Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise in strong support of H. Res. 1449, a bipartisan House resolution I introduced with my dear friend, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, supporting global efforts to counter anti-Semitism.

It has been an honor to serve alongside Representative Smith as a co- chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

I thank House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman McCaul and Ranking Member Greg Meeks for their leadership and support in advancing this important measure through committee and to the House floor.

Mr. Speaker, we know that anti-Semitism is on the rise around the world. We know what a threat this is not just to the Jewish community but also to democracies around the world and to the very fabric of our own societies.

Today, not even 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz, anti- Semitism has grown, taken on new forms, and spread to more parts of the world. As we have seen since the Hamas terrorist attack of October 7, 2023, the single deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, anti- Semitism around the world has skyrocketed.

That explosion of anti-Semitism started on October 8, long before the IDF went into Gaza. In fact, it started while Hamas terrorists were still in Israel, attacking innocent civilians.

We saw shocking anti-Semitism rear its ugly head in Amsterdam earlier this month, where a violent mob planned a coordinated attack on Jews who attended a soccer match with an Israeli soccer team. It is deeply chilling that this attack happened around the 86th anniversary of Kristallnacht, and as the specter of violence against Jews in Europe rises again. It is equally chilling that the perpetrators of that violence live streamed their atrocities.

Here in the United States, FBI data shows that anti-Jewish hate crimes increased in 2023 by nearly 63 percent from 2022, totaling the highest number recorded in almost three decades. We are talking about violence, destruction, and the murder of Jews in this country simply because they are Jews.

Jewish Americans make up only 2 percent of the U.S. population, yet anti-Semitic hate crimes account for more than 15 percent of all hate crimes reported by the FBI and two-thirds of all religious-based hate crimes.

Even though we face a significant global challenge, we must not despair. We must take action. We must continue to make progress in the fight against anti-Semitism through resolutions like this one.

In 2004, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the OSCE, acknowledged that anti-Semitism assumed new forms and posed a new threat to security and stability in the region.

In 2016, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance built international consensus around a valuable working definition of anti- Semitism.

In recent years, many countries around the world have appointed special envoys or coordinators or advanced national strategies to deal with the rise of hate against Jews.

In 2021, Congress passed--and President Trump signed into law-- bipartisan, bicameral legislation to elevate the position of U.S. Special Envoy to the rank of ambassador.

In 2023, the Biden administration issued the first-ever ``U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.'' This July, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt unveiled the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, a new landmark international framework for acting against anti-Semitism, which countries around the world can sign on to and embrace.

I commend my good friend, Ambassador Lipstadt, and her team at the State Department for their excellent work on these guidelines. We now have a multilateral international framework that can provide guidance to other governments and to our own embassies about our shared obligation and responsibility to counter anti-Semitism.

This includes clearly and unequivocally condemning anti-Semitism, providing physical protection and security for Jewish communities, enforcing hate crimes laws, and educating future generations about the Holocaust and the long history of conspiracy theories and hate targeting Jews.

I am pleased that more than 40 countries and international bodies have already endorsed these guidelines, and we are working hard to make sure that more countries in different regions join them in the coming months.

H. Res. 1449 condemns the rise of anti-Semitism in many countries around the world, expresses our support for the global guidelines and other international efforts to counter anti-Semitism, and it calls on more countries around the world to endorse and embrace these guidelines.

I thank our colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support. What we are doing today is just the start, but we must do more. I deeply appreciate the leadership on both sides of the aisle and the commitment to this issue.

Before coming to Congress, I was fortunate to be involved in efforts to protect Jewish communities around the world for decades. Working together to make real progress in this fight, and on an issue where we can find agreement, has been a real highlight in my career and my time in Congress.

Mr. Speaker, anti-Semitism is wrong. It is dangerous. It deserves to be condemned, countered, and eradicated by all governments around the world. That is the purpose of our bipartisan resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me in supporting this bipartisan measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purposes of closing.

Mr. Speaker, once again, I thank my dear friend and colleague, Representative Chris Smith, for not just his work, but his passion on this critically important issue and his work for many, many years to combat anti-Semitism. I greatly value our friendship.

Mr. Speaker, throughout history, the persecution, expulsion, torture, and murder of Jews has not just destroyed Jews and their vibrant communities, it has brought decay and destruction to the countries that have committed those atrocities.

Sadly, we are seeing that happen today, even as we see Jews being blamed for their own destruction by their evil perpetrators. We must learn from history.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution condemns the frightening rise of anti- Semitism we are seeing today across the world in civilized communities. This resolution calls on countries around the globe to take specific actions to combat anti-Semitism by endorsing and embracing the landmark Global Guidelines for Countering Anti-Semitism.

Throughout history, as Jews were persecuted and tormented and expelled and murdered, those acts were perpetrated, fermented, and allowed by governments. Today, we have a different scenario because here in the United States, our government is standing firm against anti-Semitism and joining in the fight to combat anti-Semitism.

With these guidelines, we ask countries around the globe, we ask their governments, to join us in combating this horrific rise of anti- Semitism.

Once again, I thank my Republican cosponsor, Chris Smith, for his leadership and for his bipartisan cooperation. I thank all of the leadership and my colleagues on the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as the leadership in Congress for bringing this resolution so swiftly to the House floor for a vote.

Now, more than ever, the United States and countries around the world must stand strong and must stand together in the fight against anti- Semitism and all forms of hatred. I urge my colleagues to stand up and stand with me in supporting H. Res. 1449.

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

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

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

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

In the beginning of this Congress, my colleague from Texas and chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman McCaul, held a number of hearings that underlined the evil actions and aims of Russia's war against Ukraine. We looked at oversight issues, questions regarding strategic goals, and other aspects of U.S. support for Ukraine. All of that committee work was designed to shore up support for the freedom of Ukrainians ahead of difficult decisions and difficult votes about the United States' support for Ukraine's sovereignty and its ability to defend itself against wanton, unjustified Russian assaults.

One of the fundamental reasons to support Ukraine in this war boils down to truth and justice, whether we will decry the depravity of Putin's actions in Ukraine or whether we will look away. No other issue brings this better into focus than the forcible transfer and deportation of Ukraine's children to camps promoting indoctrination. These are brutal war crimes, plain and simple.

We were able to meet some of these children who were able to escape Russia at a committee hearing, and it was heartbreaking.

Due to Russia's renewed war of aggression, Ukraine limited intercountry adoptions, including Americans seeking to adopt Ukrainian children. On June 1, 2023, the Government of Ukraine amended its suspension of adoptions by allowing relatives of orphaned children to adopt. Ukraine is also processing intercountry adoptions for persons who have already received an official referral from its National Social Service to adopt.

We must recognize the positive steps that Ukraine has taken to permit intercountry adoptions while promoting the welfare and safety of Ukrainian orphans. I commend the Ukrainian Government and the Department of State for working to address

such concerns, including by allowing American families the opportunity to adopt Ukrainian children and provide them a second chance at a life free of the miseries of war.

Furthermore, in March 2024, the United States, under President Biden's leadership, was proud to join the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children. The goal is to ensure the safe return of all Ukrainian children who have been unlawfully deported or forcibly transferred by Russia to Russia and to promote accountability for those responsible.

Unfortunately, this Russian war has left Ukraine wounded, its families destroyed, and its children orphaned. H. Res. 915 paves the way for a path forward, empowering the Department of State to continue its diplomatic engagements with the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy, the National Social Service of Ukraine, and the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington to help provide these children with families to help raise them.

I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this measure, in supporting freedom and democracy for Ukraine, its people and its children, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross), my friend and the lead Democrat on this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this has been an unimaginable and agonizing time for the Ukrainian people, especially for the Ukrainian children who, sadly, have been pawns in this terrible war.

It has been agonizing for adoptive parents like those we heard about today who have been waiting to give some of these children warm and loving homes.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution is about doing what is right for Ukraine and for the children of Ukraine who have already endured such tragedy and hardship.

By working with Ukraine to reopen pathways for intercountry adoption, we are extending a lifeline to children who have been caught in the crossfire of an unjust war.

Let's make sure that, even in the darkest of times, we are creating pathways to brighten futures.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting H. Res. 915, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned that history is repeating itself. Anti-Semitism, Jew hatred, the demonizing, terrorizing, and killing of innocent Jews, especially women and children, is returning with a vengeance.

I want to take us back 83 years to December 15 of 1941 in Liepaja, Latvia.

For 3 terrifying days, German Nazis and Latvian collaborators rounded up thousands of Jewish women and children, forced them to march in the freezing cold to a beach on the Baltic Sea, ordered them to strip off their

clothing, and shot them dead in groups of 10 while others looked on terrified.

This horrific massacre has been memorialized by a brilliant Jewish artist in my community, Victoria Carlin Milstein, in a sculpture she has named ``She Wouldn't Take Off Her Boots.'' The sculpture, which stands in LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro shows a grandmother, her daughter, and her three granddaughters, arms locked together, awaiting their gruesome fate. All are barefoot, except the grandmother, who in an act of defiance, refused to take off her boots.

The sculpture was based on a haunting photograph taken by the Nazis to document their cruelty. The artist has placed a bronze camera in front of the statue so each person can look through the camera lens and see exactly what the photographer saw before the family was shot. Each person who looks through that camera is a witness to the unimaginable cruelty that was inflicted on innocent Jews while others stood by either complicit or silent.

A film has been made about the creation of this sculpture and a curriculum written to educate students and teachers about this dark time in history when 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust.

Tragically, we are experiencing the violent cruelty of anti-Semitism today.

On October 7, 2023, thousands of men from Gaza invaded Israel and tortured, burned, and murdered more than 1,200 innocent people. These Hamas jihadi terrorists driven by Jew hatred subjected women and girls of all ages to unimaginable acts of torture, mutilation, rape--violence intended to dehumanize and humiliate Jewish women and girls before they were murdered.

Just like the Nazis 83 years ago in the Liepaja massacre, the Hamas terrorists filmed their horrific acts to memorialize their unspeakable cruelty.

These acts should shock the conscience of the entire world, and yet for too long, the world stood silent. Despite overwhelming evidence, some continue to minimize or deny these war crimes.

Another Jewish woman, Sheryl Sandberg, made a film to show the world what happened on that terrible day, to allow the victims to tell their stories. Just like looking through the camera in front of Victoria's statue, we can all watch Sheryl's film and bear witness to the horrors of anti-Semitism.

I am proud of these Jewish women who have taken action to make sure we do not allow these atrocities to be denied or forgotten.

We must all take heed of the words of Elie Wiesel, which are inscribed on the base of Victoria's statue: ``The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference.''

As a nation, we must not be indifferent to the alarming rise of anti- Semitism across our country and around the world--from Los Angeles to New York to Amsterdam to Lithuania to Israel.

I call on my colleagues and all Americans to speak out against anti- Semitism and hate in all its forms and take action. Let us not be indifferent.

Release Keith Siegel

Mr. Speaker, it has been over a year since Hamas launched a brutal attack on our ally Israel, slaughtering 1,200 innocent people and taking hundreds of innocent people hostage.

Today, the families of these hostages continue to live in unthinkable anguish, desperate for their loved ones to return home safely.

Among them is the family of Keith Siegel from my home State of North Carolina.

On October 7, Keith and his wife, Aviva, were kidnapped from their home in K'far Aza and held captive together in inhumane conditions underground lacking food, water, and even air.

After 51 days, Aviva was released in a hostage exchange, but Keith, now 65 years old, remains in those horrific tunnels.

We must continue to fight for the return of Keith and all 100 hostages. We must keep them in our hearts and speak up for them.

Mr. Speaker, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal invasion of our ally Israel, killing more Jews than on any single day since the Holocaust and taking hundreds of hostages.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year later, thousands of families continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones, and the families of the remaining hostages continue to long for their safe return, including the family of Keith Siegel from my home State of North Carolina.

The unspeakable horrors Hamas has inflicted on innocent civilians, including terrifying sexual violence and its ongoing torment of the hostages, should shock the conscience of the entire world.

Just last month, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American citizen, was brutally murdered along with five other hostages in the Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza as they were about to be rescued by the IDF.

Since October 7, more than 40 American citizens have been killed by Hamas terrorists, and at least 10 remain hostages.

As we mark the anniversary of Hamas' devastating attack, I am grateful to President Biden and Vice President Harris for their unwavering commitment to securing the return of all hostages and for their clear recognition that the onus is on Hamas to accept a proposed deal.

Just last month, Israel accepted the terms for a deal. The responsibility continues to lie with Hamas to release the hostages and accept the deal on the table.

The release of the hostages and the surrender of the terrorist group Hamas is absolutely necessary to allow the international community to assist with the reconstruction of Gaza and bring about a stable government that is willing to live in peace with Israel. The Arab countries willing to assist in the rebuilding of Gaza will not do so if Hamas remains.

Israel stands as our strongest, most dependable, and only democratic ally in the Middle East. The United States must continue to stand by Israel as it faces ongoing attacks from Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, which began its attacks on Israel on October 8 while Israel was still fighting the terrorists who had invaded their country and had not yet sent troops to Gaza.

Even today, thousands of Israelis are unable to return to their homes in southern Israel, and almost 100,000 Israelis are unable to return to their homes in northern Israel because of Hezbollah's relentless attacks on Israeli civilians.

Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis must not be allowed to continue to destabilize the region and threaten Israel's security. They must be held accountable by the international community, and the United States must continue to affirm the safety and security of our ally.

Let us be clear-eyed about what is at risk, not just the security of our only democratic ally in the Middle East, but the defeat of a terrorist ideology that abhors our western values.

As we reflect on the horrors of October 7, my heart goes out to all the loved ones of those affected by Hamas' brutal assault. The attack on October 7 continues to traumatize Israelis and Jews across our country.

I urge Congress to continue to provide Israel the support it needs to protect its citizens and to protect the values we Americans hold dear.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3764, and I thank our Senate colleagues, especially Senators Marco

Rubio, Ben Cardin, and James Lankford, and my dear friend and colleague, Representative Chris Smith, for their leadership in advancing this important measure.

This bill would reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, which was established nearly 26 years ago as an independent, bipartisan U.S. Government advisory body to monitor and report annually on religious freedom abroad and make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress.

Mr. Speaker, the right of each individual to freely practice his or her religion or hold nonreligious beliefs is a fundamental human right. Yet, everyday individuals and communities around the world are subject to escalating violence, persecution, and discrimination simply for practicing their beliefs.

USCIRF's 2024 report outlines serious violations of religious freedom and highlights some concerning global developments, including laws restricting religious freedom like blasphemy laws, anti-conversion laws, and restrictions on religious garb, governments engaged in transnational repression to silence religious minorities and their advocates abroad, and the disturbing global rise of anti-Semitism during 2023 and 2024.

USCIRF has done an excellent job highlighting the threat that anti- Semitism poses to religious freedom, including issuing an important report on anti-Semitism in Europe in 2021, as well as highlighting the growing number of national strategies and other initiatives around the world to combat this trend.

This year, USCIRF noted the significant increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel in which Jews around the world were collectively blamed for the actions of the Israeli Government. USCIRF continues to document anti- Semitic tropes being weaponized in elections, Holocaust distortion and denial, and even the impact of laws prohibiting ritual slaughter on religious freedom.

Throughout this time, it has diligently followed its mission to advance international freedom of religion or belief by independently assessing and unflinchingly confronting threats to this fundamental right.

Mr. Speaker, USCIRF is needed more than ever. By reauthorizing USCIRF, we will ensure the commission will be able to continue to defend and promote religious freedom by conducting research, publishing reports and analysis for the public, and offering recommendations to policymakers on religious freedom violations around the world.

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

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

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

Mr. Speaker, this bill would allow USCIRF to continue its important work of advising Congress, engaging with the executive branch, monitoring religious freedom abroad, and raising public awareness.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representative Chris Smith and Senators Marco Rubio, Ben Cardin, and James Lankford, for their hard work on this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the ranking member from New York (Mr. Morelle).

I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7764, and I recognize my dear friend, Representative Wasserman Schultz, for her leadership on this effort.

Mr. Speaker, the National Museum of American Jewish History tells the story of American Jews and their myriad contributions to every facet of American life, from science and medicine to education and technology to music, theater, philanthropy, civil rights, and the pursuit of justice.

Jewish citizens were critical to building the textile industry in my hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, and have contributed to so many other facets of our life from civil rights, the arts, healthcare and so much more.

American Jews have worked hard to build our great country. Their story is the American story. Today we face a frightening rise in anti- Semitism. The FBI's 2023 hate crime statistics showed that Jews are the victims of 68 percent of religiously motivated hate crimes, despite being just 2 percent of the population.

History has taught us that when hatred against Jews is allowed to fester, it frequently grows to threaten other

minority groups and undermines the foundations of our democracy.

In the fight against hate and intolerance, education is one of the best tools we have. That is why the first-ever U.S. national strategy to counter anti-Semitism emphasizes the importance of broadening appreciation of Jewish-American heritage.

The Weitzman Museum does just that. It showcases important artifacts and stories from the first arrival of Jews to the Colonies in 1654, all the way to the present day.

Transferring this museum to the Smithsonian umbrella is the right and fitting thing to do. That is why 36 Jewish groups, including the ADL, AJC, and Jewish Federations of North America, support this bill.

This bill marks the first step toward achieving national level commitment to increasing awareness, understanding, and education about American-Jewish history.

Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I encourage all my colleagues to join me in doing the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner), my good friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), my friend.

Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Casten), my good friend.

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

Mr. Speaker, contrary to what we have heard this afternoon, the Biden-Harris administration has put forth a sensible rule related to ESG investing that puts the decisionmaking where it belongs: with the retirement plan professionals who are best positioned and bound by law to make sound decisions on behalf of workers. They, not Members of Congress, know what is best for their particular retirement plan.

H.R. 5339 reflects a mistaken premise that House Republicans, not retirement plan professionals bound by fiduciary responsibilities, know what is best. A diverse group of stakeholders, including the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Americans for Financial Reform, League of Conservation Voters, National Women's Law Center, Oxfam America, and others weighed in against this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two letters.

Mr. Speaker, we should reject this bill, 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.R. 7151, as amended. Export controls are more than just a bureaucratic tool. They are a key component of our national security strategy. By ensuring that sensitive American technology does not fall into the wrong hands, we protect not only our own interests but also those of our allies around the world.

Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security has played a crucial role in this effort. BIS has imposed unprecedented controls against China in the semiconductor and advanced computing sectors as well as crippling controls on Russia and Belarus, in partnership with almost 40 other nations. It has also added nearly 1,000 entities from Russia, China, Iran, and more than 30 other countries to the entity list, effectively blocking their access to U.S. technology that could be used against us.

However, as we expand the use of the entity list, it becomes increasingly important that Congress oversees this process to ensure it remains rigorous, transparent, and inclusive. This bill does exactly that.

However, this bill is about more than just process. It is about safeguarding the future. By ensuring that the End-User Review Committee operates fairly and efficiently, we strengthen our ability to respond to emerging threats in a rapidly changing world.

I thank Congresswoman Wagner, Chairman McCaul, and Ranking Member Meeks for their leadership and bipartisan cooperation on this bill.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, this bill is a vital step in protecting our national security by ensuring that our export controls are both robust and fair. It strengthens our ability to prevent sensitive technology from falling into the wrong hands while maintaining the rigorous oversight necessary to keep our processes fair, transparent, and effective.

By passing this measure, we affirm our commitment to safeguarding American innovation and staying ahead of emerging threats.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important bill, 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. 6606.

Over and over, we have seen Beijing fail to safeguard and enforce IP rights for U.S. firms. More alarmingly, we have seen it obtain American IP through illicit and problematic means such as strategic acquisitions, cyberattacks, and policies that coerce technology transfers.

This is a direct threat to America's economic security and competitiveness, and we need to use every tool we have to protect our industries and our workers.

That is why I support this bill by Delegate Radewagen. It makes a simple change to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to ensure that our export controls will better protect U.S. trade secrets on items subject to U.S. export control regulations.

Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill from Delegate Radewagen. It reflects the strong, bipartisan concern about the violations of American IP rights by Chinese persons and entities.

This addition of a statement of our policy of Export Reform Act of 2018

will ensure that our export control policies account for China's intent to acquire or steal our trade secrets to bolster its military capabilities; therefore, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1056, recognizing the importance of trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I start by thanking my good friend, Representative Connolly, for his leadership on this bipartisan resolution to emphasize and recognize the importance of trilateral cooperation for U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

I also commend the Biden-Harris administration, which has successfully revitalized our allies and partnerships in the region through proactive and effective diplomacy. The administration has significantly advanced America's strategic interests by seizing the opportunity provided by the bold leadership of President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida.

The administration has not only strengthened our bilateral ties with Japan and South Korea, but its decision to elevate this trilateral relationship has also reshaped the geopolitical landscape in a way that supports a rules-based international order.

Our collaboration with Tokyo and Seoul is essential to addressing challenges, from global health crises and environmental threats to countering China's economic and military coercion and North Korea's nuclear ambitions.

I express my gratitude to the governments and people of Japan and South Korea. Their commitment to upholding shared values, enhancing mutual prosperity, and strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific is a testament to the power of democratic alliances.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).

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

Mr. Speaker, in the Indo-Pacific and around the world, the United States is more secure when we build partnerships and work with our allies.

H. Res. 1056 recognizes the importance of trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and South Korea to uphold regional security, strengthen our economies, and work toward a free, open, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region.

By passing this resolution, we send a clear bipartisan message that Congress supports trilateral cooperation and that the U.S., Japan, and South Korea are not only aligned behind a shared vision but that we have the resolve to uphold it.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1056, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4741, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the Securing Global Telecommunications Act, bipartisan legislation that I introduced with Representative Young Kim of California, will preserve America's global leadership in tech and telecom and protect the safety and integrity of our networks.

Mr. Speaker, the devices we use every day, cell phones, tablets, and computers, connect to increasingly advanced mobile networks that depend upon a nearly invisible set of internationally agreed-upon standards.

However, in recent years, our adversaries and competitors, Russia and China, have tried to maximize their influence over international bodies like the International Telecommunication Union, the ITU, to shape new technology standards to their liking. They are determined to dominate the future of critical technologies, like 5G and AI, by giving their companies, such as Huawei and ZTE, an unfair advantage. This effort goes beyond boosting their businesses. It is about controlling a strategic domain, which could threaten our own security.

Failing to secure our communications infrastructure and networks could open the door to data theft, surveillance, and malicious threats against Americans.

That is why the U.S. and our allies must remain alert to this pressing threat and work together to counter it. We must also make it easier to deploy more secure and reliable tech and telecom infrastructure.

That is exactly what my bipartisan bill would address. It would require a comprehensive strategy for securing global telecom infrastructure worldwide, crack down on Russian and Chinese malign influence at the ITU, and support greater cooperation with our allies to promote and finance secure networks and trusted vendors.

By taking these measures, we can shore up our critical vulnerabilities and counter our adversaries' strategic technology goals.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, our adversaries believe they can achieve undue influence over international telecom infrastructure and technical standards. This bill would help stop them.

I encourage all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7159, the Pacific Partnership Act, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud that, in this Congress, we have been able to work in a bipartisan manner to strengthen our relationships with the Pacific Islands, from the bipartisan amendments, to the Compacts of Free Association, to the legislation before us today.

These legislative efforts support the leadership of the Biden-Harris administration, which hosted two summits with the Pacific Islands at the White House, opened new embassies in the Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu, and released the first-ever U.S.-Pacific Partnership Strategy.

This legislation would codify that strategy, ensuring that future administrations maintain that focus and provide other authorities to strengthen our outreach to the Pacific Islands and our coordination with allies and partners.

Together, we are affirming a fundamental point: The United States is a Pacific nation. We are determined to deepen and maintain our lasting partnerships with each of the Pacific Islands, and we will do so by listening to and incorporating the principles of what the Pacific Islands have articulated themselves. That collaborative approach is reflected in this bill.

I thank the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case), my good friend, for his leadership and dedication to this critical region. His work on this measure is a testament to our shared commitment to the Pacific and to ensuring that the United States remains a reliable and engaged partner.

Bipartisanship is so important because there is still so much work to be done. Our diplomats, developmental professionals, and Peace Corps volunteers are working tirelessly on the ground.

Can we sustain the resources they need to execute our policy?

Can we follow through on each of the deliverables the United States has promised, including at the Pacific Islands Forum that just concluded at the end of August?

I know each of us here understands the stakes, and I am committed to working with all of my colleagues to ensure that we follow through.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage support for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case).

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

Mr. Speaker, the Pacific Islands are not just our neighbors. They are our partners. The security and prosperity of this region are directly linked to our own. Together, we can ensure that the United States continues to be a leader in promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the Pacific Islands for generations to come.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 1608, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, Mexico is the top U.S. trading partner with bilateral commercial activity totaling more than $750 billion last year and accounting for more than 15 percent of total United States trade. These figures represent an investment in the American people and the Mexican economy.

In fact, U.S. companies directly invested $130.3 billion into Mexico in 2022, and nearly 5 million U.S. jobs depend on trade with Mexico.

That is why I support S. 1608, which will allow for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge. The existing bridge supports the economic well-being of so many in south Texas and U.S. businesses that rely on the bridge as a critical entry point for import-export into the United States. The expansion of the bridge connecting the United States and Mexico will support more resilient supply chains and address blockages caused by outdated infrastructure and traffic.

It is invaluable to local growers and producers on both sides of the border as they move vegetables, fruit, and other needed products to market.

I understand that the project is also designed to include toll booths, the fees of which will help pay for the cost of upkeep and maintenance.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).

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

I support this strong measure, which has strong bipartisan support. This bill will allow for the expansion of the Starr-Camargo Bridge, which will greatly benefit our supply chain capacity with our largest trading partner, Mexico. This is an investment in the American people and the U.S.-Mexican economy.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important bill. I thank my colleague, my good friend, Mr. Cuellar, for his work on this, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7089, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this important legislation authorizes the Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State to investigate allegations of human trafficking crimes.

I thank Chairman McCaul and Representative James for their leadership and for working with us on this legislation. I also thank the Bureau of Diplomatic Security for engaging with the committee in a constructive manner.

Human trafficking is a scourge on humanity. It is a grave violation of human dignity and freedom, exploiting the most vulnerable among us, including women and children.

The scale of this crime is staggering, with millions of people around the world trapped in conditions of forced labor, sexual exploitation, and unimaginable suffering.

These are not just statistics. They are real people with dreams, families, and aspirations, all cruelly taken away by traffickers.

This bill is not just about expanding authority. It is about ensuring that we have the capacity to act decisively and effectively. By enhancing our ability to investigate these crimes, we can bring more traffickers to justice and, more importantly, rescue and rehabilitate more victims.

Mr. Speaker, the passage of H.R. 7089 is a moral imperative. It is about standing up for the voiceless and ensuring that justice prevails. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this critical bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Human trafficking causes unimaginable suffering, and this bill empowers the Diplomatic Security Service to extend its essential work in investigating and combating these crimes, ensuring we can respond quickly and effectively.

Our Diplomatic Security officers, with their unique global reach and expertise, play a vital role in dismantling trafficking networks that operate across borders.

H.R. 7089 is not just about expanding authority. It is about delivering justice and hope to victims while holding traffickers accountable.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this important bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6614, as amended, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, the bill calls for more transparency around license application decisions by the Bureau of Industry and Security for potential exports to entities on its Entity and Military End Users Lists. Inclusion in these lists means that the export, re-export, and transfer of certain U.S. items to these entities requires a license.

This bill would enable Congress to conduct oversight to ensure that the BIS licensing and enforcement processes are working properly and effectively.

I thank Mr. Jackson and Chairman McCaul for working with Ranking Member Meeks to reach a bipartisan agreement on this bill, which will ensure that the committee is getting the information it needs while protecting business proprietary information and allowing BIS to effectively execute its core national security mandate.

As we add to the list of things we are asking BIS to do, it is also important that we equip BIS with the resources and staffing to meet those requirements. We are asking BIS to take on more responsibility with less.

BIS desperately needs to update its outdated and inefficient IT system, which has not been updated in over 15 years. In that time, the number of license applications BIS receives per year has more than doubled to over 40,000 per year.

As a result, simple data requests such as compiling license application information for Congress can be lengthy and often involve painstaking manual review of materials.

Let me repeat: We are adding more burden to BIS without giving them the resources they so desperately need.

Representative Crow and Ranking Member Meeks have worked on a bill to fund IT modernization for BIS, and I sincerely hope that as we pass bills like this one offered by Mr. Jackson, we also live up to our responsibility to actually equip BIS to do its important work and give them the resources they so desperately need.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, transparency is critical for effective congressional oversight, and Mr. Jackson's bill will allow Congress greater insight into the license application decisions and enforcement actions taken by the Bureau of Industry and Security.

The bill reflects the critical national security role that BIS and our export controls play in today's world, but placing greater burdens on BIS while failing to provide the necessary funding to update the 15- year-old equipment it uses is only doing half the job.

Therefore, it is important that Congress provide BIS with the resources and technology necessary to effectively implement this bill and advance its core mandate. I, therefore, encourage my colleagues to work with the urgency required to help us address the resource issue.

With that in mind, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.