Ileana Ros-Lehtinen

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the historic Temple Moses in Miami Beach and its Executive Director, Rabbi D. Galimidi-Hadar. Temple Moses is a staple and beacon of our beloved South Florida. It serves as a hub for Turkish-Spanish or Sephardic Jews across the world, a community of which I am proud to be a part through my grandparents who emigrated to Cuba from Turkey. Originating in Spain over 500 years ago, Sephardic Jews continue to celebrate that heritage through food, song, and prayer. From Spain to Turkey, beginning a hundred years ago, until the present time, the Sephardic Jewish community has become a leader in scholarship, events, and celebration of the Judeo-Spanish life. They are a shining example of diversity and modernity as well as culture and faith. At Temple Moses Rabbi D. Galimidi-Hadar leads the largest Judeo- Spanish community in the world. He founded the `Next Sephardic Generation', a grassroots organization aimed at revitalizing and rebuilding the Judeo-Spanish community, and was named one of America's `Most Inspiring Rabbis' by Forward magazine. He's also been recognized in the Sun Sentinel newspaper and honored for his work by both the Miami Beach Commission and Mayor as well as by the Florida Senate. Rabbi D. Galimidi-Hadar was the only member of the clergy to address the Florida Senate after the Parkland shooting and has been an advocate for those in need throughout Florida. He has written the commentary for the Sephardic Siddur series and is currently working on a book about the Sephardic experience in America. Mr. Speaker, Temple Moses and Rabbi D. Galimidi-Hadar have been a shining light in South Florida and I am grateful to have them representing us worldwide.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Randy Espinet has been a leading figure in our Cuban-American community for decades. A fellow graduate of the University of Miami, my alma mater, Randy has devoted his time to improving our beloved community each and every day. He never ceases to put the needs of others before his own, and his determination to better the lives of those around him is a testament to his character. As a political activist in South Florida, Randy works hard to advocate for those who need it most. Whether he is supporting national Cuban-American initiatives--or advocating for a noble cause at the municipal or state level--his commitment to public service is unwavering, and South Florida is proud to have him in our corner. Mr Speaker, I am honored to recognize Mr. Randy Espinet, an upstanding member of our community, and I am confident that he will continue to better our slice of paradise for years to come. Thank you (Gracias) to Randy for all he does

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate my constituent Helen Witty on being named the national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, also known as MADD. Helen, along with her husband, John, experienced the ultimate tragedy when their 16-year-old daughter, Helen Marie Witty, shown in this photo with her brother John was killed by a young drunk and drugged driver while she was rollerblading on a bike path near her home in Pinecrest in June of 2000. It was not long after that nightmare that Helen joined this magnificent organization where she was able to channel her unbearable loss into a forward-looking outlet where she could be a champion for her daughter's legacy, while also making an effective and positive impact on society. Although 18 years have passed, it seems like just yesterday that we lost our bright, beautiful Palmetto Senior High School honors student who became a beloved treasure in our hometown and who is still widely talked about and referenced throughout our community today. Helen, congratulations on this incredible achievement, and this opportunity is rightfully deserved to spread your message that it is a crime to drive drunk and drugged. South Florida is fortunate to have Helen, and I am confident that Helen Marie is looking down from Heaven and could not be any more proud of you. Thank you, amiga.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, my colleague and good friend Debbie Wasserman Schultz's Spanish was perfect, ``perfecto.'' As she has pointed out, I have long supported the cause of statehood for Puerto Rico, but the lack of action on our part has kept Puerto Rico from having a voice and a vote on this very floor, which is imperative for our great democracy. For over 100 years, the people of Puerto Rico have been proud American citizens. Plebiscite after plebiscite, Puerto Ricans have voted that they will no longer accept the territory status. Statehood will promote economic development and jobs on the island so that these American citizens can have a better life and stop losing its people to the mainland after the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Congresswoman Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon--that is her proper title, that is what it should be--whom I am proud to call my friend, has made statehood for Puerto Rico her priority, urging Republicans and Democrats alike, as you have heard, to act. We must listen and we must do what is right. As chairman emeritus of the Foreign Affairs Committee, I recognize that statehood will enhance our national security, serving as our Nation's third border in the Caribbean. Mr. Speaker, the status quo is simply unacceptable. I urge my colleagues to support statehood for Puerto Rico.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 6219.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H. Res. 1169, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record an exchange of letters. House of Representatives, Committee on Ways and Means, Washington, DC, December 12, 2018. Hon. Edward R. Royce, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing with respect to H.R. 6219, a bill ``To support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia, and for other purposes,'' on which the Committee on Ways and Means was granted an additional referral. As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions in H.R. 6219 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means, I agree to waive formal consideration of this bill so that it may move expeditiously to the floor. The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues that fall within our jurisdiction. The 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 such request. Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 6219. Sincerely, Kevin Brady. Chairman.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that I may include in the Record an exchange of letters with the other committees of jurisdiction on H.R. 6219.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Ways and Means be discharged from further consideration of the bill (H.R. 6219) to support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the preamble at the desk.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the text at the desk.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 274) condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the United States must continue to reassure the nations of the Asia-Pacific region of the enduring commitment of the United States to being a peaceful presence in the region, dedicated to universal values and mutual prosperity. Senate bill 2736 provides the United States with a long-term and whole-of-government strategy for the Indo-Pacific region that advances American national security interests, prosperity, and promotes the values of freedom and human rights. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this measure. I thank the distinguished gentleman from New York, the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, soon to be the chairman of our committee, for his friendship and for his kind words. I look forward to treating him to a nice cafe con leche in Miami. So come on down--the weather is fine--rather than me going to New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Indo-Pacific region is of critical importance to the United States. It is home to some of our most urgent security challenges, our closest people-to-people links, and our strongest commercial and economic ties. The administration has recognized this priority in both the National Security Strategy document and the subsequent free and open Indo-Pacific strategy. The United States must adapt to new and emerging geostrategic realities and recognize the competitive nature of our relationship with China. The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018, or ARIA, is a key component of this effort. It provides the administration with the direction and resources it needs for meaningful implementation of this free and open Indo-Pacific-Asia strategy. ARIA cements U.S. leadership in the Indo-Pacific region by reassuring our allies and deterring our adversaries. It strengthens our security commitments with our allies and builds the capacity of our many partners in the region to combat terrorism and to stop aggressive actors. The bill reaffirms longstanding treaty alliances in Asia with Australia, South Korea, and Japan, and it calls for building new regional security partnerships. It also expresses unequivocal support for Taiwan by authorizing new arms sales; supporting enhanced, high- level contacts with Taipei; and countering any efforts to forcibly change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. On security, ARIA commits the U.S. Government to the full implementation of sanctions on North Korea and its enablers. It enshrines a policy of regularly enforcing U.S. freedom of navigation and overflight rights in the East and South China Seas, where we are seeing increasingly aggressive activities by Chinese ships and aircraft. Mr. Speaker, this bill also supports robust U.S. commercial presence in the region. It promotes U.S. exports and trade facilitation efforts, while also authorizing penalties against those who steal United States' intellectual property. This is essential for the growth of the U.S. economy and the success of American businesses operating in the region. Unfortunately, there are also many challenges to human rights, nonproliferation, and democratic values in the Indo-Pacific. For that reason, this bill bolsters the critical work of the State Department and USAID to promote democracy, strong civil society, and the rule of law. Mr. Speaker, I am so pleased that we are taking up this bill, which earned unanimous bipartisan support in the Senate. The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act demonstrates the strong, continuing commitment of the United States to Asia. It reaffirms American values, strengthens American commitments to our many partners and allies in the region, and makes clear our enduring pursuit of peace and mutual prosperity. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2736) to develop a long-term strategic vision and a comprehensive, multifaceted, and principled United States policy for the Indo-Pacific region, and for other purposes, as amended.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the Simon family of Key Biscayne for their exemplary work on the yet-to-be-named park located in my congressional district at 401 Hampton Lane in Key Biscayne, the first neighborhood park for their community. I would like to thank Arielle Simon, the horticulture adviser; Brett Simon, the architectural designer; and their father, Steven Simon, the project coordinator, who worked tirelessly as volunteers to see this vision into fruition. This is not just any park; it is not just any effort. In an editorial, the community, newspaper, The Islander News, wrote: The park, put simply, is beautiful--but the story behind it is even more so. From the beginning, Steven, who has a history of effective community leadership, saw an opportunity to work with local elected officials to tackle a problem which they inherited. Steven brought in his daughter, Arielle, who worked at Miami's renowned botanical garden and became a certified horticulturist, and his son, Brett, who has a master's degree in architecture and craftsmanship education in furniture design, and other volunteers and seasoned professionals. Together, they all worked as a team, drafting proposals and securing the necessary funds to see this project through. And here is how the Simon family beautifully described and included south Florida limestone in their proposal. They said: We incorporated that natural material in our park design so that, metaphorically, we bring the bedrock upon which this island community of shifting sands was founded to the surface. Functionally and aesthetically, limestone is an integral part of our creation of a gathering place . . . in our first neighborhood park. The story, which is well documented in Key Biscayne's Islander News over the past 3 years, truly shows what is possible when people come together with a desire and a drive to do something positive for the betterment of their community. I invite all of my congressional colleagues to come to Key Biscayne and visit that island paradise and especially to see this park for yourself.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on December 1, we commemorated World AIDS Day, celebrating our many accomplishments in the fight against HIV/AIDS around the globe. One important program for which we are also celebrating 15 years of success this year is PEPFAR. Mr. Speaker, before Congress enacted PEPFAR, the HIV rates were skyrocketing, especially across the developing world. New cases of HIV infection were outstripping AIDS deaths by more than 60 percent. Serving in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, we followed this issue closely, hearing from advocates and administration officials on what to do. There was an almost unchallenged notion that we were about to lose a whole generation in sub-Saharan Africa. It just seemed to be an utterly hopeless situation. In 2003, our tremendous leader, President George W. Bush, called on us in Congress to take action in responding to this global crisis, and I am proud that we swiftly answered the President's call. Today, there are over 14 million people receiving HIV treatment globally, and over 2 million babies born HIV-free to HIV-positive women--simply astounding. PEPFAR morphed from an emergency plan to a sustainable program, and I am so glad that USAID is at the helm of this lifesaving program. Since his time as Ambassador to Tanzania, USAID Administrator Mark Green has had a clear-eyed strategy to address the challenges posed by the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. What he has done has reinvigorated this program. We are so proud as Americans of what PEPFAR has achieved. It is something that we need in order to continue to be a global leader against the HIV pandemic. I will never forget standing in the Oval Office as President George W. Bush signed this essential program, PEPFAR, into law. I hope that my colleagues continue to protect and strengthen this vital program. I am also proud of the many organizations like the One Campaign that, day in and day out, are working to get us closer to our goal of an AIDS-free generation. Recognizing the Simon Family

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, Ukraine remains under assault from Moscow, which is betting that the West is tiring of the struggle and that it is free now to expand its aggression. Silence on our part at this critical moment invites miscalculation and an escalation of the conflict. We must demonstrate by our words and actions that we remain fully committed to assisting the people of Ukraine to defend their country, including by providing them with the weapons they need to defeat Russia's continuing aggression. A slap on the wrist at this point will not restrain Putin and may guarantee the expansion of hostilities that we hope to avoid. We strongly encourage the President to use the authority that Congress has provided to impose sanctions on Russia and to take action to make clear that we remain committed to the sovereignty of the Ukrainian people and a Ukraine that is whole and free. I want to thank my colleague from New York (Mr. Engel) for authoring this very important measure and, most importantly, for his consistent leadership on Ukraine. At the end of my service in this body, I thank him for the many years of friendship and cooperation as we worked together to promote the interests and the values of the American people around the world. It has been a real joy, and I thank Mr. Engel for sharing that ride with me. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who is our esteemed chairman of our Foreign Affairs Committee.

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, I want to thank Chairman Royce and esteemed Ranking Member Engel for their swift action in putting this important and timely resolution together in support of the people of Ukraine. For far too long, we have witnessed Putin's increased aggression against Ukraine, directing and arming separatist forces on Ukraine soil and forcibly occupying and annexing the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. More recently, Russian forces were firing upon, ramming, and seizing Ukrainian vessels and crews attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait, in clear violation of international norms and agreements. The 2014 destruction of Malaysia Airlines flight 17 that killed close to 300 people also demonstrated the threat to civilians in this conflict. Until this day, Putin continues to deny any responsibility for that heinous act. Meanwhile, thousands of Ukrainians continue to be killed fighting for their basic freedoms that we as Americans hold dear, while hundreds of thousands flee looking for a safe haven. Mr. Speaker, Putin's actions are simply unacceptable, and the United States and our allies must stand strong against Russia. That is why this resolution is so important. We must make it clear that we truly support the people of Ukraine and their aspirations for a free and democratic society. For that, it is crucial that the United States provides the kind of assistance--politically, militarily, and economically--that will allow Ukraine to fight Russia's increasing coercion. We must also use all of the tools at our disposal, because these are not isolated issues, to ensure that Putin and his regime pay a heavy price for Russia's aggression. Through this resolution and other measures, we can demonstrate to Putin and the world that we are paying close attention, that we will continue to support the people of Ukraine and do what is necessary to protect Ukraine and other countries threatened by his imperial ambitions, and to ensure that they can live in peace and live in security. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure to condemn Putin's despotic rule, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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.