Brian Mast

Mr. MAST

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2505) to require the development of strategies and options to prevent the export to Iran of certain technologies related to unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 2505.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2505, the Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act. Iranian drones are being used to terrorize civilians and attack Americans and our allies throughout the world. Too often, those drones contain technology that originated in the United States or in Europe. That should alarm every Member of this body. Iran has become one of the world's leading exporters of unmanned aerial systems to rogue regimes and terrorist proxies. Its drones have been used by Russia to strike Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure, and civilians. They have been supplied to Iranian-backed groups across the Middle East, and they are part of Iran's broader strategy to destabilize the region. Many of the components found in these drones are commercially available dual-use technologies, products that may have legitimate civilian applications but can be repurposed for lethal military use. Existing sanctions and export controls are clearly not enough. If American and allied technology is still ending up inside Iranian-made drones, then we need to identify the gaps, tighten the enforcement, and work more closely with our partners to stop it. That is exactly what this bill does. It requires the Departments of Commerce, State, and Defense to develop coordinated strategies and options to prevent Iran from acquiring U.S. and allied technologies used in unmanned aerial systems. It strengthens interagency coordination and engagement with our allies to ensure that we block Iran's access to drone technology. This is not just about Iran. It is about making sure American innovation is not exploited by our adversaries to kill innocent people. Every Iranian drone that reaches Russia, Hezbollah, the Houthis, or other malign actors strengthens America's enemies, and it puts lives at risk. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Keating for introducing this important piece of legislation, which passed out of the committee with broad bipartisan support, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2505. Mr. Speaker, I will add this: Iranian drones are not just a regional threat. They are a global threat. They are being used to attack Ukraine, threaten Israel, empower terrorist proxies, and undermine international security. The United States cannot allow American or allied technology to become the backbone of Iran's drone arsenal. This bill helps to close those gaps. It is a commonsense, low-cost, high-impact measure to protect U.S. technology, support our allies, and counter Iran's malign activities. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2505. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, August 28, 2025. Hon. Brian Mast, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Mast: I write concerning H.R. 2505, the Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act. As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions within H.R. 2505 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed Services, I agree to forego any further consideration of this resolution so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration. The Committee on Armed Services takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 2505 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this resolution or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. This legislation contains provisions that may require further modification prior to final consideration to ensure the support of the House Committee on Armed Services, particularly language related to export matters. Finally, I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included by House Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to memorialize our understanding. Thank you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked regarding this matter and others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Michael D. Rogers, Chairman, House Committee on Armed Services.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 2505, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3429) to establish an inter-parliamentary dialogue to facilitate closer cooperation between the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea on shared interests and values.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3429.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3429, the U.S.-Japan-ROK Trilateral Cooperation Act, introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee's East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee Ranking Member Ami Bera to my left. I have learned during my time as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee that trust is the ultimate currency in foreign relations. Allies come to the United States with many asks: for arms, for trade, for diplomatic support, and everything in between. Sometimes the United States can only judge these requests based on the trust that they have or have not built with the United States of America. This legislation is about building that trust with Japan and South Korea, and doing so with these two partners could not be more important. Japan and South Korea are key allies that are working together to resist aggression from the Chinese Communist Party and from North Korea to prevent a Chinese attack on Taiwan, to reindustrialize, and to decouple our economies from China in strategic sectors. This is not about building lopsided alliances. This is about strengthening relationships that are good for America. This bill would cultivate these alliances by establishing a parliamentary dialogue program between four Members from the House and four Members from the Senate and selected counterparts from the Parliaments of Japan and South Korea. This is about ensuring that our alliance system in the Indo-Pacific can resist Beijing's aggression. With this important legislation, we will be one step closer to ensuring that American allies and partners win this century. Mr. Speaker, Japan and South Korea are two of America's most important treaty allies in the Indo-Pacific. This legislation builds upon our longstanding alliance with these two countries so we can ensure these relationships can survive the struggles to come and to deter aggression from the Chinese Communist Party and North Korea. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, Japan and South Korea are two of America's most important treaty allies in the Indo-Pacific. This legislation builds upon our longstanding alliance with these two countries, so that we can ensure that these relationships can survive the struggles to come. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 3429, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1744) to extend and authorize annual appropriations for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom through fiscal year 2028, as amended.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1744.

Mr. MAST. I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1744, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2026. Congress created this commission, otherwise known as USCIRF, in 1998 with a clear statutory mandate to monitor conditions of religious freedom around the world and make recommendations to Congress and to the President to protect this right. Since then, Congress has reauthorized the commission's operations, appropriations, and mandate numerous times. Under current law, USCIRF terminates on September 30th of this year. This bill reauthorizes the Commission through December of 2028. America was founded on the principle that all human beings are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights. One of these, the very first laid out in the Bill of Rights to the Constitution, is the right to freely exercise one's religion according to one's conscience. Yet, throughout the world, believers suffer extreme persecution. Throughout history, tyrants and radical regimes always target religion first. In Nigeria, seemingly every week, Christians are massacred by radical Fulani Muslims wielding machetes and crying: ``Allahu akbar.'' Christians in China are forced to worship underground. In Nicaragua, the dictatorship has just forbidden Bibles from being brought into the country. Christians across much of the Middle East and South Asia are relegated to second-class citizens, harassed and discriminated against simply for professing their beliefs. Even in Europe, nations with freedom of religion enshrined in their constitutions, Christians, who hold traditional biblical views on marriage, gender, and sexuality, have been convicted under so-called hate speech laws. It is not only Christians who are persecuted globally. The Chinese Communist Party right now is committing a horrific genocide against Uyghurs. Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, Rohingya Muslims in Burma, Buddhists in Vietnam, and many more face severe restrictions on their religious freedom. USCIRF gives Congress tools to confront persecution and protect religious freedom. As Vice President Vance said last year: Part of this country's moral leadership ``means recognizing in our foreign policy the difference between regimes that respect religious freedom and those that do not.'' USCIRF is a critical tool to that end. I thank my colleague, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, as well as Mr. Sherman of California, for leading this bipartisan effort. Mr. Smith has been leading on this for many years. Mr. Speaker, the bill advanced out of Committee unanimously, and I urge my colleagues to join in advancing it on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the right to freely exercise your religion without fear of persecution is an unalienable right that belongs to all people. By passing this bill, the U.S. Congress is recommitting itself to that fundamental truth, that fundamental freedom. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill, and I call upon the Senate to take up and pass H.R. 1744 as soon as possible. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6297) to require the Department of State to provide briefings on antisemitism in Europe, as amended.

Mr. MAST. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material on H.R. 6297.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, anti-Semitism and international terrorism in Europe are real threats that undermine regional stability, transatlantic security, and the safety of American citizens living abroad. This threat skyrocketed after Hamas' October 7 terrorist attack. France recorded over 1,000 anti-Semitic incidents in just 1 month alone. Germany experienced a 240 percent increase. More recent incidents further underscore that threat. On October 2, 2025, a deadly anti-Semitic attack at a Manchester synagogue during Yom Kippur killed two and injured others. In March 2025, a 22-year-old was arrested in Madrid for attempting to set fire to Rimmon Kosher, a busy kosher restaurant. Authorities charged him with anti-Semitic hate crime, attempted murder, and arson. In March of 2026, two suspects on a motor scooter detonated an explosive device against the outer wall of an Orthodox Jewish school in Amsterdam. Also, in March of 2026, an explosive device detonated in front of a historic synagogue in Belgium during the early morning hours. Beyond anti-Semitic attacks, Europe continues to face threats from the Islamic extremism. In February of 2025, French authorities classified a deadly knife attack in Mulhouse as an Islamic terrorist act, while German authorities disrupted and investigated multiple suspected Islamist-inspired plots during 2025. This legislation builds on the Trump administration's effort to combat anti-Semitism and strengthen international counterterrorism cooperation. It ensures continued U.S. diplomatic engagement with European allies, and it requires regular consultations with Congress. I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine), my colleague and the sponsor of this bill, for his leadership on the issue. The bill passed the Committee on Foreign Affairs with broad bipartisan support. I urge my colleagues to join me in advancing it on the floor today. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Fine).

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, the rise of anti-Semitic violence and terrorist attacks across Europe is a stark reminder that radical extremism is not a relic of the past. It is a clear and present danger to freedom, to democracy, and to Western civilization. The United States has to stand firmly with our allies, with the Jewish people, and with all those who reject terror and defend liberty. Peace through strength is not just a slogan. It is a necessity. Weakness invites aggression. Strength deters aggression. H.R. 6297 sends a clear message that America will continue to lead in confronting anti-Semitism and strengthening international efforts to combat terrorism. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5248) to ensure the alignment of economic and foreign policies, to position the Department of State to reflect that economic security is national security, and for other purposes.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5248.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5248, the PROFIT Act, a bill that I am proud to have worked on with my colleague Representative Young Kim, who is to my right. When I became chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, more than 80 percent of the State Department was unauthorized, meaning that Congress really hadn't examined it in a long time. It has been decades since the Department was forced to articulate its priorities and identify how it would align its resources. Programs that had long outlived their purpose had been allowed to continue, wasting taxpayer dollars. Entire offices and bureaus had become redundant. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say that today, because of the bills we passed into law last year, in addition to H.R. 5248, we have now authorized more than 55 percent of the State Department. Clearly, there is still more work to be done. Within the Department, the bureaus and offices that support the Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment are at the tip of the spear for implementing the America First foreign policy. These are the offices charged with leveling the playing field so that American companies can compete and win overseas. This bill codifies the administration's America First foreign policy agenda by ensuring those offices and bureaus are aligned to advance our economic interests. As the President has repeatedly said, economic security is national security, and economic policy is foreign policy. Mr. Speaker, I will pause on that and reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim), chairwoman of the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee. (Pursuant to a unanimous-consent request, the remarks of Mrs. Kim were moved to debate on H.R. 5248, as amended, in the Record.)

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I was just alerted that there is a technical error with the version of the bill that was submitted. We are going to enjoy the debate that we just had, but we are going to withdraw the motion.

Mr. MAST

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6230) to designate certain individuals as specially designated global terrorists, as amended.

Mr. MAST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 6230.