Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I first want to welcome Steve Scalise back to this House floor. The strength of his message shows why he is such a hero to us all.

I also want to tell the story of another hero, one from my congressional district in Dayton, Ohio.

On April 5, 2016, letter carrier Donte Cotton saw an overturned car that had collided with a pole. The driver told Donte her child was inside the car. Acting on immediate instinct, Donte crawled through broken glass to rescue the baby from the car. Both the mother and the child were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries.

In August of last year, Donte again found himself in the right place at the right time; again, on his letter carrying route.

While on his normal mail delivery route, an elderly woman, whose home had just been invaded, ran up to Donte seeking help. Donte drove the woman to a nearby police cruiser, ensuring her safety.

His courage is being rewarded this week by the National Association of Letter Carriers, which has given Donte its 2017 Central Area Hero Award.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Donte for his acts of true heroism in our community.

Mr. Chairman, I join with Chairman Wittman in expressing opposition to this amendment.

As he has indicated, the Navy has no indication that they have a military requirement for icebreakers. Right now we are trying to reverse the effects of sequestration. We are fighting against budget cuts. When you use money for something other than what it was intended for, it is a budget cut, and that is what this would be. No one is talking about raising the top line of the overall defense budget, but they are talking about using the funds otherwise for something that is not defense.

I want to join with everyone who is speaking on this issue of the importance of the Coast Guard and certainly its impact and certainly the issues of icebreaking, but shipbuilding for the Navy and for our military should be concentrated on our military. Certainly the funds that we are appropriating to the Department of Defense should remain in the Department of Defense, and, therefore, I rise with Chairman Wittman in support of the opposition.

Mr. Chair, in closing, I want to say that--going to Admiral Richardson's words--Admiral Richardson clearly states that the mission of icebreaking is a Coast Guard mission. There is not a disagreement there, but the disagreement is using resources that are within the Defense budget in order to do that.

If you are going to put the responsibility for building icebreakers and maintaining and operating them with the Coast Guard, yet you are going to put the money in the Department of Defense budget where there is no control, there is no oversight, that is a catastrophe waiting to happen.

If this is going to happen, it should happen within the Department of Homeland Security's budget or there needs to be a debate about where, ultimately, the Coast Guard needs to be located. But to put money in one area of the budget and expect that it is going to be managed properly and applied properly with someplace where there is not even jurisdiction, I think is problematic.

Again, it is clear where the missions are. It is clear where the responsibility lies between the Homeland Security Department, the Coast Guard, the Navy, and the Department of Defense.

I want to make sure we are building more cutters and icebreakers, and if we are going to do that, let's make sure we do it in the proper way. I think there are ways to construct language to make that happen, but this is not the way to do it.

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

Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2810, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018.

I have the privilege of serving as the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, and I want to particularly thank my subcommittee's ranking member, Ms. Tsongas, for her support in completing the markup of the bill, as well as for her hard work and for the bipartisan work that we have done together on the issue of sexual assault in the military. I appreciate her leadership in that.

I strongly support this bill and can't emphasize enough Chairman Thornberry's steadfast leadership in raising the top line in this bill. This bill recommends $631 billion, a significant and needed increase over the original budget request that supports both the base and unfunded requirements, which totaled over $30 billion. Without Chairman Thornberry's leadership, this number would not be sufficient.

We are presenting a budget that helps rebuild the readiness of our forces. This increased base funding will begin to rebuild full-spectrum readiness from years of deferred modernization brought on by the previous administration.

Within the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee jurisdiction, this bill authorizes over $12 billion in additional funds to address critical unfunded modernization requirements identified by the services.

The bill recognizes the importance of land forces in current and future operations and authorizes over $2 billion to accelerate armored brigade team modernization, to include additional Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles.

The bill addresses strike fighter capability and capacity shortfalls and authorizes another $2 billion in additional funding to secure additional F-35 Strike Fighters and F-18 Super Hornets to address unfunded requirements for the Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.

I am also pleased that this bill supports the European Deterrence Initiative, using OCO and addressing the needs of our European allies.

This bill contains language from the BE HEARD sexual assault bill that I worked with Representative Tsongas on, that we introduced in June, and I am very proud that we continue to advance for the cause of protecting our servicemembers from sexual assault.

I am also pleased to note that Evan's Law is included in this bill. This bill will ensure that the that Department of Defense implements military residential window safety measures to protect against unintentional falls by young children.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the National Defense Authorization Act.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment is not about fiscal security. It is arbitrary. It is arbitrary cuts without any reference whatsoever to our security risks, without any assessments to the needs of our military, and it is incorrectly stated that we are giving things to our military that they do not want. In fact, they needed more.

There is a whole category called unfunded requirements that they put before the House Armed Services Committee. And I want to say that again: unfunded requirements. It is not unfunded wishes, unfunded needs--unfunded requirements. And they are based on the mission that we have assigned the military and their inability to do so as a result of that gap, and many of which we were unable to fund in this bill.

What would some of those relate to? We could take a tour around the world and we know the risks that we are facing: China, Russia, North Korea, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, ISIS, terrorism. These are not issues that you take up lightly and then say we can undertake an arbitrary cut.

By the way, if this was really about fiscal security, it would be a 1 percent cut across all spending, but it is only

going to apply to the military. This doesn't apply to the IRS. It doesn't apply to the EPA. This is only saying that the military should be cut as a result of some concept of fiscal savings.

But the savings that we have taken have damaged our military already. The Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, General Stephen Wilson, at HASC, testified in February of this year, `` . . . we have become one of the smallest, oldest equipped, and least ready forces across the full spectrum of operations in our service history,'' the entire history of the Air Force.

In 1991, we went to Desert Storm. Our Air Force was 500,000 people and 134 fighter squadrons. Today we find ourselves at 317 in our active force, with 55 fighter squadrons.

The Navy is the same. It is the smallest since World War II. Deployments continue to increase, and training and maintenance periods have been shortened, eliminated, or deferred.

The number of Marine Corps infantry battalions have been reduced by four since 2010, going from 28 to 24.

Admiral William Moran, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, has also indicated that of the Navy aircraft, 60 percent are unable to operate.

At the end of this amendment, it incorrectly states that there should be no cuts to military personnel, and it incorrectly states that because the rest of the cuts actually apply to our military personnel. It applies to what we ask them to do and what we give them to do the job.

Our military should be honored. It should not be faced with additional cuts. We should honor what is in this bill. We should satisfy their requirements, and we should support our men and women in uniform.

Mr. Speaker, while I had been granted a leave of absence during the time these votes occurred on June 26, 2017, Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 323 and YEA on Roll Call No. 324.

Mr. Speaker, sometimes out of loss, a cause arises and the lives of others are saved. I rise today to ask for my colleagues' support of a bill I introduced today, Evan's Law.

My bill would require the Department of Defense to make windows in military residential housing safe for military families and their children by equipping housing units with fall protection and prevention devices to protect against unintentional falls by young children.

We ask our servicemembers to go into harm's way to protect our Nation and our way of life. Our servicemembers deserve to live in residential housing properly equipped with window fall prevention devices to make sure their children are safe in their own homes.

Mr. Speaker, joining me today in the balcony is Commander Jason English; his wife, Ami; and their children, Jason, Luke, Lydia, and Joshua.

Commander English and his family have been tireless advocates for residential window safety requirements in the Department of Defense. They lost their son Evan. Commander English and his family have worked to raise awareness about the danger young children face in residential housing.

I thank the English family for their hard work. I am hopeful that Evan's Law will become a part of the National Defense Authorization Act. I urge my colleagues to join me in their support.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to welcome Romanian President Klaus Iohannis to our Nation's Capital, and I look forward to personally meeting with him this evening. Two days ago, President Iohannis placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the Arlington National Cemetery, honoring the memory of our service members. Tomorrow, he is meeting with President Trump and other American officials. Romania is a stalwart U.S. partner and an important member of the NATO Alliance. It hosts the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System at Deveselu military base, which protects NATO members from ballistic missile threats originating from the Middle East.

Romania has also been a staunch American ally in global counterterrorism operations against ISIS and Al Qaeda, collaborating on intelligence-sharing initiatives to support U.S. and NATO operations. The Romanian armed forces have supported U.S. and NATO missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other theaters for over a decade, contributing more than 30,000 total combat and support personnel. With over 600 troops currently serving in Afghanistan, Romania maintains the fourth largest NATO contingent protecting vital U.S. security interests and the safety of Afghan communities and international forces.

I join all my colleagues in welcoming a true friend, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the CEO of United Airlines, Oscar Munoz, apologized to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for his company having dragged a passenger off of one of their aircraft. Mr. Munoz highlighted the policy changes the airline has made since the wake of the incident.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that Congress should hold the airlines accountable and ensure that the events like what happened to Dr. Dao are prevented.

When United Airlines had Dr. Dao forcibly removed on April 9, the airline more than just created a disruption for him and other passengers; it sparked a national outrage. Dr. Dao was bumped from his flight by a crew member of United in line with the then-airline's policies that crews could book seats on United flights until flights departed.

An airline's lack of preparation for its own staff's travel should not result in the disruption of the lives of its paying customers. Now crew members of United are required to make must-ride bookings at least 1 hour prior to departure, and they are not able to displace customers who are already on board.

However, today, I believe that we need to go further. This still has travelers at risk. So today, I am introducing the Hands Off Passengers Act or the HOP Act. This bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to modify a regulation regarding the involuntary deplaning or the denial of boarding of a flight by any passenger on an oversold flight merely to accommodate a member of the airline flight crew or staff. In other words, it prevents an airline from bumping ticketed passengers of an overbooked flight merely for the travel of one of the airline's crews.

Airlines should be better prepared on the movement of their crew to avoid the disruption of the lives of paying customers.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Honorable Michael J. Newman, Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and who is president of the Federal Bar Association, for his achievements in piloting a special veterans court in Dayton, Ohio.

With Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Dayton VA Medical Center both located in the Dayton community, and with the large number of veterans residing in my 10th Congressional District, southwest Ohio is a prime region for establishing a court that concentrates on veterans' issues.

Judge Newman's veterans court appears to be the first of its kind in the State of Ohio, and it aims to address an area of need in the Miami Valley, assisting military veterans who have been charged with relatively minor offenses get their lives back on track.

In many cases, treatment and strong guidance is a better course of action to remedy misdemeanor Federal offenses than jail time, which can lead to a cascade of negative unintended consequences, such as difficulty in obtaining employment.

Thanks to Judge Newman's efforts to cooperate with the United States Attorney's Office and the Federal Public Defender's Office, veterans in the Dayton, Ohio, area can receive treatment for mental health and substance abuse issues, which so often underpin these minor offenses, rather than sitting in jail.

Veterans who decide to participate in Judge Newman's 6-month-long pilot program are required to work closely with a Veterans Justice Outreach coordinator, who acts as a mentor and caseworker, providing guidance, facilitating treatment, and helping secure housing and employment.

Besides meeting with their veterans officer, veterans must also attend medical appointments, receive recommended treatment, and not reoffend in order to graduate. Upon successful completion, the misdemeanor charges are frequently dismissed, allowing former servicemembers to truly earn themselves a second chance at life.

Of the more than 33 veteran participants thus far, 20 have successfully completed the program, and several others are continuing to make progress as we speak.

I commend Judge Newman for instituting an innovative Federal veterans court program that addresses critical needs within our community and resolves programs by rehabilitating rather than simply punishing the brave men and women who have served our country.

I also would like to congratulate Judge Newman for his work in implementing a civics program for students to learn about the Federal courts. Developing a partnership between the Federal judiciary and the Federal Bar Association, these interactive court camps invite elementary, middle, and high school students into the Federal courts to learn about the third branch of government.

During court camp, Federal judges meet with the groups of students in school classrooms, as well as Federal courtrooms, to teach them about the

selection process for Federal judges, explain how decisions are made in both criminal and civil cases, and offer an insider's view on how the Federal court system works.

Under Judge Newman's leadership, the Federal Bar Association's partnership with the United States Courts will give thousands of young people across the country the opportunity to meet with Federal judges and explore the judicial branch of government.

In Dayton, Ohio, alone, where Judge Newman sits, over 1,000 students will participate in the civics program, learning more about the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the separation of powers, the role of the Federal judge, the structure of the Federal court system, and how to become a judge or lawyer themselves.

The Federal Bar Association has also added a civics page to its website to make educational materials available for lawyers and judges who choose to serve as mentors in the program.

In an effort to encourage direct involvement by American government teachers and students alike, the Federal Bar Association, again under Judge Newman's leadership, is holding a national essay contest for middle and high school students on the subject ``What Does an Impartial Judicial System Mean to Me?''

In addition to honoring the student essay winners, the Federal Bar Association and United States Courts will also recognize a select group of top-notch civics teachers from across the United States.

As president of the Federal Bar Association and a United States magistrate, Judge Newman has spearheaded this effort, publicly urging the association's 19,000 members to join him in engaging the next generation of attorneys, judges, and legislators.

I commend Judge Newman on his tireless work to connect our young people to the best and brightest in the field of law, and for reemphasizing the critical importance of civics in American society.

Mr. Speaker, as Members of Congress, we know that the key to a successful congressional office is to recruit the best and brightest people to serve the people we represent. Today I want to recognize a valued staff member, Andy Sigmon, who is leaving my office after 6\1/2\ years of faithful service to me, and to my constituents in Southwest Ohio.

Andy graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, the city where he was born and raised. He moved to my congressional district to attend law school, and earned his law degree from the University of Dayton. He joined my office as an intern in 2010, and quickly moved up the career ladder to legislative assistant. For the past 16 months he has served as my legislative director.

Andy has had a direct role in the success of many of my top legislative priorities. In 2013, he helped gather bipartisan support among the Ohio congressional delegation, which enabled Central State University, one of our nation's oldest historically black institutions of higher education, to achieve land-grant status.

His input and knowledge has been indispensable to my work on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, particularly in my efforts to hold the Obama administration accountable for its decision to cut the pension and health benefits of the Delphi Salaried Retirees, following the government's bailout of General Motors. Andy has taken a heartfelt interest in seeking justice for the Delphi retirees in my district, and directed my efforts to restore the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC), which thousands of Delphi Salaried Retirees have used to offset their increased healthcare costs.

Andy Sigmon's hard work, loyalty, and public service exemplify his home state's Volunteer spirit. He is one of the finest people you could ever work with, or call a friend. I will always be grateful for his work these past six years on behalf of the people of Ohio's Tenth Congressional District. I wish him all the best as he begins the next chapter in his career.

Mr. Speaker, the United States and our allies currently face some of the most complex security challenges in our recent history. ISIS continues to sweep across much of the Middle East. An expansionist China continues to develop its military prowess in order to counter the United States and its allies in the region. We continue to face a nuclear threat posed by countries such as North Korea and Iran; and an increasingly hostile Russia seeks to destabilize much of Europe.

It is imperative that the Department of Defense not lose continuity in leadership, administration, and governance. General Mattis must be confirmed expeditiously. Such a lapse would create vulnerabilities in our national security strategy and would be detrimental to the safety and security of our Armed Forces.

Civilian control of military is undoubtedly crucial to the success and health of our Defense Department. This candidate's military experience alone should not bar him from serving in a civilian role as the Secretary of Defense. It actually enhances the capabilities he brings to the job. This is a unique exception for a candidate whose exemplary leadership and experience would come at a crucial time for our country and for our men and women in uniform.

I understand that many of our colleagues across the aisle are choosing to vote against a waiver for General Mattis, despite the fact that they support General Mattis himself as an eminently qualified nominee for the Secretary of Defense. That is a mistake. To do so is self-defeating.

Under these circumstances, a vote against the process by which General Mattis is nominated is, in fact, a vote against General Mattis himself from becoming our next Secretary of Defense.

I thank Chairman Thornberry for his leadership throughout these important deliberations and for his work for obtaining this waiver for General Mattis and for the future of the service of General Mattis to our country.

I urge our colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support S. 84.

Mr. Speaker, U.S. natural gas exports will create American jobs and will bolster our strategic partnerships.

I serve as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, and many foreign leaders and officials have expressed to me their need for energy diversification. As you know, Russia, the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, has repeatedly used natural gas pricing to draw governments closer to its orbit and punished West-leaning governments with higher prices.

U.S. natural gas exports will foster a more dynamic and competitive world energy market, helping to curb the use of energy as a political weapon. And regardless of where natural gas from the United States is shipped, increasing supply in the global market will help international customers with greater choice and leverage to negotiate prices.

In fact, the Obama administration has made this exact same argument. The State Department's energy envoy recently stated:

Now where the gas will go doesn't matter. The fact that we

have approved exports of natural gas has already had an

impact on Europe. And where the molecule actually ends up

going also doesn't matter.

Now, I understand there have been questions about whether or not European countries, such as Ukraine, are prepared to receive U.S. natural gas. Many of our European allies are implementing infrastructure projects to diversify their natural gas resources.

For example, Poland and Lithuania are opening LNG import terminals to reduce their dependence on Russian gas. Just last week, Poland and Ukraine announced an agreement to construct a pipeline that will allow Ukraine to access natural gas from two LNG import terminals, potentially from the United States. England and Spain already have contracts in place to receive U.S. natural gas.

These are just a few examples of how these infrastructure projects will help Europe diversify its natural gas resources.

Mr. Speaker, last year, President Obama, in a joint statement with European leaders, welcomed U.S. natural gas exports to help our European allies and our strategic partners.

I am encouraged by the President's statements. These words must be followed by action. The President must work with Congress to enact H.R. 351.

I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2015, the 53rd consecutive National Defense Authorization Act.

I want to personally thank the chairman and Ranking Member Smith; our staff director, Bob Simmons; my MLA, Morley Greene; Senator Inhofe and the ranking member; and, of course, Secretary Hagel for having included in this bill important legislation that will protect the custody rights of our men and women in uniform. This has been a battle for 7 years, and I greatly appreciate their tenacity and their support over what has been a long battle. No longer will random family law courts across the Nation be able to penalize our men and women in uniform by taking custody of their children away as a result of their having served their Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of serving as the chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee as well as the cochair of the Military Sexual Assault Prevention Caucus. Under the full committee leadership of Chairman McKeon and Ranking Member Smith, with my ranking member, Loretta Sanchez, we have done a bipartisan effort in this bill. It supports the men and women, and it also helps retain defense technology superiority, sustains our critical defense industrial base, and helps to maintain continued modernization for our military.

Additionally, we provide full funding for the Joint Strike Fighter and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle programs, and the bill includes additional funding for National Guard and Reserve Component Equipment modernization,

Abrams tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, Stryker combat vehicles, tactical wheeled vehicles, body armor, and unmanned aerial systems.

I also believe that this bill is incredibly important because of the provisions that are in this bill with respect to sexual assault. I want to thank my cochair, Representative Tsongas, Military Personnel Subcommittee Chairman Joe Wilson, and the ranking member, Susan Davis, for her help on the issues of sexual assault in the military and also custody. These provisions are incredibly important and will provide additional protections to our men and women in uniform.

Mr. Speaker, as President of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly and co-Chairman Congressional Romania Caucus, I congratulate Romania on its Great Union Day, celebrating the anniversary of its unification on December 1, 1918, and its 25th anniversary of independence following the fall of communism.

Romania is a stalwart U.S. and NATO ally. Romania and the United States work closely together to confront a host of global challenges, including through our joint efforts to bolster regional defense, halt nuclear proliferation, and increase energy security. For example, the Permanent Forward Operating Site at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base not only enables a vital U.S. forward presence in the region, but also provides essential opportunities for joint training with NATO allies. With the signing of the U.S.-Romania Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement in September 2011, Romania established itself as a key strategic partner in NATO's emerging missile defense capabilities effort. The Missile Defense Interceptor site at Deveselu Air Base near the Bulgarian border will provide missile defense protection to our allies in Europe and the Middle East.

Tragically, ongoing events in Ukraine are unsettling the region and testing the transatlantic alliance. As you know, Russia seeks to once again destabilize much of Eastern Europe and restore influence over territories lost following the collapse of the Soviet Union. That is why it is critically important for the United States, Romania, and other European allies to continue to work together to strengthen the transatlantic alliance and bolster regional security.

The strategic partnership between the United States and Romania has greatly advanced our common interests in promoting transatlantic and regional security and free market opportunities, and should continue to foster greater economic and cultural exchanges, trade and investment, and social contacts.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join me in celebrating Romania's Great Union Day and its 25th anniversary of independence since the fall of communism.

Mr. Speaker, I am honored to welcome my good friend Pastor David Gray as our guest chaplain today.

Born in Dayton, Ohio, Pastor Gray grew up active in the Presbyterian church and has gone on to lead a distinguished life of service.

Holding both a law degree and a doctorate of ministry, Pastor Gray is a former public servant, having served as a staffer in the Senate and a true spiritual leader that has helped numerous individuals and families grow in their relationship with God.

Currently, Pastor Gray serves as the head pastor at Bradley Hills Church and resides in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife, Bridget, and their four children.

On behalf of the United States Congress and the people of his hometown in my district of the 10th Congressional District of Ohio, I want to thank Pastor Gray for his commitment to his faith and for opening the House today with his prayer.

Mr. Speaker, ongoing events in Ukraine, especially the tragedy involving Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, pose a significant security threat not only to Europe but also the world. Russia's military aggression, its tacit support of pro-Russian Ukrainian separatists, and its use of energy as a political weapon warrant a strong response. The United States and our European allies must take strong and definitive action to strengthen the transatlantic alliance, and stem Russian aggression and its efforts to destabilize the region.

The United States must stand with our European allies and re- emphasize its commitment to a strong security alliance. While I agree with the overall goal of President Obama's European Reassurance Initiative to increase U.S. rotational deployments, allied training, and strategic planning, ultimately this proposal lacks a long-term strategy and commitment to our partnership with Europe. We can and must do more.

That is why I authored H.R. 4433, the Forging Peace through Strength in Ukraine and the Transatlantic Alliance Act, which calls for decisive action to remedy the current crisis in Ukraine and deter greater Russian aggression in Europe. Specifically, the measure would bolster U.S.-Ukraine security relations by seeking to provide technical assistance to the Ukrainian military and increase U.S. intelligence information sharing. H.R. 4433 would also authorize the Secretary of Defense to ensure the operational availability of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system site in Poland and require the deployment of a short-range air and missile defense system to Poland. In addition, the bill would require the Secretary of Defense to stop plans for the relocation and consolidation of U.S. dual-capable aircraft based in Europe, conduct site studies for the construction of weapon storage and security systems and protective aircraft shelters in North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries, and coordinate with NATO countries to assess the possibility of altering the posture of forward deployed U.S. nuclear weapons. Several of the provisions of my legislation are included in the House-passed version of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act.

Strengthening the NATO alliance is also a critical component to pushing back against Russian aggression. The partnership between the United States and Europe through NATO has been the bedrock of stability in the region. However, it is clear that Russia seeks to once again destabilize much of Eastern Europe and restore its control over territories lost following the collapse of the Soviet Union. We must provide immediate reassurance to our European allies that the United States remains firm in our commitment to security. We must also make a strong push for the further enlargement of NATO. Specifically, the United States should support the accession of Montenegro, put a full diplomatic press on the issue of resolving the conflict between Macedonia and Greece, seek resolution to the constitutional issues of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and encourage the membership prospects of Georgia through the Membership Action Plan process. In fact, I authored an amendment, which the House approved unanimously, to the House-passed Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act expressing strong support for the ongoing NATO enlargement initiatives.

Bolstering regional and global energy security is another key aspect of the transatlantic alliance. Russia has repeatedly used natural gas pricing to draw governments closer to its orbit and punished West- leaning governments with higher prices. Previous disputes between Ukraine and Russia led to natural gas shutoffs in 2006 and 2009, negatively affecting downstream European countries. In April 2014, Russia's state-owned monopoly, Gazprom, increased the price of natural gas on Ukraine by 80 percent. And in early June 2014, Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine.

The United States must continue to support efforts to help our European allies diversify their energy resources. In fact, multiple U.S. Administrations have previously supported initiatives to supply Europe with alternative and reliable sources of energy, such as the Southern Gas Corridor which will bring natural gas from Azerbaijan to Europe. That is why I authored H. Res. 284, a bipartisan resolution which recognizes the importance of the Southern Gas Corridor to energy security and our strategic partnerships.

At the same time, energy diversification initiatives may offer opportunities to benefit the United States economically. For instance, U.S. companies are involved in the development of growing recent natural gas discoveries in the Eastern Mediterranean, which may help countries in the region to bolster political and economic ties and present another source of energy for Europe. And many of our European allies have expressed strong interest in purchasing U.S. natural gas to help diversify their resources and strengthen their independence.

Increasing U.S. natural gas exports, along with development of other sources such as the Southern Gas Corridor and the Eastern Mediterranean, will help diversify world natural gas supplies and create a more competitive, transparent, and diversified global natural gas marketplace. This will help curb the ability of countries like Russia to use energy as a political weapon.

In fact, U.S. natural gas production has already influenced global markets. Natural gas previously destined for the United States, but no longer needed as a result of increased production, was diverted to other markets. This increased supply has made the global natural gas market more competitive, helping to put pressure on contracts indexed to the price of oil and allowing several European countries to successfully renegotiate their long-term contracts with Gazprom.

Lifting self-imposed restrictions on U.S. natural gas exports will emphasize to our allies that the United States is a strong energy security partner and send an immediate signal to markets that new supplies of natural gas will be available, helping to influence prices and new infrastructure construction decisions. And regardless of where U.S. natural gas is shipped, increasing supply in the global marketplace will help provide international consumers with greater choice and thus increased leverage to negotiate pricing contracts. In fact, Obama Administration officials, including the State Department's energy envoy, Carlos Pascual, have made this very argument.

In addition, fostering a more diverse and competitive global natural gas market can complement U.S. and European sanctions on Russia. Oil and gas receipts constitute more than 50 percent of Russia's federal revenues.

President Obama, in a March 2014 joint statement with European leaders, welcomed U.S. natural gas exports to help our European allies. While I am encouraged by the President's statement, immediate action is needed to put force behind these words.

Over the past several years, I have worked to reduce self-imposed regulatory barriers to exporting U.S. natural gas. Specifically, in the 112th Congress I authored with then-Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), H.R. 6699, the LNG for NATO Act, which sought to expedite U.S. natural gas exports to NATO countries. In the 113th Congress, I authored with Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), H.R. 580, the Expedited LNG for American Allies Act, to expedite U.S. natural gas exports to NATO countries, Japan, and other countries of national security interest. I also authored H.R. 4139, the American Job Creation and Strategic Alliances LNG Act, to expedite U.S. natural gas exports to World Trade Organization countries.

And I am an original co-author of H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, which the House recently approved with bipartisan support, to require the Department of Energy to consider natural gas export permit applications in a timely manner. It is imperative that the President work with Congress on these energy security initiatives to follow through on his stated support of global energy security and U.S. natural gas exports.

The United States, in partnership with our European allies, must respond strongly to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Reinforcing our defense relationships with Europe, particularly Ukraine and Eastern Europe, strengthening our strategic partnerships through NATO, and enhancing European and global energy security are critical components to bolstering the transatlantic alliance and deterring further Russian aggression in the region.