Eliot Engel

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5576, the Cyber Deterrence and Response Act of 2018. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this legislation authored by Congressman Yoho, who did great work with this bill, along with Chairman Royce and other members of our committee. Mr. Speaker, every day, America faces cyber threats from around the world. Countries, including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, have attacked our companies, our infrastructure, our government, and even the very heart of our democracy, our elections. The Cyber Deterrence and Response Act is a step in responding to these threats. This bill requires the President to impose sanctions on those who participate in a state-sponsored cyber attack against the United States. These far-reaching sanctions could be targeted to individuals, entities, and states themselves that perpetrate these attacks. These include attacks against critical infrastructure, public and private computer networks, and any sector that would jeopardize America's national security, foreign policy, economic health, or financial stability. This is a bipartisan, good bill, and I urge all Members to support it. But let me be clear: This bill does not do nearly enough to respond to Putin's attack on our democracy. We must continue to do this, but this is an important step and a very good step, and is indicative of the bipartisan cooperation that we have in the Foreign Affairs Committee, which is very, very important when we are dealing with foreign affairs. Our adversaries need to know that we are united, and that is what a bill like this does. So I congratulate Mr. Yoho for his hard work on this bill. It is a welcome effort to enhance our response to cyber attacks, but it is a Band-Aid on a bullet wound, if we don't do anything else. We need to keep doing these kinds of things. Those countries that would wish us ill, we have to let them know that we are not going to just stand idly by and be a target. In 2016, our Nation was attacked. The very core of our democratic process was hit by Russian cyber forces, and our government has been woefully negligent to adequately respond. I thank Republican leadership for bringing this bill forward, but we really need to address the critical issue of our vulnerability to these cyber attacks. If we do that, they will bring forward one of the many other stronger bills on this matter as well, for example, my bill that I introduced with Mr. Connolly, the SECURE Our Democracy Act; or the Secure America from Russian Interference Act, which includes my bill; and more than a dozen others. These bills constitute a strong, decisive response that matches the gravity of the threat we face. These bills would require the President to impose sanctions on those who attacked our elections in 2016 and would do much, much more to shore up our election system. For over a year, I have been pushing and pleading that the bill moves forward. I hope it will move forward as well. We need to go on record now and say whether we will do everything in our power to stop another attack on American democracy, or whether we will just step to the side with rhetoric and let it happen again. That is, again, why I am so happy to support this bill, because it shows that we are working together. But the point I want to make in collaboration with that is that we still have much more work to do. I know the committee, in a couple of weeks, is going to hold a very important hearing on Russia, and I think it is very important that we do that. Mr. Speaker, I again urge my colleagues to support this very good piece of legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate one of my constituents who is larger than life itself, Mr. Frank E. Marra. I want to wish you the happiest of birthdays as you turn 100, just the latest amazing milestone in an amazing life. The son of Italian immigrants, Frank, was the first of Arthur (Arturo) and Mary's (Carmelina) three sons born in New York City, just before the Armistice which ended World War I. Frank attended PS 57 Theodore Roosevelt High in the Bronx before answering the call to service. Frank would join the National Guard for a short period of time before enlisting in the U.S. Military in 1941. As a member of the U.S. Army's 258th Field Artillery, Frank trained for several months in the United Kingdom before his deployment in Europe. Frank fought the Axis powers in Normandy, through Northern France, Belgium in Ardennes, at the Battle of the Bulge, in Lichtenstein, Austria, and Germany. It has been said that Frank was the first soldier to fire an artillery shell into Nazi Germany, as our forces pushed forward to victory. Following WWII, Frank returned home, and married Cecilia Genovese, who had sent him care packages during his time in Europe. The two honeymooned across the country and settled in San Bruno, California. In late 1947, Frank and Cecilia returned to New York, and had their two sons, Albert, and Eugene. Frank and Cecilia had a remarkable romance, and were married an incredible 70 years, until Cecilia's passing 2 years ago at the age of 97. Mr. Speaker, Frank Marra has lived quite a life. He saw the stock market crash of 1929, the resulting Great Depression, and served during World War II. He saw the Yankees greats such as Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle play baseball, and witnessed the first men walk on the moon. He held down two jobs, which allowed him to send both his children to college and grad school, and he volunteered for many years at St. Bart's Church and the Jewish Home for the Blind. He danced with his wife at the weddings of two of his grandchildren and he has held in his arms three young great-grandchildren: Margaret, Cecilia, and Dominick. Frank Marra has experienced and achieved the American Dream, and his distinguished life deserves our honor and recognition. Happy birthday Frank, I wish you many more happy and healthy years to come.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, the United States-Turkey relationship continues to deteriorate. Turkey has long been an important American ally and key NATO member. However, this relationship has frayed in recent years, and I increasingly question whether Turkey's autocratic ruler, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is truly committed to his country's relationship with the United States. I must first express my profound disappointment in the Turkish court's verdict last week against American Pastor Andrew Brunson. While yesterday's step to move him from a Turkish prison to house arrest is a step in the right direction, it is still not enough. I call on Turkey to release Mr. Brunson, who has committed no crime, and return him to his family. I make the same call in support of NASA scientist Serkan Golge as well as other United States citizens and U.S. Mission local employees who are wrongly held. Two years ago, this month, a failed military coup took place in Turkey. This was a traumatic experience for the Turkish people, as it would have been for the citizens of any country. There is no doubt that it has been a challenge to effectively deal with this situation. Nevertheless, I remain deeply concerned about the Turkish government's response which has led to curtailing personal liberty and press freedoms and, in many cases, suspending or ignoring the rule of law. While the State of Emergency has expired, President Erdogan continues to crackdown on suspected opponents. Such actions are inconsistent with Turkey's international commitments to organizations such as NATO and with its aspiring European Union membership. In my experience, America's partnerships are strongest when our friends and allies are fully committed to democratic values. Among the challenges in our relationship with Turkey are the Turkish government's constraints on freedom and democracy. I believe that removing these constraints will substantially benefit both the United States and Turkey. I've heard the argument that because Turkey lives in a dangerous neighborhood, it must take bold actions to preserve its own security. There is no doubt that Turkey faces threats from an array of terrorist groups, a murderous Syrian regime headed by Bashar al-Assad, and other destabilizing influences across the region. But the best way for Turkey to meet these challenges is in partnership with the United States and other NATO allies. This is why I am supremely alarmed that Turkey is considering purchasing a Russian air-defense system rather than a NATO air-defense system. The operation of a non-NATO system puts the security of NATO members at serious risk and is inconsistent with the spirit of the alliance, not to mention interoperability among NATO member states. The Alliance understands Turkey's desire for air defense and wants to help, but Ankara's continued stated intention to acquire the S-400 is an obstacle to NATO's ability to assist and sends a signal that Ankara wants to break away on core defense issues. In the time left before Turkey potentially makes a serious miscalculation, there is a key fact to highlight: the United States has offered Turkey two air and missile defense systems, including the Patriot PAC-3 system, which would fulfill Turkey's defense needs, but ultimate receipt and delivery of the Patriot is contingent on Turkey cancelling the S-400 deal. For these reasons, I, like many of my colleagues, remain willing to work with Turkey in order to support its purchase of a NATO air defense system. But, I want to be clear: Turkey must demonstrate its commitment to its relationship with the United States and NATO. It can do so by taking the steps I previously noted, including releasing Mr. Brunson, Mr. Golge, and others; enhancing Turkish personal freedoms and promoting the rule of law; and acquiring a NATO, rather than Russian, air-defense system. No doubt, the United States has other important differences with Ankara, including its difficult relations with Israel, its occupation of Cyprus, and its improving ties with Moscow. But, should Turkey pursue the course I've outlined, it would represent an important step toward patching up some of our key differences. Like many of my colleagues, I wish that our relationship with Turkey were on better footing. Turkey has been a strong NATO partner for decades. For the good of both the United States and Turkey, NATO, and the region, we must work to improve this relationship.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to discuss the Conference Report on the National Defense Authorization Act for 2019. I support the NDAA legislation and will vote for its adoption on the House Floor today, but I have serious reservations about how the Speaker's protocol on outside conferees was implemented for the conference on this bill. As a response to this problem, I chose not to sign the conference report. The Speaker's protocol is not new, but it has become increasingly problematic for the Foreign Affairs Committee, on which I serve as the Ranking Member. Every year, the NDAA includes more than a hundred provisions that affect the jurisdiction of our committee. I take our responsibilities to review and negotiate these provisions extremely seriously. Unfortunately, under the Speaker's protocol, we are not appointed as outside conferees on provisions the Speaker or parliamentarians consider to be minor. I understand the motivation behind this protocol. The conference process has to operate efficiently. However, many provisions that are deemed minor under the protocol are in fact far from minor. They extend major programs or mandate congressional oversight of critical issues. The Foreign Affairs Committee brings an important perspective that is distinct from the perspective of the Armed Services Committee, and we should have a formal role in all provisions under our jurisdiction. If the committee of jurisdiction on foreign policy matters is not allowed to have conferees on important areas of the bill, then our only alternative is to claim sequential jurisdiction over the committee- reported NDAA and act on it prior to House consideration. I want to thank Ranking Member Smith, and his staff, for working closely with us during the conference this year. They included us fully in the process, and we are deeply grateful for this cooperation. But we need to ensure we are not just consulted, but also named as outside conferees on the entire range of provisions that fall into our jurisdiction. I strongly support the goals of the National Defense Authorization Act, and I look forward to working with the Speaker and the Office of the Parliamentarian next year to ensure that the Foreign Affairs Committee is a full participant. Mr. DeFazio. Mr. Speaker, today, I will vote against the Conference Report for H.R. 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. The legislation includes several provisions that I strongly support, including giving servicemen and women a well-deserved raise of 2.6 percent. Those who serve in uniform have made extraordinary sacrifices for our country and have earned and deserve a pay raise. It also includes $6.3 billion, the largest amount ever, for the European Deterrence Initiative to help protect Eastern Europe from further Russian aggression. Despite these important initiatives, I have strong concerns with a number of provisions included in the Conference Report. This legislation authorizes more than $708 billion, including $69 billion to the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund, an account which is not counted in the budget and is not paid for. It adds to the deficit and is used as a slush fund by the Pentagon. Unlike every other federal agency, the Department of Defense (DOD) has yet to complete a financial audit; taxpayers deserve to know how the biggest bureaucracy in the federal government spends their money. In fact, a shocking report released in December 2016 exposed $125 billion in waste that the Pentagon tried to hide from the public. I refuse to support increased bureaucratic waste at the expense of American taxpayers and our men and women in uniform. A more accountable and transparent department would ensure taxpayer dollars are directed towards the needs of our troops and the benefits they deserve, rather than buying unnecessary weapon systems and giving the president a blank check to fund wars Congress hasn't authorized. I have always advocated for maintaining Congress's constitutionally- confirmed prerogative to declare war under the War Powers Act and limiting the President's authority to engage in armed conflict without the consent of Congress. I strongly oppose the NDAA's continued authorization of spending for wars that are not congressionally approved. The Pentagon uses the 2001 Authorization of Use of Military Force (AUMF) to continue to justify the 17 years our troops have been fighting in the Middle East. President Trump has sent troops to Syria, Yemen, and elsewhere without seeking a new AUMF, a violation of the War Powers Act. Additionally, the bill prohibits the closing of Guantanamo Bay, which costs more than $100 million each year to house 41 prisoners and has been used as a top recruiting tool by terrorists. The prison at Guantanamo Bay has been a black eye for the United States, has eroded relationships with our allies, undermined U.S. missions abroad, and put U.S. citizens and our troops at risk of retaliation. Congress can make responsible cuts to our defense budget without jeopardizing the safety of our troops or undermining our national security. Fiscal responsibility and accountability at the Pentagon would allow for funds to be better spent supporting the basic needs of our troops, meeting our obligations to veterans of past wars, and ensuring our true defense needs are prioritized.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise because we will soon have a chance to vote on legislation that would punish those who attacked American democracy in 2016 and would deter anyone who tries to do so in the future. The bill I introduced with Mr. Connolly, the SECURE Our Democracy Act, would slap tough sanctions on anyone found to interfere with an American election from overseas. It goes back to 2015, so it would include those who tried to put their thumb on the scale in favor of Donald Trump. We first introduced this bill in January of 2017, when it was becoming clear that Russia had waged a cyber warfare campaign against our election. Our updated version of this bill includes new congressional oversight provisions. Why? Because even if this bill passes, we don't trust the President to do the right thing, quite frankly. We don't believe he will do what it takes to protect our democracy, even after his own administration has told us over and over that Russia is at it again. After standing next to Vladimir Putin and accepting his lies over the unanimous conclusion of our intelligence community, how could we? So when the next vote is called, my friends on the other side of the aisle have a choice to make. Will they vote to say to Putin, to our chief adversary, that we won't tolerate his attacks on our democracy, or will they again cede Congress' oversight role and continue to cover up for the President, who cozies up to Putin, who sides with him over our allies, and who continues to deny what everyone else knows is a fact? Make no mistake: The next vote is our opportunity to punish the criminals who interfered in our election, to send a message that there will be consequences for anyone who does so in the future. After this vote, every Member will be on the record, letting the world know where they stand. So I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle: vote to defeat the previous question. Vote to show Russia and Putin that we won't stand by while they continue to attack American democracy.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, a few hundred feet north of here in the Senate, Secretary of State Pompeo will soon testify about President Trump's disastrous performance at the recent NATO summit and, worse, at his meeting in Helsinki with Russia's dictator, Vladimir Putin. Now, if you are a Member of this body and you are interested in what Mr. Pompeo has to say on these topics, you had better turn on your television, because he isn't coming over here. Secretary Pompeo is ignoring the House, despite our request that he come testify or brief our Members. He is blowing off half of the legislative branch. This is outrageous, and I bet if Secretary Pompeo were still a Member of this House, he would think so too. We have too many unanswered questions, Mr. Speaker. What happened in President Trump's secret meeting with Putin? They sat together for 2 hours with no one else aside from interpreters. What deals were made? What agreements were reached? The Russians are claiming that a great deal was discussed, but so far, we have heard nothing from this administration. President Trump's actions in Helsinki were a betrayal of his duties. He had already insulted our closest friends and allies, and with the world watching, he sided with Putin over our own intelligence and law enforcement communities about Russia's attack on our democracy. So we need to see Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Mattis and Director Coats. I recently joined with my fellow ranking members, Mr. Smith on the Armed Services Committee and Mr. Schiff on the Intelligence Committee, demanding that these senior officials come to the Hill and shed light on what took place. We don't know, and the Secretary of State is not coming to the House to tell us. We have gotten no response to our requests. With Secretary Pompeo set to appear in the Senate, that is really a slap in the face to this body. Every Member of this body should object to the fact that this administration won't give us the time of day. I object, and I will keep pushing until we get the answers we need.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. This is clearly a bipartisan collaboration. I am proud to be the main sponsor of H.R. 1676, the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act, and I urge my colleagues to support this important bill. The goal of palliative care is to alleviate suffering for patients and their loved ones, accompanying efforts to treat or cure illness. So while the illness is being treated, there is support being given to the person who is sick and for their loved ones as well. It entails support from a team of doctors, nurses, social workers, physician assistants, clergy persons, and other specialists who provide an extra layer of assistance, including help with medical decisionmaking and coordination of care across multiple settings. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage in a serious illness. Palliative and hospice care have been associated with enhanced quality of life for patients, but too many people simply don't know about these benefits. On top of that, there is a shortage of educated providers who can offer quality palliative and hospice care. That is where this bill comes in. The Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act addresses these issues by expanding opportunities for training in palliative and hospice care. This bill also aims to better educate patients, families, and health professionals about palliative care's benefits, and encourages NIH to expand research around this topic. Ultimately, this bill will help us ensure that there is a well- trained palliative care workforce available to care for patients, a goal that I believe will also be critical to turning the tide of the ongoing opioid epidemic. One of the goals of palliative care is to provide relief from the pain of a serious illness. By creating the infrastructure needed to better educate health professionals on palliative care, this legislation will also help ensure health professionals are able to properly manage patients' pain and practice appropriate evidence-based prescribing, a space where, as the opioid crisis has shown, we need to do much better. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Walden, Ranking Member Pallone, Chairman Burgess, and Ranking Member Green for helping to move this bill forward. I also want to thank Congressman Tom Reed and Congressman Buddy Carter, who coauthored the bill, and all of its 285 bipartisan cosponsors. This is about as bipartisan as you can get. We are dealing with issues that people sometimes don't like to talk about, end of life issues, issues of that nature, but it is something that must be talked about, because families need help. This will give the families the help that they need. I think every one of us has felt the pain and stress of a serious illness either personally or standing alongside a loved one. By passing this bill, we will take an important step to bring much, much needed relief to both patients and their loved ones. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on the committee and all the people who worked to make this bill bipartisan. We can all be proud of this when it becomes law. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding to me, and I want to strongly identify with his remarks. Mr. Speaker, I led the Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats last week urging President Trump to cancel his meeting with Vladimir Putin because I knew this was going to turn out badly, but, frankly, I didn't know how bad it would be. It turns out President Trump embarrassed himself and disgraced our Nation. Standing on foreign soil, the President of the United States questioned America's intelligence community; he attacked America's law enforcement with bizarre conspiracy theories; he lobbed petty political insults; and he did it all while standing next to America's chief rival, Vladimir Putin. When faced head-on with the question, ``Who do you believe?'' President Trump sided with Putin and affirmed Putin's brazen lies. This is the tyrant who directed attacks on America's democracy in an effort to elect Donald Trump and hurt Hillary Clinton. And, as Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said, these attacks are still ongoing. As we all know, Putin is a ruthless leader who seeks to tear down our alliances, undermine Western unity, and destroy democracy. With the eyes of the world on them, it is plain that the President of the United States is now Putin's willing accomplice, Putin's poodle. It is outrageous; it is disgusting; it is dangerous; and it has been met with near universal condemnation. Here is what Speaker Ryan said just yesterday, and I agree with the Speaker: There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world. The President needs to understand that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalency between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals, and that Russia must be held accountable. That is what our Republican Speaker said, and I agree with him. I have introduced this resolution so that the entire House can go on record agreeing with the Speaker, affirming that we stand with the Speaker. I deeply regret that a member of the Speaker's own party just blocked the House from speaking with one voice and taking up this resolution by unanimous consent. We must reject the President's capitulation to Putin; we must stand up for American leadership on the global stage; and we must demand that this administration treat Russia like the enemy it is. How can you treat Putin better than U.S. intelligence? It just boggles my mind. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent for the immediate consideration of the resolution I have just introduced, which is H. Res. 999.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to defeat the previous question.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is with my great pleasure to honor, and to celebrate the Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle on their 130th anniversary. The Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle is the oldest African-American Church in lower Westchester County, and they are a cornerstone of the New Rochelle community. In May 1888, there were only a few African-American Baptists living in the village of New Rochelle, and even though they were permitted to worship at the Salem Baptist Church, the community strived to create a church for themselves. Jesses Owns, Israel King, William Fountain, Richard Painter, and others in the village received help from Reverend Guy Powell of Mt. Baptist Church, in Virginia, to raise funds and find a location for the congregation to call their own. The community would soon find their building on North Avenue, and on July 5, 1888, the first sermon was delivered by Reverend Isaac Newton Phelps to 15 members at the Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle's first home. Throughout the long history of the Bethesda Baptist Church, each pastorate has established new programs to aid and serve the New Rochelle community. Reverend Boddie was instrumental to finding the church's permanent location, in 1918, on Lincoln Avenue. Reverend Dr. Henderson instituted a sermonette for children, and opened the church's first office. Reverend Dr. Long Sr., who was also the first African-American on the New Rochelle Board of Education, began the youth ministry at Bethesda Baptist Church. Reverend Wanamaker continued to expand the church's outreach to New Rochelle's youth by organizing the Youth Fellowship. Reverend Thompson was the next pastor who led the successful ``Debt Free in '73,'' which eliminated all of the church's debt. The Youth Fellowship program also became more active during his pastorate, which allowed for the group to attend cultural, education, and religious conventions. After Reverend Thompson, Reverend Dr. Allen Paul Weaver Jr. began his pastorate and has remained the Pastor for almost 4 decades. Reverend Weaver has not only grown the membership of the church, but ensured the core values of the Church: Exalting, Equipping, Evangelizing, Encouraging, Edifying and Exemplifying Christian Evangelism, Reclaiming our Youth, Mission (both home and foreign), and Christian Education. Mr. Speaker, Bethesda Baptist Church of New Rochelle has a long, and rich history of serving the community. I want to congratulate them on their 130th anniversary, and look forward to their continued works over the coming years.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, reserving my right to object, although I don't intend to object, I want to, first of all, thank the chairman for bringing this resolution to the floor. The Foreign Affairs Committee marked up this resolution awhile back. It passed unanimously, and we were under the impression that it might come up for debate on Tuesday under suspension. That is what should have happened. Members should have had the opportunity to debate this in the House before the NATO summit meeting began this morning, and sent a clear message that this body stands with NATO, that we support this alliance, the most successful in history, that our allies can count on American leadership and American resolve. Instead, we are rushing it through today, after the summit is halfway over and after President Trump has again insulted our closest friends on the global stage. This is an important resolution. It should not be swept under the rug because it is important that this body stand up for NATO, even if we are late to the game. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, let me first again say that my colleague and friend, Mr. Poe, is eloquent as usual. I want to single out Mr. Kennedy, whose great uncle, President John F. Kennedy, first established the Peace Corps; and the Kennedy family has also, through the years, been very engaged in making the world a better place, so I appreciate my colleague from Massachusetts for speaking. Congressman Royce and myself have run this committee in a bipartisan way and, again, I think this bill is typical of good bipartisanship. It is a good bill for the United States. The Peace Corps shows people around the world America at its best. It shows our values. It shows our generosity. It shows our compassion. Since its inception in 1961, volunteers have engaged in people-to- people diplomacy and community-based development in 141 countries on six continents. We, in Congress, must do what we can to keep our current volunteers healthy and safe. So, again, I want to thank Congressman Poe and Congressman Kennedy. I want to also thank Senator Corker and Senator Feinstein for the companion bill in the Senate. I would also like to especially recognize three staff members, Luke Murry, Oren Adaki, and Janice Kaguyutan--even though I am massacring her last name--for their years of work on Peace Corps issues. We couldn't do this without the good work that our staffs do. One of the things that I am very proud of on the Foreign Affairs Committee is the bipartisan way in which we work, and the staffs are responsive to everyone on the committee, not just people on their side of the aisle, and I think that shows in the committee, and it shows America at its best and its finest. The Peace Corps is really important. Peace Corps issues are really important. The agency is undoubtedly a better agency because of the efforts of the people that I just mentioned. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this measure, I urge 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 would like to begin by thanking Representatives Ted Poe and Joe Kennedy for their hard work on this legislation. This legislation seeks to enhance the health, safety, and security of Peace Corps volunteers. Of course we, many of us, served with many of the people who went on to become Congressmen when they were first in the Peace Corps as well, and Sam Farr was one of those people, and I listened to many stories that Sam Farr told about the Peace Corps. The bill is named in honor of two past Peace Corps volunteers, again, Congressman Sam Farr, who served in Colombia. I have traveled with Sam to Colombia, and his Spanish was impeccable. He was a tireless champion of the Peace Corps during his service in the House. The bill is also named for Nick Castle, a young volunteer who was passionate about life and about helping other people. In 2013, while on assignment in rural China, Nick fell ill and didn't receive the medical care he needed and, tragically, died, a young man in his twenties. This legislation before us today would strengthen existing health and safety standards for our Peace Corps volunteers. It would also reauthorize the Sexual Assault Advisory Council that reviews reports of sexual assault involving volunteers, and provides the Peace Corps additional flexibility in retaining certain employees. Peace Corps volunteers represent the best of America. These selfless men and women live for 2 years, often in remote parts of the world, helping to advance critical priorities, like educating girls, preventing HIV and malaria, environmental conservation, improving agricultural methods, and community economic development. Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill that will improve the lives of our Peace Corps volunteers currently serving in 65 countries across the globe. By passing this measure, we honor Sam Farr and Nick Castle and the 230,000 Americans who have served as Peace Corps volunteers over the past 57 years. I remember when the Peace Corps first came together, when President Kennedy called for a Peace Corps. It has obviously gone on for a long, long time, and has been one of the most successful programs that the United States has had. So I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (M Kennedy) who, as Mr. Poe mentioned before, is a former Peace Corps volunteer who served in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. ENGEL. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. In closing, the United States cannot stand by as human beings are auctioned off, forced to work for no pay, and treated without dignity or respect. Congress must speak out and condemn this horrific situation in Libya. Mr. Speaker, I support this measure. I urge 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 thank the ranking member of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee, Ms. Karen Bass of California, for her hard work on this legislation. For several years, Libya has been a hub for African migration to Europe, with an estimated 700,000 to 1 million refugees and migrants currently in the country. Last year, I was shocked and horrified to see multiple news reports documenting the existence of slave auctions in Libya, where these migrants and refugees were put up for sale. It is unbelievable that, in the year 2018, we could still have slavery anywhere in the world, just absolutely unbelievable. Since then, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights found that many migrants who enter Libya are forced to work for no pay. This is also unacceptable. We cannot accept a world where human beings are auctioned off, treated like property. It is unbelievable. These are some of the most vulnerable people in the world, and we cannot stand by as they are mistreated. This resolution strongly condemns slave auctions and the exploitation of migrants and refugees as forced laborers in Libya. It also calls upon all parties to the conflict in Libya to investigate and eradicate slave auctions and forced labor involving migrants and refugees, to hold those identified in the investigation accountable in courts of law, and to examine the extent to which profits earned through the exploitation of these migrants may be fueling conflict in Libya. Importantly, the measure also calls upon the United Nations to investigate this slave trade and forced labor in Libya and expand U.N. Security Council sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for this atrocity. The international community must hold accountable those who are responsible for these heinous crimes. It is also important that we have full information so that we can address this issue and understand what we are dealing with. That is why it is so important that this resolution also urges the Secretary of State to ensure that Libya is fully and accurately covered in the annual Trafficking in Persons Report. This measure sends a clear message. By passing it today, we say, unequivocally, that we will not stand for this inhumanity. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), the very distinguished ranking member of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume as I rise in support of this measure. First of all, let me thank Congressman Doug Collins and Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence for their work in bringing this bill forward. This bill before us, the Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2018, will create more transparency in the adoption process. Mr. Speaker, the adoption process can be long, emotional, and expensive for Americans who seek to expand their families and give children a forever home. The reason families put themselves through this is because they love these children and want to give them a chance to be part of a loving family. But foreign governments sometimes abruptly change their policies on adoptions, leaving families in the dark as they anxiously wait to be united with their adoptive children. This measure would help make sure adoptive parents get the information they need when this happens. H.R. 5626 requires the Secretary of State to report whether countries have enacted new laws or policies that would affect intercountry adoptions for American families. This will help create a more transparent adoption process that benefits everyone, the parents and the child as well. Mr. Speaker, we owe to these families and children to illuminate the dark corners of the adoption process. With 140 million children orphaned worldwide, we need to make it easier for families to come together, regardless of the child's birth country. These children need loving and supportive homes, and this bill gives them a better chance at being adopted into one. Mr. Speaker, I support this measure strongly, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), the coauthor of the measure.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time, and I will close. I want to say again that I am pleased to support the Intercountry Adoption Information Act. Let me add that too often we hear these heart-wrenching stories of American families whose adoption processes were halted by a foreign government's change in policy. To make matters worse, these families often have no idea why the process grinds to a halt. This bill presents a straightforward fix, requiring the State Department to provide information that affects prospective adoptive American families. So I support this bill and agree with what the chairman has said as well and encourage all my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, while there has been much talk about Russia's interference in last year's election, there has been much less focus on another serious matter that deserves attention on Capitol Hill. I am referring to Russia's attempt to manipulate the U.S. judicial system to pursue their corrupt goals and persecute victims of the Kremlin on U.S. soil. I include in the Record a recent piece written by Atlantic Council Russia scholar, Anders Aslund, which calls attention to this growing problem. I was especially troubled to learn that the courts of my home state of New York have been targeted as venues for this manipulation of justice. We must remain vigilant in the face of these efforts to corrupt our democratic institutions. Just as any intrusion into the U.S. electoral system must be met with proactive measures to safeguard our voting process, the exploitation of our courts by Russia and others demands a robust response as well. I plan to work with my staff to explore this issue further and would urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to do the same. [From the Hill, May 25, 2018] Bolster the U.S. Judiciary's Defense Against Putin's Kleptocracy (By Anders Aslund) United States citizens are outraged about the Kremlin's incursion into the U.S. electoral system, but that is unfortunately just the tip of the iceberg. Russia is also trying to hijack the U.S. judiciary for corrupt purposes, expropriation and political repression, which has received little attention. Unlawful seizure of private assets and private companies by the Kremlin has been the norm since Vladimir Putin became president in 2000. Russia's law enforcement agencies and courts are regularly used for the enrichment of the ruling elite. Annual State Department and Freedom House reports underscore that the Russian judicial system lacks independence from the country's powerful executive branch. The Sergei Magnitsky case is the best-known example of the Russian state's co-opting of the courts to support its kleptocracy. A cabal of Russian tax and law enforcement officers conspired to defraud Russian taxpayers of $230 million, the largest tax fraud in Russian history, by targeting Bill Browder's company, Hermitage Capital. When Magnitsky, Browder's tax attorney, discovered the fraud and notified authorities, Hermitage and Magnitsky were charged with their own fraud. Magnitsky was then arrested and died in pre-trial detention at the age of 37. Since then, Russian authorities have repeatedly called on Interpol to disseminate red notices to harass Browder and other victims. Interpol, which is meant to facilitate cross- border coordination among law enforcement agencies, is susceptible to abuse as it passes on requests and notices from states without much scrutiny. Russia misuses Interpol's red notices to gain the support of international law enforcement agencies, including U.S. law enforcement, in pursuing political dissidents and victims of corporate raiding. Russian legal authorities also abuse the U.S. court system by exploiting U.S. federal discovery laws. Under these laws, a foreign party can use the U.S. federal courts to compel discovery from any person under U.S. jurisdiction. The Russian authorities used this law repeatedly against Yukos and its affiliates, after confiscating the oil giant from Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other shareholders. More recently, agents of the Russian state have engaged in two federal court cases in New York: a 2016 attempt to loot the assets of Janna Bullock and her real estate investment firm RIGroup, and a 2018 effort to plunder the personal property of banker Sergei Leontiv, a former shareholder of Probusinessbank. The Russian state is using the discovery process to extract information to further criminal charges and extortion schemes against individuals who fled to the U.S. seeking the protection, safety and rule of law now being undermined. The Russian government and its associates have developed similar strategies to use federal and state courts to recognize and validate bogus decisions from Russian courts, exploit the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on behalf of sham creditors aligned with the Russian state and enforce illegitimate claims and orders issued by corrupt Russian judges. Although U.S. judges are permitted to consider evidence questioning the legitimacy of a foreign judicial decision, they are rightly hesitant to speculate on whether another country upholds the rule of law. Such a determination requires significant analysis beyond the scope and ability of most courts and therefore leaves the U.S. judiciary ill-equipped to defend itself against Russian incursion. The U.S. is slowly beginning to fight back against Russian intrusion into our courts. In 2017, the United States sanctioned two Russian private-sector lawyers, Yulia Mayorova and Andrei Pavlov, who repeatedly represented Russian government agencies in the United States. After passage by Congress of the ``Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act,'' the U.S. sanctioned Artem Chaika, the son of Russia's prosecutor general, who used his father's position to extort bribes and win contracts for himself and his cronies, while driving out competition. More needs to be done to keep Russian lawlessness abroad at bay. The House and Senate judiciary committees should investigate the hacking of U.S. courts and hold hearings to examine the threat they pose, with an eye toward developing legislation that will help block future attacks. The Department of Justice and the State Department should consider establishing a joint task force to coordinate with U.S. courts, where victims of abuse by corrupt governments could submit their evidence. The State Department already produces annual reports that opine on the state of foreign judiciaries, which can be put to good use to protect the integrity of U.S. courts.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the rule and the shameful Border Security and Immigration Reform Act. I am dismayed and embarrassed that the Republicans are attempting to claim that this bill is a compromise. This partisan anti-immigrant legislation is the opposite to the idea of compromise. If Republicans were serious about compromise and protecting the Dreamers, they would have allowed the bipartisan discharge petition and queen-of-the-hill rule to move forward. Instead, Republicans have spent the last 10 months ignoring the will of the American people and holding Dreamers and young immigrant children hostage to implement their hardline agenda. This legislation does not provide a path to citizenship. It eliminates asylum protections, drastically cuts legal immigration, removes basic requirements for safe and humane detention, fails to end family separation, and does nothing to reunite the children who have been separated from their parents. Some of these children are being held 2,000 miles away from their parents, including in my district in New York, without any idea where their parents are or if they will ever see them again. This is cruel. What we need is a compassionate solution with a path to citizenship and reunification of these families. Instead, this bill is an attack on family values and an insult to our country's heritage as a beacon of freedom and opportunity for all.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman, my friend from New Jersey, for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5272, the RESULTS Act, and I urge my colleagues to support it. This bill that I have coauthored with Congressman Steve Stivers will provide needed guidance to applicants seeking Federal funding to treat or prevent mental health or substance use disorders. I thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Stivers) for working with me in a bipartisan way, and it shows when we work in a bipartisan way good things come out of it. This legislation builds on the important work we started with the 21st Century Cures Act. Cures created the National Mental Health and Substance Use Policy Laboratory, often referred to as the Policy Lab, with the goal of promoting evidence-based activities to prevent and treat mental health and substance use disorders. The RESULTS Act will help advance that goal. It directs the Policy Lab to issue new guidance to applicants seeking Federal funding to treat or prevent mental health or substance abuse disorders. This guidance will ensure that those applying for Federal funds have the information they need to implement evidence-based solutions to the opioid crisis as well as the tools necessary to emulate successful approaches in their communities. I urge my colleagues to support this straightforward bill that will make it easier for those fighting the opioid epidemic in our communities to implement solutions that work. All of us know how necessary these solutions are. Take my district in Westchester County, part of which I represent, 124 people died due to opioids in the year 2016. In the Bronx, part of which I also represent, more New Yorkers died of overdoses than in any other borough in New York City. So I am pleased that the House is taking bipartisan action to address the opioid epidemic. But I am also concerned by the Trump administration's announcement last week that they will urge the courts to strike down the Affordable Care Act's provisions preventing insurance companies from denying coverage or charging more for preexisting conditions such as an opioid addiction. This has to stop. This needs to stop. We can't have those proposals if we are going to really attack and win in this opioid crisis. The bipartisan actions we take this week and that we will take this week are important, and I support all of them. But they will not occur in a vacuum. I urge my friends on the other side of the aisle to speak out and end these kinds of attacks on affordable healthcare. Instead, let's work to ensure our communities have the resources they need to turn the tide of this epidemic and bring needed treatment to the men and women who are fighting--literally--fighting for their lives. I want to, again, thank Congressman Stivers for his hard work on this bill, as well as Chairman Burgess, Ranking Member Green, Chairman Walden, and Ranking Member Pallone for their assistance in bringing it to the floor today. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support the RESULTS Act.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from New Jersey for yielding, and I rise in strong support of H.R. 5329, the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act. I remember when I was a little boy, my mother used to have a poison control number that she taped to the medicine chest so that, if there was ever a tragedy or a problem, we could call the number quickly. This is obviously along those same lines. That is why it is so important for the American people to have this. I want to thank Congresswoman Susan Brooks. I coauthored the bill with her. I want to thank her for her hard work. It reauthorizes, for an additional 5 years, as the gentlewoman just said, the nationwide network of poison control centers, which are playing a critical role in the fight to end the opioid crisis. Our country's 55 poison centers are staffed by trained toxicologists, pharmacists, physicians, and nurses who are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, to provide real-time, lifesaving assistance via a national toll-free number, which is 1-800-222-1222. In 2016, someone in this country called the poison center roughly every 12 seconds. So it shows you that it is being utilized and it saves lives. More than 90 percent of those calls were due to a poison exposure in someone's home. More than half of all cases involved children under the age of 12. That is why speedy access to poison centers is such an invaluable resource and so important, especially for parents. Poison centers are also saving hundreds of millions in Federal dollars by helping to avoid the unnecessary use of medical services and shortening the amount of time a person spends in the hospital, if hospitalization due to poisoning becomes necessary. It is clear that these centers are a smart public health investment, but they are also an integral part of our response to the opioid epidemic. Since 2011, poison centers have handled nearly 200 cases per day in this country involving opioid misuse. Data from poison centers has helped detect trends in the epidemic, and experts have helped educate Americans about the crisis and ways they could potentially save the lives of their loved ones. The Upstate New York Poison Center, for instance, used the New York State Fair to educate New Yorkers about proper use of naloxone, the overdose reversal drug. This bill would make sure that activities like this can continue. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of coauthoring the last poison center reauthorization signed into law in 2014, and I am pleased to have worked on this important bill. Again, I want to thank Congresswoman Brooks for partnering with me on this legislation, as well as Congresswoman DeGette and Congressman Barton for being original cosponsors. Let me also thank Chairman Burgess, Ranking Member Green, Chairman Walden, and Ranking Member Pallone for their assistance in bringing this bill to the floor today. As I mentioned earlier, in Westchester County, part of which I represent, 124 people died due to opioids in 2016. In the Bronx, part of which I also represent, more New Yorkers died of overdoses than in any other borough of the city of New York. We must do more to end this epidemic, and I am proud to see this legislation moving forward as part of that effort, again, in a bipartisan manner. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.