David Cicilline

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary work of USAID and their focus on education and how critical that is to the development of communities all across the world and, importantly, that we fully fund USAID's efforts, and also to recognize that this focus on education is a focus that continues to pay dividends. I particularly want to acknowledge the leadership of Chairman Jeffries in recognizing the particular responsibility that we have to invest in women and girls and what a transformative difference that makes in countries. Pakistan will be able to show the world the difference that it makes when you give women and girls an opportunity to realize their full potential. This act will ensure that at least half of those scholarships go to girls. It is a very important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1678) to express United States support for Taiwan's diplomatic alliances around the world, as amended.

Mr. CICILLINE. 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 S. 1678.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the United States shares a special relationship with Taiwan, rooted in a wide range of shared values. Yes, Taiwan is a vibrant democracy. That is the core of our friendship. At the same time, Taiwan is a model global citizen, making extraordinary contributions to global health, aviation safety, and other areas aimed at improving people's lives. It is this spirit of generosity and commitment to building a safer, more stable world that makes Taiwan such a valuable partner. This stands in sharp relief to the record of the People's Republic of China. It is a comparison the Chinese Government doesn't seem to like, based on the PRC's constant attempt to restrict Taiwan's ability to operate on the global stage, including efforts by Beijing to poach Taiwan's diplomatic partners. The Chinese Government is a bully. They want to try to isolate Taiwan, and their tactics shouldn't go unanswered. This bill, the TAIPEI Act, would help us provide a part of that answer. It calls on the administration to examine our policies toward countries that take steps that undermine Taiwan. It calls on the administration to take additional steps to ensure that Taiwan can participate in international organizations, and supports Taiwan's efforts to build stronger partnerships with other countries around the world. However, perhaps the most important thing that we can do for Taiwan is to push the U.S. Trade Representative to look for new ways to ramp up bilateral trade and economic ties with Taiwan. Giving Taiwan economic alternatives will be critical for Taiwan's economic future and will benefit the United States. This is good legislation, and it sends a strong and important message to our friends in Taiwan and to the Chinese Government. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, February 25, 2020. Hon. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of S. 1678, ``Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act of 2019,'' the Committee on Ways and Means agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of S. 1678. Sincerely, Richard E. Neal, Chairman.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, when China works to intimidate and isolate a partner of the United States, one that shares our values, our commitment to democracy, our vision for engagement around, we should stand by our partner's side. That is what American leadership is supposed to look like. That is exactly what we see happening with Taiwan, and if we really support the U.S.-Taiwan partnership, we need to help our partner get out from under China's thumb. This bill would help to do that and would send a clear signal of the importance we place on the U.S.-China relationship. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this bill so we can send it to the President's desk, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 230) expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States condemns all forms of violence against children globally and recognizes the harmful impacts of violence against children, as amended.

Mr. CICILLINE. 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. 230.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure, and I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my colleague, for his hard work in bringing this resolution forward. More than a billion children worldwide are exposed to violence each year. This can take the form of sexual violence, physical violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Adolescent girls are an especially vulnerable group. One in three girls between the ages of 15 and 17 experience violent acts and are often the victims of someone they know. Children with disabilities are reportedly three to four times likelier to experience physical or sexual abuse. This violence has a lifetime impact on the health and well-being of a growing child and on their community. Children who experience violence have higher rates of anxiety and depression and are at greater risk of suicide. These traumatic events have a lasting impact, from reduced neurological functions, to poorer educational outcomes, to higher rates of early and child marriage. Children should feel safe at home, in school, and in their communities. But it is in these places that most violence against children occurs, often at the hands of people they see every day. These abuses shape their lives forever. Violence against children can be prevented. Implementing appropriate laws, reinforcing positive norms and values, creating safe environments, and providing support to children and their caregivers can help to address the risk of violence perpetrated against children. This resolution puts the House on record, saying the United States condemns all forms of violence--including physical, mental, and sexual violence--against children. In addition, the resolution urges the United States to adopt evidence-based strategies to combat violence against children as part of the World Health Organization's INSPIRE program, and it urges the administration to develop indicators and evaluation tools to monitor violence against young people globally across Federal agencies. Mr. Speaker, it is a good measure. I am glad to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, February 28, 2020. Hon. Eliot L. Engel, Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Engel: I write concerning H. Res. 230, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States condemns all forms of violence against children globally and recognizes the harmful impacts of violence against children. This resolution was primarily referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and additionally to the Committees on Foreign Affairs. As a result of Leadership and Foreign Affairs having consulted with me concerning this bill generally, I agree to forgo formal consideration of the bill so the bill may proceed expeditiously to the House floor. The Committee on Education and Labor takes this action with our mutual understanding that by forgoing formal consideration of H. Res. 230, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and we will be appropriately consulted and involved as the resolution or similar legislation moves forward so we may address any remaining issue within our Rule X jurisdiction. I also request that you support my request to name members of the Committee on Education and Labor to any conference committee to consider such provisions. Finally, I would appreciate a response confirming this understanding and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the committee report for H. Res. 230 and in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Very truly yours, Robert C. ``Bobby'' Scott, Chairman.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my friend, the author of this important resolution, a champion of human rights, and the co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I again thank Congressman McGovern for his hard work on this measure. He has been a tireless advocate for children and protecting children around the world. American leadership on this issue is absolutely vital. Ensuring the safety of our children today safeguards the future of our communities tomorrow. Protecting children across the world must be an American foreign policy priority. We owe it to our younger generations everywhere the best shot possible at a full, healthy, and prosperous life. Mr. Speaker, this is an excellent measure. I am pleased to be a cosponsor, and I urge all of my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 387) condemning continued violence against civilians by armed groups in the Central African Republic and supporting efforts to achieve a lasting political solution to the conflict, as amended.

Mr. CICILLINE. 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. 387.

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 387 and thank my colleagues for their support of this bipartisan resolution. As the gentleman knows, the destabilizing overthrow of the Government of the Central African Republic, or CAR, in March 2013 has led to a proliferation of armed rebel groups which have been responsible for widespread atrocities based on religious or ethnic identities during this bloody conflict. In 2014, the U.N. concluded that CAR's minority Muslim community had been the target of ethnic cleansing, and multiple U.N. officials have warned of a risk of genocide. These armed groups continue to engage in gross human rights abuses, including violence, pillaging, and the illicit trafficking of natural resources such as ivory, gold, cattle, and diamonds. However, despite the lack of security around electoral polling stations, CAR has made significant progress toward democracy by conducting democratic elections, ultimately inaugurating President Touadera in March of 2016. Yet, armed groups still control much of the country's territory, ethnic and religious violence occurs frequently, and the central government still struggles with basic security and governance. Despite these challenges, the central government and armed groups signed a landmark peace deal in February of 2019 that lays out a path toward a unity government, demobilization of nonstate combatants, and the creation of interim-mixed security units compromising security forces and former rebels. The United States has a long history supporting CAR, establishing diplomatic relations in 1960 following their independence from France. U.S. bilateral aid to CAR totaled $34 million in fiscal year 2018, including $18 million in food aid, $13 million in security aid, and $3 million in development aid. Despite this, the United Nations estimates 2.9 million people need humanitarian assistance, and over 640,000 people have been displaced due to this conflict, most of whom are children and women. The United States has played an important role in brokering peace in CAR, and is currently the largest international donor, helping to strengthen the central government, increase security, and maintain peace. Actors, such as Russia, have engaged in CAR in ways that are detrimental to American interests; therefore, it is vital that we continue to support the people of CAR in achieving peace and a democratic transition. That is why I am proud to sponsor this legislation, to reiterate that Congress and the United States Government is committed to achieving peace in CAR. Specifically, this resolution condemns violence against civilians, humanitarian workers, journalists, faith leaders, and United Nations peacekeepers by all armed groups operating within the Central African Republic. It welcomes the signing of the Khartoum Peace Agreement in February 2019 and urges all parties to adhere to the terms of the agreement. It calls on the international community, including all members of the United Nations Security Council as well as neighboring countries, to continually reassess and implement strategies that demonstrate clear progress in achieving peace in the Central African Republic. It calls on the Government of the Central African Republic to ensure that all state security forces adhere to civilian command, refrain from human rights abuses, and sever any and all links to armed groups, except in the framework of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration under the peace agreement. It urges the State Department and USAID to take steps to ensure that American assistance programs support local sustainable agriculture, other development efforts to create human well-being, and peace in CAR. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, two Rhode Islanders have already tested positive for coronavirus, and dozens more are being monitored. Across the globe, more than 90,000 are sick and 3,000 have died. Rhode Islanders and all Americans deserve a strong, effective, and fully funded response to this health crisis. That is why the House will vote this week on an emergency appropriations bill that addresses the scale and seriousness of the coronavirus epidemic. This bill will ensure public health officials have the resources they need right now. It is critical that the Senate send it to the President's desk as soon as the House acts, and, for his part, the President needs to stop calling this situation a hoax. This isn't about him; it is about protecting the American people. When the bill gets to his desk, he should sign it and then step aside and let the scientists, the doctors, and the public health experts do their jobs. This is no time for politics. It is about keeping the American people safe. The House will do our job. The President should start doing his.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, the American people deserve a coordinated, fully funded response to keep us safe from the coronavirus. But instead of taking the situation seriously, the President has mounted a confusing and chaotic response. He designated Mike Pence to lead the public health response, Mike Pence, a man whose terrible public health polices as Governor of Indiana allowed the worst HIV epidemic in the State's history to take root in 2015. The President's budget earlier this month slashed almost $700 million from the CDC. He has left vacant critical positions responsible for managing pandemics, and now he has proposed raiding funds that were appropriated by Congress for other life-threatening public health emergencies. To be blunt, the President's response has been a disaster. The American people deserve better, and that is why the House will advance a strong, strategic funding package that fully addresses the scale and seriousness of this public health crisis. Let's hope the President follows our lead.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, President Trump stood in this very Chamber last week promising that he would protect Medicare and Social Security, but like so many things with this administration, that empty promise didn't even last a week. In fact, when he sent his budget proposal to Congress on Monday, it cut more than $1.6 trillion for Medicare, Medicaid, and other healthcare programs. It cut another $24 billion from Social Security. As the top 1 percent of wealthy corporations continue to benefit from the President's tax cut, he is now asking for you, the American people, to pay for it. He likes to brag that the stock market is up and unemployment is down, but what he refuses to acknowledge is that the economy isn't working for most working folks. Healthcare costs are rising as his administration sues the eliminate the ACA in its entirety. The cost of living is increasing as he tries to cut funding for affordable housing. And prescription drug prices continue to climb despite our passage of H.R. 3, which is collecting dust on Mitch McConnell's desk. The President's budget is nothing more than assault on hardworking families just trying to keep a roof over their heads and put food on their table. The American people deserve better. House Democrats are going to continue passing legislation that actually gets government working for the people again, and the President and Mitch McConnell should get off the sidelines and join us in this effort.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, with Virginia becoming the 38th State to ratify the equal rights amendment, today we make it clear that Congress never intended the arbitrary deadline to act as a barrier to ratification of this vital amendment. Ratification of the equal rights amendment affirms our Nation's values by codifying an expressed prohibition against sex discrimination in our Nation's foundational document. While our Nation's courts have properly recognized that women are entitled to equal protection under the law, we have a responsibility to do all that we can to guarantee that, regardless of sex, all Americans are treated the same in every aspect of their lives, including making a living, obtaining healthcare, and accessing public services. These rights must not be swayed by political ideology or depend on judicial philosophy. Equality is a founding value of this great country and, more than any other word, describes the very idea of America. Madam Speaker, a vote for H.J. Res. 79 is a vote for equality. I urge my colleagues to support H.J. Res. 79.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to welcome Rabbi Seth Frisch, who delivered today's opening prayer to the people's House. Since his ordination in 1986, at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York, Rabbi Frisch has been a source of comfort and counsel to Jews around the world. In his current posting as rabbi and teacher of the New Shul of Philadelphia, Rabbi Frisch helps serve as a guide for those who want to learn more about what it means to be Jewish in a safe and supporting setting. In a way, today's opening prayer was a homecoming for Rabbi Frisch, who previously served as a legislative assistant to the chairman of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. I pray that we will all heed his words today, that out of many, we are one Nation. Let us strive to put our divisions behind us and realize our dream of a country indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of both the amendments to H.R. 550 under consideration today. I thank the Speaker for her courage in bringing these bills to the floor, and I thank the sponsors, my friends, Barbara Lee and Ro Khanna for their leadership. It is long past time for the 2002 AUMF to be repealed. This vaguely worded authorization of force against Iraq, which was obtained under false pretenses by the George W. Bush administration, has long posed a problem for proper congressional oversight, though at various points in time, both parties have shied away from taking action to rectify this. But now we have no choice but to act, as the Trump administration argues that the 2002 AUMF which justifies war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq apparently applies to members of the Iranian Government, even though the word ``Iran'' appears nowhere in the text. As Congress, we must assert our constitutional oversight authority in matters of war. Permitting this and future administrations to rely on an open-ended authorization of force without proper oversight, is nothing less than an abrogation of our duty. I urge each of my colleagues to support this amendment and final passage of the bill.

Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, if I may just respond to some arguments that this will undermine our rights to self-defense. The President always has a legal right to defend America and defend U.S. forces and embassies. This resolution explicitly exempts the defensive actions described in the War Powers Resolution. The War Powers Resolution has been around since 1973 and has never prevented the President from defending America. So that argument simply is baseless, and I urge all of my colleagues to support both of these excellent amendments.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Eulogio Acevedo, who passed away earlier this month. Those of us who knew Mr. Acevedo will remember him as a dedicated family man, a leader in the business community, and a relentless champion for social justice. Born in the Dominican Republic, Mr. Acevedo made his home in Providence, Rhode Island, along with his beloved wife of 30 years, Maryelyn. Mr. Acevedo lived the American Dream. An engineer by trade, he owned and operated his own construction company for more than two decades. He raised five children and lived to celebrate the births of four grandchildren. Most important of all, Mr. Acevedo gave back to the country that gave him so much. He was an active community leader in Providence and a political legend, a gentle but strong man who helped anyone in need. Mr. Speaker, I am thankful that I had the opportunity to know this great man. He was a dear friend to me. Our city and our State will miss him deeply. May he rest in peace.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, to honor the memories of the 6 million Jews and 5 million others murdered during the Holocaust and to tell the world that we will never forget. Today, we remember the lives lost during this incredibly dark period in human history. Jewish children of my generation grew up seeing the dark numbers etched into the arms of friends, neighbors, and family. We heard the stories directly from survivors about the families they loved and lost, the unspeakable brutality they endured, and the freedom they felt so lucky to have secured here in America. But today's children are the last generation who will have the opportunity to see and hear for themselves the stories of survivors. It is, therefore, our responsibility to keep their voices alive, to tell their stories, to be certain they know this history, and, most importantly, to absorb the lessons of the Holocaust so we can prevent future evil, inhumanity, and brutality. Sadly, we know that, in the United States today, fewer people are learning about the Holocaust. A Pew Research survey recently found that only 38 percent of American teens knew that 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. At the same time that Holocaust education is declining, we see a significant rise of neo-Nazi and white supremacist movements being fueled by the ability to communicate online and a rise in anti-Semitic attacks in the United States and around the world. If there is anything we can do to honor the lives of those murdered in the Shoah, it is to ensure that we don't allow time to erase their stories, their memories. We can't just look back. We must apply the lessons learned from the Holocaust, as painful as they are, to fight against hatred, bigotry, intolerance, and to remember the words of Dr. King: ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' Our burden as policymakers is to make certain that we are engaged in that fight against hatred, bigotry, and intolerance. I pray on this day of remembrance that we honor those who suffered and died at the hands of Nazi Germany by standing up to injustice wherever we see it. I thank my colleagues for their support on this somber day, and I urge Americans everywhere to never forget.

Mr. CICILLINE

Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for organizing this Special Order on this really important topic. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we held a hearing in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on the administration's actions in Iran. Over the past few weeks, the United States and Iran have come closer to outright war than any time in our history. However, despite the seriousness of the situation, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to appear. The Framers of the Constitution gave the power to declare war solely to the Congress of the United States, the elected representatives of the people. The reason they did that is they wanted to prevent a President from making the decision to take the country to war without the support of the American people. As we think about the President's decision, the only lens through which we should view it is whether or not those actions made Americans safer and strengthened America's national security interests in the region and around the world. The fact that Soleimani got what he deserved does not mean that this decision was strategically wise or that it enhanced American security. I, frankly, have been shocked by some of the arguments being put forth by my colleagues in support of the President's actions and the criticism being directed at Members of Congress for taking our war powers responsibility seriously. Have we become so completely partisan that Members of Congress no longer care at all about the checks and balances put in place to protect our democracy? I heard Members on the other side describe the idea of even holding a hearing on the administration's actions against Iran as absurd. The idea that we, as Congress, would sit back and allow this administration or any administration to take our country to the brink of war and just trust them, despite conflicting explanations, obvious falsehoods, and a complete lack of strategy and planning, is what is absurd. What is absurd is the Secretary of State spending nearly 2 years agitating for armed conflict with Iran and then refusing to come to explain himself after he succeeds in convincing the President to engage in military action. If you are Secretary of State while the country enters into a tense military conflict, you should expect to clear your schedule and get up to Congress to make your case. Yet, the Secretary had somewhere more important to be yesterday. That is a shocking abrogation of his duty to report to this body, which has the sole power to declare war on behalf of the American people. One would think that if the Secretary was so confident in his intelligence, so confident in his justification, and so confident in his strategy that he would be eager to present it and defend it to Congress. We know he has been making the rounds on television, yet he fails to appear under oath where he can be held accountable. Perhaps that has something to do with the conflicting stories that have been coming out of the administration concerning their justification for the strike against Qasem Soleimani. First, we were told that there was an imminent threat against the United States, but Secretary Pompeo couldn't say when or where that attack might occur and presented no underlying or raw intelligence to support that conclusion. Then, the President said Soleimani was plotting to attack up to four American Embassies in the region. Yet, this was not mentioned in briefings to Congress, and other senior officials in the administration were unaware of such a plot. Other officials have linked the Soleimani killing to past and future attacks Soleimani might have been plotting with no specificity, while others have reported that the killing was first planned as long as 7 months ago. The conflicting explanations coming out of this administration, combined with their unwillingness to share details with Congress or the American people, leave us no choice but to conclude that the President acted outside of the authority under the War Powers Resolution and took unilateral military action against a senior government official without proper authorization. I have heard others make the argument that none of this matters. Soleimani is a bad guy and got what he deserved. The Iranians have backed off so it is all fine. That is today. What about the next time? When an administration believes it can launch a military strike that might lead to war with no information-sharing, no legal justification, and no oversight, who knows what they will do next. Nearly every step taken over the past 2 years by President Trump and Secretary Pompeo has seemed designed to create conflict with Iran by asserting maximum pressure. Without any option or plan for a negotiated solution, armed conflict became more and more likely. There is no evidence that we are safer today than we were before the killing of Soleimani. In fact, we know we are less safe. We have stopped the training of Iraqis in the fight against ISIS. There are more American troops that have been sent to the region. We have now suffered two attacks on bases that house American and allied forces. This notion that we are safer today is simply belied by the facts. So we are here today, and it doesn't appear that the administration has any strategy or plan for next steps, other than the farfetched wish that Iran will be so cowed in the face of their bluster that it will agree to all of their demands. That seems unlikely and doesn't represent any thoughtful or coherent planning. Forgive me if I don't want to repeat the mistakes of the past and put my trust in officials when they march us to war and claim: ``Trust us. This is necessary.'' I will not be responsible for sending the men and women of Rhode Island--or any other State, for that matter--into harm's way so that the President can feel like a big shot and his advisers can finally achieve the war they seem to have been building toward since he took office. I am disgusted by the Secretary's absence yesterday. He should appear before the committee as soon as possible, and that means within days, to explain himself, the administration's position, and their plan for preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and promoting America's national security and keeping America safe. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me time.