Steve Israel

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. No. In fact, I did write a piece in the New York Times that went viral. I received responses on both sides of this aisle--on both sides--people saying: You are right, we spend too much time in call time. Instead of thinking about issues, instead of thinking about a robust foreign policy that is going to defeat our enemies, we spend too much time trying to figure out a robust fundraising policy to get reelected. Both sides of the aisle said that. Not one of our colleagues enjoy fundraising. But, in my view, there is only one party who is willing to do something about it. Pass the DISCLOSE Act, support campaign finance reform, demand transparency. The only way we are going to take this government back and make America great again is to engage voters across the spectrum by lowering the barriers that exist in this place. That is going to require the DISCLOSE Act, citizen-funded elections, greater transparency, and weekend voting.

Mr. ISRAEL. I am very fortunate because I represent a district in New York that is blessed with universities and colleges. We have a wonderful infrastructure of university and college campuses, and I toured those campuses and heard what you have heard: Congressman, my voice doesn't count. Congressman, why should I vote when it makes no difference? Congressman, why should I get involved in a campaign when my $20 contribution, or my $3 contribution, gets drowned out by one billionaire who is writing checks for millions of dollars for the candidate that he supports? I have said to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, it is bad for all of us when an entire generation gives up on us. That is just bad for democracy. That is bad for trying to accomplish anything. I have also said--and people understand this, I believe, intuitively--no matter what issue is important to you, no matter what it is--more investments in education or infrastructure or national security or your paycheck or the environment--no matter what it is, it is all rooted in a system that doesn't allow progress on those issues because it is rigged against progress on those issues. People say: Well, what can we do? What is the one thing we can do to get our voice back? Get this Congress to pass fundamental and meaningful campaign reform and we will make progress on every other issue.

Mr. ISRAEL. Again, I thank the gentleman so much for his leadership. If you would allow an aging 57-year-old to attend the Future Forum meetings, I would be happy to do so. I will bring my crutch, my cane, and all of the other things that I need. On a serious note, I really do want to commend you for the work that you are doing, for the engagement. Through this engagement, you are giving people hope. You are letting people know that there are people who are listening to them. You go to those events without a super-PAC. You go to those events without billionaire donors. You are representing the best that the grassroots has to offer. I want to thank you for that. Leave people with a sense of hope. For as long as we are talking on this floor about these issues, there is hope that something will be done on this floor on these issues, and the middle class and young people and millennials will make progress again.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Major Matthew R. Kelley for his dedication to duty and service as an Army Congressional Fellow and Congressional Budget Liaison for the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Financial Management and Comptroller). Major Kelley will be transitioning from his present assignment to serve in the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. A native of Ekron, Kentucky, Major Kelley was commissioned as an Armor officer after his graduation from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He has subsequently earned a Master's degree in Legislative Affairs from the George Washington University. Matt has served in a broad range of assignments during his Army career. Major Kelley's assignments include Armor Officer Student, United States Army Armor School, Fort Knox; Tank Platoon Leader, Troop Executive Officer, and Task Force Scout Platoon Leader, 1st Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin; Instructor, Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Oregon; Reconnaissance Troop Commander and Headquarters Troop Commander, 4th Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, Vilseck, Germany. Additionally, Major Kelley was deployed in direct support of combat operations in Iraq, from 2005- 2006, and Regional Command--South, Afghanistan, from 2010-2011. In 2013, Matt was selected to be an Army Congressional Fellow for one year, working in a Congressional office on Capitol Hill. Next, in his role as a Congressional Budget Liaison, working closely with the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Matt ensured the Army's budget positions were well represented and articulated to the Appropriations Committees. Throughout his career, Major Kelley has positively impacted his soldiers, peers, and superiors. Our country has been enriched by his extraordinary leadership, thoughtful judgment, and exemplary work. I join my colleagues today in honoring his dedication to our nation and invaluable service to the United States Congress as an Army Congressional Budget Liaison. Mr. Speaker, it has been a genuine pleasure to have worked with Major Matt Kelley over the last two years. On behalf of a grateful nation, I join my colleagues today in recognizing and commending Matt for his service to his country and we wish him, his wife Erin, and children, Grace, Samuel, Jack, and Tommy all the best as they continue their journey in the United States Army.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Monsieur Louis Sicoit, a man who has dedicated his life to honoring the American soldiers who liberated his village during World War II. Monsieur Sicoit, a resident of Roynac, France, was just a young boy when his village was at the nexus of the Battle of Montelimar. As a result of witnessing the grueling battle and seeing those American soldiers who risked their lives to protect his village, Monsieur Sicoit built a remarkable museum filled with hundreds of photographs, pieces of memorabilia, weapons, equipment, and testimonials from survivors like him. Sicoit's museum attracts a variety of visitors and also opens its doors to local school children in order to educate them and to help honor the memory of those who helped rid France of the German occupation. Additionally, members of the U.S. Army's 173rd Brigade Support Battalion visited Sicoit's museum and bestowed upon him a Certificate of Appreciation. Please join me in honoring Monsieur Louis Sicoit for his life-long dedication to paying homage to the brave American soldiers who risked and lost their lives in saving and liberating his village, and for helping to strengthen the bond between our two countries.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the bravery and heroism of Ho Feng-Shan, the Chinese Consul-General stationed in Vienna during World War II. At great risk to his personal safety, Mr. Ho issued Chinese visas to thousands of Austrian Jews, allowing them to flee the country and escape the atrocities of Nazi concentration camps. Despite strict orders from his superiors to stop issuing visas on such a large scale, he refused to abide by these instructions and undoubtedly saved thousands of lives. On August 7, 2000, Mr. Ho was recognized by Yad Vashem with the title, ``Righteous among the Nations'' for his selfless and courageous actions. Please join me in honoring Ho Feng-Shan for his sacrifice and brave display of noble humanitarianism.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the American people saw the television spectacle of the Benghazi hearing. In watching my Republican friends on television, it was like watching an ``I Love Lucy'' episode--the same plot, the same characters, the same script, and nothing new. Here is what the American people did not see yesterday from the majority in this Congress: They didn't see a hearing to create jobs. They didn't hear an idea to increase incomes. They didn't hear one single solution to reduce the cost of education. The American people want Republicans to spend their time increasing incomes and less time trying to take down Hillary Clinton. We are tired of this calendar of chaos, Mr. Speaker. It is time for action. It is time for negotiation. It is time for compromise. It is time to stop wasting time and tax dollars.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a remarkable hero of the United States and Israel, Leon Frankel. I would like to recognize his heroic efforts and remarkable sacrifice in defending both countries during World War II and Israel's War of Independence. Leon was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1923 and, at a young age, he was fascinated with the thought of flying. After he graduated high school, he pursued his dream and was accepted into the V-5 Naval Aviation Program. After completing the program, Leon joined Air Group 9, and as a pilot in Torpedo Squadron 9 he flew 25 missions while aboard the USS Lexington and the USS Yorktown. In February of 1945, Leon took part in the first Navy raid on Tokyo. After the War, Leon returned to his native Minnesota and served in the Navy Reserves. In May of 1948, he was recruited by the newly- founded State of Israel to become a member of their first Fighter Squadron, the 101. He fought bravely for the nascent nation against almost impossible odds, flying 25 missions during Israel's War of Independence. After returning to the United States, Leon rejoined his Navy Reserve Squadron, and served until 1959 when he was honorably discharged. As a testament to his exemplary service to the United States, Frankel was awarded many decorations including the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, three Air Medals and two Presidential Citations. It is with a heavy heart that I must announce Leon Frankel passed away this week. However, he will never be forgotten and his life will be remembered as one of exceptional service and commitment to both the United States and Israel. Leon Frankel is a true hero.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend and colleague from New York, Ranking Member Lowey. Mr. Speaker, I have a tremendous amount of respect for the chairman, the gentleman from Kentucky. I have great personal admiration for him and his leadership, and I thank him for his earnest, hard work; but what we are doing today is a disappointment to the American people, and it is a disappointment to those of us who are on the Appropriations Committee. Success can't be defined as avoid catastrophe, and all we are doing today is avoiding catastrophe. The majority's triumph today is not shutting down the government. Mr. Speaker, there is not a small-business owner anywhere in America who would say ``had a good day because I am not shutting down,'' ``had a good day because I am not throwing my employees out of work,'' ``had a good day because I am not telling my customers they can't come for services.'' That is not success. That is failure. That is, by itself, a catastrophe. Mr. Speaker, the managers of those small businesses are judged by their performance and success. The managers of this Congress, the majority, are judged in the same way. They are judged by their ability, as the majority, to produce bills, to pass budgets, to do the work of the American people. It is time for them to do their jobs, to stop the gimmicks, to pass a long-term budget that invests in the education of our children, that supports job skills for people and careers, that protects our veterans and our national security. It is time to do their jobs, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Madam Speaker, House Republicans are giving us a fall calendar of chaos. We have 5 legislative days before they shut the government down. Madam Speaker, this is a bad rerun of bad policy. Two years ago, people said they would never shut it down, and they did it. When they shut it down, it cost the economy $24 billion, and 120,000 jobs were lost; and they are going to do it again in 5 days. That is not the only deadline, Madam Speaker, in this calendar of chaos. They have missed a deadline for the highway trust fund, costing more jobs. We are careening towards another fiscal cliff with the debt ceiling. They missed the deadline for the Export-Import Bank, which cost a bunch of jobs, 500 lost jobs, as a result of this calendar of chaos. And there is more. Madam Speaker, the American people, everyday Americans, do not deserve this Republican calendar of chaos.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong opposition to the Iran deal that was reached in July 2015 and make known my opposition to the resolution of approval before the House today. I must say, however, that as a leading opponent of the Iran deal, I am deeply disturbed by the last minute decision of House Republican leadership to inject irresponsible partisan politics into the upcoming vote. House Republicans are, once again, playing political football with the safety and security of Israel, this time by straying from their original plan of an up or down vote on the deal and forcing an irresponsible three-bill gimmick on the House of Representatives. With that being said, even though I was skeptical of the negotiations and interim agreement, I tried to get to a position where I could support the final deal. I took my time to understand every word of the final deal, I read the classified materials, spoke to the President, met with administration officials, security experts, and constituents. I listened carefully to every analysis and opinion on both sides of this issue. This is one of the most profound foreign policy decisions I will have to make in Congress, second only to going to war with Iraq. And despite some positive elements in the deal, the totality has compelled me to oppose it. I came to this decision after an intense analysis of the details and merits of this deal and remain concerned about three major components. First of all, I believe Iran is highly likely to exploit ambiguities in the agreement. They are unlikely to engage in massive violations, but will perform a series of ``small-cheats'', and they will not face punitive measures for it. Secondly, the lifting of the arms embargo will create additional pathways for Iran to supply the ruthless terrorist organizations, Hamas and Hezbollah, with the means to increase their weapons stockpiles. Iran continues to be one of the leading state-sponsors of terrorism, and I doubt that will change any time soon. They have smuggled illicit weapons to Hezbollah, and we can only deduce what will happen in five years once the conventional weapons embargo is lifted. Finally, this agreement lends international legitimacy to Iran's enrichment capacity in fifteen years. With that being said, now that it is clear this deal will move forward, it is imperative that both Democrats and Republicans in Congress, both supporters and opponents to this deal, join with the Administration and work together to focus on the road ahead. We must reaffirm our commitment to continue and strengthen the many facets of joint cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. We can do this by signing another 10-year Memorandum of Understanding for FMF for Israel and ensuring their Qualitative Military Edge in such a chaotic region. We can continue and accelerate cooperation on missile defense programs such as Arrow-3 and David's Sling, and provide additional resources for Israel to field additional Iron Dome batteries. And we can continue to enhance our cooperation in order to detect and deter terrorist tunnels that plague Israel's borders. As Iran continues to spew vitriol toward Israel and call for her ultimate destruction, we are reminded that this nation is not to be trusted. Congress will play a pivotal role in the implementation of this deal and to that end I will continue to use every tool in my toolbox to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. And I will continue to ensure that America and our greatest ally, Israel, can continue to thrive in peace and security.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chair, I rise today to express my opposition to H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015. This legislation would prohibit the Food and Drug Administration from developing a national genetically modified organism (GMO) labeling system for food, block any state or local laws to require GMO labeling, and ultimately deny consumers the right to know what is in their food. Nearly 90 percent of consumers wish to know if their food contains GMO ingredients and I believe Americans should have that same right that 64 other nations have already provided their citizens. H.R. 1599 lets down the American consumer and for that reason I am opposed to this legislation and encourage the House of Representatives to take up legislation that adequately addresses this issue and gives consumers the information they demand.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a true hero of the United States and Israel, Lou Lenart. I would like to recognize his heroic efforts and great sacrifice in keeping both countries safe during World War II and Israel's War of Independence. Lou began his incredible journey as Layos Lenovitz in a Hungarian village near the Czech border. When he was 10 years old, he moved with his family to the United States in order to escape increasing anti- Semitism. At age seventeen, Lou enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps where he became a fighter pilot. He served in the U.S. military valiantly, flying in the Battle of Okinawa and other engagements in the Pacific. After the war, he learned that fourteen of his relatives who had remained in Hungary had been killed in Auschwitz. This prompted him to join a clandestine effort to smuggle surplus American aircraft into Israel. He also helped recruit other war veterans like himself to fly for the Israeli Air Force (IAF). After surviving the treacherous journey smuggling aircraft into Israel, Lou led his comrades Ezer Weizman, Eddie Cohen, and Modi Alon in the IAF's first mission. On May 29th, 1948, two weeks after Israel declared its independence, Egyptian soldiers and tanks were advancing to Tel Aviv. With Lou at the helm, the secretly assembled IAF was able to force the Egyptian troops to retreat. This mission gave Lou the most accurate nickname I have ever heard, ``the man who saved Tel Aviv.'' Lou served bravely throughout Israel's War of Independence and later participated in Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, which airlifted Iraqi Jews to Israel. After leaving the military he became a pilot for El Al Airlines and a film producer. Lou passed away on Monday of this week at age 94, but his life will forever be remembered as one of exceptional service and commitment to both the United States and Israel. His sacrifices and achievements are great, and I hope Lou's heroic efforts will serve as a reminder to us all that one individual can truly make a difference.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. I thank my colleague. Mr. Speaker, Republicans and Democrats until this Congress have always agreed that the way you build an economy is by building highways, bridges, tunnels, and transit. With this Congress, Mr. Speaker, under this Republican Congress, we are not building; we are patching. As a result, the American people are sitting in more traffic, longer rush hours, with higher repair bills. Well, this is a choice, Mr. Speaker. Under the Republican plan, we can kick the can down the crumbling highway. We can patch through December, telling construction workers we don't know if they are going to work after that. We can fund the status quo. Or, under this plan, we can be big, bold, and fair. We have 6 years of work, a 6-year extension of the highway trust fund, $40 billion in jobs and construction. It is funded not by asking Americans to dig deeper into their pockets or take something from their paychecks. It is funded by telling America's corporations they cannot establish an address for themselves in the Caribbean in order to avoid paying their fair share of taxes right here at home. Mr. Speaker, the American people are fed up. They are sitting in traffic. They can feel their tires hitting the potholes. They are told we can't afford to fix those potholes because we don't have the money. They sit in longer rush hours. Meanwhile, corporations rush to the Caribbean to avoid paying their fair share of taxes to fix the potholes. This is the choice: Will we protect tax gimmicks for America's biggest corporations, or will we protect the American taxpayer and America's workers? Our proposal, Mr. Speaker, grows jobs, creates sustainable growth and paychecks. It fixes potholes. It fixes our highways and transit. It gets Americans to their jobs on time. It rebuilds our economy by rebuilding jobs. And it is a choice we are making today. The choice is this, Mr. Speaker: Will we protect tax gimmicks for tax dodgers, or will we protect jobs for the American people?

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remember a true hero, Ben Zion Colb, and to thank him for his heroic efforts and great sacrifice in saving Jews in Poland during World War II. Ben Zion Colb went to great lengths to save his fellow Jews from extermination by the Nazis. Ben Zion's brave endeavor began when he sent a courier to escort his then-fiancee, Clara Lieber, from Poland to Slovakia, where the deportation of Jews had been temporarily halted. After succeeding in bringing Clara to safety, he realized he could use the same method he used to smuggle Clara across the border to help other Jews escape from Poland. With the help of his friend Rabbi Michael Weissmandl and a network of couriers, he succeeded in bringing most likely over one thousand Jews across the border. Ben Zion largely focused on the rescue of children, who came to be known as ``Ben Zion's Kinder.'' After the war, Ben Zion and Clara eventually made their way to New York, where they raised three children. Ben Zion passed away in 1973, but his inspiring legacy still lives on. I was fascinated to learn of the many documents that still exist, which detail the history of Ben Zion Colb's heroism. There are hand- written and typed papers with names of people who were rescued. Sometimes these papers include dates of birth, where these individuals were from, where they crossed the border and in some cases the actual day they crossed. I hope these documents will continue to assist in locating those individuals who were rescued by Ben Zion Colb and help bring together families and their diverse histories. I want to properly recognize Ben Zion Colb's sacrifices and truly heroic efforts and to remind my colleagues that individuals such as Ben Zion serve as a reminder as to how one person can make a difference in the lives of many. Ben Zion Colb took it upon himself to save as many lives as possible during a time of great need and it is important that we strive to live by his example.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the ranking member of the committee.

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the distinguished chairman for his bipartisan leadership and the distinguished ranking member. I appreciate their support for this amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an amendment with my very good friend from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn) and my very good friend from Florida (Ms. Graham). This is a bipartisan amendment with respect to tunnels being used as a military tactic, technology, and strategy in asymmetric warfare. Mr. Chairman, almost exactly a year ago, when war broke out in the Middle East and Hamas attacked Israel, I visited Israel and saw for myself the sophistication of the tunnels being dug from Gaza to Israel through which terrorists traveled. They went to the other side of the tunnels, popped up, and tried to kill innocent civilians. These tunnels are not the tunnels that many of us characterize in our own minds. These tunnels are sophisticated. These are expressways underground. It is like the Queens-Midtown Tunnel going from Gaza to Israel. They are ventilated. They are lit. They are massive. They are deep. They are huge. They are impenetrable, and they are very difficult to detect. Mr. Chairman, the FY16 Intelligence Authorization bill properly says that the Director of National Intelligence will designate an official to manage the collection and analysis of intelligence regarding the tactical use of tunnels by state and nonstate actors. This bipartisan amendment simply asks for accountability. It requires a report from this new lead intelligence officer for tunnels describing the trends in the use of tunnels by foreign state and nonstate actors and collaborative efforts between the United States and partner nations to address the use of tunnels by our adversaries. Mr. Chairman, I talked about tunnels in the Middle East, but in fact, these tunnels are dynamic force multipliers for our enemies and enemies of our allies around the world. They are used for terrorist attacks, but they are also used to smuggle arms and contraband. We have learned that these tunnels are being used well beyond Israel. Korea is another example. Tunnels have been found in North Korea. Here at home, more than 150 tunnels have been found since 2009. Mr. Chairman, we have plenty of enemies today looking for ways to attack the United States and our interests around the globe. This bill recognizes these threats and, very wisely, creates a lead intelligence officer for tunnels. This amendment simply encourages greater oversight by Congress. It allows Congress to make informed decisions on how and where to spend future funds in order to counter this threat and protect U.S. national security interests. Most importantly, Mr. Chairman, these reports will help shape the efforts of the newly created position, making it clear that Congress expects accountability and transparency, and that is something that the American people require. I ask my colleagues to support this bipartisan amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I thank my very good friend from Colorado for his bipartisan support of this bill. I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida. (Ms. Graham).

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff), the distinguished ranking member of the committee.

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, all that I can say is thank you. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chairman, I will attempt to continue my winning streak on the floor this morning. I rise to offer an amendment with my distinguished friend and partner from New York (Mr. Hanna). This bipartisan amendment addresses an issue that has concerned many of us for some time, and that is the fact that, when it comes to cyber defense and cyber war, many Federal agencies are doing something; it is just that they may not be aware of what each of them is doing. We need closer coordination and collaboration among all the Federal agencies and entities dealing with cyber war. Mr. Chairman, we recently found out that the United States Office of Personnel Management suffered a cyber attack impacting millions of Federal workers. This attack, in my view, highlights a disconnect between agencies tasked to provide cyber defense, a foreign government hacking into a Federal government system, taking the records of millions of government employees, spanning the jurisdiction of several Federal agencies. It is clear that there is an obvious need for greater collaboration between these agencies to create a credible defense and, if needed, a deterrent to those wishing to attack through the cyber domain. That is why I was very pleased in February of this year when the President directed the DNI to establish the Cyber Threat Intelligence Integration Center, CTIIC. This bill very properly authorizes that position. CTIIC will serve as the primary organization within the Federal Government for analyzing and integrating all intelligence possessed or acquired by the U.S. pertaining to cyber threats and coordinate cyber threat intelligence activities. This bipartisan amendment, Mr. Chairman, simply ensures congressional oversight of CTIIC by requiring an annual report detailing three things: number one, cyber attack trends identified by the CTIIC; number two, an assessment of the collaborative efforts between the CTIIC and various Federal agencies tasked to defend this country against cyber attacks; and number three, recommendations for better collaboration between these agencies. Mr. Chairman, we have entered a new era of warfare. Our networks are being attacked daily. We need to do a much better job of coordinating, collaborating, and cooperating at the Federal level. This amendment ensures oversight and accountability. I want to thank my partner on this measure, Mr. Hanna, for his bipartisan assistance and support. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ISRAEL

Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, today I commend the House of Representatives for passing H.R. 1191, the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. It is critical that Congress has a proper role in reviewing any final deal that may be reached regarding Iran's nuclear program. Congress must continue to play a role to ensure Iran does not acquire a nuclear weapon. I have been outspoken in expressing my skepticism at the current negotiations with Iran and remain skeptical after the release of the recent framework. I have many questions that have yet to be answered and am deeply concerned by Iran's statements after the framework was released. I have been and will continue to be defiant in demanding Congressional review of any final deal and am pleased the Senate passed this legislation last week and the House passed it today. No deal is better than a bad deal, and this legislation allows for sufficient Congressional oversight while ensuring that we have an opportunity to review the details of any final deal should one be reached.