Eliot Engel

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro), a very valuable member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the author of this measure.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. I want to thank Chairman Ed Royce for bringing this bill forward. I want to also thank Mr. Castro of Texas for his leadership and hard work on this measure, and I thank Mr. McCaul as well. Mr. Speaker, around the world, 1.2 billion people live in extreme poverty. That means they live on less than $1.25 a day. It is hard to imagine. No one should have to live on so little. At the same time, we know that areas of extreme poverty can be hotbeds for other problems. Poverty leads to broader instability. It creates vulnerabilities that can be exploited by violent extremists, jihadists, or others spreading dangerous ideologies. It holds communities and countries back. So we view alleviating poverty as the right thing to do and also as a strategic concern. That is why USAID established the Development Lab to help develop and deploy poverty reduction technologies more widely and at a lower cost. I want to acknowledge former USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, who did tremendous work at USAID helping build the Lab into a world-class center of innovation, working toward new solutions to extreme poverty. The Lab works with NGOs, corporations, and universities to bring in the best ideas and stay on the cutting edge of development. It is also expanding USAID's impact through a public-private dollar-for-dollar matching program that allows us to scale these innovations up without expanding USAID's budget. We are seeing real results. In 2014, the Lab invested in 362 new solutions that touch nearly 14 million people around the world. For example, the Lab funded an initiative aimed at producing more food where fresh water is hard to come by. Securing Water for Food: A Grand Challenge for Development led to a system that makes seawater or brackish water usable for drinking or agriculture. It consumes so little energy that the cost to use it is low, even in areas off the power grid. This is what we mean when we talk about innovation. Last May, the Development Lab hosted an international competition to develop technology to fight wildlife trafficking and crimes. I know that Chairman Royce has been very interested in this issue. This led to the development of an app called the Wildlife Scan that allows law enforcement to easily identify endangered species being smuggled out of countries. After just a couple of months, the app has already been downloaded more than 1,000 times. And just last month, the Global Lab finished up a Zika challenge initiative, which led to 21 new solutions targeted at combating the spread of the Zika virus and are on track to be tested and deployed. They could be available within months. The bill would build on the Lab's success by creating new authorities for the Lab to expand and manage its partnerships. It will give the Lab greater flexibility for hiring experts on a project-by-project basis, and it will allow the Lab to award small, targeted grants that have proven so effective in supporting healthcare providers. I commend Mr. Castro for his hard work on this very good bill. It makes a good initiative better, and I am pleased to support it. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time now to close. Let me just say, in recent years, it has become very clear the way issues like global poverty fit into our broader national and international concerns. We see the links between poverty, health, stability, and security. So when we work to relieve this burden and lift up communities, we are also advancing a wide range of interests. As I like to say, it is the smart thing to do, and it is also the right thing to do. The administration has already taken steps to incorporate poverty alleviation into our development efforts. This bill will help USAID do even more. So, once again, I want to thank Mr. Castro for his hard work. I am glad to support this bill. I thank Chairman Royce for his help. I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Let me say before I close that Mr. Sanford was absolutely right in what he just said. The fact is that Ukraine, which was part of the Soviet Union, gave up its nuclear weapons when the Soviet Union collapsed. As a result, they were given assurances that they would not have aggression perpetrated against them; and, of course, like other promises made by Mr. Putin, that fell by the wayside. I agree with the gentleman from South Carolina. I think he is absolutely right on the money. I thank him for his remarks. Mr. Speaker, we have no shortage of crises smoldering around the world, but we cannot take our eye off what is happening in Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses. NATO is being tested. Western democracy is being called into question. The progress we have made since the cold war is at risk. Even if the administration is trying to work with Russia on other issues, we need to be clear-eyed when Vladimir Putin flouts international law and threatens the security of Europe. This bill would say plainly that no matter what happens in other parts of the world, if Russia continues to illegally occupy parts of Ukraine, Russia will pay a price. I am pleased that the House is acting on my bill. I want to again thank Chairman Royce for being a partner with me and helping with this bill. I ask that all Members support it. 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 in support of this bill. Let me, first of all, thank our chairman, Ed Royce, for helping advance this bill. I introduced this bill in April along with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger). I am proud to say we now have 36 additional cosponsors, both Democrats and Republicans. Mr. Speaker, we shouldn't kid ourselves about the intentions of Russia's President, Vladimir Putin. Inside his own borders, he has stripped away the rights of Russia's citizens. He has silenced a free and open press. He has stolen countless billions and spread the wealth around to his cronies. And in the wake of a sham election that boosted his party's majority, it is being reported that he wants to breathe new life into the KGB. His record abroad is more of the same. He has trampled his neighbors' sovereignty, worked to undermine NATO and Western unity, and posed a real threat to America's work and the work of our friends over the past seven decades to build a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace. Perhaps most egregious is Russia's ongoing illegal occupation of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Russia recently renewed its attack on Ukraine's sovereignty by holding parliamentary elections for the duma in Crimea. It is just outrageous, as the chairman mentioned. The United States will never recognize these claims, just as we never recognized Soviet control of the Baltic States during the 50-year occupation there. My legislation underscores America's support for Ukraine's right to defend itself, and it keeps pressure on Russia so long as Russia's criminal behavior in Ukraine continues. This bill says that if Russia wants to see sanctions relief, it must abide by its Minsk Agreement obligations, namely, if Ukraine controls the entirety of its eastern border. It makes Crimea-related sanctions permanent so long as the Russian occupation there continues. It tightens sanctions enforcement with the new anti-evasion framework, and it requires reporting on banks illegally controlling Ukrainian assets, particularly Russian banks in Crimea. This bill also takes steps to make it harder for Russia to buy defense equipment or services from our NATO allies. It goes after human rights abusers in Russian-occupied areas, and it calls for a comprehensive strategy from our own government to push back against Russian propaganda. The people of Ukraine need to know the United States stands with them. This Government of Ukraine is the most pro- Western government they have ever had. We need to help them. Vladimir Putin needs to know that his reckless ambition won't go unanswered. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) had to leave, but he submitted testimony. He strongly supports this bill and everything that the chairman and I are saying this evening. I ask that all Members support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Keating) for yielding to me. He is a very valued member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and, once again, he is doing excellent work with this bill, and Mr. Roskam as well. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill. I am grateful for the work that Mr. Keating has done to shine a light on the challenge of antiquities looting. We hear these stories about ISIS terrorists destroying heritage sites and smashing statutes, and it is heartbreaking. They are trying to wipe away history. But I have heard people say: Well, this is bad, but shouldn't we be focused on stopping violence and killing? Well, make no mistake; these practices go hand in hand. It is not a matter of choosing one over the other. Before ISIS extremists pulverize statues and temples, they loot whatever they can carry and peddle these items on the black market. I have a bill--a law, actually--that has been passed involving these antiquities in Syria. This is a funding source for their campaign of terror; so, by confronting the problem, we are working to cut off a valuable resource for ISIS. As I mentioned, I am proud that, earlier this year, the President signed a law that I authored to impose new import restrictions on antiquities looted from Syria during the current conflict. Mr. Keating and Mr. Roskam's measure goes a step further to help provide the training needed to enforce the protections we have put in place. The new restrictions are similar to what we have imposed for Iraq a number of years ago. They are designed to undermine the market for looted antiquities and ensure that antiquities sold by terrorist organizations don't find their way to our shores. Before these restrictions can do their job, however, law enforcement needs tools and training to identify stolen antiquities so they don't slip through our ports. Mr. Keating's legislation will help make sure Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers are able to intercept and investigate cultural property illegally imported into the United States. It will make it easier for them to root out the trafficking networks responsible for this trafficking, and it expresses support for the U.S. attorneys we depend on for prosecuting these cases. This is not a new job for these officers. For years they have worked to prevent trafficking in illegal antiquities. But their jobs are harder than ever. This bill will get them the legal tools and training they need to get that job done. So, Mr. Speaker, we need every tool at our disposal to deny ISIS funding and resources. That is what we are doing when we focus on antiquities looting. At the same time, we are working to preserve cultural heritage that is increasingly under threat. So I thank Mr. Keating for his leadership and hard work. I thank him for bringing the bill forward. I am very pleased to support it, and I urge all Members to do the same.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a wonderful young man in my district, Matthew A. Taylor, who was recently conferred the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement or rank attainable, by the Boy Scouts of America on May 31st, 2016. Matthew's hard work and dedication has been evident throughout his Boy Scout career, culminating with an Eagle Scout project that was exceptional in its scope and accomplishments. Matthew focused on helping to improve the Thomas Paine Cottage Museum, the last structure in North America that the Founding Father owned as his home and is open to the public as a historic house museum, in New Rochelle. Matthew's efforts to help update and restore key elements of the cottage included scraping, sanding, and repainting the wooden porch at the cottage's front entrance as well as the entrance door and railing at the rear of the cottage; repairing loose stone and broken mortar joints on the property's stone pedestrian bridge; power-washing the bridge; and cleaning up debris from the creek. His work was instrumental in maintaining and preserving the property, which in turn helps to perpetuate and promote the rich history of the City of New Rochelle. But Matthew's project was only one facet of his work and ambition. He has committed his life to making a positive impact on his community and the people around him, and his attaining the rank of Eagle Scout is proof of that dedication and commitment. On September 10, 2016 Matthew and his family celebrated his Court of Honor with a wonderful award ceremony. I want to congratulate Matthew on this tremendous honor and personally thank him for all he has done to better his community.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I thank the chairman again, and thank Mr. Yoho for his hard work and commitment on this. Obviously, the handful of countries on the State Sponsors of Terrorism list are some of the worst actors in the world: Sudan, Syria, and Iran. We need policies that are tough, and any changes to that list must be preceded by real, permanent changes in the way those governments do business. And, of course, I believe Congress has an important oversight role to play on such matters. I have voiced my concerns about parts of this legislation, namely, that multiplying the waiting period by a factor of four might have unintended consequences. Perhaps it should have been a little less than that. But I trust that if we do run into trouble down the road, we will do whatever it takes to make sure that our government has the tools needed to act in America's best interests. So I support this measure and, again, I thank Mr. Yoho for his hard work. 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 in support of this measure. I want to thank Chairman Royce and Mr. Yoho of Florida for their hard work on the bill. Mr. Speaker, under current law, there are only two ways off the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. The first is a fundamental change in the leadership and policies of a country's government. The other is if the President certifies to Congress that a government has not provided any support for international terrorism for at least 6 months, and that the country has provided assurances that it will not support international terrorism in the future. This legislation would stretch that 6-month period to 2 years. It would also double the length of time Congress has to review such a certification, from 45 days to 90 days. Now, Mr. Speaker, I don't think we are going to find ourselves in a situation in which any of the countries currently on that list would need to be rushed off, particularly Syria and Iran. But our job as legislators is not just to look at what is in front of us as we draft a law, but to consider what unintended consequences we might face down the road. As I said when we marked up this bill in June at the committee, I do think we need to carefully consider the implications of extending the waiting period so dramatically. No one wants a terrorist state to come off the list before circumstances justify, but unlikely as it may seem today, we could encounter diplomatic opportunities where the flexibility to act quickly might be in our own national security interests. We just can't envision what kind of challenges we will face years down the road. So I support the measure, but I do have some trepidation that the 2- year waiting period could potentially hamstring our government's ability to respond strategically to rapidly changing events. I hope that, as we monitor this, Members will keep an open mind with respect to the waiting period as the legislative process goes forward. Again, I support the legislation. Mr. Speaker, 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 resolution. I want to thank the chairman, as always, for being so cooperative and important in passing this legislation. I want to thank my friends from Florida, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen and Mr. Deutch, who introduced the House companion to this resolution, which I was proud to cosponsor and which passed the House in June. Mr. Speaker, there are roughly a half million survivors of the Holocaust alive today--many people think it is not much, but it is, a half million--all over the world. Many of these men and women are now reaching their eighties and nineties, and some even older. These individuals, of course, lived through the darkest chapter in human history. They endured unspeakable horrors, and many still suffer the physical and emotional trauma stemming from that experience. So it is absolutely tragic that so many survivors today are forced to live in poverty with inadequate health care, food, and access to transportation. It is unconscionable that, at the end of their lives, these people find themselves without adequate support. Now, the Government of Germany accepts responsibility to support these survivors and, over the decades, has done a great deal, but even their officials acknowledge that more needs to be done. This resolution calls on the authorities in Germany to make sure every Holocaust survivor has the support and resources they need to live in dignity. We know it is never easy for a government to dig deeper, but in the case of this generation of survivors, there should not be any question that they should be able to live out their lives without worrying over how to pay the medical bills or the grocery bills. It is important that we do this. I am glad to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I want to first congratulate my colleague from south Florida for her outstanding statement and her outstanding work. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), a valued member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and an author of the House companion to this resolution.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Our colleagues have been very eloquent this afternoon, and I agree with everything that has been said here, along with what the chairman has said. Mr. Speaker, every year we lose more and more of those who lived through the Holocaust, and it is unthinkable that many spend their last days in poverty with no support network. Nobody wants that. With this resolution, we are simply saying that this should not be the case. We are saying that these survivors should never go without assistance and resources and that it is time for the Government of Germany to work with its partners and correct this problem. So for all the reasons that were mentioned, I support this measure. I urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I want to thank the sponsors of this resolution, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen and Mr. Deutch, for their hard work in crafting such a timely resolution. I thank, once again, Chairman Royce for working with me and the sponsors of this resolution to move this forward expeditiously. Mr. Speaker, one of the things I always say is that the relationship between the United States and Israel is bigger than any of the personalities involved. Presidents come and go, Prime Ministers come and go, Members of Congress come and go, members of the Knesset come and go, but the relationship between the U.S. and Israel endures and endures strongly. The success of the last MOU between the United States and Israel is a great illustration of that fact. I think this resolution and the next memorandum of understanding, which we are expecting any day now, are more indications that, regardless of party, regardless of personalities, the U.S.-Israel alliance is serious business and a major foreign policy concern. Those that try to denigrate Israel overlook the fact that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and overlook the fact that we have no better ally in the United States than the people of Israel. I am glad to support this measure. I urge all Members to do the same. Again, the U.S.-Israel alliance is serious business, a major foreign policy concern, and the right thing to do, not only for Israel but for the United States as well. So I support this measure, and I urge all our colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Deutch), an author of this resolution and a very valued member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution. I am proud to cosponsor this resolution, which calls for the expeditious consideration and finalization of a new, robust, and long-term memorandum of understanding on military assistance to Israel. The bond between United States and Israel is unbreakable. We share common values and goals, including democracy, rule of law, minority rights, and basic human freedom. In 2008, the George W. Bush administration negotiated a memorandum of understanding with Israel that guaranteed $3.1 billion in annual security assistance. Since then, the Obama administration has delivered on this commitment and has provided additional funds for missile defense, including the 2014 emergency supplemental for Iron Dome, which we passed in this House. Since that agreement, Israel has faced some of the most urgent threats in history: rockets and tunnels from Gaza and Lebanon, nuclear threats from Syria and Iran, and the spread of ISIS throughout the region. And the United States has been there by Israel's side throughout this dangerous time. These threats are only becoming more complex. ISIS has grown in the Sinai. Israel's neighbors are facing new burdens from refugees, leading to instability. And Iran's behavior in the region has, unfortunately, become even more dangerous. So yesterday's insurance policy has become today's lifeline. As Israel confronts new threats, the United States must step up to defend our ally. Part of this will be through a new, negotiated MOU, or memorandum of understanding, to reflect the changing times and evolving threats in the Middle East. Israel will need its American partner; but, make no mistake, the United States needs Israel as well. This relationship isn't a one-way street. Our security cooperation and intelligence sharing with Israel has never been closer. Israel helps develop new technology that the United States uses in our own security efforts. And the military hardware we are providing to help Israel defend itself will be spent here in the United States, saving or creating thousands of American jobs. This resolution and its robust support here in the House, in both parties, demonstrates the true nature of the relationship between the United States and Israel. The support is bipartisan. Neither Democrats nor Republicans have a monopoly on support for Israel. Democrats and Republicans stand together, united with Israel. The American people stand with Israel. The next MOU will be the next chapter in this friendship. It shows that no matter who the next President will be, Israel has America's promise of support. As Israel faces uncertainties throughout its region, at least it can count on American support, and Congress should work to make that happen. Israel has never asked for American troops or soldiers or for anyone to defend them except themselves, and we ought to continue to help them do that. I ask all Members to support this resolution. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, may I ask if there are any more speakers on the Republican side?

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Florida for yielding to me. I rise in support of his resolution. Let me start by thanking my colleague and friend from New York (Steve Israel) for his hard work on this measure. Mr. Speaker, on July 2, a light went out of this world. Elie Wiesel was a champion of human rights, peace, and Holocaust remembrance. And though he is gone, his life and work and message are seared on our collective conscience. Born in Romania in 1928, he survived the Sighet ghetto, Auschwitz, and Buchenwald. He was inmate number A-7713, and his number was tattooed on his arm. His mother and sister died in death camps. When I was a little boy growing up in the Bronx, we had many people who were Holocaust survivors, and they had tattoos all over their arms, on the other side of their wrists. I remember that very, very vividly, and it is something that has been seared into my memory through the years. When Wiesel was liberated by the United States in 1945, he moved to France and then immigrated to America. In 1955, while living in France, he wrote ``Night,'' the story of his experience with his father in the Nazi death camps, and this book became the foundation of Holocaust literature. I would advise everyone to read this book. He was one of the first to put pen to paper to chronicle his own view of the darkest chapter in human history. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. Upon giving him the prize, the Nobel Committee announced, ``Wiesel is a messenger to mankind; his message is one of peace, atonement and human dignity . . . Wiesel's commitment, which originated in the sufferings of the Jewish people, has been widened to embrace all repressed peoples and races.'' Wiesel's advocacy for victims of oppression around the world was his most recent legacy. He championed the cause of saving Darfur. He defended the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. He was outspoken against the Iranian nuclear program, and he spoke out for people around the world who were being mistreated. Most recently, he dedicated himself to stopping the massacres of the Syrian people. He called for an international criminal trial against Assad, charging him with crimes against humanity. We on the Foreign Affairs Committee have seen documentations of those crimes against humanity of what Assad has been doing to his own people. Wiesel said that the public response to Assad's use of gas against the Syrian people was inadequate. I certainly agree. Elie Wiesel constantly reminded us that indifference to the suffering of others is what allows evil to take hold. We must all take it upon ourselves to live Wiesel's legacy. As was mentioned by my colleague before, anti-Semitism, once again, is rearing its ugly head around the world, and we have to speak out and condemn it and condemn all other kinds of discrimination as well. So never again--not to Jews, not to Syrians, not to African Americans, not to anyone. This resolution honors the legacy of Elie Wiesel and reflects our commitment to carry his work and his message forward. It is important that we come together on this. I remember when we had our annual Holocaust Remembrance services right in the Capitol discussing things with Elie Wiesel. We took a few pictures together. It is certainly something that I will cherish for the rest of my life So, Mr. Speaker, I'm glad to support this measure. I ask everyone to vote for it.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lowenthal), a valued member of our Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of this resolution.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I also rise in support of this resolution. Let me, first of all, thank Mr. Lowenthal, a valued member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for his hard work on this measure; and let me just thank the chairman of the committee, as well, for always cooperating with us on bipartisan resolutions and things that are for the good of the country. That is the way we try to conduct ourselves here. Mr. Speaker, for the last three decades, the people of Cambodia have hoped to see their country move toward a freer, more democratic system, but that progress has been halting and the results are incomplete. Hun Sen, that country's Prime Minister, has held on to power since 1985, making him currently the longest serving leader in Southeast Asia. Though elections are scheduled for 2018, it seems likely that the opposition party will endure the same sort of intimidation and harassment that it has for years. This lack of progress and accountability on the part of the Hun Sen government has meant that Cambodia remains one of the poorest and most corrupt countries in the region. Cambodia leans on China for imports and economic assistance and has adopted some of China's most draconian laws and practices as well. Despite these obstacles, the people of Cambodia remain remarkably resilient and entrepreneurial. For years the United States has provided development assistance to improve Cambodian human rights protections, bolster civil society, and improve health, education, and opportunity. These investments are paying dividends in the form of a new generation of bright, thoughtful Cambodian leaders who seek more for themselves and their fellow citizens. These young leaders, along with many reformers and activists, deserve to have their voices heard. I have been to Cambodia a few times, and it is especially poignant when you think of the terrible events, the killings there decades ago-- practically genocide--it is just intolerable, unthinkable, and unacceptable that Cambodia would still have these difficulties with all the things that the people of Cambodia have suffered. This resolution calls on the Government of Cambodia to push ahead with real and meaningful reform that will advance democracy. It calls for changes to the electoral system that would allow for truly free and fair elections. It calls on the Hun Sen government to act now so that the 2018 elections are transparent and credible, and it calls for the end of politically motivated harassment and violence against the people of Cambodia. Mr. Speaker, the people of Cambodia want and deserve real democracy for their country. They want to chart the course for their own future and live the lives they choose for themselves. This measure sends a strong message that the United States stands with them and wants to see them realize the democratic aspirations. Mr. Speaker, I am glad to support this measure. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Let me again repeat: we all have high hopes for the future of democracy in Cambodia. We want to see the people there exercise real rights and determine the future for their country. We know that real democracy is the key to helping countries prosper. Real democracy makes governments more transparent and accountable. When citizens are allowed to fully participate in their political systems, governments become more responsive and do a better job at providing services and opportunity; countries become better equipped as partners on the global stage and centers of regional stability. We know that Cambodia has this potential just waiting to be unleashed. So today, with this resolution, we are saying that we look forward to the day when democracy in Cambodia is allowed to flourish, and we hope that day comes soon. It is important to focus on Cambodia. We want to see that country make a change for the benefit of all its people. So I support this measure, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a dear friend, Dr. Bhagwati J. Mistry, who is being honored with the D. Austin Sniffen Medal of Honor for 2016 by the Ninth District Dental Association. Born on February 17, 1953 in the City of Ahmedabad, India, BJ as she is better known was the youngest of five children born to Laxmichand and Shakriben Gajar. Her parents were always supportive, especially her mother who would often encourage BJ to go into medicine, as it was ``the best profession to serve.'' From humble beginnings, BJ went on to complete her schooling and attend the Government Dental College in Ahmedabad. Soon she met the love of her life and future husband, Jagdish Mistry, and following their marriage in 1977 they emigrated to the United States in 1978. Following graduation from the Government Dental College in India, BJ entered a Postgraduate Pediatric Dentistry program at the College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. In 1982, she established a thriving Pediatric Dentistry practice in Tarrytown New York, ``Pediatric Dental Care of Westchester.'' In 1991, BJ became a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. In 2005, her work was recognized by the American Dental Association (ADA) which awarded BJ the Best Grassroots Team Leadership Award. But no recognition is as important to BJ as her family. She and Jagdish have been happily married for almost 40 years, and together they have raised two wonderful and accomplished daughters, Nisha and Shivani. I have known BJ for many years, and I treasure our friendship together. She is incredibly deserving of this honor, and I want to congratulate her on this joyous occasion.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, let me say that, if children around the world cannot get a basic education, it will obviously be that much harder for them to get ahead later on in life, to contribute to their economies and communities, to help build stability and prosperity, and to deprive violent extremists of potential recruits. I think that is an important point. At a time that we are fighting extremism, children who are uneducated are much more vulnerable to be swayed by the allure of violent extremists. That is why we have made expanding access to education a part of our foreign policy. With this legislation, we are building on existing efforts and making sure administrations--this one and ones to come-- will focus on this priority for many, many years to come. So, again, I want to thank Chairman Royce for always working with me hand in hand on important measures like this in a bipartisan fashion. I want to thank Congresswoman Lowey for her hard work. She has been championing this for many, many years. I support this bill enthusiastically and urge all Members to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), my friend and a wonderful colleague.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As I said before, the way the Internet has changed the world would have been hard to believe just a few decades ago. It would also have been hard to believe that we would be thinking of the Internet as a foreign policy priority, but we can and we should. Today, we know that the Internet has driven so much of the interconnectedness that we now see across the global landscape, so it is important that our foreign policy keep up with these changes. We want to see this tool used in a positive way by as many people as possible, while guarding against abuses or exploitation by those who mean to harm us. This bill helps us move in the right direction. Again, I am grateful to the chairman for bringing it forward. I am glad to support it. I urge my colleagues to do the same. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. I, first of all, want to thank our chairman, Ed Royce, from California. He has worked very, very hard on this bill for a long, long time, so I am very pleased to support this bill that he has introduced to help expand access to the Internet around the world. I know how strongly he feels about it. We all share his goal, but he was the impetus, obviously, for this bill, and this is really a good bill. Mr. Speaker, a generation ago, few could have envisioned the way the Internet would open up new gateways for information, connect people around the world, and change the global economy. Today, a classroom with broadband access gives students a window to the rest of the world, allowing them to build relationships face-to- face with people thousands and thousands of miles away. A relief worker with a smartphone can relay information in an instant about where help and resources are needed to deal with a crisis. A farmer with a laptop can make sure his or her produce is fetching a fair price on the global market. A journalist in a closed society who can get online can shine a light on abuses and corruption. And while we know this tool can be used for harm, such as the way ISIS uses social media to recruit fighters and spread propaganda, we also know that, in the right hands, the Internet expands opportunity, drives growth, and makes people's lives fuller and more productive. The ripple effects help strengthen communities and countries. But like so many resources around the world, access to the Internet often depends on where you live and what you have and if you can afford it. Living in a poor community or a rural area, or even being a woman in some places, may make it harder to take advantage of the Internet. Roughly 60 percent of the world's population is not able to use this tool, and the growth rate of Internet access is slowing down. Three- quarters of those who are offline live in just 20 countries. Think of what a difference it would make if these populations had access to a resource so many of us take for granted. This bill aims to close that gap. Chairman Royce's legislation calls on the administration to ramp up efforts around the world to expand access to the Internet. It encourages the State Department, USAID, and the Peace Corps to focus on Internet access as a diplomatic and developmental priority; and it states clearly, expanding Internet access, especially in the developing world, is an American foreign policy priority. I applaud Chairman Royce for doing this, and I am glad to support this measure. I want to also thank two staff persons for their hard work: Nilmini Rubin on the majority's staff, and Janice Kaguyutan on our side. They both worked very, very hard, and I think they deserve special mention. So I urge all my colleagues to support this very important bill. I, again, commend Chairman Royce for working so hard on it. I reserve the balance of my time.