Barbara Lee

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the achievements of Mr. Chris Iglesias as he celebrates his 10-year tenure as Chief Executive Officer of The Unity Council, a non-profit that supports social equity initiatives in Oakland, California. In this role, he has led a long-standing organization that is dedicated to improving Oakland's Fruitvale District and the lives of residents who live within it, including seniors, children, communities of color, small business owners, and immigrants. The work of The Unity Council has proved invaluable in bettering the lives of the residents of the largest Latino neighborhood in the Bay Area. Mr. Iglesias has many accomplishments that prove his dedication bettering the community and building a more vibrant Fruitvale. One of his accomplishments includes securing $58 million to fund units of affordable housing in the Fruitvale neighborhood. Additionally, he has expanded Bay Area social equity programs, including creating Oakland's Latino Men & Boys program in partnership with Oakland Unified School District and the Oakland Mayor's office and supporting The Unity Council's early education programs in partnership with the city's Early/Head Start Program for early education. Chris Iglesias has a long history of supporting the people of California and the larger Bay Area. He was previously a Senior Advisor to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a Director of Regional Workforce Initiatives at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and an Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. He is also the founding director of CityBuild, a construction workforce program in San Francisco that provides workforce trainings for residents. Along with serving as CEO of The Unity Council, Iglesias also serves on the Oakland Thrives Leadership Council as well as the Job and Housing Coalition. I am happy to congratulate Chris Iglesias on his decade of service, and to thank him for his dedication to underserved communities in the city of Oakland. His impact and legacy will resonate with The Unity Council and the entire community of Fruitvale for years to come. I look forward to seeing this organization's continued growth under Mr. Iglesias' strong leadership. Congratulations to Mr. Iglesias on this significant milestone, and here's to many more years of inspiring leadership.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of the USS Hornet CV-12, a ship served the US Navy during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The predecessor aircraft carrier, USS Hornet CV-8 was known as ``Shangri-La'', the mysterious base from which Lt. Colonel James ``Jimmy'' Doolittle led the Doolittle Raiders, 21 B-25 bombers, on the Tokyo Raid on April 18, 1942. In World War II, during the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, on October 26,1942, the USS Hornet CV-8, was attacked and sunk by Japanese dive bomber and torpedo planes with the loss of 140 of her 2,200 sailors. 21 aircraft went down with the ship. A new Essex-class carrier was commissioned the USS Hornet CV-12 on November 29; 1943, 80 years ago. The USS Hornet CV-12 joined the Pacific Fleet in 1944. Her first battle was a strike on the Palau Islands on March 30th 1944. After this, the USS Hornet CV-12 participated in almost every major naval engagement in the Pacific for the rest of the war, including the Battle of the Philippine Sea, the invasion of the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. In WWII, in 18 months of combat operations, the aircraft that served on the USS Hornet CV-12 destroyed more Japanese aircraft than any other aircraft carrier--668 Japanese planes shot down, 742 Japanese planes destroyed on the ground, 1,269,710 tons of enemy ships sunk or heavily damaged. 73 ships sunk, 37 probable, and 413 damaged. The USS Hornet CVS-12 served 3 tours at Yankee Station during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. On July 24th, 1969, the USS Hornet CV-12 was the recovery ship for the Apollo 11 astronauts, hosting President Nixon as he welcomed back the first men to ever walk on the Moon. On November 24th, 1969, the USS Hornet CVS-12 recovered the Apollo 12 astronauts. The USS Hornet CVS-12 was decommissioned on June 30, 1970. On her way to the scrapyard, the USS Hornet CVS-12 was saved and turned into a floating museum. She opened her doors on October 17, 1998, 25 years ago as the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum at the former Alameda Naval Air Station in Alameda, California. The USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum now projects its power as an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum, research, and educational facility in the world. Please join me as I salute the sailors who served on the USS Hornet CVS-12. I also thank those who now use the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum and its collections, exhibitions, and educational programming to promote awareness and understanding of history, science, technology, and service as a Smithsonian Affiliate. This historic ship has the unique opportunity to live on, welcoming visitors from across the country to learn about its 80-year legacy.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 25th anniversary of the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum in Alameda, California. The USS Hornet is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, dedicated to the increase and diffusion of knowledge. The museum is housed in the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, CV-12 which was part of the U.S. Navy's offensive force in the Pacific theater during World War II. Along with the anniversary of the museum, we are also celebrating the 80th anniversary of the commissioning of this historic ship. The USS Hornet saw fierce action during World War II, as well as serving in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The ship was decommissioned in 1970 and turned into a museum, which first opened in 1998. The ship is moored permanently at the former Alameda Naval Air Station in Alameda, California, overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Visitors can see how the crew ate, lived, slept, and worked during their time aboard the ship. Visitors can explore the flight deck, hangar deck, and first deck on self-guided tours. Docent-led tours take visitors to the ship's navigation and flight deck control areas, as well as into engineering spaces that hold two of the four ship's propulsion turbines. In addition to the historic ship itself, there are vintage military aircraft on display, including exhibits from NASA's Apollo missions 11 and 12. The Hornet served as the primary recovery ship for Apollo 11, picking up astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins upon their return from the moon following their splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. The Apollo Block 1 Command Module is on a special loan from Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. The Hornet also has a STEM to Stern Program, where students can learn how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics apply to the operational functions of a World War II aircraft carrier. This program offers a perspective on modern technology by offering a comparison to the past. On June 1, 2017, the Smithsonian Institution added the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum as an affiliate. This allowed the Hornet to share objects for display and work together to enhance the experience of museumgoers. The USS Hornet Museum is now one of 216 organizations in 46 states, as well as Puerto Rico and Panama, that are part of the Smithsonian's affiliate program. The affiliate program will allow the Hornet to share objects for display, facilitate co-branding, and professional development of staff. Please join me as I recognize the 25th anniversary of this beloved museum, as well as the staff and volunteers who serve on it. This Veteran's Day, the USS Hornet Sea, Air & Space Museum will open its doors to members of the community for free in honor of the occasion. Its collections, exhibitions, and educational programming will promote awareness and understanding of history, science, technology, and service as a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for bringing us together tonight. It is hard to stand here and look over here. Where is Don? Every night, here he was speaking truth to power. Tonight, I rise with my colleagues in remembrance of our beloved friend and colleague, Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. Now, I got to know and love Don before I actually met him. His proud father, our beloved Donald Payne, Sr., made sure of that. The entire Payne family was committed to service, extending to the next generation. Don Jr.'s son was an incredible intern in my office. He was brilliant. He was passionate. He was his father a few years younger. His son, I will tell you, made a major contribution to my office, and we were and became a better office because of Don Jr. Don Jr. was passionate. He was kind, he was gentle, and a brilliant man who was determined to not let his health challenges stop him from his visionary and his bold work. I remember traveling abroad with him. He would always take time, yes, for his medical treatments and be right back in our meetings, providing his insight on global affairs. He showed us how to live a full life, regardless of his difficulties. His loss will be immensely felt in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District, where he worked tirelessly to rebuild our Nation's infrastructure, provide clean drinking water for disadvantaged communities, invest in minority-owned businesses, and bring awareness to colorectal cancer in the Black community. We talked a lot about a variety of treatments for diabetes. As a member of the Appropriations Committee, which funds NIH, he was very instrumental and insightful in helping me with my work with regard to diabetes and cancer. My condolences go to his family and his loved ones, including his wife, Beatrice, and their three children. I hope that they find strength in their memories and love for this great man who fought the good fight, and he fought a good fight until the end. May he rest in eternal peace and power. I thank the gentlewoman again for giving us a chance to speak this evening on behalf of our beloved Congressman, Donald Payne, Jr.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I thank the distinguished ranking member for yielding and for her tremendous leadership on global peace and security issues in this House. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8035. This bill provides nearly $10 billion in economic assistance for Ukraine and surrounding countries, with nearly $8 billion in direct budget support. When I visited Ukraine in 2019, I immediately recognized the love of the Ukrainian people for their country and for their democracy. Since the war broke out, I have met with Ukrainians in the region. Actually, I was with Speaker Pelosi during that visit. I heard firsthand the dire situation that they face amidst Russian aggression. I have talked with civil society organizations funded by the United States that, facing danger and violence, are supporting refugees, vulnerable people, women, and children. I was deeply moved by their stories and commitment. The United States must support these brave Ukrainians in their efforts to protect their sovereignty because, let's be clear, Putin will not stop until Ukraine's democracy is dismantled, and we all know that he will not stop with Ukraine. As ranking member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, I am proud that we are also considering other significant investments in the United States' global leadership today, particularly the more than $9 billion in desperately needed humanitarian assistance. We are facing historic challenges of hunger, displacement, and conflict across the globe. I was recently in Chad, one of the poorest countries in the world. Thousands of refugees are fleeing the horrific war in Sudan. They are in dire need of food and just the basics to survive. These resources will enable the United States to respond to not just the humanitarian needs that we read about on the front page but the quieter conflicts that are destroying people's lives, such as in Sudan and Haiti. This is a defining moment in our history. I urge my colleagues to respond to the remarkable strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people and stand by them by supporting this supplemental bill.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Madam Speaker, I rise to address the ongoing challenges that too many families in America face coping with poverty and income inequality. I thank my dear friend, Congressman DeSaulnier, for hosing this Special Order hour, and for his tireless work on these issues. In the richest country in the world, poverty is a policy choice. In early 2023, the poverty rate in California rose to 13.2 percent, and the child poverty rate to 13.8 percent. You cannot disentangle poverty and inequality from systemic racism. Latinos remained disproportionately poor. Latinos comprise about half of poor Californians, but only around 40 percent of all Californians. Additionally, about 13.6 percent of African Americans and 11.5 percent of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders lived in poverty in California at the beginning of 2023 compared to 10.2 percent of white residents. That is why I reintroduced legislation calling for the establishment of the first U.S. Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. This Commission will examine the effects of slavery, institutional racism, and discrimination against people of color, and how our history impacts laws and policies today. But while poverty has a disproportionate impact on people of color, poverty afflicts millions of people in America of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. That is why I have worked with the Poor People's Campaign to introduce a resolution calling for a Third Reconstruction to fully address poverty from the bottom up. A Third Reconstruction would prioritize the needs and demands of the 140 million people in America who are poor or one emergency away from economic desperation, with policies focused on healthcare, welfare, water, public education, and housing. Across the country, rents and home prices continue to rise much faster than income, exacerbating housing instability during an affordable housing supply crisis. A staggering 78 percent of extremely low income renters in California are severely cost burdened. meaning they spend more than half of their income on housing and utilities. This is unacceptable when we have the power and tools to eliminate poverty entirely. Access to safe and affordable housing, regardless of income, is a human right. I am proud to sponsor the DEPOSIT Act, which would provide security deposit assistance to low-income renters. As Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Poverty Task Force. I won't stop fighting until we pass comprehensive legislation to eradicate poverty, economic inequality, and racial injustice. There is a strong correlation between U.S. poverty reduction initiatives and declining poverty rates. We must work to ensure that the Child Tax Credit is restored to American Rescue Plan levels, which cut child poverty in half. We must ensure the House remains focused on combating poverty in all forms and creating economic opportunity for all Americans. Together, we can work to reduce disparities and secure justice for those struggling to put food on the table.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding and for her strong, strong leadership. Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose H.R. 7217. The United States and the world are facing a very dangerous time, with the risk of being pulled deeper and deeper into conflicts across the globe. Meanwhile, millions of people around the world are facing violence, dislocation, and hunger. This bill really is not a serious effort. As the ranking member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee, I cannot support a bill that fails to meet the challenges of this moment and abandons those most in need of humanitarian assistance. Yes, this bill undermines the United States' policy which supports a two-state solution. This bill is a blatant political stunt that is dead on arrival in the Senate, and so I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor the life and legacy of our dear friend and former colleague, the extraordinary and the honorable Eddie Bernice Johnson. First, let me just send my deepest condolences to her loved ones. This Nation has lost a powerful force for good. When I was first elected, I served on the Science and Technology Committee with Eddie Bernice Johnson, and one of my very first congressional delegations, of course, led by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was to visit technology companies in her district. She was adamant about making sure that I, as a new member, focused on the inclusion of women and people of color in all aspects of science and technology which led to my forming the Congressional Black Caucus' Tech 2020 and now Tech 2025 initiative. Nevertheless, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice insisted. She told me, as you probably have heard tonight and as she had always said: You have got to do the work. You have got to do the work. Now, the global HIV/AIDS initiative, PEPFAR, which has saved over 25 million lives, was actually talked about and begun when Congresswoman and then-Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. She organized the first meeting with President George Bush. I will never forget. She asked me what I wanted to talk about at the meeting. I said that I want to talk about all these people in Africa and throughout the world dying of AIDS. She looked at me, she smiled, and she said: That is what you want to talk to President Bush about? I said, Yes, ma'am. She said: Okay, talk to him and tell him what you think we should do. The rest is history. That was the beginning of our discussions about the global AIDS initiative, but had she not allowed me to raise that with President Bush, then who knows where we would be? Again, the rest is history. Her mark is on so much of what has been good, and that has been moved forward through this House of Representatives. She cared about all people. She cared about people of color, which was so important to her because she talked about our common humanity. That led her to forming the Tri-Caucus which consists of today the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. The Tri-Caucus has been a powerful force for good not only for communities of color but for our entire country. Congresswoman and Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson's life was remarkable. I have had the privilege to travel with her all over the world, and she was greeted as royalty in many countries. I will never forget her forming her organization, A World of Women for World Peace. She would invite all of us to meet with these phenomenal women from all around the world. She wanted to connect women because she knew that we would fight for peace and security together throughout the world. That was her idea. That was her idea. I tell you, Mr. Speaker, we are going to miss her. Her legacy will endure in the lives of those she touched, but also her legacy will endure right here in Washington, D.C., throughout our country, and throughout the entire world. As the Scriptures remind us, she fought the good fight, she finished the race, and, yes, she kept the faith. May her soul rest in peace and in power.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise with a heavy heart to honor the life of my friend, Ady Barkan, who passed away earlier this year due to complications of ALS. Ady is fondly remembered by many as a brilliant strategist, communicator, and activist. He was an activist who brought our Nation closer to making healthcare in America a basic human right. Beyond being one of the most powerful activists in America, Ady Barkan was also a loving husband and a dedicated father. My condolences to Rachael, his partner of 18 years, and their two children. My heart goes out to your family, Rachael, during this difficult time. While I can't imagine a world without Ady, I know that through Be A Hero, his work and legacy will live on. That is why I am so proud to partner with Be A Hero and work towards introducing the Ady Barkan Memorial Resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution when introduced. Thank you, Ady, for advocating for a better tomorrow.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, on Monday December 11, 2023, I was unavoidably detained and unable to cast my vote on three roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted YES on Roll Call No. 707, YES on Roll Call No. 708, and YES on Roll Call No. 709.

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and unable to cast my vote on two roll call votes. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 676 and ``yea'' on rollcall no. 677. personal explanation

Ms. LEE of California

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, just to clarify and to tell the truth. This is a unit; it is not a mission. It is a unit, mind you, within the embassy. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).

Ms. LEE of California. I claim time in opposition. The Acting CHAIR: The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee) is recognized for 5 minutes.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chair, I rise to oppose H.R. 4665. This bill would impose devastating cuts on programs meant to keep both America and the world safe. With all due respect to my friend and colleague and the chair of this committee, I am not an adversary of the United States. Democrats are patriotic, and we want our country to lead in global security and peace. This bill does just the opposite. This Republican bill would slash the allocation for international programs by nearly one-third, a level not seen since 2009. Do my Republican colleagues really think that our international challenges have shrunk? I don't know what world they are living in. The bill undermines the fight against climate change, and it would destroy our influence at the United Nations during a time when China and Russia are working to expand their voice and their role. Most outrageously, the bill would gut programs intended to help the most vulnerable people in the world, undermining American global leadership and making a mockery of our human values and leaving a huge void for adversaries to fill. I have spent much of my time in Congress talking about the three d's of our national security: diplomacy, development, and defense. Each of these has a role to play in keeping our country safe and secure, and creating a world where kids and our grandkids can prosper. The SFOPS bill is supposed to fund two of those d's, diplomacy and development. Instead, this Republican bill throws the three d's completely out of whack. If House Republicans get their way, the Pentagon would receive 20 times more--let me repeat that, 20 times more--what this bill invests in diplomacy and development combined. Even our military leaders have spoken out against cuts to diplomacy and development because they know gutting these programs makes their jobs harder. Former Defense Secretary Mattis has famously said: If you don't fully fund the State Department, then I have to buy more ammunition. Mr. Chair, the PRC now has more embassies and diplomats around the world than any other nation, including more than the United States, but Republicans would cut funding for our embassies and diplomats by $1.2 billion. We have watched as the PRC challenges us at the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, working to insert their values of authoritarianism and disrespect for human rights, but Republicans are proposing to cut funding to the United Nations, leaving our adversaries waiting to fill the void that we leave behind. The Republican bill asks our diplomats and development professionals to do more monitoring, reporting, and oversight, but then it shortchanges them on the funding that they need for operations and staffing. This is quite sinister. The bill invites the culture wars into foreign policy by making diversity, drag queens, and critical race theory bogeymen and bogeywomen, distracting us from the real life-or-death challenges facing our world. It doesn't make any sense. The bill also takes a really dishonest approach to the threat posed by climate change. Right now, people all around the world are confronting the impacts of human-caused climate change, life- threatening temperatures, crop failures, floods, and severe weather. They need help confronting the problem we largely created. Yet, the majority pretends that our climate finance investments are about controlling the planet's temperature, like some sort of global thermostat. That is not how it works. We have countries that might literally not exist in a generation because of the changes that are already happening. We are spending billions each and every year, both here at home and overseas, dealing with humanitarian emergencies and responding to ever- stronger storms, raging fires, and devastating droughts. Failing to invest and adapt to the new reality means continued and escalating conflict and crisis, which puts Americans and people everywhere at risk. Around the world, 218 million women still do not have access to the tools needed to decide when and how to have a baby. While hundreds of thousands of them die in childbirth, we are going to make it harder for women to access care through both policies and reduced funding in this bill. I am very upset about how this bill attacks efforts to strengthen diversity in our foreign policy workforce. The rich diversity of the United States is one of our greatest strengths. People around the world--religious and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people--look first to the United States for support and inspiration as they seek to claim their human rights. It is unimaginable to me that my Republican colleagues--well, no, it is not really, given what is taking place in our own country. Once again, you all see a threat in our efforts to make sure that our diplomats and development experts reflect and respect that same diversity. The world is watching us. The world is full of threats that don't respect borders, from climate change to pandemics to assertive dictators. Most countries would prefer to partner with the United States to confront these challenges. By bringing this bill to the floor with these cuts, to the House floor, mind you, the Republican majority broadcasts a clear message to the world to take a hike. Trust me, the PRC is ready to take advantage of our absence, and I think everyone has seen this around the world. Mr. Chair, it is September 28. The government may shut down, unfortunately, even though we are fighting as Democrats to prevent this from happening, but today, we are considering a bill that has no chance of becoming law. We should be working today to make sure that we keep our government open. House Democrats will not support a bill if it means turning our backs on the world's most vulnerable women or the looming threat of climate change. In the end, final appropriations bills will need bicameral and bipartisan support, and today, we will likely get further away from that goal, not closer. This really is wasting everyone's time. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this destructive bill. We are not adversaries. We are patriotic, and we want our country to succeed in its mission and its role as a global leader leading peace and security efforts throughout the planet. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Meng), a member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel), a member of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First, let me take a minute on the many partisan riders included in the bill being considered today and raise a couple of points. The number of prohibitions seems to be really enormous. They have proliferated, often with little concern for what the actual ramifications might be. It appears to be the approach of: If an organization has ever done something that you have not liked or a wild theory has circulated about it, we will just prohibit it. We will pick up our ball and take it home. This is not just ineffective; it is really immature. The bill prohibits funds for the Chinese Communist Party. This sounds tough. I was the previous chairwoman of the subcommittee, and this bill has not provided funding to the Chinese Communist Party. It is a red herring. It prohibits scientific cooperation with countries we do not like, not stopping to consider that while there may or may not be active collaboration currently, there may come a time when it is in the United States' best interest to partner, not with the government, but with the people, with scientists, to pursue common goals. Indeed, we carried on scientific cooperation with the Soviet Union during the Cold War, not because we agree with their government, but it was in our own interest. The bill prohibits gain-of-function research. That sounds good but consider that this same prohibited research is producing new therapies for cancer and cystic fibrosis. This research also helps us produce insulin for people with diabetes. Has the majority considered what the cost will be of cutting this off? The bill prohibits funding for the World Health Organization because they won't admit Taiwan. It is the member countries of the WHO that are making this decision, not the organization. With this bill, the PRC will continue to work against Taiwan's inclusion, but the United States won't be there to help. We are told that this bill is strong against our adversaries. I would argue just the opposite. This bill takes the easy route and leaves the field open for those who would challenge us. It makes dialogue and engagement harder and leaves our potential partners and allies who are deciding who they can turn to for help high and dry and, of course, that won't be the United States. A couple points on the United Nations. The U.N. is the forum for every country in the world. The United States, to my knowledge, does not get to pick who gets to be a sovereign country. Leadership of the United Nations committees, the general assembly, they all rotate among members, which the chairman knows. This makes it even more important that the United States fully participates. This bill endangers that. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chairman, the chairman and I respect each other. We have different points of view, and I consider us friends also. I know, and I think the chairman knows, that many of our Republican colleagues do support robust investments in the SFOPS bill because I have seen the thousands of requests that Members have submitted this year and in prior years. There is a long legacy of enlightened Republican support for foreign assistance. Congressional Republicans worked with Harry Truman to create the Marshall Plan which rebuilt Europe after a devastating war. I worked with President Bush to create PEPFAR, which has saved 25 million lives from HIV and AIDS. Yet, the majority has chosen to force this bill to the floor because they cynically believe that their Members will be happy to sacrifice the world's poorest people to make a political point. To my Republican colleagues--I see you here on the floor today, and I am asking you to stand up and, yes, oppose this terrible bill. Please vote ``no,'' and let's get back together and write a bill that helps build the better and safer world that we want for our children and our grandchildren. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.