Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Alabama for hosting this.

Fellow Texan William Nation was an Army captain in the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment on 22 June 1944, somewhere in France.

Dear folks, just a note to let you know that everything is

still okay. We got our mail a few days ago, and I was glad to

hear from you again. We have been plenty busy here, and last

night I pulled off my boots for the first time since D-Day.

I guess you know by now what D-Day is. We have had some

real experiences, some that I hope never to go through again,

but we made it out all right so far.

I guess you know more about what we did than I by reading

the papers. We had two news writers drop with us. One broke

his leg, but the other is writing all along.

This will have to be cut short for now, but I will try to

write more this afternoon. I will try to let you know from

day to day how things are, but if you don't get a letter from

me, don't be worried.

We all feel rather immortal after that first night, and

most of us are living on borrowed time anyway. Love, Bill.

Just a quick story. When I parachuted into D-Day celebrations in 1993, I went up to the superintendent of the cemetery that stands there above Omaha Beach.

He motioned to a D-Day veteran saying goodbye. He said that man was a combat engineer on Omaha Beach. He led the first wave ashore. He was the only man of his unit that made it alive onto the shore, and he comes back to visit his buddies every year.

This year, when I parachute into D-Day on Friday, I will be carrying a portrait of Glenn Stevens, G Company, 3rd Battalion, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who parachuted into D-Day. He was a constituent all those years ago in CD-3 in Texas.

I will also be carrying a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart that belong to Staff Sergeant Starlin Lee Click who was a veteran of D-Day. It is my little way of honoring the men who risked everything on June 6, 1944. May we never forget.

Mr. Chair, I rise in support of the CBDC Anti-Surveillance State Act.

We must prohibit the Federal Reserve from issuing this currency. If you don't want to talk about China, let's talk about the United States. Mr. Chair, we just spent months debating the Fourth Amendment is Not for Sale Act and the FISA reauthorization. The central debate surrounding these two bills was government surveillance of our citizens.

Throughout my time in Congress, I have fought to protect Americans from unconstitutional surveillance right here in America. This bill is another tool to protect our citizens' rights.

Mr. Chair, we don't have to guess what would be the use of this CBDC. We have witnessed various United States Government agencies from the IRS to the FBI targeting conservatives for their beliefs. Do you want your Buc-ee's coffee or your monthly mortgage payment or the ammo you purchase for your hunting trip to be visible to the Federal Government? I suggest not.

We must continue to fight back against the continuing and obvious weaponization of the Federal Government and prevent the creation of a central bank digital currency.

Mr. Chair, this could be the final step toward absolute and total surveillance by the Federal Government.

I urge my colleagues to support the freedom of Americans and vote for the underlying bill.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the Working Dog Commemorative Coin Act.

This bill honors the important role that working and service dogs play in the lives of Americans, one of whom is a constituent of mine, Special Operator Jason Morgan.

Jason's story is absolutely incredible. He was found face down in a swamp in Central America after a mission went wrong. He had a shattered spine, collapsed lungs, and numerous broken bones. It was a miracle he even survived.

After waking up from a coma that lasted for months, doctors told him he would never walk again. He then went through many painful surgeries, with his life hanging by a thread many times.

When he finally left the hospital, he was in a wheelchair and had memory loss. His life seemed to be falling apart. He was left to care for his three young sons on his own. Everything changed when Jason met Napal, a black Labrador Retriever.

With Napal by his side, Jason's life and his family's life changed completely. Napal helped Jason overcome his paralysis. Jason completed a marathon and won awards and medals in the Wounded Warrior Games. More than that, this amazing service dog helped heal Jason's family and taught him how to be the father his kids needed.

I have personally seen Napal many times steal the show with his personality and his love of life and his dedication to service. Napal's tour of duty has now been completed, and Yago has taken up his duties.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, as a special operator in the United States Army, our commitment to each other was to leave no man behind. Our Commander in Chief does not hold to that doctrine.

President Biden has not only turned his back on our ally Israel, but he has also abandoned the Americans still being held hostage by Hamas.

My fellow Americans, this used to mean something. U.S. citizens have been held by terrorists for over 220 days, very reminiscent of the waning days of the Democratic Carter administration when American hostages were left in Iran for 444 days. They were released just minutes after President Reagan took the oath of office.

I pray the hostages in Gaza will not suffer at the hands of Hamas for another 224 days. We don't even hear the Biden administration mentioning American hostages.

Make no mistake, President Biden is aiding and abetting Hamas terrorists instead of supporting Israel.

I can just imagine the terrorists playing an endless loop of Democrat sound bites to the hostages, saying your President is on our side, with headlines like: ``Biden Just Betrayed Israel--and Rewarded Hamas,'' ``U.S. withholding `sensitive intelligence' on Hamas from Israel,'' ``Biden Admin Wants Israeli Forces To `Get Out Of Gaza,''' and ``Pentagon chief confirms U.S. pause on weapons shipment to Israel.''

While our Commander in Chief signals weakness to the world and support to terrorists, I am here to send a message to those being held hostage: You are not forgotten. Congress must fight to get you out in spite of obstacles put in place by Democrats and terrorists.

Mr. Speaker, we must support Israel's right to eradicate Hamas, and we must bring our hostages home immediately.

Mr. Speaker, today, I stand in solemn reflection in the wake of the first anniversary of the devastating mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlet Mall.

I stand to pay tribute to the eight cherished souls we mourn from that fateful day and to commend the courageous actions of the countless heroes in our community whose swift response mitigated what could have been an even greater tragedy.

On May 6, 2023, the community of Allen, Texas, faced a harrowing ordeal as a lone gunman unleashed terror upon innocent shoppers and workers in the Allen Premium Outlet Mall. Amidst the chaos and devastation, our first responders' collective bravery and swift actions exemplified the highest standards of courage and professionalism as they selflessly risked their safety to protect and assist those in harm's way.

Therefore, I extend my deepest gratitude and solemn appreciation to the individuals, departments, and agencies whose acts of valor undoubtedly saved lives and provided comfort and reassurance to a grieving community.

In remembrance of the innocent lives lost--Kyu Song Cho, Cindy Cho, James Cho, Elio Cumana-Rivas, Christian LaCour, Daniela Mendoza, Sofia Mendoza, and Aishwarya Thatikonda--we honor their memory and offer our sincerest condolences to their families and loved ones.

I reaffirm my commitment to combating senseless acts of violence and fostering communities of peace and safety. May this proclamation stand as a testament to the resilience, compassion, and spirit of unity that define our Nation in the face of adversity.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a list of those individuals and organizations who assisted.

Allen Police Officers

Ofc. Dominique Akins, Ofc. David Childers, Ofc. Ryan

Dexter, Ofc John Pena, Ofc. Lane Pollan, Ofc. Daryel

Whitehead, Ofc. Rory Kelly, Ofc. Brett Anderson, Ofc. CJ

Rider, Corporal Dillon Egizi, Corporal Kyle Griffith, Sgt.

Chadwick Hernandez, Lt. Ty Latham, Lt. Kris Wirstrom.

Allen Fire Department

Jake Blackshear, Hunter Bostick, Dean Boyce, Jonathan Boyd,

Kristopher Bravo, Hunter Brent, Zach Caldwell, David

Cannaday, Chase Condor, Tony Cooper, Marcus Corey, James

Cummings, Hannah DeGan, Brandon Derrick, Elton Grant, Greg

Grimes, Sam Herber, Jillian Hernandez, Brian Hoverman, Jared

Inman, Payton Lambert, Paul Lopez, Matt Madding, Steve

McCormick, Marc Morrow, Roger Nolen, Jeffrey Peters, Mark

Randle, Simeon Royal, Nolan Skidmore, Justin Sullivan, Greg

Truitt, Luis Vargas, Michael Wade, Daniel Williams, Michael

Wilson.

County

Collin County Sheriff's Office, Collin County Constable 1,

Collin County Constable 3.

Municipal Police Departments

Dallas PD, McKinney PD, Frisco PD, Fairview PD, Hickory

Creek PD, Prosper PD, Wylie PD, Plano PD.

Municipal Fire Departments

McKinney Fire, Plano Fire, Fairview Fire, Frisco Fire,

Prosper Fire, Lucas Fire, Princeton Fire.

State

Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Alcohol Beverage,

Commission.

Stop Spending Money We Don't Have

Mr. Speaker, the everyday people of America can't stand at this podium and talk about the crushing inflation Washington's spending has created. The single mothers struggling to put food on the table don't have a voting card to vote against the spending that fuels food price increases. Young families struggling to buy a home can't give a speech on the House floor about the surging home prices and mortgage rates.

We are their voice. We are their Representatives, or at least we are supposed to be, but based on the tax-and-spend policies of the administration and the blowout omnibus packages forced through this Congress by many of my own colleagues, I might add, I don't think Congress is doing a very good job listening to America.

Mr. Speaker, this Congress has passed two massive spending packages, continuing the blowout COVID expansion and leaving Nancy Pelosi's spending levels in the dust.

What did Americans get for it? What did they get for their money? They didn't get a secure border. They didn't get safer cities. They sure didn't get a better economy.

Mr. Speaker, do you know who did benefit from the blowout spending? LGBTQ youth organizations, transgender organizations, abortion facilities, and the FBI, which got a brand-new headquarters and expanded authority to spy on Americans.

Mr. Speaker, the Washington establishment is addicted to spending my constituents' money, and it is never enough. We are $34 trillion in debt, and it is still never enough.

I have no doubt there are plans brewing right now in this murky swamp to clear the decks--that is the phrase--and use the upcoming appropriations to force through more spending and more leftwing poison pills with nothing to actually secure our border and significantly cut spending to stimulate our economy. It doesn't have to be this way.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my constituents and Texas District Three, I urge my colleagues to wake up. Stop spending money we don't have and commit to cutting wasteful government spending. We must bring prosperity back to the hardworking Americans.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Case Gibson from Lone Oak Middle School in Hunt County, Texas. It is with great honor and admiration that I recognize his remarkable bravery and selflessness.

During a medical emergency in September of 2023, Case Gibson demonstrated extraordinary courage and quick thinking, ultimately saving the life of a fellow student. Despite the intense and urgent situation, he fearlessly jumped into action, displaying a level of empathy, bravery, and maturity far beyond his years.

The heroic actions of Case Gibson on this day serve as a shining example of the exceptional character and leadership qualities he embodies, both within Lone Oak Middle School and the community.

In addition to his heroic deed, he is recognized for his outstanding academic achievements, his leadership skills, and his humble, respectful, and thoughtful demeanor.

Case Gibson is hereby honored and celebrated for his exceptional bravery, selflessness, and heroism in saving the life of his fellow student during a medical emergency in September of 2023, and for that I extend my gratitude.

Honoring Staff Sergeant J.B. McNatt

Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to honor Staff Sergeant J.B. McNatt of Greenville, Texas, who recently marked his 100th birthday on April 18, 2024.

Staff Sergeant McNatt is a true example of courage, sacrifice, and commitment. He served our Nation with honor in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, during which he worked as a pilot in multiple duty assignments.

His dedication to our Nation and its values extended far beyond his military service, as he contributed to the betterment of our society in the postwar years in his hometown.

Staff Sergeant McNatt serves as both an inspiring testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a living reminder of the sacrifices made by the Greatest Generation in the pursuit of freedom. For this, I extend my eternal gratitude.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, and I will make a glaring point: This war is not, economically speaking, even a fair fight.

The gross domestic product of the European Union is nine times that of Russia's. Their population is three times that of Russia's. The European Union can do more. If the United States continues to fund this effort, the EU will not muster the political will to do what they should.

Yes, Russia is a strategic adversary of America, but it is a bigger threat to our European allies. Even now, many NATO nations are not doing the required 2 percent of GDP on defense. Europe must act with greater urgency.

We have heard a lot about Churchill and Chamberlain. May I point out that they are both British. If Great Britain and Europe as a whole had done more with Austria, with Sudetenland, history might be different.

Mr. Chair, I implore my colleagues to put America's border security ahead of Ukraine's.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4691, my bill. In response to the surprisingly bellicose comments by the ranking member, Madam Speaker, no one wants to go to war with Iran, but when the Iranian regime chants ``Death to America'' or ``Death to Israel,'' America's response must be swift with immediate deterrence.

While I cannot compare to the chairman and the ranking member's years in this body, I did spend many years as a military planner, and I will tell you, I agree with President Reagan: ``We know only too well that war comes not when the forces of freedom are strong, but when they are weak.'' Case in point, Iran's massive attack on Israel just days ago.

Make no mistake, the Biden administration has covertly fueled Iran's global sponsorship of terrorism. Three times in the last year, the administration signed off on a sanctions waiver to Iran, unlocking $10 billion that were previously frozen.

Then, in September, the President agreed to give $6 billion to Iran in exchange for hostages. Lifting sanctions freed up billions of dollars that Iran used to support terrorist proxies, such as Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels, and Hamas.

Shockingly, after Hamas terrorists savagely murdered 1,200 innocent Israelis on October 7, the White House refused to correct course.

Before President Biden was sworn into office, Iran had $4 billion in foreign reserves. That number today is $70 billion. Again, $4 billion before, $70 billion today. Congress was never involved in these decisions, and this is only the most recent tip of the iceberg.

Let's not forget Obama's Iran deal, which most agree was a disaster. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, otherwise known as the JCPOA, was a plan of action to benefit Iran. The JCPOA did not end Iran's nuclear weapon production but lifted sanctions, including access to at least $50 billion in liquid assets.

Later, in 2017, Congress passed a sanctions bill against the areas overlooked in the Iran deal on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis. There is no reason to allow the White House to override Congress by providing sanctions relief to the number one donor to Hezbollah, the Houthi rebels, and Hamas.

My bill, the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act, will prevent just that. This legislation establishes a detailed procedure for Congress to review any action by the President to terminate, waive, or modify sanctions on Iran. Under the bill, the President must report to Congress on any proposed sanctions relief and the reasons for the change in policy.

Congress must not allow the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism to get a payday as it continues to spread its malign influence on a global scale.

Madam Speaker, Congress must rein in the actions of a lawless President. Congress must reassert Article I authority.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1149, I call up the bill (H.R. 5947) to provide for the rescission of certain waivers and licenses relating to Iran, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, this past weekend, we saw Iran unleash an unprecedented missile and drone attack on our ally Israel. Iran launched over 350 missiles and drones. We are incredibly fortunate that Israel, the United States, and other partners successfully intercepted 99 percent of those weapons. Had they not, the damage would have been catastrophic.

How did a regime that has been subject to international sanctions for decades have the resources to develop such advanced weaponry? The answer is that Iran is incredibly skilled at illicit finance, sanctions evasion, and exploiting every possible loophole to fund their malign activities.

Time and time again, we have allowed ourselves to accept the fiction that we can issue sanctions waivers that give Iran access to funds for limited use on allegedly humanitarian transactions without enabling the regime's malign activities.

We need to face facts. This is patently false.

Money is fungible, and the Iranian regime does not care about its people, as evidenced by their wide-scale human rights abuses and repression.

Under President Trump's maximum pressure campaign, Iran was starved for foreign reserve currency. This forced the Iranian regime to make hard choices.

With these waivers in effect, every dollar or euro that we provide the Iranian regime, even if purportedly for purchases of agriculture equipment or other humanitarian uses, frees up another dollar or euro that Iran's regime will spend on missiles, drones, its nuclear program, or its terrorist proxies.

Beyond the question of money being fungible, Iran has a demonstrated track record of falsifying humanitarian purchases.

In fact, the Department of Justice has previously charged a bank for ``facilitating transactions fraudulently designed to appear to be purchases of food and medicine by Iranian customers, in order to appear to fall within the so-called `humanitarian exception' to certain sanctions against the Government of Iran, when in fact no purchases of food or medicine actually occurred.''

Enough is enough. With this bill, H.R. 5947, we are eliminating the sanctions waivers tied to the $6 billion in Iranian funds in restricted accounts in Qatar and tied to the $10 billion Iran has received from Iraq in electricity payments. It is too dangerous to allow Iran continued access to these funds, even with the nominal restrictions on how they are used.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting to revoke these sanctions waivers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger), my colleague and friend, the author of this bill, and a member of the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Homeland Security.

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

Again, returning our attention to the consideration of the bill at hand, H.R. 5947, Congress granted these waiver authorities over a decade ago hoping that they could be used to help the Iranian people without compromising our national security.

What we have seen in the last 10 years is that Iran cannot be trusted. These waivers failed. The JCPOA itself granted access to at least $50 billion to the primary sponsor of terrorism around the world.

Since then, we have seen some $70 billion at least given to the Iranian regime by the Biden administration.

Iran continues its dangerous, deadly buildup of weapons and other capabilities. The Iranian people continue to suffer at the hands of the regime which uses evasive tactics to divert money that should be spent on their people to support other malign activities.

Again, Iran is the primary sponsor of terror around the world, and now our partners and allies all over the Middle East are also victims of Iran and its proxies.

We have a responsibility to the freedom loving people of the Middle East not to be funding their oppressors. We need to revoke these waivers, and we need to do it today.

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

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

Mr. Chair, it appears that the House of Representatives is experiencing a constitutional crisis of conscience. We are actually debating if a warrant should be required for government intelligence agencies to spy on Americans. Frankly, I am stunned this is even called into question, especially amongst my Republican colleagues.

The Constitution is absolutely clear. We, as Americans, have the right under the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable search and seizures, a right that the FBI has violated in over 278,000 improper searches of Americans and 3.4 million warrantless queries of Americans' private communications.

These facts are not up for debate. We know this. They have been caught. If we do not pass this warrant requirement, especially in light of these facts, the continued victimization of Americans by the FBI through FISA section 702 will be legitimized.

As an Army officer, as a county judge, and now as a Member of Congress, for 40 years I have been under oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies. I will do so today. On behalf of over 800,000 of my constituents in Texas District Three: Get a warrant.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Plano East Panthers basketball team for their perfect season, going 40-0 and capturing the program's first-ever division 6A State championship. This was the Panthers' first State title in any team sport.

The Panthers, led by Head Coach Matt Wester, became the first men's basketball team to go unbeaten in 6A, the highest level, amassing 40 wins by an average 22.7 point differential across the season. Each of East's seven playoff wins came by double figures, amassing an average margin of victory by 23.4 points.

In the State championship game, the Panthers only gave up 41 points, which ranks as the eighth fewest points the team surrendered all season. As the top-ranked Texas team and number three team in most national polls, the Panthers claimed the first State championship in school history, led by D.J. Hall's 18 points and six rebounds. Hall was named the Conference Final Most Valuable Player.

In addition, Rachard Angton added 13 points and Jordan Mizell pitched in 8 points and eight rebounds.

Through their display of teamwork and dedication, the Panthers made both the city of Plano and the State of Texas proud. It will be exciting to watch them next year and see if they can run it back.

Madam Speaker, I congratulate the Panthers on a remarkable season. They were perfect.

Honoring Sergeant Nicholas B. Lovren

Madam Speaker, it is with great honor I rise today to recognize Sergeant Nicholas B. Lovren of the Fairview Police Department as he retires after 20 years of dedicated service in law enforcement.

Sergeant Lovren's steadfast dedication to serving and assisting those in

need has been a constant motivation throughout his career. His deep understanding of the noble responsibility entrusted to him as a guardian of the community was always evident.

Sergeant Lovren exemplified his commitment to protecting the community during the May 6, 2023, mass shooting at the Allen Premium Outlets, displaying exceptional bravery and professionalism in the face of intense adversity.

His passion for his profession was recognized not only by his colleagues but also by the community he served, as evidenced by commendations and accolades throughout his tenure.

Beyond the call of duty, Sergeant Lovren is active in various outreach programs in his community and is a devoted family man to his wife, Lendsie, and their three children, Alice, Hunter, and Libby.

As he embarks on this new chapter of his life, I commend Sergeant Lovren for his outstanding contributions to law enforcement and the community, and I want to extend my congratulations and best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule to allow consideration of H. Res. 1065, denouncing the Biden administration's immigration policies.

Every day we see a new horror story in the news, a new headline about some violent crime committed by an illegal alien: 22-year-old nursing student, Laken Riley, brutally murdered by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant; Travis Wolf, one day away from celebrating his 12th birthday, killed by an illegal immigrant driving the wrong way; 16- year-old Texas teen, Lizbeth Medina, stabbed to death by an illegal immigrant from Mexico with a criminal background.

Laken Riley, Travis Wolf, and Lizbeth Medina should still be here today.

Every crime committed by an illegal alien is preventable. Every murder, every rape, every robbery is preventable.

Criminal violence is the current outcome that we are seeing every day due to Biden's open-border policies. What about the risk of terrorism?

In my 25 years in the Army, if I learned anything, it is that evil still stalks the world. We are importing part of that evil to the United States today.

We have seen an escalation of the horrors inflicted on American families by the invasion on our southern border. How many horrific headlines must we endure before Biden closes the border and stops the carnage against Americans?

Madam Speaker, I rise today to support the underlying bill that will keep our airports operational while we work to pass a full FAA authorization bill.

However, I have major questions for the FAA, and I will be brief.

The single worst terror attack in our history started at airports. Yet today, some of our largest airports, including Boston Logan, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, and Chicago O'Hare are housing unvetted illegal aliens from around the world--potentially terrorists.

Who would have thought this was a good idea?

This reeks of danger.

How can we be sure that none of these unvetted illegal aliens are not terrorists who intend to strike our airports or airliners?

In some cases, they are being housed in terminals inside airports or in bus terminals just off active runways. If just one person were to smuggle a shoulder-fired weapon into one of these migrant holding areas, they would have an easy takedown of a jetliner.

Using airports to shelter illegal immigrants is a major national security threat and an outrageous misuse of taxpayer funding. Therefore, as we pass the FAA extension and press on toward a full-term bill, I urge my colleagues to include a section that explicitly bans housing illegal immigrants within airport premises.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Allen Police Chief Brian Harvey as he retires after 44 years of dedicated service and leadership in the field of law enforcement.

Chief Harvey took the oath of office as the Allen Police chief on February 7, 2012. During his tenure, he demonstrated steadfast leadership, strategic guidance, and an unyielding commitment to public safety.

Prior to leading the Allen Police Department, Chief Harvey contributed 32 years of valuable law enforcement experience as the deputy chief of police with the Dallas Police Department.

Chief Harvey's leadership has been characterized by stability, innovation, and a commitment to the growth and efficiency of the police department.

During his tenure, Chief Harvey enhanced community outreach and transparency, and implemented vital police recruitment initiatives, including expanding the school resource officer program and providing imperative mental health training and resources for the department.

Chief Harvey continually spearheaded efforts to keep the department updated on the latest technological advancements, setting a precedent that other departments emulated.

Chief Harvey's leadership during critical moments, including during the May 6, 2023, active-shooter incident at the Allen Premium Outlets and the subsequent weeks, demonstrated exceptional bravery and courage among his responding officers, saving lives and showcasing the resilience of the Allen Police Department.

Chief Harvey's retirement provides an opportunity for reflection on his remarkable achievements and lifetime of service. For that, I extend my gratitude.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5375) to require a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation between the United States, Australia, India, and Japan and to seek to establish a Quad Intra-Parliamentary Working Group to facilitate closer cooperation on shared interests and values, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 5375.

The Chinese Communist Party is a generational threat and is becoming increasingly coercive toward its neighbors and other nations around the world.

The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue--commonly known as the Quad-- brings together the United States, Australia, Japan, and India, four nations that share democratic principles, respect for the rule of law, and a vision for the free and open Indo-Pacific.

In the face of growing CCP aggression, it is more important than ever to foster strong, resilient ties with our Quad partners to combat malign CCP influence and protect democracy in the Indo-Pacific.

That is why I support the Strengthening the Quad Act, introduced by my colleague from New York (Mr. Meeks).

This legislation will enhance Quad ties by ensuring regular engagement between the United States Congress and the legislatures of the Quad countries.

It also requires the administration to provide Congress with a strategy for bolstering engagement and cooperation with the Quad.

I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Together, we can more effectively counter coercion from any nation looking to dismantle democratic values and the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

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

Mr. Speaker, I will point out that the recently approved National Defense Authorization Act, indeed, pivoted our hard power, our military power, toward the Indo-Pacific.

This is a critical and important piece of building our alliances across the Indo-Pacific so that we can have a coherent, coordinated approach toward the CCP.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank both President Trump and President Biden for their vision of the importance of the Indo-Pacific.

I thank Ranking Member Meeks for introducing this bill, which was unanimously supported by the Foreign Affairs Committee at our markup.

I support its passage, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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