Gregory Meeks

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. I am prepared to close, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 900, I call up the bill (H.R. 3485) to impose sanctions on foreign persons responsible for violations of internationally recognized human rights against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) individuals, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3485.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, let me just say this real quick. I don't mind burdening anyone if it is going to save somebody's life. There are certain burdens that we have to carry, and this is one of them. Mr. Speaker, I, with pride, yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus), a strong fighter for human rights.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Manning).

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I just want to state that the notion that this bill is not supported by the administration is just blatantly false. Just last week, the Biden administration released a Statement of Administration Policy in full support of the bill and noted the urgent need to address threats to the human rights of LGBTQI-plus, not just abroad but right here in the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), the author of this bill.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important day with a very important bill, and I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3485, the Global Respect Act, as amended, and introduced by my friend and great American, Congressman David Cicilline. Mr. Speaker, we live in a country that espouses that all human beings are created equal, endowed with equal rights, no matter what we look like, how we pray, or where we come from. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights tells us, ``all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.'' The International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights states that, ``All persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law.'' And our own Declaration of Independence famously says, ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.'' Mr. Speaker, the Global Respect Act brings us closer to realizing these treasured ideals. Today, unfortunately, shamelessly, millions of people are living in fear. In countless countries, LGBTQI-plus people face punishment simply for being who they are. They are subject to brutal beatings, imprisoned for lifetimes, tortured, hanged, and stoned. When human rights abuses are being committed, the United States of America must do its part to hold the perpetrators accountable. And that is why Congressman Cicilline introduced H.R. 3485, the Global Respect Act. This legislation is critical, straightforward, and overdue. It requires the President to identify foreign individuals responsible for these human rights violations against LGBTQI-plus people and to prevent them from entering the United States of America. In addition, the Global Respect Act requires the State Department to designate at least one senior officer responsible for tracking violence, criminalization, and restrictions on the freedoms of LGBTQI- plus people abroad. This legislation also requires the Department of State to include information relating to violence or discrimination against LGBTQI-plus communities in its annual human rights reports. Now, unfortunately, several of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say they oppose the bill because they claim it is duplicative of Magnitsky sanctions. While Global Magnitsky is a landmark tool in the fight against human rights abuses, rarely has it been used by administrations to sanction those who persecute LGBTQI-plus persons. This bill simply builds on existing human rights-related authorities to ensure that human rights abusers are held accountable everywhere on this planet. They also argue the language of the bill is overly broad when, in fact, the words they quibble with come directly from what has already been enacted in the United States Code, drawing word-from-word the definition of ``gross violation of human rights.'' There are critics out there who say this bill infringes on religious beliefs. I wholeheartedly, 1,000 percent, reject this notion. The Global Respect Act is about holding accountable individuals responsible for committing human rights abuses against LGBTQI-plus people; Individuals who commit the absolute worst crimes, such as murder, forced detentions, and disappearances of persons. This bill is clear in that it targets heinous acts, and does not authorize any action against an individual based solely upon religious belief. Mr. Speaker, I can't thank Congressman David Cicilline enough for his work, for his commitment, for his dedication on presenting this legislation so that equality and human rights are protected. I also recognize the courageous LGBTQI-plus activists who are out there and who dared to stand up and claim their basic human rights in the face of violence, discrimination, persecution, simply for whom they love. Mr. Speaker, I have a brother who had to stand up for who he is. He is a human being. And we should not allow any violations of human rights here in the United States or anyplace we know as planet Earth. So when LGBTQI-plus people are murdered simply for existing, the world is watching. And the world is watching what we do. And the world is watching how we react to it. And the world is watching what we say, and what we stand for when we say we have value for human beings. That is what is at stake here. This should not be a partisan issue. It has never been a partisan issue. This should be an issue about all human beings, protecting human beings, the human race, because when you break it down, we are all the same. And that is why I am heartened that this legislation is in fact bipartisan. And I am heartened and proud that this legislation passed out of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs by a voice vote. One of the proudest moments I have is introducing and being on this floor today as chair of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to strongly support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this bill. We find ourselves in a strategic competition with an increasingly assertive People's Republic of China. The PRC is trying to manipulate and alter the economic, political, and security underpinnings of the American-led, rules-based international order, an order that has brokered decades of peace, prosperity, and stability for many. As it has grown in wealth and power, we have seen the PRC bend international rules and laws to meet its interests, bully nations over maritime and border disputes, and grow more closed and authoritarian at home. Today, the PRC is systematically leveraging its growing military, economic, and technological heft to compete with us globally. And that is happening whether we like it or not. We must reckon with this stark, new reality by positioning America to win this competition, and H.R. 4521, the America COMPETES Act, does just that. It powers the engine of the American economy through investments in science, innovation, and technology. It raises the flag of American diplomacy and leadership to reassure the world that America is indeed back at the table, ready to counter China's efforts to manipulate the international system and to strengthen our allies and partnerships. Centering diplomacy and bolstering America's global leadership and engagement are the themes of my bill, the EAGLE Act, which serves as the foreign affairs division of the America COMPETES Act. The EAGLE Act bolsters our diplomacy bilaterally, at regional organizations, and through groupings like the Quad to ensure that we bring our partners and allies with us to prevent the PRC from undermining global rules. It demonstrates that America is capable and willing to tackle the world's biggest problems and marshal a response to shared challenges like the current pandemic. And it ensures that the United States will lead with its values and stand up for international law and human rights. In many respects, this legislation goes further than the Senate's competition bill in terms of responding to the People's Republic of China's human rights abuses. In addition to sanctions related to the genocide in Xinjiang, the EAGLE Act contains refugee protections for Uyghurs and Hong Kongers and also calls for a special envoy for Xinjiang. I can say with absolute confidence that when it comes to standing up for our values, the America COMPETES Act is bold and principled. Madam Speaker, I support this historic bill, and I urge my fellow colleagues to do just the same.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), a great member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the sponsor of this bill and chairman of the Rules Committee.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 6256, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act introduced by my good friend, colleague, and chair of the Rules Committee, Mr. McGovern. Last week, Mr. Speaker, we passed Chair McGovern's original legislation on the House floor. I heard my Republican friends comment that this bill was being slow-walked by the House Democrats; that we were supposedly passing Chairman McGovern's bill to stall and negotiate the Senate bill. Even if we did reach agreement, my colleagues across the aisle surmised that the President would not support the compromise package. Here we are, less than 6 days later, and a compromise between the House and the Senate versions has already been negotiated. Just a few hours ago, unsurprisingly, the Biden administration announced that it would sign this vital piece of legislation. The biggest difference between the two packages was the House called for implementation in 120 days; the Senate wanted to wait 270 days. We have negotiated them down to 180 days. The crucial protections of this law will come into effect months earlier because of House Democrats. Let me be clear, this is a good thing because it is a bipartisan measure. I am glad that such important legislation will pass with near unanimous support from both parties. That is what this should be. Since 2017, the People's Republic of China has systematically carried out mass detention, torture, political indoctrination, restrictions on religious practices, and inhumane atrocities against Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. We have seen the People's Republic of China expand its extensive program of oppression and transform it into a system of state-sponsored forced labor. Under the guise of vocational training or poverty alleviation, authorities in Xinjiang have forced thousands of adults and children to work against their will and under threat of punishment to produce goods and raw materials that are then woven into international supply chains and then to our homes. This bill, which has passed the House before, prohibits the import of goods and merchandise from Xinjiang unless the importer can prove the products did not come from forced labor, imposes sanctions on officials facilitating the use of forced labor against Chinese ethnic minorities, adds important financial disclosures for public companies that do business in the region, and also calls for a diplomatic strategy to address forced labor in Xinjiang. This is a straightforward bill. It signals that America will not tolerate forced labor, and products made from forced labor shall not enter the American marketplace. In 2021, for any country to utilize forced labor systematically and to oppress and exploit its population is unconscionable, unacceptable, and, indeed, un-American. We cannot and will not stand idly by. This legislation is critical to showing that we are putting human rights at the center of our foreign and economic policy. I support this bill, and I look forward to continuing to work. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Barr, Mr. McCaul, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for coming forward and speaking up, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6256.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6256) to ensure that goods made with forced labor in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China do not enter the United States market, and for other purposes.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. H.R. 6256, the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, is an opportunity for this body to send a resounding message to the world. We are engaged in a strategic competition with China around the world, and our stance on this issue, I believe, will define why our system is better. We aggressively oppose forced labor and Islamophobia, and we will back up our values with our actions. In this major piece of legislation, we are doing it together, Democrats and Republicans, working with Ranking Member McCaul and others, because it is the right thing to do. It is the right message to send. So let us do it; let us get it out; let us stand tall; let us be true to our values. Let not China get away with Islamophobia. Let's make sure we wipe out Islamophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism from all corners of this place that we call the planet Earth. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. McCaul for his statements. Yes, we work very closely together, as well as many Members in this House, especially on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, strong fighters on both sides of the aisle for human rights. The question that presents itself with this plain and simple bill that simply calls for us to establish an office to monitor and combat Islamophobia at the State Department is: Do we all agree? I think I have heard my colleagues on the other side say that Islamophobia is wrong. That means you know that Islamophobia exists. You know it when you see it. You know it when you feel it. You know it when you talk about the Uyghurs, the Rohingyas, or right here in the United States of America. There is a definition right there. You see it. They have said it. We have said it. Islamophobia exists. What we need to do is call it out. What we need to do is lock arms and stand together. This is an important bill. The camera of history is rolling on us. It is an important bill, and it is a bill of consequence. It should be of consequence to every human being on the planet, no matter your religion or no matter your race. It is important to nearly 2 billion Muslims in the world. We need to focus on what this bill does. Some of the proudest moments of mine--I live in and represent one of the most diverse districts in all the United States, in the most diverse county in the United States. I have seen ugliness raise its ugly head, whether it is racism, anti-Semitism, or Islamophobia. But the proud moment is when I see Muslims and Jews walking arm-in- arm against Islamophobia and against anti-Semitism, when I see people of all races and nationalities standing together and not being silent. Inaction is unacceptable. We cannot stand idly by as atrocity after atrocity is inflicted on people of the Muslim faith, or any faith, for no reason other than bigotry against their religion. Freedom of religion is a human right. We can and must do better at combating Islamophobia here at home and abroad. I wish it was today, but I keep dreams and hopes alive that we will lock arms--we have good people here--and say in unison, as I have seen people do in my district, that we are going to call out Islamophobia wherever we see it, the same with racism and the same with anti-Semitism. Mr. Speaker, this bill that everybody is watching--we travel a lot on our committee. We know that people watch what is happening on this floor. They take it to their gut. I hope that they look at this bill and know that we are going to call it out and not accept it. Silence will not be accepted. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I am ready to close.

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis) a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).

Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from the great State of Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, let me just reply to Mr. McCaul earlier that the anti-Semitism legislation was introduced on January 3 of 2019, passed the House on January 11 of 2019. There were no hearings that were held that last Congress before we passed the vote, and there was no markup, as we had in our committee this year at all. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky), the cosponsor of this legislation.

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5665, the Combating International Islamophobia Act. Before I continue, let me insert in the Record a Statement of Administration Policy, which begins by stating: ``The administration supports passage of H.R. 5665, the Combating International Islamophobia Act.'' And ``Our country's commitment to defending freedom of religion and belief goes back centuries, and the administration strongly believes that people of all faiths and backgrounds should be treated with equal dignity and respect around the world.'' Statement of Administration Policy H.R. 5665--Combatting International Islamophobia Act--Rep. Omar, D-MN, and 56 co-sponsors The Administration supports passage of H.R. 5665, the Combating International Islamophobia Act. Religious freedom is a fundamental human right. This freedom is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and is also part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Our country's commitment to defending freedom of religion and belief goes back centuries, and the Administration strongly believes that people of all faiths and backgrounds should be treated with equal dignity and respect around the world. The Administration also supports language in H.R. 5665 that calls attention to instances of forced labor, reeducation, or the presence of concentration camps, such as those targeting Uyghur and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. The Administration looks forward to working with Congress to ensure the Secretary of State has the necessary flexibility and permissive authority to designate such an office and special envoy and to provide for an annual report monitoring concerning acts of Islamophobia in foreign countries.

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I could not agree more. The world is seeing an alarming rise in anti-Muslim sentiment and violence, and we are witnessing those same trends, unfortunately, here in the United States of America. In recent years, anti-Muslim bigotry has been on the rise with mosques being vandalized and Muslims beaten and attacked and elected officials on the receiving end of death threats and other hateful rhetoric all due to their Muslim faith. Bigotry is unacceptable, and it is incumbent on all of us to condemn it wherever and whenever it occurs. The great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said: ``Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'' Not only must we address anti-Muslim bigotry here in the United States, but we are also obligated to confront that bigotry wherever and whenever we see it happening around the world. In 2019, New Zealand witnessed the worst terrorist attack in that nation's history when a white supremacist gunman killed 51 Muslim worshippers and injured 40 others at two mosques. Just last week, here on the House floor, we discussed the horrific atrocities being committed against Uyghur Muslims in China and the Rohingya Muslims in Burma. We did it in a bipartisan way with my good friend and colleague Mr. McCaul. That is who we should be, and that is what we should represent because freedom of religion is a fundamental human right, and no one should be the target of discrimination because of their faith. Prior to considering H.R. 5665, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held numerous hearings, including with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, and leading academics across the country that discussed and better informed our understanding of anti-Muslim bigotry and Islamophobia. With the passage of H.R. 5665, the establishment of an office at the State Department to help combat the scourge of Islamophobia, we take an important step toward addressing this problem. That is why I am proud to support the Combating International Islamophobia Act. This important legislation would do three very, very important but simple things. First, it would establish an office to monitor and combat Islamophobia at the State Department. Second, it would provide the authority to the executive branch to appoint a special envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia. And third, it will help to improve State Department reporting on threats to Muslims around the world. Now, several of my colleagues on the other side have stated that they oppose this bill, that the bill does not define Islamophobia, but I believe, and I think they seem to have an awareness, as we all do, for Islamophobia when they criticize the bill for not doing enough to address Islamophobia against the Uyghur population in China. Madam Speaker, discrimination and bigotry are abhorrent, and combating them is something which we should all be able to do together. That is why I am so heartened to see this important piece of legislation being led by a Muslim Member of Congress and a Jewish Member of Congress. I wish I could say by a Democratic Member of Congress and a Republican Member of Congress. That would be the right message to send to the world. Discrimination and bigotry bring out the worst in humanity. I know that my friend and colleague feels the same way. I know he does, as do many of my colleagues on the other side. But we have to stand up and say it right here on the floor so the world knows what we stand for. If left unchecked, they can lead to terrible atrocities, to crimes against humanity, and even to genocide. So this legislation will help shine a light on this problem and help address the global rise of Islamophobia at a time in which Islamophobia remains rampant. Madam Speaker, I strongly encourage all Members of this House to support this very timely and important bill. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar), the sponsor of this most timely bill.