Michael Baumgartner

Mr. BAUMGARTNER

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I support H.R. 2643, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act, introduced by Ranking Member Meeks, because it advances a clear bipartisan goal: exposing and sanctioning the corrupt political and economic elites in Haiti who have fueled the country's ongoing gang crisis. This is not just about Haiti. It is about protecting U.S. national security. The chaos in Port-au-Prince is creating regional instability. Haitians are fleeing the island, using criminal networks to traffic them and others to our southern border. These actors threaten the safety of the Haitian people and the interests of the United States. To its credit, the Trump administration responded swiftly. Within days of taking office, it approved nearly $41 million to support the Haitian National Police and the Kenyan-led Multinational Security Support Mission. It also issued a humanitarian waiver to keep emergency relief flowing. This bill complements those efforts by requiring the State Department to identify and report on individual gangs tied to gang activity and to impose sanctions on those responsible. It targets the enablers of violence and provides Congress with the information needed to act decisively. Meanwhile, the administration is prioritizing stronger oversight of U.S. foreign assistance to Haiti, an essential effort to ensure taxpayer funds are not misused. By identifying and sanctioning corrupt actors, this bill helps ensure that U.S. aid does not end up in the hands of those fueling the instability. It reinforces the broader objective of holding accountable the networks behind Haiti's collapse. I appreciate the bipartisan leadership on this legislation and recognize its importance in confronting the crisis head-on. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, June 16, 2025. Hon. Brian Mast, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Mast: I write regarding H.R. 2643, the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act of 2025. Provisions of this bill fall within the Judiciary Committee's Rule X jurisdiction, and I appreciate that you consulted with us on those provisions. The Judiciary Committee agrees that it shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. The Committee takes this action with the understanding that forgoing further consideration of this measure does not in any way alter the Committee's jurisdiction or waive any future jurisdictional claim over these provisions or their subject matter. We also reserve the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees in the event of a conference with the Senate involving this measure or similar legislation. I ask that you please insert this letter in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 2643 on the House floor. I appreciate the cooperative manner in which our committees have worked on this matter, and I look forward to working collaboratively in the future on matters of shared jurisdiction. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely, Jim Jordan, Chairman.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers and will continue to reserve until the gentleman yields back his time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Meeks for this fine piece of legislation and appreciate his bipartisan spirit. I urge my colleagues to pass the Haiti Criminal Collusion Transparency Act and make clear that the United States will expose and hold accountable those who fund, enable, and profit from gang violence in Haiti. It will shine a light on the criminal networks undermining regional stability and ensure there are consequences for those who collude with them. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2503) to require the development of a strategy to eliminate the availability to foreign adversaries of goods and technologies capable of supporting undersea cables, and for other purposes.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. 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. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Kean's Undersea Cable Control Act. Over 99 percent of the world's data that crosses the oceans travels through the fiber-optic cables that sit on the sea floor. This bill requires the U.S. to develop and execute a strategy to protect this critical infrastructure. America's adversaries are working around the clock to control these communication chokepoints. Chinese companies like HMN Technologies, formerly known as Huawei Marine Networks, are estimated to be building or repairing about a quarter of the world's undersea cables. There have been documented instances of the Chinese manipulating and spying on these networks, with internet traffic being rerouted through China. Mr. Speaker, it is important that we identify what the Chinese Communist Party needs to deploy undersea cables so that we can ensure only America and its allies lead in the development and maintenance of this technology. I urge my colleagues to support Representative Kean's fine bill to begin this process of protecting this critical and vulnerable infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kean), the sponsor of this fine legislation.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, the Undersea Cable Control Act will ensure America, not the Chinese Communist Party, is connecting the globe with critical undersea cable infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4490) to amend the International Organizations Immunities Act to extend diplomatic privileges and immunities to certain additional international and regional organizations, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. 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.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the PARTNER Act, a forward-looking measure that strengthens America's ties with the international organizations shaping the global order at a moment when international competition is sharper than ever. This legislation gives our Nation the ability to fully engage with influential regional and international bodies such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the Pacific Islands Forum, the Caribbean Community, and the African Union by extending to them the same diplomatic privileges afforded under the International Organizations Immunities Act. In doing so, we signal not only respect for their importance but also our determination to work alongside them as equal partners in tackling shared challenges. From advancing security and prosperity to fostering innovation and confronting global health threats, these organizations are central to addressing pressing issues that do not stop at our borders. If the United States is to lead effectively in this century, we cannot remain on the sidelines. We must be present in the rooms where decisions are being made, ready to cooperate and ready to lead. This bill ensures our diplomats and institutions are equipped to do exactly that. I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting the PARTNER Act and reaffirming America's commitment to principled and enduring international leadership. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim).

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. I have no more speakers, Mr. Speaker, and I continue to reserve the balance of my time until the gentleman yields back his time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representative Castro and Representative Kim, for introducing this important bill. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4233) to modify provisions relating to defense trade and cooperation among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. 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. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation to improve implementation of the AUKUS partnership. The AUKUS partnership is a groundbreaking defense partnership between the United States, the U.K., and Australia, created with the intention of keeping a free and open Indo-Pacific and strengthening defense trade between the U.S. and our closest allies. The AUKUS partnership presents a unique opportunity for the U.S. to strengthen our relationships with our AUKUS partners, ensure interoperability with our most important allies in any future conflict, and promote innovation in defense technology. While Congress codified the AUKUS partnership last year, AUKUS has faced numerous challenges in its implementation due to bureaucratic red tape. Since its implementation, we have worked closely with our foreign partners and the Trump administration to discuss the challenges AUKUS Pillar II has faced. This legislation addresses these challenges and will ensure that the AUKUS partnership is implemented according to the original intent of the partner countries, allowing the U.S. defense industry and our allies to take full advantage of the benefits of this agreement. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), who is the sponsor of this fine piece of legislation.

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

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, the AUKUS partnership is foundational to our global defense strategy. We must ensure it is implemented as it was intended. I am proud to support this legislation to improve existing AUKUS law, and I urge my colleagues to join me. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2635) to support the human rights of Uyghurs and members of other minority groups residing primarily in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and safeguard their distinct identity, and for other purposes.

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

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in strong support of Representative Young Kim's Uyghur Policy Act of 2025. The Chinese Communist Party continues to commit genocide against the Uyghur people in Xinjiang. Over 1 million Uyghurs are held in mass detention camps, where they face torture, forced labor, constant surveillance, and forced sterilization. This is not just about abuse. It is a systematic campaign of genocide. The Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 pushes back. It directs the Secretary of State to prioritize support for the Uyghurs and other persecuted groups and to work with allies to pressure China to close these camps. It also urges U.S. leadership at the United Nations to ensure China's human rights abuses are not ignored or silenced. America must lead with moral clarity. We must stand for human rights and against genocide. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), the sponsor of this legislation.

Mr. BAUMGARTNER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in passing the Uyghur Policy Act of 2025 to increase awareness and advocacy for Uyghurs. We cannot be silent in the face of genocide. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.