Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate national teachers week and to express my deepest gratitude to the dedicated and hardworking educators who shape the minds and futures of our next generation.

Teachers are the heart of our schools and the soul of our communities. In Guam, like every other corner of America, we see that every day. Our educators in the Guam Department of Education wear many hats. They are not only teachers but mentors, counselors, coaches, and role models.

This past year, our teachers have faced enormous challenges such as recovering from the effects of typhoons and teaching in aging and damaged infrastructure. Despite this, our teachers have remained committed to our students and to the mission of education.

As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee, I am committed to ensuring our teachers get the support and resources to succeed.

Mr. Speaker, I thank every teacher in Guam and across the country for going to work with dedication and love. I thank them for investing in the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and changemakers.

Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

This month, we honor the cultures, histories, and contributions of AAPI communities across the United States, and especially in places like my district of Guam.

In Guam, we are surrounded by the heritage of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures every day. From our CHamoru traditions to our rich multicultural identity, many cultural aspects are woven into every part of island life. From language and family to service and resilience, Guam's people have answered our Nation's call in times of war and peace, contributed to our economy, enriched our culture, and stood as a strategic cornerstone in the Pacific.

As I stand here today representing the island of Guam, I am committed to ensuring that our voice on the national stage is seen, heard, and respected.

This AAPI Heritage Month, let us celebrate the differences that strengthen us and reaffirm our commitment to creating communities that bring people together here, across the Pacific, and in Guam.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of my bill, H.R. 877, the Deliver for Veterans Act, a critical piece of legislation addressing challenges faced by veterans in remote areas, including Guam.

As the Representative of a region where the unavailability of adaptive vehicles poses a significant barrier to our veterans, I urge my colleagues to support this essential measure.

Veterans in remote districts across our Nation face immense challenges because of the lack of access to adaptive vehicles. These vehicles are essential for veterans with disabilities to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

Unfortunately, the high cost of shipping to remote areas has created an insurmountable obstacle for many of our veterans. They are forced to cover the expensive shipping fee, a cost that should not be borne by those who have already sacrificed so much for our country.

Whether it is for medical appointments, running errands, or simply visiting family and friends, adaptive vehicles are a lifeline for veterans in Guam. H.R. 877 will provide much-needed relief to our veterans, ensuring that they can access the support and services they rightfully deserve without facing financial hardships.

Let us stand together in solidarity with our veterans in Guam and all areas around the world and ensure that they receive the support they need and deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I implore each and every one of my esteemed colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 877, the Deliver for Veterans Act.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the rich and vibrant heritage of the CHamoru people as we recognize March as the National CHamoru Heritage and Cultural Month. The CHamoru people have long exemplified the spirit of inafa'maolek, the CHamoru philosophy of interdependence and cooperation as the very foundation of their culture.

Throughout history, they have shown remarkable resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity, embodying the true spirit of strength and unity.

Mr. Speaker, let us acknowledge the significant contributions of the CHamoru people to the tapestry of our Nation's culture and history. Our traditions, language, and customs are a testament to our unwavering commitment to preserving our heritage and identity.

In closing, I say: ``Biba mes CHamoru''; ``Long live CHamoru Month.''

May this month serve as a reminder to all of us to embrace and celebrate the remarkable CHamoru heritage and culture.

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H. Res. 23.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the people of Guam by voting ``yes'' on the 2025 NDAA.

Guam is in the USINDOPACOM area. This bill authorizes $4 billion for economic activity on Guam, $2 billion planned for 2025. This is a historic investment for Guam. It supports our infrastructure, defends our community, and protects our Nation.

There is $600 million for Guam missile defense, protecting my constituents from direct PRC and North Korean threats.

Additionally, it includes $100 million for Marine Corps Drive, our public roadway on Guam, for upgrades to provide easier access for our civilians and our military.

Also, it recognizes Guam's history, which directs the DOD to provide a report regarding the use of Agent Orange on Guam. It would clarify how Agent Orange was used on the island, and it would start the groundwork for corrective action that is desperately needed.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his support of Guam, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for this year's 2025 NDAA.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3012) to reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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, the Kim Jong Un regime continues to oppress the North Korean people through torture, forced labor, imprisonment, and starvation to continue expanding North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The regime also severely represses the security of the United States and the world by advancing its missile and nuclear weapons programs.

Recent intercontinental ballistic missile tests and an alarming increase in the number of nuclear warheads in North Korea's arsenal are clear demonstrations of its growing threat to global peace and stability.

North Korea has abducted Japanese and South Korean citizens and has caused the death of U.S. citizens while in North Korean custody. These acts of state-sponsored kidnapping and unlawful detention have caused immense suffering to the victims and their families. The regime's blatant disregard for human life and international law is a violation of basic human rights and an affront to global justice.

The North Korean Human Rights Act ensures that the Kim regime's human rights abuses do not go unchecked and reinforces the United States' commitment to promoting human rights in North Korea. By shining a spotlight on these atrocities, the Act seeks to hold the regime responsible for its abuses and to give hope to the North Korean people who continue to endure unimaginable oppression.

This bill extends critical efforts to break the regime's information control over the North Korean people, to protect North Korean defectors and refugees, especially from forced repatriation by China. It also ensures that the regime does not have opportunities to divert international assistance for military purposes.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the chair of the Subcommittee on the Indo- Pacific.

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

In closing, I thank Representatives Kim and Bera of California for working together on this important legislation that reinforces the United States' commitment to promoting human rights in North Korea.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8234) to authorize the Secretary of State to designate additional persons eligible to serve as passport acceptance agents, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members

may have 5 legislative days 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, millions of Americans use U.S. passports as their official travel documents each year. Passports are what open doors to faraway foreign destinations.

The problem, though, is that certain Americans are having a difficult time applying for them. What should be a simple administrative step is anything but.

That is where my colleague Mr. Mast's bill comes in. H.R. 8234 would level the playing field, assisting those Americans who currently face unnecessary obstacles.

First, the bill would authorize new institutions to serve as passport acceptance agents. Passport acceptance is the process of verifying the applicant's identification documents.

Currently, most civilian passport acceptance is done by designated employees of the U.S. Postal Service. With the recent closure of many U.S. post offices and with fewer post offices offering passport services, however, access points for passport acceptance have been significantly reduced. This reduction has led to delays in some citizens' ability to schedule a passport appointment.

We feel this acutely on Capitol Hill. Scarcely a day goes by when Members of Congress like myself do not hear from frustrated constituents experiencing some sort of passport problem.

Allowing new entities, like public notaries, to become passport acceptance agents will ensure that the citizen application process is easier, faster, and more seamless. For example, if the notaries at all UPS Stores and AAA Travel offices nationwide were to become registered passport acceptance agents, then the number of passport acceptance sites would increase by 10,000 locations.

The second thing this bill would do is assist Americans in rural areas and nonmajor cities apply for their passports. The so-called hand-carry courier program helps citizens who otherwise would be unable to travel to a passport agency due to time, cost, or distance constraints. Through the program, they would be able to secure an urgent or emergency passport using a third-party registered agent.

H.R. 8234 would allow for more companies to participate in the hand- carry program. By expanding the program, we make emergency passports more readily available to citizens who need them, especially for those who don't live in or near a major city.

Finally, Mr. Mast's bill would align a passport's expiration date with the applicant's birthday, making it easier for him or her to remember when it is time to renew. This will help reduce the application spikes surrounding popular travel seasons and prevent new backlogs and delays.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join in supporting H.R. 8234, which is an important step in making passport services more accessible and more reliable, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), who is the chair of the Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, we need to make passport services more accessible to Americans who don't live in major cities. This bill, H.R. 8234, would actually do that by authorizing new actors like public notaries to serve as passport acceptance agents.

It would also allow more companies to participate in the hand-carry courier program and open up slots for those companies at passport agency offices across the country.

Americans who don't live in major cities shouldn't have to have a harder time getting travel documents than anyone else.

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. 8368) to establish a Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts in the Department of State, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 rise in support of this bipartisan legislation to codify the establishment of the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts.

When the Biden administration executed its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, we left behind thousands of Afghans who had risked their lives to assist the United States' mission in Afghanistan.

The subsequent Taliban takeover put these brave individuals at serious risk, and we have seen many Afghans who worked for the U.S. be targeted in reprisal killings and forced disappearances. It is our duty as Americans to help bring these vulnerable Afghans to safety in the

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this administration failed the Afghan people by abandoning them to the Taliban rule. It is our responsibility as Americans to remedy this failure. I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation today, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the

resolution (H. Res. 554) affirming the nature and importance of the support of the United States for the religious and ethnic minority survivors of genocide in Iraq, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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 the bipartisan resolution addressing ongoing challenges that face religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq after ISIS' brutal genocide.

ISIS overran wide swaths of Iraq and Syria 10 years ago, subjecting millions of people to their so-called caliphate.

ISIS perpetrated widespread atrocities, including forced religious conversion, kidnapping, slavery, human trafficking, unlawful forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, torture, sexual violence, and sex trafficking. Religious and ethnic minority groups were singled out and subjected to particular cruelty.

The United States repeatedly found that ISIS is responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities against religious and ethnic minority groups in Iraq and Syria, including Shia Muslims, Christians, and Yazidis.

Just this year, a Yazidi woman was rescued in Gaza. She had been kidnapped at the age of 11 by ISIS. She was held in captivity for 10 years.

While ISIS no longer rules over these communities, the caliphate left widespread damage, displacement, and trauma. Religious and ethnic minorities continue to face widespread discrimination and displacement in Iraq, undermining efforts to promote their recovery.

Addressing these problems is critical for religious and ethnic communities and for the overall success of the Iraqi State, helping ensure it achieves its full potential as a vibrant, prosperous country.

This resolution reaffirms our commitment to protecting the rights of these religious and ethnic minorities and the need to help them return to their homes and rebuild their lives.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James), the chair of the Africa Subcommittee.

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

Mr. Speaker, there is still much work to be done to help Iraq and its people heal from the horrors unleashed by ISIS. This is particularly true with respect to the country's religious and ethnic minority communities.

This resolution serves as a commitment to ensure the United States continues to press for progress and to advocate for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation today, and I encourage my colleagues to join me in voting for this resolution.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 837) reaffirming the ties between the United States and the Philippines, 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 to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 837, a resolution that reaffirms the enduring partnership between the United States and the Philippines.

This resolution is a testament to the deep-rooted bonds of friendship, shared values, and mutual interests that have defined our relationship for over a century.

The Philippines is not only a close ally in the Asia-Pacific region, but also a vital partner in promoting peace, stability, and prosperity.

Our two nations share a long history of cooperation from the fight for freedom during World War II to our joint efforts in addressing global challenges today.

Whether it is combating terrorism, the Chinese Communist Party's aggression, or advancing trade, the U.S.-Philippines partnership is instrumental in shaping a safer and more secure world.

In addition to our strategic alliance, the Filipino-American community is an invaluable bridge between the two countries. More than 4 million Filipino Americans contribute to the fabric of America's society, enriching our culture and economy.

Furthermore, this resolution strongly condemns the People's Republic of China's aggressive action against the Philippine vessels in the South China Sea. These provocative maneuvers threaten the peace and stability of the region and violate international law.

We stand in full support of the Philippines' sovereignty over its territorial waters and call on China to respect the rights of all nations in the South China Sea.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 837, and I reserve the balance of my time.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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

I thank Representative Scott for leading this resolution with me and my good friend, Mr. Case, for his testimony.

This resolution sends a clear message: The United States stands firmly with the people of the Philippines and reaffirms our unwavering commitment to invoke our Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines in accordance with constitutional processes.

Again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 837.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1328) recognizing the actions of the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias in the Darfur region of Sudan against non- Arab ethnic communities as acts of genocide.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days 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 today in support of H. Res. 1328 recognizing the actions of the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias in the Darfur region of Sudan against non-Arab ethnic communities as acts of genocide.

The war in Sudan has been raging since April 2023. Sadly, the civilians of Sudan have disproportionately paid the toll with nearly 9 million people internally displaced.

While both the Rapid Support Forces and Sudanese Armed Forces have committed atrocities during this conflict, the Rapid Support Forces are reverting to their old ways from 2003 and, once again, committing genocide in Darfur.

Congress must act to declare this genocide as such and stress our support for the Sudanese people and urge a swift end to the conflict.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James), the chair of the Africa Subcommittee.

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

The current administration has been derelict in their duty to act, failing to declare the Rapid Support Forces' actions as genocide. Congress must stand on the right side of history and strongly support an end to the conflict. The Sudanese people cannot wait any longer.

I thank the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. James) for introducing this resolution, which passed the Foreign Affairs Committee on a bipartisan, unanimous vote.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1328, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1449) condemning the global rise of antisemitism and calling upon countries and international bodies to counter antisemitism.

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 materials on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, 2 weeks ago, coordinated mobs roamed the streets of Amsterdam, attacking Israelis in town for a soccer match, in a chilling, premeditated assault. Dozens of people were injured, and scores were running and hiding in fear.

The anti-Semitic, anti-Israel attack is the latest terrifying development in a global spike in anti-Semitic, anti-Israel vitriol since October 7. We have seen it here in the United States on our college campuses, at local synagogues, and even a few miles from us in the Nation's Capital, where a kosher restaurant had its windows smashed earlier this month.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights documented a 400 percent increase in anti-Semitic activity since Hamas' October 7, 2023, assault on

Israel. The European Union also found that 96 percent of Jews encountered anti-Semitism in their daily lives.

Countering anti-Semitism needs to be a top priority at home and abroad. We need to be honest with ourselves and recognize that it is happening and that our solutions so far have been insufficient to stop this rising tide of hate.

We need to work with our partners to respond quickly and effectively to protect Jewish people in our countries and communities from violence. This is why we are considering Representative Manning and Representative Smith's bipartisan resolution condemning the global rise of anti-Semitism and calling upon countries to counter anti-Semitism.

For decades, when we talked about the Holocaust, the world said: ``Never again.''

The events of last week in Amsterdam and around the globe in the last year prove that we have failed Jews around the world. We failed to recognize the potency of this hate, and we have failed to keep them safe.

This resolution is our demonstration of our intent to remedy this problem and to live up to our promise.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to continue to support H. Res. 1449, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chair of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Ms. Manning and Mr. Smith, for this important, timely, and bipartisan resolution. It is critically important that we speak with one voice in countering anti-Semitism.

We have been fighting against this hatred for centuries. We can only make progress if we work together.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1449, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 915) urging the Government of Ukraine to review and modify its decision to suspend adoption by foreign nationals with a view to resuming such adoptions, particularly in cases where the mutual concerns of the Governments of Ukraine and of the United States can be substantially addressed.

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, on February 24, 2022, Russia launched a brutal, unprovoked, full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In the almost 3 years since that dark day, Ukraine has suffered countless atrocities committed by Vladimir Putin's forces.

Russian forces are responsible for murdering more than 12,000 civilians with millions more displaced. However, Putin's war of aggression has impacted one demographic group the most, Ukraine's children.

Since the beginning of the war, over 500 children have been murdered by Russian forces and over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly abducted into Russia. According to the National Social Service of Ukraine, over 1,800 Ukrainian children have been orphaned. These children belonged to loving, caring families that were ripped apart by Putin's war of aggression. They have been brutalized and traumatized by almost 1,000 days of the most horrific conflict that Europe has seen in decades.

These children deserve a loving home and a second chance at a happy life. Thankfully, there are many families in the United States who wish to welcome these children with open arms.

On March 13, 2022, the Government of Ukraine temporarily suspended adoption proceedings and protocols for the placement or adoption of its children with foreign nationals.

This decision was made in the best interests of the children as the Ukrainian Government struggled to conduct official business under the shock of the early days of the invasion. However, since then, the government has substantially restored its ability to conduct official business.

This resolution urges the Government of Ukraine to review and modify its decision to suspend adoptions and preadoptive placements of Ukrainian children by U.S. citizens.

Recently, the Ukrainian Government confirmed that they will process intercountry adoptions in limited circumstances and for persons who have already received an official referral from the National Social Service.

While this is a very positive step, more can be done to work with the Government of Ukraine to speed up adoptions.

These children deserve a second chance at life. American families stand ready with open arms to provide a healthy, safe, and stable environment for these children.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chair of the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Smith and Mr. Norcross, for introducing this important resolution.

International adoption is a profound way to unite vulnerable children with families who are eager to open their hearts and homes. There are numerous families across the United States who want to be the light for Ukrainian children who have been surrounded by the darkness of Putin's war. We can offer hope to children who have been robbed of it.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 915, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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. 3334.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Chairwoman, I rise in support of H.R. 3334, the STOP CCP Act, which was introduced by my colleague from Michigan, Congresswoman McClain, and ordered favorably reported by the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

The Chinese Communist Party is responsible for some of the world's worst human rights violations and threats to international security.

In Xinjiang, CCP-led genocide seeks to erase the history and culture of Uyghur Muslims, who live in constant fear.

While Hong Kong was once known for its vibrant civil society and the rule of law, today it is under the iron fist of Beijing and many brave democracy advocates sit in jail.

Our close friends in Taiwan live under constant military pressure, with incursions into their air defense identification zone. An oppressive PRC Coast Guard keeps pushing closer and closer to Taiwan's shores.

The Tibetan people have and continue to suffer from decades of brutal repression designed to undermine their identity and culture. I am glad that we have the opportunity today to support an amendment to shine a spotlight on the abuse they endure.

All of these egregious abuses and urgent threats are being directed and implemented by leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. The party's Central Committee, which this bill targets, is like the board of directors of the CCP. As key party decisionmakers, the Central Committee directs CCP abuse and aggression, which threatens our friends and partners in the Indo-Pacific. Therefore, it is critical to use targeted sanctions to hold these top party leaders accountable.

Sadly, the weakness of the Biden-Harris administration's foreign policy has invited aggression around the world--in Ukraine and in the Middle East. We hope it will not invite aggression toward Taiwan.

In the face of chaos, I am sorry that the Biden-Harris administration and some of my friends on the other side of the aisle feel that we cannot afford to put action to our words with these modest sanctions.

The administration opposes this bill, claiming that it needs to maintain flexibility to avoid ``veering into conflict.'' Sadly, I fear that our adversaries have grown to depend on the Biden-Harris administration's flexibility. Just last night, the PRC launched an ICBM near my district of Guam, which landed just below Hawaii. Clearly, we need to draw our line in the sand now.

This bill is not an act of war. It includes exceptions for U.N., intelligence, law enforcement, and national security purposes. It even gives the President the ability to waive sanctions if the President deems it necessary.

We are only ensuring that the CCP officials most responsible for the party's crimes, crimes that include genocide, do not routinely get to enjoy the benefits of the U.S. financial system or travel to our great country.

We must stand up for our founding values and security interests. The defense of liberty and human rights is not escalation. Our partners and allies feel safest when America leads rather than hesitating while our adversaries are on the march.

This bill is a strong display of U.S. foreign policy and the values that guide it. I urge Members to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chairwoman, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. McClain), the author of this bill.

Madam Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I thank Congresswoman McClain for introducing this bill and Chairman McCaul for moving it through committee and to the floor.

We are in a global competition with the Chinese Communist Party. If we do not stand up to those attacking the freedoms we stand for, then we undermine the principles that define us. Allowing the CCP's crimes to go unchallenged disheartens their victims, weakens our global standing, and emboldens authoritarian regimes around the world.

Imposing basic sanctions on CCP's Central Committee members is a measured response to the genocide, abuse, and threats they continue to direct.

Madam Chair, I ask support for this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. Speaker, I will talk about a significant piece of legislation that would benefit many of our Nation's heroes residing in very remote locations, H.R. 522, the Deliver for Veterans Act.

This bill is a significant step forward in ensuring our veterans receive the care, support, and service they not only deserve but that is also legally available. However, obtaining some of these benefits can be challenging because of location.

Currently, a program with the Department of Veterans Affairs allows disabled veterans to receive about $25,000 to purchase an adaptive vehicle. However, veterans residing in remote areas, such as Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, or other jurisdictions throughout the Nation, would have to pay the rates to ship the vehicle to their homes. It would easily cost between $3,000 to $4,000 for a vehicle to be shipped to Guam or Hawaii. I can't imagine the shipping costs if it came from the West Coast.

H.R. 522 addresses this problem by including shipping costs as part of the program. This ensures that a veteran with a disability can obtain an adaptive vehicle from this program and have it delivered to their home.

The legislation would assist many veterans residing in my district of Guam, which has among the Nation's highest number of veterans per capita. H.R. 522 would also benefit veterans residing in other territories, such as the Northern Marianas and American Samoa. Moreover, it would support those residing in noncontiguous States, such as Hawaii and Alaska, and greatly help veterans living in rural communities throughout the Nation.

This legislation needs to be passed. This bill is another step toward closing many gaps of inadequate care for veterans living in remote areas.

I appreciate my colleagues' support in continuing to deliver our promise to those who served. Veterans have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. It is our duty and moral obligation to ensure they receive the highest standard of care and support when they return home.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all the Members to support H.R. 522 and work together to give back to our veterans who have already given so much to our country.