Kathy Manning

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 8368. There is one thing I believe unites us on the issue of Afghanistan, and that is unwavering commitment to the Afghan allies who stood by us during our nearly two-decade mission in the country. This bill is about honoring that commitment. H.R. 8368 formally authorizes the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, or CARE, which has been leading the essential work of supporting those who risked their lives to assist the United States by helping eligible Afghan applicants and their families relocate to the United States. By providing a clear bipartisan mandate, along with the authorities that the State Department has requested, this legislation sends a strong message of support for CARE's mission that can't simply be waved away. It demonstrates that Congress stands firmly behind the creative, tenacious efforts by the CARE office to relocate and protect our deserving Afghan partners. These are individuals who risked everything to support our mission. They served as interpreters, guides, and partners in some of the most dangerous conditions imaginable. To turn our backs on them now would be unconscionable. Let's remember that our commitment is not just a matter of policy or party, but it is a matter of principle. This bill is a step in the right direction, but it cannot be the final word on our support for our Afghan allies, particularly since Congress will need to continue to act to ensure Afghan special immigrant visas remain available and CARE's work is appropriately resourced during the period authorized by this bill. There are bipartisan bills we can bring to the floor in this Congress to accomplish exactly that. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this bill introduced by Representative Titus, and I encourage my colleagues to do the same so that we can continue to uphold our promises to those who stood by us in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, for over 20 years, our Afghan allies risked everything to support the U.S. mission, and we must not turn our backs on them now. The CARE office deserves a clear, bipartisan mandate. I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), an esteemed member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the author of this measure.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3012, the North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act. I start by thanking Representatives Kim and Bera for their leadership on this bill. Initially passed in 2004, the North Korean Human Rights Act was landmark legislation that promoted accountability for human rights violations in North Korea. We are here today because the underlying tenets of this bill are as necessary today as they were 20 years ago. Since rising to power in 2011, Kim Jung Un has doubled down on the brutal, authoritarian rule of his father and grandfather. His government has committed untold human rights violations, including arbitrary and extrajudicial killings, mass detention, forced labor, and torture. Under the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pyongyang used lockdowns to intensify its repression, including through shoot-to-kill orders on its borders and draconian policies that have driven segments of the North Korean population into famine. Today, North Korea remains one of the most, if not the most, repressive countries in the world. It is critical that we reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act today, and I urge the Senate to pass this bill immediately so that President Biden can sign it into law this year. It is essential that we reauthorize the bill now to make the United States' commitment on this issue clear and irreversible. We must not ignore the horrific human catastrophe taking place in North Korea. It is disappointing that the Trump administration did not appoint a Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues, which the North Korean Human Rights Act mandates. Congress must ensure that does not happen again. This bill will enable thorough legislative oversight of the administration's North Korea policy, including by requiring the administration to answer to Congress should it fail to appoint a Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues in an expedient fashion. H.R. 3012 would also provide the incoming administration with the tools necessary to elevate the cause of human rights in North Korea while extending reporting requirements that will allow Congress to ensure that the United States does not ignore Pyongyang's brutal treatment of its own citizens. Mr. Speaker, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. We must be just as committed today to supporting the human rights of North Koreans as we were in 2004, which is why I support this bipartisan reauthorization of the North Korean Human Rights Act through 2028. While much of U.S. policy toward North Korea is focused on its nuclear and missile programs, we cannot ignore the gross human rights abuses within the country. We can and must address both. I thank Representatives Kim and Bera for shining a light on the struggle of the North Korean people. I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 8234. As the world has reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for passports last year skyrocketed, leading to significant delays. Under Secretary of State Antony Blinken's leadership and the tireless efforts of consular officials, the State Department successfully tackled this backlog and restored processing times to prepandemic levels. Moreover, this administration has partnered closely with Congress to advance modernization of the Department's consular processing to be better prepared to handle future surges in demand. The provisions in H.R. 8234 aim to further strengthen our passport processing infrastructure, particularly to help ensure that all Americans, especially those in rural or remote areas, have reasonably convenient access to passport services. This includes permissive authorities for the Department of State to better enable applicants to utilize private couriers, access passport acceptance agents, and remember to renew their passports before expiry. These provisions can help those in underserved communities who may not have a passport acceptance facility nearby. There is no single solution to the challenges in providing passport and visa services at a sustained and high level, and the Department's efforts must be driven not by the preferences of courier companies or potential new acceptance agents but by the Americans who need passports. We must work together and in a smart way to ensure the State Department has the authorities and resources it needs to carry out its mission securely and efficiently with respect to passport processing, and H.R. 8234 can help provide additional practical tools, where and as necessary, to improve service delivery and meet the needs of American travelers. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. The Department of State's passport application processing has shown welcomed improvement. The bipartisan provisions in this bill would help them make even more progress and connect more Americans to a U.S. passport. By helping the State Department increase access and meet higher demand, I hope we can prove that the government can adapt and work faster. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I hope we can advance further measures to support consular services in a bipartisan fashion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. It is imperative that the U.S. takes this firm stance against the crimes against humanity waged by the Rapid Support Forces, their allied militias, and the Sudanese Armed Forces. What is happening in Sudan right now, as I speak, is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Famine, food insecurity, death, and destruction linger over millions of people. This resolution recounts only some of the significant documented evidence of the Sudanese people's plight. While its passage is just one small step, it is a critical one. It sends a clear message: The world is watching, and we will not stand idle in the face of such suffering. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting H. Res. 1328, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1328, which condemns atrocities in Sudan, including those that amount to genocide. I support this resolution because it is imperative we turn the world's attention to the dire situation unfolding in Sudan. The scale of suffering there is nothing short of horrific. It is the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Yet, the response from the international community has been alarmingly silent. Since April 2023, the conflict between the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudanese Armed Forces has had devastating consequences. The violence has claimed up to 150,000 lives and forced more than 14 million people to flee their homes. According to reports from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, more than half of Sudan's population now faces severe food insecurity, including some in Darfur who are experiencing famine. The humanitarian needs are escalating by the day. Yet both the RSF and SAF have systematically obstructed humanitarian efforts. It is a moral outrage. This resolution takes a firm stand against the atrocities that have come to define this conflict, including war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity. It also condemns acts of violence that may amount to genocide, especially against the Masalit people and other non-Arab ethnic communities in Darfur. The evidence of wide-ranging atrocities being committed in Sudan is overwhelming. We cannot turn a blind eye. It is essential that we hold those responsible to account for such crimes. That is why we have called on the administration to take decisive action, urging a determination under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for gross violations of human rights by the RSF. Last December, Secretary Blinken rightfully acknowledged that ethnic cleansing, war crimes, and crimes against humanity are being committed in Sudan. The United States has taken steps to sanction those fueling this conflict, including new sanctions on an RSF commander just last week. However, more needs to be done, including by Congress, which is why my colleagues are working currently on additional legislative efforts to ensure smarter sustained action to end this crisis. The resolution before us today urges our government to continue updating its assessment of the situation to ensure that the voices of the Sudanese people are not lost in the fog of war. It urges immediate steps to protect civilians who are subjected to sexual and gender-based violence, torture, and murder by warring parties. It is now time for other nations to step up, too. Whether through increased humanitarian aid, support for documenting these heinous crimes, or sanctions against those perpetrating this violence, every effort counts. Those who are providing material support to the warring parties, like the UAE, Russia, and Iran, must immediately stop prolonging the conflict. Innocent civilians are dying every day. We cannot afford to let Sudan's cries for help go unanswered. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and, by doing so, to stand in solidarity with the people of Sudan. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned that history is repeating itself. Anti-Semitism, Jew hatred, the demonizing, terrorizing, and killing of innocent Jews, especially women and children, is returning with a vengeance. I want to take us back 83 years to December 15 of 1941 in Liepaja, Latvia. For 3 terrifying days, German Nazis and Latvian collaborators rounded up thousands of Jewish women and children, forced them to march in the freezing cold to a beach on the Baltic Sea, ordered them to strip off their clothing, and shot them dead in groups of 10 while others looked on terrified. This horrific massacre has been memorialized by a brilliant Jewish artist in my community, Victoria Carlin Milstein, in a sculpture she has named ``She Wouldn't Take Off Her Boots.'' The sculpture, which stands in LeBauer Park in downtown Greensboro shows a grandmother, her daughter, and her three granddaughters, arms locked together, awaiting their gruesome fate. All are barefoot, except the grandmother, who in an act of defiance, refused to take off her boots. The sculpture was based on a haunting photograph taken by the Nazis to document their cruelty. The artist has placed a bronze camera in front of the statue so each person can look through the camera lens and see exactly what the photographer saw before the family was shot. Each person who looks through that camera is a witness to the unimaginable cruelty that was inflicted on innocent Jews while others stood by either complicit or silent. A film has been made about the creation of this sculpture and a curriculum written to educate students and teachers about this dark time in history when 6 million Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. Tragically, we are experiencing the violent cruelty of anti-Semitism today. On October 7, 2023, thousands of men from Gaza invaded Israel and tortured, burned, and murdered more than 1,200 innocent people. These Hamas jihadi terrorists driven by Jew hatred subjected women and girls of all ages to unimaginable acts of torture, mutilation, rape--violence intended to dehumanize and humiliate Jewish women and girls before they were murdered. Just like the Nazis 83 years ago in the Liepaja massacre, the Hamas terrorists filmed their horrific acts to memorialize their unspeakable cruelty. These acts should shock the conscience of the entire world, and yet for too long, the world stood silent. Despite overwhelming evidence, some continue to minimize or deny these war crimes. Another Jewish woman, Sheryl Sandberg, made a film to show the world what happened on that terrible day, to allow the victims to tell their stories. Just like looking through the camera in front of Victoria's statue, we can all watch Sheryl's film and bear witness to the horrors of anti-Semitism. I am proud of these Jewish women who have taken action to make sure we do not allow these atrocities to be denied or forgotten. We must all take heed of the words of Elie Wiesel, which are inscribed on the base of Victoria's statue: ``The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference.'' As a nation, we must not be indifferent to the alarming rise of anti- Semitism across our country and around the world--from Los Angeles to New York to Amsterdam to Lithuania to Israel. I call on my colleagues and all Americans to speak out against anti- Semitism and hate in all its forms and take action. Let us not be indifferent. Release Keith Siegel

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, it has been over a year since Hamas launched a brutal attack on our ally Israel, slaughtering 1,200 innocent people and taking hundreds of innocent people hostage. Today, the families of these hostages continue to live in unthinkable anguish, desperate for their loved ones to return home safely. Among them is the family of Keith Siegel from my home State of North Carolina. On October 7, Keith and his wife, Aviva, were kidnapped from their home in K'far Aza and held captive together in inhumane conditions underground lacking food, water, and even air. After 51 days, Aviva was released in a hostage exchange, but Keith, now 65 years old, remains in those horrific tunnels. We must continue to fight for the return of Keith and all 100 hostages. We must keep them in our hearts and speak up for them.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, on October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists launched a brutal invasion of our ally Israel, killing more Jews than on any single day since the Holocaust and taking hundreds of hostages. Mr. Speaker, 1 year later, thousands of families continue to grieve the loss of their loved ones, and the families of the remaining hostages continue to long for their safe return, including the family of Keith Siegel from my home State of North Carolina. The unspeakable horrors Hamas has inflicted on innocent civilians, including terrifying sexual violence and its ongoing torment of the hostages, should shock the conscience of the entire world. Just last month, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American citizen, was brutally murdered along with five other hostages in the Hamas tunnels beneath Gaza as they were about to be rescued by the IDF. Since October 7, more than 40 American citizens have been killed by Hamas terrorists, and at least 10 remain hostages. As we mark the anniversary of Hamas' devastating attack, I am grateful to President Biden and Vice President Harris for their unwavering commitment to securing the return of all hostages and for their clear recognition that the onus is on Hamas to accept a proposed deal. Just last month, Israel accepted the terms for a deal. The responsibility continues to lie with Hamas to release the hostages and accept the deal on the table. The release of the hostages and the surrender of the terrorist group Hamas is absolutely necessary to allow the international community to assist with the reconstruction of Gaza and bring about a stable government that is willing to live in peace with Israel. The Arab countries willing to assist in the rebuilding of Gaza will not do so if Hamas remains. Israel stands as our strongest, most dependable, and only democratic ally in the Middle East. The United States must continue to stand by Israel as it faces ongoing attacks from Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, which began its attacks on Israel on October 8 while Israel was still fighting the terrorists who had invaded their country and had not yet sent troops to Gaza. Even today, thousands of Israelis are unable to return to their homes in southern Israel, and almost 100,000 Israelis are unable to return to their homes in northern Israel because of Hezbollah's relentless attacks on Israeli civilians. Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis must not be allowed to continue to destabilize the region and threaten Israel's security. They must be held accountable by the international community, and the United States must continue to affirm the safety and security of our ally. Let us be clear-eyed about what is at risk, not just the security of our only democratic ally in the Middle East, but the defeat of a terrorist ideology that abhors our western values. As we reflect on the horrors of October 7, my heart goes out to all the loved ones of those affected by Hamas' brutal assault. The attack on October 7 continues to traumatize Israelis and Jews across our country. I urge Congress to continue to provide Israel the support it needs to protect its citizens and to protect the values we Americans hold dear.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3764, and I thank our Senate colleagues, especially Senators Marco Rubio, Ben Cardin, and James Lankford, and my dear friend and colleague, Representative Chris Smith, for their leadership in advancing this important measure. This bill would reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, which was established nearly 26 years ago as an independent, bipartisan U.S. Government advisory body to monitor and report annually on religious freedom abroad and make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. Mr. Speaker, the right of each individual to freely practice his or her religion or hold nonreligious beliefs is a fundamental human right. Yet, everyday individuals and communities around the world are subject to escalating violence, persecution, and discrimination simply for practicing their beliefs. USCIRF's 2024 report outlines serious violations of religious freedom and highlights some concerning global developments, including laws restricting religious freedom like blasphemy laws, anti-conversion laws, and restrictions on religious garb, governments engaged in transnational repression to silence religious minorities and their advocates abroad, and the disturbing global rise of anti-Semitism during 2023 and 2024. USCIRF has done an excellent job highlighting the threat that anti- Semitism poses to religious freedom, including issuing an important report on anti-Semitism in Europe in 2021, as well as highlighting the growing number of national strategies and other initiatives around the world to combat this trend. This year, USCIRF noted the significant increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes following the October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel in which Jews around the world were collectively blamed for the actions of the Israeli Government. USCIRF continues to document anti- Semitic tropes being weaponized in elections, Holocaust distortion and denial, and even the impact of laws prohibiting ritual slaughter on religious freedom. Throughout this time, it has diligently followed its mission to advance international freedom of religion or belief by independently assessing and unflinchingly confronting threats to this fundamental right. Mr. Speaker, USCIRF is needed more than ever. By reauthorizing USCIRF, we will ensure the commission will be able to continue to defend and promote religious freedom by conducting research, publishing reports and analysis for the public, and offering recommendations to policymakers on religious freedom violations around the world. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, I encourage my colleagues to support its passage, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, this bill would allow USCIRF to continue its important work of advising Congress, engaging with the executive branch, monitoring religious freedom abroad, and raising public awareness. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Representative Chris Smith and Senators Marco Rubio, Ben Cardin, and James Lankford, for their hard work on this legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the ranking member from New York (Mr. Morelle). I rise today in strong support of H.R. 7764, and I recognize my dear friend, Representative Wasserman Schultz, for her leadership on this effort. Mr. Speaker, the National Museum of American Jewish History tells the story of American Jews and their myriad contributions to every facet of American life, from science and medicine to education and technology to music, theater, philanthropy, civil rights, and the pursuit of justice. Jewish citizens were critical to building the textile industry in my hometown of Greensboro, North Carolina, and have contributed to so many other facets of our life from civil rights, the arts, healthcare and so much more. American Jews have worked hard to build our great country. Their story is the American story. Today we face a frightening rise in anti- Semitism. The FBI's 2023 hate crime statistics showed that Jews are the victims of 68 percent of religiously motivated hate crimes, despite being just 2 percent of the population. History has taught us that when hatred against Jews is allowed to fester, it frequently grows to threaten other minority groups and undermines the foundations of our democracy. In the fight against hate and intolerance, education is one of the best tools we have. That is why the first-ever U.S. national strategy to counter anti-Semitism emphasizes the importance of broadening appreciation of Jewish-American heritage. The Weitzman Museum does just that. It showcases important artifacts and stories from the first arrival of Jews to the Colonies in 1654, all the way to the present day. Transferring this museum to the Smithsonian umbrella is the right and fitting thing to do. That is why 36 Jewish groups, including the ADL, AJC, and Jewish Federations of North America, support this bill. This bill marks the first step toward achieving national level commitment to increasing awareness, understanding, and education about American-Jewish history. Mr. Speaker, I support this bill, and I encourage all my colleagues to join me in doing the same.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Magaziner), my good friend.

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), my friend.

Ms. MANNING. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Casten), my good friend.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, contrary to what we have heard this afternoon, the Biden-Harris administration has put forth a sensible rule related to ESG investing that puts the decisionmaking where it belongs: with the retirement plan professionals who are best positioned and bound by law to make sound decisions on behalf of workers. They, not Members of Congress, know what is best for their particular retirement plan. H.R. 5339 reflects a mistaken premise that House Republicans, not retirement plan professionals bound by fiduciary responsibilities, know what is best. A diverse group of stakeholders, including the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Americans for Financial Reform, League of Conservation Voters, National Women's Law Center, Oxfam America, and others weighed in against this bill. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record two letters.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, we should reject this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7151, as amended. Export controls are more than just a bureaucratic tool. They are a key component of our national security strategy. By ensuring that sensitive American technology does not fall into the wrong hands, we protect not only our own interests but also those of our allies around the world. Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security has played a crucial role in this effort. BIS has imposed unprecedented controls against China in the semiconductor and advanced computing sectors as well as crippling controls on Russia and Belarus, in partnership with almost 40 other nations. It has also added nearly 1,000 entities from Russia, China, Iran, and more than 30 other countries to the entity list, effectively blocking their access to U.S. technology that could be used against us. However, as we expand the use of the entity list, it becomes increasingly important that Congress oversees this process to ensure it remains rigorous, transparent, and inclusive. This bill does exactly that. However, this bill is about more than just process. It is about safeguarding the future. By ensuring that the End-User Review Committee operates fairly and efficiently, we strengthen our ability to respond to emerging threats in a rapidly changing world. I thank Congresswoman Wagner, Chairman McCaul, and Ranking Member Meeks for their leadership and bipartisan cooperation on this bill. In closing, Mr. Speaker, this bill is a vital step in protecting our national security by ensuring that our export controls are both robust and fair. It strengthens our ability to prevent sensitive technology from falling into the wrong hands while maintaining the rigorous oversight necessary to keep our processes fair, transparent, and effective. By passing this measure, we affirm our commitment to safeguarding American innovation and staying ahead of emerging threats. Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important bill, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6606. Over and over, we have seen Beijing fail to safeguard and enforce IP rights for U.S. firms. More alarmingly, we have seen it obtain American IP through illicit and problematic means such as strategic acquisitions, cyberattacks, and policies that coerce technology transfers. This is a direct threat to America's economic security and competitiveness, and we need to use every tool we have to protect our industries and our workers. That is why I support this bill by Delegate Radewagen. It makes a simple change to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to ensure that our export controls will better protect U.S. trade secrets on items subject to U.S. export control regulations. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill from Delegate Radewagen. It reflects the strong, bipartisan concern about the violations of American IP rights by Chinese persons and entities. This addition of a statement of our policy of Export Reform Act of 2018 will ensure that our export control policies account for China's intent to acquire or steal our trade secrets to bolster its military capabilities; therefore, I hope my colleagues will join me and support this important bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1056, recognizing the importance of trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I start by thanking my good friend, Representative Connolly, for his leadership on this bipartisan resolution to emphasize and recognize the importance of trilateral cooperation for U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific region. I also commend the Biden-Harris administration, which has successfully revitalized our allies and partnerships in the region through proactive and effective diplomacy. The administration has significantly advanced America's strategic interests by seizing the opportunity provided by the bold leadership of President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida. The administration has not only strengthened our bilateral ties with Japan and South Korea, but its decision to elevate this trilateral relationship has also reshaped the geopolitical landscape in a way that supports a rules-based international order. Our collaboration with Tokyo and Seoul is essential to addressing challenges, from global health crises and environmental threats to countering China's economic and military coercion and North Korea's nuclear ambitions. I express my gratitude to the governments and people of Japan and South Korea. Their commitment to upholding shared values, enhancing mutual prosperity, and strengthening deterrence in the Indo-Pacific is a testament to the power of democratic alliances. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join in supporting this important measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).