Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, those dastardly deviants that are in the slave trade of human sex trafficking try to dehumanize their victim. Victims sometimes lose their self-worth and dignity of existence.

Last Congress, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, led by Carolyn Maloney and me, was enacted to go after traffickers and buyers to rescue victims. Now it is time to expose

the identity of convicted traffickers and sellers of human beings. That is why Mrs. Maloney and I have introduced the Shame Act.

The Shame Act allows Federal judges to publicly publish the names and photographs of convicted traffickers and buyers. Shaming works. I successfully used it as a judge in Texas. Dubbed ``poetic justice'' by the media, I learned the last thing criminals want are their faces and crimes exposed to the public.

It is time to let traffickers and buyers know they cannot hide their evil and the darkness. Put their photographs on billboards. Shame them. Shame them for their slave trade.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the names of the organizations that support the Shame Act.

1. Polaris.

2. The International Organization for Victim Assistance.

3. Shared Hope.

4. The National Organization for Victim Assistance.

5. The Texas Centers for Child Advocacy.

6. The Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates.

7. Stop Child Predators.

8. The Family Focused Treatment Association.

Mr. Speaker, in a little over two weeks, we will mark the 38th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. The 1979 revolution in Iran was supposed to herald a better future for the Iranian people. Instead, the revolution ushered in an age of repression, tyranny, and persecution.

For 38 years, the Iranian people have been living under one of the most brutal regimes in the world. This regime is a maniacal theocracy that wields an iron grip over its people.

The regime has been described by Human Rights Watch consistently as a ``regional leader in executions.'' In 2015 alone, Iran executed approximately one thousand people with virtually no due process.

Iranian authorities announced in August 2016 that they had executed 20 prisoners found guilty of ``enmity against God'' which carries the death penalty.

Other crimes that can get you killed in Iran are ``attempts against the security of the state,'' ``outrage against high ranking officials,'' and insulting the Supreme Leader.

The Iranian regime routinely jails journalists, human rights defenders, and anyone who speaks out against the deplorable practices of the regime.

Once in jail, prisoners can expect to be tortured and abused. The State Department's Human Rights report claims that Iranian prisoners are commonly subjected to threats of rape, sexual humiliation, threats of execution, electroshocks, and severe beatings.

This is a sick tyrannical government that imposes its will on its people through brute force. The Iranian people have suffered immensely since 1979.

Unfortunately, since its founding the regime has also sought to ``export the revolution,'' code for wreaking havoc abroad.

Iran's awful human rights record rivals only its long record of sponsoring terrorism throughout the world.

Iran remains the world's number one state sponsor of terrorism. In fact, Iran has only increased its support to terrorist groups in the past two years.

The regime uses its Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps to implement its foreign policy goals and create instability throughout the Middle East. The IRGC cultivates and supports terrorists abroad in service of Tehran.

It provides financial assistance, weapons, and training to groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Palestinian terrorists Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Shia militants in Bahrain, and terrorist militias in Iraq.

Its support for these groups has helped Tehran's ally in Syria Bashar al Assad butcher over half a million of his own citizens.

But it doesn't just end there. Iran has a tacit agreement with al- Qaeda, allowing the terrorist group to move money, arms, and fighters through Iran since at least 2009.

On February 11 the clerics in Tehran will celebrate 38 years of oppressing the people of Iran.

On that day we should remember the many victims of this evil regime, both in Iran and across the world.

The Iranian people deserve better.

They deserve a democratic government whose priority is not to keep themselves in power no matter the cost but to improve the lives of the Iranian people.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, on Friday, November 4, 2016, a military base in Jafr, Jordan, was attacked. A hail of violent gunfire suddenly rang out while three Americans were returning to base. They were ambushed. After the smoke cleared, three Green Berets from the 5th Special Forces Group were killed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. One of those heroic men was 27-year-old Staff Sergeant James ``Jimmy'' Moriarty.

To be clear, neither the family nor I is satisfied that we have received all of the facts about the deaths of those three Green Berets, but we do know the facts about Staff Sergeant Moriarty of the United States Army.

Staff Sergeant Moriarty was a Texas native--one of Houston's own. He was a proud Green Beret. He was scheduled to come home in 2 weeks to spend the holidays with his family. Jimmy was, unquestionably, one of the best. Growing up in Houston, he earned a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Texas. He spoke fluent Arabic--maybe with a Texas accent, Mr. Speaker. As part of the 5th Special Forces Group, he was 3 months into his third tour of duty in Jordan. Upon graduation from the University of Texas, Jimmy made the choice to serve his Nation in the United States Army. He was a volunteer. He was a proud member of the United States Army Special Forces. During his service to America, he earned the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the NCO Professional Development ribbon, and an Army Service Ribbon.

The brave men of the Green Berets are our Nation's warriors. They are sent to take on the toughest missions that our Nation faces. From the jungles of Vietnam to the desert sands of the Middle East, they are, as John Wayne once said, America's best. These men are the warriors our enemies fear. They respond to terrorists and other outlaws to keep America safe throughout the globe. Proudly wearing silver wings on their chests, they are, without question, America's finest warriors.

Mr. Speaker, in the words of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, another Texan:

In times of uncertainty, there is a special breed of

warrior ready to answer our Nation's call--a common man with

an uncommon desire to succeed. Forged by adversity,

the Green Beret stands alongside America's finest special

operations forces to serve our country and the American

people and to protect their way of life.

Jimmy Moriarty was one of those men.

Moriarty was loved by his two sisters, who incessantly saw to it that their younger brother would be a well-rounded man. It is without a doubt that this distinguished soldier will be missed by his family, his friends, and his community.

We grieve the loss of this American warrior, but we celebrate and honor his life and his service. We are fortunate to have Green Berets like Moriarty standing in support of our country. We are fortunate that a man like Jimmy served this Nation as a volunteer. He stood for the best of those American ideals and values that the Special Forces represent. He was a son of freedom and a son of liberty and a son of Texas. He epitomized everything that is good and right about America.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family and friends and to the other two Green Berets who were killed in Jordan.

On December 5, 2016, taps was played for the last time as Staff Sergeant James Moriarty was buried in the deafening silence of Arlington National Cemetery--next to thousands of other Americans who gave their lives for this great Nation. Jimmy Moriarty was a rare breed. He was the American breed.

During World War II, General George Patton said:

While we mourn the loss of such men, we should thank God

that such men ever lived.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, illegal Haitian immigrant Jean Jacques spent 17 years in a U.S. prison for attempted murder. After his release, ICE officials tried to deport him, but Haiti would not take him back, so he was let go. Five months later, he murdered Casey Chadwick of Connecticut, brutally stabbing her in the face and neck 15 times.

U.S. law says that illegals who have committed serious crimes will be deported. But if the country of origin won't take their citizen back, they are released back on the streets of America. There are thousands of criminal aliens who have been turned loose on our streets because their home country won't take them back.

I have introduced legislation to fix this. My bill codifies number seven of President Trump's immigration plan, which states that we should ``ensure that other countries take their people back when we order them deported.''

My legislation would prohibit visas for these countries that refuse to take their crooks back. No more American lives like Casey's should be lost because foreign criminals just won't go home.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Friday morning, as the 45th President was about to be sworn in, Obama administration officials packed up their desks and prepared to ride off into the sunset, but not before quietly slipping in a last-minute surprise snub to Israel on their way out of town by shipping off $221 million to the Palestinian Authority.

Mr. Speaker, this move is sadly not surprising, but wildly inappropriately insulting. The final days of the Obama White House were filled with unapologetic, downright hostility to our friend Israel. Just last month the United States betrayed our friends by allowing the U.N. Security Council to vote attacking Israel.

Now in the shadow of that vote, in a last act of defiance, the old group sent millions of dollars to fill the coffers of Israel's enemy. Thankfully, there is a new man in charge in Washington. President Trump has pledged to support Israel, not betray them. He says he will move the United States Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move I support if the Israelis support that.

Israel is our greatest friend and should never question where we stand. The Trump White House seems to understand that. Good riddance to those who did not understand it.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Chairman, the Affordable Care Act is a collection of failed policies and many empty promises.

The American people have spoken. They do not want ObamaCare's high- cost, job-killing, conscious-violating healthcare system. Since the enactment of ObamaCare, almost 5 million Americans have lost their insurance plans and their own doctors. This is a far cry from the fake promises that were made on this House floor in the dark of the night when we were told: ``Pass the bill so that we can figure out what is in it.''

The American people are the ones paying for these failed promises. In fact, it is expected that in 2017, ObamaCare premiums will grow by an average of 22 percent across America. ObamaCare is hurting individual citizens, and it is also hurting small businesses. Out of 75 issues, small-business owners ranked the cost of health insurance as the number one problem they faced in 2016.

ObamaCare is neither affordable, and it is certainly not better care. We cannot afford ObamaCare. Health care should be a decision made by individuals in America, not by bureaucrats here in Washington, D.C. The repeal bill is the first step in finally correcting this huge legislative blunder. Replace ObamaCare with a free-market alternative that provides affordable health care to all Americans. Let Americans choose their health care.

ObamaCare has the efficiency of the post office and the compassion of the IRS, and it is time to make America healthy. Repeal this government control of our health.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. It funds and controls terrorists groups like Hezbollah. Its tentacles stretch all over the world, far beyond the Middle East.

Many of its activities are done through the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, which has funded, planned, and executed terrorist attacks in the United States and elsewhere for decades.

The IRGC is the parent organization of the Quds Force and is directly responsible for its terrorist activities worldwide. But somehow this group has managed to escape repercussions, and the United States has never recognized it as a terrorist organization. I am working to change that.

This week I introduced the IRGC Terrorist Sanctions Act. This bill will require the President to designate the IRGC for its terrorist activity and levy the relevant statutory sanctions against it.

It is time to close loopholes like these that allow terrorist- affiliated groups to continue their reign of terror. Designate and sanction these terrorist groups that are sponsored by the number one world state sponsor of terrorism, Iran.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, January 17 marks the fourth anniversary of the death of Victor Lovelady from Atascocita, Texas. Mr. Lovelady was killed by al Qaeda terrorists in Algeria while he was working at a BP gas facility. I rise to tell his story again, as I have done on this floor before, because it is a story that reminds us about what it means to be a true American hero.

You can learn a lot about a man when trial comes. The trial that came upon Victor Lovelady on January 16, 2013 told us a lot about who Victor was. Victor had been on the job in Algeria only about a week when terrorists stormed the gas plant where he was working. Victor was in a break room when one of his coworkers burst through the door, bleeding from a gunshot wound in the stomach. Seeing the man in need, Victor jumped into action, dressing his wound and caring for him. Knowing the terrorists were working their way through the plant, Victor helped hide the wounded man in a food container. The gunshots grew closer. Victor selflessly first helped

other coworkers in the break room climb up into a false ceiling. Only after they had climbed into the ceiling did Victor try and do the same but fell. Before he knew it, terrorists stormed into the break room and took him hostage.

They tied up his hands and feet. The next day the terrorists placed a ring of explosives around his neck before loading him into a vehicle to take him to another part of the gas plant. Victor never made it--the terrorists blew him up along the way.

We may like to think so, but none of us really know if we would put others before ourselves if we were faced with a life or death situation like Victor was. But we know what Victor did. We know what he chose. In all, Victor's quick thinking and acts of selflessness helped save the lives of four of his coworkers.

Selflessness wasn't something that all of a sudden came upon Victor in this moment either. It marked him as a man, a brother, a husband, and a father. Selflessness was a part of who he was. No, this ultimate trial simply exposed what was already there. Victor was a man who lived his life serving others. So it was only fitting that in his final hours, we were blessed to see one last and heroic act of selflessness in Victor's life.

Victor is survived by his wife, Maureen, and his two children, Erin and Grant. To his family I want to say that my thoughts and prayers are with you on this painful day. We have not forgotten your heroic husband and father.

And that's just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, recently in Sacramento, California, Uber driver Keith Avila picked up three passengers. They were two women and what looked like to him to be a very young girl, about 12 years of age. The ride would be short. The total fare was only $8.

The young girl, sitting in the front seat with him, was dressed inappropriately in such a short skirt. Here is what he said about her:

You could see all of her legs, and it struck me as odd

because she was so very young.

What happened next was even more disturbing to him. One of the women passengers in the vehicle said to the young girl in a controlling, coaching voice:

First thing you do, you ask this question: Do you have any

weapons? When you're hugging him, just ask, ``Do you have any

weapons?'' Pat him down. Pat him down while you're hugging on

him. Get the money first. Before you start touching him, go

in there, get the money first.

Avila, a father himself, knew something was not right about that conversation. The two older women taking a girl inappropriately dressed to a hotel, talking about exchanging money, did not make sense to him.

This had the hallmark of sex trafficking. He later said to police:

I was 100 percent sure I knew what was happening.

So Avila dropped off the three individuals at the Holiday Inn Express and immediately called the police, even though he didn't have to. He alerted them that there was a child sex trafficking occurring right under their noses.

The two alleged women traffickers were later identified as 25-year- old Destiny Pettway and 31-year-old Maria Westley. They now have been charged with pimping and threatening a minor. The buyer, 20-year-old Disney Vang, was also arrested and charged by the police with soliciting a child prostitute.

Mr. Speaker, this girl turned out to be 16 years of age, but her life was saved because of this individual, Mr. Avila.

Elk County Police Officer Chris Trim said it best:

He could've said nothing, went on his way, collected his

fare, and then that child victim would have been victimized

again by who knows how many different people over the next

days, weeks, or even months.

Mr. Speaker, America cannot ignore sex trafficking in this country. Individuals, citizens, no matter who they are, need to be able to recognize what is taking place amongst sex trafficking.

What happened in Sacramento with this child is not an isolated incident. This incident just happened to end well because someone saw something and said something.

Last Congress, we took the historic step of passing several pieces of comprehensive, bipartisan trafficking legislation, supported by most Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

One of those bills was my own and Carolyn Maloney's, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. This bill did a number of things, but most importantly, it went after the root problem: the demand, the customer that buys minors on the marketplace of sex trafficking.

The bill did a lot of other things to help promote the enforcement of the sex trafficking laws in America. The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act also went after the trafficker as well as rescuing the victim, and, of course, it prosecuted the buyers.

The bill also set up a fund to pay for grants to help the victims and victim shelters and to educate police. The fund is funded by money that goes into that fund by fees, ordered by Federal judges. In other words, let the criminals pay the rent on the courthouse and pay for the system that they have created and help fund shelters and police training to recognize the trafficking that takes place.

The enforcement of the bill is taking place throughout the country. Going after human sex trafficking is something that this country needs to recognize, and we need to be able to recognize it when we are individuals, law enforcement, and Members of the House of Representatives as well.

Sex trafficking takes place not only on the individual basis, but at big

events such as the Super Bowl and the Final Four. Just this week, the Department of Homeland Security had a briefing for Members of the Texas delegation on the Super Bowl, talking about the security that will be implemented in Houston. It was quite impressive. But during that briefing for Members of Congress--and I see two of them here, Mr. Al Green and Mr. Farenthold, who were at that briefing--they talked about how probably sex trafficking will be at that location, and how they are going to try to prevent it.

It is quite impressive, the Blue Campaign that is taking place by the Department of Homeland Security. We are going to be ready for those people who want to try to promote sex trafficking in Houston because of the Super Bowl, making sure that there is not going to be sex trafficking in our town, in our country, and that our children are not for sale.

So it is important that we recognize it when we see it, and it is because of awareness of citizens like Mr. Avila that America is turning the tide and making sure that we enforce our sex trafficking laws.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Americans nationwide are interested in watching the Supreme Court at work, but only a handful on any given day are allowed to have access to the courtroom. The courtroom is small and seating is limited. Well, why not give the public the ability to view the proceedings in their entirety on television or through live streaming?

Public court hearings are the bedrock of American justice. Americans want to know what is going on behind those closed doors. A simple nonintrusive camera would allow for greater transparency and greater faith in the decisions made by the most powerful Court in the world.

I was one of the first judges in Texas to allow cameras in the courtroom. All the naysayers said: oh, it won't work. But it did. It benefited everyone.

The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and I are once again cosponsoring a bill to allow cameras in the Supreme Court. It is better to show all of the proceedings to the public than to rely on a 30- second sound bite from a news reporter on television during the 6:00 news. It is time for cameras in the Supreme Court.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, human trafficking victims are slaves living in fear, totally losing their identity.

On this National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, it is time to publicly expose the traffickers. As a former judge in Texas, I used public punishment to keep criminals from returning to my courtroom and to discourage other criminals from committing more crimes.

This form of public shaming can be successful in combating human trafficking. That is why, today, I introduced the SHAME Act. This bill will give Federal judges the ability to publish the names and photographs of both convicted human traffickers and the buyers of trafficked victims. Buyers will no longer be able to hide in plain sight under a cloak of anonymity.

My hope is that the SHAME Act strikes fear in those who think about purchasing young women for sex. Perhaps the thought of having their face on a billboard will make the scoundrels think twice about participating in the modern-day slave trade. It is time to shame these horrible humans out of business.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, this week, North Korea declared that it can launch an intercontinental ballistic missile at any time that it wishes.

Even our own Deputy Secretary of State recently warned that Little Kim's weapon capabilities have shown qualitative improvement within the past year resulting in ``unprecedented level of activity.''

Why is that?

Well, because this administration has done little to stop Little Kim. Instead, the administration has naively pursued a strategy it calls ``strategic patience.''

Strategic patience is a fancy phrase for ignoring the obvious. There was a time when we kept North Korea on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List. They came off the list because they have made promises that they have clearly broken.

Mischievous Little Kim's threats continue to grow bolder and bolder, with no repercussions. We cannot afford to risk the security of our citizens for the sake of diplomatic strategy that has proven to be a failure.

This week I will reintroduce legislation to put North Korea back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List because Little Kim is a terror to world peace.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, Qian Wu was held up at knifepoint and brutally assaulted. Her attacker, a Chinese citizen who was illegally in America, was captured and sent off to prison for the assault. He should have been deported as soon as he finished his sentence, but China would not take back the outlaw. So, under American law, the attacker could not be held indefinitely in our prison and was turned loose on American streets. As soon as he was released from prison, he tracked down Qian Wu and murdered her.

Mr. Speaker, the law requires that a person who illegally enters the United States and is ordered deported must be repatriated to their native country. The lack of cooperation from countries that refuse or delay repatriation allows criminals like Qian Wu's killer to remain in America and commit more crimes.

My bill, the Timely Repatriation Act of 2017, restricts diplomatic visas to countries that deny the repatriation of criminal aliens deported from the United States. Countries like China must take back their lawfully deported criminal citizens or pay the price of losing diplomatic visas.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I have traveled to the southern border dozens of times over the years, and the problem is always the same. The people who defend our border--really, defend our country--do the best they can with what they have got, but they are outmanned, outgunned, and outfinanced by the drug cartels and the people coming across from the other side.

The continued failure to protect our border threatens our national security and the sovereignty of America. The reality is that the majority of the southern border territory is controlled by someone other than the United States. Why? Because there is no workable plan. Also, there is no moral will by this administration to protect our border.

My bill, the SMART Border Act, outlines a robust border protection strategy that includes achieving operational control of the border within 1 year, provides smart border technology, and mandates more boots on the ground, including 10,000 National Guard troops at the request of the four border State Governors.

Mr. Speaker, we must have the moral will to protect our borders. All types of people are crossing the border into the United States illegally--the good, the bad, and the ugly--and those days need to end. No one should come into America without America's permission.

And that is just the way it is.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman.

The recent stunt at the United Nations targeting Israel is the latest effort by this administration to cement a legacy of foreign policy that has failed, especially with our trusted ally Israel. It has been U.S. policy to veto any U.N. resolution dictating parameters on the Israeli- Palestinian peace process.

The reason is simple. True peace can only be achieved at the negotiating table between the Palestinians and the Israelis, not at the United Nations. The one-sided, anti-Israeli resolution will only make peace harder.

The U.N. adopted 20 anti-Israeli resolutions last year, while passing just 4 for the rest of the world. The U.N. is not fair and unbiased. While pointing the finger solely at Israel, the recent resolution did nothing to point out the Palestinians' lack of progress towards peace.

The Palestinian Authority has failed to stop violence against Jews. It continues to--get this, Mr. Speaker--make payments to jailed Palestinian terrorists who have harmed or killed Jews.

Over the years, Israel has traded land for promised peace. They have no peace. And soon, if the United Nations gets its way, they will have no land.

Despite the administration's policy of abandoning our trusted ally Israel, the United States Congress must stand with our ally Israel.

And that is just the way it is.