we acted together.

I want to again commend Chairman Royce for working with me in a bipartisan fashion. We will be going to Ukraine together in a few short weeks to show the Ukrainian people that America stands with them.

I urge my colleagues again to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin), the ranking member of the Ways and Means Committee.

(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).

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

In closing, let me, again, say what a pleasure it is to work with Chairman Royce on a bipartisan basis. You can see, again, strong bipartisan support for this bill.

Ms. Kaptur didn't mention that she was cochair of the Ukrainian Caucus. We have Members on both sides of the aisle all standing together to say the United States stands with the people of Ukraine. Please vote ``yes.''

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank my friend from California for yielding to me.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition, not to the policy before us, but to the poison pill pay-for attached to this much-needed SGR repeal-and-replace legislation.

I support the bipartisan, bicameral agreement contained in H.R. 4015 for numerous reasons. There is almost universal agreement that the sustainable growth rate is a flawed formula and, therefore, Congress has been left to temporarily patch physician reimbursement for far too long.

This bill permanently repeals the SGR and provides physicians with a small increase in pay for the first 5 years. I want to see our physician workforce fairly compensated for providing high-quality care to our constituents. The SGR fails to adequately do this. This legislation incentivizes physicians to focus on providing quality care instead of a high quantity of care.

Finally, while it has always been extremely expensive to permanently repeal and replace the SGR, it is now estimated to cost less than $140 billion. This is less than half the cost of what it would have been a few years ago. While the costs remain significant, I believe that it is imperative we permanently fix physician payment now.

That is why I am so furious Republicans are wasting valuable time by pairing this much-needed legislation with yet another ridiculous Affordable Care Act repeal vote. After more than 50 repeal votes, I think it is clear to everyone where both Democrats and Republicans stand on the Affordable Care Act. We don't need another repeal vote.

The current SGR patch expires in 17 days. We should be focused on finding bipartisan pay-fors to permanently fix the SGR instead of having Republicans push through yet another bill that will surely die in the Senate.

Mr. Speaker, the Federal Railroad Administration's examination of the Metro-North railroad safety apparatus has been completed.

I begin by offering my sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr. James Romansoff, a Metro-North employee and a constituent of mine, a Yonkers resident, who died Monday after being hit by a train while performing track maintenance. My thoughts go out to his relatives and all who knew him, and I am deeply sorry for the family's loss.

This morning, the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration released a report to Congress entitled, ``Operation Deep Dive: Metro-North Commuter Railroad Safety Assessment.'' This report was prompted by the horrific train derailment that occurred in my district on December 1, 2013, which killed four and wounded dozens.

I am sure I speak for all of my colleagues when I say that the safety and welfare of my constituents, of all of our constituents, is our number one priority. That is why I was dismayed to learn of the profoundly ineffective standards under which Metro-North--a rail system that thousands of my constituents depend on daily--has been operating.

According to the FRA's report, which concentrated on Metro-North's ``safety culture,'' this system is hampered by a strict adherence to train schedules; a safety apparatus that does not seek out potentially dangerous situations, but instead responds to complications after they arise; and inadequate training procedures.

These ailments are indefensible and unwarranted. The FRA's report states:

Detectable safety issues exist across multiple disciplines

that should have been discovered by the Metro-North

management.

That is an indictment of Metro-North's management. No people should be killed because of incompetence. No people should have been killed because the person driving the train apparently fell asleep. Metro- North's failure to monitor potential safety hazards is downright reckless. According to the Metropolitan Transit Authority, approximately 281,000 travelers use Metro-North trains every week, and those passengers' commutes are at risk from these safety hazards cited in the report.

Getting people in and out of New York City, in and out of Manhattan, is an important task, and if it can't be done safely, then what good it is.

The FRA's report makes several recommendations that, if implemented, might help prevent accidents in the future. According to the report, Metro-North is plagued by three fundamental problems: a destructive emphasize on timely departures and arrivals; the absence of proactive rather than reactive responses to safety concerns; and defective training procedures. Four serious Metro-North accidents occurred just last year, and that is four too many.

I call upon Metro-North to immediately begin implementing the safety recommendations contained in the FRA report. The safety of thousands of passengers and Metro-North employees depends on it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 1 o'clock and 11 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at 1 p.m.

Mr. Speaker on rollcall No. 117, H.R. 499, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

I thank my friend, the gentlewoman from New York, for yielding me this time.

Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4152, legislation that would provide the Government of Ukraine with urgently needed funds to address pressing needs at a critical moment. The Ukrainian people bravely confronted a brutal and corrupt regime and stood up for democracy and justice. They need our help now. This bill is a first step in answering their call.

The bill authorizes the United States to provide repayment guarantees for bonds that the Ukrainian Government plans to issue to raise cash. These guarantees will make it easier for Ukraine to sell the bonds at the lowest possible price and at the longest term. Our guarantees would be backed up by reserves, using existing appropriated funds that the Congress provided for exactly this type of emergency.

This bill is the initial contribution to sustaining Ukraine's new government as it seeks to restore stability and return Ukraine to political and economic health. It is part of a larger financial commitment from the EU and other states, and will also help Ukraine's efforts to reach agreement with the IMF and to implement needed reforms.

Without this support, Ukraine's progress could stall in the face of unrelenting pressure from Russia, which has illegally occupied the Crimea, is encouraging separatism and conflict, and which has substantial leverage on the Ukrainian economy.

Our country has a long history of answering the call of people who have chosen freedom and democracy. Ukraine is now making that call as its people are seeking to defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity and build a more democratic, prosperous, and just future for themselves and their country. We must answer. This bill is our first step.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4152.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 488, a resolution supporting the people of Venezuela as they protest peacefully and calling for an end to recent violence, and I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to recognize my good friend, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen) for offering this important resolution, but more so for her dedication for so many years to these important issues. It has been a pleasure working with her through the years.

The eyes of the world are on Venezuela as President Nicolas Maduro and his security forces crack down on peaceful protesters. It is an absolute tragedy that 17 people have been killed and 261 people have been injured during recent protests throughout the country. It sounds a little bit like Ukraine, doesn't it?

I was particularly disturbed when the government issued an arrest warrant for opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on trumped-up charges. Mr. Lopez turned himself in on February 18 and is currently being held in a prison at a military facility.

And, by the way, the elections that supposedly elected Mr. Maduro, as far as I am concerned, are in question because there never was a real recount. The ballots were destroyed before there could be a recount.

I am so deeply troubled by the crackdown on press freedom in Venezuela. The Colombian news network NTN24 was recently taken off the air after it broadcast footage of the protests. Journalists from CNN were also threatened with expulsion.

Today's resolution makes it clear that Congress stands with the Venezuelan people and against all acts of violence and undemocratic actions. I am pleased that President Obama and Secretary Kerry have also spoken out forcefully in condemning violence in Venezuela.

Let me be clear. It is not just the United States that has been taking notice of recent events in Venezuela. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights released a statement on February 14 which ``expresses its concern over the serious incidents of violence that have taken place in the context of protest demonstrations in Venezuela, as well as other complaints concerning acts of censorship against media outlets . . . and acts of alleged political persecution.''

Last week, the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on the Venezuelan Government to release jailed opposition members and protesters and to end the violence.

I hope all member states of the OAS, the Organization of American States, will similarly call on the Venezuelan Government to abide by the OAS Convention on Human Rights and the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

Finally, let me say that the only way out of this crisis is through dialogue. Our resolution makes this absolutely clear by encouraging ``a process of dialogue between the Government of Venezuela and the political opposition to end the violence.''

I stand with the people of Venezuela in calling for an end to the senseless violence, and I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 488, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to repeat what I said before, that I hope all member states of the Organization of American States will similarly call on the Venezuelan government to abide by their OAS Convention on Human Rights and the Inter-American Democratic Charter.

This is a very bipartisan resolution. I agree with everything that the gentlewoman from Florida said. In fact, I agree with everything that all of the speakers on both sides of the aisle have said.

The United States stands for freedom in the world, and I think it is very important that the Congress of the United States speaks out loudly and clearly when people's rights are being trampled on, as is the situation in Venezuela today.

So again, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen), and I want to thank Chairman Royce, who once again has shown in such a bipartisan way that members of the Foreign Affairs Committee work closely together because both parties share a love of freedom and democracy. Both parties care very much that freedom and democracy around the world takes root. I can think of nothing more bipartisan than to stand up for freedom and democracy all over the world, and when a country has its rights trampled by the government that is supposed to protect it, it is time that we in the United States Congress say enough: we are not going to sweep this under the rug. We are going to speak out loudly and forcefully against it.

I again thank Ms. Ros-Lehtinen and Chairman Royce.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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

I rise in strong support of H.R. 938, the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act.

Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, the chairman of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and Mr. Deutch, the ranking member of that subcommittee, for authoring this legislation and for working tirelessly over the past year to further refine some of the provisions.

This legislation comes at a critical time in the history of the U.S.- Israel relationship. On every border, Israel faces instability, at best, and violence and chaos, at worst.

Syria remains engulfed in a horrific civil war that has left more than 140,000 people dead. Israel's neighbors, including Lebanon and Egypt, are plagued by instability.

Iran has not yet abandoned its pursuit of nuclear weapons capability and continues to terrorize the world with its support for violent extremism. Iran is the leading supporter of terrorism around the world.

And, under the threat of rocket fire from Gaza, Israel is now considering new options under a framework for peace with Palestinians and the Arab world. Hamas still controls the Gaza Strip, and their disregard for human life is well known.

The U.S. cannot afford to sit idly by. We must be engaged in each of these issues and support our ally, Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East.

This legislation before us today is critical because it sends a clear and unmistakable message to America's foes: America stands with Israel. Let me repeat that: America stands with Israel.

Now is the time to reaffirm the vital importance we place on the U.S.-Israel relationship and to pursue new ways to improve our partnership at every level. Let me say the relationship between the U.S. and Israel is not a one-way street. It is a two-way street.

We share a love for democracy; we share a love for human rights; and we share a love and understanding that we share things that are so important to both countries. It is not, again, just a one-way street. It is a two-way street.

There is more collaboration between the United States and Israel on everything, each and every day. The relationship deepens, the coordination deepens--coordination in terms of military, in terms of intelligence sharing, in terms of so many other things. Israel is the best ally the United States has, not in the Middle East, but in the world.

Specifically, this bill will build on our robust defense cooperation, increase U.S.-Israel collaboration on cybersecurity, expand U.S.-Israel energy cooperation, and reaffirm our commitment to Israel missile defense programs, which have saved many innocent lives, such as the Iron Dome.

I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 938, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, let me again say that this is another example of bipartisan cooperation on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

I want to again thank Chairman Royce for being such a great partner in ensuring that important legislation like this passes our Foreign Affairs Committee and the floor of the House in a very bipartisan way.

I am proud to support H.R. 938. It reaffirms our mutually beneficial relationship with our great ally, the Jewish State of Israel, at a critically important time. I want to again thank my colleagues, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), for authoring this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support this.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which removes some of the unintended consequences from the Biggert-Waters law that would increase flood insurance premiums on my constituents. This bill would repeal the premium hikes and would reinstate ``grandfathered'' rates for properties that were remapped into higher-risk areas.

In my own district following Superstorm Sandy, the changes in flood projections brought on by the storm will hit my constituents with higher flood insurance premiums--some as high as $10,000 extra per year unless Congress acts to mitigate the hike.

I think we can all agree that we want to address the fiscal concerns faced by the National Flood Insurance Program--but these steep, immediate rate hikes are not the way.

This is a bipartisan bill that offers immediate protection to my constituents from financially devastating flood insurance premium hikes. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''