Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, Secretary Mayorkas took an oath to protect our Nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic. He has violated that oath and the public trust.

Today, I intend to personally uphold the oath of office that I swore to my country.

In my 25 years of dealing with the border as a Federal prosecutor and the former chairman of this committee, I have never seen it this broken. That is because of one man's actions: his refusal to enforce the law, his rescission of successful policies like remain in Mexico, and his breach of public trust. His dereliction of duty has led to 8 million encounters, 300 on the terror watch list, and 2.3 million aliens released into the interior, enough to fill 13 States. Another 200,000 young Americans have died due to fentanyl poisoning.

These numbers are clear. Secretary Mayorkas is the architect of destruction, and the legal justification for his impeachment is strong.

In the Supreme Court decision The United States v. The State of Texas, the Court examined a statute that mandated the government shall take into custody any alien that has committed an aggravated felony. It is not discretionary. It is mandatory. By failing to uphold this law, he has released dangerous and violent criminals into our communities and has put every American life at risk.

Supreme Court Justice Story in 1833 said: ``Where a lord admiral has neglected to safeguard the seas, that shall be deemed an impeachable offense.'' That is exactly the case we have here. Secretary Mayorkas, charged with the defense of air, land, and sea, has failed to defend our borders.

The Founders clearly believed impeachable offenses included neglect of duty, violation of public trust, and injury to society.

When asked before the Supreme Court if impeachment is a proper remedy, President Biden's own solicitor general said: In the face of a dramatic abdication of statutory responsibility by the executive branch, such steps would be warranted.

Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of those impeachable offenses. He is destroying the fabric of this Nation. Americans agree.

Today, I will proudly stand up for our Nation by voting to remove him from office.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, January 5, 2024, my district lost a pillar of our community. While we mourn the loss of L.M. ``Buddy'' Preuss, III, we know his legacy will live on for years to come in Giddings, Texas, and beyond.

Born and raised in Giddings, Buddy was hired as the editor for the Giddings News at just 19 years old. He went on to own and operate the Giddings Times and News, providing a reliable news service to the citizens of his county for more than five decades.

Buddy's life is a true inspiration. A member of the Giddings chamber of commerce, he constantly sought ways to contribute to his community's welfare. Buddy was also a remarkable husband to the love of his life, Louise, and father to his five children. And above all, Buddy was a man of sincere faith. He held on to hope and his love for the Lord, even during his battle with cancer. While he is missed, I find comfort in knowing he is rejoicing in the presence of God, finally pain free.

Buddy was so much more than a reporter, businessman, and community leader--he was a dear friend to many, including myself. My stops in Giddings certainly won't be the same without him. Rest in peace, Buddy.

Mr. Speaker, On Friday, January 5, 2024, my district lost a pillar of our community. While we mourn the loss of L.M. ``Buddy'' Preuss III, we know his legacy will live on for years to come in Giddings, Texas, and beyond.

Born and raised in Giddings, Buddy was hired as the editor for the Giddings News at just 19 years old. He went on to own and operate the Giddings Times and News, providing a reliable news service to the citizens of his county for more than five decades.

Buddy's life is a true inspiration. A member of the Giddings chamber of commerce, he constantly sought ways to contribute to his community's welfare. Buddy was also a remarkable husband to the love of his life, Louis,

and father to his five children. And above all, Buddy was a man of sincere faith. He held on to hope and his love for the Lord, even during his battle with cancer. While he is missed, I find comfort in knowing he is rejoicing in the presence of God, finally pain free.

Buddy was so much more than a reporter, businessman, and community leader--he was a dear friend to many, including myself. My stops in Giddings certainly won't be the same without him. Rest in peace, Buddy.

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 in the Record for H.R. 5961.

Madam Chair, we are here today because the Biden administration cut a dangerous, reckless hostage deal that puts a price on every American head all over the world. We have a responsibility to the American people to repair this damage.

First, let me say that I am relieved that Americans held hostage by Iran are safely at home. They have been through a terrible ordeal and should never have been imprisoned in the first place.

As part of this deal, the administration dropped charges against five Iranian criminals charged with endangering our national security, including by aiding Iran's nuclear program.

At Iran's request, the administration waived sanctions on $6 billion of Iranian funds, which have been frozen in South Korea to allow that that money be transferred and funneled to a bank account in Doha, Qatar--an undisclosed bank, Madam Chair.

Under this deal, Iran is getting access to $1.2 billion per blue passport, per American citizen. It is obvious that this agreement incentivizes more hostage taking.

The administration is claiming this money can only be used for humanitarian purchases like food and medicine.

We all know that Iran has a long history of sanctioned evasion and money laundering. It means that we cannot truly know where the funds end up or how they will be used.

If we had any doubt about Iran's intentions, look no further than DOJ's 2019 indictment under the previous administration against a Turkish bank.

This bank played a central role in facilitating billions of dollars' worth of fraudulent Iranian transactions.

These transactions were manipulated to look like humanitarian expenses when, in fact, no such purchases took place.

This is nothing new, but let's look at Iran's own words. Iran's President Raisi bragged to the world that Iran would spend the $6 billion ``wherever we need it.''

What more evidence do we need, Madam Chair, than that? This is not going for humanitarian purposes. It is going toward terrorism--wherever we need it.

Money is fungible, as everybody knows. Given Iran's access to these funds for any purpose frees up money for its malign activities, including its support to proxies like we saw on October 7 to Hamas.

Blocking money to Iran is the most consequential thing we can do here in this Congress to stop Iran's financing of terrorism to Hamas and other proxies to help keep our troops safe who are now under fire from Iran-backed militias.

After Hamas' brutal October 7 massacre of over 1,200 innocent people in Israel, the largest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust, Madam Chair, and over 70 attacks on our forces by Iran-backed proxies this fall, no one can deny Iran's role as the world's leading state sponsor of terror.

Put simply, the Middle East is on fire, and Iran's proxies are becoming more aggressive every day with increasing attacks, threatening to throw the Middle East into complete destabilization.

Now Iran's destabilization influence extends beyond the Middle East. They continue to supply deadly drones to Russia, supporting their unprovoked war of aggression in Ukraine.

Iran is going to keep throwing tens of millions of dollars to Hamas and other terror groups propping them up with our adversaries, like China, Russia, and North Korea, with weapons. We need to take every measure possible to stop Iran from giving its proxies another dime.

Madam Chair, after the October 7 attack by Hamas in which they took 240 hostages, it is absolutely undeniable this hostage deal was a catastrophic mistake.

Madam Chair, we met with some of the families yesterday, and it was one

of the most horrific experiences to hear what their loved ones are going through right now in Gaza. Americans held hostage, who we have still not been able to get out, they are in absolute hell right now, in darkness.

The narrative was something before October 7. Now, after October 7, they are trying to hide from this deal because they know what they did was wrong, and they know what they are doing is funding terror in the Middle East.

This body, this Congress needs to repair that damage. That is why my bill, the No Funds For Iranian Terrorism Act, imposes new sanctions to permanently prevent the transfer of $6 billion in Iranian funds covered under the 2023 hostage deal; which, by the way, Madam Chair, I haven't seen this deal. The administration says there is a deal. They have not provided that deal to me nor to my colleagues, to my knowledge.

One thing is clear, this is a moment of moral clarity. With such instability in the region, the last thing we need to do is to give Iran access to $6 billion to be diverted to more Iranian-sponsored terrorism. We must sanction anyone who enables the transfer or processing of transactions of these funds, period.

Put very simply and succinctly, I can't imagine how anybody can vote against this bill. How can anybody support $6 billion going into Iran when we know, both in classified space, which we can't talk about here, but in the declassified space, exactly who was behind October 7.

Iran is the head of the snake, and the snake had its tentacles all throughout the Middle East: in Gaza with Hamas; in Yemen with the Houthi rebels; and in Iran and Syria with Iran-backed militias, who, by the way, Madam Chair, are hitting our troops every day. They are under fire by Iran. We are going to give them $6 billion?

Now, the other side will say that is Iran's money. It is sanctioned money. This administration chose to lift the sanctions on the $6 billion.

My bill says, no, Mr. President. We, in the Congress, say no to this policy. We are going to put sanctions on the money so Iran cannot get access to this to fund more terrorism, more killing of innocent Jewish people. I don't have to go into graphic detail of what happened on October 7, but we all saw the Hamas video and the gruesomeness of it.

I, Madam Chair, will not sit by idly and allow this to happen while Americans are under fire and the Jewish people are being killed by these terrorists.

Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Mike Garcia), a member of the Committee on Armed Services.

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. LaMalfa).

Madam Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Indo-Pacific.

Mr. Chairman I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Carter).

Mr. Chairman, I am ready to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Chairman, let me say to my dear friend from New York, I have great admiration and respect for him. He is right, we do work things out. Of all the committees, we are the most bipartisan committee, and it is important that we speak with one voice as a Nation to the world.

However, as we also have agreed, there are times we just can't get to an agreement. This is one of those times. I just can't in good faith support the administration's position on this.

The gentleman asked a couple questions about why didn't this pass on suspension, and that is always our goal. The fact is that five Members on his side of the aisle voted in support of this bill. I think what we are going to find on the vote on this floor today is you are going to have more than five Members vote for this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I admire him and his support for the President. I would probably do the same in his case, but I have to, with all due respect, disagree.

What would I say to the five American families?

I would say: Thank God your loved ones are home. I would say: We are with you. I don't think this is just about the five American hostages. There is something else going on that just doesn't make sense.

Mr. Chairman, you have five innocent Americans exchanged for five indicted Iranians on charges related to national security. That alone is a bad deal. We talk about negotiations--that is not a good negotiation.

Mr. Chairman, if you throw $6 billion on top of this--what is that all about?

I have to ask the question: Why was this money that was frozen in a South Korean bank transferred to an undisclosed Doha bank account to then be made available for humanitarian purposes to Iran?

What they will say is: Well, it is still frozen.

Why was the money transferred to an undisclosed Doha bank account? If it was for humanitarian purposes, why couldn't the South Korean bank transfer it?

I will tell you why it was transferred to the Doha bank account--and we don't even know the name of the bank, Mr. Chairman. It was transferred at the request of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Why did they want that?

They know that they can get access to the Doha bank account. They know that in Qatar they are going to be more friendly to them than the South Koreans. This didn't happen by accident, it happened by design. That is precisely why the money was money laundered to this other bank account to funnel into Iran.

For what purpose, humanitarian?

I get that. I don't doubt my good friend from New York's heart and sincerity. He believes this. Nevertheless, facts are stubborn things.

Under the previous administration, a bank was prosecuted for the same scheme that this administration is perpetuating. A Turkish bank--this is from the Department of Justice Public Affairs Office--was facilitating transactions to appear to be purchases of food and medicine by Iranian customers in order to appear to fall within the so- called humanitarian exception.

Mr. Chair, don't take my word for this. Take the President of Iran's word for this: I will do whatever I want with the money.

Let's be clear-eyed and sober about this. Let's not be naive about putting $6 billion into Iran at this critical time, Mr. Chairman, after October 7, the bloodiest day of killing Jews since the Holocaust. This is why their narrative is changing.

Now, it is like: But the President of Iran hasn't asked for the money yet. And by the way, it is frozen.

Then why did you transfer it to the Doha Bank account?

Mr. Chairman, I will tell you why. It is because Iran requested it. The idea that Iran is not going to ask for this money, I have to say, with all due respect, is incredulous. Of course, they want this money.

The question is: Why hasn't it been transferred already?

Do you know what, Mr. Chairman? The answer is October 7. That is why it hasn't been transferred. They got caught with their pants down. Now, they realize: Oh, my God, we can't transfer this money. Think of the optics here. This is going to look really bad.

There is another thing that is very nefarious going on here. There is some deal going on, Mr. Chairman, that we don't know about, and we have every right of oversight. They won't call things treaties because the Senate won't confirm them. They call them deals.

What is going on? It is not just about the hostages, and thank God they are home. Let me tell the families: God bless them.

Nevertheless, there is something else going on here. There is an undercurrent of another deal going on, and it is the JCPOA, the Iran nuclear agreement. That is why the money was transferred. In my judgment, it is to facilitate another deal with Iran.

The irony of all ironies, Mr. Chairman, is the Special Envoy for Iran is now under investigation by the FBI for violations of his security clearance. The very man negotiating the JCPOA, the Iran deal, is under investigation by the FBI for violating his national security clearance.

You can't make this up, Mr. Chairman. You really can't make this up.

He talked about the Presidential waiver. We said that the whole point of this bill is to ensure they cannot use the $6 billion unless they do two things: one, cease their support for international terrorism, and, two, stop their nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction programs.

This bill doesn't undercut our leverage; it turns this money into leverage to stop their most dangerous activities.

I think this is a bad deal. I think that the underlying intent is something more secretive.

Mr. Chairman, I have to ask the question: Has any Member of Congress seen this deal that we are talking about? Has the gentleman from New York seen this hostage deal with Iran?

I haven't seen it. I haven't seen it, classified or not. Where is the deal? Why won't the administration present the deal to the Congress pursuant to our oversight responsibilities?

That is transparency. That is why we introduced the bill because Congress has every right on behalf of the American people, before the $6 billion was transferred into Iran, to see what the deal is.

We met with these hostage families yesterday, and it is brutal. I was in the kibbutz at the Gaza border in southern Israel, Kfar Azza. They went into the daycare center and killed the children I saw there. They decapitated them, and they killed everybody I met in the kibbutz.

I can't look at these families of the victims or the families of the hostages in good faith. I cannot look them in the eye and say: Do you know what? I support your efforts to get your loved ones home. But guess what? I also support this deal that the President has decided to do to put $6 billion into the Islamic Republic of Iran, the largest state sponsor of terror and the very country responsible for the Hamas attacks killing more Jews than I have seen in my lifetime.

My father was a bombardier on a B-17 in World War II. He bombed the Nazis. He saw the Holocaust in his lifetime. I never thought I would see anything like that in my lifetime, but guess what, Mr. Chairman? This is the largest killing since the Holocaust.

I can't look those families in the eye, Mr. Chairman, and tell them that I am going to support this deal to add additional money for terrorism, especially $6 billion.

This is not about the five Americans. We released five Iranians guilty of espionage, in my judgment. This is about the undercurrent of a deal that we don't know about. They are secretive about it, and they need to come forward to the American people through the Congress and let us know what that deal was.

Nevertheless, I, for one, will not sit here in this Chamber and allow this to happen. That is why if they won't do it, then we will. Congress will stop this money from going into Iran not just for politics and not even for the American people but for the victims of terrorism around the world, especially the people of Israel.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Under clause 2 of rule XII, bills and reports were delivered to the Clerk for printing, and bills referred as follows:

Mr. McCAUL: Committee on Foreign Affairs. H.R. 5961. A bill

to freeze certain Iranian funds involved in the 2023 hostage

deal between the United States and Iran, and for other

purposes; with an amendment; Rept. 118-270, Pt. I; referred

to the Committee on Financial Services for a period ending

not later than November 9, 2023, for consideration of such

provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the

jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(h) of

rule X.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 559) declaring it is the policy of the United States that a nuclear Islamic Republic of Iran is not acceptable.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 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, Iran is a destabilizing force in the region that poses a threat to our allies and to our national security interests.

That is why I introduced this resolution with a bipartisan group of cosponsors to make a clear, simple, and vital statement that it is the official policy of the United States that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable and that we will use all means necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

This resolution is short and to the point. There is no hedging or equivocation. If we project weakness, it will only embolden Iran.

In recent years, Iran has pushed its nuclear provocations to the brink, enriching uranium to 60 percent and openly violating both the JCPOA and its nonproliferation treaty obligations, and even kicking out one-third of inspectors from the IAEA.

Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. The Iranian regime has funded Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups to the tune of $100 million per year. Five hundred Hamas fighters reportedly trained in Iran in September before the October 7 invasion and terrorist attack.

What is Hamas doing right now?

It is waging a barbaric war against our friend and ally, Israel, and now Iran's proxies are engaged in nearly daily attacks on our soldiers--on U.S. troops--in the Middle East who remain in the region to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS.

Put simply, we need to restore deterrence against Iran. We need to use every tool at our disposal to keep Iran from having a nuclear weapon. It is critical that this body votes together to send a clear and loud message that Iran cannot obtain a nuclear weapon under any circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, Brad Schneider from Illinois, for joining me in introducing this resolution. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this resolution today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self), who is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the right to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, we have seen repeatedly through history that weakness invites aggression. We certainly saw that in World War II with Hitler's aggression. Our adversaries, Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are increasingly working together to upend the global balance of power. They are enabling each other's aggression against the United States and our allies.

This body has a responsibility to project strength and protect the American people. We will speak with one voice as we deliver a clear message that Iran's nuclear escalation must stop, that a nuclear Iran is simply unacceptable, and that the United States will never permit a nuclear Iran to exist.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this important resolution, which is an important voice of the United States of America through its Representatives, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 340) to impose sanctions with respect to foreign support for terrorist organizations, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, on October 7, over 2,000 Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and brutally murdered over 1,400 people. The images from these gruesome attacks will haunt us all for eternity.

There were beheadings, families were burned alive, and women were raped and slaughtered, one of whom was dragged through the streets of Gaza.

I was in one of the kibbutzim right on the border of Gaza last year meeting with members of the community. I saw their daycare center and the children who were there. That very same kibbutz, Mr. Speaker, was overrun by 70 Hamas terrorists. Many of the residents whom I met were slaughtered, but most viciously, the babies and the children I visited in the daycare center were slaughtered, shot to death, beheaded, and burned alive. Reports are that a pregnant woman was forced to watch as they cut her baby out of her womb, killing her child before they killed her.

On December 7, 1941, in response to the bombing at Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt said it was ``a date which will live in infamy.'' So, too, will October 7, 2023.

The United States must stand resolute and use every tool at our disposal to support our friend and ally, Israel. Israel has been pulled into a war with the Iran-backed terrorist Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic jihad, who have launched more than 8,000 rockets at Israel since this war started.

We know that Iran has historically provided around $100 million a year in support to Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic jihad, and other Palestinian terrorist groups. Hamas also generates hundreds of millions of dollars every year from its secret international investment portfolio. These accounts help fund Hamas' terrorist infrastructure. They pay for its elaborate 500-mile tunnel network--500 miles of tunnel--and for the rockets being fired into Israel.

This bill takes aim at Iran's support for Hamas and makes it clear that banks cannot facilitate the toxic relationship between the largest state sponsor of terror and its proxies. Unfortunately, the media seems to have forgotten that for years Hamas has profited off innocent people, prioritizing rocket production over supporting the basic needs of their own people, exacerbating suffering.

I thank my colleague, Mr. Mast, who also served in the IDF with distinction, for introducing this important piece of legislation. We need every tool at our disposal to restrict Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists' access to financing and hold the countries enabling them to account.

I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, February 9, 2023.

Hon. Patrick McHenry,

Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McHenry: Thank you for consulting with the

Foreign Affairs Committee and agreeing to be discharged from

further consideration of H.R. 340, the Hamas International

Financing Prevention Act, so that the measure may proceed

expeditiously to the House floor.

I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure

does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of

your committee, or prejudice its jurisdictional prerogatives

on this measure or similar legislation in the future. I would

support your effort to seek appointment of an appropriate

number of conferees from your committee to any House-Senate

conference on this legislation.

I will seek to place our letters on H.R. 340 into the

Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate

your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward

to continuing to work together as this measure moves through

the legislative process.

Sincerely,

Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight and Accountability and the author of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mast).

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Schneider for his strong, passionate support, as well as Ms. Manning and the author, Mr. Mast.

Mr. Speaker, I think the gentleman makes a great argument. Hamas stands between the expansion of the Abraham Accords and the destruction of the Abraham Accords. They are the ones standing between peace in the Middle East and war, a war that they provoked, a war that was barbaric against our friend and ally, Israel. It is impossible to overstate just how violent and horrific the terrorist attacks in Israel were. I have seen it. Don't tell me it didn't happen because it is real.

We can't underestimate the determination of Hamas itself. Their covenant explicitly states: ``Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.''

I don't think it can be any more clear about their intent. Hamas has told us who they are and what they plan to do. We need to act here in Congress, and we need to act now.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 771) standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to extend debate for each side by 10 minutes, and I also ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, October 7, Israelis awoke to rockets raining down on them from Gaza, and gunmen broke down their doors and invaded their homes.

Hamas terrorists killed babies and toddlers. They killed elderly grandmothers and grandfathers. They killed moms and dads. They killed teenage kids in their homes. No one was spared from their brutality.

Following World War II, my father's war, I never believed the world would bear witness to the slaughter of the Jewish people as we have seen at the bloody hands of Hamas. October 7 was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust.

Additionally, Hamas is holding 220 hostages, including Americans. This is a flyer with a picture of a mother and son taken hostage by Hamas, #bringthemhomenow.

They are using them as human shields and threatening to execute them. They must all be released unconditionally now.

This is one of the darkest moments in the history of the State of Israel.

I was in one of the kibbutzim right on the border of Gaza last year, meeting with members of the community. I saw their daycare center. That very same kibbutz was overrun by 70 Hamas terrorists. Many of the residents I met were slaughtered.

Most viciously, the babies and the children I visited in the daycare center were slaughtered, shot to death, beheaded, and burned alive.

When the press says it didn't happen, they are just wrong. It did because I have seen the pictures of the burned babies and the decapitated children and the blood that you see here in the babies' cribs.

For God's sake, what is going on in this world today?

In one of the most horrific stories to emerge, a pregnant woman had her baby cut out in front of her very eyes as they murdered her baby before her and before they shot her in the head.

Simply put, Mr. Speaker, they are monsters.

At a music festival to celebrate peace, chaos, gunfire, and explosions ripped through the air, piercing hundreds of bodies with bullets and shrapnel. While the attendees attempted to flee the area, gunmen surrounded them from every direction. In total, 260 attendees assembled in peace to enjoy music were massacred.

Among others, atrocities we have heard reported include children with their hands bound, shot in the back of the head execution style; women who were raped and slaughtered, one of whom was dragged through the streets of Gaza; families, including babies and young children, burned alive in their homes in front of their parents; the beheading of Israeli soldiers; and parents gunned down as they shielded their children before the onslaught of gunfire.

This is sheer terror. It is evil. It cannot stand in this world.

We are witnessing in real time Hamas carrying out their covenant that outlines their goal of eradicating Israel through jihad. In fact, their covenant states: ``Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.''

They specifically discuss jihad, noting: ``The day that enemies usurp part of Muslim land, jihad becomes the individual duty of every Muslim. In face of the Jews' usurpation . . . , it is compulsory that the banner of jihad be raised.''

Mr. Speaker, it was indeed raised on October 7.

To be completely clear, despite repeated efforts by Israel to secure peace, the ``Hamas Covenant'' states: Peace ``initiatives, and so- called peaceful solutions and international conferences, are in contradiction to the principles of the Islamic Resistance Movement. . . . There is no solution for the Palestinian problem except by jihad.''

This declaration calling on the annihilation of the Jewish state must be confronted with zero equivocation.

That is why I worked with my good friend, Ranking Member Meeks, to introduce this bipartisan resolution.

It condemns in the strongest possible terms the atrocities of Hamas and reiterates Israel's right to defend herself, along with America's unwavering support for the State of Israel.

All roads lead back to Iran. Their fingerprints are all over this attack. They have consistently funded Hamas and other Palestinian groups to the tune of $100 million per year.

This resolution condemns Hamas and Iran for its support of terrorist groups such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic jihad while also calling for all sanctions on Iran to be fully enforced.

I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution. It will send a clear message across the world that terrorists and their sponsors will be held to account for their atrocities, their crimes against humanity, their crimes of genocide.

On December 7, 1941, in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt said it was ``a date which will live in infamy.'' So, too, will October 7, 2023, live in infamy.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Wagner), the vice chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the chair of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise), the majority leader.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Burchett), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Kentucky.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean), the chair of the Subcommittee on Europe.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Kustoff).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran), a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Rose).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Fulcher).

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Mr. Meeks, as well.

Mr. Speaker, that is how the Foreign Affairs Committee operates. The fact that this is the most bipartisan resolution in modern history with 425 cosponsors, over 97 percent of this body, speaks volumes. It sends a strong message to the people of Israel that the United States Congress and the American people stand firmly behind you.

The Hamas Covenant states, ``Ranks will close, fighters joining other fighters, and masses everywhere in the Islamic world will come forward in response to the call of duty, loudly proclaiming: `Hail to Jihad.' This cry will reach the heavens and will go on being resounded until liberation is achieved, the invaders vanquished, and Allah's victory comes about.''

In response to this, we will strengthen our resolve to stand with our ally Israel. This resolution sends a clear and unequivocal message that the United States House of Representatives and the American people condemn the barbarity of the genocide and war crimes perpetrated by Hamas. We want to make it clear that Israel has the right to defend herself to prevent an event like this from ever happening again.

We assure you that the United States will be shoulder to shoulder with Israel supporting her right to self-defense.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to a valued staff member and trusted advisor, Zachary Isakowitz, as he leaves to embark on the next steps in his career. Although he will be greatly missed, I could not be happier for the impact he will continue making within the technology sector.

Zach has served as my Legislative Director for the last two and a half years. His role has been vital to the passing of some of my most important legislation, including the CHIPS for America Act.

Zach's work was, foremost, dedicated to promoting the growth of semiconductor manufacturing in America. Together, we have seen billions invested in the technology industry in Texas and across the nation. We have secured funding for dozens of projects in Texas-10, including many at institutes of higher education. And we've passed crucial legislation combatting childhood cancer.

I would like to thank Zach for a job well done. I am grateful for the dedication and support he has given to me, the staff, and the people of Texas' 10th Congressional District. I wish him all the best, both in life and throughout the remainder of his career.

While his presence in my office will certainly be missed, I know Zach will continue to leave a positive mark on D.C. and our Nation. And remember, once a member of team McCaul, always a member of team McCaul.

Mr. Speaker, had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 391, H.R. 1435, Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3152) to impose sanctions with respect to countries, individuals, and entities that engage in any effort to acquire, possess, develop, transport, transfer, or deploy Iranian missiles and related goods and technology, including materials and equipment, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, Iran poses an existential threat to the global balance of power, threatening our national security, as well as those of our allies, and regional stability.

General Kurilla, the commander of the U.S. Central Command, who I met with at the Munich Security Conference, testified to Congress this year that Iran possessed both the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East and the largest and most capable unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, force in the region, which is why the passage of the Fight and Combat Rampant Iranian Missile Exports Act is so vital.

For years, we have seen Iran and its terrorist proxies use these weapons against the United States as well as our partners and allies throughout the Middle East.

In January 2020, Iran launched a missile attack on U.S. troops in Iraq. Iranian UAVs are frequently used to attack U.S. servicemembers and personnel in the Middle East. These UAVs are a deadly threat that have killed and wounded Americans.

Iranian UAVs have also been used in destructive strikes on Saudi- and Israeli-linked targets. Iran frequently provides these deadly weapons to its proxies, including Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iraqi militia groups.

Now, Iran's lethal drones are wreaking havoc outside the Middle East. Hundreds of these drones have been deployed by Vladimir Putin against civilian and civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, becoming a key element in his unprovoked war of aggression and war crimes.

For years, Iran's missile and drone proliferation to its terror proxies and to Russia has taken place in outright violation of the United Nations international embargo on Iran's missile and drone programs.

We note that the Ayatollah, Vladimir Putin, and Iran's terrorist proxies don't care about violating U.N. resolutions, but other countries do. Next month, these international restrictions on Iran's lethal missile and drone programs will expire after 15 years. I am deeply concerned that the marketplace for Iran's missiles and drones will expand. Dangerous autocrats, war criminals, and terrorists around the world will turn to Iran for missiles and drones, just as we saw them doing following the expiration of the U.N. arms embargo on Iran in 2020.

That is why it is urgent that the House pass my bipartisan bill, the Fight and Combat Rampant Iranian Missile Exports, or Fight CRIME, Act. The bill, which I was proud to introduce with Ranking Member Meeks, imposes strict mandatory sanctions on Iran's missile and drone capability to fill the gap left by the expiration of the U.N. restrictions.

Everyone must know that if they purchase Iran's weapons of war, they will be frozen out of the U.S. financial system, denied use of the U.S. dollar, and denied access to the United States. For years, Iran and its proxies have rained hell on the Middle East from the sky with their attack UAVs. Now Iran's dangerous arsenal is enabling Russian war crimes and the devastation of Ukraine.

We cannot wait to act until the U.N. restrictions expire. We need to prevent these weapons sales now before these deadly missiles and drones are on the battlefield. In fact, Iran is working with Russia inside of Russia to make these very drones.

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

September 1, 2023.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

Dear Chairman McCaul: I write regarding H.R. 3152, the

Fight and Combat Rampant Iranian Missile Exports Act.

Provisions of this bill fall within the Judiciary Committee's

Rule X jurisdiction, and I appreciate that you consulted with

us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee agrees that

it shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill

so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor.

The Committee takes this action with the understanding that

forgoing further consideration of this measure does not in

any way alter the Committee's jurisdiction or waive any

future jurisdictional claim over these provisions or their

subject matter. We also reserve the right to seek appointment

of an appropriate number of conferees in the event of a

conference with the Senate involving this measure or similar

legislation.

I ask that you please include this letter in your

committee's report to accompany this legislation. I

appreciate the cooperative manner in which our committees

have worked on this matter, and I look forward to working

collaboratively in the future on matters of shared

jurisdiction. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Jim Jordan,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congresswoman Dean for her strong support of this measure and her leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the right to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Despite what you may hear about partisan divides, our committee, I think, stands apart. This bill to impose sanctions on those doing business with Iran's missile and drone program was introduced by myself and Ranking Member Meeks of the Foreign Affairs Committee. It passed our committee unanimously. It has over 225 cosponsors, with a mix of Republicans and Democrats.

Congress and the American people are keenly aware of the destructive power of Iran's drones, and we are absolutely committed to reining in this threat. We are united in delivering a bipartisan message to countries around the world: Do not buy or acquire Iranian drones and missiles. Do not associate yourself with the IRGC, Vladimir Putin, or Iran's terrorist proxies.

Putin and the Ayatollah may try to ramp up their military cooperation, but we will do everything in our power to stop them, and in doing so, safeguard free democracies around the world.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 589) to impose sanctions on the Supreme Leader of Iran and the President of Iran and their respective offices for human rights abuses and support for terrorism, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, we all know that Iran has committed brutal human rights violations. This regime silences dissent and suppresses the truth, and those who dare speak out face severe consequences, including death.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini was murdered by the Iranian regime, the so-called morality police, while in police custody. Iran's morality police had detained her for a false crime unthinkable to most of us here in this Chamber.

What was the crime?

It was failing to properly cover her hair.

The people of Iran were outraged by her brutal murder and by the range of injustices that the Ayatollah subjects Iranians to day in and day out. This outrage led the great people of Iran to rise up in peaceful protest, demanding change.

Sadly, but not surprisingly, the regime responded with a violent crackdown against the protesters. They detained tens of thousands of their own citizens and killed hundreds more. The regime choked off access to the outside world by blocking the internet. Disturbingly, violence and isolation are how they deny their own people their freedom and their voice.

The international community has failed the people of Iran by failing to compel their oppressors to stop this abuse. We have many sanctions laws designed to address the Iranian regime's human rights violations. However, it is clear that many officials and institutions in Iran have not yet been sanctioned for their role in these abuses. That is why it is so important that we pass this bipartisan bill that was authored and introduced by Representative Banks from Indiana.

We must require the President to formally determine whether specific high-ranking regime officials and institutions meet the criteria for imposition of our sanctions and then act based on those determinations.

The Biden administration has its own political agenda when it comes to Iran. This administration wants to broker a bad nuclear agreement with Iran and has made it clear that it is willing to sacrifice leverage in the form of sanctions enforcement to do so.

My longstanding concerns only grew when we learned that the administration's chief negotiator, Rob Malley, was being investigated for problems with his security clearance. This administration must be transparent about these allegations and how they have impacted the last 2 years of Iran's policy.

To the administration, I say this: We must not sell out the Iranian people to reach a bad nuclear deal with Iran.

A nuclear Iran is simply not acceptable. We must fully enforce the laws on the books that we have in order to stop the grotesque human rights violations taking place in Iran.

That is why as we approach the 1-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini's tragic death--it is so fitting that we do it here in this Chamber this week--Congress must show the world that we have not forgotten Mahsa or the millions of Iranians who have experienced violence, oppression, and even death at the hands of the regime.

Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, June 22, 2023.

Hon. Michael McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McCaul, I am writing with respect to H.R.

589, the ``Mahsa Amini Human rights and Security

Accountability Act.'' As a result of your having consulted

with us on provisions on which the Committee on Ways and

Means has a jurisdictional interest, I will not request a

sequential referral on this measure.

The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the

mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction

over the subject matter contained in this or similar

legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately

consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation

moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues

that fall within our jurisdiction. The Committee also

reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate

number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving

this or similar legislation, and requests your support for

such request.

Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter

confirming this understanding and would ask that a copy of

our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the

Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 589.

Sincerely,

Jason Smith,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks), who is the author of this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I thank the Ranking Member Meeks, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, and Congressman Lloyd Doggett for their work on this bill. I also thank Representative Banks for leading this important bipartisan measure to ensure the United States upholds its moral responsibility as a beacon of freedom in human rights.

This bill does not create any new sanctions programs. The tools we are discussing here today already exist. We are simply asking the administration to enforce them. We must do everything we can to stand with the people of Iran and prevent more violence and suffering.

I feel for Mahsa's family, seeing her being beaten, tortured, and put to death for the so-called crime of merely not wearing her hijab correctly is really unfathomable to Americans and our way of life in a free society, and it cannot stand.

I look forward to a day when the Ayatollah is out of power and the people of Iran can be free to express themselves without this kind of oppression and tyranny. I know it will happen one day, and I hope it happens in my lifetime.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 492) condemning the Government of Iran's state- sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights.

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, as the Iranian regime continues to violate human rights, we must condemn the regime's state-sponsored persecution of the Baha'i minority and its other ongoing abuses.

For the past year, Iran's barbaric human rights violations have faced renewed scrutiny following the regime's crackdown on peaceful protests after the murder of Mahsa Amini. Unfortunately, this sickening cruelty has become characteristic of the Iranian regime's control for over 40 years. The regime has consistently targeted the Baha'i and other religious minorities with harassment, discrimination, and violence.

For decades, the Iranian regime has terrorized the Baha'i, who face arbitrary arrest, forced disappearances, property confiscation, and economic discrimination at the hands of the regime.

Religious persecution in any form is repulsive, and we must condemn it in the strongest possible terms. That is why I cosponsored this resolution, which the gentlewoman from Illinois, Congresswoman Schakowsky, introduced.

This measure details Iran's ongoing crimes against the Baha'i minority and calls for further action to address these serious human rights abuses. Congress will continue to stand with all the people of Iran to defend their rights, including religious freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Ranking Member Meeks, Congresswoman Dean, and the gentlewoman from Illinois for offering this bipartisan resolution in support of human rights and religious freedom for the Baha'i community in Iran.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Consulate General of Ukraine in Houston, and all the people of Ukraine, on their Independence Day. The spirit of Ukraine is an inspiration to all freedom loving peoples in the world. The rights that we so often take for granted are under constant threat from dictators like Vladimir Putin. There is no stronger example of what it takes to stand up for liberty in the world today than the struggle fought every day in Ukraine.

I take a special pride in offering this congratulations as Texans and Ukrainians are most assuredly kindred spirits. In a book he wrote after a 1946 trip to the Soviet Union, the late John Fischer concluded that Ukrainians are ``Texans in Fur Hats.'' It's no surprise that a significant portion of the first wave of Ukrainian immigrants to the United States settled in Texas. Our histories are intertwined, as is our love of liberty. Glory to Ukraine (Slava Ukraini).