Mark Pocan

Mr. POCAN

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, since the October 7 Hamas attack, Netanyahu has responded with a widespread bombing campaign in Gaza. Just yesterday, nine Palestinians were killed in a strike near Rafah, six being children. This is anything but going after Hamas. This is a collective punishment of all Palestinians in Gaza. Netanyahu doesn't support the United States' position of a two-state solution for peace. He doesn't respect our urges not to invade Rafah. He disputes what the U.S. and aid groups have said about famine taking over in Gaza. He launched an attack on Iran after the White House told him not to. If he is not listening to us on matters of international security, how can he be trusted with more offensive weapons? Enough is enough. I support the people of Israel, who don't want bombs raining on them from extremists in Gaza, and the hostages must be released. I also support the Palestinians, who deserve human rights and dignity. Mr. Speaker, 35,000 people have been killed, and thousands more will die from starvation and disease. We are better than that, and so is Israel. I am not sure Netanyahu is, and that is why I can't vote to provide him with more unconditional offensive weapons today. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. POCAN

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, I have been attending town halls and meetings across my district for the last 2 weeks in smaller communities in Wisconsin like Edgerton, Sauk City, Monroe, Mazomanie, and Darlington. These are communities with hardworking people that have a strong work ethic and upper Midwestern values like fairness and compassion. At those meetings, Mr. Speaker, I have heard a common thread: They don't like what they are seeing in Gaza and Israel. The vast majority recognize that the attack on October 7 was horrific and Israel had a right to respond, but they didn't have a right to collectively punish 2.3 million people stuck in Gaza. They know that 1,200 people are dead in Israel from the attack and over 130 people are still being held by Hamas. However, they also know that nearly 34,000 people are dead in Gaza, 70 percent of which are women and children, clearly not members of Hamas. They know that 2 million people have been displaced in Gaza and the majority of the buildings and infrastructure have been demolished or damaged by Israeli bombs. They know that the people are dying of starvation because almost every entry point to Gaza is through Israel and not enough supplies and aid are getting through. They understand that the United States is trying to help with aid, but we have to drop it from the air or bring it in by sea because our friend Israel won't allow us to bring it in through easier, safer ways like by truck and transport. They know that aid workers are being killed, 200 plus to date, including some from Chef Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen. The limited food, water, and supplies that are being let in have to be distributed, but aid workers are too often killed in the process of delivering humanitarian aid, making alleviating suffering even more difficult. They don't understand how we can provide both armaments and aid to the same area, as that doesn't make sense to people with Midwestern sensibilities. They tell me it looks like punishment for being Palestinian. They tell me it appears Benjamin Netanyahu wants people to leave Gaza for good. They tell me it looks too much like what genocide would look like, and that concerns them greatly. The bombings of the World Central Kitchen workers, the seemingly targeted and repeated bombings, despite the Israeli military knowing their location and purpose, has been one more step too far by the Netanyahu government's handling of this war. Enough is enough. The indiscriminate killing must stop. The aid must flow. The hostages must be released and a cease-fire must hold to protect every child in Gaza and Israel. The devastation has been severe, far more severe than it ever needed to be. The world would have understood a response going after Hamas killers, but the Netanyahu government has gone too far, way too far in its response. That is why I helped lead a letter signed by 56 Members of Congress to the President to stop any additional offensive arms transfers to Israel without a thorough investigation of the World Central Kitchen killings and a plan for aid and assistance to get to starving Palestinians. The United States has long supported two nations existing side by side in peace, a two-state solution, but Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't support that reasoned path to peace. And that, along with his punishing innocent Palestinians while allegedly going after Hamas, has made it time to get a divorce from Benjamin Netanyahu. I support the overwhelming majority of Israelis who want peace. They want to live safely without bombs raining on them from extremists in Gaza. They too don't like the direction and mistakes of the Netanyahu administration, and they want the hostages returned immediately. The overwhelming majority of Palestinians want peace, as well. They just want to live their lives with dignity and independence as they should, but they need to be treated as equals with human rights, which too often they are not. I urge our government to do more to help distribute aid, utilizing great groups like the World Central Kitchen, UNWRA, and so many others that are doing this work. Our government must stop supplying any offensive weapons or equipment that damages Gaza further, especially in regard to any invasion of Rafah. Let's take this awful, current situation and make some good out of it. We need to double down on a two-state solution that recognizes the many, many good people of Israel and Palestine that want to live in peace. It is achievable, and the United States is crucial to that peace. That is what I am hearing in my district.

Mr. POCAN

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize my constituent, Mr. John McKenzie, a Wisconsin business owner who plays a significant role in the revitalization of Dane County through his generous philanthropy. Mr. John McKenzie, through his highly successful family business, consistently gives back to his community by maintaining improving, and reinvesting in properties throughout Dane County. Beyond his obligation to his business, Mr. McKenzie spent years working with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County because of a heartfelt desire to improve the lives of young people, especially those belonging to underrepresented communities. Mr. McKenzie partnered the Madison Area Builders Association with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County to introduce opportunities and careers in the skilled trades to young people looking to better their lives. This great idea gained momentum and not long after, with the help of Mr. McKenzie, the National Association of Home Builders and the national Boys and Girls Clubs created their own partnership, extending new opportunities to millions of kids across our Nation. Mr. McKenzie not only sought to shrink the racial and gender wealth gap, but also to mentor kids on how to save, invest, and build for the next generation. On July 15, 2023, with $30.4 million dollars' worth of investments and donations, Mr. McKenzie opened the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center, a place where kids of all ages can participate in career introductory programming. Mr. John McKenzie demonstrates that business-driven organizations and organizations with a social focus can form partnerships that benefit the entirety of their respective communities. For that, I commend him, and I join his friends, family. and colleagues in offering him best wishes and continued success.

Mr. POCAN

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chairman, I oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Lynch).

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. It seems shortsighted to defund an effort to even look at an issue. The Central Bank Digital Currency Working Group is intended to complement the Fed's efforts by considering the implications of a U.S. CBDC. It would be a good idea to examine whether there are economic benefits, including lower transaction and borrowing costs for U.S. households, businesses, and government. In addition, the U.S. uses sanctions and other financial measures to address national security threats and deny criminals and other illicit actors access to the U.S. and international financial system. Development of foreign CBDCs, including multi-CBDC platforms, could diminish the use of our dollar and the effectiveness of our tools in this space. I think it is at least worth letting Treasury look at the issue. I oppose this amendment, urge a ``no'' vote, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. For years, the Small Business Administration has rightly been concerned about small businesses from underserved communities accessing SBA loans. Through the agency's affiliation rule, the agency aims to combat persistent gaps in accessing capital that affects these small businesses. By modernizing the lending criteria and conditions for SBA's small business loan programs and reducing red tape for SBA lenders, we will see improved access to capital for underserved businessowners, including women, minorities, veterans, and rural entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, this amendment pulls the rug out from underneath the SBA's important effort to better support these businesses. I strongly oppose this amendment. I urge a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. This amendment doesn't belong in this bill. We don't deal with the IMF and shareholding. That would be part of the State and Foreign Operations bill, which has already gone through this body. I urge the sponsor to take up the issue in that bill, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.'' Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. The Treasury Department has identified significant technical concerns with this amendment. Specifically, the agency has concerns about how the amendment's construction would impact general licenses authorized by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. I strongly agree with the need to enforce the sanctions included in Executive Order No. 13902 with respect to any person determined to operate in the construction, mining, manufacturing, or textile sectors of the Iranian economy. However, some terms like ``Islamic Republic of Iran'' and ``for, or on behalf of'' are vague and would create confusion as to how they would relate to existing authorizations. Treasury believes this phrasing could cause unintended consequences outside of the intended scope. Mr. Chair, for these reasons, I oppose the amendment and recommend a ``no'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, as I said, we are not debating the merits of the amendment. It is just not appropriate in this bill, period. Mr. Chair, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. This amendment doesn't belong in this bill. We don't deal with the IMF and Special Drawing Rights. That would be in the State-Foreign Operations bill, which we have already taken up on the floor. Mr. Chair, I urge the sponsor to take up that bill in the fiscal year 2025 bill, assuming we ever get to that. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. This amendment would prevent the FTC from implementing its policy statement explaining the scope of the commission's authority over unfair methods of competition. It will create confusion and legal uncertainty in cases in which the FTC seeks to use this authority to stop unfair methods of competition that hurts consumers, honest small businesses, and workers. The November 2022 policy statement informs the public, business community, and antitrust bar how the agency interprets the law based on principles from prior case law and agency. I urge my colleagues to vote ``no,'' and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chairman, I oppose, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Current law requires that a party wishing to complete an acquisition must delay the transaction for at least 30 days following the submission of a pre-merger notification to give the FTC and DOJ an opportunity to review the transaction and determine whether to investigate it further. The statute gives the FTC and DOJ the ability to grant an individual case exemption from this requirement to wait 30 days. Granting this early termination, however, consumes agency resources, and the delay for parties associated with suspending early termination is minimal. I strongly oppose this amendment, and I urge a ``no'' vote. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. POCAN. Mr. Chairman, I oppose the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.