Kerry Bentivolio

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, a war is raging for the soul of America. It is not a war of steel and cartridge. It is a conflict of ideas, fought not in trenches, jungles or a desert; instead, it is played out in town halls, roundtables, tea party and Liberty groups all across the nation. Instead of cannonades, there are editorials; instead of bombs, there are speeches; instead of rifle volleys, there is education on the benefits of Liberty ordained by God protected by a United States Constitution. There is a genuine feeling today, especially among people who attend the various Tea Party and Liberty Groups that we, our country more specifically, may not make it. Many people consider these folks, the common everyday people who attend the Tea Party meetings `fringe, ring wing nut cases and extremists'. Many of the people who attend the Tea Party meetings, sometimes weekly, most commonly monthly, and more attend intermittently, sense something is drastically wrong. For the most part, they sense it and yet cannot firmly point their finger and claim what exactly is the cause of their discontent, the uneasiness; the fear danger is lurking just around the corner. It is not necessarily a feeling of doom from a nuclear, biological or chemical attack on our country from some foreign enemy or terrorism either. It is more serious than any violence a bad actor can bring. It is something more innate, a sense that they somehow lost something but can't remember what it was, like when you know you lost something important, an item you need to accomplish a task but can't remember what it is and where you placed it. You know it's around somewhere and if you looked hard enough you'll see it and you can continue with your task. What is missing, what they are looking for, is our capacity for governing. Today, in Washington, D.C. we have a President inept in offering any sort of cooperative government. According to the President the House of Representatives is a non-entity. As President he has a pen and a phone to make the changes he sees as necessary to move his political agenda and the People's house has no say in the matter. But, the great threat to our country, our Constitutional government, is not entirely the President. It is easy to blame him for our dysfunctional government. Rather, the blame lies entirely with the system itself. We have created by our apathy a system that has normalized a process that distorts the will of the people by an economy of influence. A system designed to make those most connected rich. Our system of government created a class of rich whose wealth does not come from innovation, creativity or hard work, instead a new class of rich who secured their wealth through the manipulation of politicians and government agencies. The great new classes of wealth are a breed of financial politicians who could not secure their power by traditional methods that instead turned to the massive wealth directed by our government as the means to secure wealth and power for themselves and their circle of supporters. Our enemy is not simply a Democrat or a Republican; it is a new breed in thousand dollar suits. They have changed laws agreeable to their business interests, bought and paid for politicians, judges, the media and skirted criminal laws and for the most part they are engaged in bad government and fail to actively track the will of the people. To them Democracy is a charade, only rhetoric for political messaging of a lost ideal to placate the masses still engaged in the political process- while they make money for themselves and their friends. That voice is often louder than the voice of the people, the middle class, the very people who as the backbone of the American economy, who join our armed services to serve rather than take, our middle class carries the burden and suffers the most, silenced and placated by promises of a better life, the hope and change for the future that never really comes. There are battles to be fought on the way we spend our taxpayer dollars, how we handle immigration and border security issues, religious freedom, education, veterans, and our National Defense. There is a major battle on protecting the rights of our citizens because it is Congress' principle duty to protect our rights not take them away. Together, we must strive valiantly and dare greatly and fight these battles. Through these past 24 months in Congress my convictions were tested and clarified. And they will continue to be tested in the weeks and months to come. I want to tell you the fight is just beginning. I WENT TO Congress an average person with certain and specific values I learned as a young man and a soldier in the military. The principles of leadership I hold dear; And a lifelong motto; To STRIVE VALIANTLY and DARE GREATLY These are not simply words on a page for me. Or rhetoric for an election campaign to get votes. They run deeper. LEADERSHIP is living a life BY EXAMPLE. And NEVER asking a soldier or a constituent to do something you would not do. As one of the most CONSERVATIVE members of Congress I passed 3 important pieces of legislation with 100% Bi-partisan support. It bothers me when someone says they wish I would comprise and be more moderate. Rated as the number #1 most transparent congressman out of 84 freshman members of Congress, and rated in the top 30% out of the 435 members of congress with an extensive record of working with the other side. I know there are issues needing our attention and that working together we can accomplish great things. There are issues and work to be done, as a team, not as adversaries. There are battles yet to be fought. I know there are children who deserve a quality education and not getting it. K-12 education has been largely stagnant. College costs have risen as federal subsidies have ballooned. Graduates indentured to college debt have lesser prospects for future employment than any time in our history. I once gave a speech to a Conservative Group on the issues in Education. As a former private and public school teacher, certified and highly qualified in both vocational and general education, I think I am well suited to offer suggestions. My presentation was well received by the Conservative audience. During the question and answer portion of my presentation a lady asked me how I felt being a Conservative teacher, in a public school and a member of the Liberal Teacher's Union. Madam, I said, ``I think I feel the same way Jane Fonda would feel at a VFW Convention!'' This is a battle worth fighting. I want to tell you that all across the country there are people of all ages struggling with health issues and their health insurance. The Unaffordable Health Care Act undermines the doctor-patient relationship, limits patient choice, centralizes government control of our health care administered by bureaucrats NOT your family doctor. The administration was not transparent. They lied and deceived the American people into thinking they could keep their doctor, there hospital, their insurance and insurance premiums would be less expensive. Mr. Gruber admitted in testimony before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee he helped direct this deception. No matter your political party affiliation, promises were made and broken. Facts speak for themselves, Obamacare is unpopular, unworkable, and unaffordable and should be stopped and repealed in its entirety. Together we can discuss and find alternatives that produce affordable health care BEFORE it becomes law. Remember the lady speaker who said, ``We must pass it before we can see what's in it?'' The last time I heard that was when my doctor asked for a stool sample. And in both cases he got the same thing! Look what ``We must pass it Before we can see what's in it'' has brought upon us! Division, not unity! This is a battle worth fighting. I want to tell you within our country there are people who have given up looking for work and lost hope in ever finding the American dream. Obamacare, and the Obama administration have increased annual regulatory costs by nearly $70 Billion dollars. Unnecessary regulatory dictates hinder job creation and innovation while undermining America's fundamental freedoms. Passing legislation that ensures a congressional check on Governmental regulators as well as the accountability of Congress is a good idea. This will help get America back to work and restore the American dream. This is a battle worth fighting. I want you to know that right now while some are very skittish on issues like immigration and trying to figure it out, this country's borders are worth protecting. This is a battle worth fighting. FRIENDS, Since the attacks of September 11, 2001 more than fifty terrorist plots against the United States have been foiled because of domestic and international cooperation. Yet, many of the intelligence tools to combat terrorism are controversial and many unconstitutional. Each and every one of these tools should be reexamined carefully to guarantee that America liberties are protected. At the same time we must ensure our defense agencies have legal tools at their disposal to PROTECT and DEFEND our great country. THIS is a battle worth fighting. Mr. Speaker, I want you to know America needs a reformed tax code that facilitates, not inhibits, economic growth and job creation. Taxes and the cost of doing business are higher. Part-time work is replacing full time work. Wages are stagnant An uncertain future is the norm rather than the exception. The tax code has become an enormous chain around the neck of a stagnate economy. You do not need to have a Ph.D in economics to know Investment goes where it is welcome and stays where it is appreciated. Tax rates on families, businesses, and investment are too high. Our tax code needs to be hassle free, simpler, and fair. Our present tax system prevents the economy from reaching its potential and further suppresses wages. This is a battle worth fighting. I want to tell you Religious liberty in this country is not merely the ``freedom to worship.'' Individuals should be free to work, speak, and serve according to their deeply held beliefs seven days a week. Religious freedom is under assault at every corner, in every form of media, especially from burdensome government policies and efforts to undermine marriage, a religious, not a government blessing. I want to tell you about how GOD not government, determines life. And how that LIFE shall have liberty to pursue dreams and opportunity. This is a battle worth fighting. I want to tell you about our basic freedoms of speech, our 2nd Amendment protections and our rights to due process. Basic rights given us by God are gradually stolen from to us by government regulators, executive orders, and YES even members of the media spread the propaganda undermining these freedoms. This is a battle worth fighting. I want to tell you that our most personal and confidential financial and health information is viewed and administered by political appointees whose interests are more political than helpful in improving your life. I want to tell you about how Government websites are unprotected. That these Federal Websites lack basic and sound security protocols exposing your most confidential personal financial and health information to criminal hackers and bad actors both foreign and domestic. I am pleased the House unanimously passed my bill H.R. 3635, The Safe and Secure Federal Websites Act, it had 126 original cosponsors, a record for a GOP freshman member of Congress. Thank-you. This is a battle worth fighting. I want to tell you there are people in Washington who want to rob our senior citizens of the monies they paid into programs like social security and renege on the promises to our veterans. As a veteran I have firsthand knowledge of the abuse and neglect inflicted on members of our armed services when they returned home from Afghanistan and Iraq as well as the treatment my fellow Vietnam veterans and I received coming home. Our VA hospitals are under additional and justifiable scrutiny. There are long wait times at VA hospitals . . . and instead of addressing the issues, they threw a convention for VA employees spending almost $1 million and an additional $350,000 for souvenirs because they had extra money . . . Many government bureaucrats receive millions of dollars in bonuses when they are neither accountable nor transparent to taxpayers when found abusing their authority. Rather than properly address our veterans . . . The suicides . . . The homelessness . . . The wait times . . . The healthcare . . . The hypocrites are the first to demand war and are the last if at all to send their own son or daughter to fight it! And yet, they are responsible for policy failures making us vulnerable to our enemies. Domestic policies and actions that weaken not strengthen our country. The list of harmful policies and actions is a long and growing. There are the lies and hidden cost of Obamacare that are undermining the quality and availability of healthcare; the rapid growth of welfare that is putting an additional strain on our economy; Distortions in presenting the real unemployment numbers; bailouts that did not work; irresponsible investments in alternative energy sources that can provide minimal benefits at best; encouragement of an entitlement mentality; no leadership on immigration so that our borders are open to ISIS and other terrorist groups; a burgeoning list of costly regulations; poor handling of the pullout from Iraq and the draw down in Afghanistan; a lack of leadership in dealing with Iran's nuclear threat; the projection of weakness in Benghazi, Crimea, Ukraine, and containment of the civil war in Syria; the haphazard, too- little-too-late approach to ISIS in Iraq; meekly referring to terrorist attacks against American soldiers as work place violence instead of calling it what it is--terrorism; swapping terrorist leaders for an American deserter; and the list goes on. Big government is stealing the American dream and future prosperity from our children by enslaving them to more than $18 trillion dollars of debt not of their own choosing. Congress did not ask permission from our children to borrow the money, nor receive it as a gift. The money is stolen from future generations and this is selfish and immoral. Our military and the defense of our nation is top priority and yet, no help for Benghazi, an unsecure border, veterans issues, military training and equipment to defend us in the years to come is languishing in media hype, misinformation and political propaganda. I want to tell you Washington's blatant disregard for a responsible fiscal policy, their wasteful over spending and continued borrowing weakens our country's ability to respond to future unexpected challenges. And those challenges will come. They will come. And they will come very soon. My friends these are battles worth fighting. It is a time to choose whether we want a big bloated Nanny government telling us what light bulbs we can purchase, how much water we can flush down a toilet, what our children can and cannot eat in school or what we can teach them and to what standards? Do we want our Federal government to tell us who we can call doctor and what hospital we can visit in an emergency? Do we want our Federal government to regulate who and who cannot voice opposition to abusive authority and the moral corruption of God given liberties? Do we want a dismantled national defense leaving us defenseless? Our country is broken, bankrupt morally and financially. There it is. Plain and simple. As a member of the United States House of Representatives, I swore an oath to defend the Constitution and as a soldier to defend the people of this great nation. Before I close I want to tell you the reason I served both in the military and here in Congress. I began in the neighborhood where I grew up as the eldest of four sons. My grandfather served in WWI and my father and uncles served in the 1940's. The gentleman who lived in the house across the street was a former sailor in WW2. He was on an aircraft carrier that was hit by a kamikaze. Our next door neighbor was Charles Parker senior. As a Marine, he received a purple heart on Iwo Jima. His son, a few years older than me, was my best friend, Chuck Jr. His name is inscribed on the Vietnam War Memorial on the Mall in DC. Down the street a few houses was another neighbor who fought in the Korean War, his daughter, Cookie gave me my first kiss. Near him was another veteran who served in the Navy on a destroyer and there were two men across the street from him who served together in Gen Patton's Third Army and were part of the force that relieved the 101st Airborne at Bastogne. I can still see their faces. Their examples of service all played a part in why I served in the Armed Forces. Perhaps, they were the reason why the words of our President Kennedy, ``Ask not what your country can do for you but rather what you can do for your country'' rang so true. I don't think John Kennedy would recognize his party today. I think my understanding of service can be best summed up by the message of the movie, ``Saving Private Ryan.'' I hope some of you have seen it. If you haven't let me tell you what it's about. The movie begins with an elderly man walking through the cemetery off the beach at Normandy, down a sidewalk with his family behind him. The scene then shifts to a landing craft heading for the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Tom Hanks plays the part of Cpt Miller, 2nd Rangers. The landing craft hits the beach and the soldiers, and well, they experience the horrors of battle. Many of his fellow soldiers are killed and wounded in the scenes that follow. After securing the beach head, Cpt Miller receives new orders. His new mission is to locate and bring home Private Ryan, played by Matt Damon, who's in the 101st Airborne because Ryan's three brothers were recently killed within weeks of each other and the Army thinks that no family should lose four sons to war. Cpt Miller, with a small contingent of soldiers set off to locate Ryan. In the course of several days Cpt Miller loses several soldiers in the quest to locate Ryan. Eventually, they find him in a small village in France, but alas, he decides to stay with his fellow soldiers--his brothers in arms--to defend a small bridge in the village. They fight the Germans and in the course of the battle most all of Miller's soldiers are killed. Only two remain. Cpt Miller receives a mortal wound and sits gasping his last breaths, his back against a motorcycle, looks up at young Private Ryan says, with his last breaths, ``earn this . . . earn this.'' The scene changes to a close up of Matt Damon, his face changes from young Ryan to the older man we met at the beginning of the movie, he's overlooking a gravestone that reads, ``Captain Miller, 2nd Rangers.'' Old Ryan falls to his knees in front of the gravestone and says, ``Not a day goes by that I don't remember what you all did for me. I tried to live my life the best that I could. I hope that was enough. I hope that, at least in your eyes, I've earned what all of you have done for me.'' Let me tell you something: Not a day goes by I do not remember what the fathers of my childhood friends and playmates did for us to protect the American dream. No matter where your family hails from, no matter what cultural or religious background, as citizens we are all fundamentally equal and self-governing because the generation before us stood up to do what's right and to protect our nation's exceptional principles. We are supposed to have a limited government, outlined in the Constitution, which gives us the liberty and opportunity to live our lives, control our fate, and pursue our happiness. Everyone here has a right to the rewards of his or her labor. These ideas challenge the notion that life is a zero sum game where if I win you lose. We have created a society in which every member can work hard, achieve success, and advance in life to the benefit of all. Because of this our economy produces almost a quarter of the world's wealth and our military forces are the most powerful on the globe. It is the potent combination of liberty under the rule of law, the endless creativity of the marketplace, and the enduring moral character of the American people that assures opportunity for all and fuels the unlimited promise of America. That is the ``this'' in the phrase ``earn this'' from ``Saving Private Ryan.'' Americans have been told by the Administration that prosperity requires more spending, more government, and more taxes. Liberals constantly want people to believe that if one American does well that means another one isn't. They have continued down this phony path even though most Americans think government does too much. Only the House of Representatives has served as a brake, trying to divert us from this dangerous road ahead. Some argue that conservatives should accept the liberal premise. They say we must be resigned to permanent economic stagnation, give up our firearms and our religious values; submit to bureaucratic rule, and national decline. Many of my friends in the House and I disagree. The time is now to champion the ideas of opportunity and upward mobility and to redouble our efforts to change America's course, heading back down the path created by our forefathers. We will meet the demands of the moment and address the magnitude of the challenges before us. We will fight whenever possible, constantly pointing out the false promises of liberalism, and offering conservative alternatives at every turn. We will take our arguments to all Americans: To middle-class families struggling in a bad economy; to young people worried about their prospects; to retirees worried about their grandchildren; to job creators seeking to expand prosperity; to those who are stuck in poverty grasping for that first rung on the ladder of opportunity-- conservatism is for everybody. This is what our founding fathers, our grandfathers and fathers, our uncles and neighbors, our friends struggled to protect. The moment has arrived. It will take courage to stop the government from growing out of control while self-interests are pulling the levers of power. You don't need a uniform to fight for our freedoms. I am asking every American to stand side by side and explain to our friends and neighbors that while this is the easy way to live; it's a hard way to be free and prosperous. It's our time to ``earn this'', to keep the promises of our forefathers and earn what they gave us. Freedom. Never let it be said that this generation stood idle and let liberty slip from our fingers, never let it be said we let a day go without remembering what our forefathers did for us. I have honored that promise on the battlefields in Vietnam, in Iraq and in the halls of Congress. My number one mission, as always, is to protect our God given rights. Not take them away! Today, not tomorrow, we must decide whether we want to manage our own destiny, in our states, in our cities and towns as individuals or whether we want a Washington bureaucrat locked away in some distant Federal building spying on us, telling us how to manage our own lives, families, doctors and our schools! Do we determine our own destiny or let government bureaucrats run our lives? The time for choosing is once again upon us. Mr. Speaker, my dear Patriots, friends and neighbors, the battle is here now, today, not in some distant jungle or desert, and we must decide whether or not we want a brighter future for ourselves and our children and grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, We, together, today, must decide whether our uniquely American culture made up of people respectfully representing every cultural, religious, and ethnic background on earth is a nation divided or united in a common cause for freedom and the opportunity liberty offers each of us. We must choose whether we will join our friends and neighbors defending liberty and opportunity or become grease for the wheels of big government. In respectful civil disobedience, I for one will not submit to the chains of tyranny. I fly the Stars and Stripes in my yard not the red hammer and cycle! I choose to continue the fight for a smaller, non-intrusive, fiscally responsible, constitutional government. I choose Freedom for America! I choose prosperity for America! Mr. Speaker, I pledged to the citizens of my State, and to the American people, that as their elected representative I will work to: Restore liberty, not restrict it; Shrink government, not expand it; Reduce taxes, not raise them; Abolish programs, not create them; Promote the freedom and independence of citizens, not the interference of government in their lives; and Observe the limited, enumerated powers of our Constitution, not ignore them. I trust I honored that pledge. I praise God for my American roots and pray that HE may continue to Bless all of us and this great nation. I want to thank my fellow citizens and members of Congress for the privilege, honor and experience to serve in the 113th Congress these last 24 months. And lastly, Mr. Speaker, I'd like to wish the 114th Congress my very best wishes. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, now that the 113th Congress is coming to a close, I would like to recognize my good friend and colleague from Texas' 36th District, Steve Stockman. Steve and I actually grew up in the same town and went to the same schools. But, when he reached adulthood, his Texas family roots called him to the Lone Star state so it was only years later, in our nation's capitol, that we should meet as Members of Congress. Congressman Stockman was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas in 1994, defeating a 42-year incumbent in one of the biggest upsets in political history. He was re-elected to Congress on November 6, 2012, with the same vision he'd had in the 90's of limited government, strong support for American families, and a robust national defense. Steve has built very effective rapport with colleagues on both sides of the isle. His sense of humor and jovial approach to interpersonal relations endear him to us all, while we have come to recognize he has broad, but exceptionally deep understanding of many topics. He always has substantive inputs and bills, not only on specific Constitutional guarantees, but on national defense, freedoms and lack thereof in nations around the world. You often find individuals with social interaction skills, and others with tremendous knowledge and insights. It is rare to find both qualities in a single individual. But, Steve possesses both. However, one would never know this about Steve if they only read the press. That's because Steve always stands up and speaks the truth, regardless of whether it's politically expedient. Consequently, he's vilified in the press; but Americans who are tired of business-as-usual here in our nation's Capitol applaud him and greatly appreciate Congressman Stockman. Congressman Stockman has been a fierce defender of Constitutional liberties, and a leader in defending the Second Amendment. He introduced the very first pro-gun bill in the House in 2013, H.R. 35, to repeal federal gun free zones. When the President threatened to bypass Congress and enact gun control through Executive Orders, Congressman Stockman, along with Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky in the Senate, introduced the ``Restore the Constitution Act of 2013,'' which would nullify any anti-gun orders. The gentleman from Texas blue slipped both the Senate's gun control bill and their immigration bill. Congressman Stockman serves as Vice Chairman of the House Second Amendment Task Force, and also authored legislation to strip funding to the UN should that body attempt to restrict Americans' gun rights. As a 100% pro-life supporter, Steve authored the 2013 Sanctity of Life Act, which declares that life begins at conception, and which also limits the federal courts' jurisdiction in cases dealing with the unborn. Congressman Stockman was the first congressman to step up and introduce a bill to defend the rights of native Americans in southeast Texas. The Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas won a Federal claim against the U.S. Government for millions, if not billions, of dollars. Stockman's bill, if passed, would resolve that claim without any impingement on the Federal deficit. Congressman Stockman's district is home to NASA's Johnson Space Center, the research and training facility for all human space exploration and the location of the famous Mission Control Center. As a member of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Congressman Stockman highlights the importance of a vigorous space exploration program and for keeping the U.S. at the forefront of space technology. He fought to save the arc jet facility at the Johnson Space Center, and advocated for defining a serious timetable and sufficient funding to actually land on and create research bases on the moon and Mars. Further, he understands the strategic necessity to remain the undisputed leader in space, and to not let non-democratic nations like China and Russia dominate the high frontier of space and high technology. The gentleman from Texas' district has the highest number per capita of oil and gas refineries and downstream petrochemical plants in the world. Steve has worked tirelessly for commonsense regulatory relief for the nation's oil and gas industries, which will lead to less U.S. dependence on foreign oil and more American jobs. His tireless efforts were instrumental in expediting the building permits for state-of-the art new petrochemical plants to be built in his district that will bring in billions of dollars in new investment. The gentleman from Texas has used his position on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to question the EPA's technological criteria for evaluating applications on hydraulic fracking. Also, legislation he's promoted will facilitate improvements in current technologies used in shale oil and gas production. Congressman Stockman has spoken out about the need to dredge southeast Texas ports from which many of the Gulf Coast petrochemicals are shipped. With hundreds of thousands of jobs at stake, these Ports are and will be fueling the Texas economic miracle. At 3.5 cents per kilowatt hour, Texas has one of the cheapest power costs in the world and Stockman, with fellow members of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, has pressed EPA to release its stranglehold on latest technologies that will keep power costs low in Texas. http://science.house.gov/sites/renublicans.science.house.gov/ files/documents/Letters/121 913_mccarthy.ndf The National Taxpayer's Union honored Congressman Stockman with the Taxpayers' Friend Award and NFIB named him ``Guardian of Small Business'' in recognition of his outstanding votes for legislation fostering healthy job-creating businesses. Earning a consistent ``100 percent'' rating by the American Conservative Union, my colleague from Texas has been honored with the ``Taxpayers Best Friend Award'' from Citizens for Tax Reform, and ``Taxpayer's Hero Award'' by Citizens Against Government Waste. Always on the cutting edge of up and coming technologies and economic trends, Congressman Stockman recently introduced a bill in Congress that would not only extend substantial protections to cryptocurrencies, but would also require that cryptocurrencies be classified as a ``currency.'' The bill, entitled the Cryptocurrency Protocol Protection and Moratorium Act (CryptPMA), begins by placing a five-year moratorium on any state legislation concerning, or taxation on, cryptocurrencies. Stockman believes in the future. He has predicted that three technologies will change the world. He forecasts that nanotubes, 3-D printers, and cryptocurerncies will revolutionize and change the world in fundamental ways. Furthermore, Congressman Stockman has called for a study of magnetic poll shifting, resultant fluctuation of magnetic fields, and their impact on the earth's climate. With his broad knowledge of geopolitical and socioeconomic affairs, it is appropriate that Congressman Stockman sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where--among other important actions--he's for greater openness about what really happened in the 2012 assault on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. He has also been a strong voice in the House in support of the Ukrainians' passion for strengthening liberties in their country. Congressman Stockman co-founded the House South Sudan Caucus, in support of the world's newest nation. South Sudan, which is a majority Christian nation, suffered decades of oppression and genocide from North Sudan, and still endures attacks, despite the existence of a peace agreement. Congressman Stockman grieves the fact that now a simmering civil war is ongoing in the new nation. He has traveled to Juba, the South Sudan's capital, and led a Congressional delegation to Nigeria to investigate how the U.S. might better help that country end the brutal atrocities of Boko Harm. Steve has also visited other parts of Africa, in support of medical missionary work. As the 113th Congress comes to a close, the Conservative movement will lose a great friend to liberty and individual rights in Congressman Stockman. I and many of our friends will miss working alongside my good friend and colleague who has been a staunch ally and supporter for life, liberty and country.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Madam Speaker, over the last 2 years, I have had an opportunity that is rare. I was given the task of representing my community in the House of Representatives. During that time, it has been a privilege to see our democracy in action up close. It has been an honor to serve with all of you. In this, my last message on the floor of Congress, I want to remind all of you that we are here to serve the people, not special interests. If I have made any impact on any of you, I hope it is this: the job of a Member of Congress is to protect our rights, not take them away. I want to thank each and every Member of the House of Representatives for their support and their work. I would like to ask them to strive valiantly and dare greatly, and offer this last this small piece of advice: Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I sat in my office this past week, thinking, writing, and reflecting. Trying to put together the words to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice 73 years ago is no easy task. And no matter how many years pass, no words better describe that pivotal day than President Roosevelt's descriptor of ``a date which will live in infamy''. And within an hour of those words, Congress launched the greatest generation into war against Imperial Japan. While the names and faces of that day sink below the surface of our memory, photographs of that era packed away collecting dust, of those who rallied in support of our efforts, patriots, heroes, each and every one . . . The sacrifices of the greatest generation, standing boldly together against the great evils threatening us--will never die. Let us proclaim once again, that whoever wishes us ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, and oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty and the people of this great nation. Thank-you and God Bless You.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I know how George Washington felt at Valley Forge. His troops cold and starving, a disillusioned public, the horizon bleak. He had more failures than successes in a war against aristocratic tyrants. He did not have a Constitution to defend, just a dream of something like it, far off in the mind's eye. That ``faith'' in a dream, of something better, yet but a concept, blurred, not yet fully focused. They stayed the course nonetheless, warmed by the untouchable concepts of freedom; they could see the unseeable; with empty stomachs were nourished by prospects of economic and individual liberty and in God's grace they fought on, they persevered. The death of a nation happens with a whisper and a nudge, patently and stealthily, robbing its unsuspecting citizens of inalienable rights and replacing them with government controls . . . For the good of the people, of course. Only when it is too late to turn back the clock does a nation realize that freedom has vanished in the blink of an eye. Harsh and tyrannical treatment will not nourish respect. On the contrary, such treatment is far more likely to destroy. The breasts of liberty nourish freedom, her voice patiently educates, her ears listen to the formerly unheard, her heart offers respect due others. It is this spirit that can not fail to inspire in people regards for him/or herself and in so doing nourishes others by example. Patience and perseverance got the snail to the ark. So too will those valiant souls dedicated to freedom's prospects, individual liberty, and respect for others without the interference of tyrannical dictates of a Godless government overshadowing our every move and choice. To the Lakes Area Tea Party and liberty minded folks everywhere. I say persevere. Your valiant struggle, stout heart, and dedication to honest and transparent government has not gone unnoticed. Persevere.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate McKenzie Hayes, Sarah Bridges, Anvitha Paruchuri, Jacob Haffey, Ruby Araj, Dania Baraka, Dalya Hazim, Ashi Arora, Jessica Kassis, and Reneh Araj, the officers and new inductees of Phi Theta Kappa, Omicron Iota Chapter, at Schoolcraft College. Phi Theta Kappa is the largest academic honor society for two-year colleges and becoming an official member of this organization is one of the highest recognitions that a student can receive at a two-year college. Congratulations to them on their accomplishment.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize an outstanding individual, Mrs. Marcia A. David of Novi, Michigan, for her more than 37 years of service with Hormel Foods. She is the first woman in the company's 123-year history to retire from the sales division. She has probably sold more SPAM luncheon meat than any other woman in America during the course of her career. Marcia started with the company immediately following graduation from The Ohio State University in 1977 and during her 37 and a half years there she has progressed into positions of increased responsibility to her current post as Customer Business Manager. Marcia started as a trainee in Chicago, and her first sales assignment was in Flint, Michigan. After seven years in the field she transferred to the corporate office in Austin, Minnesota, as an associate product manager. One year later she advanced to product manager--the first woman in company history to hold this position. After three years in Austin, she returned to field sales in the Michigan district managing the Kroger account. In May 1995 she took over Kmart, advancing to customer team leader while also taking on the additional responsibility of the Target account in 1997. In 2003 Marcia was named the Detroit Grocery Products district manager. Finally, in 2004 she was promoted to the position she holds today, Customer Business Manager of the East Central District where she is responsible for leading a team covering accounts in three states. Marcia has led several top-to-top meetings with one of the company's largest accounts, Meijer, and achieved a goal of being chosen by them as a joint business planning partner, an honor bestowed on only a handful of Meijer's most important collaborators. Marcia is a two-time Chairman's Inner Circle award winner. She has been instrumental in increasing Hormel Food's support of and advocacy for the Network of Executive Women. Marcia has been a consistent and energetic mentor for many of the young men and women who have joined Hormel Foods as interns, sales trainees, and account managers. Her retirement is a milestone within the company, as she will be the first woman to ever retire from the Consumer Products Sales team since the company was founded back in 1891. I join with her colleagues, friends and family in congratulating Marcia David as she completes her remarkable career with Hormel Foods, and wish her well as she shifts gears to an active and rewarding life after retirement with her husband, Rob.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. I thank the gentleman from Texas for his wisdom on this and so many other important issues facing us today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, as I have said several times in recent weeks, I want to bring attention to the plight of Christians in the Middle East. Any person watching the news for the last several months will have seen an increasingly violent, chaotic, and unpredictable environment. The Middle East, and Iraq in particular, are not stable. This creates an enormous problem for Christians in the region. Chaldean Christians in Michigan and in my district have repeatedly raised the issue of ongoing persecution of Christians in Iraq. Just recently, the last remaining Christians were forced to flee. ISIS has taken the city. For the first time in well over a thousand years, Sunday mass is no longer being said. My colleague, friend, and mentor, Representative Frank Wolf, has characterized the situation facing Christians in Iraq as genocide. That analysis is about as accurate as it can get. Christians have been targeted and killed for their faith. What we are seeing is genocide, the eradication of a specific group of people, namely, Christians. ISIS is trying to wipe the face of Christianity from Iraq. Not only have they killed and pushed Christians out of territory that they control, they are also destroying the physical traces of Christianity. Churches, monasteries, and religious sites are being destroyed and desecrated. Even Jonah's tomb has been destroyed. And the shrine of the Prophet Seth has been blown up. As a Christian, it is an incredibly heartbreaking series of events that I have watched unfold. I have been an advocate for human rights and religious freedom since I took office, and what really bothers me is the fact that neither the President nor the State Department have addressed the challenges facing Christians in Iraq. Chaldean Christians in my district have been asking me what can be done for Iraqi Christians. But, as I have said many times before, there is only so much that can be done when the President has not taken action. The government and military of Iraq are weak, ineffectual, and unable to defend the people of their country. The U.S. withdrawal from Iraq has left a power vacuum that has allowed a group like ISIS to take control and force their radical beliefs on an increasingly large portion of the population. I am worried that what we have seen is only the beginning. Christians are being targeted now, but I suspect that they will eventually begin to target Muslims who don't share their beliefs as well. Radical Islamists are trying to shape and form an Iraq that adheres to their beliefs. They are destroying Iraq's cultural and religious heritage, its history. If they succeed, there will be nothing left of it. Chaldeans and Iraqi Christians don't want to leave Iraq, and many in my district wish that they never had to. However, it has become too dangerous to stay. When faced with forced conversions, death, and other forms of violence, most Christians have chosen to flee. Genocide is indeed a brutal thing. As I discussed in a previous speech on the House floor, there is a severe problem in U.S. foreign policy that needs to be examined. The U.S. began the Iraq war with the goal of ridding the region of a tyrannical government that didn't protect its people. However, a decade later, at the conclusion of the U.S. military mission in Iraq, the people are perhaps worse off than they were before the U.S. invasion. What did we miss? If the U.S. is leaving Iraq in a considerably worse state than when we arrived, there is something that went wrong. That is the question that needs to be asked and what needs to be considered. It is not that we can afford to make these kinds of mistakes; it is that people who live there absolutely can't afford the consequences. We need to put pressure on the Kurdish government to continue protecting the Iraqi Christians. We need to analyze where our foreign aid is going and whom it is going to. I have heard from many of my constituents, Chaldean Christians and others from Iraq, that the aid we are sending to Iraq is not making it to the Christian communities. If we are going to be giving foreign aid, humanitarian or otherwise, to a country or government in order to protect its people, then they better do it. If we are propping up a government or nation that doesn't protect its people from radical threats, religious and ethnic persecution, and genocide, then it is time to reevaluate that relationship and figure out a better path forward. I have said before and firmly believe, if countries in the Middle East are unable to provide security and stability for all of their people, then they will never be stable. They will continue to be at risk. We have to encourage stable societies, respect for religious freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. We can't just build strong governments and militaries or the U.S. will always face the problems we are seeing in Iraq. If Iraq's Christians are forced out entirely, I don't think there will be much hope left for the country. I would like to see Chaldean Christians and other Iraqis one day be able to return home. At the moment, I am not sure when that will be possible. That depends on Iraq's resilience and ability to manage radical threats. I will remain hopeful, and I ask that others also pray for those still there facing a dire situation. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. I thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Stewart). He is a true friend of Israel and a friend of mine as well. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Israel and its right to self-defense as it faces the ongoing threat of terrorist rockets from Gaza. Picture the scene. You are walking down the streets of Tel Aviv. You look around you. You see men, women, and children of all ages. To your right is an elderly man with a walker. A few paces ahead is a mother with her stroller. It is peaceful. It is calm. It is the embodiment of urban normality. And suddenly you hear it. Everyone instinctively knows what it is and, in a split second, everything changes. It is the red alert siren. A rocket is racing toward the city at breakneck speed. Only seconds remain to find refuge in a bomb shelter. And the rocket could land anywhere: on a preschool, on a hospital, on a random family home, or perhaps on the mother and her stroller up ahead. Mr. Speaker, this is the threat that Israel faces from Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza, which deliberately target Israeli civilians, which indiscriminately kill, maim, and terrorize, and whose sole purpose is to destroy the State of Israel. When faced with such a complete absence of basic moral inhibition by a brutal enemy, it is Israel's right--nay, its duty--to forcefully respond in order to eliminate the threat. It is not disproportionate. It is self-defense, pure and simple, and it is precisely why the State of Israel deserves our unwavering support at this time. It is also why no government that claims to be interested in peace can credibly partner with a group like Hamas. It is past time for the Palestinian Authority's president to dissolve his unity governing arrangement with this appalling terrorist group. We can't have it both ways. We can choose to make peace with Hamas or with Israel. As for me, I have made my choice. I am proud to support the Jewish State, and I stand with Israel because Israel embodies all the values I embrace--peace, democracy, tolerance--while the values of Hamas--hate, extremism, violence--violate everything I believe.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3635) to ensure the functionality and security of new Federal websites that collect personally identifiable information, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This bill has 126 cosponsors and passed out of committee with bipartisan support. I strongly urge passage of this bill to protect the privacy of Americans accessing Federal Web sites and support this bipartisan legislation. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, we, as Members of Congress, have been sent here to protect the people's right to privacy, not take it away. My bill, H.R. 3635, will help to instill confidence in Americans that their privacy and personal information is secure. H.R. 3635 will help ensure the functionality and security of Federal Web sites. The escalation of security breaches involving personally identifiable information has contributed to the loss of millions of records over the past few years, both within and outside the Federal Government. Web sites that fail to meet their intended function are a waste of taxpayer dollars and can result in needless frustration to the end user who is trying to access a Federal service or benefit. The harm to the Federal Government is the loss of public trust, as well as potential legal liability or remediation costs that the taxpayer may ultimately bear. H.R. 3635 guards against the loss of the public's trust by requiring agency chief information officers certify that Federal Web sites collecting personally identifiable information are fully functional and secure. In addition, the bill requires agencies to notify affected individuals that their personally identifiable information may have been compromised within 72 hours of a known or suspected data breach. I would like to thank Chairman Issa, Ranking Member Cummings, and Congressman Connolly for their support of the bill, along with Chairman McCaul and committee staff. I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, there are not that many people in this country that are aware of the persecution that Christians are facing in the Middle East. Some people have a vague idea, but they can't identify the specific groups that are being targeted. Today, I want to talk about Coptic Christians in Egypt. The Coptics are the native Christians of Egypt. They trace their origins nearly all the way to the beginning of Christianity. At one point, they were the largest religious group in Egypt, but now represent a minority. However, they are currently the largest religious minority in the region. I have quite a few Coptic Christians in my district in Michigan, and I always hear the same thing: their families, friends, and fellow Christians are facing serious persecution and violence, and many have questioned whether or not it is worth staying in Egypt. They are a group whose history, culture, and language is rooted in Egypt. Over the last couple of years, they have faced an increasingly violent environment. For example, on January 1, 2011, over 20 Coptic Christians were killed when a bomb went off in front of the Church of St. Mark in Alexandria. Such a devastating attack sent shock waves through the Coptic community. The bombing was officially declared the work of a suicide bomber. After President Morsi was removed from power last year, many had held out hope that life for Coptic Christians under a new regime would bring change, stability, and security. Under President Morsi, they were not treated as equals, and the Muslim Brotherhood was certainly not a friend. In 2013, there was a wave of violence and destruction following the ousting of President Morsi. Christian churches were attacked and burned. However, the reality for Coptics under their newest President isn't much different. I think there is a very serious question that needs to be asked: What role should the U.S. play in protecting religious and ethnic minorities in countries to which the United States gives sufficient and significant foreign aid? The United States gives, on average, more than $1.5 billion in aid to Egypt annually. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that Egypt be officially recognized as a Tier 1 Country of Particular Concern. However, the State Department has not made that distinction. Last year, I introduced the Support Democracy in Egypt Act to suspend further delivery of F-16s and Abrams tanks to Egypt until further review, to ensure that they were promoting democracy and stability in the region. Even with a new government, after the coup that ousted President Morsi, there hasn't been enough progress in Egypt. I don't think most Americans would be very appreciative to learn that their tax dollars are being sent to Egypt when that government continues to routinely persecute religious minorities, including Coptic Christians. In the United States, the right to religious freedom is protected in our Constitution. It would seem to be in conflicts with our morals, values, and beliefs to be so supportive of regimes in Egypt that fail to protect the same rights for their citizens. If we are helping to provide stability and security for the Egyptian state but not its most oppressed people, then, perhaps, we need to take a long look at our relationship with Egypt. Most Coptics want the same things as Americans: the ability to practice their faith free from persecution, provide stable lives for their friends and families free from violence, be able to speak freely in peace. At one point, I believe that the United States had the will to stand up to tyrants, dictators, and oppressive regimes, but the stories I hear from constituents about what is happening in Egypt contradict that belief. If we aren't pressing hard to encourage a stable society in Egypt, one that won't persecute religious and ethnic minorities, then Egypt, itself, will never really realize stability. Egypt will always be in flux, vulnerable to radical elements that would seek to undermine and destroy any progress that is made. We should be worried greatly about the Coptics in Egypt. They shouldn't have to flee their homes and leave their country behind because of their faith. They shouldn't have to worry about car bombings, suicide bombers, shootings, abductions, or any other kind of violence for which they have been targeted. We should support Egypt in its transition to a more democratic state but also keep in mind that religious persecution is still very real. As I said in a previous floor speech, if we want friends in the Middle East, then we have to encourage respect for religious freedom and diversity, not just build strong governments and militaries. If we do this in Egypt, they will be more stable, and its people can live in greater peace. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support passage of this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi).

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous remarks on the bill under consideration.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4919) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 715 Shawan Falls Drive in Dublin, Ohio, as the ``Lance Corporal Wesley G. Davids and Captain Nicholas J. Rozanski Memorial Post Office''.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, we honor St. Perpetua Catholic Church as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. St. Perpetua has been a staple of the community in Waterford since its founding in 1964 by Archbishop John F Dearden. Under the current leadership of the Pastor, Father Jack Baker, the parish continues to grow and invite more families into the parish. Congratulations on 50 years in the community!

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Madam Speaker, it has become apparent that the Federal agencies operate by one standing principle: do as I say, not as I do. The IRS has shown a blatant disregard for the truth, and it is apparent there is something to hide. Madam Speaker, I look to the other side, and I have to ask: Where is your outrage? Why have none of my Democratic friends been willing to look at the Internal Revenue Service's actions and say: Do you know what? This is bigger than partisan politics. Something is wrong here, and we need to protect the rights of Americans. Are you so committed to government power that you are unwilling to stand up and do the right thing? Our job is to protect the rights of the people, not take them away. It is time we remember that in this Chamber.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Chinese Association of Greater Detroit on 22 years of service and community outreach. Your work has been important for fostering better relations between Metro-Detroit, China, and the Chinese-American community. In the globalized world in which we live, these relations are important for improving Michigan's economy. It is obvious from your work in the soup kitchen, to your relationship with the Metro-Detroit Chinese School that you are committed to making Michigan a better place. I am pleased that such a great organization has found its home in Michigan's 11th Congressional District. Thank you for everything you have done to serve Metro-Detroit and the Chinese-American community.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, I am writing to express my support for the Chaldean Community Foundation's Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The continued work of this organization will improve our health care system and the lives of countless Americans. The Chaldean Community Foundation provides invaluable support to consumers navigating our health care system and comparing insurance plans. Although our burgeoning deficit makes allocating funds one of the most difficult parts of my job, my decision to support the foundation's grant request was an easy one. Millions of ordinary citizens need help avoiding obstacles that could impede their physical health and quality of life. Like you, the health and well-being of the American people is my top priority. With that solemn responsibility in mind, I am proud to reaffirm my support for the Chaldean Community Foundation. Since my election to Congress, I have tirelessly advocated for fiscal responsibility. In addition to assisting consumers, the Chaldean Community Fund combats waste, fraud, and abuse in our health care system by providing desperately needed oversight. As baby boomers retire in ever greater numbers and life expectancy continues to rise, the need for organizations like the Chaldean Community Foundation will increase exponentially. I urge you to accept their request.

Mr. BENTIVOLIO

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Madam Speaker, there is a lot of uncertainty and instability in the Middle East. Violence and chaos are persistent themes, and political uprisings, revolutions, insurgencies, and waning democracies have controlled the dialogue on the Middle East for the last couple of years. But, if you dig a little deeper, you will find another story just under the surface, a story that we don't hear quite enough about: the plight of Christians as a religious minority in the Middle East. Just the other day, I had a meeting with a few of my constituents who are Coptic Christians, and we discussed many of the issues facing the Coptics in Egypt. Coptics are the native Christians of Egypt, who have been a part of the Egyptian community since the 5th century A.D. They are still one of the largest Christian minorities in the Middle East. Coptics in Egypt face growing threats of persecution, violence, and restrictions on religious practice. They have been targeted for kidnappings. In 2013, St. Mark's Cathedral was attacked during a funeral ceremony for Coptics and a Muslim who were killed in prior violence. After President Morsi was removed from office in July 2013, a wave of violence against Christians ensued. Hundreds of churches, homes, and businesses were attacked. Violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt is nothing new, and I fear that it will persist unless something is done to resolve the issue. Madam Speaker, in Iraq, Chaldean Christians are facing a dire situation as well. I just read a report that two nuns are believed to have been kidnapped while they were visiting an orphanage for girls. They are believed to have been kidnapped by ISIS. Chaldeans are fleeing Iraq at an alarming rate, as many of them have sought refuge in my home district in Michigan. They are concerned about what is happening in Iraq, as many of them still have family there. Churches and homes are being looted and destroyed, and this leaves no other option for much of the community than to flee. If the situation in Iraq doesn't reverse, it is likely that the majority of Iraq's remaining Christian community will have to seek refuge elsewhere. Madam Speaker, Assyrians are also continuing to face troubling times in the Middle East. Since the beginning of the war in Iraq in 2003, Assyrian Christian communities have been targets for attacks. Churches and monasteries have been targeted for bombings. Assyrians have long been persecuted for their Christian beliefs, and they suffered greatly during the Assyrian genocide of the early 1900s when nearly 300,000 Assyrians were killed. Like many other Christian populations in the Middle East, they have fled and sought refuge elsewhere. Madam Speaker, in Iran, the harsh persecution of Christians continues. According to a UN report, Iran has continually imprisoned Christians, citing ``national security'' as the justification. Pastor Saeed Abedini is currently the most visible example of Christian persecution in Iran. Although there have been numerous calls for his release from Congress and from the President, he is still sitting in prison. He was sentenced to prison by a judge who has been known for religious freedom violations. His trial was decried by human rights groups as unfair and unflawed. Ethnic Christians, such as Armenians, are often under surveillance or are forced to report their activities to the Iranian Government. Protestant Christians are also viewed unfavorably by the Iranian regime. Furthermore, converts from Islam face particularly harsh consequences, as they can be charged with blasphemy or even face charges from revolutionary courts for political crimes. These countries are all listed by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom as tier 1 countries of particular concern, meaning they are the worst perpetrators of religious freedom. However, the Secretary of State has not officially recognized either Egypt or Iraq as a country of particular concern, likely due to the United States' security interests in both of those countries, as a designation would carry the likelihood of sanctions. Madam Speaker, many of my constituents and I are gravely concerned about the plight of Christians as religious minorities in these countries and the role the U.S. plays in aiding them. Madam Speaker, ``If you want a friend, be a friend.'' This notion applies directly to the situation at hand. Religious freedom and human rights concerns have long been at the back of the line in U.S. foreign policy decisions, and it may be time to rethink our approach. We have continually supported regimes that are unfriendly to their people, religious and ethnic groups, and even the United States. Madam Speaker, if we are going to support foreign governments with equipment and funding, we must more thoroughly consider the long-term impact of the freedoms of their people and the corresponding impact on relations with the United States. Countries that continually abuse religious groups, such as Christians, are never going to see eye to eye with the United States because they lack the fundamental belief in the freedom of religion, which is the founding principle of this country. If we want friends in the Middle East, we have to encourage respect for religious freedom and diversity, not just build strong governments and militaries. If we do this, strong relationships with these countries will be an inevitable outcome, and they will be more stable as a result. Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak to you today. I yield back the balance of my time.