Ron Wright

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 962, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Speaker to immediately schedule this important bill.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. Chairman, I stand in opposition to the amendment offered by Mr. Sherman that conditions defense transfers to Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan actively contributes to international security efforts. We see their forces working alongside coalition forces in countering terrorism in Afghanistan, in addition to contributing a logistics supply route vital to U.S. and coalition forces.

Azerbaijan lies in a compromising position between two hostile forces: Russia and Iran. Our bilateral relationship and the incredible amount of support the Azeris have provided to U.S. missions in Afghanistan were strong indicators of how our partnership has grown since Azerbaijan first gained its independence in 1991. We must not limit our ability to provide reciprocal support to our friend and partner in a tumultuous region.

Putin's history of utilizing military force against its neighbors, such as Ukraine and Georgia, forebodes his willingness to use the same methods against others that counter him.

The United States Department of State is responsible for the review of sales and transfers of defense articles and services. They exercise this responsibility through an interagency process that assesses each possible arms transfer on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Sherman's amendment unnecessarily singles out Azerbaijan by placing an additional certification requirement on the State Department's armed sales review process.

The length of time this amendment would add to the defense exports review process is detrimental in the event of an attack by militarily superior Russia against our security partner, Azerbaijan, while providing no added benefit to our bilateral relationship. This would include a lengthening of time in reviewing arms sales intended for Azeri forces operating in counterterrorism operations in Afghanistan.

Nagorno-Karabakh is an Armenian-occupied territory inside the borders of Azerbaijan, which has undergone bitter conflict for two decades.

The OSCE Minsk Group, co-chaired by the United States, has sought a peaceful solution to the conflict since 1992. By conditioning sales to Azerbaijan, the United States Congress would tilt the United States neutral position as a member of the Minsk Group and hinder resolution efforts in Nagorno-Karabakh. By taking sides, the trust that has been built up by the U.S. and Azerbaijan through the group's efforts would be gravely diminished, and the conflict would degenerate further.

The NDAA is not the appropriate vehicle for taking sides on a political issue, nor should it be used to influence a process that clearly lies within the jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

This amendment is not required. The Department of Defense already adheres to the provisions of the Department of State's March 2019 extension of section 907, which specifies that assistance to Azerbaijan will not be used for offensive purposes against Armenia.

I oppose this amendment, which halts the positive momentum of our bilateral relationship, particularly with the arrival of U.S. Ambassador Lee Litzenberger in January of this year.

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

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table H.R. 3401, with the Senate amendment thereto, and concur in the Senate amendment. This bipartisan bill passed the Senate with 84 votes and could be sent to the President's desk for his signature today.