Eliot Engel

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member on the Appropriations Committee.

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. ENGEL. I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Frankel), a very respected member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In closing, let me first say I appreciate the thoughtfulness that I have heard during this debate from all sides. And I think that is really Congress at its best. I am proud to be a Member of Congress when I hear debates like this. This legislation was negotiated very carefully to ensure that Iran would hear a unified and bipartisan message from Congress. Why is this important? It was Congress' work with the layers and layers of sanctions. And Mr. Royce has been my partner from day one. We have worked together so hard on sanctions and speaking with a unified voice in the Foreign Affairs Committee, and we have tried so hard to make the Foreign Affairs Committee the most bipartisan committee of Congress because foreign policy should be bipartisan. And what I have heard today from all across the aisle here is bipartisanship. And it is a good feeling. But it was Congress' work--the layers and layers of sanctions--that brought Iran to its knees and compelled Iran to come to the negotiating table. I believe that it will be the threat of congressional action that will compel Iran to make the tough choices in these negotiations. But this congressional action must be bipartisan. Iran must not be able to dismiss a bill as a partisan stunt. Congress must speak with a unified voice. We are stronger when we are unified. We are stronger when we act in a bipartisan manner. The international community followed our lead on Iran when we were unified. Iran came to the negotiating table when we were unified. And this vote should be no different: no poison pills, no extraneous messaging items that could torpedo this carefully crafted bill. Let's get this bill to the President's desk with a single voice. Again, I want to repeat some of my trepidation. The fact that Iran was allowed to enrich uranium all these months and months of talking I think was a mistake. The fact that we are talking only with Iran about their nuclear program, not about their support for terrorism, not about Americans held in Iranian prisons, not about their ballistic weapons, not about their mischief in Iran, not about their support for international terrorism, not about their support for Hezbollah and Hamas, not about their threats of death to Israel and death to America, I think is a mistake. But I do think negotiations are important, so I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for this very, very sensible bipartisan piece of legislation. Let's get this bill to the President's desk with a single voice. I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of this legislation. Our negotiators continue to hammer out the details of an agreement with Iran that will hopefully foreclose all pathways to a nuclear weapon. As I have said again and again, if a deal is struck, Congress must have a proper role in assessing that deal. That is what we are doing now. That is the purpose of this legislation before us today. This legislation passed the other body by a vote of 98-1. If a deal is reached, what are the things I will be looking for? First, what will sanctions really look like? Will it be a step-by-step process, so that Iran is forced to comply with the agreement? How will we ensure that this financial windfall for Iran won't just be used to fund terrorism around the world? Second, will a deal compel Iran to come clean on its weaponization work? Third, will Iran's leaders agree to a verification and inspection regime that will allow for snap inspections of nuclear sites? Snap inspections mean that the inspectors can go all over Iran. They don't need special permission. We have not been hearing such positive things from the Iranian leadership who say that they will never allow inspectors on their military grounds. We need answers to these questions. We need time to take a hard look at any deal and make sure there are no loopholes that Iran's leaders might be able to exploit. The bill we are debating today will give us that time. My frustrations with these negotiations have stemmed from the fact that Iran was not required to cease its uranium enrichment while negotiating. When we sat down with Iran at the very beginning, more than a year ago, to negotiate with them, we should have said, While we are talking, you stop enriching. We didn't say that. I think that was a mistake. Additionally, we negotiate as Iran continues its nefarious behavior around the world--in Syria, in Yemen, against Israel, support for terrorism. There is no sign that this agreement will lead to Iran stopping its support for terrorism or human rights violations; yet massive sanctions relief is on the table. The fact of the matter is it is very frustrating that we are talking with Iran only about their nuclear weapons; we are not talking about the fact that they are a leading sponsor of terrorism or they are making trouble in Syria, where so many hundreds of thousands of innocents have died, or making trouble in Yemen or supporting Hezbollah, supporting Hamas. It really is frustrating that we are talking about one aspect--their nuclear program--and meanwhile, they are free, apparently, to do whatever else they want. This really should not stand. Perhaps the biggest question I have is whether Iran's leaders will ultimately be able to make the tough choices necessary to show the world that they are serious about living up to their commitments. This is a high bar to clear, and Iran's leaders, unfortunately, have given us no reason to trust them. I remain concerned that the messages we are hearing from Iran directly contradict what the administration has told us. Iran's leaders have said that sanctions will be lifted immediately upon the signing of an agreement and that Iran will never accept inspections of their military sites. This begs the question: Is Iran serious about these negotiations? We are told that any kind of sanctions relief will be incremental as Iran complies. The Iranian leaders are telling their public differently. We obviously have to settle this glaring discrepancy. That is why this bill also includes provisions in case Iran reneges on its commitments. If Iran cheats, it would trigger immediate consideration of legislation that puts sanctions back in place, but let's hope it doesn't come to that. The best way to avoid another war in the Middle East is a negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis. I wish our negotiators success. I hope this legislation sends a clear message that Congress is taking its role seriously, that we aren't playing politics with this issue and that we want these negotiations to result in a strong, verifiable deal that keeps a nuclear bomb out of Iran's hands. I agree with Secretary Kerry when he says that no deal is better than a bad deal. The question is we want to make sure a bad deal isn't sold as a good deal. That is why it is important for Congress to be engaged. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Madam Speaker, Hezbollah's actions in the Middle East and around the world have only added to the volatility that has plagued the region. Hezbollah's stockpile of rockets is growing on Israel's doorstep, threatening to ``confront aggression at any time, any place, and in any form whatsoever.'' The irony is they are the aggressors. Hezbollah fighters terrorize the people of Syria, serving as the only thing between Assad and his own demise. Hezbollah has made itself into a state within a state of Lebanon, denying the Lebanese people their right to self-determination. Madam Speaker, it is time to redouble our efforts to stop Hezbollah from continuing its campaign of terror across the region. So I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation because it is so important. The United States has the clout to do so, and we should always let the people--the average people--know that the United States stands by them. Hezbollah is one of the worst terrorist organizations. Hezbollah tries to terrorize Israel, but they have never succeeded and will never succeed, and they terrorize the people of Lebanon and Syria. We need to put an end to that. That is why this legislation is so important. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it. I thank Chairman Royce once again for his leadership, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, on May 24, 2011, President Obama issued a memorandum on Federal fleet performance that required all new light- duty vehicles in the Federal fleet to be alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid, electric, natural gas, or biofuel, by December 31 of this year. My amendment echoes the President's memorandum by prohibiting funds in this act from being used to lease or purchase new light-duty vehicles unless that purchase is made in accord with the President's memorandum. I have submitted identical amendments to 15 different appropriations bills over the past few years, and every time they have been accepted by both the majority and the minority. I hope my amendment will receive similar support today. Global oil prices are down. We no longer pay $147 per barrel, but despite increased production here in the United States, the global price of oil is still largely determined by OPEC. Spikes in oil prices have profound repercussions for our economy. The primary reason is that our cars and trucks run only on petroleum. We can change that with alternative technologies that exist today. The Federal Government operates the largest fleet of light-duty vehicles in America, over 635,000 vehicles. More than 50,000 of those vehicles are within the jurisdiction of this bill and being used by the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, and the Army Corps of Engineers. When I was in Brazil a few years ago, I saw how they diversified their fuel by greatly expanding the use of ethanol. People there can drive to a gas station and choose whether to fill their vehicle with gasoline or with ethanol. They make their choice based on cost or whatever criteria they deem important. I want the same choice for American consumers. That is why I am also proposing a bill this Congress, as I have done many times in the past, which will provide for cars built in America to be able to run on a fuel instead of or in addition to gasoline. They do it in Brazil. We can do it here, and it would cost less than $100 per car to do so. In conclusion, expanding the role these alternative technologies play in our transportation economy will help break the leverage that foreign government-controlled oil companies hold over Americans. It will increase our Nation's domestic security and protect consumers. I am delighted that both my Republican and Democratic colleagues have unanimously supported this bill for the past several years. I ask that my colleagues support the Engel amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, community partners who are truly dedicated to serving the public good are an invaluable asset to any elected official in government. As the Representative of New York's 16th district, I have had the pleasure of working with some truly remarkable community leaders, none more remarkable than Stuart Goldshein. A native of the Bronx and a life-long resident of New York City, Stu always retained a close affiliation with the Jewish community. While living in Manhattan, he involved himself and his family in Temple Israel of the City of New York, encouraging his children to attend religious school and partaking in the Jewish traditions. In 2006, Stu and his family relocated to the North Bronx. Despite the move, Stu maintained his connection to the Jewish community, becoming a member of the Riverdale Temple. A year after becoming a member of the temple, he was elected to the synagogue's leadership. For the past eight years, he has served on the Temple's Board of Trustees, helping to establish the policies and procedures of the Temple, administering the Temple's business affairs, and monitoring the Temple's property and revenues. Additionally, he has been the synagogue's Treasurer for the past five years, utilizing his 35 years of business experience to manage the institution's finances. Through his service, Stu actively has sought to better the Riverdale community. Aside from his involvement with the Riverdale Temple, Stu is a CPA who has spent his business career in accounting and finance. He worked for Price Waterhouse and Dun & Bradstreet. Recently, he retired as the Vice President and Corporate Controller of Nielsen Media Research. In addition to his phenomenal career achievements, Stu has created an incredible legacy at home with his beloved wife, Jean, their two children, Jeff and Debra, and their four grandchildren, Ian, Evan, Emma, and, Sammy. They are his true pride and joy. This year, the Riverdale Temple is honoring Stu at its Student Sponsorship Breakfast for all he has done to better the Riverdale community. I am honored to be able to congratulate Stu on this incredible achievement.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, our communities remain vibrant and strong thanks to volunteer leaders who maintain a high level of involvement. Terry Clements has been a shining example of that type of civic engagement. Terry Clements was born in Chicago, Illinois, and began her esteemed tenure of service as a graduate of Antioch College with a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology, followed by a Masters in Elementary Education at Fordham University. After earning her degrees, Terry resided in West Hollywood, California. She was a prominent talent manager and consultant in the entertainment business, working with such stars as Kenny Loggins, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, the Charlie Daniels Band, and Michael Jackson. Terry became the co-principal of a recording studio in Chicago, and helped inspire the concept of Studio Jams, a live studio concert on NBC radio affiliate. Terry returned to West Hollywood to manage music producers, song writers, and other recording artists, providing crucial opportunities for actors in both the film and television industry. Terry relocated to New Rochelle in 1981, becoming an indispensable member of the community. Involved in groups like the Jack and Jill of America Westchester Chapter, New Rochelle FUSE, the New York State United Teachers, and the Westchester Alliance of Black Student Educators, Terry maintained a high standard for all of her community involvement. As President of the New Rochelle Lions Club, she organized a benefit for the victims of the Haitian Earthquake fund, and partnered with the school district to get glasses for kids in need. Terry also is active as a former member to the Latino Advisory Board and the New Rochelle Advisory Committee on Boating and Marinas. Terry has been involved in local politics, serving as a district leader for the New Rochelle Democratic Party, and as Vice Chair to the Westchester County Democratic Committee. She is a member of The Black Democrats of Westchester, Westchester Black Women's Political Caucus, and is the former State Committee Woman for the 88th AD. Currently, Terry is an educator at Columbus Elementary School in New Rochelle and a former adjunct professor at Fordham University. Terry's true pride and joy though is her family. She is married to her husband, George Clements, Jr., and they have two daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren. The New Rochelle Democratic Committee is honoring Terry at their 2015 Victory Dinner this year. She is very deserving of this recognition, and I want to congratulate her on the wonderful honor.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, as the Representative for New York's 16th Congressional District, I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing and honoring an array of incredible public servants. But few, if any, have worked as hard and achieved as much as my dear friend Oliver Koppell has for the people of the Bronx, and all of New York State. The son of refugees from Nazi Germany, Oliver moved to the Bronx when he was two years old, and began a lifelong love affair with the borough. He attended Bronx elementary schools, graduated from Bronx High School of Science, and, following his tenure at Harvard University, where he graduated Cum Laude as both an undergraduate and law student, he returned to the Bronx to begin his life of public service. On March 30, 1970, Oliver was first elected to office as a Bronx Assemblyman, and served as a member of that legislative body for over 23 years. I spent many of those years as a colleague of Oliver's, and was always struck by his incredible intellect and undeniable passion for his constituency. His legislative record as a Member of the Assembly was sterling, and showed the breadth of his interests and knowledge. It was no surprise to me then in 1993 when Oliver was selected by his colleagues to serve in a higher capacity, as New York State Attorney General. As Attorney General, Oliver initiated dozens of public interest lawsuits, collected over $100,000,000 for the state treasury, and negotiated the largest environmental settlement in the history of New York. As a follow-up to his time in statewide office, Oliver returned to serve the local Bronx community, as Council Member for New York City's 11th District. From his election in 2001 to the end of his tenure in 2013, Oliver was a leading progressive voice in the Council and a tireless advocate for the constituents he represented in the northwest Bronx. To see the success of Oliver's tenure, look no further than his election results: he served three terms in office with overwhelming support from the community. But for Oliver, no legislative accomplishment can compare to his greatest success, as a father and a husband. He is married to the love of his life, Lorraine, and has three amazing children, along with 5 beautiful grandchildren. I have had the privilege of getting to know all of the Koppells over the many years we have known each other, and they are all truly wonderful people. This year, the Riverdale Temple is honoring Oliver with a tribute luncheon in celebration of his years of dedicated service to the community. There is no more fitting honoree than him. Oliver Koppell has been a true public servant, an advocate for people from all walks of life, a man of exceptional integrity. I honor Oliver along with the Riverdale Temple and wish to congratulate him on this wonderful, and incredibly well-deserved, honor.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the people of Israel as Israel celebrates its 67th anniversary. Since its establishment on May 14, 1948, Israel has proven itself to be a vibrant democracy, one that prioritizes innovation, liberal values and freedom. It is these shared principles that have created the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel. Throughout its existence, the Israeli people have faced grave threats from hostile neighbors, defending themselves bravely against repeated terrorist and military attacks. Despite these hardships the Israeli people have not wavered in their commitment to democracy and freedom and have thrived economically, politically, culturally. The recent growth in anti-Semitic acts, including the attacks this year in Paris and Copenhagen, are a powerful reminder of why the world needs a safe haven for the Jewish people. Such threats to the Jewish Diaspora underscore the importance of Israel as its own protector, and the moral imperative for the United States to stand by her right to self-defense. As we celebrate Israel's Independence Day, we also remember those who have fallen in service to their country. I am proud to stand here in celebration of the freedoms that Israel stands for and will continue to ensure that the U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong and bipartisan.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, as Congressman for New York's 16th District, I am always honored to have community groups working to better both their neighborhoods and the lives of those who live in them. For 90 years, the Bronxville Women's Club (BWC) has done just that, serving the greater good in Bronxville and its surrounding area. The BWC was founded in 1925, just as women's clubs were popularized and forming all throughout Westchester County and the country. Born out of the suffrage movement, the club's original mission has expanded over the years to include philanthropic work geared toward education and the arts, in addition to overall communal improvement. The organization's stated mission of serving as a source and center for enrichment, and contributing to the community through philanthropic work and cultural projects, has made the BWC one of the preeminent community organizations in the entire county. As the BWC celebrates its 90th Anniversary, it is also celebrating two incredible honorees; Lorraine Lange, recipient of the Woman of the Year Award, and Helen Marie Ringeisen, this year's Distinguished Cultural Leadership Award winner. Both of these women embody the spirit of the BWC, and are most deserving of this wonderful honor. Although many of the post-suffrage movement women's clubs closed, the BWC has thrived, and is often referred to around Bronxville as ``the best kept secret in town.'' Their success is a testament to their leadership, their members, and all of the incredible work they've done. I am proud to represent such a remarkable club and I wish them another 90 years of amazing success and achievement.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to add my voice in commemoration of Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoah. The Holocaust claimed the lives of 11 million people, including six million Jews, and with each passing year it becomes increasingly important to keep alive the memory of those who perished. We must ensure that ``never again'' is a reality. It is also important that we remember those who fought back for humanity, such as the brave men and women who rose up against the Nazis in the Warsaw ghetto in 1943. Seven decades later, the scourge of anti-Semitism still exists throughout the world. This is evidenced by the recent attacks against Jewish establishments and religious sites in Paris and Copenhagen, as well as anti-Semitic attacks inside the United States. A recent Anti- Defamation League survey found 24% of Western Europeans harbor anti- Semitic views. The survey also reported that anti-Semitic incidents in the United States rose 21 percent in 2014. Many of us have spoken out about this unacceptable situation for years, but we must reinforce our words with actions. There is no room for such bigotry and violent intolerance in today's society. Let this day of remembrance, Yom HaShoah, strengthen our resolve to fight anti-Semitism worldwide. We cannot allow ourselves to become complacent, and we must continue to raise our voice against anti- Semitism, wherever it might arise. Sadly, every year there are fewer and fewer Holocaust survivors among us. We must take up their mantle, educate our youth, and tell their stories. Otherwise, there is a far greater risk of history repeating itself. Today, I remember the victims of the Holocaust, and I say ``never again.''

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, every year three-quarters of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender kids in this country are verbally harassed at school. Nearly a fifth will be physically assaulted. It is time for the bullying and abuse to stop. Every year GLSEN organizes the National Day of Silence. This Friday, kids across the country will take a daylong vow of silence to draw attention to the abuse their LGBT friends and classmates have to deal with every day. Counseling and outreach have done a lot to help these kids, but change is not coming fast enough, so I am once again introducing a resolution supporting the Day of Silence. LGBT kids deserve to be able to go to school and feel safe. I invite my colleagues to join me and cosponsor the resolution. On another matter, yesterday is the 1-year anniversary that the Nigerian schoolgirls were kidnapped by the terror group Boko Haram. I am wearing these ribbons today to say ``Bring Back Our Girls,'' and I thank our colleague Frederica Wilson of Florida for being a champion on this issue.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act, a bill that will create an independent commission to evaluate U.S. policies aimed at reducing drug production and trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. A similar bill passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee unanimously last year and passed the House of Representatives unanimously on December 8, 2009. I thank my good friend and colleague Congressman Matt Salmon, the Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, for being the lead Republican sponsor of this legislation. With $15.7 billion spent on counternarcotics programs in Latin America and the Caribbean between 1980 and 2012, it is important to take stock of what has worked, what has not worked and what future U.S. drug policy should look like. This independent commission will be required to submit recommendations on future U.S. drug policy to Congress, the Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy 12 months after its first meeting. The time to examine U.S. drug policy is long overdue. While billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars have been spent over the years to fight the drug trade, illegal drug use in the United States remains high. In 2013, there were an estimated 24,573,000 illicit drug users in the United States. In particular, I am concerned by the dramatic increase in heroin use in our country. Attorney General Eric Holder has noted that heroin overdose deaths in the United States increased by an alarming 45 percent between 2006 and 2010. On the supply side, nearly all cocaine consumed in the United States originates in South America while most of the heroin consumed here is from Colombia and Mexico. In addition, Central America and the Caribbean are key transit regions for drugs entering the United States. To tackle our nation's horrific drug problem once and for all, we must have a better sense of what works and what does not work. Our partners in the Americas, who have worked closely with us in fighting drug trafficking for years, and the citizens of our great country, who deal every day with illegal drugs on their streets, deserve no less. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ismail Kadare, the Albanian political exile from France, distinguished Albanian author and winner of the Jerusalem Prize for 2015. Kadare is a novelist and poet who has written about Albanian history people and while delving deeply into the universal themes of freedom and human rights. He is one of Albania's most highly-regarded authors, having written about its previous totalitarian regime and Albanian culture and society. According to the panel that selected him as the Jerusalem Prize winner, Mr. Kadare ``is a teller of fascinating stories who uses implied, indirect writing. He writes about collective guilt, and especially about the truth's failure to penetrate. He seeks to expose, while hiding his tracks in layers of myth and metaphor, questions for which there are no answers and crimes for which there is no atonement. Even though his subject matter and his protagonists are generally local, their significance and importance are beyond doubt universal.'' Mr. Kadare's literary career is marked by several laudable achievements, such as the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences of France lifetime membership, Prix mondial Cino Del Duca award in 1992, the United Kingdom's Man Booker International award in 2005, and both the Prince Asturias Award for Literature and the Honorary Degree of Science in Social and Institutional Communication by the University of Palermo in Sicily in 2009. As a testament to the universal acceptance of his literature, Mr. Kadare's novels have also been translated into many different languages which now reach broad audiences across the globe. Such accolades and recognition only scratch the surface of Mr. Kadare's admirable commitment to exercising the sacred values of democracy regardless of the circumstances he faces. Throughout his literary novels, Mr. Kadare carefully selects figurative protagonists and narratives as a vehicle for communicating and inspiring others similarly bounded by the pressures of oppressive regimes. In doing so, Mr. Kadare's commitment to transcending governmental pressure and inspiring harmonious expression of individual freedoms is admirable. Again, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Ismail Kadare for I am pleased to pay tribute to such an individual today.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2. I have always believed that our physician workforce deserves to be fairly compensated. The flawed SGR formula has failed to do this for over a decade, and it isn't right that physicians have faced looming Medicare cuts year after year. Therefore, I am pleased that House Democrats and Republicans have come together to craft a fair, bipartisan compromise to this longstanding and expensive problem. Mr. Speaker, the American people want us to end gridlock. They want us to meet in the middle, and we are doing that today. I want to commend Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi. And while I would have liked to have seen a 4-year extension of CHIP funding and I am upset that unnecessary Hyde language has been attached to much-needed community health center funding, overall, this is a good agreement. Medicare beneficiaries, their physicians, children, and our entire health care system will benefit from seeing CHIP and health center funding extended, SGR repealed, and quality-based physician reimbursement incentivized. So I urge my colleagues both here in the House and in the Senate to support this compromise legislation, the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the United States-Caribbean Partnership Act of 2015, along with my friends and colleagues Representatives Gregory Meeks, Frederica Wilson, Alcee Hastings, Barbara Lee, Yvette Clarke, Lois Frankel, Albio Sires and Ted Deutch. This bill will establish embassies in the five Caribbean countries where we currently have no physical diplomatic presence-- Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Five years ago, President Obama attended the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago and declared that, ``It's appropriate and important that we hold this summit in the Caribbean. The energy, the dynamism, the diversity of the Caribbean people inspires us all, and is such an important part of what we share in common as a hemisphere.'' I could not agree more. As we approach the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Panama next month, the United States must redouble our commitment to the people of the Caribbean. That is precisely why I am introducing this bill today. I ask my colleagues to imagine countries where tens of thousands of American citizens travel for pleasure or business; where thousands of American citizens go to school; where there is a constant concern about drug trafficking to the United States; but where the United States has no U.S. embassies. Most people I speak to are surprised to learn that there are five countries in the Caribbean--only a few hundred miles from the United States-- where we have no physical diplomatic presence. My legislation will correct this problem by establishing U.S. embassies in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Currently, all diplomatic relations with these countries are run out of the U.S. embassy in Barbados. While these countries are small, they must not be taken for granted. They are key voting members of the United Nations and other international organizations. As members of the Organization of American States (OAS), their votes are extremely important. Without a U.S. presence in these five countries, it is very difficult to conduct in- person diplomacy with our counterparts on a range of crucial international issues. These countries are also of profound interest and importance to the millions of Caribbean-American citizens in the United States. Currently, in order to meet with local officials, the private sector or civil society, U.S. diplomats must fly in from Barbados (or Washington) on often expensive, infrequent flights, and stay overnight in often expensive island hotels. Close working relationships with key leaders cannot develop, because our diplomats are not there to establish them. And, our diplomacy is limited to phone calls, emails and faxes, even though we all know that the best interaction is carried out in person. In addition to our stymied diplomacy, U.S. citizens living in these countries do not have full consular services to assist in the event of emergencies. This bill establishes uses existing embassy construction funding to establish these new embassies. In 2011, I authored a bipartisan amendment with the former Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Congressman Connie Mack (R-FL), to create these embassies which was approved unanimously by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. I look forward to working with the Obama Administration to get this legislation across the finish line and to seeing U.S. diplomats permanently stationed in every country in the Caribbean. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this legislation.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentleman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I will close now, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me say that by passing this resolution, the House sends a clear message of support and solidarity to the people of Ukraine. It is past time that our government does more to help these true friends of liberty defend their land and deter aggression. I know that if the United States shows leadership here, others will follow. I am very pleased to be the primary sponsor of this important resolution. I thank Chairman Royce for working with me on this. The two of us have worked very, very closely together, particularly on Ukraine, and we both feel very, very strongly. I agree with every comment that was uttered today by all the people speaking on this resolution. We are the United States of America. We are a beacon of freedom to the world, and if we don't act now, who will? Again, let me reiterate: the people of Ukraine are not looking for American troops, and they are not looking for American boots on the ground. There is no slippery slope here. They are just looking for the weapons to defend themselves. They don't have those weapons. We do. If we care about freedom and we care about fighting aggression, we need to give the people of Ukraine the right and the means to defend themselves. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very important resolution. I again thank Chairman Royce, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 53. I would like to begin by commending our colleague Robin Kelly, our colleague on the Foreign Affairs Committee. She is a new member of the committee. We are delighted to have her. I want to commend her for introducing this important resolution, which condemns the brutal terrorist group Boko Haram and calls for free, fair, and on-time elections in Nigeria. I also want to commend our colleague Frederica Wilson of Florida, who has raised this issue more than anyone else time and time and time again with resolutions on the House floor and just in general. So I want to thank Ms. Wilson of Florida. I want to thank Chris Smith and Karen Bass of our committee, the Africa Subcommittee, who have also together pushed for a resolution of importance as this. For 5 years, Mr. Speaker, Boko Haram has torn a path of violence and destruction across northeastern Nigeria, ruthlessly killing civilians, kidnapping children, and looting and destroying towns. In the last year, they have started to swallow up territory and, just a few weeks ago, they pledged allegiance to ISIS, the Islamic State. The Nigerian Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens, but, obviously, it hasn't done nearly enough to confront this horrific group. Only in the past month, with Presidential elections looming, has Nigeria seemed to get more serious about turning back the tide of Boko Haram. In recent weeks, neighboring countries, including Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, have stepped up their efforts to combat the group, and we have seen real results. In some cases, troops in those nations have had to occupy towns they have liberated inside Nigeria because Nigerian forces simply aren't showing up to do their part. That is, obviously, disgraceful. Instead of providing professional security forces and long-term economic investment into a long neglected region of the country, what I see are last minute political stunts to persuade Nigerian voters to reelect President Jonathan. That brings me to the second subject of this resolution: Nigeria's upcoming elections. Presidential elections were supposed to take place on February 14, but were delayed until March 28 because of concerns about Boko Haram. Many believe this delay was politically motivated. Elections lacking legitimacy in Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous nation, could, obviously, send a destabilizing shock wave across the continent. This resolution urges the Government of Nigeria to hold elections on March 28, without further delay, and for all parties to refrain from violence. Mr. Speaker, Nigeria is a huge nation. It is the largest nation populationwise in Africa. What happens in Nigeria is very important. What happens in Nigeria counts. Nigeria needs to set a strong example for the region and for the continent by holding credible elections and by getting serious about Boko Haram. Nigeria needs to send a very strong message about that. I strongly support this resolution and urge all my colleagues to support it as well. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee, my friend. (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 2 minutes.