Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1162) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to Ukraine, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce and esteemed Ranking Member Engel for their swift action in putting this important and timely resolution together in support of the people of Ukraine.

For far too long, we have witnessed Putin's increased aggression against Ukraine, directing and arming separatist forces on Ukraine soil and forcibly occupying and annexing the Ukrainian territory of Crimea.

More recently, Russian forces were firing upon, ramming, and seizing Ukrainian vessels and crews attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait, in clear violation of international norms and agreements.

The 2014 destruction of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 that killed close to 300 people also demonstrated the threat to civilians in this conflict. Until this day, Putin continues to deny any responsibility for that heinous act. Meanwhile, thousands of Ukrainians continue to be killed fighting for their basic freedoms that we as Americans hold dear, while hundreds of thousands flee looking for a safe haven.

Mr. Speaker, Putin's actions are simply unacceptable, and the United States and our allies must stand strong against Russia. That is why this resolution is so important. We must make it clear that we truly support the people of Ukraine and their aspirations for a free and democratic society.

For that, it is crucial that the United States provides the kind of assistance--politically, militarily, and economically--that will allow Ukraine to fight Russia's increasing coercion. We must also use all of the tools at our disposal, because these are not isolated issues, to ensure that Putin and his regime pay a heavy price for Russia's aggression.

Through this resolution and other measures, we can demonstrate to Putin and the world that we are paying close attention, that we will continue to support the people of Ukraine and do what is necessary to protect Ukraine and other countries threatened by his imperial ambitions, and to ensure that they can live in peace and live in security.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure to condemn Putin's despotic rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who is our esteemed chairman of our Foreign Affairs Committee.

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

Mr. Speaker, Ukraine remains under assault from Moscow, which is betting that the West is tiring of the struggle and that it is free now to expand its aggression. Silence on our part at this critical moment invites miscalculation and an escalation of the conflict.

We must demonstrate by our words and actions that we remain fully committed to assisting the people of Ukraine to defend their country, including by providing them with the weapons they need to defeat Russia's continuing aggression. A slap on the wrist at this point will not restrain Putin and may guarantee the expansion of hostilities that we hope to avoid.

We strongly encourage the President to use the authority that Congress has provided to impose sanctions on Russia and to take action to make clear that we remain committed to the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people and a Ukraine that is whole and free.

I want to thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Engel) for authoring this very important measure and, most importantly, for his consistent leadership on Ukraine. At the end of my service in this body, I thank him for the many years of friendship and cooperation as we worked together to promote the interests and the values of the American people around the world.

It has been a real joy, and I thank Mr. Engel for sharing that ride with me.

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

Mr. Speaker, though I still have a few days left before the end of my term, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the constituents for allowing me to represent them in the U.S. House of Representatives for so many years.

Whether it has been helping a veteran obtain the VA assistance he or she needs, or fighting for our Dreamers, or securing funds for important projects in our community, or passing critical legislation to help those oppressed by totalitarian regimes, or one of the many, many other duties that the people of south Florida have entrusted to me, I have been honored to serve them in this distinguished body for almost 30 years, and I have played a small part in making our slice of paradise an even better place in which to live.

Every day when I come to this floor, when I walk these hallowed Halls, or when I look at that magnificent Capitol dome lit up, I pinch myself to make sure that I am not dreaming.

That is because as a political refugee, I have a unique perspective on the greatness of our Nation. America opened its arms to my family and to me as we fled the Communist Castro regime. When we arrived in Miami, it was in one of the last commercial flights out of Cuba. I was only 8 years old.

So to think that I have been elected to serve in the U.S. Congress, that I became the first Hispanic woman to serve in Congress and the first woman to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee, it is simply astounding, not because it is about me but it says a lot about the greatest democracy that man has ever created: the United States of America.

We are a country that says: You can be successful no matter where you started, and that is something that we do not ever take for granted in my south Florida community where it seems like almost everyone seems to be from somewhere else. My constituents are also a testament to the endless possibilities that all of us have as free Americans.

Mr. Speaker, where I was born is not just a place listed on my passport. It has defined how I view the world through the prism of democracy, of freedom, of the rule of law, and of human rights. These are fundamental American principles that have guided my legislative record.

I have been honored to fight for equal rights for all people by joining efforts that will put an end to the discrimination and the violence against individuals based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.

I have been proud to advocate for the natural allies of our country, like the democratic Jewish State of Israel, her right to exist, and her right to defend herself; to secure support for a free trade agreement with Colombia, one of our biggest trading partners in Latin America; and to promote U.S. assistance that allows Taiwan to resist Beijing's increasing coercion. I have also worked to promote religious autonomy for the people of Tibet who are also victims of Chinese aggression; and to reestablish democracy and the rule of law in my native homeland of Cuba, in Nicaragua, in Venezuela, in Syria, and in so many other countries; and to sanction rogue regimes like that in Iran, in Russia, in North Korea, and all those who wish to do us harm.

Domestic issues have been priorities for me as well, Mr. Speaker. Growing up in south Florida, I learned to appreciate the wonderful natural resources all around us, and I have made it my priority to protect those treasures so that future generations are also able to enjoy them.

I have worked to re-nourish our beautiful south Florida beaches, to restore the seagrass beds and coral reefs, to provide for advanced wastewater treatment in our beloved Florida Keys, and to reinvigorate our Miami River. Throughout my tenure I have represented Miami International Airport and Port Miami, two of the largest economic engines to our county that serve as the gateway to the Americas and support thousands of jobs and economic development across our Sunshine State.

As the wife of a Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat and a stepmother to marine aviators, I have been proud to support our military and our veterans. During my time in Congress, I authored legislation awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II Women Air Force Service Pilots, WASP, and supported efforts to reinstate burial rights at Arlington National Cemetery to these women pioneers.

I supported legislation to protect victims of domestic violence and some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Mr. Speaker, each one of these issues is important, not only to me, but to our community in south Florida, and I will carry them wherever I go next. I want to thank the hardworking staff and interns with whom I have had the delight to work throughout my tenure in Congress. Some are still looking for jobs; please hire them.

I want to thank my loving and supportive family, my parents, Abu Mandy and Abu Kiki. I know they are watching me from Heaven, and I thank them for encouraging me to run for office and for their love in every step of the way.

I thank Dexter Wayne for supporting and joining me on this crazy adventure and for his unwavering support. The same goes to our adult children: Rodrigo, Patricia, Douglas, and Katharine. I am so proud of each and every one of them. I know that they have accomplished so much, and there is still some more to come.

I hope to have contributed to leaving a better world for our five grandchildren to enjoy with a sixth one coming before the new Congress is sworn in. I thank each one of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle who have worked with me in a bipartisan manner throughout my three decades in Congress. I will continue to cheer on my pals in the bipartisan Congressional Women's Softball Game.

Mr. Speaker, it truly has been the highest honor of my professional life to represent the great people of south Florida. I am excited to start a new chapter in my life, and for whatever life throws at me, all I have to say is: Put me in, Coach.

Muchas gracias. I thank my constituents.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to an American patriot and fallen hero, Captain Jahmar Resilard, who was killed in a midair collision off the Japanese coast just a few days ago.

A native of Miramar, Florida, Jahmar found a love for flying at a young age as he pursued opportunities with the local Civil Air Patrol.

After his graduation from college, Jahmar began to consider a higher calling, and when given the opportunity to serve his country and pursue his passion for flying, his career as a Marine aviator took off.

Upon securing his commission, Captain Resilard was assigned to the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 242, where he flew the F/A18 Hornet and worked tirelessly to defend the freedoms that we as Americans hold dear.

Mr. Speaker, as the stepmother to Marine aviators who flew the F/A18 Hornet in Iraq, I am familiar with the courage and resolve that is required to dedicate one's life to our country, and Captain Resilard did just that.

My heart goes out to his family and his friends. To our hero, I say rest easy in the skies above.

Semper Fi, Captain.

Mr. Speaker, throughout my tenure in Congress, I have been so proud to work and promote LGBT equality here at home and around the globe.

When I was first elected as a Member of this distinguished body in 1989, our country was in a very different place than it is today in how we understood people who are LGBT and the rights and the respect due them.

Although much progress still needs to be made, it is true that we are moving in the right direction. Let me give you some examples, Mr. Speaker:

By voting to end the misguided Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy;

By funding much-needed human rights programs abroad, implemented by a wonderful agency, USAID, such as its LGBT Global Development Partnership;

By endorsing the principle of equality as it applies to marriage rights and responsibilities;

By including LGBT individuals within nondiscrimination provisions and by ensuring that these and other services funded by this body are made available without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.

As a founding member of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, I have continued to build on these successes by supporting education legislation, including:

The Student Non-Discrimination bill to end bullying and harassment continually faced by LGBT students throughout our Nation;

Adoption bills, such as Every Child Deserves a Family Act;

Legislation to modernize laws and eliminate discrimination with respect to people living with HIV/AIDS; and

The Equality Act, which gives consistent protection for LGBT individuals across existing civil rights laws.

Each one of these efforts seeks to put an end to the discrimination and to the violence against individuals as a result of their sexual orientation or their gender identity, and I believe each one of them is so strong and deserves to continue to be an American value because discrimination of any kind runs counter to who we are as Americans.

As a refugee from the brutal communist, the dictatorship in Cuba, I have always viewed my adopted homeland, the United States, as a symbol of freedom, of equality, of opportunity; and these are fundamental values that must be applied to everyone in our country, regardless of who they are or whom they love.

The United States has a unique and important role in the world. Many people look to us for leadership. They aspire to be like us. They emulate our values. So, as a country, we have the opportunity and the awesome responsibility to promote the best of our American values.

One way to do this is to take a stand against the violence, against the harassment, against the discrimination that LGBT community members face around the world. Mr. Speaker, I will give some examples.

Our American values dictate that we should respect and embolden individual freedoms for all. That is our guiding principle. But in 70 countries throughout the world, being gay or transgender is cause enough to be locked away, imprisoned. In seven of these countries, the penalty is death.

Our State Department Human Rights Report, a report that Congress has requested or mandated be filled out every year, is reported to us. It is filled with examples of abuses, of discrimination, of violence carried out against LGBT individuals everywhere.

In Russia, basic political freedoms of speech, of assembly, and of expression are denied to those who are LGBT. In the Russian republic of Chechnya, Chechen government officials are directly responsible for rounding up and executing LGBT individuals. We in Congress condemn these actions by Chechen authorities through a resolution that I authored and we passed.

In Egypt, LGBT individuals have been subjected to forced exams in order to prove if someone is gay, whatever that means; and, later, they are incarcerated.

In Indonesia and Nigeria, gay men have been stoned.

In Jamaica, lesbians have been subjected to rape, purportedly to correct their sexual orientation.

In Brazil and in many Central American countries, transgender individuals have been subjected to abuse and murder.

This is unimaginable in our country, but those are but a few examples of the range of injustices and disrespect that LGBT individuals face around the world.

Those who remain in their countries face these humiliations. They are even denied employment, employment that they need in order to feed their families. And those who seek to flee their countries to escape a fate that you and I cannot even imagine are often denied the expedited refugee protection that they need.

So, Mr. Speaker, as my time serving in this body comes to a close, my fight for what is right will not end. I say to my colleagues: We may be from different parties, we may have different points of view and different philosophies, and we might serve on different committees, but I ask us all to commit, beginning today, to working across the aisle with a view to becoming more consistent, more fair, more respectful, and more principled on this issue. We as a country need to take action to set the right example.

There are many issues upon which we as a body may never agree, but LGBT equality should not be one of them.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to rise today to recognize Ira Leesfield and congratulate him on receiving the 2018 Lawyers for Children America's Janet Reno Outstanding Community Partner Award.

As a University of Florida Law School graduate, Ira proved himself to be an intelligent and driven individual from the very beginning of his legal career. Upon graduation, Ira entered the honors program at the U.S. Department of Justice and served as a trial attorney in the U.S. Army and in the Judge Advocate General's Corps before opening his own practice in 1976.

Since then, Ira has become well known for his work throughout our State and the U.S., where he has consistently made it his mission to be a voice for the less fortunate and those in need.

In the early 1990s, Ira established the Leesfield Family Foundation, which supports both local and national nonprofits, and emphasizes protecting the elderly and underprivileged women and children in our south Florida community.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ira on this well-deserved recognition. I thank him for

his tremendous efforts throughout the years, and I am so honored to call Ira Leesfield my amigo.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the life of Juana Aurora Medina, a lifelong resident of the city of Hialeah in south Florida.

Like me, Juana was born in Cuba but was forced to flee the island under the brutal Castro dictatorship. Juana arrived to this land of freedom and opportunity along with her husband, a political prisoner, and their small children.

In the U.S., she worked in the garment district to provide for her family and to make education available for her children.

As a religious woman, Juana found her passion for helping others. After experiencing the plight of families and individuals affected by alcohol and drug addiction, she founded, with several others, various nonprofits, including Ministerio Catolico Nuevo Caminar, to address these issues head-on.

Recently, the city of Hialeah recognized her legacy by designating a city street to be named in her honor. We thank Juana for her service and for her love and dedication to our community. She is an inspiration to her family and to so many individuals she positively impacted throughout her life.

Congratulations to the Medina family.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Lieutenant Commander Victoria Marum on her separation from the United States Navy after 11 years of faithful service to our country.

An esteemed member of the United States Navy, Lieutenant Commander Marum most recently served as a Liaison in the Navy's U.S. House of Representatives Liaison Office. In this capacity, she oversaw and led countless Congressional and staff delegations to naval installations throughout the United States and the world. These trips greatly helped members and their staffs achieve a greater understanding of the issues facing our Navy and its Sailors from all over the world.

I was so grateful for Lieutenant Commander Marum's guidance during delegations that I

led abroad, as she always handled stressful situations and difficult individuals with poise, humor, and resourcefulness. The talent she exhibited on Capitol Hill will serve her well on every path she finds herself in the future.

LCDR Marum attended the University of Florida and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy in 2007. She would later go on to earn her ``wings of gold'' and qualify as a Naval Aviator in 2009. Following her winging, LCDR Marum reported to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 where she served from 2010 to 2013. LCDR Marum's awards and decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and other personal, campaign, and service ribbons.

As LCDR Marum embarks on a new chapter in life, it is my hope that she may recall, with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment, the outstanding contributions she has made to the United States Navy, Congress, and our great nation.

I wish her the very best and continued success in her future endeavors.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman, Chairman Royce, and I commend both the Speaker and Ranking Member Engel. I am going to miss serving with you, Eliot, as Chairman Royce and I say bye-bye in just a few weeks. But I thank them for always bringing to the floor bipartisan bills that make America a stronger place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Mr. Kinzinger's bill, H.R. 4591, the Preventing Destabilization of Iraq Act of 2018. This timely bill will impose sanctions against a multitude of Iranian militias, proxies, terrorist groups, and other nefarious entities that are operating in Iraq. And it makes it clear that the United States will not allow Iran to continue undermining the stability of Iraq.

This bill also includes important language authored by our presiding officer, Judge Poe, ensuring that the State Department determines that if certain Iranian-affiliated individuals are operating as terrorists, then they should be designated as terrorists.

It further includes language by our great friend Congressman Joe Wilson of South Carolina, requiring a determination on whether Afghan and Pakistani brigades, under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, should also be designated.

This is common sense, Mr. Speaker. As Adam Kinzinger knows firsthand, Iran has been working against U.S. interests in Iraq for years, and it is directly responsible for American casualties and is intent on continuing to destabilize Iraq for its own purposes.

We have to ensure that there are penalties for Iran's activities by doing everything that we can to block their proxies' assets, to cut off their funding, and to restrict their travel.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Royce and Mr. Engel. As we know, Iraq is a very important partner. This bill prioritizes its stability, and I thank the sponsor, Mr. Kinzinger, for authoring this bill. I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased to rise in support of Chris Smith's bill, the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2018.

I again thank Chairman Royce and our esteemed ranking member, Eliot Engel, for their efforts in bringing this important and bipartisan bill to the floor.

This commonsense bill authorizes Federal agencies to provide assistance to entities that are working to hold accountable those responsible for genocide, for crimes against humanity, and for war crimes in Iraq and Syria.

Over the last 7 years, sadly, ISIS has explicitly targeted and murdered tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of religious and ethnic minorities, mostly Christians and Yazidis in Iraq and Syria.

We need to ensure that the proper people are being held accountable by giving the administration all of the tools that it needs to coordinate with and support the organizations that can identify and can prosecute those responsible.

In addition, Mr. Smith's bill prioritizes emergency assistance to these religious and ethnic minority groups that are targeted by ISIS and continue to face persecution.

Syrians remain in desperate need of humanitarian assistance, of stabilization assistance. We must ensure that these religious and ethnic minorities are getting the help they desperately need.

I thank my colleague, Chris Smith, such a strong human rights defender, for authoring this important bill and giving this authority to the administration. I urge all of my colleagues to give it their strong bipartisan support.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate Lieutenant Commander Victoria Marum on her separation from the United States Navy after 11 years of faithful service to our country.

An esteemed member of the United States Navy, Lieutenant Commander Marum most recently served as the liaison in the Navy's U.S. House of Representatives Liaison Office.

I was so grateful for Victoria's guidance during delegations that I was so proud to lead abroad, as she always handled stressful situations and difficult individuals--I won't name names--with poise, humor, and resourcefulness.

The talent she exhibited on Capitol Hill will serve her well on every path upon which she finds herself in the future.

As Lieutenant Commander Marum embarks on a new chapter in her life, it is my hope that she may recall with a deep sense of pride and accomplishment the outstanding contributions she has made to the United States Navy, to the United States Congress, and to our great Nation, even though she is a Florida Gator.

Mr. Speaker, last month, I was privileged to stand in the city of David, the site of ancient Jerusalem.

Just a few feet from the Western Wall, the city of David is the place where Jerusalem began. It is a place I have regularly visited over the past few years, joined by my fellow Members of Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike.

I can think of no better place than the city of David to express that the United States knows what the Jewish people have known for 3,000 years: Jerusalem is the historic capital of Israel.

This reality was reinforced when the United States correctly relocated our Embassy to Jerusalem earlier this year. I call upon more countries to do the same.

The historic bond is evidenced by the incredible discoveries that are being unearthed in the archeological excavations throughout the city of David. These excavations affirm the millennia-old connection of the Jewish people to Jerusalem not as a matter of faith, but as a matter of historical fact, despite UNESCO's ongoing, shameful efforts to declare otherwise.

Among the most significant discoveries presently being unearthed in the city of David is the ancient pilgrimage road. Built over 2,000 years ago, the pilgrimage road, running from the Pool of Siloam at the southern tip of the city of David to the footsteps of the Western Wall and Temple Mount, served as the main thoroughfare of the Second Temple Jerusalem. Millions of people joined together to ascend to the temple during the festivals of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles.

Both the pilgrimage road and the Pool of Siloam have deep significance to Jews and Christians alike. It holds profound meaning to countless millions of Americans. Antiquities discovered along the pilgrimage road tell the story of both the vibrant culture of the Second Temple period Jerusalem and the devastating destruction of Jerusalem at the hands of the Romans, which ended tragically in the year 70 C.E.

In the future, visitors of all faiths and backgrounds will be able to walk this route of their ancestors, upon the very flagstones as their ancestors 2,000 years ago.

In the Givati parking lot excavation, another excavation in the city of David, 10 layers of ancient Jerusalem civilization dating back some 2,700 years have been uncovered. The layers include Jewish, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Muslim, Crusader, and Ottoman. So each visitor to the city of David can truly say: ``I also have a connection to Jerusalem.''

In this very excavation, as you can see in this poster, in a structure dating back 2,500 years to the Biblical First Temple period in Jerusalem, a seal with ancient Hebrew writing was found. I have a replica of that seal in my office, which was presented to me in a meeting I had with Ze'ev Orenstein, a representative from the city of David, together with my colleague, Congressman Eliot Engel. On the seal was the name Eliana, daughter of Ga'el. I can't even begin to describe my emotions when I learned that a seal with almost my very own name was found in the city of David.

I, like countless Americans, feel a deep, personal connection to Jerusalem, her history, her heritage, and her holiness.

In fact, it is only over the last 51 years of Israel's sovereignty in Jerusalem that people of all faiths and all backgrounds have enjoyed freedom of access and worship at their holy sites, whether they are Christians, whether they are Jewish, whether they are Muslims. Such freedoms cannot be taken for granted in the Middle East where, with the very exception of Israel, the only democracy in the region, they are not easy to find.

During the nearly 3 decades that I have had the honor of serving this wonderful institution, support for Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish State of Israel has been bipartisan, and I call on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in the coming Congress to ensure that that never changes, to ensure that the historic bond between the Jewish people and Jerusalem remains undeniable.

Together with millions of Americans, I salute the work of the City of David Foundation and especially my friend Ze'ev, who did not even want me to mention him--tough--in uncovering our shared history in Jerusalem, making it accessible to all of us who want to experience these discoveries for themselves.

So congratulations to Ze'ev--I have said it again--for the discoveries at the City of David. Many more to come.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate the Dade County Police Benevolent Association on the celebration of its 55th anniversary.

Since its founding in 1963, the Dade County PBA has worked to protect the rights of Miami-Dade's finest, working tirelessly to serve as a voice of reason, of guidance, and of professionalism. From providing legal assistance to members in times of need, to assisting members and their families who may be struggling with PTSD, this organization is committed to serving those who protect and serve us.

I represent some of the finest police officers that our Nation has to offer, and the Dade County Police Benevolent Association will always have their back.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Dade County Police Benevolent Association for its extraordinary work in our community, and I wish this organization the utmost congratulations on this extraordinary milestone.

Here is to the next 55 years, PBA.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to commemorate the 60th anniversary of one of our top educational institutions in south Florida: Christopher Columbus High School.

Since its inception in 1958, Christopher Columbus has graduated bright and talented young men who have made lasting contributions to our community and our country. Through superior academics, dedicated staff, and a strong commitment to its students, it is no surprise that Christopher Columbus has been awarded numerous accolades, such as ranking in the top 50 Catholic schools in the Nation.

As you might expect, an institution with a reputation like this one is fortunate to have some world-class alumni. Christopher Columbus graduates include: Mayor Carlos Gimenez of Miami-Dade County; members of the Florida Supreme Court and State legislature; and even Pedro Jose Greer, a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Mr. Speaker, it is institutions like Christopher Columbus High School that define the pinnacle of education for young men in our country, and I congratulate the school for this fantastic milestone. I thank Christopher Columbus for all that it has done for our beloved south Florida community, and here is to the next 60 years.

Go Explorers.

Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be an original cosponsor, along with Chairman Royce and our wonderful ranking member, Mr. Engel, of the PEPFAR Extension Act, which has been led by our colleague Chris Smith of New Jersey and my friend Ms. Barbara Lee of California.

This bill will build upon the success of PEPFAR, which has been a transformative program in fighting HIV/AIDS, this epidemic, worldwide.

PEPFAR has supported lifesaving antiretroviral treatments for close to 14 million people, a nearly fivefold increase over the last 10 years. Since the program's inception, nearly 2 million HIV-free babies have been born to HIV-infected mothers.

This program has also contributed directly to the stability, to the security, and to the economic growth of countries around the globe.

When President George W. Bush called on Congress to take action in responding to the global crisis of HIV 15 years ago, Republicans and Democrats stood together, just as we are standing together tonight, to authorize this program. Time and time again, PEPFAR has been reauthorized with overwhelming bipartisan support.

I will forever cherish, Mr. Speaker, standing in the Oval Office as President George W. Bush signed this essential program into law. I am so proud of what we as a Nation have accomplished

through this incredible program. With the help of our global partners, every day, we are closer to achieving an AIDS-free generation.

I urge all my colleagues to give it their full support. I thank the Chairman, Mr. Ranking Member, Ms. Lee, and Mr. Smith.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their leadership, for their bipartisan spirit, for everything that they are doing to bring our Congress together. We need more of them around here. I thank them for bringing Mr. McCaul's bill to the floor today. I thank my esteemed Foreign Affairs Committee colleague, Michael McCaul, for his authorship of this important bill.

The Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act codifies an important program, the program after which the bill is named, and helps build partner capacity in a critical region of the world.

Thanks to Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, I recently had the privilege of leading a delegation to one of those partner countries, Morocco, where I met with the Moroccan equivalent of the FBI. On the front lines of terrorism in north Africa and the Sahel, Morocco has successfully thwarted plot after plot that was threatening U.S. interests, and is positioned to play an even bigger role in our joint counterterrorism efforts.

Programs like the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership help bring law enforcement services in places like Morocco even closer together, allowing us to share information about terrorist groups like ISIS, al-Qaida, Hezbollah, and helps to protect our homeland.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support Mr. McCaul's important bill, and I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for yielding me time.