Jim McGovern

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, approximately 80 political prisoners in Egypt are on a hunger strike to protest their detention and the Egyptian government's continuing crackdown on dissent. Over the past several years, the Government of Egypt has undertaken harsh measures to silence its critics. Even as Egypt has committed to undertake a democratic transition, its efforts to quell dissent have increased and worsened within the past year. Last November, former Egyptian President Adly Mansour approved a severe anti-protest law that effectively bans any protests not sanctioned by the government. Under that law, dozens of peaceful protesters have been arrested for demonstrating against it. According to international human rights organizations, those arrested for violating the protest law over the past several months join the more than 41,000 people who have been subjected to politically- motivated arrests since last July. Among those now in detention are opposition leaders, human rights activists, peaceful protesters, and journalists. Many of these detainees have given up any hope for a fair trial or for securing their freedom, and more than eighty prisoners have gone on hunger strike in protest of their detentions and the Government's on- going crackdown on dissent. Today, I call upon the Government of Egypt to immediately release all those detained for political reasons or for exercising their rights to free speech, expression and assembly. I also call upon the Egyptian government to repeal or amend those laws currently being used to repress peaceful dissent and ensure compliance with Egypt's obligations under international human rights law. I welcome the release on bail yesterday of at least three of the prisoners who were taking part in the hunger strike. They will continue to pursue an appeal of their convictions for violating the anti-protest law. Despite their release, however, dozens of other activists remain imprisoned and as of today, over 80 prisoners are estimated to be on hunger strike. In September, Egyptian authorities announced that an initiative for reconciliation would be put on the table following the passage of a transitional justice law once the new parliament is established at the end of the year. Reconciliation requires respect for individuals, political parties and organizations that hold differing points of view. And such respect requires that the government and the people of the nation allow for the free expression of dissenting views. As one of our key security partners in the region, the United States should insist that Egypt respect peaceful dissent and pledge to support and help Egypt achieve a truly democratic transition.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. I want to thank the gentleman, and I appreciate his words about his view that we ought to have a vote here in the Congress with regard to authorizing any kind of military operations in Iraq and Syria, and I appreciate his comments last night in the Rules Committee. Mr. Speaker, I think what he is saying and I think what I am saying reflects the sentiment of most Democrats and Republicans. This is not a partisan issue. I think the gentleman is right in saying that the piece that we are voting on today has nothing to do with bombing Syria or with bombing in Iraq, but that continues, and that has escalated. My concern is that we may very well adjourn by the end of this week and not come back until after the elections, and that that involvement in both of those countries will have deepened, and we have not yet been promised that we will actually have that vote. I think Members on both sides would feel a little bit more relieved if, in fact, the Speaker would give us an ironclad promise that there will be a vote on an AUMF with regard to Iraq and Syria.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and in opposition to the amendment on Syria that will be offered later today and voted on tomorrow. If it was a bad idea before to get involved in Syria's civil war, why is it now a good idea? Is it only because ISIL has expanded its operations over a fluid border into Iraq? How long will we support the Syrian Free Army? Who are these people? How much will it cost? What happens if and when our weapons fall into the wrong hands? What are the countries in the region offering in terms of substantive solutions? What is the clearly defined mission? How does this end? Do we have answers to any of these questions as we prepare to vote? We are talking about war, Mr. Speaker. When you drop bombs on people, that is war. And we can talk all we want about so-called boots on the ground, but unless some of our soldiers weren't given shoes, we already have boots on the ground. We need to be honest about that. We have trained and equipped Iraqi soldiers for over a decade. And for what? To watch them shed their uniforms and to turn their weapons over to ISIL? Is that what we are doing here again, Mr. Speaker? If the real purpose of U.S. military operations in Syria is to bring the killers of the two American journalists to justice, then perhaps good intelligence and a well-prepared Special Forces operation could do so, just like we hunted down Osama bin Laden. I want to be perfectly clear on one other point. Any amendment to provide title 10 authority to train and equip Syrian opposition forces must not be seen in any way as an authorization for U.S. Armed Forces to engage in hostilities in Iraq or Syria. It must not be seen as a substitute for specific congressional action. Authorization to carry out sustained military operations is not something that should be stuck into a conference report. There should be nothing backdoor about it. That would be an insult to our uniformed men and women, an insult to their families, an insult to this House, and an insult to the American people. On July 25, this House voted 370-40--370-40--in favor of my resolution to require specific congressional authorization for sustained combat operations by U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq. Yet, since August 8, the U.S. Navy and Air Force have flown more than 2,700 missions against the Islamic State in Iraq, including 156 airstrikes. These airstrikes have occurred almost daily over the past 6 weeks. Last week, the President announced that those operations will escalate and likely expand into Syria. This morning, they expanded to targets near Baghdad. If that doesn't qualify as sustained combat, Mr. Speaker, I don't know what does. So, if this House is serious about what it said in July, then we should demand a vote this month on congressional authorization for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Syria. Anything less would constitute yet another failure on the part of this House to carry out its constitutional duties. Anything less would make a mockery of that vote that this House took in July. But, if this leadership gets its way, we will leave Washington for nearly 2 months without such a vote, and I expect and I think we all expect that during that time U.S. combat operations in Iraq and Syria will expand and escalate. I know this is a hard vote. I know it is politically difficult. But we were not elected to duck the hard votes. We weren't elected to avoid difficult choices. War is a big deal. We need to do our jobs. So, Mr. Speaker, I will vote ``no'' on this rule, and I will vote ``no'' on the Syria amendment.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a grateful nation, I rise today to honor Captain Andrew Buduo III as he retires from the United States Navy after proudly serving our country for thirty years. Captain Buduo completed a bachelor's degree in mathematics and physics from St. Lawrence University. He began his distinguished career with the United States Navy in 1984 after graduating from Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and receiving his commission. Captain Buduo was designated as a Naval Aviator in 1986, and reported to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 12 for flight training in the RH-53D airborne mine countermeasures helicopter. Captain Buduo reported to his first Fleet squadron, Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM-14) where he served as Aircraft Division Officer and Staff Mine Warfare (Tactics) Officer. During his tour, he deployed onboard USS Guadalcanal and USS Okinawa in support of Operation Earnest Will--the ``Tanker War'' of 1987/1988. Subsequently he reported to the Coastal Systems Station, Panama City. In 1983 he reported onboard the USS Belleau Wood eventually working his way up to Mini Boss. As the Mini Boss, he participated in Operation United Shield--the final withdrawal of coalition forces from Somalia during March of 1995. Following his ship tour, Captain Buduo reported to the Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where he earned his Joint Professional Military Education Phase I qualification. He returned to HM-14, serving as safety officer and aircraft maintenance officer. In November 1998, Captain Buduo reported to the Airborne Mine Defense Program Office where he served in positions of increasing leadership responsibility. In May 2002, he moved to the Chief of Staff, Program Executive Office, Mine and Undersea Warfare billet. In March 2003, Captain Buduo reported to the Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron FIFTEEN (HM-15) where he served as Executive Officer until he assumed command in April of 2004. While XO, he deployed to the Mediterranean in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM where he embarked USS Cleveland with HM-DET ONE. During his over two years onboard, HM-15 won the Navy ``E'' award twice and assumed responsibility for a four-helicopter detachment permanently forward deployed to Bahrain. In April 2005, Captain Buduo reported to the Naval Sea Systems Command, where he served as Director, POM Integration Division, and later as NAVSEA's POM Integration Lead. He subsequently assumed command of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City Division in September of that year. Four years later, in November of 2009, Captain Buduo assumed command of Indian Head Division Naval Surface Warfare Center. After nearly three years in command at Naval Surface Warfare Center, Captain Buduo was assigned to the Navy Combat Identification Capabilities Division at the Pentagon where he ultimately served as Director. Among his many accomplishments, Captain Buduo is entitled to wear the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with 1 gold star, Navy Commendation Medal with 2 gold stars, Navy Achievement Medal, and other service awards. Our country is stronger and safer because of the courageous men and women of our armed forces who dedicate their lives to protecting and defending our beloved country. I'm honored to stand today to recognize Captain Buduo's exemplary service on behalf of the United States of America, and I am more grateful than I can express for his service. Mr. Speaker, as the Representative of Captain Buduo's hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Captain Buduo's accomplishments and service to our nation. He is a proven leader and a credit to his family, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States of America. As he retires from military service, we wish Captain Buduo well, along with his wife, Charlene, as they look forward to this next chapter in their lives.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this terrible martial law rule. We have no idea what the hell we are going to be voting on. This is just a rule that allows them to bring up anything at any time between now and September 5. I want to urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the previous question, and if we defeat the previous question, I will bring up H.R. 15, which is the bipartisan Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform bill. Mr. Speaker, we are talking about poor kids, most of them fleeing terrible violence. I am ashamed at the insensitivity and the lack of compassion from the other side. America is a better country. Let's not lose our humanity in this process. If the United States of America stands for anything, it stands out loud and foursquare for human rights. We are better than the angry mobs yelling at children. The anger and the nastiness and the insensitivity is not the face of America we want to show the rest of the world. We are better. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to act like it. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California (Mr. Huffman) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time we have remaining?

Mr. McGOVERN. Parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to insert the text of the amendment that I will offer in the Record, along with extraneous material, immediately prior to the vote on the previous question.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro).

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano). (Mr. SERRANO asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the gentleman from Oklahoma how many speakers he has?

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I want to ask for a unanimous consent request, because the interest on this issue and the passion on this issue on our side is so great that we don't have enough time. So I would ask unanimous consent to extend the debate by 1 hour, equally divided. Like I said, we have a lot of speakers, and there is no pending business after this debate ends. At the very least, I think we can extend the debate. We were not allowed any amendments when the previous incarnation of this border bill was brought before the House. I think the least we can do, in the spirit of collegiality, is to expand debate, and I would like to make that unanimous consent request.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I am a little confused. The gentleman said that they have offered a solution. Is H.R. 15 contained in this rule or is any legislation to deal with our border contained in this rule?

Mr. McGOVERN. Further parliamentary inquiry, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Caardenas).

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa).

Mr. McGOVERN. Can the Chair at least inform us whether or not there is anything of substance in this rule other than a martial law rule that allows them to call us back at any point from now until September 5?

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett).

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Garcia).

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 10 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the minority whip.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio).