Josh Gottheimer

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Pascrell, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 283.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 248 and YEA on Roll Call No. 249.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. Patrick Colligan on his retirement as President of the New Jersey Policeman's Benevolent Association or New Jersey State PBA. Over his decade-long tenure as New Jersey State PBA President, Mr. Colligan has stood out as a passionate advocate for law enforcement across the state. Personally, he has been a friend and trusted advisor on key bipartisan bills like the Invest to Protect Act. Mr. Colligan's tireless advocacy on behalf of New Jersey police will be honored and appreciated for years to come. Patrick Colligan began his career in law enforcement in August 1992 at the age of 27 with the Franklin Township Police Department He graduated from Class 9-92 of the Somerset County Police Academy, where he served as class president and was the recipient of an academy leadership award. During his law enforcement career, Patrick received more than a dozen awards, citations, and commendations. He is a founding member of the County Firewatch Program, a preventive program for juvenile fire setters. He also is a charter member of the County Arson Task Force. During his storied thirty-year career in law enforcement, Patrick has worked on and has taken part in thousands of investigations as a Detective from thefts to homicides. On July 1, 2014, Patrick became President of the 32,000-member-strong New Jersey State Policemen's Benevolent Association, one of the largest in the country. In his capacity as PBA President, Patrick has developed very strong relationships throughout New Jersey. Within just a few years in his role, Patrick made a significant mark on the organization. Since 2017, he has been consistently ranked in the Insider NJ ``100 Policymaker Power List'' and the NJ Globe ``100 Power List.'' Patrick was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine to the Task Force on Police Suicides, which developed a successful video and program to curtail what was an alarming trend of police suicides. Governor Corzine also appointed him to the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) where he proudly served from 2009 to 2011. I salute Mr. Colligan for his steadfast leadership of New Jersey State PBA and his lifelong commitment to public service. He has notched an amazing record of legislative accomplishments that help keep our communities safe and ensure law enforcement have the resources they need to protect and serve. Jersey is truly lucky to have Patrick as a champion of what I believe are the greatest law enforcement officers in the country. I wish him a restful retirement with his wife, Lynette, and his wonderful family.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. At the same time, FIT21 eliminates regulatory redundancies so the SEC and CFTC work together to protect investors and crack down on nefarious crypto users. Finally, this legislation spurs American-led innovation, encouraging entrepreneurs and businesses to invest here instead of going abroad to other nations with no consumer protections. Mr. Chair, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this important innovative and bipartisan legislation. It is fit to become law if we work together.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bipartisan Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act. This well-reasoned and thoughtful bipartisan legislation is the result of rigorous research and bipartisan negotiation by the Financial Services Committee, which I proudly helped lead with Representatives McHenry and Hill. I thank them both and all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have worked so hard to make sure that consumers in our country are protected. Cryptocurrency is here, and it has a tremendous economic potential for our country. My State, New Jersey, ranks second nationwide in crypto ownership by proportion, and the key is now in making sure we protect Americans who own it and ensure our country can realize the economic and jobs potential it has to offer. For that to happen, we need rules of the road to guide entrepreneurs and businesses, to embrace innovators, and to protect consumers. This bill offers protections that are fit for the 21st century. FIT21 takes commonsense steps to safeguard consumers in their investments and strengthen market oversight. The legislation includes key transparency and accountability measures.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 196 and YEA on Roll Call No. 197. personal explanation

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, the bill will give investigators a clear framework to evaluate anti-Semitism and finally hold harassers accountable. Don't just take my word for it. Thirty of our Nation's leading Jewish groups back this bill. Under the last three administrations, the State Department has used the IHRA definition to monitor anti-Semitism worldwide. This bill takes a commonsense step to formalize the IHRA definition for our education systems. Again, three administrations accepted this definition of anti-Semitism. When I was at Columbia University last week, I told the administrators that we need deeds, not words to protect Jewish students. Mr. Speaker, I am making the same ask of my colleagues. This bill is a critical step we can take to stand against hate. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us in supporting this legislation and stand strong against anti-Semitism with no excuses, no claims of commas that they don't like. Standing strong today against hate and anti-Semitism is what our country should stand for.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my bipartisan bill, the Antisemitism Awareness Act, to ensure that we are standing up to the Jew hatred that is spreading like wildfire on campuses across our country. I am proud to lead this legislation with my friend and fellow Problem Solvers Caucus member, Congressman Mike Lawler from New York. As we are voting today in real time, our country's universities are experiencing a tidal wave of anti-Semitism. Protesters have targeted Jewish students, haranguing them with awful Jew-hating insults and cheering on Hamas, a barbaric, foreign terrorist organization that murdered Americans on October 7 and still hold five living Americans hostage, including my constituent, Edan Alexander. I met with hostage families just this morning. I saw these protests up close, like many Americans did, at Columbia earlier this month. I have heard the sickening Jew-hating, anti-Semitic comments comparing Zionists to Nazis, promising a redux of October 7 a thousand times over, and calling for ``resistance by any means necessary'' and intifada revolution. Intifada is used to call for a violent uprising against Israel and Jewish people. These protests embolden Hamas, America's enemy and Iranian-backed terrorist. In fact, they have put out a statement lauding professors as the leaders of the future. That is what our enemies said about the pro- Hamas protesters at these universities. Let me clear up any confusion since I am a huge champion myself of free speech. This bill protects the First Amendment. It allows criticism of Israel. I ensured that. It was critical to me. It doesn't allow calls for the destruction or elimination of the Jewish state, but it certainly allows criticism of Israel. Even more, it reminds us that our universities have a title VI obligation to stamp out harassment on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Mr. Speaker, we cannot stand idly by as protesters call for the death of Jews on college campuses and across the country. This bill will require the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance or IHRA definition of anti-Semitism when carrying out title VI investigations. IHRA's anti-Semitism definition is the most widely recognized in the world. It is used by 36 countries. It condemns traditional hatred and the ugly, modern anti-Semitism that we are seeing on college campuses. There shouldn't be anything controversial about this bill. As was mentioned when it was first introduced in 2018, 50 Democrats and Republicans cosponsored this legislation, including Members who are still in this body. Right now, the Department of Education has 137 active title VI investigations, some of which have been open for years.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Florida for convening tonight's Special Order hour. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to honor the life and legacy of our very dear friend and colleague, Congressman Donald Payne. Donald, as everyone knows, was larger than life. I love that picture of him, and if you could see it in color, it would be even better because he brought so much color everywhere he went--his suits, his personality. He lit up a room. Not only was he a great friend, but a great father and husband. He was an incredible advocate for his beloved city, Newark, and New Jersey overall, and all the hardworking men and women he represented. He spent his entire career serving New Jersey, including as a distinguished local official for the city of Newark and of Essex County. It was such an honor to serve here with Don. When I was first elected, Donald was there for me. He showed me the ropes and shared his wisdom. He was never shy to rib me a little bit in the Jersey way with his humor and his kindness, and his signature bow tie. His legacy will live on through his advocacy and his tireless championing of issues facing so many Americans: health issues and issues of clean drinking water for families and reliable transportation and great infrastructure. The mark he left is everywhere in New Jersey, and more than his personality, it is the policies he left behind. He will be missed, but never forgotten. His legacy will live on in a big way in the great State of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, my prayers are with his wife and his three wonderful children. I hope they can find great solace in the work he left behind and the positive impact he had on millions, not just in Jersey, but across our great country.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Bobby Allen. Bobby was one of Jersey's best, a hero who put others first as a firefighter and an advocate for his brothers and sisters of labor. He recently passed away after a valiant fight with cancer. Bobby started his career with the Paterson Fire Department in 1992. He was among the brave first responders on September 11. In recent years, he became a labor leader, serving as president of FMBA Local 2 and chairman of NJFMBA's legislative committee for more than a decade. Bobby will live on through his beloved relationships and big personality and those who loved him in the firefighter community, his family, of course, all of his friends, and the legislation he championed, which improved the lives of thousands of career firefighters and retirees. Because of his advocacy for the FIRE Act, firefighters nationwide are safer and better equipped to protect our communities. As we mourn the loss of Bobby Allen, we think of his wife, Marianne; his parents, retired Paterson Battalion Chief Edward Allen and Peggy; and his many other friends and family members. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Bobby Allen.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Manning for yielding me time and for her leadership. I thank Representative Frankel for her phenomenal leadership on this issue and so many other issues. I rise today to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting a bipartisan resolution which forcefully condemns Hamas' use of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war on and since October 7. On October 7, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel and committed horrific and repulsive acts of violence, murder, and torture, including sexual assault, rape, and genital mutilation on babies, children, women, men, and the elderly, including Americans. These deliberate and targeted acts on civilians have been verified through the testimony of first responders, eyewitness accounts, CCTV, pictures, and forensic evidence. If that wasn't enough, Hamas terrorists even recorded their acts using cameras and the phones of their victims, and cheered and celebrated as they did it. Then, these terrorists proceeded to post these videos online and send them to the families of their victims, who they mutilated and murdered. These terrorists didn't even try to cover up their heinous acts because they wanted the world to know what they did. They wanted the world to know what they think is an acceptable way to treat Jewish people. Since then, they have promised more waves of violence and second, third, and fourth October 7s. Who would do this? As a Member of Congress, the House Intelligence Committee, and someone who has traveled to Israel since October 7, I have seen these gut-wrenching videos and heard the testimony of survivors of the horrific acts of sexual violence and torture. These stories and images will stay with me forever. I will never forget seeing them. That is why I continue to wear this dog tag around my neck. It symbolizes the hostages who are still being abused and held by Hamas terrorists, including the Americans still kidnapped and all of those who were victims on October 7 and experienced the most gruesome acts imaginable. Sexual violence, assault, and rape have no place in our world, and I am shocked by those who continue to deny that these acts were used by Hamas as weapons of war against innocent civilians on October 7. There are those who equivocate about Hamas and the terrors they have committed. There should be no equivocation. Any equivocation is despicable. Hamas is designated by the United States of America as a foreign terrorist organization. They are terrorists, period. There is no argument to be had. In the past, the biased United Nations and its affiliated organizations have been quick to condemn acts of brutality, sexual violence, and rape around the globe. However, the response from UN Women, whose job is to defend and promote women's rights anywhere and everywhere, was egregiously late. I cannot fathom why an organization that exists for the sole purpose of advancing women's rights would hesitate, even a single second, to condemn the use of rape as a weapon of terror. There is no excuse. There are those today who try to deny what Hamas did on October 7. We see people constantly pumping misinformation on social media, including TikTok, which is controlled by the Chinese Communist Government, to further spew anti-Semitic, anti-Israel rhetoric and even denial of acts of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists. Sexual violence is a recognized war crime that must always be condemned. The silence and lies from those who continue to deny acts of sexual violence perpetrated by Hamas terrorists and those who vote against this resolution is unacceptable. To deny the events of October 7 is an insult to the many victims of extreme sexual violence in Israel that day and to those who remain hostage today, including Americans we must bring home. Mr. Speaker, today, my colleagues have a chance to recognize the horrific sexual violence from Hamas terrorists on innocent civilians 131 days ago. I urge them all to vote for and help pass this bipartisan resolution.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. We know that on TikTok, which is supported by the Chinese Government, the CCP is continuing to spread disinformation. Disinformation is also coming out from many of these organizations. We must stand up against it. This legislation does nothing to violate the First Amendment. In fact, the importance of being able to stand strong with the First Amendment is what allows legislation like this to make it to the floor in Congress. Leadership from Mr. Lawler and others and the excellent work here of Ms. Manning is the kind of leadership that is critical. So, Madam Speaker, I, once again, urge my colleagues to vote for and help pass the Anti-Boycott Act. We must stand strong up against Hamas.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I thank Representative Manning for her leadership on this and so many important issues for our country. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in passing the IGO Anti-Boycott Act. I am particularly honored to have helped introduce this bipartisan legislation with my very good friend and fellow Problem Solvers Caucus member Mike Lawler from New York. I am grateful for his leadership as well and the words he has just spoken. On October 7, the world watched Hamas terrorists invade Israel and brutally kidnap, torture, rape, burn alive, and murder innocent babies, children, women, men, and the elderly, including dozens of Americans. Americans remain hostage to this day. This unprovoked war has underscored why I will always stand with Israel and support our key democratic ally's right to defend herself from those who seek her destruction. This bipartisan legislation is a key step to counter anti-Israel bias and anti-Semitic BDS movements strung along by enemies of our Nation. As my colleagues have said, the BDS movement is anti-Semitic. We must move quickly to stop international governmental organizations from unfairly and unjustly alienating Israel. It is unacceptable. Speaking, as my colleague did, about the United Nations and UNRWA, in particular, and what has come out even in the last days about UNRWA-- which is, again, part of the United Nations playing host to a Hamas data center--we know that a significant number of Hamas fighters are employees at UNWRA. I just want people to understand that funding from the United States of America should not be supporting any terrorist fighters like those in Hamas. It is totally unacceptable, and that is not where dollars from the United States should be going. Right now, anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric has spread across the country and the world. According to the ADL, between October 7 and January 7, there were more than 1,300 instances of anti-Semitic acts and expressions of support for terrorism against the State of Israel. Today, we have a chance to stand up for our ally, Israel, and to stand up against anti-Semitism and all of the disinformation which continues to spread around the world on sources like TikTok.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, Israel and Ukraine may be 2,000 miles apart, but the evils they face are connected. Hamas and Putin have waged unprovoked wars on neighboring democracies, murdering thousands of civilians and kidnapping innocent people, including children. Recently, Moscow hosted Hamas and Iranian leaders. This is incredibly concerning because Hamas is funded by Russia's military ally, Iran. I fear the extreme ultra rightwing wants to cut and run and hand Putin a win. It sends the wrong message to China and empowers our adversaries. The United States has a responsibility to support Ukraine in its fight against a murdering dictator and provide the support Israel needs to kill the terrorists responsible for the atrocities on October 7. Hamas terrorists have made it clear that they will not back down and are committed to a second, third, and fourth October 7. We must pass a bipartisan supplemental aid package that makes sure that we do not ever send the wrong signal about fighting against terror and protecting global democracy and our national security.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Wasserman Schultz for this Special Order. I rise tonight, Mr. Speaker, because, on October 7, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel and abducted more than 230 people, including many Americans. Hamas brutally murdered, raped, burned alive, and decapitated more than 1,000 innocent babies, children, women, men, and the elderly. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Mr. Speaker, 40 American citizens were slaughtered by Hamas, and 9 have been living in horrifying fear at the hands of terrorists for more than 50 days. It blows my mind that this isn't talked about every single day in this country, that Americans were killed and Americans remain hostages. Hamas killed Americans, and terrorists still hold American hostages inside Gaza. That should be the beginning and end of the argument of why we must crush and kill Hamas. Thankfully, because of President Biden's resolve and strong leadership, groups of hostages have been rescued, including 4-year-old Avigail, an American citizen. Nevertheless, as of today, there are still 160 hostages. One of the eight American hostages is Edan Alexander, a 19-year-old from Tenafly in my district in northern New Jersey. You can see him in this photo that was shared with me by his family, his mom. I have spent time with his family. They are phenomenal people and just such wonderful, warm people. His sister is at Tenafly High School. After graduating from Tenafly High School in 2022, Edan began serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Edan is the type of person who would regularly call his mother to check in, and his sister considers him to be her best friend. He is devoted to his friends and is always there for his family. He swam in high school. I have seen pictures of him at the prom. He is just like any other American kid we know. Since day one, I have been in constant contact with the Alexander family and the State Department. Their unimaginable strength in the face of unfathomable pain gives us all great hope. It is time to get all of these hostages home. There are some people who equivocate about Hamas. There should be no equivocation. They are designated by the United States of America as a foreign terrorist organization, and anybody who has spent time looking at images that many of us saw in the videos of barbaric, heinous, and unthinkable acts that took place on October 7 knows what Hamas is capable of. Look what they are doing to innocent Palestinian civilians every single day. Are they welcoming them underground and giving them safe haven? No. They take no responsibility. They use innocent people as human shields. That is what Hamas does. Hamas' charter advocates jihad against the Jewish people and the elimination of the Jewish state. Israel is surrounded by terror groups that want to kill their people, including Arab Israelis. Israel is and remains the only vibrant, progressive, and inclusive democracy in the region. They are our key ally because they are critical to our national security and stand up for values that we share, strong democratic values. They are key to our fight against terror in the region, against Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hamas. In Israel, Arab parties serve in the Knesset; women serve at the highest levels of military; and the country remains an oasis for LGBTQ people in a region hostile toward the community. It sickens me that some people are trying to romanticize Hamas. They should be reminded that in Gaza, under Hamas rule, same-sex relations are outlawed. Make no mistake, Mr. Speaker, your life would be at risk every day if you were openly gay in Gaza or the West Bank. Additionally, Hamas' 1988 charter states that Muslim women are important because they ``manufacture men.'' Hamas even enforces what women wear in public. There is also no law in Gaza that criminalizes violence against women within the family, including sexual violence. Hamas allows honor killings, the murder of women and girls accused of what they call ``immoral sexual conduct.'' Yet, it took U.N. women a month and a half to recognize that women and girls were raped in Israel, and, even then, they still refused to mention Hamas. Do they not believe the fact that Hamas terrorists committed horrifying and unspeakable acts against innocent girls and women, including many that we have seen images of? As you see all of these hostages being released, you can't imagine what they have been through; and I think, of course, of the images we are seeing this evening, those who are still hostages. Thankfully, President Biden has been phenomenal, as I said, with his unwavering support for the State of Israel and the Jewish people. The President understands that you have to actually hold terrorists who commit atrocities accountable or they will strike again and be stronger. Hamas terrorists have made it clear that they will not back down and are committed to ``a second, third, and fourth'' October 7 against Israel. Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by saying: We must stand by our key ally to get all hostages home, crush the terrorists, and provide humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians being used by Hamas as human shields. Israel must eliminate every single terrorist responsible for the atrocities committed on October 7, and we must get these hostages home. Mr. Speaker, I thank Debbie for her leadership. I thank all of my colleagues for being here this evening.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to correct the number of hostages that Hamas terrorists took when they attacked Israel on October 7. It was the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. That day, Hamas terrorists brutally murdered, raped, burned alive, and decapitated more than a thousand innocent babies, children, women, men, and elderly, including dozens of Americans. Let me be very clear: More than 230 people were abducted and taken hostage by Hamas, a terrorist organization, including nearly a dozen Americans. Again, Americans were killed. Americans remain hostage. There are some people who equivocate about Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization. There should be no equivocation. They are designated by the United States of America as a foreign terrorist organization. They are terrorists, and anybody who spent time looking at images of the barbaric, heinous, and unthinkable acts that took place on October 7, like I have, knows what Hamas is capable of. We will never unsee it. I know the ranking member was there, as well, and has seen it. We cannot forget that Hamas is an evil terrorist organization. Their charter advocates jihad against the Jewish people and the destruction of the Jewish state. In the region, militarily, beyond their support for Hamas, Iran is backing proxies that have attacked American troops in Iraq and Syria. We have seen an uptick in skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israel near the Lebanese border. President Biden has been phenomenal with his resolve and unwavering support for our key ally Israel, which is critical to America's national security and the fight against terror and is the democracy in the region. The President has taken action in Syria in response to attacks by Iranian-backed proxies on American personnel, regular attacks. We have seen them in Syria. We have seen it in Iraq. We have seen it from the Houthis. The President understands that you have to actually hold terrorists who commit atrocities against our country accountable, or they will strike again and be stronger. Hamas terrorists, their leadership, have even made it clear that they will not back down and are committed to ``a second, third, and fourth'' October 7 against Israel. The President has continued to demonstrate strength, resolve, and leadership to get hostages home. Thankfully, in recent days, groups of hostages have been rescued, including 4 year old Abigail, an American citizen. As of today, there are still nearly 160 hostages, including Americans. Forty American citizens were slaughtered by Hamas, and other terrorists have been living in horrifying fear and uncertainty at the hands of terrorists for more than 50 days. It blows my mind that this isn't talked about every single day in our country that Americans remain hostage. Americans were killed and are still suffering in Gaza. May all their memories be a blessing. This should be the beginning and end of the argument of why we must crush Hamas and stop Iranian-backed terrorist proxies. These terrorists continue to attack Israel and American personnel around the globe. The names and ages of the Americans still held hostage by the terrorists in Gaza are as follows: Gad Haggai, 73 years old; Judith Weinstein, 70 years old; Keith Samuel Siegel, 64 years old; Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35 years old; Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23 years old; Omer Neutra, 22 years old; Itay Chen, 19 years old. The eighth American still held hostage is 19-year-old Edan Alexander from Tenafly, New Jersey, in my district. Here is Edan. He is a wonderful, wonderful person. I have met with his family. They are phenomenal. After Edan graduated from Tenafly High School in 2022, he began serving with the Israel Defense Forces. He grew up in northern New Jersey, became a swimmer, and went to the prom. I have seen all the photos. Since day one, I have been in constant contact with the Alexander family. Their unimaginable strength in the face of unfathomable pain gives all of us hope. I don't know how they do it. It is time to get our Americans and all of the hostages home. It is in America's interest and critical to our national security to ensure that October 7 can never and must never happen again. Our objectives are clear: to stand by Israel, our key ally, the democracy in the region, our partner in the fight against terror; to get all of the Americans and all the hostages home; to crush the terrorists and provide much-needed humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians being used by Hamas as human shields. Mr. Chair, you will notice that Hamas does not allow any of the innocent Palestinians to go underground to be protected. There is no protection for them. They use them as human shields. Israel must eliminate every single terrorist responsible from Hamas for the atrocities committed on October 7. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 659, ``no'' on rollcall No. 660, ``no'' on rollcall No. 661, ``no'' on rollcall No. 662, ``no'' on rollcall No. 663, ``no'' on rollcall No. 664, ``no'' on rollcall No. 665, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 666, ``no'' on rollcall No. 667, ``no'' on rollcall No. 668, ``aye'' on rollcall No. 669, ``no'' on rollcall No. 670, ``no'' on rollcall No. 671, ``no'' on rollcall No. 672, ``no'' on rollcall No. 673, ``no'' on rollcall No. 674, and ``no'' on rollcall No. 675.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 641 and ``no'' on rollcall No. 642.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, I missed the following votes, but had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 599 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 600.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the passing of the bipartisan Hamas International Financing Prevention Act in the House of Representatives. I helped introduce this bipartisan legislation with Representative Brian Mast and helped lead it to overwhelmingly pass the House 363-46. This legislation imposes sanctions on foreign persons, agencies, and governments that assist terrorist organizations, including Iranian- backed Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and other affiliates. On October 7, the world watched Hamas terrorists invade Israel and brutally kidnap, behead, torture, rape, burn, and murder innocent babies, children, women, and the elderly, including dozens of Americans. This unprovoked war has underscored why I will always stand with Israel and support our partner's right to defend herself from those who seek her destruction. This bipartisan legislation will ensure we isolate and punish these radical terrorist groups by cutting off their financial resources at the moment our ally in the Middle East needs it most. We must do everything we can to get every hostage home, including all Americans, help our ally Israel defend herself and crush the terrorists, and provide much-needed humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinian civilians being used by Hamas as human shields. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the Senate to immediately pass the bipartisan Hamas International Financing Prevention Act.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following Roll Call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted: YEA on Roll Call No. 560; YEA on Roll Call No. 561; YEA on Roll Call No. 562; and NO on Roll Call No. 563.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Chair, I was mistaken in my vote on rollcall No. 472. I intended to vote ``aye'' on rollcall Vote. No. 472.

Mr. GOTTHEIMER

Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I missed the following vote, but had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 379.