Michael McCaul

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller).

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, there is nothing progressive about racism. Racism is ugly. I know my colleague, my dear friend, Mr. Meeks, who is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, knows what racism is. He is also the strongest supporter of Israel. I know our colleague, John Lewis, knew what racism really is, and racism is ugly. Israel is not a racist state. My father was a bombardier in a B-17. He bombed the Nazis. Why were we at war with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis? For many reasons, but, fundamentally, because of their values. They were anti-Semitic. During the Holocaust, racism, in its ugliest form, took place in the concentration camps in Europe and, indeed, in Auschwitz, where I attended to see the horrors of what mankind can do against mankind. Why was the State of Israel formed? Israel was formed out of a racist society to say to the world: No longer, never forget, and we will not tolerate racism. Mr. Speaker, 75 years later we stand here in this body celebrating this democratic state in the Middle East that was formed because of persecution and because of racism. We do not stand for racism. No one in this Chamber should stand for racism. To call Israel, which was formed as a result of racism, anti- Semitism, and hatred, to call that very country a racist state is repugnant to all of our values. I think everyone in this Chamber should vote ``yes,'' because as my dear friend across the aisle knows, racism and anti-Semitism have no place--no place--not only in this Chamber, but not in America and not anywhere in the world. Where we see it, we denounce it in its most ugliest form. So this is a call to action to defend her and to defend the nation that was created by primarily the United States and our allies as a result of the hatred that we saw come out of Nazi Germany. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes,'' and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call No. 317, on Greene of Georgia Amendment No. 48, I inadvertently voted ``Aye.'' On that vote, I intended to vote ``No.''

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, with a heavy but grateful heart, I rise to recognize the life of Kaye Goolsby. Kaye was not only a political giant in the state of Texas; she was also a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and dear friend to so many, including me. One of my first supporters, Kaye helped propel me to public service, and she always inspired me to be the best representative I could be for the people of Texas. Originally from Louisiana, she and her family moved to Katy, Texas, in 1977, where they have lived for more than 45 years. And Kaye certainly earned her title as a Texan, holding dozens of leadership roles in the state and helping to advance many Texans to prominent government positions. In 2011, she was honored as one of the Top Ten Republican Women in Texas. Kaye also faithfully supported her local school district, Katy ISD, and selflessly served at First United Methodist Church. There simply aren't enough words to describe Kaye's contribution to her community, the state of Texas, and our country. No matter what new task she took on, she remained grounded by an unwavering belief in the importance of freedom, faith, and family. She will be deeply missed by her husband of 48 years, Gary Goolsby, her son Greg and his wife Christie, and her grandchildren, Preston and Avery. The last words I said to her were, ``I love you, Kaye.'' The fact is: Everyone she touched loved her as well. While we mourn this tremendous loss, we also take comfort in knowing her impact will live on for generations.

Mr. McCAUL

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

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Evan Gershkovich is an American citizen and a respected Wall Street Journal reporter. He is the son of two Soviet-born Jewish exiles who fled Russia to avoid persecution. He is a loving little brother. What he is not, Mr. Speaker, is a criminal. Yet, on March 29, he was arrested by the corrupt Putin regime and charged with espionage. No evidence has been presented to back up this accusation because there is no evidence. Evan is innocent. He was simply doing his job, reporting on the news in Russia, but we know that the war criminal Putin doesn't like that. He doesn't want his own people to know about the atrocities that he is committing in Ukraine. He doesn't want them to know about the corruption within his own government or how he has turned their country into an international pariah. Vladimir Putin knows that a free press is a pillar of democracy, that a strong fourth estate will hold officials accountable, so he arrested Evan with the intention of not only silencing him but of scaring other journalists to remain silent, too. I assure Evan's friends, his coworkers, and especially his family, who I have met with, that we will continue our fight every day until we bring him home to you. As the father of five children, I cannot begin to imagine the pain and suffering Evan's family is feeling right now. I had the opportunity to meet Evan's mother, Ella, recently. Like any mother, she was very worried about her son and this situation, but she was also very determined to do anything she could to bring him home. She thanked me for the efforts of our committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, and others on Capitol Hill who are doing everything we can to help their son. Just as unfortunate, our next resolution, on Paul Whelan, makes clear that Evan's family is not the only one suffering through this nightmare. We are also awaiting information from the State Department about the arrest of yet another American citizen in Russia over this last weekend. The Putin regime is increasingly brazen in using political detentions to seek leverage over the Biden administration, and it must be made clear that the use of American citizens as political pawns will not go unpunished. These Americans deserve to be home with their families instead of in Russian prisons. Today's bipartisan resolution condemns the Putin regime for their illegal imprisonment. It calls on the Biden administration to prioritize bringing home all American citizens who are wrongfully detained overseas. Today, we send a strong message to Vladimir Putin that America, Republicans and Democrats alike, will not tolerate his corrupt regime holding U.S. citizens hostage under false pretenses. America, Mr. Speaker, stands with Evan and with every American who is wrongfully detained overseas, and we will not rest until all of them are brought home. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I reserve the right to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 377) calling for the immediate release of Evan Gershkovich, a United States citizen and journalist, who was wrongfully detained by the Government of the Russian Federation in March 2023, as amended.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, let me also thank the ranking member, Mr. Meeks, because what makes this committee so special, in my opinion, is that we know how important it is to speak with one voice, as one country, not as a divided nation. When it comes to Mr. Putin and what he is doing to our Americans over there, we are united with one voice. Mr. Speaker, Evan's case marks the first time since the Cold War that a journalist has been wrongfully charged with espionage on Russian soil. It is clear that Putin and the corrupt Kremlin will do anything to silence those who seek to expose the truth. A man of integrity, Evan put the truth ahead of his own safety. He was dedicated to shining a light on the vast corruption and the war crimes of Russia. Make no mistake, Evan's work posed a threat to Mr. Putin and his cronies, so they did what they always do when threatened: They silence their critics. It is absolutely unacceptable for Putin to hold Americans hostage as diplomatic pawns. Quite frankly, Mr. Speaker, it is happening way too often now. As I said before, America stands with Evan, and we will not rest until he is home. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, for 75 years, the United States and Israel have been close friends and partners, working hand in hand on our shared priorities to keep our nations safe, secure, and prosperous. Along with our partnership with Israel, we also have many shared interests with our Arab partners in the region. The United States has consistently worked to help secure peace in the Middle East, and we remain committed to enduring peace throughout the region. Not only do we want to ensure regional security but economic prosperity as well, which drives cutting-edge innovation. We are all concerned about Iran's malign activities. A nuclear Iran is a threat to the entire region and the world and is not acceptable. Yet, for so many years, our friends would not speak directly to one another. Even after Egypt, in 1979, and Jordan, in 1994, established peace and diplomatic relations with Israel, other Arab countries refused. Then, in August 2020, everything changed. The UAE and Israel announced that they were normalizing diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by the Trump administration, which we now know as the Abraham Accords. In short order, Bahrain and Morocco joined UAE in opening diplomatic relations with Israel. I was proud to be at the White House for the signing of these famous documents, the accords, a game-changing development that benefits the United States, Israel, and our partners in the region. The Abraham Accords have served as a foundation for increased cooperation between Israel and Middle Eastern nations. We have already seen incredible leaps forward as these countries engage in defense cooperation, economic cooperation, and frequent diplomatic engagement. What we have not seen, but we all wish to see, is more countries joining the Abraham Accords. Secretary of State Blinken was in Saudi Arabia last week, and I remain hopeful that one day Saudi Arabia will engage with their neighbors and join these historic accords. Saudi Arabia and Israel would both benefit from working together on their shared interests. It has never been more important that we continue to prioritize the expansion of these agreements. Part of doing this entails making it clear who in the United States Government is responsible for expanding these Abraham Accords. This bipartisan bill, introduced by my colleague and friend Mike Lawler from New York, who is also a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, would create that position, a special envoy for the Abraham Accords at the State Department. The special envoy will coordinate all efforts to expand the accords and strengthen relationships between Israel and participating countries. We need to put our diplomatic might into trying to achieve the kinds of big breakthroughs that created the accords almost 3 years ago. This legislation, Mr. Lawler's bill, does exactly that. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3099) to establish in the Department of State the position of Special Envoy for the Abraham Accords, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler), a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of this important bill.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, I thank all the gentlemen from New York--Congressman Lawler, Ranking Member Meeks, and Congressman Torres--for putting this legislation forward. We have all talked about peace in the Middle East our entire lifetime, but we really have a chance to make a difference. The Abraham Accords jump-started that process, built upon the agreements with Egypt and then Jordan, and now this. We are really, I think, privileged to be a part of the new era of ushering in cooperation between Israel and the Muslim-majority countries. When I would talk to Ambassadors from UAE and other countries, they would say: We are just tired. We are just tired of Palestinians saying no. We just can't do it. We just can't do it. They just said: We want to move forward. We want progress. We want peace in the region. They want economic prosperity, which this does. These accords mark a generational shift in Middle Eastern relations. This bill will further that effort and that mission, and we must continue the work. This special envoy will be dedicated to this purpose. I have to say that Ritchie Torres came up with this idea. He worked with our side of the aisle, and he and Congressman Lawler worked together on this legislation. That is what Congress should look like, working together on a goal that can promote peace, prosperity, and cooperation--in this case, in the Middle East. I may not see it in my lifetime, but I hope I do. However, I do know that this bill will move it one step forward toward that great goal that we all share here today. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 272) calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to immediately release United States citizen Paul Whelan.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this measure.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, on December 28, 2018, U.S. citizen and Marine Corps veteran Paul Whelan was wrongfully arrested in Moscow and charged with espionage. This is just one of the many examples where an American is used as a political pawn by the Kremlin--where they disguise hostility and human rights abuses as justice. Paul was held in pretrial detention for 19 months, and on June 15, 2020, he was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian labor camp. Paul was never provided with any real evidence of guilt. Defense witnesses were excluded. He was denied a fair trial, including the opportunity to defend himself properly or even communicate with his family. Last month, on May 16, Paul reached day 1,600 of illegally being held hostage in the Russian Federation for a crime he did not commit. Mr. Speaker, Paul is innocent, yet he remains behind bars to this day. Since his illegal incarceration, Paul has not received adequate medical care and has been denied regular access to his attorney. He has been designated as ``wrongfully detained'' by the U.S. Department of State. U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan accurately described Paul's wrongful conviction as ``a mockery of justice.'' Make no mistake, there is no such thing as justice in a country that is controlled by a despot. This resolution shows that we have not forgotten, and we will never forget Paul, and that we will keep advocating for his immediate release. The U.S. Congress will not sit by as Americans are held hostage by the war criminal in the Kremlin. We will not rest until Paul and every wrongfully detained American is home safely with their families. During consideration of the prior measure, we discussed Russia's wrongful detention of the Wall Street reporter, Evan Gershkovich. Another politically motivated imprisonment I must mention is Vladimir Kara-Murza, a legal U.S. permanent resident twice poisoned by the Kremlin. He is a relentless advocate for democracy and human rights and was recently sentenced to 25 years in prison for his criticism of Russia's war in Ukraine. Sadly, this is what happens when you contradict the state-run media in a totalitarian state. His reward for pursuing the truth and standing up, exposing Putin's brutality and corruption, was imprisonment. The vengeance of the Kremlin knows no bounds. Putin must stop using Cold War tactics to target innocent Americans as diplomatic pawns. I call for the immediate release of all Americans wrongfully detained abroad. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this resolution so Paul and his family know that the United States Congress stands with them with one voice, Republican and Democrat, chairman and ranking member, and will do everything in our power to make sure that Paul is returned safely to his home and to his family. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), the vice chair of the Financial Services Committee, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Intelligence Committee, and a cosponsor of the resolution.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for closing. Mr. Speaker, I first thank Ranking Member Meeks for his support. We do speak with one voice, as one Nation, against this hostage taking by foreign nation adversaries. I thank Representative Stevens for her passion on this issue and for introducing this resolution and being a co-chair of that important caucus. I also thank my dear friend, Mrs. Dingell, who represents the family and, obviously, the passion of the family. I can only imagine what it must feel like to have your son, family member, detained in one of the worst prisons in the world. This happens too often. We are seeing this trend way too often now. It is not just Russia; it is China and Iran and Venezuela. It is a disturbing trend, Mr. Speaker, to take Americans hostage and hold them as political pawns for either a change of policy or an exchange of a prisoner that has no relation to the offense of the American. You can't tell me that what happened to Brittney Griner, whose offense was so meager, the idea she had some sort of small amount of--whatever it was, a vape pipe, and then in exchange, a major Russian arms dealer. But that is what they do and that is what they want. We need to stop this, and we need to provide the deterrence to stop this. The world continues to watch in horror as Vladimir Putin's crimes and atrocities in Ukraine continue. That is a lot of what this is all about. Paul Whelan is a marine. Evan is a Wall Street Journal reporter. Just reporting the truth gets you thrown in prison in Russia. What were they reporting about? The indiscriminate bombing and killing of civilians, to the mass graves I saw in Bucha, to torture chambers, to mobile crematoriums. Think about that, Mr. Speaker. We haven't heard about something like that in quite some time, probably since my father's generation and my father's war. What we are witnessing today is a genocide. If you rise up in protest or report the truth, you will be put in prison. I condemn this aggression in the strongest possible terms. I, along with the other Members on both sides of the aisle, will continue to fight to hold these perpetrators accountable. We must also condemn the Russian dictator's practice of exploiting them as political pawns. As I have said, it has happened way too often. It is time to get Paul out of this Russian gulag, which is what it is, and back to his family in Michigan. Today, all of us stand in this body with one voice, united as Americans, in condemning Russia's illegal detention of Paul Whelan. Congress will not rest. As Congresswoman Stevens said to Mr. Putin, if he is watching this, and to Paul Whelan, if he has the opportunity to watch this, we want them to know that we here in Congress will not rest until all Americans wrongfully detained in Russia are returned to their families. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.