Eliot Engel

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me again thank Mr. Smith and Chairman Royce for their hard work and leadership. The violence and suffering that has overtaken Syria and Iraq in recent years is heartbreaking, and it is infuriating, but we cannot allow the magnitude of the problem to discourage us from trying to work toward a solution step by step. This bill puts a focus on some of the most vulnerable groups caught up in this crisis. It will help to ease their plight, and it will help to provide them a measure of justice. Before I close, Mr. Speaker, I again thank you, Mr. Poe, for your friendship and for your hard work, and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for her friendship and her hard work. Chairman Royce just stepped out, but I want to say that we always talk about the bipartisan work that we have done on the Foreign Affairs Committee. We always say that the Foreign Affairs Committee is the most bipartisan committee in Congress, and it should be. It has to be because partisanship really should stop at the water's edge. When we are talking about global interests, we have the same interests. That is one of the wonderful things about the Foreign Affairs Committee. I don't know if I will have a chance to say this again in this Congress, so that is why I want to say it now: Ed Royce has been a magnificent chairman and a magnificent friend. He has led this committee into bipartisanship on virtually all matters involving the global stage, and we have become a more effective committee because of his leadership. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Royce for a job well done. It has been a pleasure serving with him and all the members on the committee. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this measure. A huge amount of work has gone into this bill. I especially thank Representative Smith of New Jersey, who has been a tireless advocate on behalf of victims of genocide. He always has been, and he always will be. His efforts have helped to ensure that religious minorities still have a place in Iraq and Syria, that their presence remains part of the fabric of the Middle East. ISIS sought to eliminate religious minorities. That is why Congress fought to designate the crimes against them genocide. The House Foreign Affairs Committee has heard hours upon hours of testimony from genocide victims: a Yazidi man recounting the beheading of thousands of Yazidi fighters, women who detailed gang rape and sex slavery. We heard from a number of survivors that international assistance was not moving quickly enough to get people resettled in their homes and communities of origin. This bill would help to ease those people's suffering and bring to justice those who are responsible. It would authorize assistance for groups investigating and prosecuting crimes against humanity and war crimes. And it would require our government to identify those who are vulnerable to genocide and war crimes, to help with their recovery and stability in the future. This bill will be an important tool in reaching our goal in Iraq and Syria, preventing the resurgence of ISIS. We cannot allow this barbaric group to take over territory or control people ever again. In Iraq, this means addressing the root causes of conflict that motivated people to join an extremist organization like ISIS in the first place. It also means pushing back on Iranian influence because Iran envisions an Iraq overcome by sectarian strife and intolerance. In Syria, that means finding a political solution that does not include Assad. Bashar al-Assad is a magnet for extremism, and he continues to employ the worst violence against his own people. Since Assad's thugs took the life of the first protester in Syria, more than half a million more Syrians have been killed, and more than 11 million people have lost their homes. I remain convinced and concerned about what our military is doing in Syria. In the waning days of ISIS in Syria, how do we intend to justify the presence of our military? This is a slippery slope to perpetual American boots on the ground, and we have to be careful. In addition, if my legislation, the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, becomes law, we can provide the administration the leverage it needs to push for a political solution to provide justice to Assad's many victims and to prevent the United States from getting further mired into another war in the Middle East. The only solution to the crisis in Syria is a political solution, and the Caesar Act would help pave a path toward that sustainable, political solution. I urge the other body to pass the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act so we can get it to the President's desk. I believe the other body would pass my bill, but for a single member of that body who is holding it up for reasons which members of both parties don't understand. I urge him to lift that hold so that this bill can become law. Mr. Speaker, I also urge my colleagues to pass the bill before us today, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), an original cosponsor of the bill.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This is both a happy and sad moment for me. I am happy because, in the new Congress, I will be in the majority. But I am sad because so many of my friends are retiring, not coming back. I mentioned my good friend Mr. Poe before, and I just want to mention our now Speaker up here, my good friend, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. We have been working together for more than 25 years in passing all kinds of important legislation involving people's support around the world, making lives a little bit better for people, and working here to promote democracy at home. I want to have the opportunity to say that this Congress will be missing you. I know I will be missing you, and I know we will be in touch. You are the kind of Member that we need more of, someone who always reached across the aisle, someone who always worked in a bipartisan manner, and someone who was effective and intelligent. I am just proud to call you my friend. I had to say that. So I am going to close and say that Iraq is at a crossroads. We have another speaker? I am sorry. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume. Madam Speaker, it seems like we are playing revolving or musical chairs, but it is so good, because I get to see all my friends from different angles. Madam Speaker, Iraq is at a crossroads. And as someone who wants to see Iraq succeed in promoting pluralism and tolerance, I support this legislation because it will help Iraqis build a better future. This bill makes it clear that the United States will not side with those who continue to foment sectarian strife. No matter where you are from, if you undermine the democratic process in Iraq, if you threaten peace and stability there, if you prevent the delivery of humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people, you will be penalized. That is why this bill is so important. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass H.R. 4591 and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I thank Representatives Kinzinger, Poe, and Suozzi for their bipartisan leadership on this legislation. And, of course, I thank Chairman Royce for working with me to get this legislation into shape for the floor. The vision that Democrats and Republicans have for Iraq is very similar. We all want to see Iraqis work together to provide for a more prosperous future for their country. We want the greatest number of Iraqis to access the wealth of their country's natural resources. We want to see Iraqis focus more on what unites them than what divides them. We want to prevent the resurgence of ISIS and the next generation of ISIS or al-Qaida. We want to protect religious minorities. That is why it is so important to bring this legislation to the floor today. That is why Republicans and Democrats worked together to find common ground on American policies in Iraq. Especially after the Iraqi election, when it remains unclear which path Iraq will choose, we want to demonstrate to the Iraqi people that we support their efforts to build a better country. This bill penalizes those who want to exploit Iraq's sectarian differences and those who use violence toward those ends. It also establishes a separate watch list to help keep track of proxy groups in Iraq that are doing the bidding of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. It sends the message that those in power must prioritize answering to the Iraqi people and not to Iran. We hope that this legislation will empower those who seek a better future for Iraq and its people. I am glad to support H.R. 4591, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this measure. This is a good bill. I thank its authors and Chairman Royce for bringing it forward. I will discuss its merits in a moment because I can't, in good conscience, stand on the House floor and talk about our economic partnership with Mexico and not speak for a moment on what is happening right now on our southern border. The President tweeted that the migrants seeking asylum in our country are stone-cold criminals. I have seen the images, and I don't see stone-cold criminals. I see children with bare feet. I see hungry mothers. I see toddlers in diapers. I see desperate fathers. And I see tear gas being lobbed from the United States into Mexico. The President says not to worry. He says it is a very safe sort of tear gas. The American people aren't stupid. The American people know what this country stands for. They know we are a nation of immigrants. They know that America doesn't kick people when they are down or slam the door on those fleeing poverty and violence. I hope the President gets the message. Now, the measure before us deals with our incredibly important relationship with our neighbor to the south, Mexico. Mexico is our close friend and ally, our third largest trading partner, and a country with which we share extraordinarily close cultural and person-to-person ties. This bill builds on the Obama administration's 100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative by requiring the Secretary of State to expand the exchange programs that allow our students and business leaders to share and learn from each other. There is no better way to advance the future of our bilateral ties than by allowing young people and professionals to experience what makes each of our countries unique. It is also critical that we send a strong message to the Mexican people that the United States Congress will not walk away from them, despite any damage done to our relationship over the past several years. As I have said many times in the Foreign Affairs Committee and on the House floor, the United States should be in the business of building bridges, not walls, to our friends in Mexico. The timing of this legislation could not be more ideal. Mr. Speaker, 4 days from now, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will be sworn in as President of Mexico. By passing this measure today, the House of Representatives is recommitting itself to our bilateral relationship. We are sending a loud and clear message that the prosperity of our countries' futures depends on an enduring U.S.-Mexico relationship. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar), the author of this bill.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I close by again emphasizing the importance of the U.S.- Mexico relationship. For so many years, this relationship was characterized by mistrust. That has changed over the past two decades. As just one example, bilateral cooperation on counternarcotics is now the norm and led to the extradition of drug kingpin El Chapo Guzman to the United States in the last hours of the Obama administration. He is on trial now in an American court. Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago, it would have been hard to imagine coming to the House floor in support of a bipartisan bill on educational exchanges with Mexico. Now a bill like this will glide through the House with little opposition. But we cannot take this cooperation for granted. Far too much is at stake to allow the bilateral relationship between the United States and Mexico to deteriorate. There is a new government, a new leader of Mexico coming in, and I hope we can very swiftly establish the good relationship that our two countries have and not dwell on some of the recent discussions and problems involving a wall or anything else. So I thank my colleagues for joining me in supporting this legislation to double down on the successes in the U.S.-Mexico partnership. I thank Chairman Royce, I thank the sponsors of this bill, I thank Mr. Cuellar, and I thank all our colleagues for supporting this bill. I urge its immediate passage. The U.S.-Mexico partnership is one of our most important partnerships, and the House of Representatives ought to be doing everything it can to enhance that relationship, and that is one of the things we are doing by passing this bill today. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), the lead Democrat on this bill and the ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass).

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our staff members who made this bill possible, particularly Lesley Warner of my staff. We traveled to the Congo in 2016 with Chairman Royce and had very important meetings there, frustrating but important meetings. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this measure. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, borders nine other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and positive or negative events there often impact the entire region. This is why stability in the DRC is a priority not for that country's people, but for many other countries, including the United States. That is why Chairman Royce and I led a codel there and why so many of our other members on the Foreign Affairs Committee--Mr. Smith and Ms. Bass--have been there and have really cared about the region. For years, the DRC has been on the brink of crisis. More than 13 million people need humanitarian support, including 7.8 million children. Across the country, violent conflicts have intensified, including near the city of Beni, where health workers are battling a deadly Ebola outbreak. The current government, as my colleagues mentioned before, has shown a concerning disregard for democracy and the country's constitution, with troubling restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly and disturbing reports of Congolese security forces violating the human rights of peaceful protestors. Next month, the DRC will hold elections, as my colleagues have mentioned, that were supposed to be held back in December of 2016. It is a critical time for the United States to show that we are committed to the DRC having a peaceful political transition and moving toward accountable, democratic governance. The Democratic Republic of the Congo Democracy and Accountability Act, this bill, asks the administration to continue providing robust humanitarian and development assistance to the people of the DRC. It also requires the President to submit a report to Congress detailing the extent to which Congolese Government officials are involved in human rights abuses against civilians and codifies previous executive orders that target the property and interests of any persons responsible for actions that threaten the stability of the DRC. It is important that we continue leading the international community to address the many challenges in the DRC. That is why this bill asks the administration to keep the DRC on the U.N. Security Council agenda and work to ensure the U.N. peacekeeping mission there has sufficient means to operate effectively. After decades of conflict and instability, the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo deserve a peaceful democratic transition. By passing this bill today, we show that the House is committed to supporting that process. Mr. Speaker, it is in the national security interest of the United States to support a peaceful political transition and accountable governance in the DRC. With elections scheduled for next month, this bill comes at a critical time. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, again, I want to thank the bipartisan group of lawmakers who worked with me on this bill--Mr. Poe, Mr. McCaul--and I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership, as always. After 17 years of war with no end in sight, we should all be able to understand the value of preventing conflicts before they start. We have learned a lot about what works and what doesn't when it comes to stabilizing conflicts and preventing violence from breaking out. This bill applies those lessons to American policy. By addressing the root causes of violence, we get closer to a safer and more stable, prosperous world. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the passage of this measure. I encourage my colleagues to do the same, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. I am proud to have authored this bipartisan piece of legislation, and I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership in bringing it to the floor. I also want to thank Congressmen Poe, McCaul, Keating, and Adam Smith for joining me as original cosponsors. Around the world, levels of violence are at a 25-year high, driving massive instability. This is a global security threat, as fragile, unstable states are breeding grounds for criminals and terrorists. There is a significant economic toll as well. Violence and instability undercut American investment and development efforts, and cost the global economy nearly $15 trillion a year. But probably worst of all, this violence and instability has created a humanitarian catastrophe. The world now faces an unprecedented refugee crisis: 68.5 million people have left their homes. This is the highest level ever recorded. Naturally, we need to do more to end this violence and instability, and prevent it from happening in the first place. Over the years, we have learned a lot about what works to stabilize conflicts and prevent violence from breaking out. We need to update our government policies to implement those lessons. This bill does just that by establishing an initiative to reduce fragility and violence, and to align American policy and programs with best practices. It will require the State Department, USAID, and the Department of Defense to coordinate their diplomatic, development, and security activities, with a focus on at least six priority countries or regions. It also requires innovative approaches to coordinate our work with partners, measure results, and adapt to changing conditions. Finally, it mandates robust oversight to ensure our efforts are implemented effectively. The Global Fragility and Violence Reduction Act is an important step in thwarting many of the most devastating crises facing the world right now and preventing new ones from emerging in the future. I am very happy to have authored this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in passing it today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) who just spoke, I think it is very appropriate now, as the Congress is moving to an end, to thank him for his hard work and for his good friendship. He really is a Member's Member and is really indicative of the bipartisan showing that we had for many, many years on the Foreign Affairs Committee. We are going to miss the gentleman on the committee, and we hope he will continue to watch us and call us and keep in touch with us because he truly is a fine Member and someone whom I am really proud to call my friend. And if I may so say, and that is just the way it is. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to be an original cosponsor of House Resolution 1138, and I wholeheartedly support its passage. H. Res. 1138 condemns the heinous anti-Semitic attack on the building housing three congregations, Tree of Life, Dor Hadash, and New Light in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that resulted in the deaths of 11 innocent people. The resolution honors the memory of the victims of the attack, as well as offers condolences to and expresses support for their families, friends, and community. I am saddened and outraged by this hateful act. Unfortunately, anti- Semitic incidents have been on the rise--increasing 57 percent in 2017. This horrific shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue is yet another manifestation of this ancient hatred. Congress stands united in condemning the deadly attack on the Tree of Life synagogue, remembering all who were taken from us on that fateful day, and wishing speedy recovery for those who survived. Last week, Members of Congress passed this bill, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans who oppose intolerance. The freedom to worship is a core principle of this nation--one that our forefathers enshrined in our Constitution to protect us all from undue prosecution. As a Jewish Member of Congress, I stand ready to fiercely defend the right of all Americans to freely exercise their religious beliefs. With anti-Semitism on the rise, we must redouble our efforts to eradicate it at home and abroad. I pray for the victims of the Tree of Life shooting and their families, and I know that our community will work to promote religious tolerance and freedom everywhere.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum), who is a great advocate for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from California an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I, again, want to thank Mr. McCaul for his hard work on this measure and to Chairman Royce for moving it forward. This bill authorizes a very important program that strengthens our efforts to assist partners in the Sahel and Maghreb to counter terrorism and violent extremism. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the gentleman from New York, the Honorable Joseph D. Morelle, be permitted to take the oath of office today. His certificate of election has not arrived, but there is no contest and no question has been raised with regard to his election.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, as co-dean of the New York delegation, along with my colleague Congresswoman Lowey, the New York delegation is pleased to welcome our newest colleague, Joe Morelle, representing New York's 25th District in upstate New York. Joe has been elected to the seat of our beloved and departed colleague Louise Slaughter. Joe hails from Irondequoit and, like myself, served in the New York State Assembly. He was elected to that body in 1990 and became majority leader in 2013. He graduated from SUNY Geneseo with a bachelor's degree in political science and began his political career at age 28 as a Monroe County legislator. Congressman Morelle and his wife, Mary Beth, are well known and well loved, and we are so happy to have Joe Morelle as one of our colleagues. Congratulations, Joe. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Morelle).

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in support of this measure. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Donovan for his work on this resolution which reaffirms America's relationship with Liberia and calls for the Government of Liberia to hold accountable those who carried out mass violence and atrocities during the country's civil war in the 1990s. That war resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 people and was marked by gross human rights violations. In the wake of this conflict, the Liberian Government started working to investigate the horrific crimes committed during the war. In 2005, a Truth and Reconciliation Commission put forward recommendations to follow through on those efforts. But now, 10 years later, the Government of Liberia still hasn't fully implemented those recommendations. Liberia, as the chairman pointed out, and the United States share close historical, political, and economic ties. We in the United States are committed to helping Liberia prosper as a stable democracy. The 2017 elections were an important turning point. This was the country's first peaceful democratic transition of power since 1944. Today's measure rightly congratulates Liberia for this achievement. For Liberia to fully move forward, it must deal with its past. So this resolution urges Liberia to implement the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. There must be justice and accountability for the atrocities committed during Liberia's Civil War. Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today is a very important step to continue our strong relationship with Liberia, and I am happy to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.