Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate my friend, journalist, and television anchorman, Jose Diaz-Balart.

For over 30 years, Jose has been reporting on momentous events from international crises to breaking news in order to properly inform his diverse audience.

As the first U.S. journalist to broadcast in two languages--English and Spanish--simultaneously on two networks, Jose has proven to be a valuable voice to the Hispanic American community. Throughout his career Jose has been the recipient of many accolades, including three Emmys, the George Foster Peabody Award, and the 2014 CHCI Medallion of Excellence.

Jose's role in our society should not be taken for granted. There are hundreds of journalists in Cuba and around the world who are being persecuted and imprisoned for showcasing the realities within their own countries. Jose speaks for them.

I congratulate Jose for 30 years within the industry and thank him for his commitment to the principles of independent journalism and freedom of the press.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2142) to impose targeted sanctions on persons responsible for violations of human rights of antigovernment protesters in Venezuela, to strengthen civil society in Venezuela, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, it is fitting that today, International Human Rights Day, we consider and debate the bill before us: the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act. The House unanimously passed a similar measure that I authored and introduced earlier this year, and I urge passage of this measure before us presented by Senators Menendez and Rubio.

The people of Venezuela, Mr. Speaker, have been crying out for help. They have been begging the United States and all responsible nations to help protect them against the tyranny and brutality under the Maduro regime, the puppets of the oppressive Castro regime in Cuba. I should point out that today, International Human Rights Day, the Castro thugs rounded up and imprisoned 52 human rights activists.

Today, Congress speaks in a unified and bipartisan voice. The human rights situation in Venezuela has actually gotten worse under Maduro since the death of that other Castro sycophant, Hugo Chavez. In fact, since February 12, 2014, also known as National Youth Day in Venezuela, the freedom-seeking people of Venezuela have risen up to challenge the abuses and undemocratic actions being committed by Nicolas Maduro and his lackeys, demanding their most basic and fundamental rights.

Naturally, oppressors have but one option which they never fail to resort to; and Maduro, as we knew he would, responded with a violent crackdown against those who had the courage to challenge his authoritarian rule.

Ever since the peaceful demonstrations against the regime began on National Youth Day, 42 people have been

killed, there have been nearly 60 reported cases of torture, and 72 students remain jailed to this day.

Pro-democracy leaders have raised their voices against the abuses of the regime, and they have been persecuted with politically-motivated charges, and those arrested face indescribable cruelty in prison.

Leopoldo Lopez, one of the faces of the democratic opposition, continues to be imprisoned in a military facility. Leopoldo is continuously denied visitors, and his legal proceedings, such as they are, are plagued with irregularities.

Daniel Ceballos, the mayor of the city of San Cristobal, was impeached and arrested by the Maduro thugs earlier this year. Daniel's only crime was to defend his constituents from the repressive abuses of the National Guard deployed to violently quash them.

But these cases, sadly, Mr. Speaker, are not isolated. Earlier this year, Maria Corina Machado, a courageous woman and vocal opposition leader, came to Washington, D.C., came to the United States to speak in front of the Organization of American States on the tragic situation in her homeland of Venezuela. The OAS, the Organization of American States, is a body that is supposed to uphold and protect the democratic charter and human rights in the Americas.

Maria Corina was blocked by Castro sympathizers, Maduro sympathizers, and their cronies, and she was prevented from even addressing this body. And when she returned home, what happened to Maria Corina Machado? She was illegally stripped of her position in the Venezuelan National Assembly because she dared to speak out against the regime and in favor of human rights.

But the problems of Venezuela go beyond these democratic abuses. Nicolas Maduro's inability to contain a spiraling hyperinflationary economy, marked by shortages of consumer goods, along with a skyrocketing crime rate creates a difficult, almost unbearable situation for Venezuelans to endure.

The legislation before us targets Venezuelan officials responsible for the perpetration of human rights abuses against the citizens of Venezuela. And how do we do that? We deny them visas. We block their property. We freeze their assets here in the United States.

Mr. Speaker, the distress signal sent to us by the people of Venezuela did not just start in February. For years, the Venezuelan people have been calling out for help, asking us for our assistance, for us to do something, anything that will help stop the terrible human rights abuses of the authoritarian thug Chavez, and now his Mini-Me, Maduro.

Sadly, our administration has been deafeningly silent, embarrassingly silent. It has turned a blind eye to the harsh and brutal reality in Venezuela, has been afraid to speak out and take action against Chavez, and, until now, has been far too afraid to challenge Maduro.

But the United States Congress will act, Mr. Speaker. Let's send a strong signal tonight--not only to the administration, but to the people of Venezuela--that the United States Congress hears, sees, and feels their suffering, and we will not allow their anguish to go unobstructed.

The United States cannot ignore its responsibilities, and we must answer the calls for freedom, for democracy around the globe. We must be the voice for those who are being silenced by their oppressive regimes, and we must stand for the values that we believe in--not just here at home, but everywhere.

Mr. Speaker, by passing this bill and sending it to the President's desk, we will do just that.

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

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, December 10, 2014.

Hon. Bob Goodlatte,

Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Goodlatte: Thank you for agreeing to forgo a

referral request and committee consideration of S. 2142, the

Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of

2014, so that the bill may proceed expeditiously to the

Floor.

I agree that your forgoing action on this measure does not

in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the

Committee on the Judiciary, or prejudice its jurisdictional

prerogatives on this bill or similar legislation in the

future.

I will seek to place this letter into the Congressional

Record during floor consideration of the bill. I appreciate

your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward

to continuing to work with the Committee on the Judiciary as

this measure moves through the legislative process.

Sincerely,

Edward R. Royce,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to thank and congratulate the vibrant Venezuelan American community in our area in south Florida and, indeed, throughout our great Nation for never forgetting the suffering of their native lands. They have many family members in Venezuela, and they care deeply about what happens in their homeland.

Now they have adopted America as their homeland and they are proud Americans, but they are also very proud of their traditions. It is because of their desire to go back to a Venezuela one day--that will be free, that will be democratic, that will respect the human rights--that we are here today fighting on their behalf. So thanks to our constituents for making this day a reality.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to thank our entire south Florida congressional delegation. All of us worked together in a bipartisan way to get this bill to this moment.

I would especially like to thank Senator Bob Menendez, the chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, along with our own Florida Senator whom we are so proud of, Marco Rubio, for their hard work on this bill and, really, for their work on the broader issues of the lack of democracy in our hemisphere, the disrespect for human rights, the lack of the rule of law.

Sadly, in our Western Hemisphere, instead of seeing advances of human rights and advances of democracy, we have seen a sad erosion in these years. We thank all of the Members for always using these esteemed floors to talk about our basic values that we share with our hemispheric neighbors, and that is respect for human rights, respect for democracy, respect for the rule of law, and always to continue to do everything we can to make sure that all of our oppressed brothers and sisters will live in freedom, the freedom that we enjoy so much.

I thank very much our chairman of our Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce, for his help and his leadership in this fight.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, just 90 miles from U.S. shores the most repressive human rights abuses in our hemisphere are being perpetrated by a regime that has shown no respect for human life and that will never change as long as the Castro brothers and their kind remain in power in Cuba.

Every day these brutal thugs continue to repress 11 million Cubans who yearn for freedom and the respect of

their basic human rights. But the regime isn't just a threat to the people of Cuba. They also operate within the United States, with sophisticated espionage, tradecraft, and are allies of our worst enemies.

We have but to remember the story of Ana Belen Montes. A senior analyst in our Defense Intelligence Agency, Ana Belen Montes was one of the masterminds of Cuba intelligence in the U.S. She was the top spy for the Castro regime and undermined U.S. foreign policy efforts throughout the world due to her nefarious espionage activities. She is certainly serving a long sentence in Texas.

But Castro also harbors fugitives from U.S. law, such as Joanne Chesimard. She is a New Jersey cop killer and earned the terrible distinction of being the first woman on the FBI's most wanted list of terrorists.

In 2001, Fidel Castro went to Iran and met with Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, and Castro said at that time: Together, Cuba and Iran will bring America to its knees.

These are just a few of the examples of why it is imperative for the Obama administration to get tough with Castro, not only to protect our U.S. national security interests, but also to extend a helpful hand to the pro-democracy leaders on the island who are struggling for freedom.

The Cuban regime continues to repress independent journalists, human rights activists, and commits arbitrary detentions every day, all to thwart any attempt at the exercise of freedom of expression. I will show you just a few of the names and faces of the voices of those opposition leaders in the push for freedom on the island, and each deserves the attention of this body.

Mr. Speaker, this is Berta Soler. Berta Soler is the leader of a movement called Ladies in White, Las Damas de Blanco, a group of women tirelessly advocating for the release of political prisoners in Cuba. These courageous women walk to mass peacefully holding up flowers and are met with brutal attacks by Castro's state security. Berta Soler became the leader of this organization after the death of her predecessor, Laura Pollan.

Laura Pollan started this movement in Cuba. She died under mysterious causes in October 2011. Many people in the island and outside have blamed the Castro regime for the unfortunate and suspicious circumstances of her passing.

We also have many pro-democracy leaders who are still languishing in Cuban jails, and these are some of their faces. This first young man, his name is Angel Yunier Remon. He is also known as El Critico. He is another face of repression on the island. Angel was arrested in March for criticizing the Castro regime's brutal human rights abuses and the oppression of 11 million of his fellow countrymen. To this day, El Critico remains in prison for the mere crime of simply expressing his right to address grievances through rhyme.

Then there is the face of Sonia Garro. Sonia is another member of the Ladies in White. Sonia and her husband were arrested 2 years ago in a violent raid. Her trial has been suspended four times without an explanation or any reason being given.

Along with Sonia, fighting for the causes of freedom and liberty is this young man, Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, better known as Antunez, who has been in prison in Castro's gulag for nearly 17 years. Antunez and his wife, Yris, have repeatedly been assaulted and beaten by state security forces, and their scars tell a story of resilience and commitment to the cause of freedom on the island. They are free now, but one does not know for how long.

Lastly, Mr. Speaker, there is the case of Juan Carlos Gonzalez, another freedom fighter I would like to highlight. He is a lawyer who is blind. He has spent years defending the human rights of the Cuban people.

These are just a few of the faces of the pro-human rights activists in Cuba, Mr. Speaker. I could not possibly cover the face of every single dissident on the island, but these faces are representative of the horrors of the Cuban regime and the horrors that liberty fighters face there every day; and that is why, Mr. Speaker, it is our moral obligation to stand in solidarity with these pro-democracy activists and to be a voice for 11 million people who are being oppressed and silenced in Cuba.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Army congressional liaison to the U.S. House of Representatives Major Kevin Tann. Major Tann will be leaving his post at the end of this month but will continue to serve our great Nation working in cyber intelligence at the U.S. Army Cyber Command in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Originally a native of North Carolina, Kevin chose to attend college at my alma mater, Florida International University, where he earned a degree in criminal justice and a master of arts in public administration.

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army's Aviation Branch, Kevin participated in multiple combat tours in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has earned the Army Aviation and Parachutist Badges, the Bronze Star Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, and many others.

It is my distinct pleasure to join with Kevin's family, friends, peers, his wife, Joy Tann, and his son, Kevin Joseph Tann, as they honor the many accomplishments of his outstanding career.

Mr. Speaker, stability in the Western Hemisphere is in jeopardy due to the political and economic pressures occurring in Venezuela. Misguided financial decisions, attacks on entrepreneurship, and socialist policies have led the economy in Venezuela to a free fall.

With oil prices continuing to decrease, Venezuela is suffering from large budget shortfalls due to its large dependency on oil sales. To try to make up for the deficiency, the Venezuelans have a foreign debt of over $100 billion and have had to cut its oil shipments to some Caribbean and Central American nations.

This paradigm shift can lead to an opening for the U.S. to get more involved in the region and deter the large democratic setbacks that we have experienced in recent years.

Venezuela's economic crisis is combined with its political problems and, Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge this body to stand in solidarity with the freedom-seeking people of Venezuela. Nicolas Maduro's intransigent, brutal regime continues to desperately and violently silence dissonant voices who believe in freedom, in democracy, and in respect for human rights.

Just last week, democracy advocate Maria Corina Machado was summoned to a kangaroo court in Caracas. This courageous woman was, until recently, a member of the Venezuelan National Assembly until she was illegally removed from her seat in Congress by the Venezuelan thugs. Why was she removed from that seat? Because she spoke up for the people of Venezuela.

Before she was removed unjustly from her legislative seat, she was physically assaulted on the floor of the National Assembly. Yes, on the floor of the Venezuelan Congress, she was beaten up.

Maria Corina, despite being banned from leaving her country, continues to use the power of her voice to spread awareness about the violence and the corrupt nature of Nicolas Maduro's brutal regime.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, her case is not an isolated incident. Earlier this year, savage repression met the thousands of students who peacefully demonstrated, seeking a better Venezuela. Maduro, in desperation, used his National Guard and paramilitary forces to savagely quash the protest. During that time, innocent people were injured, arrested, and even killed, unarmed demonstrators killed by Nicolas Maduro. Seventy-two of those students remain in prison today, as well as two mayors who are in prison and opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, another brave voice for freedom like Maria Corina.

Here is Leopoldo Lopez. He remains in solitary confinement in Ramo Verde military prison under the poorest of conditions and without regular access to visitors and all denying his due process. His wife, children, family, and friends are not allowed to freely visit him, Mr. Speaker.

His case caused international outcry from Amnesty International, stating that the charges against him are politically motivated and an assault on dissent in Venezuela.

More recently, the United Nations working group on arbitrary detentions, along with that body's top human rights officials, demanded the release of Leopoldo Lopez as well as the release of all of those who have been detained for exercising their legitimate right to express themselves freely.

In response, the Venezuelan regime stated that the U.N. body's decision was nonbinding on them, and so these innocent civilians remain in prison.

The Venezuelan people have been met with intimidation, with violence, with imprisonment for simply calling for respect for human rights and democratic freedoms in their own country.

So the United States must stand with them in their struggle for freedom. That is why this body passed H.R. 4587, the Venezuelan Human Rights and Democracy Protection Act, in May, a bill that I authored. The bill targets Venezuelan officials by denying them visas to enter the United States, blocks their property, freezes their assets, and prohibits financial transactions of these thugs responsible for committing human rights abuses against the people of Venezuela.

I call on the Senate to pass the Venezuela sanctions legislation immediately to send a signal that these abusive tactics by the Maduro regime will have consequences.

Mr. Speaker, the people of Venezuela are sending us a distress signal, and the United States must stand ready to act for the cause of freedom, democracy of our own hemisphere. Democracy leaders like Leopoldo Lopez and Maria Corina Machado are counting on us.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the career of Steve Sauls, who is retiring this month from Florida International University.

As vice president of government relations for Miami's public research university--and my alma mater--Steve has always aimed for a more beautiful day in south Florida.

Early in his career as a House staffer, Steve helped craft the Refugee Education Assistance Act of 1980, opening the doors of opportunity to thousands of Cubans fleeing the oppression of Fidel Castro.

After moving to Miami, Steve was instrumental in creating the International Hurricane Research Center following Hurricane Andrew, helping advance research to make south Florida and the Nation more resilient to hurricanes.

Congratulations, Steve, on a fulfilling career and a well-deserved retirement, and please do enjoy your own fair share of beautiful days in south Florida.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Maria Corina Machado who is being unjustly accused, intimidated, and dragged into court under bogus charges by the regime of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. She has been stripped of her seat in Congress, been barred from leaving her country, and is being denied due process.

In May, the House passed my legislation aimed at denying visas, blocking property, freezing assets, and prohibiting any financial transactions to members of the Venezuelan regime who are responsible for human rights abuses against the peaceful citizens of Venezuela.

The U.S. must no longer stand still as these abuses are repeated in our own hemisphere. There are 72 students, 2 elected officials, 12 military officers, and democracy activist Leopoldo Lopez still in prison under politically motivated charges. Maria Corina must not join them, and all political prisoners in Venezuela must be freed immediately.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak against a push by the administration and its allies here in Congress to ignore U.S. law--this time, to ignore the legal prohibition on using U.S. taxpayer dollars to fund UNESCO.

Frankly, it is an indictment against the administration and some of our colleagues that we have to go through this song and dance every year or whenever a funding measure is set to come to the floor; yet here we are again, as some in Congress want to help President Obama circumvent and undermine U.S. law and restore at least partial funding for UNESCO, so that that body can continue to push its anti-U.S./anti- Israel agenda.

Time and again, the President has taken unilateral action meant to get around congressional opposition and has openly stated that he will continue to do so.

Since 1990, U.S. law has prohibited any funding to the U.N. or to any U.N. agency that gives the PLO membership status and recognizes the nonexistent State of Palestine.

UNESCO was well aware of our laws when its members voted to include this so-called Palestine among its ranks, triggering the U.S. funding prohibition. President Obama knew this when we cut off UNESCO's funding in response because it is the law; however, since then, he has sought ways to undermine and circumvent this law to not only restore funding to UNESCO, but to also pay dues in arrears which now would amount to over $300 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars.

This is the very same body that allows the likes of Cuba--the antithesis of freedom and the respect for human rights and the rule of law--on its executive board. When UNESCO admitted a nonexistent Palestine, it undermined the peace process and only emboldened Abu Mazen even further to move forward with his unilateral push for statehood at the U.N.

There cannot be a legitimate Palestinian state unless it comes about as the result of direct negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians. This unilateral scheme by Abu Mazen is a way for him to use that U.N. body to gain de facto statehood without having to first come to an agreement with Israel.

If President Obama and his enablers in Congress have their way and U.S. funding for UNESCO is restored, it will signal that the U.S. supports this unilateral push for statehood, and we will have sold out our closest friend and ally: the democratic Jewish State of Israel.

We must make it clear to the administration in no uncertain terms that Congress will not allow it to continue to circumvent and undermine congressional authority or the law and that we will not allow it once again to fund UNESCO.

Giving the administration the authority it seeks to fund UNESCO would not only set a dangerous precedent by showing those with an anti-Israel agenda at the U.N. that the U.S. does not have the courage of its convictions or the fortitude to enforce our own laws, but it would also give the green light to the rest of the bodies at the U.N. to follow UNESCO's lead and also admit Palestine.

Abu Mazen has already signaled that he will seek further recognition at the U.N., and unless we make it absolutely certain to the entire U.N. system that admitting Palestine has very real and tangible negative consequences, the bodies at the U.N. will fall in line with this dangerous scheme, and that would cause irreparable harm to the peace process.

Instead of President Obama's looking for ways to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars at an anti-U.S./anti-Israel body at the U.N., which is in violation of U.S. law, the President should perhaps instead focus on institutions at the U.N. that do work and that are effective.

This month, for example, the World Food Programme, WFP, was forced to suspend its assistance to millions of refugees who fled the crisis in Syria and went to Jordan, to Lebanon, to Iraq, to Turkey; as a result, millions could go hungry as they are set to face the harsh winter.

Our money would be better spent helping an institution we know works because it relies on voluntary contributions only, and we should be doing more to ensure that the WFP, the World Food Programme, can continue its good work to assist these millions of refugees around the world.

Mr. Speaker, like many Americans, I am all too familiar with Alzheimer's, having lost my mom to complications from this dreadful disease nearly 4 years ago.

The Alzheimer's Association reports that over 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, including nearly half a million in my home State of Florida.

Alzheimer's not only impacts seniors and their families, it is costing our Nation billions of dollars every year, with only a fraction of 1 percent of these costs spent on research toward better treatment options and potential cures. Our seniors, their loved ones, and their caregivers deserve better. American taxpayers deserve better.

Mr. Speaker, I urge everyone to go to alz.org and learn more about Alzheimer's and how new research can help make a big difference in improving the lives of patients, their families, and America's budget.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 758) strongly condemning the actions of the Russian Federation, under President Vladimir Putin, which has carried out a policy of aggression against neighboring countries aimed at political and economic domination, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 758 and commend the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger) for his work in bringing this important measure to the floor tonight. I also commend the work of our great chairman, Chairman Royce, and our fabulous ranking member, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), for their work on this critical issue.

As this resolution documents, Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin has repeatedly demonstrated that he is a threat not just to our friends and allies, but to international peace and stability. From Ukraine, Moldova, and the Republic of Georgia, to arms control violations and support for the Assad regime in Syria, Putin's continuing military, economic, and political aggression against Ukraine and others is on full display. Of course, his most dramatic action was the forcible occupation and annexation of Crimea earlier this year.

Today, as we consider this resolution, Russian forces are operating on Ukrainian soil supporting separatists that they have heavily armed. The apparent intent of the Russian-backed separatists is to carve out an area that Russia will be able to permanently dominate. This is not what the people of Ukraine want.

Already, thousands of Ukrainians have died in the fighting, and hundreds of thousands have been made refugees, with many more suffering severe deprivation. The destruction of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 demonstrated the threat to civilians in this conflict, but many more have been killed in the months since; yet these tragedies go mostly unnoticed in the West.

Ukraine is not asking the U.S. to defend it against Russia, but instead to provide it with the means with which it can defend its people and its sovereignty, but the administration has refused to do so, instead, restricting U.S. assistance to small amounts of nonlethal goods and equipment.

As Ukraine's President said when he addressed us in Congress in September, one cannot win a war with blankets. Ukraine is clearly in need of urgent military assistance. The administration must act quickly to equip it with the means not just to clothe its soldiers, but to stop tanks as well.

The assault on Ukraine isn't being carried out by military means alone. Putin has also attempted to use economic coercion on Ukraine. He has used Russia's supply of energy to Ukraine and to other countries, including many in the European Union, as a political weapon, shutting off deliveries in the middle of winter.

The United States and our friends and allies in Europe and around the world are taking action to ensure that he and his regime pay a heavy price for this aggression. By imposing sanctions on key sectors, especially financial institutions and the oil sector, we have put enormous pressure on the Russian economy, which its officials openly admit.

More needs to be done, Mr. Speaker. We must also counter Russia's ability to use energy as a weapon. The U.S. can play an important role in this effort simply by removing the unilateral restrictions we have imposed on our export of natural gas.

Finally, we must work with our allies in NATO to enhance the security of the Baltic States and other countries of the alliance that are menaced by Russian aggression. A perceived weakness could lead to miscalculation on Moscow's part with incalculable consequences. No one should doubt our commitment to NATO.

Through these and other measures, Mr. Speaker, we can demonstrate to Putin and the world that we will do what is necessary to protect Ukraine and other countries that are threatened by his imperial ambitions and ensure that they can live in peace and security.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the author of this important measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).

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

I thank our esteemed chairman, Mr. Royce of California, as well as Mr. Kinzinger, the author of this resolution, for bringing forth this timely resolution before us.

By approving this resolution, Mr. Speaker, the House will send Vladimir Putin a clear and unmistakable message, one aimed not only at him, but at all of those in other countries who are tempted to use aggression and invasion to achieve their objectives.

There is more at stake here than simply defending Ukraine's independence and sovereignty, although that is our primary goal. The message is that the United States will not simply stand by and silently watch the world ascend into anarchy nor allow aggressors to accomplish their goals by force and coercion.

By demonstrating to Putin that his aggressive actions will only result in unacceptable costs to him and his regime, we can prevent others from concluding that we and our allies will do nothing to stop them and that they are free to impose the law of the jungle once again.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 714) reaffirming the peaceful and collaborative resolution of maritime and jurisdictional disputes in the South China Sea and the East China Sea as provided for by universally recognized principles of international law, and reaffirming the strong support of the United States Government for freedom of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia- Pacific region, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 714.

I would like to recognize the gentleman from American Samoa, our good friend, Eni Faleomavaega, for introducing this important measure, and I was proud to have joined him as the lead cosponsor.

I would like to commend and thank Mr. Faleomavaega for his nearly four decades of service in the United States Congress and to our Foreign Affairs Committee, which will soon come to an end, sadly, and we will all miss him dearly.

Throughout his career, Eni has fought for human rights and for the rule of law, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, and the idea that all people should have the opportunity to prosper without fear for their family's safety or livelihoods. This resolution that he presents before us is a fitting representation of the ideals and goals that Eni has worked so hard in support of during his many years in Congress.

This resolution encourages a peaceful reconciliation of the maritime and jurisdictional disputes in the South and East China Seas, as well as the kind of peace that is too often lacking in our world today. This resolution is also an important statement in support of the universally recognized principle of the freedom of navigation.

Mr. Speaker, peace in Asia has held for over a generation, and we have seen incredible economic growth. Home to a vast combination of global sea routes and shipping lanes, substantial energy resources, and significant fishing territories, the importance of maintaining peace in the South China Sea and the East China Sea cannot be overstated.

According to estimates, the South China Sea contains oil reserves of 900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, making the area second only to Saudi Arabia in regard to oil supply. With Asian

energy consumption set to double by the year 2030, the conflicting claims in this region will likely grow more intense.

Beyond the region's vast energy resources, peace in the South China Sea is essential for international commerce. Each year, $5.3 trillion in trade passes through the South China Sea, over $1 trillion of which can be attributed to the United States. But the fragile stability that has held in Asia is now being threatened by China's hegemonic ambitions and its aggressive stance towards its neighbors. From its declaration of an Air Defense Identification Zone to its ramming of other nation's fishing boats to its economic coercion of U.S. allies like Taiwan, China has rapidly raised tensions in the region.

China is pushing the limits on the high seas, motivated by potent nationalist trends and the resources at stake. China's territorial stakes are a clear challenge to its neighbors and must not be allowed to go unchallenged. This resolution rightfully states that China's declaration has contributed to increased uncertainty and unsafe conditions in East Asia.

Additionally, Mr. Faleomavaega's resolution calls for freedom of navigation, which is a bedrock principle of international commerce that dates back centuries, helping to ensure the continued flow of global trade.

Mr. Speaker, given the importance of this region, I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Faleomavaega's resolution, which puts the House on record supporting a peaceful process to resolve these disputes.

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

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. And I would like to point out that Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, is a University of Miami Hurricanes alum. It is not bragging if it is true. But thank you.

Mr. Speaker, over the past several years, I have noticed, we all have noticed a worrying trend in Asia. What we are seeing is that Asia's collective attention is gradually shifting away from economic prosperity to security concerns.

Where nations used to focus on trade and commerce, there is increasing discussion of nationalism, of military budgets, and even provocative behavior. There is no better example than the territorial disputes that Mr. Faleomavaega points out in his resolution in the South China and East China Sea.

We need to work against this shift toward nationalism and promote a peaceful resolution to these disputes. This resolution by Mr. Faleomavaega encourages just that. I urge my colleagues to support it.

In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our good friend and colleague Mr. Faleomavaega for his lifetime of service. And I know that I am speaking for our esteemed chairman, Mr. Royce, and all of the Members when we say, thank you, Mr. Faleomavaega, for your service to our country during the Vietnam war.

Thank you for the service in the cause of peace in the decades that followed that conflict during his distinguished career here in the people's House. We are a better institution for you having served here, sir.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2673) to enhance the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this has been a long time coming, but I am so pleased that we finally have an opportunity to send to the President's desk the bill before us, the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act.

I authored the original bill, alongside my Florida colleague, my good friend

Mr. Deutch, and together we introduced it in the House almost 2 years ago. Chairman Royce, Ranking Member Engel, and their staffs were immensely supportive in pushing this bill through, and we ultimately passed the House version, H.R. 938, in this body in March, with an overwhelming vote of 410-1.

I want to thank our colleagues in the other Chamber, Senator Boxer and Senator Blunt, for introducing the companion bill in the Senate.

Today is, indeed, a significant day in the history of the United States-Israel relationship. Our bill takes the already strong bond between our two countries and makes it even stronger.

In the aftermath of this summer's Gaza conflict, in which we saw Hamas fire thousands of rockets indiscriminately into innocent Israeli civilian populations, and with the alarming rise in terror attacks in Jerusalem these past few weeks, well, Mr. Speaker, now is precisely the time for us to make this bill a law.

Our bill is as important strategically as it is symbolically. It shows the world how deeply America values its bilateral relationship with Israel, affording the democratic Jewish state the unique label of major strategic partner of the United States.

At a time when many around the world seek to test our resolve and our commitment to our friend and ally, passing this bill will reaffirm an unwavering commitment to Israel, to its right to defend herself and her citizens, and redoubles our efforts to ensure that Israel always maintains a qualitative military edge over its enemies.

Israel has many enemies, like Hamas. Hamas is, no doubt, planning its next assault against our ally.

Hezbollah, another enemy which may be preoccupied right now in Syria, certainly has not forgotten its desire to wipe out Israel, especially not when its patron, the Iranian regime, continues to incite violence against Israel and calls for its very destruction.

Iran's Supreme Leader, while he is telling his people to continue to string along the P5+1 countries in the nuclear negotiations under the ruse of wanting to reach an agreement, is calling for all Palestinians in the West Bank to take up arms against Israel.

And while the administration continues to extend and negotiate a very weak and dangerous Iran nuclear deal, it is important that we in the United States Congress send a signal to Khamenei and Rouhani and all the mullahs in Iran that the United States Congress will not undermine our ally, Israel, for a regime that cannot be trusted and is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism.

This bill will do that, Mr. Speaker. It will do that and much more, and I am so honored to have led the charge, with Mr. Royce, with Mr. Engel, with Mr. Deutch, in getting this bill to the President's desk. I look forward to it finally becoming law.

Mr. Speaker, 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 reserve the balance of my time.

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

It is in our national security interests of the United States to strengthen our relationship with our strongest ally, the democratic Jewish State of Israel.

Our two nations share more than just a strategic partnership--we share the same values; we share the same ideals. The United States and Israel are both freedom-loving and democratic nations that serve as a model of how free and open societies can work and can thrive, but it is also our belief in these ideals that has made us a target by those who seek to oppress their people and impose strict laws that govern their everyday lives and restrict their freedom of expression and their freedom of religion.

The citizens of the United States and of Israel speak openly, and we live honestly, but our enemies hate everything that we stand for, and they will stop at nothing to harm or destroy our way of life.

That is why, Mr. Speaker, it is so important that we continue to strengthen our relationship with Israel and support its right to defend itself and its citizens, and that is exactly what we will be doing when we pass this bill.

I would like to say to my Florida colleague, Mr. Deutch, that it has been a joy to have joined him in our recent trip to Israel, and I have greatly enjoyed our Florida road trip as we speak around our great State about the strength and the vitality of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

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

Mr. Speaker, when UNESCO admitted a nonexistent State of Palestine to its membership, it did so knowing U.S. law prohibits funding to any entity at the U.N. that grants the PLO the same status as other member states.

The members of UNESCO also knew that admitting the so-called Palestine would have a negative impact on the future of the Israeli- Palestinian peace process; yet they enthusiastically welcomed Abu Mazen at UNESCO.

The only explanation for UNESCO's willingness to allow these consequences to pass is that its members view the delegitimizing of Israel as its mission. They view helping Abu Mazen to unilaterally establish the de facto recognition for a Palestinian state as a worthy means to an end.

We must not only block any attempt by the administration to restore funding to this entity which clearly has an agenda opposite to America's interests, but we must also work to block Abu Mazen's attempts at the U.N. to bypass his obligations to Israel by continuing his unilateral statehood scheme.

Mr. Speaker, there is once again an effort being undertaken by some in Congress to restore at least partial funding for UNESCO, despite being prohibited by U.S. law to do so.

In October of 2011, UNESCO chose to welcome a nonexistent State of Palestine to its membership. It did so, knowing that this would trigger U.S. laws that prohibit us from funding any entity at the U.N. that grants membership to the PLO; yet, since that law was triggered and funding was cut, the administration and some of its congressional lackeys have been attempting to circumvent and undermine this decades- old law.

As we continue to work to put together funding measures to take us past the pending fiscal deadline, I will oppose and fight all efforts to insert language into bills that would restore even a portion of funding to UNESCO or give the President authority to waive this provision of the law.

Mr. Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart to recognize and remember a wonderful woman from south Florida who was taken from this Earth too soon, Nieves Olemberg.

Nieves passed away last month at age 79 following a tragic car accident. She is survived by her loving husband, Isaac; their children, Roberto, Lily, Hannah, and Lisette; and grandchildren, Rachel, Aaron, Jacqueline, David, Daniel, and Samuel.

Beyond her noted devotion to her family, Nieves was a pillar of the south Florida Jewish community. She was a founding member and president of Hadassah's Inter-American Chapter, and was also actively involved with the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and the Hebrew Academy.

Nieves will be greatly missed, but her generosity and kindhearted soul will forever leave an enduring imprint on our community. May her memory be a blessing.