Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise to celebrate the 50th anniversary of UT Health San Antonio's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS). For decades, GSBS has led our nation in educating future biomedical professionals. Please join me in recognizing its extraordinary achievements.

Since October 21, 1972, GSBS has produced more than 4,000 graduates who are working worldwide in academia, the sciences, and other key industries. The school offers 21 academic programs and serves students from across the nation, with a particular focus on students from underrepresented backgrounds and economically-disadvantaged groups. GSBS programs are designed to provide a foundation of knowledge and scientific inquiry in the pursuit of educating students in contemporary areas of the biomedical sciences.

GSBS faculty work on cutting-edge research in areas such as cancer, heart disease, and neurogenerative disorders. GSBS is one of only 11 institutions with National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Doctor of Dental Surgery/Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Medicine/Doctor of Philosophy combined degrees.

Madam Speaker, UT Health San Antonio's Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) is a pillar of our extraordinary community. GSBS will continue to remain at the forefront of scientific exploration. I congratulate GSBS on their 50th anniversary year. I look forward to seeing the many great things GSBS and its students will accomplish in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8681) to establish the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship to fund international internships and research placements for early- to mid-career professionals to study nonviolent movements to establish and protect civil rights around the world, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8681, as amended.

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

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 8681, the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2022, and I thank Ms. Williams for authoring this important bill.

I want to begin with a passage from an essay written by Representative John Lewis before his death, which was published on the day of his funeral.

Representative John Lewis, in reflecting on the past and looking to the future said: ``You must also study and learn the lessons of history because basic humanity has been involved in this soul-wrenching, existential struggle for a very long time. People on every continent have stood in your shoes, through decades and centuries before you. The truth does not change, and that is why the answers worked out long ago can help you find solutions to the challenges of our time. Continue to build union between movements stretching across the globe because we must put away our willingness to profit from the exploitation of others.''

These words are a call to action and H.R. 8681, the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act, seeks to meet that call, to learn from history and find solutions to the challenges of our time.

The John Lewis Fellowship will be part of the Fulbright Scholarship Program administered by the State Department and will advance the teaching of the history of nonviolent movements around the world by fostering research and international exchange.

The fellowship supports 25 young scholars in studying the history of nonviolent civil rights movements around the world and improving the understanding of nonviolence as a critical tool for change.

Fostering constructive methods of civic expression is vital for a healthy, flourishing society. Thanks to John's leadership by example, thousands of people around the world over have learned how to confront the injustices of their own societies through nonviolent means. Now, the duty of honoring his legacy and shepherding a new generation of leaders falls on our shoulders.

I can think of no better time than now to pass this bill that honors the legacy of the great John Lewis. I strongly urge all Members to vote in support of this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, it is my honor to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. Williams).

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Madam Speaker, I want to reiterate my staunch support for the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Act of 2022.

This legislation encourages the values of peaceful expression and invigorates a new generation of leaders with

the same spirit that drove John in his lifelong advocacy for civil rights. His leadership during the civil rights movement was pivotal for extending the American promises of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all Americans. Many of us may not be standing here before this Chamber but for his contributions to racial equality.

This legislation seeks to instill that very same drive and purpose in the leaders of tomorrow, promoting the use of nonviolent civil rights as a tool for change around the world.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8446) to modify and extend the Global Food Security Act of 2016, as amended.

Madam 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. 8446, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bill that reauthorizes the Global Food Security Act. I thank my colleagues, Ms. McCollum, Mr. Smith, Chairman Meeks, and Ranking Member McCaul, for leading this bill.

Today, as the world grapples with a rapidly changing climate, the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the global consequences of Russia's war of choice in Ukraine, the U.S. must step up to support the hundreds of millions of hungry and food insecure people in all corners of the world. More importantly, perhaps, we need to give these communities the tools they need to feed themselves.

The Global Food Security Act was passed with strong bipartisan support in 2016 and reauthorized in 2018. It is critical that Congress once again acts to reauthorize this important piece of legislation.

Not only does this reauthorization increase annual funding for the Feed the Future initiative; it also requires an additional focus on building resilience, strengthening food systems, and forming more local partnerships to advance agriculture-led economic growth. This will play a critical role in delivering food to those in need today while creating more durable and sustainable food systems for tomorrow.

Food insecurity is a key driver of instability and violent extremism throughout the world. Investing in combating global hunger not only reflects U.S. values; it is also in our national security interest.

By passing this legislation, along with President Biden's announcement last week that the United States will provide over $2.9 billion in new assistance to address food insecurity, we will make important strides toward achieving our goal of creating lasting food security.

This important bipartisan legislation will continue support for the Feed the Future initiative that has already lifted millions out of poverty.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee.)

Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Madam Speaker, as the world continues to experience climate-related devastation, downstream effects of COVID-19 on global supply chains, and the crippling effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on food delivery and production, the United States must continue to support those vulnerable to food insecurity.

Now is not the time to continue business as usual. The United States must step up to meet the moment and adapt our policy tools and foreign assistance to do the same. H.R. 8446 ensures that the United States maintains global leadership in combating the global hunger crisis by sowing the seeds of food security for the future.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8463) to modify the requirements under the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 for candidate countries, and for other purposes.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8463.

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

Madam Speaker, I am glad to bring this bipartisan legislation, which I authored together with my colleague, Representative Young Kim of California to the House floor.

It will allow the Millennium Challenge Corporation, or MCC, to continue to work where it can do the most to foster development and reduce poverty.

When Congress established the MCC almost 20 years ago, it was envisioned as a selective agency that would work collaboratively with the best-governed developing countries.

Perhaps the most visible part of MCC's rigorous selection process is its scorecard, which evaluates more than 20 different policy indicators of good governance. But Congress also set an income-based threshold for nations where MCC could work. It was intended to make sure MCC focused on developing countries and on helping the people who need it most. I strongly support that focus and nothing in this bill is intended to alter that core part of MCC's mission and mandate.

But the way we define that threshold, based on who falls within two categories in the World Bank's estimates of per capita gross national income, has led to several issues this legislation seeks to address.

In the decades since the original standard was defined, the number of potential countries eligible for MCC's compacts has shrunk by almost a third. These compacts, which need to be ratified by both the United States and the partner country, can take years to negotiate, ratify, and implement.

Under the income threshold's current structure, countries can suddenly become ineligible for assistance in the middle of a multi-year negotiation. Global disruptions like a pandemic or major conflict can also lead to changes in a country's eligibility.

Under my legislation, the MCC would continue to use World Bank measures of GNI per capita as the basis to calculate eligibility, while expanding consideration for potential compacts to the world's 125 poorest countries. This change will ensure that MCC has a stable number of potential candidates, even as we continue to make progress in the fight against global poverty.

The new pool of potentially eligible countries would cover 98 percent of the world's poor and 90 percent of the countries MCC has identified as facing substantial vulnerability, including to pandemics, natural disasters, migration, and food insecurity.

It is important to note that this is potential eligibility.

This bill does not change any of MCC's scorecard criteria. To qualify for a potential compact, countries must also be generally eligible to receive American foreign assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act and other provisions of United States law.

The MCC Eligibility Expansion Act also includes protections to ensure that newly eligible countries do not crowd out support for low and lower-middle-income countries that qualify under the existing income threshold.

For example, it includes language that would strengthen statutory direction to the MCC's board to prioritize development need and impact. The legislation would also require all potential candidate countries to identify appropriate national contributions during compact negotiations, meaning wealthier countries would pitch in more.

In implementing this legislation, I also expect the MCC to compare this small pool of newly eligible upper-middle-income countries against their peers in determining eligibility through the scorecard.

This bill would provide the MCC with more certainty and stability when it chooses to pursue a compact.

Madam Speaker, with the support of my colleagues today, we can ensure that the MCC will continue its important work and maximize its impact fighting poverty and promoting development.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Madam Speaker, the Millennium Challenge Corporation Eligibility Expansion Act will improve the MCC's ability to form stable, long-term compacts in the well-governed countries that will benefit most from United States' development assistance.

I thank my colleagues, particularly my co-lead on this bill, Representative Young Kim, for the bipartisan work that has brought this legislation forward today.

Madam Speaker, I urge the House to pass this legislation. I hope the Senate will take it up swiftly so that it can become law this year, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4821) to hold accountable senior officials of the Government of the People's Republic of China who are responsible for, complicit in, or have directly persecuted Christians in China, and for other purposes, as amended.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4821, as amended.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4821, the Combating the Persecution of Religious Groups in China Act, introduced by my colleague, Representative Vicky Hartzler.

The state of religious freedom in China has been alarming for several years now. Despite religious freedom being guaranteed in its constitution, the PRC actively suppresses this fundamental right.

While this government's systemic orchestration of genocide and crimes against humanity against the Uyghur people and other ethnic and religious minorities in the Uyghur region has been widely broadcasted across international media, followers of a variety of religious faiths and traditions have long experienced religious persecution in China.

The ability to freely practice one's religion or engage in worship has continued to deteriorate. Those who bravely speak out against the infringement of religious freedom or refuse to join state-sanctioned religious organizations face the PRC Government's inhumane repression and human rights abuses.

Thousands of religious leaders and worshippers have been harassed, detained, disappeared, tortured, physically abused, sentenced to prison, or subjected to forced labor and indoctrination due to their religious affiliation or the practice of their religious beliefs. Some have even been pressured to renounce their religious beliefs.

In addition to these atrocities, the People's Republic of China officials have removed or replaced religious images, iconography, and symbols; have desecrated or demolished places of worship; and have rewritten religious text in an effort to align with Communist Party ideology.

This is unacceptable, but infringement on personal rights has become business as usual in China. Nobody should be forced to endure discrimination because of their religion anywhere in the world.

Congress must act now to support efforts to protect and promote religious freedom in China and to protect adherents of all religious faiths in China. We must continue to call out the PRC Government for these atrocities and take actions to prevent the stifling of religious freedom in China.

By passing this important, bipartisan legislation, this body sends a clear message to the PRC Government that it will be held accountable for its pattern of gross human rights abuses and severe violations of religious freedoms.

Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Hartzler for authoring this important, bipartisan legislation which I was proud to move through the Foreign Affairs Committee, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, September 23, 2022.

Hon. Gregory Meeks,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of

Representatives, Washington, DC.

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

Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to

review the provisions in H.R. 4821, the ``Combating the

Persecution of Christians in China Act,'' that fall within

our Rule X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us

on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection

to your including them in the bill for consideration on the

House floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to

forgo action on H.R. 4821, with the understanding that we do

not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those

provisions or their subject matters.

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

legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the

right to request an appropriate number of conferees to

address any concerns with these or similar provisions that

may arise in conference.

Please place this letter into the Congressional Record

during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank

you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked

regarding this matter and others between our committees.

Sincerely,

Jerrold Nadler,

Chairman.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am ready to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 4821 sends a strong and unequivocal message that the United States stands firmly in support of worshippers of all religious traditions and faiths and their ability to freely practice their religion or engage in worship without fear of discrimination or persecution.

This legislation signals strong bipartisan House support for the administration to hold accountable all those responsible for the severe violations of religious freedom and persecution of religious groups in China.

Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Audencio Suarez Diaz, Jr. who passed away on August 2, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary Stella; his son Rolando and daughter-in-law Amy; his daughter Leticia and grandson Rhys, and his brother, Daniel. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, and extended family. A man of conviction and courage, his loss is felt in our hometown of San Antonio, Texas. He will be greatly missed.

Audencio Diaz was born on February 19, 1952, in San Antonio. Audencio served honorably in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. After leaving the service, he worked for the United States Postal Service and the San Antonio Independent School District. Later, he started his own janitorial business. Audencio was known in the community for his many philanthropic activities and his strong support for our Veterans. For the past decade, Audencio devoted his time to serving other Veterans as Vice President of the Edgewood District Veterans group. Audencio was also known for his love of baseball, devoting many years to the Spanish American Baseball League. He was an active baseball player in the league during the 1960s and 1970s and later served as a board member in the 1990s.

Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the life of Audencio Suarez Diaz, Jr. Although I am saddened by his loss, I know his legacy will last for years to come. I thank Audencio for his service and efforts to make San Antonio a better place. May God bless him and his loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of great things in this legislation. I want to focus on one thing that is important for San Antonio.

In 2019, my county, Bexar County, had the second-highest death toll from diabetes. My grandmother died from diabetes. My mom is diabetic. I remember going with my grandmother, and she would inject insulin into herself. Sometimes she had trouble paying for it and spent days, sometimes several days, at the hospital.

There are so many people--senior citizens--in this country who will benefit from the fact that we are capping insulin costs at $35 a month and prescription drug costs, humble, hardworking people who don't ask a lot from us or their government but will benefit incredibly from this legislation.

I say thank you to everybody who supported it and who is getting it across the finish line. It is going to be great for the country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Jesse Charles Romero who passed away on July 6, 2022. Mr. Romero dedicated his life to advancing minority rights and equal justice under the law. He is survived by his wife, Anna Alicia Romero, and sons Emiliano Sandino, Antonio Cesar, and Victor Aetius Emmanuel.

Jesse Charles Romero was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 4, 1960, to Juan Leos Romero and Amelia Ramirez Romero. Mr. Romero was a first-generation college student, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwest Texas State University. During his early career with the Texas State Legislature, he worked to address systemic inequalities facing minority groups, particularly among Hispanic and Latinos. Throughout his life, he held an enduring belief that inequality and injustice can be resolved through legislative solutions and hard work.

Later, as a grassroots organizer, Mr. Romero worked at the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, where he grew under the mentorship of voting rights activists including Willie Velasquez, Antonio Gonzalez, and Andy Hernandez. As his career progressed, he served as Director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and a Policy Analyst for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), where he championed equitable public school funding, college access, and healthcare for all. Some of his most rewarding work was in bilingual and dual language advocacy. Mr. Romero employed the motto, ``educate, collaborate and advocate'' and fought to improve education for non-English speakers.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the life and legacy of Jesse Charles Romero. I thank Mr. Romero for his many years of public service and advocacy for a more equitable world. He will be missed, but the contributions he made to our community have left a lasting impact.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of United States Air Force Veteran Arturo Lara, who passed away on May 8, 2020. Mr. Lara hailed from my hometown of San Antonio, Texas and is survived by his wife of 58 years, Consuelo R. Lara, eldest son Arturo R. Lara, Jr., daughter Elizabeth R. Lara, and youngest son Louis R. Lara. Although I am saddened to learn of his passing, I am confident his memory will live on through his many loved ones.

Arturo Lara was born in San Antonio, Texas on July 16, 1943, to Simon and Alfonsa Vargas Lara. At a young age, Mr. Lara knew he wanted to be a family man and to serve his country. With permission from his grandfather, Simon Lara, he enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 16. Mr. Lara courageously served our country for 24 years, taking on different duty assignments across the globe. Mr. Lara notably served on high-risk missions as an Air Commando under Special Forces. During the Vietnam conflict, Mr. Lara was captured by enemy forces for 90 days to later escape shortly after his 18th birthday. Upon retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Lara went on to civil service and worked at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio and Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. After 51 years of combined military and civil service, Mr. Lara retired in 2011.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the life and service of a person who dedicated themselves to family and country. The sacrifice and commitment our service members undertake is immeasureble and should never be taken for granted. We thank Mr. Lara for his many years of service and commitment to our great country.

Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of World War II and Vietnam veteran, Mr. Henry R. Castro. A San Antonio native, Mr. Castro has dedicated his life to service, community, and country. Please join me in recognizing the story of this extraordinary American.

Henry R. Castro was born on April 26, 1927. The son of a butcher and grocer, Juan and Maria Castro, he grew up learning about hard work. On June 12, 1945, Mr. Castro enlisted into the United States Army and was assigned to the 78th Infantry Division, being deployed to Berlin, Germany. On November 29, 1946, Mr. Castro was honorably discharged as a Private First Class under HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry. As Cold War tensions rose, Mr. Castro heard the call of duty and reenlisted into the U.S. Army on August 21, 1948, and shortly thereafter was deployed to Trieste, Italy. There, he was assigned to the T.R.U.S.T. troops in the Italian Alps tasked with defending Trieste against then Communist Yugoslavia. He was later honorably discharged on June 27, 1950.

In 1951, Mr Castro was hired on at Kelly Air Force Base serving as a Civil Service Employee and later at Brooks Air Force Base. During his civil service tenure, Mr. Castro also served in the Air Force Reserves for more than 7 years under the 433rd Troop Carrier Wing. In the summer of 1967 due to his reserve status, he was recalled into active duty during the Vietnam War and during the North Korean's capture of the U.S.S. Pueblo. He remained on active duty until his retirement date of June 1, 1984. Mr. Castro retired as a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant.

For his service in the armed forces in defense of our nation, Mr. Castro received the following: World War II Victory Medal and Ribbon, Overseas Service Bar, Army of Occupation Medal Germany, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Four Devices, American Campaign Medal, European--African--Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with Three Devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.

Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent someone of such high caliber. On behalf of Texas' 20th Congressional District, I thank Mr. Castro for his commitment and patriotism. I also thank Mr. Castro for everything he has done in-service to our great Nation. May God bless him and his loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 892, calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Paul is a hero of the Rwandan genocide and a permanent resident of San Antonio, Texas, my hometown where his family also lives today.

Last year, a Rwandan court sentenced Paul to 25 years in prison on politically motivated charges. Paul is 68 years old, and for him that is a life sentence.

Congresswoman Young Kim and I have been closely following his case for several years, and we were proud to introduce H. Res. 892 in February of this year.

Paul's story begins in Rwanda, the country of his birth. Nearly three decades ago, he was serving as assistant general manager of a luxury hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, when the Rwandan genocide began.

The genocide, which led to the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people over a 3-month period, targeted mostly members of the ethnic Tutsi minority. Paul is a member of the Hutu majority, but he was determined not to see his Tutsi countrymen die on his watch.

As genocidal killing squads roamed through Rwanda, Paul sheltered more than 1,200 people in his hotel, saving their lives.

In the aftermath of the genocide, Paul and his family received asylum in Belgium and later moved to San Antonio with the help of the late Texas Senator Bob Krueger, an international leader in the fight against genocide. In 2005, President George W. Bush presented Paul with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our Nation's highest civilian honor.

Since the 1994 genocide, the Government of Rwanda has made tremendous strides in economic development and stability. However, the country's government is still plagued by corruption, abuse of power, and human rights issues that amount to violations of international law--including enforced disappearances.

At home and abroad Paul Rusesabagina has used his voice and elevated platform to call attention to the need for change in Rwanda. In response, the Rwandan Government launched an extraordinary campaign of persecution against him.

In August 2020, Paul was extrajudicially transferred from Texas to Rwanda by way of the United Arab Emirates and arrested on trumped-up charges.

The Rwandan Government did not acknowledge his detention for 3 days, during which he was reportedly subject to torture. In September 2021, Paul was found guilty and sentenced in a trial that the European Union described as ``marred by numerous violations of his fair trial rights.''

He is a cancer survivor who lives with serious cardiovascular issues, and Rwandan authorities have not provided him with the care he needs in prison.

I have my children here on the floor with me, and my heart breaks for Paul's family who can only speak to him once a week for 5 minutes. It is long past time for Rwanda to release Paul and allow him to come home to San Antonio.

My colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle have raised our concerns previously. In December 2020, we sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Rwandan President Paul Kagame urging him to release Paul on humanitarian grounds. We spoke out about the way Paul was taken against his will to Rwanda, which for all intents and purposes was a kidnapping by the Kagame regime.

In June 2021, my colleagues and I wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to use all diplomatic means at his disposal to ensure Paul's safe return to the United States.

We are not the only ones who are concerned.

Last year, the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights issued a report that found Paul's right to confidential communication, his right to the presumption of innocence, and his right to prepare his defense have all been violated.

In October 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution denouncing Paul's illegal arrest. The resolution strongly condemns the conviction, which it said was ``exemplary of the human rights violations in Rwanda.''

Paul is a permanent resident of the United States, and we must work just as hard as our European allies to bring him home.

In May, the State Department announced its determination that Paul was ``wrongfully detained,'' noting that ``The determination took into account the totality of the circumstances, notably the lack of fair trial guarantees during his trial.''

I appreciate the support of the State Department, which has been working with Paul's family and the Congress on this issue. I am especially pleased that Paul's case is now under the purview of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Ambassador Roger Carstens.

Rwanda's President Kagame wants to be seen as a global leader and a reliable partner to the United States, including on issues including climate change. But Paul's unlawful detention is a blight on Rwanda's international reputation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I rise to vote to do something. It is too easy for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons in this country, and we are either going to do something about it or we are not.

I want you to imagine for a second that a shooter with an AR-15 goes into your child's or grandchild's school tomorrow or next fall and leaves a hole the size of a basketball in their chest or leaves their head decapitated off their body. Ask yourself what you would ask of the people who represent you. Would their thoughts and prayers be good enough for you if that happened to your child? Would they being worried about their primary election be okay with you?

The people of Uvalde, when I spoke to them, asked me how it is that somebody who is 18 can't buy beer or cigarettes, but they can go into a gun store and buy two AR-15s and go kill 20 people.

The teachers who died, the cops who died, the children who died cannot vote to change the law. Only we can do that. This is our legacy. Vote ``yes.''

Madam Speaker, this week due to the ongoing public health emergency, I have been using a proxy to cast my vote. However, my proxy was unavailable during the time of this vote.

Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 190.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former U.S. Ambassador and Senator Robert C. Krueger, who passed away on April 30, 2022, at the age of 86.

Born September 19, 1935, in New Braunfels, Texas, Krueger earned degrees from Southern Methodist University, Duke, and Oxford. His passion for education would play an integral role in his professional life, and he spent most of his career in academia--first as a professor of English literature and later teaching government and ethics--at Duke University, the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, Oxford University, Texas State University, and Texas Tech University.

In 1974, the people of Texas's 21st Congressional District elected Krueger to be their U.S. Representative, and he was voted after his first term as the most effective freshman Member. Furthermore, in 1976, he was the only other Texan to stand and speak in support of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan's amendment to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. As the late Congresswoman said, ``He believed that democracy includes everybody.'' After two terms in the House, Krueger was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as U.S. Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Mexican Affairs. He remained in that role through the end of the Carter Presidency.

In 1990, Texas voters elected Krueger to the Texas Railroad Commission, a powerful entity that regulates oil and gas. Two years later, Texas Governor Ann Richards appointed him to fill the vacant Senate seat left by Senator Lloyd Bentsen. In the Senate, Krueger introduced anti-stalking legislation, and would

fight to strengthen healthcare for veterans, combat pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, and end Federal subsidies for tobacco, among other priorities.

After Krueger's Senate term ended, President Bill Clinton appointed him Ambassador to Burundi. At the time, Burundi was suffering from intense violence and political conflict, and the assignment represented deep faith in Krueger's diplomatic abilities. Krueger served in Burundi until 1995, when his convoy was ambushed by gunmen in an assassination attempt due to his vocal opposition to the genocide. On his courage, President Bill Clinton remarked, `` . . . if we didn't have brave people there, like Ambassador Bob Krueger, it would be even harder to avoid human tragedy.'' From 1996 to 1999, Krueger served as U.S. Ambassador to Botswana and later as a Special U.S. Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from 1998 to 2000. After an accomplished career in public service, Krueger returned to academia and retired in 2017, living out his days in New Braunfels at the same house in which he grew up.

Madam Speaker, I join my fellow Texans in mourning the loss of a stalwart patriot and public servant. Senator Bob Krueger's career took him around the world, but he never lost sight of his deep roots in Texas. My thoughts are with his wife of 39 years, Kathleen, his children, Mariana, Sarah and Christian, and all those who knew and loved him.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Affordable Insulin Now Act which would cap

out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month and help fight the scourge of diabetes.

In 2019, as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I organized meetings with leading insulin producers to confront them about the strain their prices are putting on the American people.

In each of those meetings, I said the same thing; that for millions of Americans, including a disproportionate number of Latinos, access to affordable insulin is a matter of life and death.

And for me and many of us, those aren't just numbers. Four months before I graduated from college in 1996, my grandmother died of complications from diabetes. If we fail to bring down the price of insulin, more families will suffer just like mine did.

But our responsibility is to all our constituents, not just those with insurance. So I co-sponsored Representative Doggett's amendment to extend the benefits of this bill to the uninsured, and I hope we will make that happen in the days to come.

But this bill is an important step forward, and I urge my colleagues to support it.