Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Illinois for his indulgence.

I rise in strong support of the effort of my good friend and colleague, Mrs. Wagner of Missouri, on H.R. 6891. I think it is important that we speak with one voice in this body that the brutal, reckless, and unprovoked invasion of Russia in Ukraine and the terrible toll it has taken on the Ukrainian people is not acceptable, not to the American people and certainly not to this Congress.

Taking the steps enumerated in Mrs. Wagner's bill is a very important matter in isolating Russia and in raising the cost to Russia of this reckless and brutal invasion.

It is not okay to target hospitals. It is not okay to target innocent citizens. It is not okay to target children, including children's cancer hospitals, with missiles raining down on their heads and killing the innocents.

It is not okay in the 21st century to settle disputes kinetically, that is to say, by military invasion. Until and unless Russia stops its actions in Ukraine and withdraws from its sovereign territory completely, we need to stand as one with our allies and as one Nation in saying that we will resist, and we will assist the Ukrainian people in resisting this ruthless action by Vladimir Putin and his kleptocrats in Moscow.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend from Missouri for her leadership, and I am proud to support this effort.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2201) to manage supply chain risk through counterintelligence training, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2201, the Supply Chain Security Training Act, led by Chairman Gary Peters of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin.

I thank Representatives Joe Neguse and Scott Franklin, who did excellent bipartisan work here to lead the House companion, H.R. 5962, which was reported by the Oversight and Reform Committee on February 4 without opposition.

This important bill to defend our Nation's information and communications technology supply chains cannot be enacted soon enough.

In December 2020, a Government Accountability Office report revealed that Federal agencies had failed to fully implement supply chain and risk management standards for information and communications technology.

That same month, the discovery of the SolarWinds breach made urgently clear how dangerous supply chain vulnerabilities can be. The networks of at least nine Federal agencies were compromised by Russian actors, allowing

them access to Federal systems for months before they were even discovered.

To help address these concerns, the Supply Chain Security Training Act establishes a training program for agency employees with responsibilities related to supply chain risk management, better preparing them to identify and mitigate supply chain threats associated with the acquisition of products and services.

The training requirements created by this bill will ensure that the acquisition workforce has the capability to identify items in the supply chain that could be used to exploit Federal information systems.

As the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, the Federal Government relies on a complex supply chain that spans continents and is continuously targeted by foreign adversaries and cybercriminals scheming to breach Federal information systems.

To protect our national security interests and guard against these attacks, we must equip our Federal acquisition officials with the expertise and skills they need to reinforce our cybersecurity defenses through purchasing decisions.

I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on this side. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from South Carolina for her leadership and support on this important piece of legislation, which will help guard Federal assets.

I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1097) to establish a Federal rotational cyber workforce program for the Federal cyber workforce.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1097, the Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act. The bill was introduced by Senator Peters with bipartisan support here in the House

with the companion legislation introduced by Representatives Ro Khanna and Nancy Mace.

The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act enables cybersecurity professionals in the Federal Government to rotate through assignments outside of their regular position or agency on a voluntary basis.

The Office of Personnel Management would establish guidelines for the implementation of the program. The program would be authorized for 5 years, and after 3 years, the Government Accountability Office would assess its operation and effectiveness.

Achieving cybersecurity in response to the threats the Nation faces was identified in GAO's latest ``High Risk List'' as an area where the government is actually regressing. GAO reported that Federal agencies are struggling to ensure that staff have the skills required to address the critical cybersecurity risks that continue to intensify.

The program this bill creates allows the government to have its security employees to further develop their skills and agencies across the government to benefit from the employees' expertise.

Recent cyberattacks in both the private and public sectors have demonstrated the dire consequences of failing to improve the Federal Government's cybersecurity operations.

We know that adversaries in Russia, China, and other malign actors, state and nonstate, are consistently working to breach the U.S. Government's communications and data. Unfortunately, at times, they have been all too successful. In the 2020 SolarWinds breach, for example, Russian hackers infiltrated the networks of nine Federal agencies and went undetected for months.

This bill goes a long way toward improving Federal agencies' capacity to strengthen cybersecurity operations, help them retain top talent in that field, and facilitate the exchange of expertise in this critical area.

The security of Federal information technology systems and data is a national security priority, and it ought to be. It is essential to preserving public trust in government institutions and ensuring that agencies are better equipped to meet their missions in serving the American people.

I strongly support the bill, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I inform the House I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my colleague from South Carolina for her leadership on a very important matter, and I urge passage of this important piece of legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6531) to provide an increased allocation of funding under certain programs for assistance in areas of persistent poverty, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6531, the Targeting Resources to Communities in Need Act. This bill is bipartisan, and it was introduced by the distinguished majority whip, Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, and Mr. Hal Rogers of Kentucky.

This bill is timely and would make a difference in the lives of the people across the Nation facing the difficulties of living in persistent poverty.

According to the Census Bureau, in 2020 the official rate of poverty in the United States was 11.4 percent. That statistic illustrates the hardships faced by over 37.2 million people. As we know, poverty can be experienced by Americans of all backgrounds in rural, urban, and suburban communities.

The aims of this important bill are straightforward. The bill would provide additional transparency about the areas of the country facing persistent poverty and would target more Federal resources for program assistance to those areas.

Specifically, H.R. 6531 would require the Census Bureau to publish a list of all areas of persistent poverty, and the Office of Management and Budget would work with agencies to direct additional funds to the places where people need them most.

Reports to Congress would be submitted annually--noting the programs included in the bill's efforts, along with assessments of the economic impacts of the additional investments, to the extent possible.

This bill also calls for GAO to evaluate the effectiveness of the investments over time. Those areas of the country facing exceptional hardship require our exceptional attention and support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the majority whip.

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

Mr. Speaker, let me just say, this is how it is supposed to work--watching the collaboration between our dear friend from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn) and the dean of the House (Mr. Rogers) on addressing endemic poverty in the United States is how this House works best. I congratulate both of them for showing us the way. I hope we emulate it on more than this occasion.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation. Let's help our fellow Americans when we can, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 923) to support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 923, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the author of the Georgia Support Act and as co-chair of the Congressional Georgia Caucus to express my support for this legislation, which we introduced with my Republican colleague and Georgia Caucus co-chair, Mr. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.

Mr. Speaker, this legislation has twice passed the House with broad bipartisan support. This bipartisan effort enhances the U.S.-Georgia relationship on several fronts by bolstering security assistance, promoting democratic governance reforms, enhancing cooperation to fight Russian disinformation, and strengthening economic ties.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate, as Russia continues its tragic and horrific invasion of sovereign Ukrainian territory, that we reflect on 2008 and the invasion by Russia and continued occupation of sovereign Georgian territory in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

To this day, Russian troops committing abhorrent violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, and war crimes in sovereign Ukrainian territory are the same troops that have fomented unrest, aided separatist movements, and committed clear and evident violations of human rights for the past 14 years in the Russian-occupied parts of Georgia.

This bill directs the United States Government to enforce targeted sanctions on malign actors committing these violations in Russian- occupied territory.

The Georgia Support Act also requires the administration to examine how best we can utilize the $35 million or more of United States aid that we provide Georgia in security assistance every year and reinforces U.S. policy to never recognize Russian sovereignty over Georgia territory.

As the number one per capita contributor of forces in Afghanistan, Georgia has demonstrated its dedication to security cooperation with the West. The United States must continue to reciprocate by helping Georgia develop the capacity to defend itself against further incursion of Russian forces.

Mr. Speaker, attacks on Georgian sovereignty have not been simply through the occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as bad as that is. This bill directs the administration to enhance cooperation with our Georgian partners to help them defend themselves from the various cyberattacks and disinformation and propaganda campaigns Russia has launched with the goal of undermining the sovereignty and democratic institutions of the Country of Georgia.

Mr. Speaker, I traveled to Tbilisi numerous times, both with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, of which I am President, and with the House Democracy Partnership to meet with government officials, civil society, and the Georgian people.

I am pleased that this iteration of the Georgia Support Act seeks to buttress Georgian democratic institutions through U.S. democracy and governance programs that promote Georgian judicial independence, electoral reforms, freedom of the press, and accountability for attacks on independent media and Tbilisi Pride activists in 2021.

This legislation provides an opportunity for the United States to express its robust, bipartisan support for Georgia's sovereignty, continued democratic and economic development, and security against renewed Russian aggression.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Georgia Support Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, April 21, 2022.

Hon. Gregory Meeks,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Meeks: This letter is to advise you that the

Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to

review the provisions in H.R. 923, the ``Georgia Support

Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate

your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary

Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill

for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that

consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 923, with

the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future

jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject

matters.

In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar

legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the

right to request an appropriate number of conferees to

address any concerns with these or similar provisions that

may arise in conference.

Please place this letter into the Congressional Record

during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank

you for the cooperative spirit in which you have

worked regarding this matter and others between our

committees.

Sincerely,

Jerrold Nadler,

Chairman.

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

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

I thank my friend for his support. And I think it is very important that there be a clarion statement from this Congress, not only about Ukraine, but about other nations that are threatened by Russian aggression; Georgia and Moldova are two of the most prominent.

It is critical that the Congress speak with one voice to those nations, to those peoples, and to Vladimir Putin and Russia, should he have further designs on either of those two countries.

So I think this is an important piece of legislation. I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 833) expressing support for Moldova's democracy, independence, and territorial integrity and strengthening United States and Moldova relations, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 833, as amended.

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

I rise today in support of H. Res. 833, which clearly champions Moldova's push toward democracy and our common work in strengthening our bilateral ties.

I first thank my colleague, Representative Price of North Carolina, for drafting this important measure and his years of work on the House Democracy Partnership.

Moldova, a small country in Europe, nested between Ukraine and Romania, rightfully deserves our attention today. After centuries of being fought over and by larger neighboring powers, the country is making strides toward democracy, combating deep-seated corruption, and moving closer to the Euro-Atlantic community.

With the Russian invasion in Ukraine, the stakes are now so much greater. Indeed, more than 400,000 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in tiny Moldova since February, a number that represents more than 10 percent of Moldova's own population.

Furthermore, Moldova is no stranger to malign Russian influence and interference. Transnistria, a Kremlin-backed breakaway region in Moldova's east, is an area of active risk. Moscow uses this wound to manipulate fears and politics in Moldova. We are reminded of that constant potential with the explosion in the region earlier this week and the constant dangerous rhetoric from the so-called authorities there.

Thankfully, despite these challenges, the Moldovan Government is in a position to tackle them and advance an agenda to modernize and democratize its society and its economy.

President Maia Sandu and the parliament in Moldova are ambitiously fighting corruption and implementing needed reforms, all while strengthening relations with the European Union and with the United States.

The Moldovan people's good work to build a stronger democracy is admirable and deserves our full support, especially today; and passing this resolution, coupled with the Biden administration's highlighting of Moldova's progress during the Summit for Democracy, sends a strong signal that the entire United States Government stands with them.

This resolution looks to build on the momentum in this decisive moment from Moldova, ensuring that the progress is meaningful and sustainable. I support this resolution, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

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

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, April 22, 2022.

Hon. Richard Neal,

Committee on Ways and Means,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Neal: I am writing to you concerning H. Res.

833, Expressing support for Moldova's democracy,

independence, and territorial integrity and strengthening

United States and Moldova relation, as amended. I appreciate

your willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.

I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the

jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means under House

Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H. Res.

833 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge

that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill

does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the

matters contained in the bill that fall within your

jurisdiction. I also acknowledge that your Committee will be

appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar

legislation moves forward, and will support the appointment

of Committee on Ways and Means conferees during any House-

Senate conference convened on this legislation.

Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is

included in the Congressional Record during floor

consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your

cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to

continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the

legislative process.

Sincerely,

Gregory W. Meeks,

Chairman.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my friend for his bipartisan leadership and his support for this important piece of legislation.

Again, combined with the Georgia Support Act, this resolution sends a clear message from this body, on a bipartisan basis, that we will not tolerate Russian aggression in Europe in 2022.

Combined with our solidarity in opposition to the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, it is a powerful message, backed up with, of course, support by our government, and the bipartisan nature of this is just so critical.

The people of Moldova, and the people of Georgia, and the people of Ukraine, they are watching and they are listening, as we hope is Vladimir Putin and his cronies in Moscow.

I urge support for this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3344) to prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to improve the security of their telecommunications networks, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3344, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3344, as amended, the Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act.

Let me start by thanking Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, the chairwoman of the Ukraine Caucus here in Congress. She has been an incredible leader and a very important voice for Ukraine, not just these past 2 months, but for decades as a Member of Congress. This bill is part and parcel of her many efforts to aid the people of Ukraine and Eastern Europe.

I emphasize a key point throughout my remarks today: Telecommunication security is a central pillar of national security.

If a hostile power has the ability to shut down a country's access to the internet, then both telecommunications and national security have, in fact, been breached.

If a strategic competitor can disable telecoms gear or cut an underseas cable to turn off a country's mobile network, then both telecommunications and national security have, in fact, been breached.

And if foreign rivals can snoop on a country's calls and steal classified information because they can access the network, then both telecommunications and national security have, in fact, been breached.

The lesson is clear: The United States and its allies cannot rely on telecoms gear produced and supplied by countries and companies close to the People's Republic of China government or the Putin regime in Moscow. This is especially true in Eastern Europe, as President Putin has decided to act on violent imperial hubris rather than respect the law of nations.

If the problem is PRC-affiliated technology and Russian aggression, then the Transatlantic Telecommunications Security Act is a key part in the solution to bolster our national security and that of our friends and allies.

First and foremost, the bill allows the Development Finance Corporation to fund telecom security projects to ensure that all network gear in Eastern Europe is safe. As Ukraine faces the immediate threat to its national security, projects in the region must and will receive priority assistance.

Second, this bill authorizes the State Department to create a new position of campaign coordinator at the Department to focus on upcoming elections in the U.N. body called the International Telecommunications Union. That election comprises of an American with significant experience with the ITU and a Russian who previously worked for the Chinese company, Huawei. What could go wrong with that?

This is an election the free world can ill afford to lose, and we must do everything in our power to ensure corrupt actors are kept from its power. This includes a whole-of-government response, such as the State Department working with Commerce and the FCC, as well as the Foreign Affairs Committee teaming up with our good friends on the Energy and Commerce Committee to make sure the ITU promotes free and secure telecom systems around the globe.

The TTSA is a critical bill that would deliver tangible security benefits for Ukraine and frontline NATO allies. We can, should, and must get this bill to the President's desk quickly.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to make that reality one step closer by voting for this legislation today.

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

Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my friend for his leadership and bipartisanship on this critical piece of legislation. I think it is timely. I think it is urgent. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7311) to direct the Secretary of State to develop and submit to Congress a strategy and implementation plan outlining United States efforts to counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation and its proxies in Africa, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7311, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7311, the Countering Malign Russian Activities in Africa Act, as amended, introduced by Representative Gregory Meeks, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

As Putin pursues a violent, illegal, and unjustifiable war in the sovereign nation of Ukraine, we must remember that he is also destabilizing fragile states in Africa to feed his ruthless war machine.

As a matter of fact, the Russian Federation has conducted malign activities throughout Africa for several years now to raise funds and evade sanctions that would inevitably result from Putin's brutal war.

From troll farms that spread disinformation to unaccountable private military contractors, the Kremlin continues to destabilize parts of Africa in order to achieve its objectives regardless of consequences.

Those consequences are deadly and draining African governments of sorely needed resources. For example, Putin has used his network of oligarchs to deploy the Wagner Group mercenaries to countries like Mali and the Central African Republic, where allegations of human rights abuses such as mass executions, forced disappearances, torture, and other unspeakable acts are mounting every day by those groups.

That is why I call on my colleagues to support H.R. 7311, which would require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a strategy and plan outlining U.S. efforts to counter Russia's malign activities on the continent of Africa that undermine U.S. interests.

It would also require the State Department to identify and hold accountable Russian and African officials who facilitate Russia's malign activities, including those that exploit the continent's natural resources and manipulate democratic processes in order to evade sanctions.

I am pleased to see the administration is taking several steps toward this end in recent days, including through designating several Russian companies involved in illicit activities in Africa that were, in essence, designed to evade sanctions.

With H.R. 7311, I am confident the State Department, with the support of our other Federal agencies, will help Congress develop a clear picture of what Putin is, in fact, doing in Africa and how we can effectively push back to protect our interests and those of our partners throughout the African region.

Mr. Speaker, I support the bill and urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend again for his leadership and bipartisanship on this bill. I think it is a very important bill because Russia is spreading its malign influence all over the world, and it is having a particular impact in the African continent, so we need to be prepared. We need to respond. This bill will help do that.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4133) to authorize appropriations for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, enhance the United States-Caribbean security partnership, prioritize disaster resilience, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4133.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4133, the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative Authorization Act of 2022.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Espaillat, for drafting this important measure.

CBSI has been essential in helping our partners in the Caribbean improve their capacity to combat transnational crime, violence, and regional instability while also enhancing our own security and strengthening our critical partnerships in the region.

By supporting a multiyear authorization, we can effectively assist our Caribbean partners in citizen safety, security, and the rule of law in the Caribbean Basin; reducing corruption and the malign influence of authoritarian regimes like Xi Jinping's China and Vladimir Putin's Russia; and strengthening the ability of countries in the region to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.

According to a status report from the State Department's U.S. Strategy for Engagement in the Caribbean released in July of 2019 is says: ``Rising crime and endemic corruption threaten governments' ability to provide security and good governance'' in many of the nations in the region.

With ongoing efforts to mitigate transnational organized crime in Central America and Mexico, the drug trade and in other illegal activities likely will move further into the Caribbean, particularly as the regional economic outlook deteriorates due to the continuing economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Given the tragic impacts of the recent hurricane season in the Caribbean and trends pointing toward more frequent and intense natural disasters, this renewed support for CBSI can also help make it possible for our friends in the region to become more climate resilient by building robust rapid-response mechanisms and resilient infrastructure responses throughout the region.

The support from CBSI can help to avoid a climate of fear and uncertainty among citizens that leads to diminished economic growth.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat), my good friend and author of this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for his leadership and bipartisanship on this important bill. I really can't add to the eloquence of our friend and colleague from New York (Mr. Espaillat).

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important and critical piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6089) to clarify that section 107 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act applies sanctions with respect to unmanned combat aerial vehicles following a 2019 change by the United Nations providing additional clarity to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6089.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6089, the Stop Iranian Drones Act, which was introduced by Ranking Member McCaul and Chairman Meeks, along with Congressmen Deutch and Wilson, chair and ranking member of the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism Subcommittee.

As we have seen in recent months, Iran and Iranian-aligned terrorists and militia groups have been growing increasingly aggressive with their drone attacks throughout the Middle East--targeting U.S. troops, commercial vessels, partner countries, and more.

Not long ago, an Iranian-sponsored militia in Yemen utilized drones to cause death and destruction in the UAE, hundreds of miles away. Similarly, Saudi Arabia has faced repeated drone attacks on its civilian areas and its critical infrastructure.

This bill clarifies that existing conventional weapons sanctions against Iran include unmanned combat aerial vehicles and brings U.S. code up to date with the United Nation's categories of major conventional arms.

By doing this, this bill will allow the United States to better respond to the threat posed by Iran and its proxies' aggressive UAV tactics with respect to the United States and its partners.

This is not a new sanction, but rather a clarification of current law. It will in no way interfere with the ongoing nuclear talks. We have confirmed this with the State Department.

The Biden administration is taking this threat seriously. They have sanctioned the top Iranian military official for his role in the July attack on a commercial shipping vessel in the Gulf of Oman, in addition to blacklisting a network of individuals and companies behind Iran's UAV program.

But we can do more, and we need our allies to do more as well. The clarification included in this legislation will help show the international community that Iranian UAV proliferation will not be tolerated by this government or this Congress.

Mr. Speaker, I ask for full support of this House in passing this legislation so we can move it one step closer to the President's desk, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, April 21, 2022.

Hon. Gregory Meeks,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Meeks: This letter is to advise you that the

Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to

review the provisions in H.R. 6089, the ``Stop Iranian Drones

Act,'' that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate

your consulting with us on those provisions. The Judiciary

Committee has no objection to your including them in the bill

for consideration on the House floor, and to expedite that

consideration is willing to forgo action on H.R. 6089, with

the understanding that we do not thereby waive any future

jurisdictional claim over those provisions or their subject

matters.

In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar

legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the

right to request an appropriate number of conferees to

address any concerns with these or similar provisions that

may arise in conference.

Please place this letter into the Congressional Record

during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank

you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked

regarding this matter and others between our committees.

Sincerely,

Jerrold Nadler,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Malinowski) who serves on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I think this is an important piece of legislation in trying to contain the malign activities of the Iranian Government especially in a critical region, critical to us and critical to the world.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4693) to advance targeted and evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of global malnutrition and to improve the coordination of such programs, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4693.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4693, the Global Malnutrition Prevention and Treatment Act of 2021.

In the wake of COVID-19, we have seen malnutrition rates climb and food insecurity become an ever-greater challenge. Jarringly, it is predicted that disruptions to global food and health systems will double global malnutrition rates--double--with women and children bearing the brunt of those effects. It is estimated that in 2022 the devastating global effects of COVID-19 could add an additional 17 million severely malnourished children worldwide. We cannot stand by while millions of children's lives are on the line with COVID, climate change, and conflict worsening the global situation. That is why the Foreign Affairs Committee took action with H.R. 4693 which will direct USAID to implement solutions to prevent and treat this global malnutrition.

This bill establishes a nutrition leadership council to identify populations most at risk to severe malnutrition and to prioritize prevention and treatment programs. Preventing and treating malnutrition is relatively inexpensive to implement and has high returns. With every $1 we spend, we improve health and increase cognitive

and physical development yielding the equivalent of a $35 return.

By coordinating activities throughout the U.S. Government with our partner countries with the Untied Nations' specialized agencies, civil society, private-sector actors and more, we can sustain nutrition interventions that save lives.

This bill also requires USAID to provide Congress an implementation plan and annual reports concerning its programs for treating and preventing malnutrition.

Mr. Speaker, we must do more to support those in dire need, and we must answer their call for help. H.R. 4693 is this Chamber's opportunity to do just that: to prevent the lives of those suffering from malnutrition all around the world. This measure builds on the work and jurisdiction of USAID and will bolster efforts to respond to and prevent malnutrition everywhere.

While the United States has led the world in responding to COVID-19 and its effects around the world, we must also ensure we don't lose ground in longstanding investments such as food security. By supporting this legislation we can take a meaningful step in doing both.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure so we can move it one step closer to the President's desk, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

The United States has a long tradition, on a bipartisan basis, of dealing with the issue of food insecurity and malnutrition. Herbert Hoover led some of the early efforts by the United States Government after World War I to feed a starving Europe. He even provided food assistance to the Bolshevik regime in Russia because we understood that malnutrition didn't respect political ideology or labels.

Through the Food for Peace program in the early Kennedy and Johnson years, there was cooperation between the late Senator Bob Dole and the late Senator George McGovern to make sure that both domestic and international food security were staples of U.S. policy and bipartisan support.

This is an important piece of legislation. No child in 2022 should ever be malnourished, and certainly, no child should ever die from malnourishment.

This is an important statement by this Congress about our values as human beings and as a society and reaffirms a longstanding commitment by the American people to not let this kind of tragedy happen anywhere.

Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 812) to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 812.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 812, a bill to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes.

S. 812 will help support Taiwan's effort to gain observer status at the World Health Assembly, the decisionmaking body of the World Health Organization.

Since the end of 2019, the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic has reminded the global community of the importance of international cooperation and collaboration on global health.

Taiwan has been a leader on global health. While the People's Republic of China was actively censoring public discussion of and silencing doctors about the effects and outbreak of the virus in China itself, Taiwan was saving lives globally with its early detection and dissemination of information about the virus.

Despite its proximity to the original outbreak in China, Taiwan employed a strategy of social distancing, border controls, mask mandates, quarantine,

and contact tracing so that it succeeded in suppressing widespread transmission. Incredibly, with a population of 23.5 million, Taiwan experienced roughly 37,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and fewer than 900 deaths. That is a tremendous feat compared to everybody else.

Taiwan was not only able to use its knowledge to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic within its own borders, but it shared its expertise and medical supplies when the world badly needed it most. Taiwan donated millions of masks and PPE to many countries around the world, including here in the United States.

These actions symbolize Taiwan's leadership and contributions to global health security and demonstrate why it ought to be part of the global conversation on public health. Unfortunately, China has tried to limit and constrain Taiwan's meaningful participation in all international organizations, including pressuring the WHO to strip Taiwan of its observer status in the WHA in 2017. As the co-chair of the Taiwan Caucus, I can tell you that makes no sense.

This bipartisan measure would support efforts that enable Taiwan to share its public health expertise and experience with the world at times when we need it badly.

Led by Senator Menendez, this legislation has already passed the Senate. The House Foreign Affairs Committee was proud to pass out of committee a near-identical bipartisan measure led by Representative Young Kim of California.

Passage of this bill today, ahead of the World Health Assembly meeting next month, would not only be timely; it would also demonstrate the strong bipartisan, bicameral commitment the U.S. Congress has to our democratic friend Taiwan.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to adopt this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

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

Why is this bill important at this time, Mr. Speaker? It is important because an authoritarian, delusional autocrat in Moscow is wreaking havoc and inflicting death on the ground and from the skies on an innocent people seeking freedom in Ukraine.

It is important that other autocrats and authoritarian regimes understand that they will pay a heavy price for such behavior, that we will not resolve disputes that way in the 21st century, and that the consequences will be severe.

Isolating Taiwan is part of a policy to intimidate, threaten, and assault democracy on the island of Taiwan. We can't be a party to that.

Taiwan has a voice. Taiwan has expertise. It can contribute in a pandemic, and it should not be silenced because of somebody's political agenda. That is what this bill is about. That is why this Congress should speak with one voice and support this important piece of legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 831) calling on the United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 831, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Greg Meeks and Ranking Member Mike McCaul for helping bring this bipartisan resolution to the floor today.

I also want to thank my partner in so much of this enterprise with respect to NATO and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

H. Res. 831, which we introduced together, Mr. Turner and I, calls on the

United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of NATO and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within NATO itself.

NATO's founding document, signed here in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949, this very week, is clear: NATO is an alliance of democracies.

The preamble to the treaty notes the determination of allies ``to safeguard the freedom, common heritage, and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.''

The alliance's commitment to shared democratic values is what distinguishes NATO from any other military alliance. Without it, NATO is just another military bloc that does not like Russia.

This commitment cannot remain purely aspirational or rhetorical. It must be operationalized. That is why we believe we need formal architecture within NATO dedicated to the promotion and advocacy of democracy.

There are divisions and units within NATO dedicated to collective defense, terrorism, interoperability, hybrid warfare, cyber, climate change, and a number of other security challenges. But after 72 years, there is not even a broom closet at NATO headquarters dedicated to the promotion of democratic institution-building within the alliance itself or with respect to the members.

The effort to establish a NATO Center for Democratic Resilience is an idea first proposed in 2019 as part of a white paper this Member of Congress wrote on ``NATO at 70.''

As the current president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I have taken that recommendation and made the strengthening of NATO's founding democratic values our number one priority.

The assembly has, in turn, endorsed this idea, the establishment of a Center for Democratic Resilience and made it a central component of the assembly's pro-democracy agenda within NATO.

And we were pleased to see the proposal included in the Group of Experts' report commissioned by the NATO Secretary General as we prepare for updating the strategic concept.

The U.S. delegation to the NATO PA, which includes Chairman Meeks and Representatives Mike Turner of Ohio, Linda Sanchez, Brett Guthrie, Rick Larsen, Neal Dunn, Brendan Boyle, Jack Bergman, Dina Titus, Austin Scott, and Filemon Vela, has jointly written to the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and our Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, encouraging the Biden administration to work with our NATO allies to operationalize support for our shared democratic principles and to establish this Center for Democratic Resilience.

And to the credit of the Biden administration and the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Julie Smith, they have followed up on our recommendation.

When we met with the North Atlantic Council in February in Brussels, Ambassador Smith made a forceful case for the establishment of the center, and we were encouraged to see several NATO Ambassadors join her in taking up the mantle and arguing in favor of the proposal.

Today, the values upon which the alliance have been founded are being challenged by external enemies of democracy, all too tragically being witnessed in the Ukraine.

These forces aim to undermine the faith in and political support for our common democracies and the alliance itself.

The strongest weapon we possess to counter effectively Putin or Xi's authoritarianism is a vibrant, robust, and immutable expression of the liberal democratic values that bind us.

Putin's renewed, full-scale aggression against Ukraine is a blatant attack on the most basic principles underlying the international order since the end of World War II, principles which Moscow has freely signed on to but ignored. President Putin seeks to crush Ukraine's democracy, intimidate other countries where the embers of democratic ambition burn, and, by implication, undermine all democracies everywhere.

We must respond by uniting around and strengthening our commitment to our shared democratic values and the rules-based order. The NATO treaty is clear: We are an alliance of democracies.

As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during the recent ministerial in Riga, Latvia: ``NATO was created to defend democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. These values define who we are. They are not optional.''

And as President Zelenskyy of Ukraine said during his recent address to this body, to the Congress: ``Right now, the destiny of our country''--Ukraine--``is being decided. The destiny of our people, whether Ukrainians will be free, whether they will be able to preserve their democracy.''

NATO stands for the preservation of that democracy. And we believe the center called for in this resolution must be part of NATO's work to build a bulwark against authoritarianism and democratic backsliding as we proceed.

I thank the bipartisan group of members of the U.S. delegation to NATO PA for their support as they joined us in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this strong bipartisan resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Ohio for his leadership. He is the former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, as well, and he has provided unwavering support for America's leadership in this alliance and for the alliance itself. And he is a highly respected figure on both sides of the Atlantic, and I thank him for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan F. Boyle).

Mr. Speaker, all I can say is having authored this language, I don't know what the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris) is referring to.

When we talk about illiberal forces within the NATO alliance, it is all-inclusive. The New York Times did an extensive podcast series on illiberal, rightwing groups within Germany's police and military; not Hungary, not Poland: Germany.

Many of our colleagues, when we meet in NATO Parliamentary Assembly meetings, express concern about their own internal challenges to their own democratic institutions.

And it is simply false that we are somehow selecting any particular country. This is a concern expressed by virtually all; and we recognize that we have got work to do in showing up and building democratic institutions, even within the alliance; that we can't take it for granted.

What we say is democracy is resilient, but it can also be fragile; and that is what this reference is about, and would be recognized by virtually every NATO member as such.

So while I certainly can understand Mr. Harris wanting to express a concern, I would hope we have debunked it because it is nowhere even close to being what he has characterized.

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

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

I think this is a really important resolution. It is also timely because, as Mr. Boyle indicated, we have our next NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Athens this weekend; and if we are going to have input to the strategic concept of NATO, which is being revised and will be adopted next month, in May, we have got to have this in hand as an expression, a bipartisan expression of the collective concern and commitment of this body.

I am honored by the fact that this is bipartisan. It passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee overwhelmingly, and I would hope that later today we have a strong bipartisan vote on this resolution so we can bring it to our deliberations in Athens and in Madrid in the next 2 months.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the 37th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration and the cornerstone of the event, the 32nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest, hosted by the Prince William Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Each year, the members of the Prince William Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated invite community members to gather on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to reflect upon the past year and receive a message of hope from the youth of today and leaders of tomorrow. Dr. King will forever be enshrined in our history as the formative figure in the quest for justice through civil dialogue. Responding through peaceful and principled communication to condemn the injustice of social and racial inequality, Dr. King worked tirelessly to establish a more fair and equal society. Our nation still faces obstacles that Dr. King fought to remove, and it is imperative that we continue his work for our next generations. Dr. King's words continue to inspire our youth, molding the future leaders of our country.

Participants in the MLK Youth Oratorical Contest pay tribute to Dr. King's legacy with their ability to communicate with passion and clarity, just as Dr. King did. This year, the competition challenged students to stretch their imaginations and bring inspirational meaning to Dr. King's vision. Specifically, students sought to honor the work of Black women, the unsung heroines of the Civil Rights Movement past and present.

Three middle and three high school orators demonstrated how the vision and tireless work of these women aligned with Dr. King's vision and maintained his legacy. I congratulate the following contestants and commend them for their participation in the 32nd Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Oratorical Contest:

Mahmud lbn Abdul-Rahman Khabir--Bull Run Middle School, Makaya Elizabeth Freeman--Graham Park Middle School, Shavonne Davis-- Marsteller Middle School, Varsha Jyothikaa Palaniyandy--Gar-Field High School, N'Na-Mayi Akosua Tama--Osbourn Park High School, Kenedi Cheri Wiley--Hylton High School.

Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending the Prince William Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for showcasing the power of purposeful and meaningful communication reminiscent of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and in congratulating the talented youth of the 2022 MLK Youth Oratorical Contest. Let us learn from the young people and renew our fight against injustice, ensuring that all Americans will enjoy the equality they deserve.

Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the recipients of the Fairfax Federation of Citizens Associations 2020 Citizen of the Year Awards.

The Federation is a coalition of civic and homeowners associations who work together to promote and support initiatives that will benefit all. Each year, the Federation honors individuals for their extraordinary contributions to our community. It is my honor to include in the Record the following individuals:

Paul Hammack is a retired local attorney, who has contributed his wisdom and efforts to civic life in Fairfax County for decades. He served on the Fairfax County Board of Zoning Appeals for 39 years, from 1982 to 2021, and was its Vice-Chairman for the last 30 years. Paul has volunteered in many Bar Association activities and leadership roles, and exemplifies the selfless participation of attorneys in community activities.

Lance Beets volunteers in many capacities for Volunteer Solutions, a program housed in the Fairfax County Agency on Aging. Mr. Beets' efforts are directed at helping older adults and adults with disabilities age in place safely and with dignity by assisting them with transportation to medical appointments, grocery shopping, meal and supplement delivery, and the prevention of social isolation.

JoEllan Frasch has dedicated herself to serving the younger members of our district, inspiring literacy by reading stories in Fairfax County Public Libraries. She expanded on her passion for education, serving as an organizer for High school band, football, and chorus events for years.

Jeff Parnes was a voice for interconnectivity in the region and a consistent presence advocating for the transportation needs of the residents in Northern Virginia. Jeff has literally walked the walk, leading transportation reforms from firsthand experience on buses and beyond.

James Migliaccio was the Lee District representative on the Fairfax County Planning Commission from 2010 through 2019, where he devoted long hours to making Fairfax County an outstanding place to live. He coupled his own talents with compassion for his peers to build consensus and reform countywide procedures for land use.

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking these incredible individuals and in congratulating them on being honored by the Fairfax County Federation of Citizens' Associations. Civic engagement is the foundation of a healthy community, and Fairfax County residents enjoy an exceptional quality of life due in part to the efforts of these individuals. The contributions and leadership of these honorees have been a great benefit to our community and truly merit our highest praise.