Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on October 2, the Dade County Farm Bureau is proud to honor Paul and Swanee DiMare, an agriculture powerhouse couple hailing from our south Florida community. For more than 90 years, the DiMare family has graced south Florida by providing some of the best quality produce our Nation has to offer, so much, in fact, that they have earned the title of Mr. and Mrs. Tomato. But where some may know them for their tasty and nutritious products alone, others know them for their world-class philanthropy and public service. From protecting our beautiful botanical gardens, to advocating for organizations like the Red Cross, Paul and Swanee continue to serve as an inspiration to all those who call our slice of paradise home. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize this extraordinary couple, and I thank Paul and Swanee for their tireless work in our community. Annual Miami Walk to End Alzheimer's

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, Wendy Grant was a south Florida philanthropist who dedicated her all-too-brief life to serving others. Hers was a legacy of service to our community. She was also a well- respected aide to both Senator Connie Mack when he served here in D.C. and our Governor of Florida, Jeb Bush. Here is a picture of lovely Wendy Grant. It says: A life lived for the greater good. That was Wendy Grant. Wendy was also a zealous advocate for children through her work with the St. Jude Children's Hospital, and she raised funds for its noble mission year after year. Anyone who knew Wendy loved Wendy. She was famous for her birthday emails recognizing each of her friend's birthdays and updating us all on everyone's lives. Remedios Diaz-Oliver, Lilliam Machado, and I were about to bestow upon Wendy the title of Honorary Cuban American, because she loved our history and our traditions. We will present the certificate when we honor her life next week at her church for her service. Wendy Grant was a south Florida person to the hilt. She was warm; she was caring; and she was loyal. We will all miss Wendy Grant dearly. Godspeed, my friend.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to thank my colleagues--Ted Lieu, a hardworking member of our Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ted Yoho, chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific--for crafting this bipartisan legislation. By unleashing the expertise of patriotic hackers, this bill will help the State Department identify and patch vulnerabilities on its computer systems. The Hack Your State Department Act takes an innovative approach to improving network security at a Department that is in such desperate need of new solutions and improved capabilities. Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this bipartisan bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. I continue to reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, a massive breach of the State Department's unclassified computer network in 2014 exposed grave weaknesses in its information technology systems. And in the years since that attack, problems have continued to mount. The Department's cybersecurity response program received a D rating, the lowest of any agency, on its Federal Information Security Management Act report card in 2017. And just this month, the Department revealed that it recently suffered a breach of its unclassified email system, which exposed the personal information of some of its employees. Mr. Speaker, more must be done to ensure cost-effective solutions to the Department's information technology security challenges. The Hack Your State Department Act, authored by my Foreign Affairs Committee colleagues Ted Lieu and Ted Yoho, will help address cybersecurity gaps at the Department. This bill will crowdsource solutions and offer a layered approach to information technology security, consistent with the 2017 Report to the President on Federal IT Modernization. This bill achieves this in two ways: First, the bill establishes a vulnerability disclosure process to give security researchers clear guidelines for discovering and reporting cybersecurity vulnerabilities. This is considered a best practice in the private sector and, frankly, should be done in all government agencies. Second, this bill would establish a bounty pilot program at the Department to reward ethical hackers for discovering and reporting vulnerabilities. Numerous private-sector companies and the Department of Defense have used programs like this to improve their cyber defenses at minimal cost. The Department said that its Hack the Pentagon program ``demonstrated the power of engaging the hacker community to help address cybersecurity challenges of the Department of Defense.'' In its first pilot, hackers identified over 130 unique vulnerabilities, exceeding the Defense Department's expectations so much that it announced plans to expand the program to all of its more than 700 websites. Both the vulnerability disclosure process and the bounty pilot program are designed to complement persistent network scans currently done by the Department of Homeland Security and other cybersecurity activities undertaken by the Department of State. As a national security Department, the State Department must do more to secure its networks. The Hack Your State Department Act is a small but important step to bring cost-effective solutions commonly used in the private sector to bear in support of this goal. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. 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.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5433) to require the Secretary of State to design and establish a Vulnerability Disclosure Process (VDP) to improve Department of State cybersecurity and a bug bounty program to identify and report vulnerabilities of internet-facing information technology of the Department of State, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I echo Mr. Engel's remarks that, under the leadership of Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, our Foreign Affairs Committee is one of the most bipartisan committees of the House. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of our very bipartisan committee, the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairman Ed Royce, as well as Matt Zweig on his staff--he will be embarrassed that I say that--and Ranking Member Eliot Engel. I thank Mr. Engel for those wonderful words. I am going to miss working with him greatly. We have worked on so many important pieces of legislation together. And Mira Resnick and Edmund Rice on his staff, what a delight they have been. I thank them for their collaboration in developing this critical legislation. I am going to miss working with all of them. I also want to thank Senate Banking Chairman Mike Crapo and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown, and John O'Hara and Colin McGinnis of their staff, for their hard work and commitment to achieving the strong, sound, bipartisan agreement that we have before us today. Finally, I thank my hometown Senator, Senator Rubio, as well as Senator Shaheen, who have taken the lead on this effort on the other side. For 30 years, Mr. Speaker, Hezbollah has remained Iran's proxy. Iran remains Hezbollah's primary source of financial support. What a terrible relationship these two have had. This bill builds on our past efforts. It ramps up pressure on this dangerous terrorist group. It sanctions regimes, including Iran and Syria, because they are providing weapons to Hezbollah. It targets Hezbollah's innovative fund-raising and recruiting efforts, including its attempt to crowdsource small donations to support its fighters. And it recognizes that Hezbollah is more than a terrorist group; it is also a global criminal organization, an enterprise that profits from drug trafficking, money laundering, and counterfeiting. This bill gives the administration the tools to respond accordingly. We must employ a combination of law enforcement, financial, criminal, civil, and regulatory tools to deter, disrupt, and publicly illuminate the global illicit Hezbollah network. And we have to continue to work together to confront this threat. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, today, we will consider a House-Senate agreement on additional measures targeting Hezbollah, Iran's leading terrorist proxy, with tough new sanctions that we will impose with this bill. Last Congress, the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act was signed into law. This legislation threatened to cut off any financial institution that knowingly facilitates significant transactions for Hezbollah from the U.S. financial system. That was a major step in the financial fight against Hezbollah. In the immediate aftermath of the law's enactment, Hezbollah's leader gave a public speech blasting U.S. sanctions as ``unjust and false accusations.'' Hezbollah also asserted that it ``does not have any funds in any bank in the world . . . or in Lebanese banks and the central bank and the directors of banks must not panic.'' Well, if a terrorist organization must publicly state that they are not panicking, then they are definitely panicking. And Hezbollah was panicking, Mr. Speaker, following the passage of this landmark legislation. Hezbollah reportedly had to cut salaries, defer payments to suppliers, and slash money stipends to allied parties. Facing increased financial pressure, Hezbollah has also lashed out most recently by bombing a Lebanese bank in an effort to intimidate the board members into noncompliance. But Hezbollah's cowardly stance and its scare tactics have not worked. Lebanese banks have gone above and beyond the letter of the new U.S. law to proactively offload Hezbollah-linked bank accounts, forcing Hezbollah to look elsewhere for financial services. Yet, as time has progressed, Hezbollah has found temporary, albeit cumbersome, workarounds. It is time to send Hezbollah into a panic again, and this new legislation that we are considering tonight will do just that. First, the legislation mandates the application of sanctions against agencies of foreign states that provide weapons to Hezbollah--namely, Iran. Iran is the principal, external financial backer of Hezbollah, a fact that the leader of Hezbollah has openly admitted to for years. It is estimated that Iranian funding to Hezbollah exceeds $700 million per year. This is in addition to a rapid expansion in both the quantity and the quality of weapons provided to Hezbollah by Iran. In May, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the governor of the Central Bank of Iran and another senior bank official, accusing them of funneling millions of dollars to Hezbollah. But more can be done, and more must be done. This new legislation takes aim at Hezbollah's enablers, both inside and outside of Lebanon. It mandates sanctions against any person or entity that engages in a transaction with anyone aiding Hezbollah's fundraising or recruitment. This includes Hezbollah's foreign relations department, its television station, and its companies that maintain Hezbollah's social media accounts. This legislation also requires the administration to issue a report laying out the assets of senior Hezbollah members and associates. This should clearly be applicable to Hezbollah's senior allies in the Lebanese Government. Hezbollah is constantly expanding and exploiting its extensive criminal networks from narcotics trafficking to human trafficking in order to escape sanctions and attack Western interests. So to address this new threat, this legislation also imposes transnational organized criminal organization sanctions on Hezbollah's criminal networks, and it requires the administration to report to us in Congress on Hezbollah's racketeering activities, which can serve as a basis for applying RICO penalties to Hezbollah. In sum, Mr. Speaker, this legislation is an important expansion of our efforts to take aim at Hezbollah, to take aim at its enablers, and to take aim at its state sponsor, Iran. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this effort to ensure that the United States continues to have the tools to respond to the threats caused by Hezbollah. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, September 7, 2018. Hon. Ed Royce, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Chairman Royce: I am writing concerning S. 1595, the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act of 2017. As a result of your having consulted with the Committee on Financial Services concerning provisions in the bill that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to forgo action on the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor. The Committee on Financial Services takes this action with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing consideration of S. 1595, at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues that fall within our Rule X jurisdiction. Our Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation, and requests your support for any such request. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to S. 1595 and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Sincerely, Jeb Hensarling, Chairman.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1595) to amend the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 to impose additional sanctions with respect to Hizballah, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, my colleague from Florida, for the time. Mr. Speaker, when the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in the year 2007--and this was through legislation that I had the privilege of authoring with Tom Lantos, our esteemed late chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the only Holocaust survivor to have served in this body--when we passed that in the House and we had the celebration of the Dalai Lama right down the hall, the plight of the people of Tibet was at the forefront of U.S. policy toward China. But in the years since, as China has gained both in strength and in power, I have grown increasingly worried that Tibet has been pushed to the periphery, to the edges. It is an afterthought. I was worried that China's bullying and intimidation tactics, on display throughout the world, had extended so far that our United States Congress no longer had the will, no longer had the desire, to speak out in support of Tibet. But with this bill, Mr. Speaker, authored by my good friend and my colleague, Congressman Jim McGovern, we are finally reversing that trend. We are sending a clear message, a true signal, to the regime in Beijing that the United States has indeed not forgotten about the people of Tibet, that Congress will not accept Beijing's bullying and its intimidation, and that we will stand up in support of human rights for the people of Tibet. From demolishing Buddhist temples to jailing more and more prisoners of conscience, Beijing's policies in Tibet are not only immoral and unjust, but are threatening the stability of a crucial area for U.S. interests. We must put pressure on China to stop its repression. This bill demonstrates that Tibetan human rights continue to be an important factor in our relations with Beijing, and I encourage all of my colleagues to give Mr. McGovern full support for this bill.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the decades of service of my congressional community liaison and my friend, Harriet V. Carter. Harriet, a graduate of Tulane University, who participated in study abroad programs, served as a congressional aide for many years in my district office and, during her semi-retirement, has been a goodwill ambassador to our community on my behalf. Harriet Carter is a graduate of Leadership Miami, the Cuban American National Council's Hispanic Leadership Training Program, and has been active in the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the Jewish Community Relations Council, and a bevy of groups that help Floridians. Harriet's tireless work in my office and throughout our community demonstrates the positive impact that one person can have. Harriet Carter's dedication to the service of others is an inspiration, and I am sure that she will continue to work diligently on behalf of our South Florida community for many years to come.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Miami Bridge organization located in my congressional district. I would also like to highlight my friend and constituent, Judy Reinach, also known as the barefoot hostess, for her tireless efforts on behalf of this organization for decades. Founded by Catholic Charities in the 1970s, Miami Bridge has been helping young people in crisis who have run away, are truant, homeless, or are having issues and problems in their homes. From its humble beginnings in a city of Miami motorcycle repair shop underneath the Metrorail Bridge, this incredible organization has been a guiding light for our youth throughout Miami-Dade County who are in need of assistance and do not know where else to turn. In fact, its name, Miami Bridge, is homage to its humble location. Today, it has two campuses--one in Miami and the other one in Homestead--that serve our south Florida community. Using its efficient intake process, Miami Bridge successfully matches young people or family members with the services that best meet their needs. Victims of abuse, of neglect, or worse seek refuge in the comprehensive services provided by Miami Bridge in order to help turn their lives around. This organization's professional staff and its board of directors provide counseling, case management, a formal academic education program, mental health services, substance abuse prevention services, youth development activities, life skills education, recreation, and so much more. Miami Bridge also offers First Stop for Families, a crisis intervention service that helps head off conflicts and links families to resources to help them open lines of communication, teach effective parenting skills, reduce antisocial behaviors, and link families with any other available resources. As a former Florida certified teacher, I applaud its truancy diversion services because I know that education, staying in school, is the key to a successful life and future. Madam Speaker, the statistics demonstrating the success of this organization speak for themselves. Between 2015 and 2016, 890 families were served by Miami Bridge: 93 percent of youth served were placed back in their home or an appropriate placement after leaving the shelter; 85 percent of youth remained in school after completing their shelter stays. However, the development of this incredible organization has not occurred in a vacuum. The Key Biscayne Islander News has given Miami Bridge events substantial coverage, and the Rotary Club of Key Biscayne has helped raise funds for programs that help the neediest young men and women in our community. Many south Florida individuals and businesses have aided and supported the mission of Miami Bridge over the past decades. I congratulate its leadership: CEO Dorcas Wilcox, CFO Steve Hope, Chief Operations and Technology Officer David Sharfman, Chief Administrative and Compliance Officer Baldwin Davis, and Chief Program Officer Mary Behr, in addition to its board members--Marlene Quintana, Alfred Karram, Jr., Joseph Cantrell, Beatriz Martin, Judy Reinach, Darren Campbell, Todd Giardina, Jahan S. Islami, Johane Domersant, Julie Harris Nelson, Mayling Exposito, Michael Alvarez, Patrick Murphy, Peggy Fucci, and Province ``Boo'' Zamek--on their tremendous work. So Miami Bridge, here is to many more years of success and services on behalf of south Florida's troubled youth. Thank you for all the work that you do.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to thank Honor Flight South Florida for its work to recognize outstanding veterans of our Armed Forces. This Saturday, September 15, Honor Flight South Florida, in conjunction with the Miami International Airport, will again lead a group of these brave veterans on their visit to our Nation's capital. Since its inception in 2005, the mission of Honor Flight has been to welcome our heroes to Washington so that these patriots may visit their memorials. Today, the Honor Flight network has 140 regional hubs across the United States, each working tirelessly to pay tribute to these amazing Americans. Mr. Speaker, as the wife of a combat-wounded Vietnam veteran and stepmother and mother-in-law to Marine Corps aviators, I am familiar with the courage and the resolve that is required to dedicate one's life to the service of others. I am so thankful for all the veterans' devotion to our Nation, as well as the great work of organizations like Honor Flight. We must never forget the contributions these brave men and women have made to our country, and I wish Honor Flight and the vets they serve the utmost success in the years to come.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member. I am proud to be a cosponsor of Mr. Smith's very important bill, H.R. 1911, the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act. As a founding member and co-chair of the Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, I have been urging the administration to make the Special Envoy position at the State Department a priority and to fill that position as soon as possible. In recent years, the spike in anti-Jewish violence and harassment has been alarming, and not just in Europe, sadly, but across the globe, and even here in our own wonderful Nation. It is also worrisome that we are seeing anti-Semitism couched and disguised in anti-Israel political rhetoric. This bill ensures that we have someone at the Ambassador level giving these issues full attention, and with access to the highest-level officials in other nations. I am also proud to have my amendment included in the bill, which adds a deadline for the appointment, 90 days from enactment of this act, and 120 days from when this position becomes vacant. Even though current law states that there shall be an appointment, there is no clarity on whether an administration has a finite time to make one. So this is why it is important that we add a deadline to fill this Special Envoy position as quickly as possible. I encourage all my colleagues to support Mr. Smith's important bill, H.R. 1911; and I thank the chairman and the ranking member for the time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his kind words and the words of my good friend, Ranking Member Engel. This is truly an unexpected, humbling honor. I thank both of their teams for their leadership in bringing this bill to the floor, and I thank all Members and supporters of Israel. There are so many of us in this Chamber. We have been through a lot together and the U.S.-Israel relationship is stronger because every single one of us works hard at it. Mr. Speaker, a special thank you to my dear friend and Florida colleague, Ted Deutch, the great ranking member of our subcommittee, with whom I have had the honor of working so closely on these issues over the past 6 years. He is the author of this newly named bill and the one with that idea. As so many know, Mr. Speaker, it has been an absolute joy for me to have been a part of this distinguished body for almost 30 years, as the chairman points out, to advocate for my constituents and to serve on our esteemed House Committee on Foreign Affairs to promote American ideals like freedom, democracy, and human rights, and to help strengthen the bonds we have with allies around the world. No relationship, Mr. Speaker, is more important than the one that we have with the democratic Jewish State of Israel. Israel is an indispensable, strategic partner, not just for its protection of U.S. interests, but because of our shared beliefs and our shared values. I have had the incredible honor and privilege to travel to Israel, both with the chairman, the ranking member, and Mr. Deutch. We have seen firsthand that these shared values and these shared beliefs are seen every day in Israel, after centuries of suffering, and it has allowed the Jewish people to beat all the odds and to develop a country that has become a thriving global leader. It only gets more impressive when you consider the neighborhood where Israel is--one that has never been more dangerous and more threatening to them than it is today. The threats just keep getting tougher for Israel. For all of these reasons, I am so proud to have authored, along with the ranking member, Mr. Deutch, this bill, because we have worked together on this and we advocated for the bill before us today. The bill authorizes, as has been explained, additional security assistance for Israel at a minimum of $3.3 billion, the level agreed to in the memorandum of understanding, for the next 10 years. With this bill, Mr. Speaker, we both have the comfort of knowing that our support for Israel will be ironclad, but it also provides us with the flexibility to modify that support should the threats to Israel increase. If additional support is needed, it would be given. From drones and emerging threats to cybersecurity to space to development cooperation in other countries, this bill also includes a host of other provisions to expand our collaboration in other areas. Collaboration is an important word because, as the chair and ranking member have pointed out, this bill has been a positive, collaborative effort by many Members in a bipartisan manner. The U.S.-Israel partnership has never been stronger than it is today. It is my sincere honor to have played a very small part in that. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, in spite of its name.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to honor an extraordinary citizen of our South Florida community, Paul Novack. Hailing from Miami-Dade County, Paul has served as a tireless advocate and public servant for those who call our slice of paradise their home. A proud graduate of my alma mater, the University of Miami (Go Canes!), Paul served as student body President among many other leadership roles. Following his undergraduate degree, Paul enrolled in Nova Southeastern University, where he earned his Juris Doctorate. Upon completion of his law degree, Paul began his journey to what became an extraordinary legal career, representing thousands of clients and litigating numerous cases across multiple legal subjects. In 2016, Paul was honored by the Dade County Bar Association for significant contributions in providing access to justice; an honor that is well deserved. In addition, Paul answered the Town of Surfside's call to service, serving six terms as Town Commissioner and subsequently Mayor. During his tenure as Mayor, Paul worked to author and reform township ethics rules, and led the town to 12 consecutive balanced budgets. However, Paul's commitment to public service didn't stop there. In addition to his roles in public office, he has also held officer postings in our armed forces auxiliary; a Flotilla Staff Officer in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Paul's countless hours of service and dedication to our community. I thank him for his years of dedicated service, and wish him the very best in the years to come. Gracias (thank you) Paul

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am humbled to honor the life of my dear friend and beloved member of our South Florida Community, Mamie Pinder. Mamie passed away at the age of 79, leaving behind an amazing legacy of service to our community's children and families. As a school teacher and prominent GOP political activist in South Florida, she worked tirelessly to advocate for the needs of others each and every day. Mamie pioneered the Miami-Dade County program for English for Students of Other Languages, a program affording children the ability to learn English while in school. Mamie's curriculum enriched the lives of so many children and their families, and I was honored to join her in her efforts to improve our community, one child at a time. In addition to teaching in our schools, she served as a voice for the African American and female communities, at home and abroad. Whether she was organizing an advocacy event, or spearheading the agenda for the Old Cutler Republican Woman's Club, Mamie's commitment to equality and fair rights remained steadfast. She was a courageous conservative woman who never ceased to put the needs of others before her own, and her determination to better the lives of those around her was an inspiration to us all. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize this upstanding woman, and I am confident that her memory will live on through all those she knew. Mamie Pinder was loved by so many and I join her family and friends in celebrating the life of this teacher and patriot. God Speed, Mi Amiga my friend.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, in my congressional district, I am so blessed to have so many Nicaraguan Americans. In fact, one of them is right here behind me, Gaby Boffelli, who is very proud of her Nicaraguan heritage, and she keeps me abreast of what is happening in Nicaragua every day. My constituents tell me they are heartbroken about the situation. They are heartbroken because people don't seem to be paying attention. But they know that the United States Congress is standing with them. Today, with this vote, we will stand ever so strongly with them. Ortega is receiving help, as the chairman pointed out, from Venezuela's Maduro, from Castro in Cuba, and from Diaz-Canel in Cuba. These thugs know how to repress and kill dissidents. Let's do the right thing. Let's not stand with the oppressors. Let's stand with the people of Nicaragua.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce for his amazing leadership and also Ranking Member Engel. They brought this important and timely resolution to the floor, and I am so grateful to have worked not only with Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, but also with Chairman Cook and Ranking Member Sires of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee. All of us introduced H. Res. 981, and this resolution, as Mr. Sires and Mr. Royce have pointed out, condemns the persecution; it condemns the intimidation, the violence, and the murders that are being committed by the Government of Nicaragua against its citizens under the orders of Daniel Ortega. Mr. Speaker, 450, that is how many Nicaraguans have been killed by Ortega's regime and its thugs just since April of this year. Heaven knows how many today or how many just these past days. The death toll is rising every day. And as the regime has now authorized a shoot-to- kill policy in cities like Masaya and Jinotega, shoot to kill against dissidents, against protesters, and add that to the thousands who have been injured, arrested, and forced disappearances, we are talking about a massive and severe repression by a regime that will do anything to stay in power. That is what this is all about. Ortega and his wife want to stay in power at all costs. On Monday, Daniel Ortega had the nerve, the audacity, to go on our news channel, FOX News, American TV, to say that everything was under control in Nicaragua and that it was, in fact, the Nicaraguan people who were committing the acts of violence, that the Nicaraguan people are the ones responsible for the bloodshed. It is a desperate attempt by a desperate but dangerous fool. Mr. Speaker, it is a dire situation, and it is getting worse by the day. That is why we need to hold Ortega accountable for his evil and violent acts and put additional pressure on his regime. The administration has shown great leadership in condemning Ortega and in sanctioning some of his regime's top officials under the Global Magnitsky Act. My resolution urges the administration to do more, to target more of Ortega's goons for sanctions, and to urge this very body to do more, because time is of the essence. The measure before us is simple and straightforward. It rightfully identifies Ortega, not the Nicaraguan people, as the orchestrator of the violence. It urges the administration to take more action against the regime. It also demonstrates our unwavering support for the people of Nicaragua in their support for democracy and their pursuit of justice. It includes the call for early, free, fair, and transparent elections overseen by domestic and international observers. This resolution also calls upon responsible nations to stand in solidarity with the people of Nicaragua, because their silence has been deafening. Today, this body is standing up for some of the most cherished values and ideals that we hold true to our hearts, and we are unequivocally rejecting the Ortega regime's abuses and its corruption. Today, we can send a strong, unified, and clear message that we are watching; we are acting; and we are supporting the aspirations of all freedom-loving Nicaraguans.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ryan Dooley, a dedicated Federal employee, a public servant, and my friend who lives in my congressional district in beautiful south Florida. I first met Ryan 14 years ago, shortly after he arrived in Miami as Assistant Director of the State Department's Miami Passport Agency. Ryan's commitment to service is unparalleled, and because of his efforts, he was soon promoted to Director of the Miami Passport Agency. When the San Juan Passport Agency opened its doors to the public in 2014, Ryan was chosen to lead that office as well. For the first time, our fellow Americans living in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands gained direct access to much needed-passport services, and that was truly a historic milestone. Today, Ryan is responsible for helping countless citizens across a huge geographic area. Ryan and his staff are consummate professionals dedicated to serving their communities efficiently and accurately. Under Ryan's leadership, they have met and overcome numerous passport workload challenges. I have had the opportunity to work with Ryan on multiple occasions, both in Miami and here in D.C., and I can say that he is respected and admired by his colleagues at local, State, and Federal levels. I also know numerous State Department employees who got their start in Miami and were mentored by Ryan and encouraged to excel in their public service paths. In his career that has taken him around the world, Ryan has always promoted the ideals of freedom, of democracy, and of being responsible to the citizens of our great Nation. I would like to say, on behalf of my constituents: Ryan Dooley, thank you so much for all of your tireless work. I commend you for a job well done. I hope that you continue to serve the people of south Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands faithfully. I wish you and your partner, Gerald Darby, the best in the years to come. Gracias, amigo.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and thank my dear friend Bob Rosasco for his efforts with MINTS International Seminary and its seminary-in-prison degree program. Since 2010, this organization has been teaching theology in Florida's prisons in order to educate, to train, and to equip members of the prison population, so they can teach others about religion and the word of God. This program provides inmates with the necessary tools and training that prepare them to reenter society and become productive members of the community after their release. Studies have shown that those who participate in education programs, including religious programs, while incarcerated are much less likely to reoffend. Because of Bob Rosasco and the efforts of so many like him, this program now has more than 200 students participating, with plans to keep expanding beyond Florida and across the United States. We are blessed to have Bob Rosasco as a member of our south Florida community, and I commend him for continuously giving back to others by sharing his time, his knowledge, and his passion. Recognizing Ryan Dooley