Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, China is illegally imprisoning an American citizen, Mrs. Sandy Phan-Gillis. March 19 marked the 2-year anniversary since Sandy illegally was incarcerated by the Chinese Government.

Sandy is from Houston, Texas. She has lived there for almost 40 years. She worked tirelessly to improve U.S. relations with China. She believed that closer engagement would improve the lives of both Americans and the Chinese.

As a member of the Houston Mayor's International Trade and Development Council, Sandy traveled to China in March 2015 with Houston Mayor Pro Tem Ed Gonzalez. Their purpose was to help a trade mission to promote business between Houston, Texas, and China.

It was on this trip when Sandy was unlawfully arrested by China's State Security. The Chinese accused her of being a spy for the FBI. She was thrown into solitary confinement and subjected to torture and relentless questioning.

Mr. Speaker, there are worldwide horror stories about Chinese prisons. Sandy was hospitalized twice because of the treatment by China's spy agency while she was incarcerated in China.

Sandy suffers from several serious medical conditions. The Chinese threatened to take away her access to medicine, basically threatening to kill her, unless she confessed to being a spy. She even suffered a fear-induced heart attack because of their brutality while she was in custody.

Sandy's false imprisonment is a travesty and a farce.

Here is a photograph of Sandy before she was imprisoned in China.

Her lawyers and her family have never received a copy of the warrants for her detention or her arrest. It took the Chinese over a year while she was in jail before they even charged her with a crime. She was not allowed to speak to a lawyer for over a year.

According to the Chinese Government, Sandy was spying for the FBI back in the nineties--that was over 25 years ago--but the Chinese Government has not been able to provide a scintilla of evidence to back up their outlandish false claims.

The FBI has stated Sandy never, ever has worked for them, and her passport shows that she never traveled to China in the timeframe the Communist State Security accuses her of going on spy missions in China. In fact, there is documentation proving Sandy was working in Houston, Texas, at the time.

Mr. Speaker, I am a former judge, and I have looked at the evidence in this case. There is no evidence, and she should be released. The Chinese allegations are a total illusion on the part of the Communist government.

Sandy has been denied the basic rights she is entitled to, even under Chinese law and international law. The United Nations has reviewed Sandy's case and determined that she had been arbitrarily arrested and that her rights have been violated. After 2 years in jail, she has not had the chance to have an appearance before a judge.

Sandy spent her entire life trying to improve China's trade relations with the United States, and for her efforts, she was put in jail by the Communist Chinese.

If Sandy isn't safe in China, then no American is. On any given trip, an American citizen like Sandy can be snatched by the Communists and put in jail just on a whim.

Supposedly, the State Department has raised Sandy's case with their Chinese counterparts over 20 times, but more pressure needs to be applied. We know that China is a gross human rights violator. They persecute minorities in their country.

China cannot be allowed to illegally detain and torture an American citizen and face no consequences for their unlawful acts. Hopefully, Secretary Tillerson will make freeing Sandy a top priority for this administration.

The last time Sandy's husband, Jeff, whom I have met with, was able to speak with her was way back in September of 2015. Sandy has already missed out on 2 years of her life with her loving husband and her daughter.

It is time to let Sandy go. She is not guilty of any crime. The only crime being committed is by the Chinese Government for their false imprisonment of an American citizen.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, a 14-year-old girl last week was kidnapped off the streets of Houston, Texas. After being held against her will for 5 days, she was taken to a motel, where she met a person named Denise Coronado.

But Coronado was no friend. Instead, she threatened the girl. Coronado ground cigarettes into the girl's body. She threatened everyone that the child loved. She published photographs of the girl on backpage.com, selling her on the marketplace of sex slavery. In a 1- week period, the young girl was forced to have sex with more than 20 men. Finally she escaped.

But, Mr. Speaker, the reality is that the victim sometimes never truly escapes. The horrors sometimes live with them forever. We can no longer be ignorant to modern day slavery. My legislation, the Shame Act, gives Federal judges the ability to publish the names and photographs of convicted buyers and sellers of humans.

Those who sell or buy the innocence of children should be shamed for all to see. Put their photographs on backpage.com.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, incorrigible little Kim and his minions are rattling their sabers once again.

While U.S.-South Korean exercises were underway, North Korea launched four land-based missiles. The missiles traveled over 600 miles. North Korean Army bases are purposely positioned to strike U.S. bases in Japan and South Korea.

It is time to put an end to North Korea's mischiefmaking. The United States' hopeless appeasement policy with North Korea has not worked.

In 2008, the administration removed the warmonger from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list with little Kim's promise to stop their nuclear weapons program. Well, guess what? Kim Jong-un lied.

We must return North Korea to where it belongs: the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Senator Cruz and I have filed legislation to do just that. Then real sanctions and blocking of financial transactions are necessary.

The United States cannot underestimate the war-prone lunacy of Kim Jong-un. He needs a clear message from America to leave us alone and leave our allies alone.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, it is said that there is no need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. That is a father's job.

Recently, a Texas father arrogantly violated all of his responsibilities. He forcibly sex trafficked his teenage daughter. In the milky darkness of night, he would take her to truck stops and coerce her to have sex so he could pocket the filthy lucre.

The 16-year-old was sold to multiple customers in a single night. Every dollar the deviant collected was stolen at the expense of his daughter's childhood. His evil and greed were so boundless that this so-called father placed ads on the internet to sell his daughter. She was sold on the marketplace of sex trafficking. But the girl was rescued. The defendant was convicted and put in the deepest bowels of a Texas prison.

Mr. Speaker, this week marks 3 years since Russia violated Ukraine's territorial integrity and illegally stole Crimea.

In 2014, the people of Ukraine peacefully decided to move closer to the European Union and away from the Russian sphere of influence. However, the Napoleon of Siberia would have none of it. Russian troops invaded the Crimean Peninsula of Ukraine. Little green men then invaded two more regions in eastern Ukraine.

The Russian invasions have cost 10,000 Ukrainian lives, but Russia has not stopped. Troops are pursuing a slow strategy to take more and more territory in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has invaded a sovereign country and taken over its lands. Mr. Speaker, what country is next?

The American people must stand with Ukraine and against the tyranny of the Russian bear. It is time to stand up to Putin. He must pay a price for his aggression. Sanctions against and isolation of the bear are good places to start.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, today, March 15, 2017 the last alarm will be sounded for one of Houston's finest, Captain William ``Iron Bill'' Dowling. Although Iron Bill fought tirelessly these last few years, he went home with the Good Lord shortly before his 44th birthday: March 14, 1973-March 7, 2017.

While we mourn the loss of this Houstonian Hero, we also remember his service to his city and country. On May 31, 2013, Houston Fire Department suffered its most tragic event in its history. A 5-alarm blaze at a hotel in southwest Houston claimed the lives of four firefighters and injured fourteen other firefighters when the roof collapsed, some critically.

The following lives were lost:

Captain EMT Matthew Renaud, 35, of Station 51;

Engineer Operator EMT Robert Bebee, 41, of Station 51;

Firefighter EMT Robert Garner, 29, of Station 68;

Probationary Firefighter Anne Sullivan, 24, of Station 68.

They were the best we had in Houston, and we are still saddened that they are gone.

One of the brave who survived was Captain Dowling.

Iron Bill was injured serving Houston, the community in which he was raised. A graduate of Klein Oak High School, Captain Dowling left

Texas to serve his nation as an enlistee with the United States Marine Corps. In 1993, on leave from Marine boot camp training, he married his high school sweetheart, Jacki. As a Marine, Iron Bill served 4 years, including a deployment to Somalia with I Marine Expeditionary Force in support of Operation Restore Hope, 1995. He returned home to Texas and to Jacki to begin his career and to start a family. Twenty-one years later, Captain Dowling and Jacki have three children: Forrest, Faith and Foster.

Iron Bill's patriotic spirit and love of the community led him to join the Houston Fire Department. He graduated from the Houston Fire Department Academy in 2000 and steadily rose through the ranks. He worked at Stations 12, 19, and 48 before making Captain at Station 68 in January of 2013. Firehouse 68 is located at the corner of Bissonnet and South Gessner in the heart of Southwest Houston. In 2013, the fire apparatus of Firehouse 68 made 14,847 responses, making it the third busiest fire station in the City of Houston. There, at Firehouse 68, Captain Dowling became known as Iron Bill, a fitting nickname to describe a strong and courageous hero.

It was just five months after he arrived at Station 68 that Captain Dowling and fellow firefighters received an alarm call that would take them to the gates of hell.

On that fateful day, in the heat of the Texas noonday sun, Captain Dowling along with the four other firefighters rushed into the hotel to find potential trapped guests. While the firefighters were in the hotel, the roof collapsed, trapping and killing Garner and Sullivan from Station 68 and Bebee and Renaud from Station 51. Captain Dowling's legs were crushed and burned, but he remained calm, radioed for help and waited for his brothers to pull him from the flames.

The attending physician in the ambulance said that Captain Dowling, though severely injured, kept asking about the condition of his crew. He was more concerned for the safety of others than himself, the testament of a true hero. He told the doctor, on the way to the hospital, to tell his wife and children that he would fight for them. Hearing this comes as no surprise to Captain Dowling's family; they know him as a fighter.

Captain Dowling was seriously injured with burns over thirty percent of his body, and he was placed in a medically induced coma for months at Memorial Hermann Hospital and Medical Center. He subsequently had both legs amputated and suffered brain damage. A long road of recovery was ahead for Captain Dowling, but surrounded by a team of doctors, his family, firefighter family, friends, church and the entire city and state of Texas, Iron Bill was not alone. Deservingly, Captain Dowling became everyone's hero.

Since returning home, Jacki left her full time job at Frank Elementary to care for her husband full time. It's no surprise that as a Texas woman, she's strong and determined, but quite simply, the strength that she possesses is amazing. To keep the community updated on Iron Bill, she started blogging on a community Facebook page entitled ``Capt. William Dowling Iron Bill''. This blog allows the community to rally behind the Dowling family, cry with them, laugh with them, pray for them and see their hero survive.

In August of 2016, the Dowling family moved to Durango, Colorado in order for Captain Dowling to make the most of his journey in the great outdoors. He became hooked on skiing through Adaptive Sports. Jacki said he was the healthiest he had been in a long time and was thriving in the mountain air so Jacki returned to coaching volleyball.

On the morning of March 7, 2017 Jacki asked for prayers for Iron Bill, as she was worried about his recent spell with pneumonia. That evening Captain William Dowling took his final journey home into the arms of the Good Lord.

Captain Dowling will be remembered for his bravery, determination, and loyalty. He always put others ahead of himself and was dedicated to serving his community. The legacy Iron Bill leaves behind is one that his friends, family, and community will never forget.

Today, the entire city of Houston will pay tribute to the life of one of Houston's heroes, one of our finest.

Houston firefighters are grateful for the support of 174 firefighters from 30 Texas departments that will ride in Houston stations tomorrow so A-shift firefighters can attend the memorial service for Iron Bill Dowling. Thanks to firefighters from College Station, Plano, Montgomery County, Conroe, Weatherford, Pearland, New Braunfels, South Montgomery County, Fort Worth, Sugar Land, China Grove, Kemah, West University, Longview, Nacogdoches, Bexar County ESD 2, Lewisville, Galveston, Lubbock, Baytown, Southlake, Benbrook, Seguin, Austin, Dallas, Westfield, Waco, Hutchins, Tomball, and The Woodlands.

As the family of Iron Bill mourns the loss of a great man, I hope they know the community of Tomball, the greater Houston area and Texas' Second District will keep the family in their thoughts and prayers. Our community will always be grateful for his service and sacrifices. Once a hero, always a hero. That's the man we call Iron Bill.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Original Pizza in Broomfield, Colorado, has been in business since the 1990s. Now they are being sued.

The plaintiff claims they do not have ADA-accessible parking signage or proper insulation wrapped around the pipes under the restroom sink.

The claims waged against Original Pizza are mostly false. The sink is compliant, and the parking issue could be fixed with a better sign and a bit of paint. Not to mention, Original Pizza was never notified of the alleged violations by the plaintiff.

Now the plaintiff is demanding money to pay or a lawsuit will be filed. The same plaintiff has filed over 70 other lawsuits against businesses for alleged ADA violations.

Plaintiffs and attorneys hope companies will decide to settle rather than face an expensive court trial.

The ADA Education and Reform Act will require giving businesses notice and time to fix the alleged infraction before the lawsuit is filed. Notice and cure are a fair way to handle ADA violations.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, ``America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.'' These words were spoken by President Harry S. Truman after World War II. Our courageous sailors and soldiers defended freedom and liberty on two fronts. In the Pacific, they fought on the beaches, ultimately leading to the surrender of the Japanese. Saipan, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa were the names of some of the island hopping invasion sites. Those of the Greatest Generation proved that when the peace of our nation is threatened, our people will stand up and fight. Tom Morgan is just one of those patriots in the Greatest Generation who answered the call to fight for our great nation.

When World War II began, Tom was just 21 years old. He answered his country's call to duty and joined the U.S. Marines. He fought in all three Pacific battles: Guadalcanal, Saipan, and Okinawa. He contracted malaria on his first tour in 1942 at Guadalcanal. That didn't stop him. In the summer of 1944, he fought in the Battle of Saipan. On July 8, 1944, the stars and stripes were raised in victory over Saipan, and Tom survived his second major battle. Less than a year later, Tom was sent to fight in the Battle of Okinawa, or the Typhoon of Steel as it was called because of intense shelling and gunfire. On that Easter morning, 1945, Tom and his fellow Marines were on board a transport ship eating breakfast in the mess hall when an enemy kamikaze plane hit their ship. Water began filling up in the mess hall, and Tom thought he was going to meet his maker. However, the man above had different plans for Tom. The hatch flew open, and Tom was able to escape. Tom and his fellow Marines sailed on to Okinawa where they stormed the beaches in the final island battle of the Pacific. The bloodiest battle yet was the largest amphibious invasion of World War II: over 60,000 soldiers invaded the island. Tom was one of them in the battle that thundered on for 82 days.

Japanese General Ushijima Mitsuru and his soldiers had created a series of defense lines across the island which provided them with a strong resistance against our soldiers. The Japanese Army staked most of their defenses at Shuri Castle. The Tenth Army battled for nearly two months, inch by inch, hill by hill, to take Shuri Castle.

The Marines seized the Capitol, Naha, and then the Japanese retreated to the southern tip of the island where many surrendered or committed suicide. The generals on both sides died in the course of battle: General Simon Buckner by a sniper and General Ushijima Mitsuru by suicide. On June 22, 1945, the United States flag was raised in victory over Okinawa. Our soldiers would not have experienced land victory, if not for our sailor's water victory over Japanese kamikaze aircraft.

One of my favorite battleships, the USS Texas, participated in the invasion of Okinawa. She provided initial support, gunfire support, and fended off aerial assaults for nearly two months. Suicide plane attacks by the Japanese army and navy were relentless against our navy fleet. The gunfire at Okinawa was the most extensive in history, 26 ships were sunk and 164 damaged. The Mighty T survived; she was an integral part of the Okinawa victory.

Some today forget the feats of these warriors of World War II. Some never came home. American casualties were the highest experienced in any campaign against the Japanese. More than 49,000 American casualties occurred, including 12,000 deaths. They were great Americans and we should always remember them.

My friend Tom's story is not over; he survived his third battle at Okinawa. He remained in the Marines until 1946 and continued his service in the Reserves. He even served three months in the Korean War. At 96 years young, Tom is the oldest active lawman in the State of Texas.

President Ronald Reagan best summed up soldiers like Tom when he said, ``Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem.''

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, it is no surprise Pakistan is not the friend they portray themselves to be. They are a devious, deceptive, and disloyal ally.

For years they have supported the Taliban by providing them cover, cash, and weapons. However, this Benedict Arnold ally is among the leading recipients of U.S. foreign assistance for the last 14 years.

Mr. Speaker, we don't need to pay Pakistan to betray us, they will do it for free.

The Taliban's headquarters is, you guessed it, in Pakistan. When a U.S. drone attack took out the Taliban's leader in May 2016, he was in Pakistan.

This should be the last rodeo for Pakistan. This is why I have introduced the Pakistan State Sponsor of Terrorism Designation Act. The bill requires the administration to issue a report containing either a determination that Pakistan is a state sponsor of terrorism or a justification as to why it is not.

It is time to determine whose side Pakistan is on. And, Mr. Speaker, they are not on our side.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, Chief Alan Bragg, who is retiring after serving a distinguished 45 years in educational law enforcement. He is a lifetime member of what I referred to as the Poe-leece. It is an informal organization made up of long-time friends in Texas' law enforcement community. It is an honor to pay tribute to Chief Bragg as he retires on June 30, 2017 as Chief of Police at Cypress-Fairbanks ISD Police Department.

Alan Bragg was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas, and was destined to become a Texas Lawman. He attended Midwestern State University and worked for the university's police department at the beginning of his career. In 1981, Chief Bragg moved to Houston to take a position with the Houston Independent School District Police Department.

He gained nine years' experience with Houston ISD, all the while his pursuit to build safer schools grew. This passion led him to accept a job, in 1990, as Spring Independent School District's first ever Chief of Police. He was tasked to create a new police department from scratch. He started his force with 8 officers and it has grown to over 50 sworn officers. He was responsible for nearly 37,000 students, 5,000 employees and 38 campuses. His 21 year leadership and legacy at Spring ISD will not be forgotten.

Chief Bragg obtained additional police training along the way. He is a graduate of the FBI's National Academy 201 class and holds a Master Peace Officer Certificate. Throughout the years, he has assisted and been recognized by numerous boards and organizations. He is a member and past president of the Houston Area Police Chiefs Association, North Harris County Criminal Justice Association, and he also served on the board of the Texas Association of School District Police.

For over 20 years, he has coordinated the annual ``Salute to Law Enforcement'' event, an event that was always held close to National Police Week. It allowed folks to meet local law enforcement officers from different agencies, see the resources used to protect them, and provide an overall positive experience between our law enforcement officers and citizens.

Chief Bragg is a dedicated family man, having been married to his wife Judy for 26 years. He met Judy after the 1979 Terrible Tuesday Tornado that hit Wichita Falls. They were both temporarily homeless, and met at church. They are the proud parents of two children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His retirement will provide time for them to serve in their church, travel on mission trips, and spend time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

During those years with Spring, Chief Bragg distinguished himself as an educational law enforcement leader. He possesses a wealth of knowledge, and the entire law enforcement community views him with esteem and respect. His department served as a model for other school district police departments to follow.

Not surprisingly, Chief Bragg's impressive leadership and integrity led him to his last career move. In 2012, he accepted the new start up position as Chief of Police for Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District. Again, he created another exemplary police force from scratch. For 45 years, he has put on the badge and a gun to protect and serve the folks and communities he loves.

Chief Bragg has been one of the most prominent and important lawman in the 2nd Congressional District, a true Texas hero. He is a remarkable Texan who has achieved extraordinary things in his law enforcement career and for his community. I extend to him my congratulations on his retirement, and commend him for a job well done. I wish him the best of luck in the future as he enters into this new phase of life.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Elizabeth Oddy returned from east Africa after spending 2\1/2\ years as a Peace Corps volunteer. Before returning home, she was examined by a Peace Corps physician. She was deemed healthy and okay to come back to America.

Two days after coming home, Elizabeth went to her doctor for a regular checkup where she was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. She had stage I thyroid cancer. Her Peace Corps insurance ended the next day.

Peace Corps volunteers often have severe health problems upon their return from abroad. Health issues that are a direct result of serving in the Peace Corps should be covered by the Peace Corps.

Volunteers like Elizabeth are the spirit of humanitarian assistance. It is our responsibility to ensure they are properly cared for both at home and abroad.

My bill, the Sam Farr Peace Corps Enhancement Act, improves health care for all current volunteers and returned Peace Corps volunteers that contract illnesses during their service. We must continue providing support for our American angels abroad.

And that is just the way it is.

Madam Speaker, the census counts the population every 10 years, but the Census Bureau also sends out a mandatory, intrusive personal and more time-consuming, 28-page document called the American Community Survey.

The survey asks intrusive questions like how many toilets does a person have in their house; what time does a person leave and come home from work; does any person in the house have poor eyesight, difficulty dressing, or mental issues.

If this Orwellian survey is ignored, the government may come after the citizen. First, the telephone calls start: weekly, then daily. Then Uncle Sam sends his peeping tomcrats to lurk around homes, forcing citizens to comply. If a person still refuses to hand over private information to the intrusive eyes of the government, the government may assess fines up to $5,000.

My bill, H.R. 1305, makes the American Community Survey voluntary and also removes the associated criminal penalties. The ACS is a violation of privacy and a costly abuse of government power.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, in her formative years, Lena wore turtlenecks and baggy clothes to school every day.

Why did she do so?

To hide the bruises that covered her entire body.

Soon, Lena's abusive foster mother lost custody of her. And when her foster mother lost custody, Lena just ran away. She was 13.

After bolting from the front lawn at the Houston middle school, she ran into a friendly-looking stranger, and that is when she discovered a false sense of comfort in the hands of a dastardly human trafficker. He offered to look after her, protect her, and love her; that was if she made him a little money. And he offered her the one thing she was missing in her 13 years, someone who said they loved her.

Mr. Speaker, love doesn't come with black eyes and bruises, however. The trafficker even promised Lena drugs so she could focus on something else while she was having sex with the buyers of children.

For the next 3 months, Lena would have many different traffickers and many different buyers. She would spend a few months or weeks with them, moving from motel to motel, then she would get scared and try to go back to foster care, and then just disappear again.

Finally, she was arrested after police responded to an internet post advertising sex with children. They arrested her trafficker in the hotel next door. With her help, the police ultimately charged two individuals with forcing a child into prostitution, or human trafficking, as we call it.

Upon her arrest, it was revealed that not only did she have three sexually transmitted diseases, she was also pregnant.

The problem then, Mr. Speaker, is that Lena had nowhere to go. Authorities found themselves with an abused, traumatized, demoralized trafficking victim, a child, on their hands. Remember, Lena was a victim of crime. She was not a criminal. Children cannot be willing prostitutes under the law.

But there were no resources to put her anywhere, no resources to get her help and the support that she needed. The very limited number of nearby trafficking shelters were all full and there was no place to send her, so she was locked up in the county jail.

Victims of trafficking, Mr. Speaker, do not belong in shackles and orange jumpsuits. They belong in safe, nurturing environments. They deserve to have access to resources and help to get their stolen lives back for them.

How can a victim begin to recover, while a child, languishing in jail?

The justice system failed Lena and many others just like her, but it doesn't have to be this way. Lena deserves justice.

Sitting here in Washington, D.C., there is a victims' fund totaling over $12 billion. Money in this fund comes from fines and fees imposed on convicted felons, people like deviants who trafficked Lena. Unfortunately, year after year, only a small amount of this money is actually taken out of the fund to help victims. Most of it stays in the fund and is used by appropriators to offset the costs of their pet projects that have nothing to do with victims of crime.

This is not acceptable, Mr. Speaker. The money, remember, is not taxpayer money. It is money that comes from criminals when they are convicted in Federal court, and we should give this money to victims of crime.

Money in the fund should be spent only on what victims like Lena desperately need so that they can get their lives back together and recover from the trafficking abuse they suffered.

Lena and other trafficking victims deserve justice. They deserve the money that is in the fund, and bureaucrats need to quit using that money as an offset for other projects. The victim fund is partially the answer.

Mr. Speaker, this should be spent on victims of crime because no trafficking victim belongs in the shackles of a county jail.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, over 260 Americans have traveled to Iraq and Syria to fight for known foreign terrorist organizations. When they return back to America, they are not coming back to open up coffee shops. They are coming back to do mischief against us.

The most important job of government is to protect the citizens. That is why my colleague, Bill Keating, and I have introduced the Foreign Terrorist Organization Passport Revocation Act. It directs the Secretary of State to revoke passports of those Americans who have joined foreign terrorist organizations. They are still citizens, but they cannot travel back to the United States or to any other country. The only way they come back to the United States is under arrest by law enforcement in handcuffs.

This is a bipartisan bill that will stop these Benedict Arnolds from coming back at all. If someone takes arms up with our enemies, that person deserves to be treated like an enemy.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, President Trump has signed an executive order to revive the Canadian Keystone XL pipeline. If Keystone does not go through, it is not as if Americans will stop buying oil to meet our energy needs. No, we will just buy it from somewhere else. That includes countries like Saudi Arabia or corrupt Venezuela.

It seems to me that we would rather see a stable country and neighbor like Canada get this contract than Venezuela or Middle Eastern countries.

Keystone is also good for the United States. Keystone XL pipeline will bring thousands of jobs to my home State of Texas. This is where the pipeline ends at the refineries in southeast Texas.

At peak capacity, the pipeline is expected to deliver 830,000 barrels a day to the Gulf Coast. That is as much fuel as we get from Saudi Arabia. At peak capacity, this will be better for the United States and energy independence.

TransCanada has reapplied for this permit, and the State Department needs to approve it. Pipelines are the most economical and environmentally safe way to move fuel, and it is time we make this happen.

And that is just the way it is.