Sander M. Levin

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Neal, and I salute his eloquent statement. I hope everybody listens.

Usually, legislation has either rhyme or reason, or both. This bill has neither. It is dramatically unreasonable. It adds insult to injury. It would further increase our growing Federal debt, this time by almost $100 billion.

Driven by the irresponsible 2017 tax law, our projected annual deficit has already more than doubled since President Trump came into office, more than doubled; mainly to benefit, as Mr. Neal has spelled out so well, the very wealthy.

The majority thought the first tax bill of theirs would at least be helpful politically. It turned out, for voters, sour music. It was, as described earlier, hyper-partnership at its worst; no hearings. Nothing like it.

So, on this last day of votes this session, and close to my last of thousands and thousands of votes over 36 years, I will proudly vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution calling for the release of the two journalists imprisoned after investigating attacks against the Rohingya ethnic minority in Burma, also known as Myanmar.

As I said in the resolution I introduced in early September calling for their release: ``The Burmese police captain involved in their arrest reportedly admitted during the trial that his superior ordered him to entrap the journalists.''

The atrocities committed against the Rohingya--mass killings; rape perpetrated on a massive scale; whole villages burned to the ground, with people being burned alive in their homes; and over 700,000 fleeing the violence to neighboring Bangladesh--have been so extreme that the United Nations issued a report earlier this year calling for Burma's military leaders to be investigated and prosecuted on the charges of genocide. There can be no doubt about the culpability of Burma's military in the oppression and violence inflicted on the Rohingya.

I had the privilege of meeting Aung San Suu Kyi a few years ago as part of a delegation led by Nancy Pelosi, joining in admiration for her perseverance and triumph over oppression. There has been a hesitation by some to criticize Suu Kyi, worrying that it could make it more likely the military would take over the civilian government she leads. But her words and actions in the face of what, in reality, has been genocide have been deeply disturbing, contrary to her past example as a beacon of freedom.

In 2017, the late John McCain and Richard Durbin introduced in the Senate and I introduced in the House a resolution that encouraged ``Aung San Suu Kyi to live up to her inspiring

words upon receiving the 2012 Nobel Peace Prize with respect to ethnic reconciliation in Burma, and in particular to address the historic and brutal repression of the Rohingya in Rakhine State.''

Unfortunately, that resolution was not acted upon.

When Aung San Suu Kyi later said: ``We believe that, for the sake of long-term stability and security, we have to be fair to all sides,'' it was a disturbing message of minimization.

Suu Kyi later said: ``In a way we can say that we understand our country better than any other country does, and I'm sure you will say the same of yours, that you understand your country better than anybody else.''

As Bishop Desmond Tutu said in a letter to Suu Kyi: ``My dear sister: If the political price of your ascension to the highest office in Myanmar is your silence, the price is surely too steep.''

This resolution speaks out against the genocide and crimes against humanity that occurred in Rakhine State. All of humanity must speak out clearly and decisively.

Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I will start first by applauding the leadership of this committee: Mr. Royce, who has worked so hard, and the gentlewoman from Florida.

We went to Bosnia together some years ago, and they have worked so closely with Mr. Engel. I think it really demonstrates what can be done when people work together.

The Congressional Ukraine Caucus cochairs--Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Andy Harris, Brian Fitzpatrick, and I--issued this statement rebuking the Russian Federation's aggressive attack on Ukraine near the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov: ``As cochairs of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, we strongly condemn Russia's dangerous naval assault on Ukrainian ships. This episode, as well as Russia's blockade of Ukrainian ports, is a deeply disturbing sign of continued Russian aggression in its efforts to tighten its bloody grip and illegitimate occupation of the Crimean peninsula.

``We join the international committee and our NATO allies in resolute affirmation of the fact that Crimea and its surrounding waters belong to Ukraine. We call on Russian authorities, in accordance with international law, to cease any and all interference with access to Ukrainian ports and the Azov Sea. Russia must end this bloody and unjust occupation of Ukrainian sovereign territory.''

I was in Ukraine at the time of the Russian attack. I was at meetings where the President of Ukraine spoke out clearly against the Russian action on behalf of the people of Ukraine. He also spoke out on what was the main aim of Russia's military actions: to undermine Ukraine's efforts to build democracy.

Today, there is a dangerous tilt to authoritarianism in many places around the world. This makes Ukraine's struggle to resist aggression, safeguard its independence, and develop democracy all the more important.

Ukraine has witnessed firsthand that the challenges of democracy are not easily overcome. That makes it all the more important to overcome the threats to democracy, such as injustice and corruption.

The United States must support Ukraine in its efforts. We must deepen our determination to help the fight for freedom and democracy, never making heroes out of dictators. That is what this resolution is all about. May it pass unanimously.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Engel and thank my pal from Florida for their work.