Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Dokka Fasteners Inc. as the company commemorates the grand opening of its new facility in Auburn Hills, Michigan.

Dokka Fasteners is a company with over a century of experience in manufacturing precision quality bolts and studs for use in construction and energy development. Most recently, the company has expanded its focus to include production of bolts for alternative energy production systems, such as wind turbines. Over the company's history it has developed the expertise to create a precision process, certified by the International Organization for Standardization, which results in a 100 percent traceability of its materials and a consumer confidence that has made Dokka a leader in its field.

Dokka Fasteners' investment in Michigan is well poised to take advantage of a state whose leaders, from the local level to the federal level, are engaged in a concerted effort to develop Michigan as the center of knowledge, manufacturing and infrastructure of the next generation of energy production. As a commitment to developing alternative energy, state leaders passed a renewable portfolio standard which requires Michigan to produce at least 10 percent of its energy from alternative sources by 2015. As Oakland County's Representative to Congress, I am pleased to have supported multiple national efforts to develop our nation's alternative energy industry and nurture companies that are developing the vital information and infrastructure bases which are necessary to achieve those goals.

Dokka Fasteners' investment in the City of Auburn Hills, Oakland County, and Michigan speaks to the progress Oakland County and Michigan are making in the fight to become the leaders in alternative energy production. The company's facility will house a state-of-the-art quality inspection laboratory and will be the first hot-forming fastener manufacturing plant to open in the United States in over 40 years. Dokka's choice to develop their products in Michigan represents a multi-million dollar investment in our local economy which will create nearly 100 new jobs and will aid the Southeast Michigan region as it continues to develop its alternative energy portfolio.

Mr. Speaker, the grand opening of Dokka Fasteners' new facility in Auburn Hills is a testament to our local, state and national commitment to strengthen our development of alternative energy. It is with the hard work of companies like Dokka that America will be able to approach a clean energy future with the knowledge and production capabilities necessary to achieve our goals.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Friendship Circle of Michigan as it holds its sixth annual Walk4Friendship.

Founded on the noble ideal that every person, regardless of physical and mental ability, deserves to have a loving and supportive environment, the Friendship Circle has become an important support network for individuals with special needs and their families.

In its seventeen years of existence, the Friendship Circle has expanded to cover more than eighty locations across twenty-two states and seven countries. Annually, over twenty-five hundred students with special needs in the metro Detroit area benefit from the specialized learning envircinmerit the Circle provides.

While there are many benefits to the Friendship Circle's members that are intangible, there are many numbers that sum the critical support it provides. Nine, the number of essential life skills which are taught to circle members at two hundred schools over fifty-four districts across Southeast Michigan. Seventeen, the number of customized lessons which are used to teach circle members important life skills. Eleven, the number of real-life environments at the Friendship Circle's Weinberg Village where members can practice and perfect their lessons to become productive members of the community. Nine-hundred, the number of volunteers in the metro Detroit region who have devoted time in 2011 to continuing to make the Friendship Circle's mission possible. And most importantly, one, the founder of Friendship Circle, Rabbi Levi Shemtov, whose bold vision, righteous determination and commitment to his article of faith have made this program possible.

This year, as the Friendship Circle celebrates its sixth annual Walk4Friendship, we are reminded that our Nation is only as strong as the most vulnerable among us. With over five thousand participants expected this year, this 5k walk will continue to raise much needed resources and continue to raise the awareness community necessary to ensure that the Friendship Circle and its mission will endure.

Mr. Speaker, the Friendship Circle, along with its thousands of supporters in Southeast Michigan, has done so much to strengthen the lives of individuals with special needs and provide crucial support to their families. I am so pleased at the continuing success of the Friendship Circle in fulfilling its mission and look forward to continuing my work with it and its members as we move forward.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate my friend, Mrs. Rachel Yoskowitz, as she departs from Jewish Family Services of Detroit and for her lifetime of work and advocacy in the realm of public health.

Rachel has had a long and auspicious career with a record of strengthening public health and wellness, not only in the greater Detroit area, but across the country. Her decades of work in the field of public health span every niche of that realm, from instructing healthcare professionals, to directing non-profit health-related advocacy groups, to directing state public health programs. Over this time she has cultivated a breadth and depth of knowledge which have made her a leader in the public health arena taking part in the state and national task forces, crafting and implementing statewide programs for adolescent health during her time with the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and writing many successful public and private grants to develop sustainability of programs she has created.

During her time in Southeast Michigan, Rachel has worked primarily with Jewish Family Services, an agency of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. For the first 10 years she directed the Immigration and Citizenship program at JFS. Under her direction, JFS assisted recently arrived immigrants with assimilation and acculturation into metro Detroit, particularly senior citizens. Additionally, the program provided continuing support to new residents in all stages of the immigration process.

In 2004, Rachel began work on Project Chessed, a referral network designed to connect medically uninsured adults in Detroit's Jewish community with donated and low-cost health care resources to avoid inappropriate and costly visits to hospital emergency rooms. Project Chessed provides a developed network that links patients to a complete host of services, from diagnosis and treatment by physicians and larger public health institutions, to affordable prescription drug access. This program has served as a model for other communities in Southeast Michigan and across the Nation. Through Project Chessed, Rachel has had a direct impact on one of the greatest inefficiencies and inequalities of our time--access to quality, affordable healthcare.

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to recognize Rachel's decades of work on behalf of countless Americans across so many communities. I know her work in Southeast Michigan with Jewish Family Services and the Jewish Federation has greatly assisted many of my constituents and that her departure will be deeply felt by those who have benefitted from her commitment, passion and professionalism. I wish Rachel and her husband, Rabbi Herb Yoskowitz, many more years of productive service to the community as she moves into the education sector where her righteous deeds will continue to impact so many lives.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate with the brothers and sisters of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 25 as they celebrate the Local's 100th Anniversary.

As a part of organized labor, the members of Local 25 have been a voice in the chorus of a movement that has done much to ensure that today we are closer to knowing that a fair day's work equals a fair day's pay, that our work environment is safer than it has ever been and that when unexpected challenges strike, our jobs will be protected. Throughout our history, Local 25 and other locals across the labor movement have been at the forefront of protecting the rights of working Americans. Indeed, it is thanks to the aspiration, dedication and determination of working men and women and the labor movement that our Nation has given rise to a strong and dynamic middle class--the core of our vibrant economy. As a key force in these continuing endeavors, organized labor is the great fulcrum by which the gains of our economic success are enhanced.

As the members of Local 25 celebrate a truly tremendous milestone, 100 years of service to working men and women across Southeast Michigan and beyond, we are reminded that those benefits which we see today are a product of their struggles and their triumphs. Brought into reality by the hard work and determination of George Martens, Thomas Beasley and Nathan Metcalf, the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 25 has been emblematic of the efforts of organized labor.

Following its creation 1911, the Local 25 advocated for the fair treatment and pay of its members and like many of their brothers and sisters, saw great success as minimum wage laws and fair labor laws were implemented and successfully defended. In 1950, Local 25 setup its first health and welfare fund to protect its members. Just six years later, the local created a pension fund and the following year insured that its members who had worked hard their whole life would have dignity in retirement.

As an advocate for safer working environments, in 1960, Local 25 took a leadership role in protecting its members from the harmful side effects of asbestos. As time pressed on, Local 25 pioneered the supplemental unemployment benefit fund in 1969, insulating its hard working members to be from work loss in slow economic times.

In its many evolving roles, Local 25 took on the role of educator to both current and aspiring members. In 1977 Local 25 created its apprenticeship and training programs, to educate new members and continue the education of its current members. Through this work, Local 25 has established a professional craftsman code of conduct which it uses to uphold its high standards of quality.

Mr. Speaker, I know in the years ahead that we will continue to see the rise of new challenges and opportunities. Thanks to hard work and dedication of working men and women, like those of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 25, I am confident we will continue to rise above those challenges and embrace new opportunities that will benefit all Americans. Local 25's 100th Anniversary is truly an auspicious occasion and I wish its leadership and members many more years of success.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Shelley Roberts, President and CEO of the Community House in Birmingham, Michigan, as she is honored with the Community House's 2011 Community Service Award.

Ms. Roberts has had a long and illustrious career which has spanned both the public and private sectors. For many years prior to her career in the non-profit public sector, Ms. Roberts was employed as an attorney with Dickinson Wright, beginning as an associate and after much hard work, became an equity partner. After her time with the firm, Ms. Roberts went on to work in development for Orchards Children's Services and the Jewish Federation of Detroit, before joining the Community House in 1998.

Ms. Roberts' support of the Community House and its mission extends to well before she joined as its CEO thirteen years ago. Prior to that, she served on its board, undertaking many different responsibilities during her tenure, such as serving as President between 1988 and 1990, where she oversaw the renovation of the Community House and as chair of its Community Advisory and Child Care Advisory Boards.

Under Ms. Roberts' leadership the Community House has been recognized by many community stakeholders for the work it has done to develop cross-cultural dialogue and foster a healthy, productive community. As President and CEO, Ms. Roberts has continued to emphasize the Community House's Race Relations Diversity Task Force and 21st Century Leaders program; both are designed to foster cross-cultural dialogue. She has continued to strengthen its scholarship programs which provide students with the ability to further their arts education. Among the awards Community House has received are New Detroit's Closing the Gap Award and the South Oakland NAACP's Outstanding Community Award for the Community House's support of multicultural programs which have furthered interracial dialogue and understanding. Additionally, the Community House has been recognized as one of the ``101 Best Places to Work'' by Metropolitan Detroit.

While serving in her professional role with the Community House, Ms. Roberts has continued to be an active volunteer leader in the community, investing considerable energy and time into supporting other community agencies and groups. During her volunteer service, Ms. Roberts has served on the boards of the Alzheimer's Association, Common Ground and Planned Parenthood. As an active member of her immediate community, Ms. Roberts also served as President of the Birmingham- Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Roberts' most current volunteer endeavors include work as a member of the boards of Children's Home, Big D and YouthVille in Detroit, as well as several organizations involving New Detroit.

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that Ms. Roberts is being honored so publicly by the Community House for her many decades of volunteer service, not just to the Community House, but for her work with many organizations across Southeast Michigan. Ms. Roberts' decades of work have undoubtedly impacted the lives of so many across the Southeast Michigan region and I wish her continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the recent violence in Kosovo and applaud the actions of the Border Patrol of the Kosovar government. As a sovereign, independent state, Kosovo deserves the right to protect its citizens and patrol its border. I strongly support Kosova for maintaining control over its border with Serbia. Since Kosovo declared her independence in 2008, Serbia has consistently discriminated against Kosovars and prevented the region from accepting her legitimacy.

Recently, Kosovar authorities banned goods coming in from Serbia with the intention of countering their northern neighbor's rejection of Kosovo's statehood and Serbia's boycott of Kosovo's produce. It is vital that the Kosovar government re-establish territorial integrity within its borders. With increased uncertainty on her country's northern border, Kosovar special police units launched an operation to gain complete control over the border crossing with Serbia to prevent the continued flow of illegal goods from Serbia. In order for Kosovo to continue to join the developed world, it is necessary for them to have authority over their own economy. I also rise to express my gratitude for NATO peacekeepers that have arrived to maintain peace along the border.

I am proud to represent a large and vibrant community of Kosovar Americans in southeast Michigan. Many of my constituents have relatives along the Kosovo/Serbia border and I know that they are deeply concerned about the security of their loved ones and the prospect for Kosovo remaining an independent nation. Recognized by nearly 80 nations across the globe, Kosovo deserves to be a player on the world stage and I stand with their freedom-loving people who thirst for true independence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep concern regarding the loss of life in Syria. In Hama, the site of massive anti- regime protests, dozens of innocent citizens chanting for freedom and democracy have been ruthlessly murdered by Syrian security forces under orders from the Syrian regime led by President Bashar Assad.

This heartless attack came on the eve before the Islamic Holy Month of Ramadan, which only makes this assault on the Syrian people all the more despicable. Assad has yet again failed to understand that the Syrian people are no longer afraid. Violence will only further convince the Syrian people that Assad is no longer their legitimate president.

Assad has ruled with an iron fist for too long. During this uprising, Assad has made fake reforms designed to give the world a false impression that he is a reformer. Reports of inhumane torture of innocent men, women, and children clearly show that the last thing he is interested in is reform. The Syrian people have spoken: they want the Assad regime to fall. I therefore reiterate my call for Assad to step down, before any more innocents are murdered.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the ongoing violence in Egypt being carried out against religious minorities. While the end of the Mubarak regime has brought about the promise for democratic reform, it has also given rise to instability and acts of violence against religious minorities. Coptic Christians have lived peacefully in this part of the world for millennia, but sadly in recent months Coptic churches and protestors have been targeted for violence.

I am grateful to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, for holding a hearing recently on the plight of the Coptic people. I was concerned to learn of reports that young women and under-aged girls fear for their safety because of the threat of violence by Muslim extremists. As a member of the Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus, I strongly believe U.S. policymakers need to do more to raise awareness of this issue so that the innocent Christians of Egypt are no longer targeted for violence.

I am proud to represent a vibrant Coptic community in southeast Michigan and am privileged to consider the clergy of St. Mark's Church in Troy, Michigan as my friends. Many of my constituents have relatives in Egypt and I know that they are deeply concerned about the security of their loved ones. I share their concerns--and the concerns of Copts across our nation--about the future of their community and the desire to preserve their right to continue to live peacefully in their ancestral homeland.

While we are hopeful for democratic change in Egypt, it is imperative that we maintain support for religious minority communities such as the Copts and seek to preserve and allow for the continuity of their community. I ask my colleagues to join me in raising awareness for the plight of the Copts, demanding an end to extremist violence, ensuring that all Egyptian political parties practice the values of pluralism and tolerance, and encouraging a democratic Egypt to fully respect the rights of all its citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate David Payne on a successful career--40 years in service to the residents of Bloomfield Township, as he retires from his position as Township Supervisor.

Mr. Payne began his career in the Road Department in 1970 while finishing his college studies. Just five years later Dave was promoted to Director of the Road Department, the youngest director in the Township's history.

Dave's foray into elected politics began in 1995 when he was appointed Township Treasurer and was subsequently elected to that position in the following year. Thanks to his strong record as Treasurer, Dave was selected to replace his predecessor in the Supervisor's office in 1999 and the residents of Bloomfield Township have subsequently elected to that position three times, in 2000, 2004 and 2008.

Dave's stewardship of Bloomfield Township has resulted not only in continued prosperity of its businesses and residents, but also transformed the Township's professional environment.

When Dave took the reins of the Township he implemented new policies to change how the Township interacts with the media, its residents and intra-operationally. Upon entering office Dave worked to ensure good communication between the Township and the media--always making himself available to answer questions. He also sought to make it easier for residents and citizen groups to integrate their input into Township business and for concerned citizens to be able to communicate directly with elected officials.

During Dave's tenure as Supervisor, Bloomfield Township has weathered an economic storm that has affected so many other communities across Michigan and the Nation. As a result of Bloomfield Township's sure financial footing under Dave's leadership, Standard and Poor's raised the Township's credit rating to AAA, the highest rating possible for municipalities and as such, Bloomfield Township is one of only five municipalities in Michigan to hold this rating.

Dave's approach to leadership in Bloomfield Township has resulted in continued success for the Township's businesses and residents. I know his hands-on-approach to leadership and his ability to produce consensus will be greatly missed by his colleagues and residents who he served. I wish Dave many more years of success and know that as a resident of Bloomfield Township, the community will continue to benefit from his activism and service.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the leadership and congregants of the Newman African Methodist Episcopal Church in the City of Pontiac and to celebrate with them as the Church commemorates its sesquicentennial.

As the first African American church founded in Oakland County, Newman A.M.E.'s celebration of 150 years in the community is a testament to the vision and determination of its founders, the Reverends Augustus Green and George Newman, and other determined congregants. Established during a time of great strife and adversity, the founders sought to create a congregation where the negative social and theological tenants of the day would be left behind as members came together in fellowship to worship and perform great deeds in their community. After many years of uncertainty, with services moving from house to house in Pontiac, the congregation acquired its first home on Auburn Avenue in 1872 and received its first full time pastor, the Reverend Benjamin Roberts, in 1882.

Throughout its history, the leadership and congregants of Newman A.M.E. have always heard and answered the call to serve their community, in spite of whatever adversity lay before them. In 1920, facing the challenges of a world where equality was still scarcely more than a dream, the Men's Club of Newman A.M.E. founded the Oakland County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to fight for greater equality. In the 1960s, even as the Church was displaced from its home, its leaders came together to establish the Newman Non-Profit Housing Corporation, devoted to making affordable housing available to area residents. Just five years after the Church was forced to relocate, the congregation was able to construct and pay off the mortgage on its new and current home.

Under the Church's current leader, the Reverend Lila Rose Martin, the congregation has continued its commitment to the principles of service and egalitarianism on which it was founded. Among its outreach programs, Newman A.M.E. has added a cancer survivor's ministry to help those who have been victims of this terrible disease, and re-instituted a summer program to provide area youth with the tools necessary to develop into productive members of the community.

Newman A.M.E.'s rich history is a true testament to the enduring success that can be achieved when strong bonds of fellowship are tested in the face of trial and tribulation. Even in moments of great challenge and sacrifice, the congregation of Newman A.M.E. has remained dedicated to serving Pontiac and the greater Southeast Michigan Community. The sesquicentennial of Newman A.M.E. is a truly momentous occasion and I wish its leadership and congregation many more years of success in spiritual fellowship and service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Community of Westacres in the Township of West Bloomfield, as its residents celebrate its 75th anniversary.

In 1936, as the nation was still in the throes of the Great Depression and stood on the precipice of an unknown future, United States Senator James Couzens partnered with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and Oakland Housing Inc., to establish the Westacres community. The vision was to build a community where working class Michigan residents and their families could have a place of their own and strive to achieve the American Dream. To this end, Oakland Housing Inc. put forward a number of guidelines to ensure that the residents of Westacres would be families interested in the welfare of their neighbors and in using the land they were provided to help them be self-sufficient.

As with all new communities, Westacres faced a number of challenges, but its residents always rose to meet the call of service to their neighbors. In 1937, to address the need for public safety, residents started the Westacres Fire Department, a volunteer force to protect their community. Residents also took it upon themselves to create the Westacres Credit Union and Westacres Library to provide the financial support and continuing education for their neighbors. The residents also founded the Orchard Lake Community Church and at the height of our nation's need for austerity, established the nation's oldest ride pool to get workers to work while conserving resources.

It is with a sense of great pride that over the last 75 years and from its humble beginnings, the Westacres community has grown and flourished as its residents have moved into America's dynamic middle class. Today, the community has grown to over 300 residences with dozens of families who have been part of Westacres for generations. As was the case when it was founded, service has continued to remain strong with the community residents who volunteer countless hours across the greater southeast Michigan community.

It is with great honor and pride that I represent the community of Westacres, as it celebrates this most auspicious occasion. Through its history, Westacres and its residents represent the powerful success that can be achieved in the face of adversity. Westacres' 75th anniversary is indeed an impressive milestone and I wish its residents many more years of success and service to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Republican Default Act, which will require deep cuts in Medicare while preserving tax breaks and loopholes for millionaires and large corporations. It is beyond disappointing that Republicans have squandered a real opportunity to put our Nation on a sustainable fiscal path.

Many of my constituents are afraid the Republican leadership will continue bending to the Tea Party demands to drive our economy toward a self-inflicted recession.

The risks here are very real. Default or a credit downgrade will hurt middle class families with higher mortgage and credit card interest rates and higher costs for food, gas, and utilities.

Republicans need to stop playing reckless games with our economy and start working for what the American people want: comprehensive deficit reduction that shares the burden equally,

strengthens Medicare and Social Security, ends tax giveaways, and puts our country back on the path to fiscal stability.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for reauthorizing the Small Business Administration, which helps countless entrepreneurs receive the training and access the capital they need to start and expand small businesses and create jobs. While I support the reauthorization of these vital programs, I am concerned with provisions in the underlying bill that would prevent some entrepreneurs from obtaining vital assistance.

Specifically, H.R. 2608 singles out the e200 Emerging Leaders program for elimination, which targets entrepreneurs in underserved communities across the country like metro Detroit that have been severely impacted in these tough economic times. This program targets businesses in inner cities and economically hard-hit areas that show a high potential for growth, providing them with the network, know-how and resources they need to build a sustainable, growing business that promotes economic development within their communities. This program has a proven track record. Small businesses that complete the program increase their revenues and create jobs where they are needed most.

In addition to eliminating this vital program, this bill prevents the Small Business Administration from carrying out any succeeding program with similar goals. While I support the underlying reauthorization of the Small Business Administration, I strongly disagree with the elimination of the e200 Emerging Leaders program, and the prohibition of future initiatives that help small businesses thrive in some of the areas hardest hit by the recession.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly condemn the Syrian regime's recent hostility towards both the United States and the Syrian people. The courageous visit by U.S. Ambassador Robert Ford to Hama, the site of massive antiregime protests, demonstrates that the United States stands by those who advocate for democracy and freedom.

Days after Ford's visit, the American Embassy in Damascus endured several violent pro-regime demonstrations, resulting in considerable damage. Had the Syrian security forces acknowledged their international obligations, these rioters in support of President Assad would not have been able to approach the embassy. By responding poorly, Assad has conveyed disrespect towards the United States.

I applaud Secretary of State Clinton's recent tough stance toward Assad, declaring that his regime ``has lost legitimacy.''

Time and time again, Assad, like his father before him, has turned to arresting, torturing, and killing anyone who would stand in the way of his tyranny. Therefore, with the best interests of the Syrian people in mind, I call on President Assad to resign as President.

Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased today to rise in support of H.R. 440, a bill to establish a special envoy to promote religious freedom of religious minorities in the Near East and

South Central Asia. As a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation and as a member of the Religious Minorities of the Middle East Caucus, I strongly support its passage.

While many parts of the Near East and Southeast Asia are predominantly Muslim, historically these areas have been home to a diverse group of ethnic and religious minorities. Whether it is Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Assyrians in Iraq, Baha'i in Iran, Copts in Egypt, or the Hindus in Pakistan, religious minorities have for centuries lived and worshipped alongside their Muslim countrymen and women.

Unfortunately, instability in the Middle East has had a disproportionately negative impact on religious minorities. The most striking example of this has been in Iraq, where more than half of the Iraqi Christian population has been forced to flee the country since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Those who have stayed have been specifically targeted in gruesome and random acts of violence, such as murder, rape, and abduction.

This includes religious and community leaders like Archbishop Rahho, who was kidnapped and murdered. Religious minorities have also suffered attacks in their places of worship, such as the October 2010 massacre at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad, in which 58 worshipers were killed by militants and extremists.

While the end of the Mubarak regime in Egypt has brought about the promise for democratic reform, it has also given rise to instability and acts of violence against religious minorities. Coptic Christians have lived peacefully in this part of the world for centuries. Sadly, in recent months, Coptic churches and protesters have also been targeted for violence.

Freedom of religion is something we take for granted here in the United States. Our citizens are free to worship however they please, without fear that they will be targeted for violence because of their religious beliefs. I'm honored to represent Michigan's Ninth Congressional District, which is home to an amazingly diverse population. We have Jewish synagogues, Islamic mosques, Hindu temples, and Christian churches of almost every kind imaginable. This diversity is a source of strength in our community, and something my constituents are very proud of. Many of my constituents have relatives in Near East or South Central Asia and they wish that they, too, had the same freedom to worship that so many of us take for granted. They are desperate to see the United States take more leadership in promoting religious tolerance overseas.

That is why the legislation we're debating today is so important. It creates a permanent special envoy that will work on behalf of the President and the Secretary of State to advance the cause of religious minorities abroad. This individual will be able to ensure that the United States is fully engaged to fight to protect religious minorities in other countries and to help hold our own government accountable when that should be done.

I would like to thank Representative Wolf, who is not only the author of this legislation but also the cochair of the Religious Minorities of the Middle East, a tireless champion on behalf of vulnerable populations. I would also like to thank my friend, Representative Eshoo, who is also a cochair of the caucus and a true champion for religious minorities in the Middle East.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation so that the United States will be vigilant in promoting religious tolerance and freedom around the world.