Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, as President Donald Trump left office, he presented an address the evening before his departure correctly reviewing his achievements. I have had the opportunity to see his success firsthand.

Last January, I was in a bi-partisan delegation to Poland and Israel. In Krakow citizens were grateful to President Trump placing American troops in Poland deterring Russian aggression. At the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem, citizens were so appreciative of President Trump. Previously, I led a House delegation for the historic opening in May 14, 2018, of the American Embassy in Jerusalem with President Trump fulfilling Promises Made Promises Kept.

Last February, I accompanied Senator Tim Scott and his mother, Frances Scott, to his hometown of North Charleston on Air Force One with President Trump where he highlighted his heartfelt success for American families of the lowest unemployment seen ever for African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans.

The Address of January 19, 2021, can be cherished by the 62,984,828 Trump supporters in 2016 carrying 86 percent of the nation's counties, and by the 74,216,722 Trump supporters in 2020 resulting in South Carolina having the largest Republican majorities in 140 years.

``My fellow Americans, four years ago we launched a great

national effort to rebuild our country, to renew its spirit,

and to restore the allegiance of this government to its

citizens. In short, we embarked on a mission to make America

great again for all Americans. As I conclude my term as the

45th President of the United States, I stand before you truly

proud of what we have achieved together. We did what we came

here to do, and so much more. This week we inaugurate a new

administration and pray for its success in keeping America

safe and prosperous. We extend our best wishes, and we also

want them to have luck, a very important word.

``I'd like to begin by thanking just a few of the amazing

people who made our remarkable journey possible. First, let

me express my overwhelming gratitude for the love and support

of our spectacular First Lady Melania. Let me also share my

deepest appreciation to my daughter, lvanka, my son-in-law

Jared, and to Baron, Don, Eric, Tiffany, and Lara. You fill

my world with light and with joy. I also want to thank Vice

President Mike Pence, his wonderful wife, Karen, and the

entire Pence family. Thank you as well to my chief of staff,

Mark Meadows, the dedicated members of the White House staff,

and the cabinet, and all of the incredible people across our

administration who poured out their heart and soul to fight

for America.

``I also want to take a moment to thank a truly exceptional

group of people, the United States Secret Service. My family

and I will forever be in your debt. My profound gratitude as

well to everyone in the White House military office, the

teams of Marine One and Air Force One, every member of the

armed forces, and state and local law enforcement all across

our country. Most of all, I want to thank the American

people. To serve as your president has been an honor beyond

description. Thank you for this extraordinary privilege. And

that's what it is, a great privilege and a great honor. We

must never forget that while Americans will always have our

disagreements, we are a nation of incredible, decent,

faithful, and peace-loving citizens who all want our country

to thrive and flourish and be very, very successful and good.

We are a truly magnificent nation.

``All Americans were horrified by the assault on our

capital. Political violence is an attack on everything we

cherish as Americans. It can never be tolerated. Now more

than ever, we must unify around our shared values and rise

above the partisan rancor and forge our common destiny. Four

years ago, I came to Washington as the only true outsider

ever to win the presidency. I had not spent my career as a

politician, but as a builder looking at open skylines and

imagining infinite possibilities. I ran for president because

I knew there were towering new summits for America just

waiting to be scaled. I knew the potential for our nation was

boundless as long as we put America first. So I left behind

my former life and stepped into a very difficult arena, but

an arena, nevertheless, with all sorts of potential if

properly done.

``America had given me so much and I wanted to give

something back. Together with millions of hardworking

Patriots across this land, we built the greatest political

movement in the history of our country. We also built the

greatest economy in the history of the world. It was about

America first because we all wanted to make America great

again. We restored the principle that a nation exists to

serve its citizens. Our agenda was not about right or left.

It wasn't about Republican or Democrat, but about the good of

a nation, and that means the whole nation. With the support

and prayers of the American people, we achieved more than

anyone thought possible. Nobody thought we could even come

close. We passed the largest package of tax cuts and reforms

in American history. We slashed more job-killing regulations

than any administration had ever done before.

``We fix our broken trade deals, withdrew from the horrible

Trans-Pacific Partnership and the impossible Paris Climate

Accord, renegotiated the one-sided South Korea deal.

And we replaced NAFTA with the groundbreaking USMCA, that's

Mexico and Canada, a deal that's worked out very, very well.

Also and very importantly, we imposed historic and monumental

tariffs on China, made a great new deal with China. But

before the ink was even dry, we and the whole world got hit

with the China virus.

``Our trade relationship was rapidly changing. Billions and

billions of dollars were pouring into the US but the virus

forced us to go in a different direction. The whole world

suffered, but America outperformed other countries

economically because of our incredible economy and the

economy that we built. Without the foundations and footings,

it wouldn't have worked out this way. We wouldn't have some

of the best numbers we've ever had. We also unlocked our

energy resources and became the world's number one producer

of oil and natural gas by far. Powered by these policies, we

built the greatest economy in the history of the world. We

reignited America's job creation and achieved record-low

unemployment for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian

Americans, women, almost everyone. Income soared, wages

boomed. The American dream was restored and millions were

lifted from poverty in just a few short years. It was a

miracle.

``The stock market set one record after another, with 148

stock market highs during the short period of time, and

boosted the retirements and pensions of hardworking citizens

all across our nation. 401(k)s are at a level they've never

been at before. We've never seen numbers like we've seen, and

that's before the pandemic and after the pandemic. We rebuilt

the American manufacturing base, opened up thousands of new

factories, and brought back the beautiful phrase Made in the

USA. To make life better for working families, we doubled the

child tax credit and signed the largest-ever expansion of

funding for childcare and development. We joined with the

private sector to secure commitments to train more than 16

million American workers for the jobs of tomorrow.

``When our nation was hit with the terrible pandemic, we

produced not one, but two vaccines with record-breaking speed

and more will quickly follow. They said it couldn't be done,

but we did it. They called it a medical miracle. And that's

what they're calling it right now, a medical miracle. Another

administration would have taken three, four, five, maybe even

up to 10 years to develop a vaccine. We did it in nine

months. We grieve for every life lost and we pledge in their

memory to wipe out this horrible pandemic once and for all.

``When the virus took its brutal toll on the world's

economy, we launched the fastest economic recovery our

country has ever seen. We passed nearly $4 trillion in

economic relief, saved or supported over 50 million jobs, and

slashed the unemployment rate in half. These are numbers that

our country has never seen before. We created choice and

transparency in healthcare, stood up to big pharma in so many

ways, but especially in our effort to get favored nations

clauses added, which will give us the lowest prescription

drug prices anywhere in the world. We passed VA Choice, VA

Accountability, Right to Try, and landmark criminal justice

reform.

``We confirmed three new justices of the United States

Supreme Court. We appointed nearly 300 federal judges to

interpret our Constitution as written. For years, the

American people pleaded with Washington to finally secure the

nation's borders. I am pleased to say, we answered that plea

and achieved the most secure border in US history. We have

given our brave border agents and heroic ICE officers the

tools they need to do their jobs better than they have ever

done before and to enforce our laws and keep America safe. We

proudly leave the next administration with the strongest and

most robust border security measures ever put into place.

This includes historic agreements with Mexico, Guatemala,

Honduras, and El Salvador, along with more than 450 miles of

powerful new wall.

``We restored American strength at home and American

leadership abroad. The world respects us again. Please don't

lose that respect. We reclaimed our sovereignty by standing

up for America at the United Nations and withdrawing from the

one-sided global deals that never served our interests. And

NATO countries are now paying hundreds of billions of dollars

more than when I arrived just a few years ago. It was very

unfair. We were paying the cost for the world. Now the world

is helping us.

``And perhaps most importantly of all, with nearly $3

trillion, we fully rebuilt the American military, all made in

the USA. We launched the first new branch of the United

States Armed Forces in 75 years, the Space Force. And last

spring, I stood at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and

watched as American astronauts returned to space on American

rockets for the first time in many, many years.

``We revitalize our alliances and rallied the nations of

the world to stand up to China like never before. We

obliterated the ISIS caliphate and ended the wretched life of

its founder and leader alBaghdadi. We stood up to the

oppressive Iranian regime and killed the world's top

terrorist, Iranian butcher, Qassem Soleimani. We recognize

Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and recognized Israeli

sovereignty over the Golan Heights. As a result of our bold

diplomacy and principled realism, we achieved a series of

historic peace deals in the Middle East. Nobody believed it

could happen. The Abraham Accords opened the doors to a

future of peace and harmony, not violence and bloodshed. It

is the dawn of a new Middle East, and we are bringing our

soldiers home. I am especially proud to be the first

president in decades who has started no new wars.

``Above all, we have reasserted the sacred idea that in

America the government answers to the people. Our guiding

light, our North star, our unwavering conviction has been

that we are here to serve the noble everyday citizens of

America. Our allegiance is not to the special interests

corporations or global entities, it's to our children, our

citizens, and to our nation itself. As president my top

priority, my constant concern has always been the best

interests of American workers and American families. I did

not seek the easiest course. By far, it was actually the most

difficult. I did not seek the path that would get the least

criticism. I took on the tough battles, the hardest fights,

the most difficult choices because that's what you elected me

to do. Your needs were my first and last unyielding focus.

This, I hope, will be our greatest legacy.

``Together, we put the American people back in charge of

our country. We restored self-government. We restored the

idea that in America no one is forgotten because everyone

matters and everyone has a voice. We fought for the principle

that every citizen is entitled to equal dignity, equal

treatment, and equal rights because we are all made equal

by God. Everyone is entitled to be treated with respect,

to have their voice heard, and to have the government

listen. You are loyal to your country and my

administration was always loyal to you.

``We worked to build a country in which every citizen could

find a great job and support their wonderful families. We

fought for the communities where every American could be safe

and schools where every child could learn. We promoted a

culture where our laws would be upheld, our heroes honored,

our history preserved, and law-abiding citizens are never

taken for granted. Americans should take tremendous

satisfaction in all that we have achieved together. It's

incredible.

``Now, as I leave the white house, I have been reflecting

on the dangers that threaten the priceless inheritance we all

share. As the world's most powerful nation, America faces

constant threats and challenges from abroad. But the greatest

danger we face is a loss of confidence in ourselves, a loss

of confidence in our national greatness. A nation is only as

strong as its spirit. We are only as dynamic as our pride. We

are only as vibrant as the faith that beats in the hearts of

our people. No nation can long thrive that loses faith in its

own values, history, and heroes for these are the very

sources of our unity and our vitality.

``What has always allowed America to prevail and triumph

over the great challenges of the past has been an unyielding

and unashamed conviction in the nobility of our country and

its unique purpose in history. We must never lose this

conviction. We must never forsake our belief in America. The

key to national greatness lies in sustaining and instilling

our shared national identity. That means focusing on what we

have in common, the heritage that we all share. At the center

of this heritage is also a robust belief in free expression,

free speech, and open debate. Only if we forget who we are

and how we got here could we ever allow political censorship

and blacklisting to take place in America. It's not even

thinkable. Shutting down free and open debate violates our

core values and most enduring traditions.

``In America, we don't insist on absolute conformity or

enforce rigid orthodoxies and punitive speech codes. We just

don't do that. America is not a timid nation of tame souls

who need to be sheltered and protected from those with whom

we disagree. That's not who we are. It will never be who we

are. For nearly 250 years in the face of every challenge,

Americans have always summoned our unmatched courage,

confidence, and fierce independence. These are the miraculous

traits that once led millions of everyday citizens to set out

across a wild continent and carve out a new life in the great

West. It was the same profound love of our God-given freedom

that willed our soldiers into battle and our astronauts into

space.

``As I think back on the past four years, one image rises

in my mind above all others. Whenever I traveled all along

the motorcade route, there were thousands and thousands of

people. They came out with their families so that they could

stand as we passed and proudly wave our great American flag.

It never failed to deeply move me. I knew that they did not

just come out to show their support of me. They came out to

show me their support and love for our country. This is a

republic of proud citizens who are united by our common

conviction, that America is the greatest nation in all of

history.

``We are and must always be a land of hope, of light, and

of glory to all the world. This is the precious inheritance

that we must safeguard at every single turn. For the past

four years, I have worked to do just that. From a great hall

of Muslim leaders in Riyadh to a great square of Polish

people in Warsaw, from the floor of the Korean Assembly to

the podium at the United Nations General Assembly, and from

the forbidden city in Beijing to the shadow of Mount

Rushmore, I fought for you. I fought for your family. I

fought for our country. Above all, I fought for America and

all it stands for, and that is safe, strong, proud, and free.

``Now, as I prepare to hand power over to a new

administration at noon on Wednesday, I want you to know that

the movement we started is only just beginning. There's never

been anything like it. The belief that a nation must serve

its citizens will not dwindle, but instead, only grows

stronger by the day. As long as the American people hold in

their hearts, deep and devoted love of country, then there is

nothing that this nation can not achieve. Our communities

will flourish. Our people will be prosperous. Our traditions

will be cherished. Our faith will be strong and our future

will be brighter than ever before. I go from this majestic

place with a loyal and joyful heart, an optimistic spirit,

and a supreme confidence that for our country and for our

children, the best is yet to come. Thank you and farewell.

God bless you. God bless the United States of America.''

Madam Speaker, my wife Roxanne and I will always be appreciative of Sheldon and Miriam Adelson who hosted us on a visit to Israel with a boat ride on a first century replica fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. I am grateful to serve as a co- chair of the Israel Caucus, Sheldon Adelson was a valued Friend of Israel.

He is honored by Jonathan Garber of Fox Business with an obituary upon his death and our family extends our deepest sympathy to the Adelson Family.

Sheldon Adelson, [Las Vegas Sands CEO] . . . has died

following a battle with cancer. He was 87.

Adelson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2019

and recently stepped away from the company to resume his

treatment, the company said on Jan 7.

`Mr. Adelson was the first employee of Las Vegas Sands--

``Team Member Number One'' he liked to say. Today, more than

50,000 Sands team members have Dr. Adelson and the entire

Adelson family in their thoughts and prayers and are grateful

to have had their lives touched by a true force of nature,'

according to a statement from Las Vegas Sands.

Adelson, who is survived by his wife Dr. Miriam Adelson and

five children, had a net worth of $35.6 billion as of Jan.

11, according to Forbes.

A funeral will be held in Israel, the birthplace of Miriam

Adelson, with plans for a memorial service held in Las Vegas

to be announced at a later date, according to the company.

He entered the casino business in 1989 when he purchased

the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for $128 million and

is credited with helping transform Las Vegas into the top

U.S. destination for conventions and exhibitions.

Adelson in 2007 opened Venetian Macao on the Cotai Strip,

helping recreate the Las Vegas Strip in an autonomous region

of the People's Republic of China. Three years later, he

opened the $6 billion Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore.

In conclusion, God Bless our Troops and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Madam Speaker, The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, December 29, Chun Han Wong reported that Wuhan Chronicler Zhang Zhan was convicted of ``picking quarrels and provoking trouble with her posts'' jailing her for four years.

``A Chinese court imposed a four-year prison term on a

citizen journalist who documented how Covid-19 ravaged the

city where the coronavirus was first detected . . .

``Zhang Zhan, 37 years old, was convicted of ``picking

quarrels and provoking trouble'' after a roughly 2\1/2\-hour

trial . . . where prosecutors accused her of spreading

falsehoods about the pandemic through social-media posts . .

.

``Her detention dovetails with Chinese leader Xi Jinping's

campaign to recast the

coronavirus pandemic . . . featuring extensive propaganda and

censorship efforts aimed at mollifying public anger and

suppressing criticism against missteps in the government's

initial response.

``In Monday's trial, Ms. Zhang said she regarded the

proceeding, against her as illegitimate . . .''

I especially regret the Communist Party repression of the Chinese people because my father, First Lieutenant Hugh Wilson, served in China during World War II in the Flying Tigers where I grew up with his affection for the Chinese people and their extraordinary culture.

In conclusion, God Bless our Troops and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Madam Speaker, I rise to support the objection. People across the United States are rightfully concerned about the mishandling of their votes and irregularities in the 2020 federal election. I share this concern given the incredible irregularities, additionally because the Constitution provides that election laws are the sole jurisdiction of state legislators which must be maintained, and not to be changed by obscure unilateral and judicial abuse with unfounded defiance of state laws. As a nation of laws, violence must never be excused by any one for any reason.

As a former Lexington County Election Commissioner, not just as a Member of Congress, I am disgusted at the irregularities in the 2020 presidential election. The failure to validate signatures, the omission of witnesses, the interruption of counting before completion, the denial of poll watchers for access to fully observe, the extension of ballots received beyond Election Day, and the registration of illegal aliens, allowing non-citizens to vote, are all an open invitation for fraud. I had counted on courts to fully consider lawsuits by 18 states and 126 members of Congress, but the Courts have declined to act.

In four states, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, the authority of the state legislatures to enact election rules and procedures, which is delegated by Article II, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Constitution was unlawfully subverted. This is an unconstitutional act.

For these reasons, I will object to certification of the Electoral College.

Madam Speaker, thousands of dedicated patriots will be in Washington tomorrow to Stop The Steal peacefully protesting the irregularities of the 2020 election. I will welcome the Stedmans of New Jersey, the Durhams of South Carolina, and the Carons of Florida. They are already winners with Republican gains in Congress with 19 additional Republican women, and all Republican House incumbents re-elected as 15 incumbent Democrats lost, and The Epoch Times, December 2nd by Pete Svab highlighted Republican gains in the state legislatures:

``Republicans expanded their control of state legislatures

in the 2020 election, flipping both chambers in one state

while gaining more than 160 seats overall.''

``Their lead over Democrats thus increased to more than 700

seats (about 67 percent) from over 400.''

``The 2020 gains bring the GOP to a total of more than

4,000 seats.''

``The balance of power has major consequences. States

decide much of the policy that affects people's daily lives,

in areas such as education, law enforcement, health care,

housing, and infrastructure.''

I especially appreciate in South Carolina the leadership of President Donald Trump has produced the largest Republican majorities in 140 years at all levels of government.

In conclusion, God Bless our Troops and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Madam Speaker, an article today by Caitlyn Byrd titled, ``Republican Nancy Mace to be sworn in as South Carolina's newest member of Congress'' in The State newspaper of Columbia reports that:

``[Nancy Mace will be] South Carolina's newest member of

Congress and the state's only female representative in

Washington.'' (She is one of the 15 Congressional seats

flipped in 2020 from Democrat to Republican).

``Mace, 43, joins a record-breaking number of Republican

women elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Mace, a

Daniel Island Republican, will be one of 18 freshman GOP

women in the 117th Congress.

``Mace's two children, Elli and Miles, were expected to

watch their mom become a congresswoman . . .''

As a native of Charleston myself, I am grateful for the success of Congresswoman Mace. I also appreciate my mother, Wray Wilson, who campaigned in Charleston for President Eisenhower in 1952 before there were any elected Republicans in South Carolina, at any level. With the Trump landslide, now there are the largest Republican majorities in the state with more elected Republicans in 140 years.

In conclusion, God Bless our Troops and we will never forget September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

Mr. Speaker, it has been 3 legislative days since House Democrats undermined the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act by shifting the bipartisan bill into a partisan NDAA.

There is still time to correct the widow's tax on spouses of servicemembers whose lives were lost during Active Duty or through a service-connected cause.

Members of Congress know this legislation is critical, with over 365 cosponsors being 86 percent of the Members of Congress.

Congress needs to act out of respect of members of the military and their families.

According to the ongoing WUSA 9 report, thousands of surviving military spouses feel their government has abandoned them. This is unconscionable.

As Edith Smith, a surviving spouse, said, those who died earned this benefit. It is not a gratuitous benefit. They earned it.

Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Madam Speaker, last week, House Democrats had the chance to bring the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act on the floor to repeal the widow's tax.

Roll Call described, today, the bill as a ``broadly supported bipartisan bill'' with 365 cosponsors. This was the first legislation to achieve the Consensus Calendar and would have received a standalone vote, having 86 percent cosponsorship.

Roll Call said: ``Wilson's bill, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, would end a disparity between government payments made to surviving spouses of servicemembers who die on Active Duty.

``The `widow's tax' . . . requires the surviving spouses to forfeit much of their DOD Survivor Benefit Plan annuity when they receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation from the VA.

``The Rules Committee did not give Wilson a heads-up that they were going to put language in the NDAA rules to remove his bill from the Consensus Calendar.''

This was a partisan political gimmick. It is not too late to bring it back up as a standalone bill to help the spouses.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 441, Condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires in July 1994, authored by Mr. Deutch of Florida.

In July 1994, a terrorist tied to the Iranian-backed Hezbollah carried out a murderous bombing of the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 85 innocent people and injuring hundreds more.

Unfortunately, 25 years later, the cowardly perpetrators of this attack have evaded justice due to a series of coverups and a botched investigation. This reminds us that terrorism is a continuing threat in our hemisphere and that we must always be vigilant.

This important resolution condemns the attack, expresses concern over the continued delay in the resolution of the case, and it encourages accountability for those responsible.

The resolution also recognizes a series of critical events, including the mysterious death of the lead prosecutor, Alberto Nisman, who formally accused the Government of Iran and Hezbollah for their role and implicated the Fernandez Kirchner government in negotiating immunity for the Iranian suspects.

This resolution demonstrates our commitment to supporting the Government of Argentina, one of our great regional partners, in finding justice for the victims and their families, and combating the continued threat of terrorism in our hemisphere.

I was grateful to work with my colleague, Mr. Deutch, the chairman of the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism Subcommittee, on this important resolution.

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

General Leave

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution condemning the attacks on peaceful protestors and supporting an immediate peaceful transition to a civilian-led democratic government in Sudan. I thank Congressman Kildee, Congressman Bilirakis, and Chairman Engel for their leadership on this issue.

For months, thousands of Sudanese peacefully took to the streets to protest the brutal and oppressive dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. In April, he was removed from office.

I condemn the brutal attacks against peaceful protestors that took place on June 3. Over 120 people were killed, and hundreds more were wounded. The security forces responsible for carrying out and orchestrating these heinous attacks must be held accountable.

While we are hopeful that the July 5 agreement on the composition of a transitional government will be officially signed and set into motion, there is still much more to be done to advance a true civilian- led democracy. We cannot tolerate spoilers of this process, particularly those who look to support the status quo and the military regime in Khartoum.

I support the diplomatic efforts of Special Envoy Booth and commend President Donald Trump's administration for convening high-level working groups to align other countries in supporting a peaceful and democratic future for Sudan. We must continue our engagement at the highest levels to stand with the Sudanese people and their struggle for freedom and democracy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the primary Republican cosponsor of this measure.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank my colleagues for offering this timely resolution to condemn the brutal attacks on peaceful protesters and stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan.

The United States must continue our efforts to support a civilian-led democratic government in Sudan and take action against those who wish to undermine the will of the Sudanese people.

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 in strong support of this resolution to condemn dangerous threats to freedom of the press and freedom of expression around the world, understanding that the media has a responsibility of fairness without bias and an independent media is a cornerstone of an educated society and a necessary pillar to a healthy democracy.

Unfortunately, freedom of the press and freedom of expression are not protected in many countries.

Dictators fear anything that challenges their power. They go to great lengths to restrict the rights of their citizens and control their own people. They attack human rights activists and protesters who march in the street.

The last thing that a tyrant wants is to be exposed as a corrupt and immoral leader. As a result, they intimidate, arrest, and sometimes kill members of the media for doing their jobs.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 251 reporters worldwide were being held in prison in 2018. More than half of them were being held in Turkey, China, and Egypt.

Last year, over 54 journalists were killed in the line of duty. Thirty-four of them were murder victims.

Of course, sadly, we are all familiar with the heinous killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post who was murdered by Saudi agents.

These crimes are completely unacceptable. Republicans and Democrats stand together as Americans in condemning foreign governments that attack journalists and crack down on press freedoms.

This resolution allows us to speak in a unified voice to express our support for those who want to report the news without fearing for their lives. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairman Schiff and Congressman Chabot for their bipartisan work on this issue. The United States must continue to provide a strong voice for a free press and independent media across the globe emphasizing fairness. Supporting a free press must remain an essential part of America's foreign policy, and I urge all Members to support this resolution.

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 in strong support of H.R. 2037, the Saudi Arabia Human Rights and Accountability Act.

The killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist and former diplomatic adviser, was a hideous and gruesome crime. The United States must ensure that everyone involved in this appalling human rights violation must be identified and held accountable.

Intimidation and violence by any government against peaceful dissent must be met with strong disapproval by responsible nations. If we do not respond forcefully to this brutal attack,

we invite future violations of international norms. Peaceful dissidents all over the world are watching us, waiting to see if we will stand up for their cause.

That is why I am grateful to support H.R. 2037, which requires a report to identify those responsible for this heinous assault and blocks visas for those directly involved with this murder. We cannot have business as usual with those who carried out an extrajudicial murder in cold blood. They should not get to come to the United States and pretend like nothing happened.

I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their commitment to ensuring that Jamal is not forgotten. He deserves justice, and his family deserves justice.

I thank the chairman and Mr. Malinowski for working to ensure that even as we press for accountability, we can continue diplomatic engagements with our partner of Saudi Arabia. These diplomatic engagements are crucial in pushing for human rights improvements mutually beneficial to our Saudi allies, such as the release of wrongfully detained Americans and other matters.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to, once again, thank Chairman Engel and the Committee on Foreign Affairs' membership for their bipartisan work to respond to the terrible injustice of Jamal Khashoggi's murder.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 129, Condemning the Government of Saudi Arabia's Continued Detention and Alleged Abuse of Women's Rights Activists.

Last year, we were all heartened by the news that Saudi Arabia was planning to lift its longstanding ban on women driving. We hoped that this would be a sign that the kingdom would finally shed its notoriously harsh policies toward women, such as the guardianship system under which women cannot make decisions without the permission of a male relative.

Tragically, we were mistaken. The kingdom has detained and reportedly tortured several of the activists who had long campaigned for more rights for women, including the right to drive. While some of these activists have been temporarily released, they continue to face trial for their peaceful protests.

This resolution calls on Saudi Arabia to release these peaceful activists and to hold accountable those who tortured them. It also calls on Saudi Arabia to end the guardianship system.

We welcomed reports from the past week that Saudi Arabia may loosen a few select restrictions within the guardianship system, but it is far past time for women in Saudi Arabia to make their own decisions about their lives.

The United States has a responsibility to advocate for human rights all over the world, including the right for peaceful dissent.

While we value our strategic partnership and alliance with Saudi Arabia, our partnership does not let the kingdom off the hook for abuses of fundamental human rights.

Today, the United States House of Representatives calls on Saudi Arabia to do better, to treat its women as citizens with full and equal rights, and to release and exonerate the peaceful dissidents who have long campaigned for human rights, including the rights of women.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank Chairman Engel, Representative Frankel, Representative Wagner, and the Foreign Affairs Committee members for their bipartisan work to advocate on behalf of the women of Saudi Arabia, including human rights activists.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill to prioritize the targeting of wildlife traffickers as part of the Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program.

I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Buchanan) for leading this important bill and also Chairman Engel for bringing this bill to the floor.

This legislation would give explicit authority to offer financial rewards for information pertaining to the capture or conviction of high-profile wildlife traffickers around the world. This is a powerful tool for Federal law enforcement to target those who engage in wildlife trafficking.

Illicit wildlife trade is a multibillion-dollar industry. This funds terrorists and criminal networks around the world, destabilizing countries and stripping communities of valuable economic resources.

We know that the criminals that poach and then traffic wildlife products are the same people and networks that traffic weapons, drugs, and people.

Our ability to crack down on illicit funding streams for criminal and terrorist networks is critical to U.S. national security interests in the global war on terrorism.

We must ensure that the State Department and our law enforcement personnel have the tools they need to combat this horrible trade.

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

Mr. Speaker, Congress should strive for Democrats and Republicans in Washington to truly work together. When the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act reached 365 bipartisan cosponsors, I was grateful to share the good news. That is a remarkable more than 80 percent of Congress.

House Democrats had the ability to bring the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act to the floor tomorrow to repeal the widow's tax. Instead, Democratic leadership has diverted a vote by tacking it onto a flawed and hyperpartisan bill without notice late at night, which they know will not receive support on both sides of the aisle.

This is heartbreaking for the 65,000 military widows in America. However, it is not too late to do the right thing and keep this as a standalone bipartisan bill.

I encourage our colleagues across the aisle to put H.R. 553 on the Consensus Calendar. Together, we can give servicemembers and their families the recognition they deserve.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.