Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Congresswoman for yielding.

We have seen and we have witnessed the brutality on the streets of America by ICE. We saw two Americans killed, and many people brutalized.

Just the other day, in the San Francisco Airport, we saw a mother who was ripped away from her 9-year-old daughter. We saw that replayed in courthouses across the country, in neighborhoods, in cities across America. We have seen that mostly on television or social media as people have posted it up.

There is another brutality that most Americans have not gotten a chance to see that Congresswoman Dexter and I have witnessed, that only Members of Congress and a few others have had a chance to see. It is also a brutality by ICE. It is the way that children and families are treated at the Dilley trailer prison in Dilley, Texas.

I have been there multiple times now, and I have seen the suffering of the young kids who will be traumatized for life. As you know, they have talked about worms in their food, about being separated from a parent. There are some there who have no clue why they are there.

Dilley is unique in America in that I can't think of another place where you would imprison a 5-year-old boy like Liam Ramos who has committed no crime.

During this discussion and this debate about these prisons, there has been a temptation to direct the anger at ICE and at the people that work there, and I certainly understand that. But there is another group of people that we don't talk about much who are making millions, if not billions of dollars off of child suffering. As a country, we have made a decision to commodify child suffering, to allow investors to profit from child imprisonment, innocent child imprisonment.

There was a baby at Dilley that was 2 months old. The first time I went there I asked who the youngest child was, and I was told a 2-month old baby. Some of the largest asset managers, BlackRock, Vanguard have stakes in these private prison companies in CoreCivic that runs Dilley or GO that ran the south Texas ICE processing center where we visited several weeks ago.

We have to shut down the Dilley Detention Center, that trailer prison that has done so much damage to the kids and to the families who are there, kids like the mariachi boys who came to this Capitol at the invitation of their Congresswoman and performed their mariachi music, toured the White House, and yet, along with their parents were thrown into this trailer prison in Dilley.

Fortunately, because of an ensemble effort and so many Americans that spoke up, Members of Congress that spoke up, this wonderful group of pediatric doctors, mostly women who have been very active in pleading people's cases, they were released. Also, fortunately, at Dilley the first time I went there in January there were 1,100 people there. The next time there were 450 people. On Monday, there were only 102 people still at the Dilley trailer prison.

Keep speaking up. We need to shut Dilley down.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 1099 is nothing more than a naked attempt to justify the war with Iran that the President has already started. I refuse to play their game and will vote NO.

Last week, President Trump took our country into an illegal war with Iran--a war that the American people do not want and the Congress did not authorize.

The President has claimed legal authority to take our country into a war with Iran by pointing to Iran as an imminent threat to the United States. The fact is that Iran does not currently possess ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States, and they are further from a nuclear weapon than they have been in years. H. Res. 1099's assertion that Iran poses a ``direct and persistent threat to the U.S.'' directly reinforces the President's own rationale for taking the United States into this disastrous war.

This resolution also states that Iran is ``harboring'' al-Qaeda. I am deeply concerned that this is an attempt to justify the use of the Authorization for Use of Military Force enacted by the Congress after the 9/11 attacks to provide legal backing for the President's Iran War. That law authorized the use of military force against ``those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons.''

While the government of Iran has, in the past, maintained some ties to members of al-Qaeda, the administration has not presented any evidence to substantiate any current presence of the organization in Iran.

If the administration intends to make this claim to justify the ongoing military action, they must provide that evidence to the Congress and make a convincing case before I can vote to endorse the claim.

The Iranian government is no friend of the United States. Their nuclear and ballistic missile programs are deeply concerning.

That is why I have supported sanctions on Iran and the 2015 Iran Nuclear Deal, which placed real constraints on Iran's nuclear program. President Trump decided to remove all constraints on Iran's nuclear program by withdrawing from that agreement, and laid the groundwork for the illegal war he initiated last week.

The best way to ensure that no more San Antonians in uniform are put in harm's way is to end this war and negotiate an agreement with Iran these concerns rather than pursue a regime change war that will only make us less safe.

If this resolution had included a clear statement that a war with Iran would require explicit congressional authorization--as required by the Constitution--and if the administration had made a clear case to the Congress substantiating the statements in the resolution, I would have considered voting for it.

I oppose the President's decision to join Israel in launching an illegal and disastrous war against Iran. The Republicans are playing partisan games with matters of war and peace, and I refuse to participate, which is why I will be voting NO on H. Res. 1099.

Mr. Speaker, Americans do not want and cannot afford another war in the Middle East.

On Saturday morning, Americans woke up to the shocking news that our Nation was at war again in the Middle East. There was no public justification, no vote to authorize this war in Congress.

Why this war? Why now?

If they say it is about Iran developing a nuclear weapon, just last year, President Trump claimed Iran's nuclear program had been completely and totally obliterated. In fact, Iran is further from perfecting a nuclear weapon now than it has been in years.

Some claim it is to disable air ballistic missile capability, but Iran doesn't have a single ballistic missile that can reach the mainland United States, and we don't expect them to for many years.

Is this about terrorism? It is true that Iran has helped finance and supply groups like Hamas and Hezbollah over the years, but they too are much weaker, much less capable after 2 years of conflict.

Why now? Well, Secretary Rubio told us himself. He said that Israel was going to strike Iran, which would have triggered Iranian strikes on U.S. forces in the region.

Rather than pick up the phone and tell Benjamin Netanyahu to stand down, the President of the United States buckled and decided to join their war.

How is this America First?

For 25 years, a generation of American servicemembers and their families have sacrificed so much because of regime-change wars in the Middle East. President Trump is now asking yet another generation of Americans to sacrifice in the hope that this time it will go differently than Iraq, Afghanistan, or Libya.

This is Donald Trump's war. This is Benjamin Netanyahu's war. Your vote today will determine whether this is your war, too.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life and legacy of Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Gil Coronado, who passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Known as the ``Padrino'' of Hispanic Heritage Month, Colonel Coronado was a champion for our Nation's Hispanic communities. He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen, his four children Elaine, Todd, Troy and Troup, three granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.

Born in Corpus Christi, Texas and raised in the Westside barrios of San Antonio, Colonel Coronado's early life was marked by adversity. However, Colonel Coronado was determined to overcome every obstacle he encountered. After dropping out of Lanier High School, Colonel Coronado decided to enlist in the United States Air Force at the age of 16. Colonel Coronado served our Nation with immeasurable bravery and honor as he rose through the ranks. He served in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and completed tours of duty in Germany, Spain and Panama. For his service, he was awarded a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and many other commendations.

In 1958, Colonel Coronado married his wife Mary Helen at Sacred Heart Church in San Antonio. Colonel Coronado and Mrs. Coronado shared a remarkable 67 years of marriage together.

In 1985, Colonel Coronado was assigned to the Inter-American Defense Board. It was here that he began to work closely with Members of Congress to advocate for the expansion of efforts to honor and celebrate the Hispanic contributions to American history. In 1988, his efforts proved successful, when Congress passed legislation that turned National Hispanic Week into Hispanic Heritage Month. Now, every year, because of his tireless advocacy, the United States recognizes and dedicates an entire month to celebrate the rich culture and incredible contributions of the Hispanic community.

In 1994, he was appointed by President Bill Clinton as the first Hispanic Director of the Selective Service System. He retired from the position in 2001 and returned to San Antonio where he continued to serve and lead the community.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing the incredible life and legacy of Colonel Gil Coronado. He served our Nation with the utmost dignity and respect and was a champion for our Hispanic Heritage. He will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.J. Res. 72, the resolution to terminate President Trump's tariffs on Canada.

Families in San Antonio and across this country are already struggling with the rising cost of living. The price of everything is going up: groceries, housing, childcare, and rent. When you go to the grocery store, Mr. Speaker, beef prices are up 16 percent, and coffee is up nearly 20 percent.

Instead of lowering costs, the President imposed tariffs on Canada, which is nothing more than a tax on American families, and started a trade war with one of our closest allies. Those tariffs don't just hurt American families. They threaten jobs in places like my hometown of San Antonio. Nearly one-half, 48 percent, of San Antonio's exports go to Canada, the highest share of any major city in the country.

Our economy is deeply tied to North American supply chains. Thousands of San Antonians work in aerospace, automotive manufacturing, energy, machinery, semiconductors, and medical devices, exactly the high-paying industries we want to be growing here in the United States.

These companies chose San Antonio because we are highly integrated into trade networks with Canada and Mexico. When tariffs go up, local businesses pay the price. When Canada retaliates, it becomes harder for our workers to sell their products abroad.

This trade war is making life more expensive, creating uncertainty and putting good jobs at risk, all while the world continues to move around us. Congress has constitutional authority over tariffs. We must use it here and now. Let's lower costs for American families, protect jobs in San Antonio and across America, and end this reckless trade war.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Americans are living in a time of viciousness. Under Donald Trump, we are living in America the brutal, a Nation where the wrong skin color, the wrong accent, the wrong language makes you a suspect, puts you in danger, threatens your life. Masked agents without warrants and long guns are barging into people's homes and businesses without apology. Americans who stand up for the Constitution, for the rule of law, and for due process are threatened and some are killed.

We have seen it out on the streets in Los Angeles, in Chicago, in Minneapolis, and across the country. We have also seen it in secret. I saw it just last week in a detention center in Dilley.

What do we call a place that keeps a 2-month-old baby in a trailer prison? Is that what America is? What do we call a place that keeps a 5-year-old boy in a trailer prison, that refuses to provide any education, that withholds medical care, that traumatizes children so brutally?

That is what ICE has become, not an immigration enforcement agency, but a reckless, lawless, brutal agency. Congress should disband ICE, should impeach Kristi Noem, and this Congress should help restore the Constitution of the United States of America to the people of our Nation.

Mr. Speaker, the President of the United States is now running Venezuela from Washington.

On January 3, the President ordered a military operation to capture Nicolas Maduro and install the President's hand-picked successor, Delcy Rodriguez, as the interim president.

President Trump went to war, removed a leader, and established a puppet government.

The President executed this transition when the most popular opposition leader, Nobel Prize winner Maria Corina Machado, was out of the country. If he wanted to, the President could help her return to Venezuela. It is telling that he is not.

Article I of the Constitution of the United States makes it clear that Congress has the sole authority to declare war.

The President, in taking these actions without our consent, has trampled on the separation of powers and taken the American people into yet another war that they do not want and cannot afford.

People are wondering and they are asking: What was it for? Was it to remove the socialists? No, the socialists are still in power. Delcy Rodriguez is a true believer in the same ideology and party that Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro championed.

Was it to remove drug dealers in the hemisphere? No, the same Venezuelan Government that he says is dealing drugs is still in charge because of him.

So clearly this is not about socialists, and it is not about drugs.

Donald Trump has said this is about oil and enriching multibillion- dollar companies over the will of the American people.

Congress, unfortunately, has not stood up to his despotic actions.

He is not listening to Congress or to the American people. He has threatened military action against Greenland, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, and Panama; and he has threatened to keep sidestepping Congress if you will let him.

At a time when Americans are struggling to pay for rent, groceries, and childcare, they don't want us to spend billions in Venezuela. They would rather we spend that money here.

But somebody is getting rich.

Mr. Speaker, Donald Trump has set up offshore bank accounts in Qatar outside the U.S. system, and only he knows where the money is going.

There is a $500 million slush fund that the President is controlling right now. We are not going to benefit from that.

Now, I ask my colleagues who have not joined us: How long will you stand by and be on the sidelines of the most consequential decision a country can make, to go to war?

Are we a Congress or are we cowards?

Will you stand up for the American people, and do what is right?

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Mrs. Doris Griffin, who passed away on December 25, 2025. A tireless advocate, she dedicated herself to serving San Antonio's and Texas' senior communities. She is survived by her three children, Joy Martinez, Jim Griffin, and John Griffin, her siblings June Harr and Ralph Money, and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As a child in Gobbler's Knob, Ohio, her parents Clyde and Beulah Money, instilled in Doris and her siblings the importance of caring for and serving those in need. As a teenager, she worked at the WLWT radio station in Cincinnati and performed with a band going by the stage name of Dixie West.

In 1949, she married George Griffin, a World War II veteran and retiree from the U.S. Air Force. George's career took Doris across the world, where at each duty station she volunteered with numerous community organizations. Following George's retirement, the family made San Antonio their home.

In 1991, Doris began a 27-year stint as the executive director of Jefferson Outreach for Seniors. Under her leadership, the organization, located in the neighborhood of my alma mater Thomas Jefferson High School, served mobile meals to seniors and offered transportation, grocery delivery, and home visits. Doris served as executive director until 2018.

During the 1990s, she co-hosted ``Live Longer and Love it,'' a television show on Catholic Television of San Antonio. In this show, she brought attention to the concerns of San Antonio's senior community.

In 2000, Doris began the first of nine terms on the Texas Silver- Haired Legislature, an advocacy group that addresses senior issues in the state legislative process. In 2002, she joined a joint city-county commission on elderly affairs. In this commission, Doris advocated for the building of senior centers across the city. These centers have been a tremendous addition to the San Antonio community as they offer meals, access to medical services, recreational activities and exercise classes to seniors. And for her leadership and impact on the community, a center was named after her--the Doris Griffin Senior One Stop Center.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to celebrate the life and legacy of Mrs. Doris Griffin. She was a source of hope whose impact will continue to

shape San Antonio. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, we are at war with Venezuela. Last night, the President declared a naval blockade of Venezuela. This is an act of war.

The President has said that strikes on land are imminent. He is dragging us into a war that the American people do not want and that the Congress did not authorize.

Mr. Speaker, Americans are asking: Why?

Is it about the drugs?

It can't be about the drugs because he just pardoned one of the largest drug traffickers in U.S. history.

Is it about fentanyl?

Venezuela doesn't traffic fentanyl.

One can't say that it is because Nicholas Maduro is a dictator. He certainly is a dictator, and the Venezuelan people deserve better, but so is Mohammed bin Salman, who is a leader the President praises all the time.

Mr. Speaker, you can't say that it is about communism, because China is one of our largest trading partners.

So what is this war about?

It is about regime change, power, graft, oil, and land. Yesterday, the President told us he wants to seize the oil and the land. The President has no plans to address rising grocery prices, healthcare prices, childcare prices, and rent that is going up. Instead of attacking Venezuela, he should be attacking those high prices.

These are issues that Americans want us to focus on, but, instead, he is sending American servicemembers into an illegal war.

We have been down this path before. The vote to authorize the Iraq war came to define the legacy of every Member of the 107th Congress. That vote came to haunt many.

Your vote today will be part of your legacy. It will be part of how your service in the House of Representatives will be defined.

I urge you to vote ``yes'' on this bipartisan resolution.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in celebration of the career of Mrs. Nenette Madla, who, after 37 years of service, retired from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), San Antonio, Texas.

Nenette began her civil service career in 1988, working in the Office of Public Affairs at the Defense Mapping Agency at Fort Sam Houston. A year later, she would begin her remarkable tenure with the VA.

Nenette's first role in the VA was in the Medical Transcription Unit where she supported medical transcriptionists. In 1992, she began a 10- year stint as a Program Assistant to the Chief of Neurosurgery and Urology. She would then work as a Credentialing Specialist for the Office of Chief of Staff and a Management Assistant/Suspense Coordinator for the Associate Director. In 2006, Nenette joined the Office of Public Affairs, where she remained until her retirement.

In the Office of Public Affairs, she served as a Congressional Affairs Liaison, Deputy Public Affairs Officer and as the Chief of Public Affairs. In these roles, Nenette oversaw the South Texas Veterans Health Care System's (STVHCS) public affairs program. Under her guidance, awareness for STVHCS programming has grown. Leading many of our Nation's veterans in Military City, U.S.A. to receive essential services.

Throughout her career, Nenette had a wonderful support system along every step of the way. She is the daughter of Linda and Arnulfo Cardenas and the granddaughter of Rosa and Jesus Torres. She has shared 23 years of marriage with Dr. Frank Madla, III. They have one child, Crystal Zapata, and two grandchildren together, Bailey Gonzalez and Jackson Zapata.

Nenette's career embodies what it means to be a civil servant. She dedicated over three decades of her life helping those who sacrificed themselves in service of our Nation. Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Mrs. Nenette Madla for a lifetime of service. I wish her a joyful retirement.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in honor of the life of Mrs. Mary Theresa ``Terry'' Vasquez who passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2025. A kind soul who selflessly dedicated her life to serving others, Terry's impact on the community is profound. Her legacy of service will surely inspire others in the future to care for those in need. A native of San Antonio, Terry was raised in a large family with eight siblings and her two parents, Reyes G. Schultz and Maria Del Refugio ``Mary Ruth'' Montez. She attended and graduated from Fox Technical High School, where she met her husband, Juan.

Terry committed her life to serving others. She had a remarkable nursing career of over 50 years. As a nurse, Terry cared for countless individuals, providing them with the care they needed, both in and out of the home.

When her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she returned to San Antonio to care for her. This powerful experience inspired Terry to document her journey as her mother's caregiver in the book Mi Mamacita Tiene Alzheimer's. Her book is a testament that reminds us of the shared experiences that define our lives.

Terry was a tireless advocate for healthcare. She was a member of the American Nurses Association, the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, the national and San Antonio chapters of the Alzheimer's Association, the National Caregivers Association, the Virginia Nurses Association, and the Alexandria Long Term Care Coordinating Committee. She was also the Virginia State Representative for the National Family Caregivers Association. Additionally, she was a member of the civic organizations Las Comadres Para Las Americas and MANA, a National Latina Organization.

She is survived by her husband, the Honorable Juan Vasquez; her son Juan, Jr. and daughter-in-law Tania, and her son Jaime and daughter-in- law Veronica; and her eight grandchildren, Claire, Maryn, Juan, III, Lauren, Daniella, Viviana, Jonathan and Juan Pablo.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to celebrate the life of Mrs. Mary Theresa ``Terry'' Vasquez. She was a bright light in the community who made an impact on countless lives. She will be greatly missed.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Communities Organized for Public Services (COPS), also known as COPS/METRO. On Sunday, October 26, 2025, community members will gather to recognize five decades of transformational leadership and community empowerment in San Antonio. Attendees will reflect on past accomplishments, honor the leaders who paved the way, and reaffirm their shared commitment to building a more just and equitable future for all San Antonians.

For half a century, COPS/Metro has empowered community members to voice their opinions and influence policies that impact their lives. This diverse, nonpartisan coalition of religious congregations, schools, civic groups, labor and professional organizations, and nonprofits has built connections across communities and achieved meaningful, lasting change.

Working with partners in both the public and private sectors, COPS/ Metro has established a strong forum for advocacy that has enhanced the quality of life for families throughout Bexar County. From affordable housing and workforce training to environmental justice and government accountability, COPS/Metro has promoted fairness, opportunity, and dignity for all residents.

COPS/Metro has consistently supported the people of San Antonio with dedication and purpose. I commend COPS/Metro for fifty years of outstanding leadership and community service, and I look forward to its continued success in the years ahead.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in celebration of the 70th wedding anniversary of Dennis and Irene Koudelka.

Mr. and Mrs. Koudelka exchanged their vows on July 30, 1955, at St. Gerard Catholic Church in San Antonio, Texas. The couple exchanged their vows after Mr. Koudelka returned from the Korean war, where his heroic actions awarded him a Bronze Star at the Battle of Pork Chop Hill. Mr. Koudelka served our Nation in the United States Army for eight years, where he was Active Duty from 1952 to 1954 and a reservist from 1954 to 1960.

Mr. and Mrs. Koudelka have two children, Mrs. Debbie Hannasch and Mr. Steve Koudelka. They are the grandparents to Mrs. Amanda Pawkett and the great grandparents to Reed and Rylie Pawkett.

Mr. and Mrs. Koudelka dedicated themselves to serving the community. At St. Luke's Catholic Church, Dennis coached football and flag football for the parish's Catholic Youth Organization teams. Irene served as the church's area chairwoman. She also served as the Hillcrest neighborhood chairwoman, in addition to being her daughter's Girl Scout Brownie leader.

Seventy years after they exchanged their vows, they are still creating memories with their family, friends and loved ones. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Dennis and Irene Koudelka's 70 years of marriage--their love story is one of admiration, respect, hope and joy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2503.

Communication systems and access to the internet are highly dependent on undersea cables. Ninety-nine percent of intercontinental data travels via undersea fiber-optic cables on the ocean floor.

It goes without saying that control and manufacture of these cables matter not just for economic development but will matter in any conflict.

The United States, with allies and partners, must maintain strategic independence and should seek to become the primary source of this critical infrastructure. This bill will force the Bureau of Industry and Security to provide a study along these lines, which is long overdue.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill on undersea cables and believe it is a smart step to develop a strategy for American economic statecraft in this important area.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the PARTNER Act. This is a bipartisan bill, supported by colleagues on both sides of the aisle, that strengthens American diplomacy, science, and leadership in the world.

The PARTNER Act does something very simple but very important. It extends basic legal protections, known as privileges and immunities, to several key international organizations that the United States works closely with but that, until now, have lacked the same recognition that we give to other multilateral institutions.

Let me explain why this is very important.

These legal protections are not special favors. They are the standard tools that allow international organizations to do their work effectively and independently. They protect institutions from lawsuits, taxation, or other interference that could disrupt their missions, while still ensuring that individuals remain accountable for their own private actions.

They are reciprocal. Just as American diplomats and officials enjoy these protections when we serve in international organizations abroad, we extend them to our partners here in the United States. It is the basic infrastructure of diplomacy.

Why is this bill important right now?

First, our strategic interests in the Indo-Pacific. ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is central to U.S. engagement in Asia. Recognizing its diplomatic status here in the United States shows our commitment to the region's future and to working with our Asian partners on equal footing.

Second, the Western Hemisphere, of which we are a part, is obviously incredibly important to the United States. CARICOM, the Caribbean Community, plays a crucial role in democratic governance, regional security, and disaster preparedness. Extending privileges and immunities supports CARICOM as a unified voice for the Caribbean and strengthens U.S. ties to a region where influence should be felt through real and consistent engagement.

Third, science and technology leadership. CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world's premier scientific organizations. It is partnering with United States researchers on the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, a $3 billion project based right here in United States. This is some of the most important and cutting-edge physics research in the world that will, hopefully, allow us to better understand the universe.

By extending privileges and immunities to CERN, we can speed up the timeline for this groundbreaking work, control costs, and ensure that American scientists remain at the forefront of the discovery.

Fourth, our Pacific and African partners. This bill authorizes the President to extend protections to the Pacific Islands Forum, a vital regional body in the South Pacific where small island nations are on the front lines of climate change and facing significant diplomatic overtures by China.

The bill fixes a gap in U.S. law by ensuring the African Union's observer

mission to the United Nations in New York receives the same recognition as the AU itself.

Taken together, these provisions make clear that the United States values our partnerships and will invest in multilateral cooperation that advances our interests and our American values.

Mr. Speaker, Congress has extended privileges and immunities before to the European Union, to the African Union, and, of course, to the United Nations and the Organization of American States. This bill simply applies the same standard to other organizations that the United States works with every single day.

At a time when our competitors are working overtime to expand their influence in Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Africa we cannot afford to sit back.

The PARTNER Act is a concrete step to strengthen U.S. leadership, deepen our alliances, and keep America the center of global diplomacy and science.

I thank all of my colleagues, Democrat and Republican, for their leadership and for their work on this bill. This bill has broad bipartisan support. It is good for American diplomacy, good for American science, and good for American leadership in the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the PARTNER Act, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Foster).

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