Joaquin Castro

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am ready to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4821 sends a strong and unequivocal message that the United States stands firmly in support of worshippers of all religious traditions and faiths and their ability to freely practice their religion or engage in worship without fear of discrimination or persecution. This legislation signals strong bipartisan House support for the administration to hold accountable all those responsible for the severe violations of religious freedom and persecution of religious groups in China. Madam Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Audencio Suarez Diaz, Jr. who passed away on August 2, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary Stella; his son Rolando and daughter-in-law Amy; his daughter Leticia and grandson Rhys, and his brother, Daniel. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, and extended family. A man of conviction and courage, his loss is felt in our hometown of San Antonio, Texas. He will be greatly missed. Audencio Diaz was born on February 19, 1952, in San Antonio. Audencio served honorably in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. After leaving the service, he worked for the United States Postal Service and the San Antonio Independent School District. Later, he started his own janitorial business. Audencio was known in the community for his many philanthropic activities and his strong support for our Veterans. For the past decade, Audencio devoted his time to serving other Veterans as Vice President of the Edgewood District Veterans group. Audencio was also known for his love of baseball, devoting many years to the Spanish American Baseball League. He was an active baseball player in the league during the 1960s and 1970s and later served as a board member in the 1990s. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing the life of Audencio Suarez Diaz, Jr. Although I am saddened by his loss, I know his legacy will last for years to come. I thank Audencio for his service and efforts to make San Antonio a better place. May God bless him and his loved ones.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of great things in this legislation. I want to focus on one thing that is important for San Antonio. In 2019, my county, Bexar County, had the second-highest death toll from diabetes. My grandmother died from diabetes. My mom is diabetic. I remember going with my grandmother, and she would inject insulin into herself. Sometimes she had trouble paying for it and spent days, sometimes several days, at the hospital. There are so many people--senior citizens--in this country who will benefit from the fact that we are capping insulin costs at $35 a month and prescription drug costs, humble, hardworking people who don't ask a lot from us or their government but will benefit incredibly from this legislation. I say thank you to everybody who supported it and who is getting it across the finish line. It is going to be great for the country.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of Jesse Charles Romero who passed away on July 6, 2022. Mr. Romero dedicated his life to advancing minority rights and equal justice under the law. He is survived by his wife, Anna Alicia Romero, and sons Emiliano Sandino, Antonio Cesar, and Victor Aetius Emmanuel. Jesse Charles Romero was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 4, 1960, to Juan Leos Romero and Amelia Ramirez Romero. Mr. Romero was a first-generation college student, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southwest Texas State University. During his early career with the Texas State Legislature, he worked to address systemic inequalities facing minority groups, particularly among Hispanic and Latinos. Throughout his life, he held an enduring belief that inequality and injustice can be resolved through legislative solutions and hard work. Later, as a grassroots organizer, Mr. Romero worked at the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, where he grew under the mentorship of voting rights activists including Willie Velasquez, Antonio Gonzalez, and Andy Hernandez. As his career progressed, he served as Director of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and a Policy Analyst for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), where he championed equitable public school funding, college access, and healthcare for all. Some of his most rewarding work was in bilingual and dual language advocacy. Mr. Romero employed the motto, ``educate, collaborate and advocate'' and fought to improve education for non-English speakers. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the life and legacy of Jesse Charles Romero. I thank Mr. Romero for his many years of public service and advocacy for a more equitable world. He will be missed, but the contributions he made to our community have left a lasting impact.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of United States Air Force Veteran Arturo Lara, who passed away on May 8, 2020. Mr. Lara hailed from my hometown of San Antonio, Texas and is survived by his wife of 58 years, Consuelo R. Lara, eldest son Arturo R. Lara, Jr., daughter Elizabeth R. Lara, and youngest son Louis R. Lara. Although I am saddened to learn of his passing, I am confident his memory will live on through his many loved ones. Arturo Lara was born in San Antonio, Texas on July 16, 1943, to Simon and Alfonsa Vargas Lara. At a young age, Mr. Lara knew he wanted to be a family man and to serve his country. With permission from his grandfather, Simon Lara, he enlisted in the United States Air Force at the age of 16. Mr. Lara courageously served our country for 24 years, taking on different duty assignments across the globe. Mr. Lara notably served on high-risk missions as an Air Commando under Special Forces. During the Vietnam conflict, Mr. Lara was captured by enemy forces for 90 days to later escape shortly after his 18th birthday. Upon retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Lara went on to civil service and worked at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio and Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. After 51 years of combined military and civil service, Mr. Lara retired in 2011. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the life and service of a person who dedicated themselves to family and country. The sacrifice and commitment our service members undertake is immeasureble and should never be taken for granted. We thank Mr. Lara for his many years of service and commitment to our great country.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, today I rise in honor of World War II and Vietnam veteran, Mr. Henry R. Castro. A San Antonio native, Mr. Castro has dedicated his life to service, community, and country. Please join me in recognizing the story of this extraordinary American. Henry R. Castro was born on April 26, 1927. The son of a butcher and grocer, Juan and Maria Castro, he grew up learning about hard work. On June 12, 1945, Mr. Castro enlisted into the United States Army and was assigned to the 78th Infantry Division, being deployed to Berlin, Germany. On November 29, 1946, Mr. Castro was honorably discharged as a Private First Class under HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry. As Cold War tensions rose, Mr. Castro heard the call of duty and reenlisted into the U.S. Army on August 21, 1948, and shortly thereafter was deployed to Trieste, Italy. There, he was assigned to the T.R.U.S.T. troops in the Italian Alps tasked with defending Trieste against then Communist Yugoslavia. He was later honorably discharged on June 27, 1950. In 1951, Mr Castro was hired on at Kelly Air Force Base serving as a Civil Service Employee and later at Brooks Air Force Base. During his civil service tenure, Mr. Castro also served in the Air Force Reserves for more than 7 years under the 433rd Troop Carrier Wing. In the summer of 1967 due to his reserve status, he was recalled into active duty during the Vietnam War and during the North Korean's capture of the U.S.S. Pueblo. He remained on active duty until his retirement date of June 1, 1984. Mr. Castro retired as a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant. For his service in the armed forces in defense of our nation, Mr. Castro received the following: World War II Victory Medal and Ribbon, Overseas Service Bar, Army of Occupation Medal Germany, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with Four Devices, American Campaign Medal, European--African--Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Cluster, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award with Three Devices, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent someone of such high caliber. On behalf of Texas' 20th Congressional District, I thank Mr. Castro for his commitment and patriotism. I also thank Mr. Castro for everything he has done in-service to our great Nation. May God bless him and his loved ones.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 892, calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds. Paul is a hero of the Rwandan genocide and a permanent resident of San Antonio, Texas, my hometown where his family also lives today. Last year, a Rwandan court sentenced Paul to 25 years in prison on politically motivated charges. Paul is 68 years old, and for him that is a life sentence. Congresswoman Young Kim and I have been closely following his case for several years, and we were proud to introduce H. Res. 892 in February of this year. Paul's story begins in Rwanda, the country of his birth. Nearly three decades ago, he was serving as assistant general manager of a luxury hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, when the Rwandan genocide began. The genocide, which led to the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people over a 3-month period, targeted mostly members of the ethnic Tutsi minority. Paul is a member of the Hutu majority, but he was determined not to see his Tutsi countrymen die on his watch. As genocidal killing squads roamed through Rwanda, Paul sheltered more than 1,200 people in his hotel, saving their lives. In the aftermath of the genocide, Paul and his family received asylum in Belgium and later moved to San Antonio with the help of the late Texas Senator Bob Krueger, an international leader in the fight against genocide. In 2005, President George W. Bush presented Paul with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our Nation's highest civilian honor. Since the 1994 genocide, the Government of Rwanda has made tremendous strides in economic development and stability. However, the country's government is still plagued by corruption, abuse of power, and human rights issues that amount to violations of international law--including enforced disappearances. At home and abroad Paul Rusesabagina has used his voice and elevated platform to call attention to the need for change in Rwanda. In response, the Rwandan Government launched an extraordinary campaign of persecution against him. In August 2020, Paul was extrajudicially transferred from Texas to Rwanda by way of the United Arab Emirates and arrested on trumped-up charges. The Rwandan Government did not acknowledge his detention for 3 days, during which he was reportedly subject to torture. In September 2021, Paul was found guilty and sentenced in a trial that the European Union described as ``marred by numerous violations of his fair trial rights.'' He is a cancer survivor who lives with serious cardiovascular issues, and Rwandan authorities have not provided him with the care he needs in prison. I have my children here on the floor with me, and my heart breaks for Paul's family who can only speak to him once a week for 5 minutes. It is long past time for Rwanda to release Paul and allow him to come home to San Antonio. My colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle have raised our concerns previously. In December 2020, we sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Rwandan President Paul Kagame urging him to release Paul on humanitarian grounds. We spoke out about the way Paul was taken against his will to Rwanda, which for all intents and purposes was a kidnapping by the Kagame regime. In June 2021, my colleagues and I wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to use all diplomatic means at his disposal to ensure Paul's safe return to the United States. We are not the only ones who are concerned. Last year, the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights issued a report that found Paul's right to confidential communication, his right to the presumption of innocence, and his right to prepare his defense have all been violated. In October 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution denouncing Paul's illegal arrest. The resolution strongly condemns the conviction, which it said was ``exemplary of the human rights violations in Rwanda.'' Paul is a permanent resident of the United States, and we must work just as hard as our European allies to bring him home. In May, the State Department announced its determination that Paul was ``wrongfully detained,'' noting that ``The determination took into account the totality of the circumstances, notably the lack of fair trial guarantees during his trial.'' I appreciate the support of the State Department, which has been working with Paul's family and the Congress on this issue. I am especially pleased that Paul's case is now under the purview of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Ambassador Roger Carstens. Rwanda's President Kagame wants to be seen as a global leader and a reliable partner to the United States, including on issues including climate change. But Paul's unlawful detention is a blight on Rwanda's international reputation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to support this resolution.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to vote to do something. It is too easy for dangerous people to get dangerous weapons in this country, and we are either going to do something about it or we are not. I want you to imagine for a second that a shooter with an AR-15 goes into your child's or grandchild's school tomorrow or next fall and leaves a hole the size of a basketball in their chest or leaves their head decapitated off their body. Ask yourself what you would ask of the people who represent you. Would their thoughts and prayers be good enough for you if that happened to your child? Would they being worried about their primary election be okay with you? The people of Uvalde, when I spoke to them, asked me how it is that somebody who is 18 can't buy beer or cigarettes, but they can go into a gun store and buy two AR-15s and go kill 20 people. The teachers who died, the cops who died, the children who died cannot vote to change the law. Only we can do that. This is our legacy. Vote ``yes.''

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, this week due to the ongoing public health emergency, I have been using a proxy to cast my vote. However, my proxy was unavailable during the time of this vote. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 190.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former U.S. Ambassador and Senator Robert C. Krueger, who passed away on April 30, 2022, at the age of 86. Born September 19, 1935, in New Braunfels, Texas, Krueger earned degrees from Southern Methodist University, Duke, and Oxford. His passion for education would play an integral role in his professional life, and he spent most of his career in academia--first as a professor of English literature and later teaching government and ethics--at Duke University, the University of Texas at Austin, Rice University, Oxford University, Texas State University, and Texas Tech University. In 1974, the people of Texas's 21st Congressional District elected Krueger to be their U.S. Representative, and he was voted after his first term as the most effective freshman Member. Furthermore, in 1976, he was the only other Texan to stand and speak in support of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan's amendment to the 1965 Voting Rights Act. As the late Congresswoman said, ``He believed that democracy includes everybody.'' After two terms in the House, Krueger was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve as U.S. Ambassador-at-Large and Coordinator for Mexican Affairs. He remained in that role through the end of the Carter Presidency. In 1990, Texas voters elected Krueger to the Texas Railroad Commission, a powerful entity that regulates oil and gas. Two years later, Texas Governor Ann Richards appointed him to fill the vacant Senate seat left by Senator Lloyd Bentsen. In the Senate, Krueger introduced anti-stalking legislation, and would fight to strengthen healthcare for veterans, combat pollution in the Gulf of Mexico, and end Federal subsidies for tobacco, among other priorities. After Krueger's Senate term ended, President Bill Clinton appointed him Ambassador to Burundi. At the time, Burundi was suffering from intense violence and political conflict, and the assignment represented deep faith in Krueger's diplomatic abilities. Krueger served in Burundi until 1995, when his convoy was ambushed by gunmen in an assassination attempt due to his vocal opposition to the genocide. On his courage, President Bill Clinton remarked, `` . . . if we didn't have brave people there, like Ambassador Bob Krueger, it would be even harder to avoid human tragedy.'' From 1996 to 1999, Krueger served as U.S. Ambassador to Botswana and later as a Special U.S. Representative to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from 1998 to 2000. After an accomplished career in public service, Krueger returned to academia and retired in 2017, living out his days in New Braunfels at the same house in which he grew up. Madam Speaker, I join my fellow Texans in mourning the loss of a stalwart patriot and public servant. Senator Bob Krueger's career took him around the world, but he never lost sight of his deep roots in Texas. My thoughts are with his wife of 39 years, Kathleen, his children, Mariana, Sarah and Christian, and all those who knew and loved him.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Affordable Insulin Now Act which would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month and help fight the scourge of diabetes. In 2019, as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I organized meetings with leading insulin producers to confront them about the strain their prices are putting on the American people. In each of those meetings, I said the same thing; that for millions of Americans, including a disproportionate number of Latinos, access to affordable insulin is a matter of life and death. And for me and many of us, those aren't just numbers. Four months before I graduated from college in 1996, my grandmother died of complications from diabetes. If we fail to bring down the price of insulin, more families will suffer just like mine did. But our responsibility is to all our constituents, not just those with insurance. So I co-sponsored Representative Doggett's amendment to extend the benefits of this bill to the uninsured, and I hope we will make that happen in the days to come. But this bill is an important step forward, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Mrs. Mary Esther Bernal who passed away on March 10, 2022. For decades, Mrs. Bernal was integral to the advancement of Mexican American and Latino rights in Texas. Her work changed the lives of countless Texans, and she will be greatly missed. Mary Esther Bernal was born on March 21, 1935, in San Antonio, Texas. She earned her undergraduate and master's degrees from Our Lady of the Lake University. A talented pianist who was passionate about using music to connect with others, Ms. Bernal taught choir in San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) during an era when speaking Spanish in Texas schools was against the law. Instead of bowing to pressures to suppress the culture of her city and her Mexican-American students, Mrs. Bernal celebrated both. Together with her husband, State Senator Joe Bernal, she pushed Texas schools to provide bilingual instruction to English language learners and end English-only laws. As a community leader, Mrs. Bernal served two terms on the SAISD Board of Trustees. Mrs. Bernal received numerous honors for her work as an educator and civic leader. Mrs. Bernal was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame in 1991 and the National Hispanic Heritage Hall of Honor in 2010 for her contributions to education. Mrs. Bernal is survived by her husband Joe Bernal, sons Richard and Patrick Bernal, daughter Rebecca Villarreal, six grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her youngest son, Bernard Bernal, who passed away in 2016. Madam Speaker, San Antonio mourns the loss of a Hispanic icon. We will miss the music she played and the powerful voice she projected for equality. Her efforts benefited countless Texas families, including mine. Although she has passed, we take comfort remembering her through our heritage. I thank Mrs. Bernal for her fight. She will be missed. (Agredezco a la Senora Bernal, gracias por su lucha. Le vamos extranar.)

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today commemorating the 25th anniversary of the University Health CareLink. For more than two decades, CareLink has provided invaluable healthcare services to Bexar County's most vulnerable residents. I am honored to recognize their efforts this day. Bexar County has long struggled to make sure that every resident can access consistent, high-quality health care. Many county residents live below the poverty line, are uninsured, and struggle to get by. Since 1997, CareLink under University Health System has stepped up to meet the needs facing our less fortunate. University Health has transformed the lives of the uninsured by offering its members comprehensive and flexible care based on each member's unique circumstance. For 25 years CareLink has provided 461,472 low-income, uninsured residents access to a full range of medical services. CareLink now averages 27,850 members each month and connects 100 percent of its members with a health care provider. CareLink has become a model for the nation in providing access to essential and affordable health care services. Madam Speaker, please join me in recognizing 25 years of invaluable service by University Health CareLink. I am confident that they will continue to provide vital services to our community for years to come.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, the gun violence epidemic has horribly impacted American communities across the Nation. Texas is no exception, and neither was El Paso. In 2019 the El Paso community was shaken to its core when a crazed gunman drove more than 11 hours to stop what he called the ``Hispanic invasion of Texas.'' All of us know that his hatred and bigotry was encouraged from the highest levels of our government and played upon stereotypes developed in American media from hard news to Hollywood for generations. This appalling event led to 23 innocent lives being cut short and dozens injured in the deadliest targeted attack on Latinos in modern American history. But El Paso did not collapse in the face of tragedy. Instead, they banded together to mourn their loved ones and rebuild their community, and we, as Americans, stood with them. That summer we were all ``El Paso strong.'' By designating the El Paso Community Healing Garden as a federally recognized national memorial site, we will continue to honor the victims and provide solace to survivors who have shown their remarkable strength and resiliency on their path to healing. Madam Speaker, I strongly support my friend, Representative Escobar's, bill, H.R. 4380, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I proudly represent what is known as ``Military City U.S.A.,'' San Antonio, Texas, the home to hundreds, if not thousands, of veterans who, like others across the country, were exposed to open-air burn pits whose lives have been ruined, and for some, it has cost them their life. We have to stand up for our veterans the way they stood up for our country when they were on Active Duty. Yet, what I keep hearing from Republicans is that there is not enough information. There is not enough money. Mr. Speaker, how often do you hear people around here ask whether it is too expensive to buy a tank, whether it is too expensive to buy a jet or an aircraft carrier. Yet, when it comes to our men and women in uniform, who go risk their lives on behalf of our country and our allies, the question coming from Republicans is whether it is too expensive. Why don't you just tell them that it is too goddamned expensive to save their lives? Why don't you tell them that they are not worth the money? Because what you are saying is that you want tax cuts for billionaires and cancer for veterans.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 956 to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Earlier today, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine and demand an immediate withdrawal of their forces from Ukraine. Only four nations out of 193 stood with Russia. 140 stood with Ukraine. The world is united in condemning this invasion, and the House of Representatives must speak as one and lead the way. As we debate, Russian attacks on Ukrainian civilians continue. Hundreds of thousands huddle in bomb shelters. Over 600,000 Ukrainians have already fled the country. Vladimir Putin is on a disastrous quest to rebuild the Russian empire at the expense of Ukrainian sovereignty. This should be a simple vote. Now is our chance to show that Congress stands with the people of Ukraine. Now is our time to do what is right. That is why I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise to oppose Representative Steel's amendment.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Representative Steel and I share a lot of the same concerns about China, in fact: its human rights record; unfair competition; its aggression in the South China Sea, for example; its troublesome Belt and Road Initiative. However, this amendment misstates how global climate negotiations work. The United Nations climate negotiations are designed to have countries submit their own nationally determined climate mitigation goals. They are designed this way to ensure that no one can tell America what our climate policies should be. I would think that my Republican colleagues would understand and support that. We should be doing everything we can to pressure each country, particularly China, which is the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gasses, as the Representative mentioned, to upgrade its commitments and commit to more ambitious nationally determined contributions. The Biden administration and the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Secretary John Kerry, have been clear that the People's Republic of China must make stronger commitments to cutting its carbon emissions. The Government of China has said that they are targeting carbon neutrality before 2060. Well, that is clearly too late. The world needs to reach net zero by 2050 at the latest. I completely agree that the United States must put pressure on China to reach net zero at a faster pace, but arbitrarily tying it to our timeline isn't the way to do that. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, we agree that the United States should do everything possible to put pressure on China to reduce emissions and to combat climate change. However, this is a bad way to do it. We can treat the climate challenge as an opportunity for America to shine, to rise to the occasion and show the world that they can rely on us, and that includes pressuring other nations to also combat climate change. Whether my colleagues across the aisle acknowledge it or not, the world is transitioning to renewable energy and electric vehicles. The choice we face is whether our Nation leads in this century as we did in the last, or whether we allow others to lead instead. My home State of Texas recognizes this. We may be the fossil fuel capital of the United States, and have been for a long time, but we are also the wind energy capital of the United States. The task ahead of us is to pressure and verify to ensure China meets its goals. We need to do that bilaterally, and we need to hold China accountable in multilateral forums. This amendment only distracts from that important task, and I urge my colleagues to oppose it. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to amendment 56 by Representative Crenshaw.