Ed Royce

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Dr. Robert (Bob) Shillman. I have been a friend of Dr. Bob's for many years. I have nothing but admiration and respect for his success story and his efforts to promote America's free-enterprise system. Dr. Bob received his undergraduate degree from Northeastern University, and his master's degree and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from MIT. He founded Cognex in 1981, which is the world's leading provider of machine vision sensors and systems. The company grew out some work he did as a fellow with the National Science Foundation in the late 1970s, which concerned programming computers to recognize handwriting. Dr. Bob has a passion for philanthropy. He contributes to organizations that he believes are working to make the world a better place. He also promotes the advancement of education to ensure that there are generations of engineers and entrepreneurs. He no longer takes a salary for his work at Cognex, and at his request, each year the company donates that amount, along with any bonus that he may have the right to receive, to a public charity. He tells everyone that his Ph.D. no longer stands for Doctor of Philosophy, but for Doctor of Philanthropy. Dr. Bob is a strong supporter of the fight for freedom and democracy around the world, and of Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East. He also shares our commitment to keeping America safe and strong. I am proud to recognize all the contributions he has made to defend the Constitution and the freedoms it provides. As Dr. Bob has reminded us, he is one who has benefitted from these freedoms, and he would like to see that future generations of Americans have the same opportunities that have been afforded him. I thank Dr. Bob for his generosity, commitment and patriotism.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the bill (S. 371) to make technical changes and other improvements to the Department of State Authorities Act, Fiscal Year 2017, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Madam Speaker, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe). He is the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would just say that the individuals that we are talking about, the Americans that are being held in captivity and their families, have been suffering for far too long. I think our country needs to take decisive action to secure their release, and I believe that we have got to make sure that Iran and all other hostile actors who would follow Iran down this road know that taking U.S. prisoners does not pay. I again thank Mr. Engel and the gentlewoman and gentleman from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ted Deutch, for their leadership, along with Nita Lowey and Ted Poe. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution as the next step toward bringing these innocent people back home to the United States, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 317) calling for the unconditional release of United States citizens and legal permanent resident aliens being held for political purposes by the Government of Iran, as amended.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), who chairs the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, the author of this measure.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this particular resolution calls for the unconditional release of American citizens and legal permanent residents that are being held as prisoners right now, being held in jail by the Iranian regime. I would like to begin by thanking the ranking member and the chair of our Middle East Subcommittee--and that is both Ms. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the chair, who is with us, and Mr. Ted Deutch--for their tireless work on behalf of these victims and on behalf of the families. They have introduced this resolution along with Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Congressman Judge Ted Poe. The reason for it, as you all know, is that Iran just continues to engage in this despicable practice of detaining people who are visiting Iran, and then they come up with fabricated criminal charges, and then these innocent people are held captive; but not just held captive, it is the brutal conditions which they find themselves in. When we have talked to those and they have shown us what they have been through, these former prisoners in Iran, these Americans, they describe being subjected to electric shock, to forced drug withdrawal, through whippings, solitary confinement, they are denied medical care oftentimes, and routinely forced to sleep on the floor, if they are permitted to sleep at all. Right now we have a number of U.S. citizens, Siamak and Baquer Namazi, Xiyue Wang, and U.S. permanent resident Nizar Zakka. These U.S. citizens and permanent residents were imprisoned after being falsely accused of collaborating with a hostile government or accused of espionage. Their families are paralyzed with fear about how they are being treated. Why is Iran so intent on holding Americans on bogus politicized charges? It is because the Iranian regime believes it can use detained Americans as leverage to demand concessions, like ransom or sanctions relief, in violation of the International Convention Against the Taking of Hostages. U.S. citizen Robert Levinson, he is still missing, and this is after 10 years. He disappeared 10 years ago in Iran, and Iran has not remotely fulfilled its commitment to try to help locate him. Our committee has held multiple hearings with these prisoners' families, most recently yesterday, when family Members testified before our Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, and we thank them for their bravery in sharing their stories. We stand in solidarity with these citizens and with their families as we call for their release. We can't imagine the horror that one would be experiencing, but our hearts are with you, and we are committed to advocate on behalf of you and your loved ones. H. Res. 317 calls on Iran to let these Americans, and all individuals being unjustly detained by Iran, come home. And it also calls on Iran to fulfill its many promises to help find Bob Levinson. It also urges the President to prioritize release of these captives and encourages him to take meaningful action to secure their release. Last week, the administration called on Iran to release these unjustly detained U.S. citizens, or to face new and serious consequences. We appreciate the administration's actions so far and, with this resolution, urge continual attention to this matter until all of these prisoners have been safely returned to their families. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 1 minute.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to again thank my colleagues; the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Engel; our counterparts, Senators Corker and Cardin; the majority leader, Mr. McCarthy; the minority whip, Mr. Hoyer; as well as the leadership on both sides of the aisle in the other body. They deserve credit for their efforts. Let me also say it is critically important that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our European allies encountering Russian aggression. That is why, in the bipartisan House-Senate negotiations, we secured important changes to improve transatlantic cooperation. So I am confident that, under the text of this House bill that we will pass today, these concerns have been addressed. Let me also say that every time North Korea tests a ballistic missile or a nuclear device, it gets closer to having the ability to strike the U.S. mainland with a nuclear weapon. For years, the policies of successive administrations have failed to get North Korea to change. Why? Because diplomatic pressure has been applied only in spurts. It has been lifted prematurely for North Korean promises that have never materialized. So we need leverage, and leverage comes from real sustained pressure. That is why I have authored tough new sanctions to crack down on the regime, to shut off the regime's access to the hard currency it needs to fund its nuclear program, and we have included that in this bill. These sanctions passed in this House in May by a vote of 419-1, and it is time for the other body to pick them up. By including these North Korean sanctions in the legislation, we ensure that our colleagues do so. We cannot afford any more delay, and that is why I worked with the other body to make small changes to the North Korean sanctions in this bill, to ensure swift passage in both Houses. I am confident this bill, including the North Korean sanctions bill, will soon become law. Let me say that congressional engagement in foreign affairs is strongest when we all speak with one voice. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the bill and join us in sending a clear message to Vladimir Putin, to Kim Jong-un, and to the radical regime in Tehran that efforts to threaten the United States and to destabilize our allies will be met with a united American response. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Budd), a member of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hensarling), chairman of the Committee on Financial Services.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Will the gentleman yield?

Mr. ROYCE of California. Yes. Yes, that is my understanding.

Mr. ROYCE of California. That is my understanding.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), chairman of the Foreign Affairs' Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a very broad, bipartisan House- Senate agreement that the United States must enforce tougher sanctions against North Korea, against Russia, against Iran. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel), the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, for his determined and excellent work on this legislation. This is a very important bill. These three regimes in different parts of the world are threatening vital U.S. interests and they are destabilizing their neighbors. It is well past time that we forcefully respond. Under Vladimir Putin, Russia has invaded its neighbor, Ukraine, seizing its territory and destabilizing its government. It poses a threat to our NATO allies in Europe, as Moscow works to undermine democratic values with determination and sophistication, as U.S. intelligence agencies have made clear. This former KGB colonel attempted to interfere with our own election. Left unchecked, Russia is sure to continue its aggression. Putin's forces continue to prop up the murderous Assad regime in Syria, prolonging a deadly conflict that has driven tens of millions of people from their homes, while enabling the use of chemical weapons and other systematic human rights abuses against the people of Syria. The Russia sanctions in this bill are substantially similar to those that overwhelmingly passed the other body. They give the administration important economic leverage, they give it diplomatic leverage by targeting the things that matter to Vladimir Putin and that matter to his allies the most, and that is their corrupt efforts to profit from the country's oil wealth and their ability to sell weapons overseas. To focus their impact, we clarified several provisions that could have inadvertently handed Russian companies control of global energy projects and impacted pipelines that our European allies rely on in an effort to end their dependence on Russian gas. So this strengthens the bill. To ensure these economic sanctions remain in place as long as Putin's aggression continues, this bill empowers Congress to review and to disapprove any sanctions relief. This strong oversight is necessary, it is appropriate. After all, it is Congress that the Constitution empowers to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Mr. Speaker, Russia has found a willing partner in Iran. The regime's Iranian Revolutionary Guard are fighting alongside Russian forces in Syria. At the same time, Tehran continues to threaten Israel by providing funding and advanced rockets and missiles to Hezbollah. Hezbollah is its leading terrorist proxy. It continues to hold Americans hostage, while developing intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. To strengthen the U.S. response to the threat from Iran, this bill includes provisions originally introduced by my counterpart, Senator Corker, which increase sanctions on those involved in the regime's human rights abuses and its support for terrorism, as well as its efforts on the ballistic missile program, which the Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces control. Finally, I am proud that this bill includes the text of H.R. 1644, the Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act, which we passed in May. We passed it here out of the House by a vote of 419-1. These provisions, which were strengthened in consultation with the other body, expand sanctions targeting North Korea's nuclear weapons program, but they also go after those around the world who employ North Korean slave labor. This is a human rights abuse. It is one that operates by having a situation where the indentured workers are fed, but the check, instead of going to the workers, goes to the regime, and that money then goes into the nuclear weapons program. It is estimated that this earns hundreds of millions of dollars for the regime in hard currency. So with every test, Kim Jong-un's regime comes closer to being able to mount a nuclear warhead on a missile that is capable of reaching the U.S. mainland. We simply cannot pass up an opportunity to increase pressure in response to this threat. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), and I just want to thank him for his good work to strengthen the bill, as he will discuss, and for his focus on pipelines that primarily carry oil and gas through Russia that compete with Russian gas and drives down the price of gas.