Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1456) to amend the Peace Corps Act to reauthorize the Peace Corps, better support current and returned volunteers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1456, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act, and I thank Mr. Garamendi for authoring this important bill.

This week marks 61 years in which President Kennedy signed the bill creating the Peace Corps into law, with the mission of promoting world peace and friendship. The Peace Corps has fulfilled this vision and has evolved into a vital diplomatic tool for U.S. foreign policy.

Since 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 143 countries, conducting people-to-people diplomacy and development in partnership with communities in some of the poorest countries of the world.

Volunteers work in sectors that include education, agriculture, environment, health, youth, and community economic development. From incorporating agroforestry technologies in Zambia's farming system, to promoting volunteerism in Georgia, there is no doubt about the profound impact that the Peace Corps has had on the world's developing nations.

In addition to changing lives of people all over the world, the Peace Corps has also shaped the next generation of American and foreign leaders and changemakers, by fostering cross-cultural immersion and collaboration.

After 61 years of success, we think it is time to further strengthen the Peace Corps' global mission by providing additional resources to better the agency and to support its volunteers. Congress last authorized the Peace Corps in 1999. For this reason, the bill is timely, provides a much-needed update to benefits for volunteers that include readjustment allowance, re-enrollment priority, transition assistance, health insurance, noncompetitive eligibility for Federal employment, and updated workers' compensation.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul for moving this legislation forward in a bipartisan way. The bill will enhance the ability of the Peace Corps to make strong and strategic investments to meet the challenges of today and continue to be a transformative force for years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to vote in support of this critical legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1456, the Peace Corps Reauthorization Act, as amended, would significantly upgrade the Peace Corps and better support Americans who are ready to serve their Nation and make the world a better place.

I thank Mr. Garamendi for his service to the Peace Corps in Ethiopia and for this bill. It is clear from Mr. Garamendi and from many other Americans--we all know how their Peace Corps service has transformed their lives and the lives of those with whom they volunteered.

All of this has contributed to a stronger American image abroad, reaffirming our conviction in the enduring value of the Peace Corps. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8453) to provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to foreign persons undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement or threatening the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8453, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8453, the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act. I thank Representatives Wild and Wagner for their dedicated efforts to introduce and move this important bill.

Memories and horrific consequences of the Balkan wars of the 1990s are with us all, those of us who experienced that war in the region and those of us who worked on the ending of that war. I was one of those people.

I was at the Dayton peace conference in 1995 as a young State Department staffer and remember how close we came to failure and the extraordinarily positive consequences of success: ending a war that claimed 200,000 lives, reaffirming the centrality and importance of American leadership in Europe and the importance of the NATO alliance, and keeping the peace in the transatlantic community.

The fragile peace that we ushered in with the Dayton Accords was meant to leave the threats of ethnic nationalism and demagoguery in the past and to create a framework, as imperfect as it was, for cooperation and, ultimately, the integration of those countries into European institutions.

Well, some of those young countries have done as we hoped. They successfully moved toward and integrated into the European Union and NATO. Some have struggled on that path but are still striving for a democratic and prosperous future.

Some of the problems that they still experience are internal of their own making, but others are coming from outside actors, particularly Russia and China, who see an interest and an opportunity to keep these countries in chaos and limbo.

In 2 weeks, the people of Bosnia will head to the polls in decisive elections that will determine their country's fate. However, in the lead-up to and following the elections, there will be temptations to break away from the Dayton Accords and the spirit of peace and partnership that they represent. The citizens of Bosnia deserve better from their leadership.

This legislation, which the House Committee on Foreign Affairs marked up in July, is designed to hold the bad actors holding Bosnia back accountable and to prevent others from hurting that country's chances to enjoy a free and democratic future.

As we are learning from Putin's cruel and unjustified war on the people and the very idea of Ukraine, peace and democracy are not guaranteed but must be fostered and protected always.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8453, Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act, will help prevent malevolent actors from undermining peace and stability in Bosnia, to protect that country's free and democratic future from efforts to unravel the Dayton Accords.

The progress made since the devastating Balkan wars of the 1990s must be preserved. Efforts to provoke tensions must not and will not be tolerated by the United States. Russia's war of choice in Ukraine has showed us the consequences of a land war in Europe in the 21st century. We cannot allow anything remotely similar to happen in the Balkans, and I am confident that Congress and the administration will work together to prevent that.

I once again thank my colleagues, Representatives Wild and Wagner, for introducing H.R. 8453, and I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6846) to require a review of sanctions with respect to Russian kleptocrats and human rights abusers, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6846, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6846, the Corruption, Overthrowing Rule of Law, and Ruining Ukraine: Putin's Trifecta Act, or better known as the CORRUPT Act. You can imagine we worked hard on that acronym.

I first thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the bipartisan effort. Representatives Curtis, Kinzinger, Salazar, Fitzpatrick, and Joe Wilson, on the Republican side, led this bill with me when Putin's invasion kicked off.

And despite what the news often says, behind the curtains I have seen tremendous bipartisan unity over the last 6 months to ensure that Ukraine's brave people have all of the military hardware and economic support that they need.

I will start by reminding us why we are advancing the CORRUPT Act today. We are passing this bill today because of the death and destruction in Ukraine.

Right here, you see a picture from the village of Bucha. When Bucha was liberated, Ukrainians found mass graves with hundreds, including many civilians with hands tied behind their

backs. The Associated Press says more than 1,300 bodies have been found in just this one location. And sadly, as the Ukrainian military advances and retakes more of its sovereign territory from the Russian invaders, more such evidence of massacres is coming to light.

We are here because this is a moral outrage, because this is evil. We are also here because we understand that the people of Ukraine are not just fighting for their country; they are fighting for ours. They are not just fighting for their freedom and security; they are fighting for ours.

They are fighting for the idea that in the 21st century, no country can change borders with tanks. No leader can seek power through murder. These are principles that protect everybody in the world, including the people of the United States.

And with this bill, we are sending another clear bipartisan signal that Congress supports President Biden's unprecedented sanctions against Putin's regime; and that we will continue to push for targeted sanctions against key enablers of Putin's repression until Ukraine is free.

Now, we have before us a list of nearly 200 key cronies of Putin. Identified by brave Russian democracy activists, these are the people who keep Putin in power and continue to fuel the war in Ukraine. They must not continue to profit from investments, accounts, condos, properties, planes, yachts held in the West.

But I also want to use this opportunity to make an important point; that Putin's senseless invasion started with his cruel repression inside Russia. The first victims of Putin were in Russia, brave Russians who stood up for democracy and freedom in their country.

Right here, you see a picture of a dear friend of mine, Vladimir Kara-Murza, a brave Russian hero. Putin tried to poison him twice, and he survived, miraculously. Putin now holds him in Russia's new gulags. Why? Because he openly calls for democracy and freedom in Russia.

So you don't get to the war crimes in Bucha without this. So this is why the U.S. Congress is going to continue pushing for targeted sanctions against those corrupt cronies of Putin propping up his repression and fueling the horrific war in Ukraine; because it is the same people responsible for both of these crimes; because we believe it is what is best for the Ukrainian people and the Russian people and for the United States.

I would like to use Vladimir Kara-Murza's own words to make that point. He said that the Magnitsky Act, the bill that we passed years ago to facilitate the sanctions against corrupt and repressive cronies of the Putin regime:

The Magnitsky Act is the most pro-Russian law ever to have

been passed by a foreign parliament. Nothing can send a chill

down the backs of Putin's autocratic enablers like the

realization that not even the Kremlin, with all of its

patronage, all of its oil money, will be able to guarantee

their ill-gotten gains.

Finally, as we continue to freeze the assets of corrupt Russian officials and leaders, we must also face the fact that many of their condominiums, and villas, and investment accounts, and trusts remain hidden right here in the United States because of loopholes in our own laws.

So I am going to continue to push with the same congressional leaders who have supported the CORRUPT Act, the bill we are passing today, Representatives Maria Salazar, Joe Wilson, Steve Cohen, Abigail Spanberger, Richard Hudson, to include the House-passed ENABLERS Act in this year's NDAA, the national defense bill.

It will make sure that Putin's cronies, the ones who we are sanctioning today in the CORRUPT Act, as well as Venezuelan kleptocrats, and Chinese Communist Party officials repressing their people, that these dictators and their enablers can no longer hide their money and earn interest here in New Jersey, in Florida, and across America.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 6846, with this bill, the CORRUPT Act, we stand in bipartisan solidarity with the Ukrainian people and with the many people in Russia who oppose this war, who believe that Putin's regime is as destructive to their country as it is to the rest of the world.

We are saying, with passing this bill, that the United States is absolutely committed to tracking down the dirty money that props up Putin's repression, his brutal criminal war in Ukraine. Hopefully, as we scour the world to seize the yachts and the property and the bank accounts of these people, we will be able to put the proceeds of that wealth to good use to help rebuild the country that Putin is destroying.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3895) to extend and authorize annual appropriations for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom through fiscal year 2024.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 3895.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2022. I thank our Senate colleagues and Mr. Smith and Ms. Eshoo for their leadership in advancing this important measure--in Mr. Smith's case, his leadership over many, many years in advancing the cause of religious freedom across the world.

Since 1998, USCIRF has served as a leading advisory panel to the United States Government on matters related to religious freedom globally. It is responsible for monitoring the freedom of religion or belief abroad and for making policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and to Congress.

The past several USCIRF reauthorizations have been bipartisan and faithful to the original mandate as established by Congress.

Mr. Speaker, the right to practice a religion, or to practice no religion, is a fundamental human right. The principle of religious liberty should extend to all people, not only ones who come from a specific set of religious beliefs. As respect for democracy and human rights continue to be under stress in many parts of the world, the work of USCIRF and other human rights groups to shine a light on religious freedom is even more important.

I thank Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul for moving this legislation forward in a bipartisan way. The bill will enhance the Commission's ability to continue its important work promoting religious freedom and to highlight those countries around the world that have to do better.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge all Members to vote in support of the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, S. 3895, the USCIRF Reauthorization Act, is critically needed to ensure that our country maintains the tools we need to stand up for human rights and, in particular, religious freedom around the world.

I thank my friend from New Jersey, once again, for encouraging us to move on this and really for being the conscience of the House on these issues for so many, many years.

I remember many times testifying before you back in the day, and I am glad that you are still reminding us that this is some of the most important work that we can do.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7240) to reauthorize the READ Act, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7240, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7240, the reauthorization of the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development, or the READ Act. I would first like to thank my colleagues, Representative Bass and Representative Smith, for their leadership in this legislation. I also want to acknowledge former Appropriations Chairwoman Lowey for championing basic education programs for so many years in the House. The READ Act is just one piece of her great legacy.

The bill we are considering today reauthorizes the READ Act for another 5 years, continuing our country's leadership in expanding access to basic education for kids around the world. As Chairwoman Lowey would say, education is one of the greatest force multipliers in foreign aid. Every dollar we spend on a child's education is an investment in their future and in a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Since the READ Act was signed into law in 2017, we have made significant progress in responding to the needs of our partner countries to improve literacy, strengthen education systems, expand access to safe learning, and promote education as a foundation for sustained economic growth.

Despite this progress, the READ Act and our basic education programs remain critical in the face of profound learning loss everywhere due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Learning poverty has increased by a third in low- and middle-income countries, with an estimated 70 percent of 10- year-olds unable to understand a simple written text, up from 57 percent before the pandemic.

According to the World Bank, this generation of students now risks losing $21 trillion in potential lifetime earnings, or the equivalent of 17 percent of the world's GDP. Millions of kids around the world remain out of school.

Children need a quality education, whether in Bethesda, Nairobi, or Kabul. But investing U.S. taxpayer dollars in this cause is not just charity; it is in our collective interest. Reauthorizing the READ Act is thus a step toward maintaining U.S. leadership in achieving this goal, and I urge my colleagues to support its passage through the House.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 7240, the reauthorization of the Reinforcing Education Accountability in Development Act, or the READ Act, comes at a critical time.

Despite the progress we have made toward expanding access to education around the world, COVID-19 has set us back, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The bill demonstrates our continuing commitment to ensuring every child has access to safe, equitable, and quality education, and our confidence that every dollar invested in this cause returns dividends by way of global economic growth and stability.

Once again, I thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass) for introducing this bill, along with the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for their leadership in advancing this critical reauthorization. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8503) to require the development of a strategy to promote the use of secure telecommunications infrastructure worldwide, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8503.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8503, the Securing Global Telecommunications Act, introduced by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning) and the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).

A week from today, the International Telecommunication Union, the U.N. organization that oversees global telecom and tech issues, will have a plenipotentiary for the first time in 4 years. Crucially, among the elections to be held during this time, there will be an election to decide who will lead the agency as its secretary general.

The current secretary general is a Chinese national who has used his position to bolster the PRC's interests. The upcoming race to decide who will next lead the organization is between an American, Doreen Bogdan-Martin, and a Russian national, Rashid Ismailov. The Russians and Chinese have consistently staked out positions on internet governance that would make the communications sector more friendly for authoritarian governments such as they, governments that want to crack down on human rights, on freedom of speech and expression.

This bill is an answer that stakes out a better telecommunications future. It calls on the administration to submit a strategy on how to promote American economic and security interests in critical technologies like 5G, Open RAN, and low-Earth orbit satellite internet.

The bill positions the United States to lead on global telecommunications issues and requires the administration to increase reporting and transparency on Russian and PRC activities in the telecommunications sector. This information will help us better coordinate with like-minded democracies on digital and internet freedom and security issues.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning).

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8503, the Securing Global Telecommunications Act, is important legislation that will position our country to be a leader in the world's telecommunications future. It will ensure that the U.S. Government is taking steps to shore up and protect our digital infrastructure at home and help us better coordinate with like-minded democracies as we work to thwart Russia and the PRC's malign efforts to crack down on dissent and freedom of expression.

I again thank my colleagues, Representatives Manning and Kim for introducing this legislation. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8520) to establish certain reporting and other requirements relating to telecommunications equipment and services produced or provided by certain entities, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 8520.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 8520, the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Act.

Imagine the following: A senior official for a NATO ally of the United States transmits a vital national security matter to his country's embassy here in Washington, but before the call even reaches the embassy, it is intercepted by Chinese spyware, which transmits the call to Beijing. Before our officials even hear the top-secret message, CCP officials have captured and recorded the information.

Threats like this are very real and on the rise. Even here in the United States, intelligence and defense officials are concerned that telecommunications equipment made by the company Huawei could capture communications about our nuclear arsenal.

Around the world, the problem is worse. Many of our partners and allies have all of their major cell phone networks backed by unsafe equipment giving the PRC and its friends backdoor access to our private communications. Many countries, replete with this unsafe equipment, have mutual defense treaties with the United States.

The Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Act would be a crucial tool to address these security issues.

First, it would require the State Department to ensure that the Department itself is not relying on unsafe equipment at our embassies around the world.

Second, it would require a comprehensive report on the telecommunications security of all countries with which the United States has a mutual defense treaty.

Third, it authorizes our State Department to provide diplomatic support for telecommunications projects and pushes our United States Trade and Development Agency to finance important projects in this area.

Finally, it requires mobile network operators listed on American stock exchanges to disclose whether they have Huawei, ZTE, or other unsafe equipment in their networks. Currently, many network operators fail to disclose this information despite existing sanctions against Huawei. This provision would be beneficial for our national security but also crucial for investors and shareholders in these companies.

I thank Representatives Wild and Wagner for their important work on this bill, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 8520, the Countering Untrusted Telecommunications Act is an important initiative in finding and addressing American vulnerabilities to cyber spying and espionage, particularly in our communications with partners and allies whose unsecure networks may provide backdoor access to these increasing threats.

I, once again, thank Representatives Wild and Wagner for their tremendous work in advancing this bill and their commitment to protecting our national security from cyber and security threats. I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting this bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7338) to require congressional notification prior to payments of Department of State rewards using cryptocurrencies, authorize the appointment of a Director of Digital Currency Security in the Office of Economic Sanctions Policy and Implementation of the Department of State, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 7338, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7338, the Russia Cryptocurrency Transparency Act introduced by the chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representatives Meeks and McCaul. I also acknowledge Chairwoman Waters of the Financial Services Committee, who has been deeply engaged on cryptocurrency issues for years and has shown such tremendous leadership on the topic.

Russia's illegal, immoral, and indefensible invasion of Ukraine has placed renewed focus on how the Putin regime evades sanctions and continues to fund itself.

One answer is cryptocurrency. Virtually unregulated globally, cryptocurrency technology has increasingly become a tool for people seeking to avoid financial sanctions. While there are legitimate and responsible companies that police their platforms and products, there are also products like cryptocurrency tumblers that have little or no value to society other than helping people evade sanctions and launder money.

At the same time, the people of Ukraine have demonstrated the potential value of cryptocurrency. Some refugees, for example, have found that it is a particularly useful way to conduct cross-border transactions, and the sale of nonfungible tokens has been used to support Ukraine and its people.

Balancing these tradeoffs is not easy, but Chairman Meeks' bill, I believe, strikes the right balance. It will provide necessary transparency and information about these practices to ensure that our foreign policy is up to the challenge of adapting to this new technology.

I strongly support the measure, and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.

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

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I just want to thank, again, my colleagues, Chairman Meeks and Ranking Member McCaul, for introducing this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6265) to require a strategy by the United States Government to disrupt and dismantle the Captagon trade and narcotics networks of Bashar al-Assad in Syria.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6265.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 6265, the CAPTAGON Act.

I would like to first thank Representatives French Hill and Brendan Boyle, as well as Members from both sides of the aisle for reintroducing this bipartisan legislation and addressing an important issue which continues to fuel the Assad regime's coffers and campaign of brutality.

Despite condemnation from the United States and the international community, Bashar al-Assad's military has continued its relentless assault on the Syrian people committing reprehensible crimes against humanity upon them.

Even as American and European sanctions restrict this regime's ability to transact and deal internationally, its campaign of brutality continues to seek sources of revenue around the world.

One of these illicit sources of revenue is the smuggling of the narcotic stimulant drug, Captagon, which is trafficked to, in, and around Syria, and has become a cash source for the Assad regime to enrich itself and prolong its atrocities against Syrians.

Though initial steps have been taken by the State Department, our intelligence community, and the Drug Enforcement Agency to work with allies and partners to counter this traffic, more can and must be done.

So the CAPTAGON Act would require the Federal Government to develop an interagency strategy to disrupt and dismantle narcotics trafficking and networks linked to the Assad regime in Syria. It also requires reporting on such efforts and on coordination with our partners.

This is an important step in ensuring we can use every tool we have to stop the spread of Captagon in the region and to choke off illicit revenue for this brutal regime.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the bipartisan group of Members, including you, Mr. Speaker, for presenting this measure.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, September 19, 2022.

Hon. Gregory Meeks,

Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Meeks: This letter is to advise you that the

Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to

review the provisions in H.R. 6265, the ``Countering Assad's

Proliferation Trafficking And Garnering Of Narcotics Act'' or

the ``CAPTAGON Act,'' that fall within our Rule X

jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those

provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your

including them in the bill for consideration on the House

floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to forgo

action on H.R. 6265, with the understanding that we do not

thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those

provisions or their subject matters.

In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar

legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the

right to request an appropriate number of conferees to

address any concerns with these or similar provisions that

may arise in conference.

Please place this letter into the Congressional Record

during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank

you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked

regarding this matter and others between our committees.

Sincerely,

Jerrold Nadler,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I thank, once again, my colleagues, Representatives French Hill and Brendan Boyle, for introducing this critical legislation. I hope all of our colleagues will join us in supporting it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 558) urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 558, as amended.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 558, urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in its entirety as a terrorist organization.

I thank first my dear friend, Ted Deutch, the chairman of our Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism for reintroducing this important legislation which previously did pass the House in the 115th Congress. When Ted departs our Foreign Affairs Committee in October, we are all going to miss his voice, particularly on issues regarding the Middle East, and his tireless advocacy in defense of American interests and those of our allies around the world.

Now, despite all we know about Hizballah, a murderous, terrorist organization that also serves as an Iranian proxy in the region, our friends and partners in the European Union only include Hizballah's military branch, not its political branch, on its list of sanctioned terrorist organizations.

The Government of the United States, in contrast, makes no distinction between its two branches and includes Hizballah in its entirety on the U.S. foreign terrorist organization list because we know they are one and the same. The European Union is long overdue in coming to the same realization.

Congress is pleased that many individual European countries have acted despite the position of the E.U. as a whole. The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council have also designated Hizballah in its entirety. So it remains troubling that the E.U., an organization that shares so many of our values, interests, and policy goals, continues to allow Hizballah's political wing to operate freely, advancing Hizballah's violent agenda around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this important resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute and 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida.

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

Mr. Speaker, I strongly agree with Representative Deutch. I have always believed the first principle of foreign policy is to call things by their proper name. Sometimes we have to be pragmatic in our dealings around the world, but always start by being honest. Hizballah is a terrorist organization.

Say it. The European Union should do so, as well.

Today, we are being heard again on a bipartisan basis--loud and clear--and I hope the European Union hears our message. I hope my colleagues will join us in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Republicans swore up and down that all they wanted was for the States to decide.

But this week, in this Congress, they introduced a national criminal ban on abortion, saying this is what we stand for, this is what we will do if our party takes the House and Senate.

Their bill is designed for one purpose and will have one effect: to shred protections women still enjoy in States like New Jersey, where we codified Roe v. Wade this year.

Let me tell you where the overwhelming majority of folks in New Jersey stand. We know abortion is a painful and personal issue for many families. That is precisely why we want and trust women to decide, not the government. The issue is complicated. Who decides is not.

That is why I will do everything in my power to prevent Congress from imposing on New Jersey laws that treat women and doctors as criminals and why we must enshrine the freedoms Roe v. Wade protected in the law of our land once and for all.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the ordering of the yeas and nays on amendment No. 451 printed in part A of House Report 117-405 be vitiated to the end that the amendment be withdrawn.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6824) to authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland Security to hold an annual cybersecurity competition relating to offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, before I begin debate on today's legislation, I will take a moment to acknowledge the tragic, bloody events of this weekend in Milwaukee, Buffalo, and Orange County, California. The loss of life and extent of injury to innocent people, as we all know, are staggering.

These incidents are all under investigation but, from a homeland security perspective, I will zero in, in particular, on the events in New York where we have, I think, a fairly good picture of what motivated a man to gun down innocent people, an event that has happened too many times in recent history in our country.

This young man clearly was motivated by an idea, a hateful idea and a racist idea, and one that is sadly familiar to us. It is the same idea that motivated another man to gun down African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina. It is the same idea that motivated yet another man to gun down Hispanic Americans in El Paso, Texas. It is the same idea that motivated another man to gun down Jewish Americans in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

It is an idea that spreads on the internet. But it doesn't just spread organically. Social media companies write algorithms deliberately designed to connect people who are susceptible to this hateful idea to others who may be propagating it. It is an idea that sadly is sometimes amplified and legitimized by political leaders and media personalities in our country.

We have a domestic terrorism problem in America. We all understand that on the Homeland Security Committee. If this problem was coming from outside the United States, it would be easy for us to come together to deal with it.

Imagine if after the September 11 attacks there were cable news hosts who night after night propagated ideas straight from al-Qaida's propaganda materials. We wouldn't tolerate it. Nobody would for one moment think that was acceptable in the United States of America. But because it is a domestic problem rooted in our own society, it is harder. We have to find a way to come together, nonetheless.

I think there are two kinds of leaders in America today, not Democrat, Republican, liberal, or conservative. There are leaders who, when they see a fire burning, they reach for a bucket of water to put it out. And there are leaders who, when they see a fire burning, reach for a can of gasoline to make that fire burn even more. We desperately need leaders in this country, of both political parties, who will try to calm things down and who will tamp down these horrible, hateful ideas, whether they are coming from the left or the right, wherever they are coming from, because these ideas are leading to people being gunned down in our country. It is unacceptable, and it has to stop.

Mr. Speaker, let's turn to the legislation before us today.

Mr. Speaker, as a nation, we are fortunate to have so many dedicated public servants who work for our Federal Government and help keep us safe. Unfortunately, they frequently go without the recognition they deserve for their hard work. The President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition Act authorizes an innovative prize competition where cyber talent within the ranks of Federal departments and agencies is honored.

Today, it is critical to our homeland and national security that the Federal Government attract, develop, and retain dedicated and talented employees to carry out cybersecurity and cyber defense activities. It is not lost on me that, by choosing to work for the government rather than the private sector, these in-demand professionals often forgo more lucrative career opportunities.

H.R. 6824 would authorize the cyber competition that CISA hosts and ensure that financial awards can be provided to the winning individuals and teams in recognition of their achievement. In the short period of time that the President's Cup has been around, it has become a much- sought-after prize among talented Federal cyber practitioners, many of whom are civilians or active military. By permanently authorizing this competition, Congress can ensure that it remains a vital part of our strategy to identify, retain, and reward the best cybersecurity talent in the Federal Government.

Mr. Speaker, I applaud Representative Luria for her leadership in authoring this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, the President's Cup Cybersecurity Competition has been an important part of our strategy to support a strong Federal cybersecurity workforce in recent years. Unfortunately, without congressional authorization, it lacks the stability it needs. So thanks to this legislation, authored by my committee colleague, Representative Luria, we have the opportunity to authorize and preserve a key retention tool in the Federal toolbox to ensure that talented Federal cyber professionals get the recognition they deserve.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6824, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2520) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for engagements with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, and for other purposes.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, in recent months the world has watched in horror as Russia launched its unprovoked and illegal invasion of Ukraine. Russia's actions have, once again, reminded us of the potential for cyberattacks on critical infrastructure here in the United States.

With State and local governments operating large amounts of critical infrastructure, including essential public services like schools, emergency response agencies, and water utilities, it is essential that State and local governments have strong cybersecurity practices.

In March, in response to the current threat landscape, President Biden sent a letter to the Nation's Governors urging them to take actions to enhance their cyber defenses. The Federal Government must continue to expand our partnerships with States as they carry out this important national security work.

Congress has already taken some critical steps in this effort this Congress, thanks to the leadership of my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee. Last year, the House passed Congresswoman Yvette Clarke's State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act which created a new grant program to assist State, local, Tribal, and territorial Governments with strengthening their cybersecurity. This legislation was signed by President Biden in the fall as part of the bipartisan infrastructure law and will provide $1 billion in much-needed help over the next 4 years.

Additionally, last year, Congress passed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act introduced by Senator Peters and Congressman Langevin. That bill directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to study the cyber risks posed to K-12 educational institutions and provide them with additional resources to better defend themselves.

Right now, I am proud to be working on a bipartisan basis with Senators Peters and Cornyn, and my Homeland Security Committee colleague Representative Garbarino, on the Satellite Cybersecurity Act, urgently needed legislation to better protect critical infrastructure used at the municipal, State, and Federal level that relies on commercial satellite data to work properly.

Passing S. 2520 will build on these efforts by further strengthening the relationship between DHS and State and local Governments as they work to defend our country against cyberattacks. More specifically, it would permit DHS to provide State and local Governments with access to cybersecurity resources and encourage collaboration in using these resources, including joint cybersecurity exercises.

Additionally, the bill will strengthen the relationship between DHS and the Multi State Information Sharing and Analysis Center to help State and local governments receive the most updated information regarding potential threats and gain access to greater technical assistance.

I thank Senators Peters and Portman for their leadership in introducing this bill, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we rely on State and local governments for some of our most basic and necessary public services. We have seen many communities across the country experience disruptions in those vital services due to ransomware attacks originating from Russia.

In this current threat environment, with a heightened risk of even more dangerous cyberattacks, S. 2520 would enhance DHS's collaboration with State and local governments in addressing this pressing national security threat.

By passing this bill and sending it to the President, we will continue our ongoing efforts to expand critical Federal cybersecurity assistance to State and local governments.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 2520, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6873) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Office for Bombing Prevention to address terrorist explosive threats, and for other purposes, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, between January 4 and February 16 of this year, there were over 50 bomb threats that disproportionately targeted historically Black colleges and universities, Black churches, mosques, and synagogues across our country.

These racially and ethnically targeted bomb threats have continued through the spring. They have sowed fear, disrupted academic instruction, and interfered with the ability of Americans to worship safely.

They have also brought into focus the diversity of the current homeland security threat picture and reminded us that conventional threats, like

bombings, deserve sustained attention, even as efforts to counter mass shootings and cyber threats have to be intensified.

I introduced H.R. 6873, the Bombing Prevention Act of 2022, for the first time to authorize the Office for Bombing Prevention.

For the past 15 years, the Office for Bombing Prevention has been responsible for coordinating DHS' efforts at preventing, protecting against, mitigating the effects of, and responding to improvised explosive devices here domestically, and helping our partners and allies around the world do the same.

The Office for Bombing Prevention is squarely focused on protecting critical infrastructure, working with private sector partners, and supporting our Federal, State, local, Tribal, and territorial entities to mitigate explosive effects on critical infrastructure.

To that end, it regularly engages with stakeholders, including educational stakeholders, about accessing the office's training and tools, such as its counter-IED capability.

H.R. 6873 would bring needed permanence and predictability to the operations of this office and position it to build capacity to meet growing demands for its services.

Importantly, my bill directs the office to develop a strategy that aligns its operations with the threat environment and stakeholder needs; improves the sharing of information about explosive threats; and enhances awareness of the office's capabilities to those around the country who are most at risk.

The bill also directs the Secretary of the DHS to provide to public- and private-sector entities technical assistance services related to countering these explosive threats.

Finally, to keep the office accountable, H.R. 6873 requires an annual report to Congress.

This bipartisan legislation, which I was pleased to introduce with my colleague from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford), will better position the Office for Bombing Prevention to provide counter-explosives resources to stakeholders as the threat environment changes, making communities across America more secure and helping to ensure that in this country, no person should have to work, study, or worship while living in fear of a terrorist bombing.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in my home State of New Jersey, there have been more than 25 bomb scares since 2020, threatening public schools, universities, community centers, and religious institutions.

Just last fall in my district, the Roxbury Township school system received a bomb threat that led to panic and K9 sweeps on school property during teaching hours, and nearby Hopewell Valley Central High School encountered an explosive threat that forced the school to evacuate and shut down early for the day.

In addition, 7 years ago this September, over a 2-day period, communities in Seaside Park and Elizabeth, New Jersey, as well as the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan were rocked by three bombings that wounded 31 people.

Subsequent analysis done by the Office for Bombing Prevention at DHS determined that each of the devices planted by the assailant was completely different from the others.

Two of the bombs were pipe bombs, two were homemade pressure cooker bombs, some used modified Christmas tree lights and cellphones, and one of the pressure cooker bombs used two different chemicals that alone are not dangerous but ignite when combined.

The office concluded that while each of the bombs was different, all included elements detailed in several issues of al-Qaida's Inspire magazine.

The invaluable analysis carried out by the office in the wake of the September 2016 New Jersey-area attacks was shared with first responders and homeland security stakeholders all across the country, underscoring the expertise of the Office for Bombing Prevention and the important role it plays in equipping our communities with the best information available to keep the public safe.

Today, the office provides critical support to help defend communities across America from the threats posed by explosives, but we need to empower it to do more. The Bombing Prevention Act does just that. It has been endorsed by the Anti-Defamation League and by the Jewish Federations of North America.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6873, and I yield back the balance of my time.