Ed Royce

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by recognizing the efforts of Mr. Smith, Chair of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Global Human Rights, and Ranking Member Engel for their strong leadership on this critical issue. Mr. Speaker, for seven years, the world has watched the brutal dictator Assad inflict untold suffering on the Syrian people. Since the beginning of the conflict, half a million people have been killed and 13 million--largely women and children--remain in dire need of basic humanitarian assistance in Syria. Over the course of this deadly conflict, we have seen Assad and his backers--Russia in the air, and Iran on the ground--commit atrocious war crimes, including using chemical weapons on civilians. I am sure I am not the only one who will never forget the footage shown before our Committee of a Syrian doctor trying to revive two young children, foaming at the mouth, after chlorine bombs rained down on their village; or the testimony of Caesar, a former regime police photographer, who bravely smuggled thousands of images cataloguing the gruesome and methodical torture in Assad's prisons out of Syria. But the brutal Assad regime is not the only terror the Syrian people have had to endure--his brutality paved the way for ISIS to expand in the country as well. Exploiting the chaos created by the conflict in Syria, ISIS burst onto the scene in 2014 by declaring themselves and their supposed ``caliphate''--and committing obscene, horrific acts in an effort to spread their nihilistic, death-filled ideology. Today, thanks to the service of our brave men and women in uniform, ISIS is receding. But we cannot forget the incredible evil they unleashed--while in power, they committed unfathomable violence against Christians and Yezidis in Syria and Iraq, and terrorized the Muslim communities unlucky enough to fall under their ``caliphate.'' Congress played a critical role in calling these atrocities by their correct name--genocide. This was a very important first step--allowing for assistance to get to minority communities desperately in need. Even now, there is still an urgent need for assistance to these vulnerable communities, which have been devastated by ISIS' efforts to wipe them out. These ancient communities, whose roots go back centuries, include Christians, Yezidis, Assyrians, Syriacs, Turkomens, and many others. Their presence in Iraq and Syria is crucial to the social fabric of these nations. H.R. 390 offers additional, immediate relief for these vulnerable communities and also directs the State Department to do more to support efforts to collect and preserve evidence of ``genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes'' so that someday, justice might be served. I urge Members to support this bill and send it straight to the President so that the possibility of justice and accountability for these atrocities can give hope to those suffering today.

Mr. ROYCE of California

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6651) to extend certain authorities relating to United Sates efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria globally, and for other purposes, 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 include extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6651, the PEPFAR Extension Act of 2018. Twenty years ago, I was honored to serve as the chairman of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. During my tenure, everywhere I went, particularly in southern Africa, hospitals were full and classrooms sat empty as teachers fell ill. Life expectancy plummeted, and economies deteriorated across the continent. Tens of millions of children were orphaned across Africa when mothers, fathers, teachers, soldiers, factory workers, and health professionals died. The AIDS pandemic that ravaged sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America, Eastern Europe, and Asia was so bad that, in 2000, the U.S. intelligence community identified HIV/AIDS as a major threat to U.S. economic and national security. To address this, a diverse, bipartisan coalition of administration officials, Members of Congress, faith leaders, advocates, and NGOs joined with President Bush to launch the most significant global response to a single disease in our history. Authorized by Congress in 2003, and later reauthorized in 2008 and 2013, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known today as PEPFAR, quickly became the most successful U.S. foreign aid program since the Marshall Plan. Today, through PEPFAR, the U.S. is supporting 14 million people with lifesaving treatment, which helps stabilize societies and shrink the pool of new infections. More than 85 million people have received voluntary testing and counseling, while more than 2 million babies born to HIV-positive mothers have been born AIDS-free. By strategically targeting resources and holding partners accountable, PEPFAR has helped reduce new infections among the most vulnerable groups, particularly young women and adolescent girls. It has done so by as much as 40 percent. Just last month, I returned to southern Africa and witnessed the impact of PEPFAR for myself. Parents are surviving; the workforce is recovering; and health systems are becoming stronger. This is tremendous progress for which we all should be extremely proud. But now is not the time for retreat. There remains more to be done. The PEPFAR Extension Act of 2018 provides a framework for PEPFAR's continued success while addressing new challenges. Among other improvements, this act extends a requirement for the inspectors general for the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct joint oversight and joint audit plans. It also extends annual reporting requirements, which contributes to continued and effective congressional oversight. The United States cannot and should not fight this fight alone. That is why this act ensures that our programs are complemented by an effective, efficient, and accountable Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. That fund is accountable. This is a sensible, bipartisan approach that will enable the United States, through PEPFAR, to continue to help partner countries expand access to treatment, prevent new infections, and achieve epidemic control. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this timely, important, lifesaving measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). Mr. Chris Smith is chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, and he is the author of this bill.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen). She is the chairwoman emeritus of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, an original cosponsor of this bill, and the co-chair of the HIV/AIDS Caucus here in the House.

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

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, with the help of our ranking member, Mr. Eliot Engel, has worked across both Chambers of Congress. We have worked across party lines. We have worked to craft a bill that preserves congressional prerogatives and advances U.S. interests and helps save lives. I again thank Mr. Chris Smith, because H.R. 6651 does all of that. It does not contain new authorized appropriations, nor does it affect direct spending or revenues. It does not create new programs or include major new policy provisions. It is, in other words, a noncontroversial bipartisan measure that extends critical PEPFAR authorities and the transparency requirements that expired on September 30 of 2018. Congress has reauthorized, now, this program twice before, and I thank the U.S. Global Aids coordinator, Ambassador Birx, for her steadfast commitment to making PEPFAR as efficient and effective as possible. And, of course, I want to again thank all of the sponsors-- Representatives Smith, Ros-Lehtinen, Engel, and Lee--for championing this effort and doing so from the very start. And, finally, I thank Joan Condon on my staff, who has been instrumental in seeing this important legislation over the finish line and who has long worked for effective U.S. assistance programs that both save lives and reinforce the moral stature of the United States around this globe. The success of these efforts, the success of this program will forever be measured by the lives it has saved. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, 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 agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1055) to affirm strong United States- Liberia ties and support for democratic principles, and call for full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations, including the establishment of an Extraordinary Criminal Tribunal for Liberia.

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 any extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1055, which affirms the strong ties between the United States and Liberia and calls for full implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations. I want to thank Representative Donovan and Representative Johnson for their work on this resolution. During my time as chairman of the Africa Subcommittee, we held hearings and we pressed legislation to bring attention to the brutal civil war in Liberia and Sierra Leone that killed 200,000 people and that displaced more than 1 million, one of whom was also an orphan, orphaned by this conflict, and he worked in my own office here in Congress. We heard testimony, for example, also, from a young girl no more than 10 years old who recounted the atrocities she, herself, endured during the war, a gruesome illustration of the horrific and lasting impact this conflict had on the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee worked across party lines and alongside the international community and alongside the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone to apprehend the notorious warlord Charles Taylor, and I would like to thank our staff director, Tom Sheehy, for his help in this regard. Today, Charles Taylor remains behind bars. In 2003, the Government of Liberia, rebel groups, and political parties signed a comprehensive peace agreement. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created, which recommended the establishment of a war crimes tribunal to ensure justice for the people of Liberia. This would be along the same lines of what we had worked to effectively establish for the people of Sierra Leone in terms of their special court. Unfortunately, however, this war crimes tribunal for Liberia has never been established, although Liberian Government figures and Liberian activists alike have continued to call for one. This resolution repeats this important call. We have turned the page on this horrific chapter in Liberia's history. In March, the U.N. peacekeeping mission there officially ended. It is not often we get to celebrate the successful end of a mission, and we remember the 202 peacekeepers that lost their lives to bring peace and to bring stability to the region. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was democratically elected in 2005 and reelected in 2011 before stepping down from power. Last year, the country experienced its first democratic transition of power since November of 1944. This further strengthened democratic institutions, and it set an important precedent for future leaders. Much more needs to be done to crack down on corruption and create a more conducive environment for trade and economic investment. The government must ensure the policies are in place to encourage business to invest and grow and create jobs, but this resolution affirms the U.S. commitment to continue to partner with Liberia to support civil society, rule of law, and good governance. We stand by the Liberian people in their continued efforts for a more prosperous and a more democratic Liberia. The United States and Liberia share close historical, political, and economic ties over the course of our nearly 200-year relationship. The United States is home to 80,000 people of Liberian ancestry. This resolution commends this diaspora population, which has been instrumental in America's efforts to build a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Liberia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to reclaim the time I previously yielded back.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Donovan), an esteemed Member from the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the author of the resolution.

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

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank my colleagues. I thank Representatives Dan Donovan and Hank Johnson for their work on this legislation, as well as Chris Smith, Eliot Engel, and Karen Bass for their support. The U.S. stands by the Liberian people, those living in Liberia, and the diaspora in their continued efforts for a more prosperous and a more democratic Liberia. Reconciliation from the atrocities of the past is an important step in this process and will ensure peace, and it will ensure that the stability remains. The U.S. must continue to support civil society, rule of law, and good governance to strengthen democratic institutions. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure, 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 agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1052) affirming United States- Australia cooperation on space research, exploration, and utilization.

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 yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Castro from Texas, for sponsoring this measure, which affirms the longstanding strategic alliance between the United States and Australia, and especially our extensive cooperation on space-related activities. Australia has long played a key role in the U.S. space program. It hosts several facilities that are crucial for maintaining communications with our manned and robotic missions. These facilities also support U.S. satellites and spacecraft, including those related to military and intelligence-related activities. The establishment of the Australian Space Agency, which was just announced this past year, will only add to this long history and will promote more mutually beneficial cooperation as advanced technologies create new opportunities for jobs in both countries. This increased cooperation is especially timely, as Australia's importance to the U.S. national security is enhanced by the ongoing militarization of space that is being undertaken by both Beijing and Moscow. This resolution highlights the growing importance of our two countries' cooperation in this vital area and looks forward to even closer ties in the future. Mr. Speaker, 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 reserve the balance of my time to close.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Castro of Texas, for sponsoring this measure. Our cooperation with Australia in space-related activities is a key element of our broader strategic relationship. Those ties will become increasingly important as new technologies create expanded opportunities for peaceful endeavors and as Beijing and Moscow and others increasingly challenge U.S. national security in space. Expanding our joint efforts in this area will enhance the interests of both countries and further strengthen our longstanding strategic alliance. For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this timely, bipartisan measure. 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. 6018) to establish an interagency program to assist countries in the Sahel, Maghreb, and adjacent regions of Africa to improve immediate and long-term capabilities to counter terrorist threats, 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 any extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6018, the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership Act. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues here, Chairman Mike McCaul and Ranking Member Keating, for their bipartisan leadership to advance this important measure. Mr. Speaker, as you know, Boko Haram, ISIS-West Africa, as well as ISIS in the Greater Sahara, al-Qaida affiliates, and other armed groups continue to create havoc across north and west Africa. Thousands of civilians, including countless women and children, have died at the hands of these terrorist organizations. In response to these threats, the U.S. has deployed over 1,000 troops in the region, but the many diverse and increasingly pressing security threats across Africa demand more than just a military presence. Realizing this, in 2005, the U.S. established the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership, known as the TSCTP program, to bring together the Department of State, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Agency for International Development, and they did that to coordinate and streamline U.S. and partner nations' efforts to combat terrorism, as well as preventing the spread of violent extremism in north and west Africa. This program rightly recognizes that we must build the capacity of countries so that they can themselves detect and defeat terrorists within their own countries. This is a long-term approach that can produce high returns with relatively low investment. We are investing in the future security of partner nations. But TSCTP is not just about security assistance. Strengthening democratic institutions of partner nations to ensure responsive democratic governance and rule of law is also a key part of this program. Often our efforts help bring government officials around the table with local communities, including women's groups and including civil society at large, to increase dialogue on peace and security. Having women at the table not only makes peace agreements more likely, but also makes agreements last longer. This region is home to some of the poorest countries of the world, and the humanitarian and development needs are immense. High youth unemployment, food insecurity, low education, and severe lack of government services together create an environment ripe for terrorist recruitment. To improve these underlying conditions, USAID is supporting vulnerable populations through livelihood training, through access to health resources, and through agricultural development. TSCTP coordinates our diplomatic, defense, and development tools to counter these terrorist threats and to help bring stability to this region. The bill we are considering today supports this program by establishing core objectives in benchmarks and strengthening congressional oversight so it continues to be efficient and effective and timely. Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support this important measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the author of this legislation.