Ed Royce

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my gratitude to Doug Anderson, and to commend his outstanding service as General Counsel and Parliamentarian to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Twenty-two years into his Capitol Hill career, Doug is a cherished Committee institution. Sharp-eyed observers will note that whenever I preside over a Committee markup or manage Floor debate, Doug is sitting right there next to me. His notes have assisted numerous victories, and avoided a few disasters. But that is just a tiny part of what he does. Day in and day out, for years, Doug has provided wise counsel to me, to my predecessor Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and to her predecessor, the late Henry Hyde. He has helped to draft and negotiate hundreds of successful bills and resolutions on key foreign policy issues--from North Korea, to State Department authorities, to the fight against modern slavery. You can see his commitment to human dignity not only in his legislative work, but also in the way he treats all of his colleagues, on both sides of the aisle. He is a man of uncommon judgment, even temperament, and genuine good humor. Even more than his issues, Doug loves his family. I want to thank his wife Rebecca and their children--Sarah, Emily, Ian, and Chloe--for sharing him during the many hours that he has dedicated to the work of this House. They can be proud of his service, as I am proud of what we have accomplished together during these past six years

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Major Sindi Anne Connell of the United States Army for her extraordinary dedication and service to our Nation. Major Connell will soon transition from her current assignment as an Army Congressional Liaison in the House of Representatives to attend Army Intermediate Level Education and return to duty as an Army Military Intelligence Officer. With an impressive and proven record of leadership, including a combat tour in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division and company command in the 501st Military Intelligence Brigade in the Republic of Korea, Sindi was chosen to serve as a Defense Fellow in a Congressional Office in 2016. Major Connell's outstanding work there led her to be selected as a Congressional Liaison in the United States Army House Liaison Division. Her first-hand knowledge of the military, its culture, and traditions was a tremendous benefit to Congressional offices. Sindi was especially effective in her service to Members and staff as she escorted them on fact-finding and oversight delegations within the United States and around the world. I traveled with Sindi on multiple occasions. Her expert planning, attention to detail, and love of travel enabled exceptional visits for my fellow Members of Congress and myself. I found her to be a thoughtful, intelligent, and professional soldier in the best traditions of America's Armed Forces. Mr. Speaker, it has been a pleasure to work with Sindi during her time as an Army Congressional Liaison Officer in the House of Representatives. On behalf of a grateful Nation, it is my honor to recognize the selfless service and sacrifice of Major Sindi Anne Connell, and her husband, Joshua Hengst. I wish them the very best.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Leah Campos, an Arizona native and Senior Advisor for the Western Hemisphere on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Throughout my time as Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, Leah has advised me on matters pertaining to Latin America and the Caribbean. This region is critical to our country's national interests, and our Committee would not have been able to engage successfully with this part of the world without Leah's advice and counsel. Before coming to Capitol Hill, Leah served in the foreign field as an Operations Officer in the Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency. Her Congressional achievements aside, for this work alone, Leah has earned my gratitude and admiration. Leah's time serving in the field informs her understanding of what constitutes vital U.S. interests, and how best to leverage our country's strength in pursuit of those interests. Believing as she does in the value of diplomacy, Leah forged important relationships with the region's diplomatic community in Washington and abroad, keeping Committee members apprised of key issues. Her free-market instincts kept her focused on our ever-important relationship with Mexico, and the commercial benefits of that interconnection to Americans across the country--including in Leah's home state ofArizona. Leah is the proud mother of four children--Christian, Isabela, Soledad and Xavier--a life-long conservative, and strong believer in the principles of economic liberty and limited government. I am grateful for her work on the Committee, and wish her the very best in the future.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5273) to reduce global fragility and violence by improving the capacity of the United States to reduce and address the causes of violence, violent conflict, and fragility in pilot countries, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 include extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, since the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has committed lives and treasure to help stabilize countries plagued by conflict and insecurity. We undertake these efforts because unchecked instability abroad threatens our economic, humanitarian, and security interests here at home. Of course, the United States cannot achieve its objectives alone. We need to coordinate with willing and able partners. We need to engage local leaders, empower civil society, and work with the private sector. We need to improve coordination among our own national security agencies to ensure they are working together to advance clearly defined objectives and eliminate duplication and waste. Through this process, they learn and adapt. Last June, the Department of State, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Defense released a security assistance review that set out a framework to improve U.S. security assistance programs, including stabilization. The legislation we are considering today builds on that effort. This legislation requires the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of USAID, the Secretary of Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal departments and agencies, to develop a comprehensive initiative to address global violence and instability. Within 6 months, the Secretary of State will submit to Congress an implementation plan that sets out clear goals and objectives, identifies priority countries and regions, defines the roles and responsibilities of each U.S. department and agency, and describes efforts to improve coordination and private sector engagement. Then, building off that initial survey, the Secretary will submit to Congress a 10-year implementation plan for each identified priority country and region that aligns the diplomatic, development, and security activities of the United States. Mr. Speaker, this is a timely bill that will help ensure the effective use of U.S. foreign assistance, reduce violence and insecurity abroad, and keep America safe. It enjoys bipartisan support. And it just makes sense. I would like to thank the sponsors--Ranking Member Eliot Engel; the chairman of the Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Subcommittee, Ted Poe; the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mike McCaul; Bill Keating of Massachusetts--and their bipartisan cosponsors for their work on this bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking Mr. Engel, the author of this measure, and I express my deep appreciation for his help in all that we have undertaken with our committee. There are, as Eliot knows, 70 million men, women, and children who have been displaced by conflict around this globe. While the United States is the most generous provider of humanitarian assistance, it is really true that no amount of tents and sheeting will stop the suffering and the misery that these people feel. We need solutions to get at the roots of these problems, and the legislation we are considering today helps us down the right path to do that. While it does not obligate the United States to take on stabilization efforts, it does provide the framework for improved coordination so that we can be more strategic, more efficient, and more effective with our diplomatic development and security assistance. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1567) to promote economic partnership and cooperation between the United States and Mexico, as amended.

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

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Cuellar and Representative Castro as well as the ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Engel, and the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mike McCaul, for their work on the legislation that we are considering here today. The United States and Mexico share strong economic and cultural ties. As our neighbor to the south, a strong, stable Mexico benefits the United States. Realizing this, we already have many professional and educational exchanges between our two countries to help see that young people in Mexico graduate from school and enter the workforce with the skills, the credentials, and the experience that they need in the 21st century. In the 2015-2016 school year, 5,000 U.S. students studied abroad in Mexico while 16,000 Mexican students studied in the U.S. They did this through various exchange programs. These are good numbers, true, but more can be done to ensure that our young people are taking advantage of existing opportunities to study in both countries, and this bill builds on existing programs to expand and strengthen these exchanges. In particular, the bill focuses on exchanges in four important areas, and these are higher education, medical school, entrepreneurship, and the energy sector. These are all areas from which the U.S. and Mexico stand to mutually benefit from greater cooperation. There are, of course, areas in which the U.S.-Mexico relationship can improve. For example, Mexico needs to do more to combat the rampant corruption that has taken its toll on its citizens' trust. But this does not mean that our two countries cannot work together to ensure a brighter, more successful future for young people in both of our countries. Educational and professional exchanges are key to that goal, so I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to again stress that this is one of America's most important relationships. I would also like to stress my appreciation for the work of Congressman Henry Cuellar not just on this bill, but on the overall relationship with Mexico. I have had the opportunity to work with him in the past. I know his passion on this, and I appreciate his effectiveness. I thank Representative Castro as well, and, of course, the ranking member of this committee, Mr. Engel. And I should mention the work, also, of the chairman of our Homeland Security Committee, Mike McCaul. They all worked on the legislation we are considering today. I think that educational and professional exchanges really allow young American and Mexican students and young professionals the chance to not only experience a new culture for them, but also to ensure that our young people graduate from school and enter the workforce with the skills, the credentials, the experience, and the knowledge also about our neighbors, the knowledge they need in the 21st century. I urge all of my colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4591) to impose sanctions with respect to Iranian persons that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq, as amended.

Mr. ROYCE of California. 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.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume Mr. Speaker, this past September, thousands of Iraqis protested throughout the south of the country calling for Iran to stop meddling in their democracy. Yet, as these protesters shouted out, ``Iran out,'' their pleas were met with bullets by militias funded by and commanded by Iranians. This latest bout of violence in Iraq is not surprising. Iran has used the fight against ISIS as an excuse to expand its footprint inside Iraq and to fund tens of thousands of militia forces. Even as ISIS has receded in Iraq, Iranian-backed militias have continued to expand throughout the country and to expand into Syria, where these militias have helped the brutal Assad regime commit countless war crimes. These Iranian-backed militias not only threaten the Syrian and Iraqi people, they also pose a serious threat to U.S. personnel serving overseas, and I will tell you why. Mr. Speaker, 2 months ago, one of these militias launched mortars at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, prompting a stern warning from the administration that the U.S. will hold the Iranian regime accountable for any attack by these militias against any U.S. personnel or U.S. Government facility. These militias also pose a direct threat to Israel. Some have formed a so-called Golan Liberation Brigade, with the explicit intent to attack Israel. The U.N. Ambassador, Nikki Haley, has cited reports alleging that Iran has begun transferring ballistic missiles to these militias that are in Iraq. Despite all this, many of these Iranian-backed militias have not been designated as terrorist organizations nor are they otherwise subject to U.S. sanctions, despite being affiliates of Iran's Revolutionary Guard. This oversight could allow these militias to access the U.S. financial system. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan legislation will allow support and it will bring that support to democracy in Iraq, and it will counter Iran's deadly influence there. This bill is narrowly tailored to go after those militias directly funded and commanded by the IRGC--the same militias that have attacked our soldiers; the same militias that continue to threaten those in the region. I am pleased that this bill also includes provisions to establish a watch list of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, which will allow Congress to continually monitor Iran's activity in the country, including new militias which may emerge in the future. The Iraqi people deserve and want genuine political reform and democracy, and above all else, they want peace. This cannot happen so long as Iran continues to fund and command militias within Iraq. Empowering Iranian militias is a step backwards for Iraq. Instead, it would introduce the Hezbollah model and all the chaos that goes along with it. Iranian influence will only perpetuate the cycle of violence and increase the sectarian polarization, once again creating the conditions for the reemergence of ISIS, al-Qaida, and other radical Islamist groups. For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, November 27, 2018. Hon. Edward R. Royce, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Royce: I write with respect to H.R. 4591, the ``Preventing Iranian Destabilization of Iraq Act.'' As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions within H.R. 4591 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary, I forego any further consideration of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration. The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4591 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 bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our 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 asks that you support any such request. I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 4591 and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the bill. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kinzinger). A member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, he is the author of this bill, and his service to our Nation includes the time he spent as an Air Force pilot serving in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairman emeritus of the Foreign Affairs Committee, who chairs the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas, Judge Ted 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. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues for their bipartisan work on this important legislation. This measure will send a clear message to the Iraqi people that the U.S. supports them in their quest for peace and stability and democracy. Still recovering from the atrocities and desolation left by ISIS, the Iraqi people deserve a chance to establish a stable democracy free of Iranian meddling. To be clear, these Iranian-backed militias are not just a threat to the Iraqi people. These same militias have launched mortars at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and continue to threaten Israel. It is well past the time that these militias face justice and accountability for their war crimes. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6207) to support democracy and accountability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for other purposes, as amended.

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 extraneous material on this bill.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. This is the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democracy and Accountability Act. Mr. Speaker, I would begin by thanking Congressman Smith and Congresswoman Karen Bass, they are the chairman and ranking member of the Africa Subcommittee, and I thank the ranking member of this committee, Mr. Engel, for their work on this bipartisan legislation. Long overdue elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are scheduled now for December 23, 2018. But we all know that simply holding elections is not enough. President Kabila already has remained in power 2 years past his constitutional mandate. And while I am pleased that he will reportedly step aside, the corruption of the Kabila government runs much deeper than just the presidency. Government officials and security forces continue to use their positions of power to undermine the election and to stoke instability in the country. Peaceful protests have been met with violence, with mass arrests. They have even been met with torture. New reports of abuse and intimidation against journalists and against activists by government forces emerge now every day. Meanwhile, arbitrary legal impediments have barred prominent opposition candidates from running. The government insists on using untested and confusing voting machines, leaving the election vulnerable to vote manipulation and to rigging. Throughout all of this, the government continues to boycott international efforts to support election preparations and to increase humanitarian assistance, and continues to deny, in the face of serious and mounting evidence, that there is a problem. I have been on three trips to the Congo over this issue over the years. The people of the Congo are suffering and the humanitarian situation is dire. Over 4 million Congolese are internally displaced. More than 13 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including 7 million facing acute food insecurity. And another Ebola outbreak is threatening the lives of thousands. We know that government security forces are responsible for horrific human rights abuses and for provoking instability across the DRC. Just last year, two researchers were killed investigating human rights abuses in the country. One of these researchers was an American. The government continues to block efforts to fully investigate and hold individuals accountable. This cannot stand. The U.S. must be fully engaged in support of the Congolese people and their struggle to freely choose their next leader. This legislation we are considering today is a call to action. It requires a determination on individuals responsible for undermining peace and security, impeding the democratic process, committing human rights violations, and engaging in corruption so that they can be sanctioned. It calls for a focus on those that are blocking the democratic process. Mr. Speaker, we have seen this sad situation before in the DRC. We have seen instability and conflict spill into neighboring countries and undermine the entire region. We cannot let this cycle continue. A failed election in December would surely inflame the violence. This is why we must take decisive action to hold individuals accountable and ensure free and fair elections this December. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure. Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), and I ask unanimous consent that he may control that time.