Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Goodlatte for bringing this legislation to the floor.

I have several comments that I would like to make in response to my friend from Houston, Ms. Jackson Lee, about this legislation and about what it is and, more importantly, what it is not.

I served 22 years on a criminal court in Houston, Texas, felony cases, saw about 25,000 people work their way through my court. Before that, I was a prosecutor for 8 years in State court. Mr. Speaker, I saw a lot of people charged with criminal conduct, and this legislation is necessary because of some problems that the system has created.

As the chairman pointed out, pretrial release is a relatively new concept in our justice system. When a person comes and is charged with a crime, generally speaking, in most jurisdictions, there are four ways in which that individual can be released until their day in court:

One way is to put up a cash bond, where they put up the cash to the sheriff's department sometimes, and after the case is over with, they get that cash back.

Another way is to go through a bonding agency where they pay a bonding agency a percentage and they, the bond company, are responsible for making sure the person appears in court. If they don't appear, the bonding company loses the entire bond money.

There is a personal recognizance bond, where an individual comes to court and tells the judge and promises: Judge, I will come back to court for my trial.

It is an agreement between the judge and the individual.

And then there is the pretrial release system.

The pretrial release system is similar to personal recognizance, except the person is supposed to be supervised by a government agency, usually called the pretrial release agency, that makes sure that that person abides by certain conditions, doesn't leave town, and that pretrial release agency is usually run by the local judiciary or the justice system like the county, four different ways.

This legislation deals only with the pretrial release programs in our Nation, the 300 pretrial release programs.

The Citizens Right to Know Act is really not reforming pretrial release, it is an accountability portion of pretrial release to let people know how the Federal money is being used to operate.

Each year, millions of dollars in Federal grant money goes to State and local pretrial release agencies to operate those programs. These programs allow the accused individual to be released and await trial, usually to stay in the jurisdiction.

However, some jurisdictions overuse the programs and release many repeat and dangerous individuals with no

oversight by anybody. They are just released into the community.

Some of these released individuals disappear from the justice system indefinitely. We don't know how many do because there is no reporting of people under the pretrial release program to the Federal Government when they receive Federal funds.

In many cases, repeat, violent, and hardened criminals participate. As a result, in jurisdictions across the country, taxpayers are literally bailing out individuals with a long criminal record on a new criminal offense.

All across America, terrible crimes are being committed by individuals who are bailed out on a pretrial release program because there is no accountability of the program.

This bill is an accountability bill. Who is being released? What types of cases are being released? How many people repeat a crime while they are out on pretrial release?

We don't know because those records are never kept. So if the taxpayers are going to fund pretrial release programs, as they should in local jurisdictions, let the pretrial release program report back to the Federal Government the results of the program. Is it working? Is it not working? That is what we need to know, and we have no idea today.

It doesn't have anything to do with determining who is released on pretrial release, it just wants these organizations to report back to the Federal Government because the public has the right to know if the program is working.

Right now, that is neither collected or reported in any systematic fashion.

Why not? Why don't these pretrial release programs in the country say: Yes. It is working. Everybody comes back, or a great percentage comes back. Or: No. It is not working. People disappear. They commit crimes. We don't know, Mr. Speaker.

All this bill does is help pretrial release let us know and let them know and the public know, is the pretrial release program working in that jurisdiction?

You are using Federal money to operate the program, therefore, report back to the Federal Government on how that program is working or not working.

It doesn't change the pretrial release program, except it requires accountability. For too long, we have not allowed or required accountability of what takes place under the pretrial release program.

It does not collect data on each pretrial release defendant to determine if these agencies are effective in ensuring that defendants adhere to their pretrial requirements and whether the defendants actually show up for trial. It collects it on all defendants that the pretrial release program must report to the Federal Government.

Congress must be able to determine the effectiveness of these programs, and without basic information like this, Congress can't ensure that the programs are working around the country.

Mr. Speaker, the taxpayers need to know if their resources are being spent wisely, and that communities are being protected.

There have been numerous cases where individuals were released on pretrial release bonds, and they had a long criminal record, and they commit another offense.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a letter regarding pretrial release programs.

October 27, 2017.

Hon. Bob Goodlatte,

Chairman, House Judiciary Committee,

Washington, DC.

Hon. Charles Grassley,

Chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee,

Washington, DC.

Gentlemen: We are writing to express our strong support for

HR 2152, the Citizens Right to Know Act, sponsored by Rep.

Ted Poe (R-TX). The legislation has been referred to the

House Judiciary Committee.

This legislation is long overdue. It requires pre-trial

release agencies receiving federal funds to report to the

Department of Justice, who participates in their programs,

including participant:

Criminal history, including previous charges filed

Previous failures to appear for trial

Previous and current non-compliance infractions

Currently these pre-trial release programs aren't required

to report any information about the defendants released

through their programs. Basic information on defendants is

neither collected nor reported in any systematic fashion. The

DOJ only collects data from pre-trial release agencies

related to crime rates and trends in the aggregate. It does

not collect data on specific participants and programs. Thus,

there is no mechanism to determine if pre-trial release

agencies are effective in ensuring that defendants adhere to

their pre-trial release requirements or whether these

defendants actually show up for trial.

Without this legislation, policymakers and taxpayers have

no ability to determine the effectiveness of taxpayer-funded

pre-trial release programs. And without such data, hundreds

of federally funded pretrial release programs lack sufficient

accountability to U.S. taxpayers. This lack of accountability

has allowed many repeat and violent offenders to get out of

jail on our tax dollars.

Until the 1960's, principal options for the accused were

ROR (release on one's own recognizance) commercial bail or

incarceration. Commercial bail ensured the appearance of the

defendant in court at no cost to the taxpayer. Pre-trial

release programs began in the 1960's for the purpose of

securing release for indigent, non-violent offenders who

couldn't afford monetary bail.

However, over the last four decades, pre-trial release

programs have expanded well beyond their original scope and

purpose. Today there are over 300 pre-trial release programs

nationwide whose participants routinely include violent and

repeat offenders, many of whom are able post a commercial

bond and have done so in the past. In many instances, the

federal government has become a major source of funding for

pre-trial release programs.

If Congress continues to fund pre-trial release programs,

then Congress must be able to determine the effectiveness of

such programs. Taxpayers deserve to know if their limited

resources are being spent wisely and their communities are

being protected.

We believe swift passage of H.R. 2152 will provide greater

transparency for pre-trial programs, greater accountability

for taxpayer funds, and increased public safety for our

communities.

Sincerely,

Patricia Wenskunas, Crime Survivors; Mark Klaas, Father

of Polly Klaas, Klaas Kids Foundation; Ronald Lampard,

Criminal Justice Reform, Reform Task Force, American

Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC); Jim Backlin,

Christian Coalition; Colin Hanna, Let Freedom Ring; Kay

Daily, Coalition for a Fair Judiciary; Susan Carleson,

American Civil Rights Union; Harriett Salerno, Crime

Victims United; Beverly Warnock, Parents of Murdered

Children; Gary Bauer, American Values; Jim Gilmore,

Free Congress/American Opportunity Foundation; Beth

Chapman, Professional Bail Agents Association; Larry

Cirignano, Children First Foundation.

Mr. Speaker, the Citizens Right to Know Act simply states that if a State or local jurisdiction is going to use Federal money for a pretrial release program, they must report to the Federal Government information on who participates in the program, the criminal records of those individuals, the appearance rate at trial, and the previous failure to appear of those programs.

I also want to be clear that any State or local jurisdiction that does not report this information will lose the portion of Federal funds which they use for pretrial release programs only. Other Federal funds will not be affected that go to, for example, Byrne grants. I just want to clear that up because my friend, Ms. Jackson Lee, mentioned that they are going to lose all Federal funds. No. They just lose the funds that apply to Federal pretrial release programs if they don't report those statistics.

There is some question about the privacy of individuals. If States have a law to protect the privacy of certain persons on pretrial release, this bill does not change that. This bill says that if the State has those privacy laws for individuals, which some do, that is fine. That will not be affected or overruled by this Federal law.

I think that this legislation is necessary to see if these programs are working. If they are working, maybe we ought to expand them. If they are not working, maybe Congress needs to reform the pretrial release program.

This legislation enjoys widespread support. One of those supporters is the National Association of Police Organizations. I include in the Record a letter indicating their support.

National Association of

Police Organization, Inc.,

Alexandria, VA, May 9, 2017.

Hon. Ted Poe,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Congressman Poe: On behalf of the National Association

of Police Organizations (NAPO), I am writing to you to

express our support for the Citizens' Right to Know Act of

2017, H.R. 2152.

NAPO is a coalition of police unions and associations from

across the United States that serves to advance the interests

of America's law enforcement through legislative and legal

advocacy, political action, and education. Founded in 1978,

NAPO now represents more than 1,000 police units and

associations, 241,000 sworn law enforcement officers, and

more than 100,000 citizens who share a common dedication to

fair and effective crime control and law enforcement.

Each year, millions of dollars in federal grant monies go

towards state and local pre-trial release programs, which

allow accused criminals to await their trial at home, rather

than in jail These programs, which in many cases serve

repeat, dangerous criminals, often operate with little

oversight, putting public safety at risk. Increased oversight

of these programs would decrease the possibility of the

accused committing crimes while on pretrial release or simply

disappearing to avoid facing justice.

The Citizens' Right to Know Act addresses the lack of

oversight of these programs by mandating that federally-

funded pre-trial service agencies publicly report on program

participants, including if they have a history of criminal

behavior, whether they appear for their trail, and whether

they have ever previously failed to appear for trial. As

federal dollars are going towards bailing out criminals, this

Act helps ensure that the accused face justice and our

communities are protected.

We look forward to working with you to pass this important

legislation.

Sincerely,

William J. Johnson,

Executive Director.

Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this so we can know exactly what is taking place with Federal funds that are being used to keep people and let people, as Ms. Jackson Lee pointed out, out of jail without having to use some other type of system. And if it is working, let's expand it. If it is not working, maybe Congress needs to be involved to make sure that people do show up for trial, because that is the whole key of a bond, is to release the person under some type of bond, like a pretrial release bond, but we want them to appear in court.

I had cases in my court where people were released on pretrial release bonds; they would show up for trial. I had cases in my court where they were released on pretrial release bonds, and they are still running loose years later.

We don't know the statistics of who is released and who comes back and who is released who never comes back.

This legislation just wants a report to Congress so we can decide on reforms if necessary in the future.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

Mr. Speaker, when a person is arrested and charges are filed, usually, now, in our country, they don't sit in jail waiting to see a judge for weeks or months. They see a judge within 24 hours. They appear in court. The judge sets bail. This is all public record, including the name and what the person is accused of. It is already public record. So it is not something that is new.

The judge sets bail and determines if the person can afford a lawyer or not and appoints a lawyer right then, within 24 hours. I think that is marvelous in our country. I remember the old days when that did not happen.

This idea that we are denying a person's right of privacy, it is public already, people who are charged with crimes.

My friend from Georgia said pretrial release works. It is a proven thing to work. Well, how does he know that? Because he says so? We don't know if it works or not.

Mr. Speaker, in April of 2017, 26-year-old Christian Rogers was walking along the street in New Jersey and he was shot 22 times. His assailant, Jules Black, a 30-year-old from Vineland, New Jersey, had just been arrested 4 days earlier by the State police and charged with possession of a handgun. He was released on pretrial release and had a long criminal record.

Christian Rogers is just one example of a victim who was killed because of the pretrial release program. So I would disagree with my friend from Georgia that it is working. We don't know the statistics.

I told you this earlier when I spoke. I was a judge in Harris County for 22 years. People were released on pretrial release. The very people who are released on pretrial release are the people that my friend from Texas is talking about: people who can't afford a surety bond, people who can't afford any kind of bond.

So pretrial release serves its purpose and it serves it to a specific part of the community, but we need to know if it is working, if these people come back for their day in court or they don't come back for their day in court or if they commit a crime while they are on pretrial release. We don't know the statistics.

All this legislation says is let's audit pretrial release across the country and see if it is working, see if it is not working, see if we can make improvements. That is all it is. It is an audit. It is not denying anybody any rights under the Constitution.

Mr. Speaker, I think the legislation is a good idea. We need to know if taxpayer money is working. I appreciate the extra time the chairman has given me.

Mr. Speaker, that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, as much as we like to pretend that the chaos of the Middle East and Africa is contained to those regions, it is not. Violent conflict, political oppression, and economic hardship anywhere causes ripple effects across the globe.

These secondary effects of distant unrest create serious challenges for ourselves and our allies. Nowhere is this more true than the ongoing migrant crisis that is fundamentally changing Europe.

Our European allies are facing an unprecedented wave of refugees and immigrants flooding across their borders. Many are innocent families fleeing danger, poverty, and starvation. But there are some who have ill intent. The foreign fighter phenomenon has disguised wolves in sheep's clothing and requires increased vigilance.

Our European friends have for centuries faced daunting challenges coming from their near abroad. Even the Roman Empire faced a mass migration problem coming from Asia. But with more people displaced today than during the Second World War, the challenge is enormous and we must assist Europe to develop a strategy.

The freedom and prosperity of the West has always been an oasis in a world of instability and tyranny. Europeans, just like Americans, wish they could help all those in need but understand there are limits to what can be done. Slamming the door shut seems cruel but leaving it wide open creates a new set of problems.

Every society faces strain when mass migration occurs. And there are real cultural, security, and economic implications which must be considered and addressed. The nations of Europe, as independent sovereign states, ultimately will determine their own course in how to tackle this challenge. But they have a responsibility as members of the European community and as good neighbors, to be mindful of the vulnerabilities and issues that arise from their decisions.

We have seen a recent wave of terrorism rock many of the great cities of Europe. This threat is very much linked to the wave of refugees and migrants coming from conflict zones in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. While many of the perpetrators of these attacks were European citizens and second or third generation immigrants, the massive flow of new migrants has created a challenge in tracking suspected extremists as they move to and from distant war zones. As many as 5,000 EU citizens have traveled to Syria or Iraq to join ISIS or other terrorist groups, and it is estimated that 30 percent of these individuals have returned to Europe.

Intelligence sharing and security cooperation among our European allies and ourselves is key to capturing returning foreign fighters and thwarting homegrown attacks. But developing ways to integrate migrant populations into their new European societies is important as well. Having entire communities that are isolated or not assimilated to their new countries sets the stage for radicalization and unrest.

European nations are in their right to enforce the rule of law and control their borders. Meanwhile they should also find ways to absorb and welcome migrants who have legally joined their nations. A nation is not a nation without laws, borders, and an engaged citizenry.

Where we can, we must help our European friends to address this migrant crisis. Either through sharing of intelligence, building capacity, or addressing the source of the migrant crisis in the trouble regions of the world.

As allies, it is our duty to support our European friends whatever the challenge. History has shown us that our fates are inevitably linked.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Darren Ellisor's childhood dream was to become a pilot. Growing up in Clear Lake, Texas as the son of a NASA contractor, he attended the Wings over Houston air show each year, went on tours of NASA, and watched in fascination as the space shuttles flew into the sky, disappearing into the final frontier.

After visiting the United States Air Force Academy as a young teenager, Ellisor's dream suddenly seemed within grasp. He became determined to enroll at the Academy and become an Air Force pilot.

However, as his high school graduation neared, Ellisor failed to receive his long-sought appointment to the Air Force Academy. Disappointed, he knew he could not allow this setback deter him from pursuing his dream. Instead, he refocused his efforts, attending Valley Forge Military Academy and College in

Pennsylvania for a year. After applying to his dream school a second time, he finally received his acceptance to the prestigious Air Force Service Academy.

After graduating from the Academy and undergoing extensive pilot training, Ellisor served as an E-3 AWACS pilot until retiring from the Air Force in 2007. His service brought him to the skies of Germany, where he led multi-national crews comprised of airmen from 13 NATO countries in peace keeping missions over the skies of Kosovo. He went on to protect and defend American airspace after 9/11 and took part in multiple operations in the Middle East during the War on Terror.

Ellisor has long been someone who has helped others. During his time in the Air Force, he served as the Assistant Director of Operations of the 552nd Training Squadron, training over 300 young air crewmen during his tenure. After his retirement from the Air Force, he formed a small business, Service Academy Consulting, in order to help high school students with dreams like his attend one of the elite service academies.

Ellisor selfless side showed itself again last week when he and Tammie Jo Shults saved 148 lives as their commercial airplane suddenly seemed to fall from the sky. On a seemingly ordinary day, First Officer Darren Ellisor and Pilot Tammie Jo Shults prepared for take-off, all systems a go. Shortly after takeoff, Southwest Airlines flight 1380's left engine exploded. Ellisor and Shults's military training kicked in, calmly bringing the plane to low altitude, and the duo eventually landed the plane safely in Philadelphia.

Mr. Speaker, Air Force veteran and Southwest Airlines pilot Darren Ellisor has a storied career serving our great Nation in the United States Airforce. His dedication to his country and aid in what could have been a disastrous situation are commendable. He truly embodies what it means to be a great American.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, it is a distinct honor for me to talk about the great relationship we have with Serbia as co-chair of the Congressional Serbia Caucus.

Serbia is a great friend of the United States.

As a Texan, I have great admiration for the people of Serbia. Our strong opinions and habit to speak our minds make us natural allies.

In fact, one of the first people to settle in Texas was a Serbian named Dorde Sagic, or George Fischer as he was known in the U.S.

After settling in Texas, Sagic went on to become a justice of the peace in my hometown of Houston.

But Serbia has contributed much more to the cause of justice than just Mr. Sagic keeping the early streets of Houston safe.

Today we honor the service of Serbia's armed forces who have fought side-by-side with Americans to preserve justice during history's most horrific conflicts.

In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson gave a speech marking the fourth anniversary of Austria-Hungary's invasion of Serbia. Speaking of the bravery of the Serbian armed forces, President Wilson said:

``Nobly did they respond. So valiantly and courageous did they oppose the forces of a country ten times greater in population and resources. . . While their territory has been devastated and their homes despoiled, the spirit of the Serbian people has not been broken.''

As a Texan, I admire such defiance against overwhelming odds.

Like President Wilson, I am proud to share the stories of Serbia's bravery here in Washington.

I believe the most meaningful for Americans is the story of the Halyard Mission during the dark days of the Second World War.

While under Nazi-occupation, the Serbian people demonstrated their bravery as they played a crucial role in the largest rescue operation of American airmen in history.

In 1944, American bombers were flying frequent missions to strike Germany's vital oil supplies in Romania as part of the allied advance into Europe.

The 15th Air Force led this effort by launching nearly 20,000 sorties into Eastern Europe, with many of the missions flying over Nazi- occupied Yugoslavia. As many as 1,500 pilots and airmen were shot down during these courageous air raids.

Serbians, who had been resisting German forces since 1941, risked their own lives to rescue American aircrews and hide them from patrolling Nazis.

For months these brave and noble Serbians cared for and protected American and allied pilots.

By August 1944, the allied forces, including the 15th Air Force and Office of Strategic Services, devised a daring operation to evacuate the hundreds of allied pilots being sheltered by the Serbian resistance.

American aircraft flew into enemy territory and evacuated these airmen from an air field built and protected by local Serbians near the village of Pranjani.

For over 60 years this operation was kept secret. But now we can remember the courage of our Serbian friends and say thank you.

The spirit of the Halyard mission still lives on today as a remarkable story of resistance and heroism.

As was the case in both World Wars, Serbia and the U.S. still face shared threats.

About 600 foreign fighters in Syria have come from the Balkan states. ISIS and al-Qaeda terrorists present a threat to Serbia and the region just as they present a threat to the U.S.

We must continue to coordinate with our Serbian partners to stop returning terrorists and neutralize networks that recruit fighters in the Balkans.

The U.S. is also working with Serbia to improve its independent judiciary and fight corruption. A democratic Serbia with a strong rule of law is in America's interests.

But there are others who do not share this goal.

Russian disinformation efforts are designed to keep Serbia in its sphere of influence and poison our warming friendship.

Nevertheless, Serbia's integration to the West has continued to move forward.

In 2006, Serbia joined NATO's Partnership for Peace program and, in 2015, signed an Individual Partnership Action Plan with the alliance to strengthen cooperation.

Recently the European Union announced that Serbia could join the EU as early as 2025. I applaud this step which will strengthen Belgrade's political institutions and economic ties with the West.

Together we share the same dreams of a bright and free future for both our countries.

We are blessed to have brave men and women that ensure our futures are bright and free.

Thank you to the Serbian armed forces for standing with America in the wars of the past and in the challenges we will face together in the future.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, at the height of World War II, Bill Kelly worked as an airplane mechanic. Stationed in the Marshall Islands, he and his team were responsible for the maintenance and repair of B-29 bombers that stopped over on their way to Japan and back. He and his brothers-in-arms often stayed up all night preparing the planes for the next leg of their journey, on occasion even replacing whole one-ton engines overnight.

Although he is currently 93, aviation has been, I quote, ``second nature'' to Bill for most of his life. This is why the tribute one group arranged for him was so special.

Recently, the Gulf Coast Wing of the Commemorative Air Force made Bill the guest of honor at their fly-in in Lakewood, Florida. To honor his service, Bill was given the opportunity to fly in a World War II- era B-17 bomber, the ``Texas Raiders,'' maintained by the group. Bill enjoyed his 20-minute flight and said that it brought back several good memories of his time in the service.

Mr. Speaker, as veterans of this war continue to grow older and fewer in number, it is important that we not let their sacrifice be forgotten. The members of the ``Greatest Generation'' made a unique contribution to the American nation, having not only endured the hardships of the Great Depression but also answered the call to defend our country after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Groups like the custodians of ``Texas Raiders'' that travel the country and give veterans the opportunity to fly in World War II aircraft are doing important work to ensure that our country's veterans are not forgotten and are given due recognition of their bravery and sacrifice.

Bill remarked that at 93, he is, I quote, ``pretty well advanced right now.'' Bill, you may be ``advanced'' in life, but you are still front and center in our collective memory.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, for generations, the Korean war has continued with no feasible end in sight.

Today, North and South Korea supposedly reached a peace agreement, which includes a denuclearized peninsula, but the definition of denuclearization is not defined in the agreement.

To the North, denuclearization only means the U.S. nuclear umbrella to protect South Korea will end. To the South and to the U.S., this means North Korea will denuclearize.

This is not the first time little Kim has made agreements only to break them. And Kim's delusional idea of a unified Korea is a unified communist Korean Peninsula with him in charge, standing against the West.

For over 6 decades, the Kim regime has actively pursued nuclear and ballistic weapons, terrorizing anyone who opposes the rogue regime.

President Trump's hardball tactics have had their intended insurmountable effect.

We must proceed with caution and stand with our allies to ensure that this agreement is not merely a ploy to serve North Korea's nefarious, totalitarian, aggressive interests.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Pakistan has been betraying the international community and is supporting terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force officially placed Pakistan on its grey list of countries not doing enough to counter terror finance. Not only does Pakistan provide safe haven for all stripes of terrorist groups, it also turns a blind eye to so-called Islamic charities tied to terrorist operations and other terrorist financiers. Pakistan has paid lip service to the fight against terrorism, while supporting the very criminals that kill Americans and our allies.

Mr. Speaker, I was just at the White House where the President honored many of our wounded warriors, some of them wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq. Pakistan's intelligence services have fostered working relationships with the Haqqani network, al-Qaida, and the Taliban--terrorist groups. Meanwhile, the Pakistan Government has received over $30 billion of American aid.

Pakistan is a Benedict Arnold unfaithful ally. We need to stop paying Pakistan to betray us. They will do it for free.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, as President Emmanuel Macron continues his visit to the United States, I would like to acknowledge the shared sacrifice of his nation and ours during the First World War.

President Macron graciously brought with him a sapling from the Belleau Wood, the site of the first battle in World War I where American generals commanded troops in the field. The American forces overwhelmed their adversaries and helped the Allied forces win the day. The U.S. Marines were the toast of Paris, having provided a key spark to the Allied maneuvers in the battle. The nickname they gained from their actions in battle, ``Teufelhunde'' or ``Devil Dogs,'' lives on today.

Some Americans were already in France, voluntarily joining the fight to defend France and her allies. Thirty-eight American pilots formed the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron of the French air service that saw action at the Battle of Verdun and other notable engagements of the war, and more than 200 additional Americans served in other French squadrons. Informally referred to collectively as the La Fayette Flying Corps, these American aviators voluntarily served the French people in the same spirit as the Marquis de Lafayette did for the 13 colonies in the Revolution. Many of these pilots were not much older than the 19- year-old Lafayette when he first landed on American soil yet still made a significant contribution to the defense of France in World War I.

Mr. Speaker, the United States and France have risen to each other's defense throughout history because we share the values of liberty and freedom, and we will continue to stand by our French allies in promoting these values at home and around the world.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, there is an old saying, good friends are God's way of taking care of us. Samuel Schwartz, a veteran of the Second World War knew this was true of his good friend, James Linton.

On April 2, 2018, Sam died at the age of 94. Full of laughter and stories from the past, James knew that Sam's time was coming to an end. Sam had no living family members when he died, and James knew he couldn't let his friend take his final breaths alone. Sitting with Sam through his final days, James provided good company, even holding his hand when he took his final breath.

Samuel was an accomplished man, both in the service and in his long career in business. He enlisted in the Marine Corps one year after Pearl Harbor, and served as part of the American Invasion Force, taking part in the invasion and defense of four islands in the Pacific. He rose to the rank of Technical Sergeant, but perhaps his most significant accomplishment in the Marine Corps was meeting Elaine Hinrichs, a member of the Marine Corps Women's Reserve who would become his bride of 60 years before her passing in 2009.

Sam went on to have a 20-year career with Ardan's Catalog Showrooms, eventually leaving as the company's Chief Executive Officer. He later served as president for Whitmark Catalog Showrooms and the Zondervan Company's Bible publishing consumer group, where he landed motivated by his lifelong Christian faith. Above all, he was a caring friend and a faithful husband.

With no living family, James feared that Sam's funeral would be sparsely attended. Such a funeral simply would not properly honor Sam's life and legacy. Thus, he sent out an open invitation, hoping that a handful of others would attend.

In the following days, several groups and individuals answered James' call. Several veterans groups, including the local American Legion Post and the Veterans of Foreign Wars attended the funeral at Graceland Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Members of the Patriot Guard Riders provided a line of American flags for Sam's casket to be carried through, and members of the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard performed the three-volley salute.

Several active duty servicemen from multiple branches attended, including two Marines who presented a folded flag to James. Dozens of strangers, having seen James' message, also showed up to pay their respects to the World War II Marine Corps veteran.

Our World War II veterans represent the greatest generation. In the words of President Harry S. Truman, ``Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.'' James Linton made sure his friend's sacrifice for this country would not go unnoticed. Samuel Schwartz and James Linton demonstrate the true meaning of friendship.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, New Mexico High School senior Tammie Jo Shults dreamed of becoming a pilot. As a child, she had watched planes from nearby Holloman Air Force Base practice combat maneuvers in the sky above the ranch where she grew up. Her dream motivated her to attend a lecture on her high school's career day put on by a retired military pilot.

The only obstacle to fulfilling her dream, however, was not her lack of ability but, rather, her gender. Upon entering the room, the retired colonel asked her if she was lost. When she replied that she was there because she was interested in flying, he informed her that there were no professional pilots.

After college, this hurdle manifested itself again and again, as Shults found herself denied from joining the Air Force as a pilot, even though her brother was accepted. She finally broke into the Navy, but as a woman, she was not allowed to fly combat missions.

Nevertheless, Shults's persistence paid off, becoming one of the first women to fly the F/A-18 Hornet, the Navy's premier strike aircraft at the time. She rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander before retiring. She helped prepare Naval aviators for Operation Desert Storm by flying training missions as an enemy aircraft.

All of these accomplishments and her stellar career as a commercial pilot for Texas-based Southwest Airlines distinguish her as a one of Americas best, but her actions as pilot of Flight 1380 from New York to Dallas have made her a household name.

Shortly after takeoff, the engine on the left side of Shults's aircraft exploded, and shrapnel broke through one of the plane's windows, causing the cabin to abruptly depressurize. Panic ensued on board, as one passenger was partially sucked out of the aircraft, but Shults remained cool and collected.

She informed air traffic control of the plane's situation, and when asked about the engine, she matter-of-factly replied, ``No it's not on fire, but some of its missing. They said there's a hole, and uh, someone went out.'' Mr. Speaker, try saying that without trembling.

Shults made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, and while one passenger sadly died from the injuries sustained in the accident, the other passengers and crew members exited the aircraft on the ground unharmed.

Mr. Speaker, Shults and her crew saved 148 lives. Women like Shults are exemplary examples of Americas veterans, always answering the call to duty and service. If there's anyone that we want in the cockpit during a crisis, it's Tammie Jo Shults.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, just a stone's throw away from the Champs-Elysees and the Louvre in Paris stands the Hotel de Vendome, the former home of the official embassy of the Republic of Texas.

In fact, France was the first nation to recognize Texas as an independent nation in 1836, when a treaty was signed between the two countries. Today, a marker denotes the building where the Texas embassy was in France.

In turn, France had an embassy in Austin, Texas, not far from our current Texas Capitol Building.

Notably, Texas also once belonged to France before Spain reclaimed Texas.

Explorer La Salle planted the French flag in Texas in 1685 and established a settlement in Matagorda.

Texas later became a sovereign republic and 9 years later joined the United States.

So on this day when French President Macron addressed Congress, Texas remembers and appreciates that Texas was not only an independent country France first recognized, but was once a part of France.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, December of 1941 brought the United States into one of the deadliest wars in our history, but it also brought together the longest-married presidential couple in U.S. History.

At a dance in Rye, New York, 16-year-old Barbara Pierce, a high school junior home on break from her school in South Carolina, caught the eye of 17-year-old George Herbert Walker Bush, a high school senior.

Love was in the air, and the two became engaged a year and a half later. While George was deployed in the Pacific during the latter stages of World War II, he penned letters to his ``darling Bar'' expressing the joy that she brought him.

The couple finally married on January 6, 1945, and for 73 years Barbara remained at George's side.

Barbara was an iconic woman and truly embodied what it meant to be a public servant in this country. She stood beside the American people through decades of major political events, from the Cold War to the terrorist attacks on September 11th, providing a reliable, steady presence that never failed to induce calm into those around her.

She led our nation as First Lady with dignity, grace and more than a little bit of wit. She watched two of her sons follow in their father's footsteps in bids for the U.S. Presidency and provided invaluable support to her son, George W. Bush, during his time in office. As a wife and mother of presidents, she taught us all the value of our families.

During her time as wife of the Vice-President and eventually First Lady, Barbara Bush became one of our country's greatest advocates for education and literacy. She started her own foundation, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, in 1989 and her influenced helped pass the National Literacy Act into law in 1991. As a result of her dedication to this cause, tens of millions of Americans have learned to read and write, and several million more were given another opportunity to graduate high school.

While she was not born in Texas, she eventually made the state home and forged a special bond with the place and its people. From supporting students across Texas and the Houston Metro area, to cheering on the Astros with her husband, her good will and magnetic personality left an indelible mark upon communities in Texas.

Mr. Speaker, Barbara Bush died as she lived, a strong Texas woman. She will be missed dearly by all Americans, especially those of us from Texas.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, the legacy of the Dayton Accords is something the Balkans are still coming to terms with. The scourge of war and ethnic division have for too long cast a shadow of these historic and beautiful nations. For nearly 30 years, we have worked with our friends in the region to bring peace and reconciliation. We have learned many lessons and overcome many challenges. We have achieved peace but it remains an uneasy peace that must be closely tended to.

The United States took on the responsibility when it intervened in the Balkans during the 1990s to find a political solution that enables freedom and peace between neighbors. We are not done with this responsibility. The Dayton Accords was an important agreement, but it was a flawed agreement. It did not solve all the region's problems and even created a few new ones. Peacekeepers remain in the Balkans to this day holding together the fragile agreement we constructed. If violence breaks out and if the region descends into chaos, It is our credibility that is damaged. But worst, it will reopen old wounds that are nearly healed. It is vital to our interests that peace, freedom, and prosperity triumph in the Balkans. Through Dayton we played a role in setting the current course, so have a stake in the region's future.

Having spent a lot of time in the region, I have developed a deep affection and admiration for the peoples of the Balkans. I know them to be a proud, resilient, and strong-willed community--not unlike my fellow Texans. Specifically, I am proud to have forged a strong friendship with our Serbian partners as co-chair of the Serbia caucus. In them I see hope for the future. At the time Dayton was brokered, the United States and Serbia were foes, with daunting disagreements about the future of the region. But today we are friends working towards closer ties and a stronger Transatlantic community. I have seen that in Serbian President Vucic we have a partner for the future. He is committed to a Serbia living at peace with its neighbors. This includes moving his nation into the European Union and tackling the thorny issue ofKosovo. We must show him our support.

Of course, our warming ties with Serbia and the rest of the region have caught the notice of the Kremlin. Russia has always felt the Balkans was under its sphere of influence. Dating back to the time of Soviet imperialism, Moscow has tried to force its will on the region. Vladimir Putin is trying desperately to upset the Balkan's integration with the Euro-Atlantic community. In 2016, Putin even tried to support a coup in Montenegro to prevent its ascension into NATO. The Kremlin's meddling in the region continues to this day, where it is sponsoring an elaborate and extensive disinformation campaign across the Balkans. Putin is hoping that by flooding the media in the region with lies, he can create division, unrest, and convince the people of the Balkans to move away from the West. The citizens of the region are freedom loving people yearning to join and prosper within the Euro-Atlantic alliance, rather than the tyranny and violence of Putin's realm. We need to take a more active role in thwarting Russia's deceptions.

Putin, however, is not the only threat to the region. The rise of ISIS and migrant crisis has strained the resources of our Balkan friends. The threat of radicalization and returning foreign fighters is a shared threat which we must work together to combat. To forge our partnership with the Balkan states and demonstrate our commitment to stability in the region, it is required that the United States be attentive to their security concerns as much as any of our allies in Europe. Let us not forget that instability in the Balkans a hundred years ago sparked a course of events that led to two world wars, millions dead, and divided Europe. That is why it is crucial we remain steadfast partners to the Balkans.

The United States has a lot to offer to help guide the region towards a bright and peaceful future. We have an obligation because of Dayton to remain engaged and see that the problems of the past are overcome.

And that's just the way it is.

``Have courage and be kind.'' These were the words Megan Rondini left behind on a whiteboard in her school apartment.

Yesterday, at a Sexual Assault on Campus Forum at Rice University in Houston, Texas, sponsored by the Victims' Rights Caucus, Megan's father, Mike Rondini, spoke these words. He is from Austin. He tries to live by these words every day.

Megan Rondini was sexually assaulted while a student at the University of Alabama in 2015. Doing everything a sexual assault victim should do, Megan immediately called the police and went to the hospital, but the hospital did not have a sexual assault forensic examiner or a SANE on staff, meaning no one there was trained to properly deal with a sexual assault victim or properly collect DNA evidence for a rape kit.

As a former prosecutor and a judge, I have seen, firsthand, the trauma and pain that rape causes victims. Sometimes that pain never goes away. The hospital's failure to provide adequate care left Megan feeling hopeless and alone.

After the hospital, she went to the police station, and there she was treated with disdain. The police didn't believe her and instead read her, the victim--get this--the Miranda warnings. Are you kidding me? Rape is never the fault of the victim.

When Megan sought counseling at the university, the counselor abruptly interrupted her and told her she was close to the family of the rapist and promptly turned Megan away, providing no other counselor.

Megan was completely failed by the system--by the university, the hospital, and the police. Mr. Speaker, not long after, she took her life.

Megan's story is heartbreaking, but her memory reminds us that we must be tenacious in fighting sexual assault on campus and everywhere else. The unfortunate reality, Mr. Speaker, is that stories like Megan's are common.

Congressmen Olson, Culberson, and I joined together at the forum yesterday, and we all heard stories about this, firsthand, from victims. It is always personal. When victims are ignored and rejected, they feel like they have been abandoned, and in many cases, they have been. They are forced to relive their attack over and over again.

Last year, I introduced, along with my friend, Carolyn Maloney, the bipartisan Megan Rondini Act, a bill that would require hospitals to provide access to a SAFE (Sexual Assault Forensics Examiner) or a SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) or have a plan in place to get a victim to a nearby hospital that can provide forensic medical services. Professor and sexual assault nurse examiner Nancy Downing from Texas A&M testified yesterday that by providing SANEs to rape victims, a hospital can dramatically improve a victim's chance to recover emotionally and medically from the attack.

In addition, I am a cosponsor to Carolyn Maloney's (NY) bipartisan legislation to require colleges to have a sexual assault victim advocate on staff to assist and advise sexual assault victims. There should be no more school counselors that turn victims away.

The director of public policy for Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, Chris Kaiser, also testified, and he talked about how the Association and other associations are working on many levels to provide a culture of change within law enforcement and the attitude of peace officers regarding this type of crime, and also, more reporting require.

Treating victims like criminals is never okay. Remember, Mr. Speaker, rape is never the fault of the victim. As we become more aware of this dastardly crime, some schools, like Rice University, have made excellent strides to address sexual assault on campus. The Rice dean of undergraduates, Dr. John Hutchinson, and former Rice student body president, Justin Onwenu, both testified about the many positive proactive steps Rice has taken; a guide for other universities.

Rice University requires all students to participate in a student- driven 6-week course that teaches young college students to notice the signs of sexual assault and work to change the culture that allows sexual assault to occur on campus. It is work like this that will help foster a culture change where survivors of sexual assault will feel supported by our community.

Sexual assault on campus must end. We must change the culture to prevent this crime. We must give victims support to recover and become survivors, and we must let offenders know they will be held accountable for their acts, and they will meet the law.

Mr. Speaker, we should follow the words of Megan Rondini: ``Have courage, and be kind.''

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 447) to require reporting on acts of certain foreign countries on Holocaust era assets and related issues.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), and I ask unanimous consent that he be allowed to control that time.

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

Mr. Speaker, as the Nazis ravaged Europe, confiscation of property was just one of the many injustices Holocaust victims endured.

In the almost 75 years since World War II ended, helping to repair the wrongs inflicted by the Nazis by restoring the property of millions of people who had their lives torn apart has proven a difficult and challenging problem.

The 2009 Holocaust Era Assets Conference addressed the ongoing injustices created by the Holocaust, including guidance related to restitution of

property wrongfully seized. However, among the 46 signers to this declaration, including the United States, there are vast disparities in the degree to which the laws and policies of each country fulfill these principles to compensate survivors.

This act will help hold governments accountable that have fallen short of their commitment to these important principles.

This bill requires the State Department to assess the laws and policies regarding the return or restitution for wrongfully seized Holocaust era assets by countries that participated in the 2009 Holocaust Era Assets Conference.

This bill states that it is the sense of Congress that the Secretary should continue to report to Congress on Holocaust era assets.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I ask unanimous consent that he control that time.