Alcee Hastings

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Chair, my amendment No. 1 requires employers covered by the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act to make their organization's workplace violence prevention plans available to their employees through email and other methods. Before I proceed, I want to thank Mr. Courtney for bringing this matter to our attention. What I didn't say to Mr. Courtney before now is that, 27 years ago, I came to this institution as a Member of the House of Representatives. Either the second or third measure that I proposed dealt with workplace violence, and it is this long that we are finally addressing this in a meaningful way. This is a short and simple amendment that will help employees covered under the legislation stay familiar and comfortable with their organization's plans for preventing workplace violence. H.R. 1309 requires the Department of Labor to promulgate an occupational safety and health standard for certain employers in the healthcare and social service sectors. The standard requires them to develop and implement comprehensive plans for protecting their employees from workplace violence. These plans are specifically tailored to workplaces and their employees on a case-by-case basis and are important tools for identifying and mitigating risks. As a part of the requirements for these plans, H.R. 1309 requires employers to provide comprehensive training on these plans to employees and to make their workplace violence prevention plans available to their employees at all times. My amendment, which is cosponsored by my good friend and colleague, Congressman DeSaulnier, expands on this specific requirement and requires employers to share their plans with their employees through email and other methods, following the completion of their annual training. Doing so would ensure that, in addition to the other training and guidance provided by their employers, employees have access to their own digital copies of their organization's violence prevention plans. Having this access will permit them greater flexibility to access and review these important documents as they feel necessary. This is a commonsense amendment that will make it easier for covered employees to feel comfortable with their organization's workplace violence prevention plans. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Chair, I close by reiterating that this amendment is a short and uncontentious proposal to help covered employees feel comfortable with their organization's workplace violence prevention plans. By requiring employers to make their organization's workplace violence prevention plans available through email and other methods, this amendment would ensure that employees have access to their own digital copies of their organization's plans. Having this access will permit employees greater flexibility to access and review these important documents as they feel necessary. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Chair, I am pleased to rise in support of my colleague, Mr. DeSaulnier's amendment to H.R. 1309. As my good friend knows, I was planning to introduce an amendment that was virtually identical to his, and so I was happy to make this a combined effort and support his amendment as a cosponsor. As has already been explained, this amendment would require employers to provide information about trauma and trauma-related counseling for employees in their reporting, incident response, and post-incident investigation procedures. Doing so would ensure that employees have access to this vital information in the wake of incidents involving workplace violence. I think this is an important consideration as we consider this legislation responding to high rates of workplace violence. Our Nation's caregivers, including nurses, social workers, and many others working in the healthcare and social service sectors, suffer workplace violence injuries at far higher rates than in any other profession.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I rise today to honor the Keiser University Seahawks on securing a 9-0 undefeated football season. Led by local seniors Seth Freeman, Ronnie Bennett, and Tremane Gabriel, the Seahawks won their regular season finale game, after defeating Ava Maria University on Saturday, November 16th. Under the leadership of Head Coach Doug Socha, Keiser will now head into the 2019 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) postseason, beginning with a home game against University of the Cumberlands in the first round of the 16-team playoffs. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the entire Seahawks football team, which include: Traionn Jones, Sage Chen-Young, Tyler Foster, Eli Mathews, Maurice Murphy Jr., Ronnie Bennett, Kade Glenn, Alex Taylor, Coby Golden, Logan Good, Da'Shawn Bostic, Tremane Gabriel, Seth Freeman, Cade Socha, Rodney Green Jr., Dylan Inman, Carlos Silencieux, Jamarquios Autry, Jaylen Arnold, Asfunso Elam, Payton Burke, Lucas Matias, Shawn O'Gorman, Shaw Pomianowski, Trevor Phillips, Deandre Henderson, Caleb Walls, Luckaad Dorsainvil, Jamian Lovett, Marques Burgess, Schnider Louis, Troy Sloan, Cordell Wiley, Isaiah Rampart, Jermaine Wilson, Osner Valmeus, Carl Barrow, Taeon Holte, Austin Cha, Austin Carr, Amari Hayes, Brendan Parr, Preston Hays, Wesley Scott, Marc Laurore, Jordan Grant, Treykevian Gilbert, Victor Alvarez Jr., Mitchel Desulme, Byron Fraley, Joseph Irlbeck, Davion Cross, Robenson Lafleur, Christopher Hart, Tommy Richemond, Logan Wakefield, Camron Allen, Edward Krajewski, Alessandro Cantillo, Jeremiah Guillaume, Cedrick Dervil, Zach Shahin, Okevious Hinds, Rashad Harris, William Bell, Mikhail Hanson, Juwan James, Logan Robinson, Dalton Barbara, Donovan Hinds, Justin Thomas, Shelby Langen, Mike Altenor, Austin Sherrill, Nicholas Sierra, Jerson Jacques, Michael Robinson, Samuel Snell, Donavyn Martin, Thomas Waldron, Mohammad Shatara, Shavon Taylor, Luke Sharkey, Dante Trott, Markel Finney, Khalil Absolu, Joshua Norzea, Corey Lamy, Zachariah Istvan, Eddie Adams, Ruben Alexis, Matthew Barber, Balitan Celestin, Alec Charland, Claude Charles, Corey Cola, Owen Connell, Dakota Cox, Damon Daniel, Gabriel Davenport, Akarri Davis, Amarri Davis, Cory Hamilton, Earnest Johnson, Adreal Johnson, Trusteb Johnson, Angerlyns Julceus, Amari Kindred, Jamari Kindred, Judah Martin, Qwad Martin, Gage McNellis, T- Jay Mitchell, Ki-Mani Olivacce, Alex Saint-Jean, Benjamin Serrano, Isaiah Silva, Tristan Simmons, Duane Simon, Ty Smith, Shea Spencer, Andy St. Hillaire, George Swain, Garrison Swain, Joseph Villano, Chris Webber, and Ian Willhoite. Madam Speaker, I am so very proud of the Keiser University Seahawks for their exceptional season. I wish the team and their entire athletic program many more years of continued success.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the life and legacy of my dear friend, W. George Allen, a selfless member of our community who spent his life serving others. I had the great privilege of working alongside George as his law partner for many years. Throughout his more than four-decade career practicing law, he established himself as one of our state's most influential civil rights advocates. I will never forget the years we spent working together to fight and end segregation in Broward County. George was born in Sanford, Florida in 1936. He attended Florida A&M University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics, before continuing his education at the University of Florida Law School, where he became the first African American to receive a Juris Doctor degree. Between 1958 and 1960, George served in the United States Army as a special agent in the Counter Intelligence Corps, before being honorably discharged at the rank of First Lieutenant. Following his military service, George was accepted into law school, where he became involved in social activism by organizing lunch counter sit-ins around Gainesville, Florida. After graduating and being admitted to the Florida Bar Association, he decided to open his own firm in Fort Lauderdale. Here he practiced for forty-two years, specializing in trial work, probate, personal injury, insurance defense and wrongful death. Throughout his career, George was recognized time and again for his hard work and dedication to those around him. He was a member of the Urban League of Broward County, the NAACP, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, the University of Florida Foundation, and the Florida Bar Association. He also served as the Broward County Bar Association's president. Additionally, he received numerous awards for his achievements, including the University of Florida Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2000, and the National Conference for Community and Justice Silver Medallion Award in 2001. In 2003, George was inducted into the National Bar Association's Hall of Fame, and in February of 2005, Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to the Florida A&M University's Board of Trustees. Madam Speaker, W. George Allen was a champion for our community and positively impacted the lives of all those he met. He was a South Florida icon, whose life and legacy has left an indelible mark on our state and nation. I want to extend my deepest condolences to his children, Jonathan, Timothy, Frederick, and Amy Carole and the entire Allen family during this heartbreaking time. W. George Allen was a blessing to our community. I am so truly honored to have called him my friend. He will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, it is my great privilege to rise today to honor Mrs. Yvette DuBose, for her extraordinary contributions as the CEO/Executive Director of the Heart Gallery of Broward County and as a caring foster parent herself. Yvette was recognized as a 2019 Angels in Adoption by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). She is admired in our community for her steadfast commitment to the welfare of children as both a caring foster parent and as the Executive Director of the Heart Gallery of Broward County, as well as serving as a Board Member of the Heart Gallery of Florida and the Children Families Leadership Association. Her leadership at the Heart Gallery has led to more than 350 adoptions of foster children to their forever families, changing the course of their lives. Yvette's longstanding dedication truly exemplifies the values of the Angels in Adoption program. Founded in 2001, CCAI is a nonprofit organization with the vision that every child should know the love and support of a caring family. Every year, CCAI selects a small group of outstanding individuals, families, or organizations across the nation to be recognized as Angels in Adoption. These honorees have gone above and beyond to demonstrate their commitment to improving the lives of children in need of permanent, loving homes. Madam Speaker, I am so very proud of Mrs. Yvette DuBose for all the work that she has done in our community. I wish her the best as she continues her work to make the dream of a forever family a realty for so many children in need.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Cole for the manner in which you all are shepherding us through this difficult process. Madam Speaker, it is time for the American people to see how the administration put our national security on the auction block in exchange for political favors. At the heart of this scandal is the White House's decision to slam the brakes on nearly $400 million of military aid for Ukraine, military aid for a vital partner, military aid that was desperately needed to beat back Russian aggression, military aid that was key to our own national security and essential in keeping an adversary at bay. We know what our Ukrainian friends thought about this. They were horrified. The facts are clear. Our top national security experts viewed it as a grave and dangerous mistake. And as we have seen time and time again from the Trump administration, this decision played right into Vladimir Putin's hands.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I support pushing ahead with this inquiry because I swore an oath to defend the Constitution against America's enemies. The American people deserve the facts about how this abuse of power betrayed our national security and put our country at risk.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 650 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, the Rules Committee met and reported a rule, House Resolution 650, providing for consideration of H.R. 4617, the Stopping Harmful Interference in Elections for a Lasting Democracy, better known as the SHIELD Act, under a structured rule. The rule provides 1 hour of debate, equally divided and controlled by the Chair and ranking member of the Committee on House Administration. The rule also executes a manager's amendment from Chairwoman Lofgren, makes in order 14 amendments, and provides one motion to recommit on the bill. Madam Speaker, it is going to be interesting to watch my Republican friends twist pretzel-like today to convince themselves that voting against a bill that will protect the sanctity of our electoral process from foreign interference is the right thing to do for the American people. Through today's rule, the Democrats bring to the floor a bill that states that those campaigns that are offered assistance from foreign actors should be required to report such attempts at assistance. Sadly, I predict that my Republican friends will vote against such protections. We, as Democrats, say that foreign governments should not be allowed to buy political advertisements in a clear and ongoing attempt to spread conspiracy theories and sow discord among the American electorate. I predict that for reasons undecipherable, the Republicans will still vote against today's bill. In fact, let us pause here for a moment. The use of social media platforms by maligned actors to undermine our democracy is not only historical, but is happening today, as we speak. An article that appeared in yesterday's Washington Post outlines how Russia's intelligence apparatus through the Internet Research Agency continues to use Facebook and Facebook's photo-sharing app, Instagram, to sow discord among the American people. With alarming precision, they target our vulnerabilities, our fears, our baser instincts in hopes of tearing asunder the fabric of our democracy. As it turns out, past is indeed prologue, and unless we want Facebook and others to be left to play an ongoing game of whack-a-mole against Russian, and now apparently Iranian, and potentially other intelligence agencies, we in Congress need to provide the needed support that any platform can fully meet the threat posed by these nefarious actors. Madam Speaker, on this side of the aisle, we say that we should strengthen the ban against foreign nationals and foreign governments spending money in our elections, and we have put pen to paper in today's bill to ensure that we do, indeed, strengthen such a ban. Again, I predict that many, if not all, of my colleagues across the aisle will vote against today's bill, and, therefore, against the notion that foreign governments ought not to be spending money in our elections. Today's bill is a direct rebuke of the Trump campaign's sharing of nonpublic polling information with Russian intelligence in the hopes that this information would make it to Moscow in order to help with their beyond well-documented campaign to interfere with the 2016 Presidential election. Simply put, this bill treats the behavior engaged in by the Trump campaign as an illegal solicitation of support. Why? Because that is what it was. Again, I say to the American people, watch today's vote. I once again predict that you will see Republicans vote against making such behavior illegal, and that is sad. Finally--and this one is personal--today's bill incorporates language that will punish those who seek to intimidate, misinform, or maliciously misdirect those who simply wish to exercise that great American pastime: casting a ballot. Attempts to dissuade voters from going to the polls, whether through violence or other means, have been part of this country's history for far too long. We now know that in addition to homegrown efforts to keep voters away from the polls on election day, the Russians also engaged in voter suppression tactics, including the malicious dissemination of misinformation in a brazen attempt to sow confusion in the electorate in 2016. I might add, that three Florida counties had their elections offices compromised by Russian hackers. A vote for today's rule is a vote to bring forth a bill that will work to put an end to these dastardly deeds. Unfortunately, for reasons unfathomable, Republicans will stand brick-wall-like against such reform. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I would ask my friend Mr. Davis if he would stand by just a minute. I have a query of him. Last night in the Rules Committee, our colleague Ed Perlmutter offered the gentleman an opportunity to come today to ask Mr. Zuckerberg the questions that he put here. Is the gentleman availing himself of that opportunity?

Mr. HASTINGS. I yield to the gentleman from Illinois.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, in light of the process questions that the gentleman asked about hearings, I am proud of our Democratic majority's record when it comes to regular order. At the beginning of this Congress, we instituted a rule to require hearings and markups for bills that come through the Rules Committee, and we have followed that rule. In fact, the House Administration Committee, the primary committee of jurisdiction for this bill, held three hearings to develop the SHIELD Act. Those three hearings took place on February 14, May 8, and May 21, and they are clearly listed in the House Administration Committee's report. Mr. Speaker, with that in mind, I include in the Record the House Administration Committee's report. Hearings For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 116th Congress the following hearings were used to develop or consider H.R. 2722: (1) On Wednesday, May 8, 2019 the Committee held a hearing titled ``Election Security.'' The following witnesses testified: Mr. Larry Norden, Brennan Center for Justice; Ms. Marian Schneider, Verified Voting; Mr. Joseph Lorenzo Hall, Center for Democracy and Technology; The Honorable Jocelyn Benson, Secretary of State, State of Michigan; and The Honorable John Merrill, Secretary of State, State of Alabama. (2) On Tuesday, May 21, 2019, the Committee held a hearing titled ``Oversight of the Election Assistance Commission.'' The following witnesses testified: The Honorable Christy McCormick, Commissioner and Chairwoman, Election Assistance Commission, accompanied by The Honorable Benjamin Hovland, Commissioner and Vice Chair, Election Assistance Commission; The Honorable Don Palmer, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission; and The Honorable Thomas Hicks, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission. (3) On Thursday, February 14, 2019, the Committee held a hearing titled ``For the People: Our American Democracy.'' The following witnesses testified: Mr. Chiraag Bains, Director of Legal Strategies, Demos; Ms. Wendy Weiser, Director, Democracy Program, Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law; Mr. Fred Wertheimer, President, Democracy 21; The Honorable Kim Wyman, Secretary of State, State of Washington; Mr. Alejandro Rangel-Lopez, Senior at Dodge City High School, Dodge City Kansas, and plaintiff in LULAC & Rangel-Lopez v. Cox; Mr. Peter Earle, Wisconsin Civil Rights Trial Lawyer; Mr. Brandon A. Jessup, Data Science and Information Systems Professional; Executive Director, Michigan Forward; and David Keating, President, Institute for Free Speech. Committee Consideration On Wednesday, October 16, 2019, the Committee met in open session and ordered the bill H.R. 4617 favorably reported with an amendment to the House, by a roll call vote of 6 to 1, a quorum being present. During consideration of the bill an amendment (Amendment No. 5) was offered by Mr. Davis of Illinois and was agreed to by voice vote: An amendment (No. 5) offered by Mr. Davis of Illinois to amend section 201(b) of the amendment in the nature of a substitute to insert ``labor organization'' after ``a corporation'' and after ``the corporation'' each place that it appears.

Mr. HASTINGS. In addition to those three hearings, the House Administration Committee held eight other election-related hearings this year. I also want to point out that while it isn't the primary committee of jurisdiction for this bill, the Judiciary Committee held two hearings on election security. The House Administration Committee also held a markup on H.R. 4617. Several amendments were offered, including an amendment by the gentleman who just spoke, my friend, Ranking Member Davis, that was adopted by the committee. This is how the process is supposed to work, Mr. Speaker, and I am hopeful that that will help clarify some aspects of what was brought up about process. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), my good friend.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, through you, I would advise my friend that I have no further speakers, and I am prepared to close if he is.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, very briefly, the last three speakers, including my good friend from Oklahoma, have mentioned the ongoing impeachment inquiry here in the House of Representatives, and they speak of it as being a lack of transparency. It is almost as if the Republicans are not in the hearings that are going on in this inquiry. In my understanding, although I am not a member of either of the committees of jurisdiction, I have spoken with and have heard publicly the person who is the responsible person for ongoing matters at this time say that the other side is there. Their lawyers are asking questions. Members, if they choose, are asking questions. So I don't understand what they are talking about about a lack of transparency, particularly when the previous impeachments that were done were done by special prosecutors. This is a solemn process. And while I agree with my colleagues about the National Defense Authorization measure, the simple fact of the matter is that we also have a constitutional responsibility to ensure that the executive branch of this government functions in an appropriate manner and does not do as they are doing: failing to respond to the oversight responsibilities of the Article I House of Representatives. I rather suspect that that is just talk when they say that there is no transparency. I suggest to them to stick around. They are going to see some transparency real soon. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I do agree with my good friend from Oklahoma that our exchanges are civil; and although we have respectable disagreement, the simple fact of the matter is that each of us discharges our responsibilities in a responsible way. Madam Speaker, after exiting the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin, when approached, was asked what form of government had been agreed upon; his response: ``A Republic, if you can keep it.'' We come here today to keep it, to not only keep it, but make more perfect that Union which we have all taken an oath to protect, not just for us and our children, but for generations unborn, so that they may know and benefit from the greatest experiment ever known to humankind, the democratic Republic we call the United States of America. To do this, to protect our democracy from enemies foreign and domestic, we must put country over party. Indeed, there have been more than a few times in our history when it was imperative that the partisan give way to the patriotic. This is undoubtedly one of those times and one of those paramount issues. Madam Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the rule and a ``yes'' vote on the previous question.

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor Ms. Elizabeth ``Libby'' Wesley, an extraordinary activist and dear friend from Palm Beach County, Florida. Ms. Wesley was born in Defuniak Springs, Florida to William and Allie Mae Jackson. In 1958, she moved to Delray Beach, Florida where she began her 37-year career in the field of education as a classroom teacher, instructional television educator, and project manager of early childcare welfare and services with the Palm Beach County School District. Her steadfast commitment to quality education on the local, state, and national level and her expertise in the field of early childhood education and development was highly sought after by leading parent advocacy groups, businesses, and national and local legislators. Ms. Wesley, affectionately known as Libby, gifted her talents, time, and voice to the community as a prolific speaker, soloist, community activist, organizer, and innovator. Throughout her 61 years as a member of St. Paul AME, she served as the church secretary, on the trustee board and finance committee, and lifted the spirits of the congregation with her signature rendition of Amazing Grace. Libby became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in 1954 at Florida A&M University. She continued the works of her beloved sisterhood first as a member of Delta Epsilon Zeta Chapter in West Palm Beach, and later a founding member of the Tri-City Chapter Omicron Delta Zeta. Perhaps Ms. Wesley's most impactful community legacy was her role as a co-founder of the Roots Cultural Festival in Delray Beach. Her leadership of this festival grew a weekend celebrating Black American excellence and African culture into a year-round youth program that included music, culture, education, and athletic components. Ms. Wesley was also the recipient of numerous prestigious awards for her contributions in the areas of volunteerism and leadership, including the Old School Square Life Achievement award, the Delray Beach Rotary Service Above Self award, the Sojourner Truth Living History award, the Jefferson Award, the JM Family Enterprises The Prestigious African-American Achiever's Award, the Publisher's Award from the Sun Sentinel, as well as the building and dedication of The Elizabeth ``Libby'' Jackson Wesley Plaza in Delray Beach. Madam Speaker, my friend Libby dedicated her life to serving our community. She was admired, respected, and beloved by all. I want to extend my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends, during this time of great sadness. She will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Mr. Robert Lee Smith. For decades, Robert pursued public service as a dedicated teacher, school administrator, and a member of the United States Air Force. We have lost a great leader, a tremendous educator, and a dear friend and advisor. Robert dedicated his life to sharing knowledge. He sought out opportunities through which he could give back to his community, progressing first as a high school valedictorian and scholarship recipient to earning degrees from Florida A&M University and Columbia University Teachers School in education and school administration. As an exceptional Communications Specialist in the United States Air Force, education remained a focus as he additionally served as a part- time instructor and education services coordinator. Robert's service was rewarded with the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Outstanding Airman Award. He was Honorably Discharged as a Sergeant on June 10, 1956. Robert knew what it meant to serve his community and our nation. He always went above and beyond to improve the lives of those around him. Robert's 36-year career in the Broward County School System enriched the lives of thousands of students, having served as a well-respected and cherished elementary school teacher and principle. His leadership expanded far beyond school walls, as he was president of Justice for All in Broward and the Golden Heights Homeowners' Association and he was the first African-American president of the Fort Lauderdale Optimist Club. He was also a leader in the First Baptist Church Piney Grove and his 63-year membership included serving as a Deacon and as Chairman of the Deacon Board. Undoubtedly, Robert's membership to the NAACP and position as Board Chairman for the L.A. Lee YMCA ensured his indelible mark on every facet of our community. I extend my deepest condolences to Robert's wife, Betty; his daughter, Anitha Rhodette; his son-in-law, Darrell; his grandson, Kamyron; and his entire family during this extremely difficult time. His life and legacy will always live on and he will be dearly missed.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Madam Speaker, as Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission--a congressional watchdog for human rights and democracy in Europe and Eurasia--I am frequently reminded of the new opportunities that technology and globalization present for human rights defenders around the globe. For those struggling to defend their liberty and human dignity, our interconnected world brings with it the possibility of sharing information, coordinating action, and demonstrating solidarity across thousands of miles in fractions of a second. It means that truth is more capable of piercing the veil of enforced ignorance erected by the world's most repressive states Technology also further empowers dissidents in exile to connect with, and influence the foot soldiers of freedom who march on in their homelands. But with these new openings for liberty come novel approaches to repression. Authoritarian and autocratic regimes are appropriating agile, 21st century technology to prop up sclerotic systems of brutality and corruption. Technological developments have provoked greater feelings of insecurity in these brittle regimes and propelled them to extend their repression far beyond their borders, sometimes reaching into the refuge of democratic societies where political opponents, independent journalists, and civil society activists operate in safety. Madam Speaker, I recently introduced bipartisan legislation to tackle these emerging challenges with my friend and Helsinki Commission Ranking Member, Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina We are confident that this legislation, supported by the bicameral leadership of the Helsinki Commission and other leaders on human rights, will place the United States on course to lead the free world in holding the line against these modern manifestations of political persecution, or what some have called ``transnational repression.'' The Transnational Repression Accountability and Prevention Act--or TRAP Act--is designed to counter one key instrument in the autocrat's 21st century toolkit politically-motivated abuse of the International Criminal Police Organization, more commonly known as INTERPOL. INTERPOL is a legitimate and potent tool for international law enforcement cooperation--one that the United States relies on heavily to bring criminals to justice and thwart threats to security around the globe. Sadly, autocrats have recognized the potential for repression in INTERPOL's worldwide communications system that ties into the law enforcement agencies of its 194 member countries. The Helsinki Commission regularly receives credible reports from human rights defenders, journalists, political activists, and businesspeople who have fallen victim to the efforts of corrupt regimes to ensnare them using INTERPOL's system of international requests for arrest and extradition, known as Red Notices and Diffusions. These are the modern-day ``traps'' addressed by the TRAP Act. Because of these notices, innocent individuals live in fear of traveling mternationally and have been detained, had their bank accounts closed, and, sometimes, been returned into the hands of the very regimes from which they escaped. Madam Speaker, our legislation opens three new fronts agamst the threat of INTERPOL abuse. First, it clearly states that it is the policy of the United States to use our influence in INTERPOL to advance specific reforms that increase transparency and accountability for those that abuse the system while helping the organization to live up to its stated obligations to uphold international human rights standards and resist politicization It further establishes that the United States will use its diplomatic clout to confront countries that abuse INTERPOL and work to ensure the freedom of movement and ability to engage in lawful commerce of victims of this abuse the world over. Second, the TRAP Act exerts oversight over the United States' internal mechanisms to identify, challenge, and respond to instances of INTERPOL abuse. The bill requires the Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and State--in coordination with other relevant agencies--to submit to Congress an assessment of the scope and seriousness of autocratic abuse of INTERPOL, an evaluation of the adequacy of the processes in place domestically and at INTERPOL to resist this abuse, and a plan for improving interagency coordination to confront this phenomenon. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the TRAP Act places strict limitations on how the United States Government can use INTERPOL notices in legal or administrative proceedings that could interfere with the freedom or immigration status of individuals in our country. We have been deeply concerned by reports that some authorities in this country have improperly cited INTERPOL notices from autocratic countries to detain individuals and place them in danger of being returned to the very countries from which they fled. The TRAP Act will make crystal clear that autocratic regimes cannot use INTERPOL notices to weaponize the U.S. judicial system against their political targets. Madam Speaker, these measures are critical to restricting the freedom that some autocratic regimes have enjoyed to harass, persecute, and detain their political opponents around the world. Authoritarian and autocratic states like China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Venezuela must be called out by name and held to account for their repeated manipulation of legitimate law enforcement tools for petty political ends. Madam Speaker, I would also like to place the TRAP Act in the context of the other work that the U.S. Helsinki Commission has done to address the grave threat of transnational repression and malign influence by authoritarian regimes. The Countering Russian and Other Overseas Kleptocracy--or ``CROOK'' Act, the Kleptocrat Exposure Act, and the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act have all been the result of a focus by Commissioners and Commission staff on developing a bipartisan congressional response to the existential threat of global authoritarianism. We can no longer sit idly by, content that those who wish to do us harm are on the other side of the world. In this new age of autocracy, the threat is here--now--and it comes in the form of abusive Red Notices, dirty money, and bought-and-paid-for lawfare tactics The purpose of these tactics is to silence journalists and activists, hollow out the rule of law, and ensure that no one ever dare pursue this new class of transnational kleptocrats whose sole goal is the wholesale looting of the countries they claim to serve and the seamless transfer of those ill-gotten gains to our shores and those of our allies.

Mr. HASTINGS

Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 548 and ask for its immediate consideration.