Mario Diaz-Balart

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. 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 H.R. 8771, and that I may include tabular material on the same.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I also want to apologize, because I am getting over this pretty bad cold, and so I hope my voice will stand up for the hours that we have here on the floor. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to speak on the fiscal year 2025 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill for floor consideration here today. The bill totals $51.7 billion, which is a cut, a reduction, of $7.6 billion from the fiscal year 2024 enacted level. That is 11 percent less than enacted and nearly 20 percent below the President's budget request. This allocation and the policies within the bill will allow us to build on important changes that House Republicans fought hard to secure in the fiscal year 2024 bill signed into law only a few months ago. You are probably going to hear it now. There are some who will say that cuts of this magnitude jeopardize the United States' leadership in the world, that we are abandoning our leadership, and that the world will be less safe. Let me be very clear. I completely disagree. In fact, it is just the opposite. The priorities in this bill are crystal clear. If you are a friend or an ally of the United States, this bill supports you. If you are an adversary or are cozying up to our adversaries, then frankly, no, you are not going to like this bill. The bill eliminates controversial or ineffective programs that, frankly, American taxpayers do not support and that, frankly, again, even our allies and partners don't support either. This is key: Even with the deep cuts to the top-line spending, this bill fully funds our ally Israel and increases funding over the President's request to counter Communist China and to combat the flow of fentanyl into our country, again while spending less money overall. Let me tell you what this bill does not do, what this bill does not fund, Mr. Chairman. Despite the Biden administration's request, this bill will not fund organizations that employ terrorists, like UNRWA. It does not fund organizations that provide a platform on the global stage for the worst human rights abusers, like the Human Rights Council, or that take bogus legal action against Israel, as it fights for its very existence, like the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice. No, this bill does not fund organizations that cower to Communist China and deny Taiwan even observer status, like the World Health Organization. This bill also does not pay for other countries' climate reparations, like the Loss and Damages Fund. This bill certainly does not permit funds to promote and mobilize illegal migration to the United States' southern border through organizations exploiting this administration's dangerous open-border policies. Yes, this bill stops funding to all of those organizations and programs for the reasons that I mentioned, not just because they are a waste of money, which would be reason enough, but because those organizations are actually working against our interests and those of our allies while utilizing American taxpayer money to do so. I will take a moment to address how this bill treats, for example, the United Nations. This bill acknowledges the mockery that is the U.N., unfortunately, and zeros out the U.N. regular budget. The U.N. does not deserve one more dime of taxpayer money. It just doesn't. The hypocrisy and the moral decay at the U.N. has only gotten worse and is rearing its ugly head time and time again with repeated, brazen, anti-Semitic attacks against Israel. That is why this bill builds on, frankly, key wins from fiscal year 2024 and adds new conditions on anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias throughout the United Nations and other international organizations. This should be no surprise. Actions have consequences. At least they should. The U.N. will feel the consequences of their actions in this bill. This legislation makes confronting the national security threat posed by the Communist Chinese Party a top priority. It provides $2.1 billion to counter the malign influence of the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. Note this: That is above the President's request despite spending less money overall. It also provides $500 million for foreign military financing for Taiwan's security needs and prioritizes funding for other critical partners in the Indo-Pacific, including the Philippines and the Pacific Island countries. I would like to now turn to our hemisphere, which is another top priority in this bill, which impacts all Americans. This bill includes funding to combat the trafficking of opiates, and in particular fentanyl, which is killing so many young Americans. This bill also holds accountable governments failing to cooperate on countering narcotics and other issues of critical importance to the United States and the American people. Let me give you this example. No funds in this bill can go to Mexico until a certification is made that an agreement is in place to restore water deliveries owed to the United States from Mexico. The bill increases support for freedom and democracy for the people of Cuba, in this hemisphere, by providing $35 million for democracy funding and $35 million for the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. It also reins in attempts by the Biden administration to promote the so-called entrepreneurs in Cuba's closed, communist economy. Let's be very clear. The only truly independent entrepreneurs in Cuba are in prison. While the Cuban people are risking their lives to demand true freedom and hitting the streets to demand true freedom, unfortunately, the Biden administration is attempting to throw their oppressors a lifeline with unilateral sanction relief. That is why the language is even further tightened this year. Finally, this bill includes all longstanding pro-life protections, including a prohibition on all taxpayer funds from being used to pay for abortion. It builds on those requirements by applying the Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance policy to all global health funding. You see, Mr. Chairman, it promotes American values by continuing important funding for democracy, increasing funding for religious freedom programs abroad, supporting faith-based organizations that are helping to deliver the United States foreign assistance, and eliminating programs that use taxpayer dollars for, frankly, controversial or ineffective agendas. Now, before I close, Mr. Chairman, if I may, I thank the amazing staff from the Appropriations Committee for their work on the bill. Also, I thank my personal office staff who have worked amazingly hard with very little time, as you know, on this important bill. Again, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for bringing this legislation to the floor. I am actually thanking the Speaker of the House for bringing this legislation to the floor which supports our allies. It protects our national security in a smart, efficient, and thoughtful way. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, pursuant to House Resolution 1316, I offer amendments en bloc.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, this bill does more for our national security and our allies with less taxpayer money. That is precisely how government is supposed to work. You do more and better with less money. That is how government is supposed to work. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this good bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bipartisan en bloc amendment, which represents amendments with support from both sides of the aisle. The amendment includes 32 noncontroversial amendments that advance the priorities of both sides, including support for Taiwan, training for security partners in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the vital work of the Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and improving passport processing. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on June 3rd as I had an immovable commitment. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 233, H. Res. 1215, and YEA on Roll Call No. 234, H.R. 6983.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote on May 14th and May 15th as I had an immovable commitment. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 196; YEA on Roll Call No. 197; YEA on Roll Call No. 200; YEA on Roll Call No. 204; YEA on Roll Call No. 203; YEA on Roll Call No. 202; YEA on Roll Call No. 201; YEA on Roll Call No. 205; YEA on Roll Call No. 206; YEA on Roll Call No. 207; YEA on Roll Call No. 208; YEA on Roll Call No. 209; YEA on Roll Call No. 210; YEA on Roll Call No. 211; and YEA on Roll Call No. 212.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Israel Security Assistance Support Act. The reason we are here is because the Biden administration, despite all the rhetoric, has broken its so-called ironclad commitment to Israel by halting shipments of weapons at a time when Israel needs them the most. These are weapons not only that Israel has asked for but that President Biden himself asked Congress to provide. This administration's argument is that the bill undermines the President's ability to ``execute an effective foreign policy.'' Does anyone really believe that this administration has an effective foreign policy? Do I need to remind my colleagues of what the former Secretary of Defense, Mr. Gates, said of Mr. Biden, that ``he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades''? What the administration doesn't understand, Mr. Speaker, is what an effective foreign policy requires. It requires having the ability to distinguish allies from enemies, those fighting for their lives in self-defense versus terrorists seeking to kill, harm, and destroy them. Israel must do what is necessary to eradicate that depraved terrorist group, Hamas, a proxy of terrorist state Iran, the same Iran which also, for the first time ever, under the weakness of this administration, directly attacked Israel. Israel needs these weapons to eradicate the terrorists who have vowed the destruction of Israel, and Israel needs it to protect itself and its people. Withholding vital resources jeopardizes not only Israel's ability to defend itself but also our national security by harming and weakening our strongest ally. In the Biden administration's veto threat, Mr. Speaker, it says that the rationale was to prevent unintended consequences, with no other explanation, by the way. What about the likely consequences of failure to fully support Israel now when they need it? Does the administration doubt that Hamas will seize any opening, any opportunity, to further maim, torture, and kill? Congress approved the supplemental in a bipartisan way, and we expect the administration to follow the law and to deliver. We cannot stand by while the Biden administration tries to force Israel to fight for its very own existence with one hand tied behind its back. I thank my colleagues, Chairman Calvert, Chairman Cole, Chairman Joyce, the Speaker, and Leader Scalise, for bringing this very important bill to the floor. It is time to tell the administration: Keep your word. Support Israel. Follow the law. Send the weapons that you, Mr. President, and Israel requested.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I was unable to vote during the week of April 29th through May 1st, as I was in the district recovering from a medical procedure. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on H.R. 4866, Roll Call No. 153; YEA on H.R. 4755, Roll Call No. 154; YEA on H. Res. Roll Call No. 1173, Roll Call No. 163; YEA on H.R 529, Roll Call No. 155; YEA on H.R. 4824, Roll Call No. 156; YEA on H.R. 4877, Roll Call No. 157; YEA on H.R. 6093, Roll Call No. 158; YEA ON H.R. 3738, Roll Call No. 159, YEA on H.R. 4016, Roll Call No. 160; YEA on H.R. 1767, Roll Call 161; YEA on H.R. 3195, Roll Call No. 171; YEA on H.R. 764, Roll Call No. 169; YEA on H.R. 615, Roll Call No. 167; YEA on H.R. 3397, Roll Call No, 165; YEA on H. Res. 1112, Roll Call No. 176; YEA on H.R. 6090, Roll Call No. 172; and YEA on H.R. 6285, Roll Call No. 174.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 8035.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 8035, the Ukraine Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, as well as the other two national security supplemental bills and a fourth bill that is full of strong conservative policy priorities. As we stand here today, a strategic military troika of evil sits over the horizon marching toward the destruction of the values that we and our democratic allies hold so dear. We can either turn our heads away and hope to appease this great evil, or we can stand with our allies and confront this nefarious scourge. History has taught us that appeasement does not work. It was attempted not that long ago through the failed Obama-Clinton reset with the Communist KGB thug, Putin. That administration believed that Putin could be satiated with Georgia and Crimea. They were wrong, and today Putin's appetite has only grown. Now he wants all of Ukraine, tomorrow Moldova, the Baltics, and Poland? Madam Chair, history repeats itself. I am reminded that in 1947, Congress provided military and economic support for Greece and Turkiye, keeping them out of the hands of the Soviet Union. Today, this Congress has the chance to do the same by supporting these bills that confront the troika, and fully fund our security commitments to support Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine, which are confronting existential challenges to their very existence. The only way to stand up to Putin and others like him, in the words of Ronald Reagan, is peace through strength. That is why every Member voting ``yes'' on these bills is standing for today. This bill supports that principle, two-thirds of which will be spent here at home to investments in the U.S. defense industrial base and replenishing our military equipment. The supplemental also provides critical security assistance to help ensure that Ukraine has the training and weapons it needs to stop Putin, such as additional artillery rounds and air defense systems. Please take note of this, Madam Chair. This bill requires a clear strategy from the administration that defines and prioritizes U.S. national security interests in Ukraine. It also includes unprecedented oversight and accountability requirements, including robust funding for our Inspectors General and end use monitoring of U.S. defense transfers. Also, economic assistance to Ukraine is subject to extensive burden sharing and transparency requirements, including unprecedented cost matching by our European and other allies. Madam Chair, in addition, for the first time ever, this bill requires that the funding we provide to Ukraine for economic assistance be subjected to repayment to the United States of America. In sum, Madam Chairwoman, this is a critical bill that directly supports the national security interests of the United States. I urge a strong ``yes'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), the chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Edwards), who is a member of the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz).

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Self).