Juan Vargas

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep concerns about the danger the Zika virus continues to represent to expectant mothers all around the world. As a Member of Congress who represents the whole California-Mexico border, I strongly urge my colleagues to provide adequate resources to avoid potentially tragic consequences for families and communities like mine. More than 275 pregnant women are confirmed Zika cases in America, including 10 in California, and the number only continues to grow. I believe we have a unique opportunity to work in a bipartisan and bicameral manner in order to prevent, detect, and respond to the spread of the Zika virus. This means fully funding the President's $1.9 billion request for emergency spending on the development of vaccines and diagnostic testing and on vector controls to manage the mosquito population. The American people deserve a Congress that will respond to this urgent crisis with smart action.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Elena Izcalli Medina on being honored by United States Poet Laureate Juan Felipe Herrera at the Library of Congress. The 21st Poet Laureate Consultant Juan Felipe Herrera celebrated the conclusion of the first year of his laureateship by honoring young poet Elena Izcalli Medina at the Library of Congress. Elena Izcalli is a 7th grader attending High Tech Middle School in Chula Vista, California. She has been writing poetry for four years. She first received praise from Herrera in 2012 for her poem ``Where I am from'' which Herrera said ``contained a philosophical reflection about how all of us are impermanent. It was just a solid poem where she really touched base with wisdom.'' Herrera made an unprecedented gesture by arranging for Elena Izcalli and her family to attend the last lecture of his first term. Herrera presented Elena Izcalli to guests and dignitaries at the Library of Congress where she read her poem ``One Day'' on April 13, 2016. I would like to submit her poem. One Day (by Elena Izcalli Medina) One day the border will come down And all the colors will flow and We will grant ALL a crown. One day police brutality will be no more And ALL will have equality no matter who you Are fighting for. One day we will ALL love each other No matter what skin what religion because we are from the same mother. One day we will treat the environment like a human being And ALL of nature Can go back to being free. One day when someone is shot Black and brown Lives will matter And ALL will stand up to the cops. One day we will have peace between countries and instead of starting war we will grant each other awards One day we will find each other the same and realize we ALL go through sunshine and rain. One day we will look at women so they are not objectified But we'll pay attention to who they are inside and instead of calling them bossy We will take away the y. 'Cause I wonder why, why this belief is still alive. My hair flies freely in the wind Me being proud of the color of my skin I inhale clean air and exhale my worries But one worry that stays inside me is the idea that this one day might not come One day. One day we'll all be free and proud to be Under the same sun singing songs of freedom *Last stanza borrowed from Matisyahu

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize J.W. Oakley Elementary School for their academic and civic accomplishments. Over the past 18 years, Oakley's commitment to academic excellence has enhanced the lives of their students and earned them statewide recognition. Oakley has been recognized as a California Title I Achieving School and California Distinguished School. In doing so, Oakley has consistently placed among the top performing schools in our district, with a California Academic Performance Index score of 804. Furthermore, their extraordinary participation in the Jump Rope for Heart program has helped raise over $200,000 for research initiatives. I would like to commend the hardworking administrators and teachers for their work--teachers like Maryann Vasquez-Moreno, an educator of 15 years, who in addition to preparing her students to succeed, also organizes yearly food drives during the holidays for her community. I am delighted to recognize Oakley Elementary School for their commitment to our children.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Thank you, very much, Congressman Fortenberry, and also Anna Eshoo for your courage to come forward and for your words today and for your powerful words that you gave a moment ago to call genocide what it is: genocide, what we are seeing with Christians in particular, Yazidis, and others. So, again, thank you very much for allowing me to speak today. I would also like to congratulate both of you on the passage of H. Con. Res. 75, which expresses the sense of Congress that the atrocities perpetrated by ISIS against religious and ethnic minorities are indeed, as I said, genocide, crimes against humanity. I sincerely hope that the Obama administration will see the bipartisan show of support for this timely resolution as an impetus to clearly and forthrightly declare these acts genocide, because that is what they are. So I am hoping that they take action. Around the world, political and religious leaders have spoken out to condemn ISIS' acts of raping, kidnapping, torturing, and killing of Christians, Yazidis, Shias, Turkmens, and other religious minorities. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the European Parliament, the Kurdistan Regional Government, and His Holiness, Pope Francis have called these actions by their proper name: genocide--genocide. I would like to echo the words of Pope Francis, who eloquently stated: ``Our brothers are being persecuted, chased away, they are forced to leave their homes without being able to take anything with them. I assure these families that I am close to them and in constant prayer. I know how much you are suffering; I know that you are being stripped of everything.'' It has almost been 2 years since the fall of Mosul, when ISIS warned religious minorities living under its jurisdiction to either convert to Islam, pay a cumbersome religious tax, or be executed. I won't go through all the atrocious acts that they have committed. I think that they were spoken of already here in a very dramatic way. Again, they did what they said they were going to do; and that is ISIS said that, if you didn't leave, if you didn't convert, you would be executed. That is, in fact, what they have done in the most horrific way. We have to act. It is time for us to act. I believe that this mass exodus represents the largest forced displacement in the Middle East since the Armenian genocide in Turkey 100 years ago. A genocide, known as the crime of crimes, has both legal and moral implications under both Federal and international law. This means that if a genocide is declared, it will demand American leadership and resources to prevent and punish the ongoing assault of Christians, Yazidis, and other religious minorities that are targeted for extinction. While I applaud the various actions and commitments the Obama administration has made to alleviate the suffering of thousands of victims of ISIS, I strongly and firmly believe we can, we should, and we must do more. History is full of examples of leaders who opposed these mass atrocities in abstraction but similarly opposed any action in the moment. I call on President Obama and Secretary Kerry to take the first step in firmly calling this egregious situation a genocide. It is past time to speak the truth to power and not to mince any words, and we shouldn't mince any words. Lastly, I would say this. This has been a bipartisan effort. I did have the opportunity to travel to Erbil with Congress Members Darrell Issa and John Mica. We were able to talk to victims there of this horrific genocide, and we were able to talk to the Kurds who were, in fact, helping dramatically, many of them losing their own lives because they wanted to protect Christians and Yazidis. We have to do more. Unfortunately, we probably won't get much information. Maybe if I went over and punched my good friend Jeff--out of love, of course, brother--maybe we could get some attention to this matter. But we have to shout out, and we have to get the attention of the administration. We have to do something. We have to do something because this is genocide, and we just can't sit idly by.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, Rep. Duncan Hunter and I rise today to honor the life of Evelyn Mary LaBrake, Sycuan tribal elder and former Secretary of the Sycuan Tribe. Ms. LaBrake is survived by her nine children, her brother, as well as twenty-eight grandchildren and thirty-five great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Ms. LaBrake was the granddaughter of Solomon Paipa, an original allottee of the Sycuan Indian Reservation. Evelyn was born on December 22, 1936 at Mercy Hospital in San Diego, to parents Louis Murphy and Martha Paipa, and grew up on the Sycuan Indian Reservation. She was recognized for being a passionate advocate for the causes of Native Americans and a defender of tribal self- determination and sovereignty. She was instrumental in the adoption of the tribe's Articles of Association of 1972 and many other critical tribal government documents. As a former Secretary and Councilwoman of the Sycuan Tribe from the 1960s to the 1980s, Evelyn fought for and obtained major improvements in the tribe's water, housing and community building needs. She was also a champion of tribal government gaming, and was a driving force in creating the Sycuan Bingo Palace in 1983, the first tribal gaming establishment in the nation. In the words of Cody Martinez, current Sycuan Tribal Chairman and grandson of Ms. LaBrake, ``She was an active participant in our general membership meetings as recently as this month. All Sycuan is today, is from the hard work of her and her contemporaries.'' Evelyn was a firm believer in hard work and did so all her life, as a Secretary and Councilwoman of her tribe, but also as a machinist at Whittaker Survival System, where she worked for 20 years. She cherished her large family and deeply enjoyed their gatherings. She took special pride in the resurgence of cultural values expressed by her family. I want to commemorate Evelyn Mary LaBrake for her lifetime of service to her community.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Duncan Hunter, and Rep. Susan Davis today to congratulate Dr. Andrew Viterbi on being awarded the Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering for the development of the Viterbi algorithm. One of the world's preeminent awards for engineering achievement, The Charles Stark Draper Prize for Engineering was established in 1988 at the request of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Inc., to honor the memory of ``Doc'' Draper, the ``father of inertial navigation,'' and to increase public understanding of the contributions of engineering and technology. The National Academy of Engineering annually awards the prize in recognition of innovative engineering achievements and their reduction to practice in ways that have led to important benefits and significant improvement in the well-being and freedom of humanity. Andrew J. Viterbi is president of the Viterbi Group, which advises and invests in startups in the digital and wireless communication fields. As cofounder of Linkabit in 1968 and Qualcomm in 1985, he led the development of innovative technologies based on code division multiple access. In addition to his career in the communication industry, Viterbi was a professor at the UCLA School of Engineering and Applied Science from 1963 to 1973 and then taught part-time at the University of California, San Diego, where he has been professor emeritus since 2004. Viterbi received his Ph.D from the University of Southern California (USC), where he and his wife Erna Viterbi made a naming gift to rename the USC engineering school the Viterbi School of Engineering. Viterbi was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1978 and the National Academy of Sciences in 1996. Andrew J. Viterbi developed the Viterbi algorithm as a method for enhancing error-correcting code used in telecommunication, making it easier to eliminate static in transmissions. The Viterbi algorithm has had the greatest impact in digital cellular phones, but it is also used in other applications such as cable, DSL modems, and Ethernet. The Viterbi algorithm has also been instrumental in interplanetary communication signals, allowing for greater signal strength in deep space missions such as the Mars Pathfinder, the Mars Exploration Rover and the Cassini probe to Saturn. Usage of the Viterbi algorithm has been expanded to include speech recognition, speech synthesis, keyword spotting, computational linguistics, and bioinformatics. Mr. Speaker, we would echo the National Academy of Engineering President C. D. Mote, Jr. who said ``The Viterbi algorithm has led to significant benefits to the health, safety, and well-being of the world's citizen. His work embodies the prize's mission, which is to recognize an engineer whose accomplishments have meaningfully impacted society.''

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Pastor Willie E. Manley, a true leader and servant of the community of San Diego. Pastor Manley passed away on Friday, February 2, 2016, in his beloved city of San Diego. Pastor Manley was born in 1933 in Stephens, Arkansas. In 1966, he left his congregation in chilly Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to conduct a revival in San Diego. On May 4, 1973, he started his pastoral duties at the Greater Life Baptist Church of San Diego, which he founded and served as pastor emeritus. Pastor Manley was well known throughout the church and civic community for his honesty and integrity. Many residents in the San Diego community would call on him for answers and solutions. He was a man of great strength and courage. One who did not boast of himself, but rather, humbly gave his all to the people. Under his leadership, the Greater Life Baptist Church congregation has grown from forty-five to over three hundred members, giving many a safe place to come together and worship. Pastor Manley was also a dedicated public servant and an incredibly active member of our community. He spent several years as a member of my staff when I was a Councilmember in the City of San Diego and as district staff to former Member of Congress, Randall Duke Cunningham. Pastor Manley was a relentless champion for civil rights. He was the president and first ever vice president of the San Diego branch of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). His commitment was recognized globally and he was honored, in 2003, with the very prestigious Ambassador of Peace Award. The award is given to an individual who has promoted goodwill among all peoples without respect to one's race, creed, color, religion, or national origin. Pastor Manley did not only promote these values at home but also traveled extensively across the country and around the world promoting spiritual and religious harmony. Pastor Manley was an outstanding individual, husband, father, preacher and friend to many. He was considerate, genuine and devoted to making this world a better, more just place. His leadership is sure to leave a lasting legacy. He will be missed by his family--his wife and seven children, and his San Diego community.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Univision San Diego. Founded on February 14, 1989, Univision San Diego made its debut by airing the Rose Parade on January 1, 1990. On March 15, 1990, Univision San Diego became a full newscast and began presenting local news capsules. It has since provided news, sports, specials, variety and talk shows to the residents of San Diego County. Univision San Diego has become the premier Spanish-language news station in the region. Operating under the mantra of ``contigo'', meaning ``with you'', Univision San Diego focuses on the issues that are the most relevant to the Hispanic community: education, health, economy, immigration, and the day-to-day impacts of the citizens on their communities. Univision San Diego's dedication to the most pressing issues attracts an average of a quarter-million viewers weekly. I would like to send Univision San Diego my sincerest congratulations on reaching this important milestone.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Miguel C. Miranda, a true leader and servant of the community of Brawley. Mr. Miranda passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2015, in his beloved city of Brawley. Miguel was born on August 30, 1957, in Brawley to his parents, Miguel and Hipolita Miranda. He attended Miguel Hidalgo School, Barbara Worth Junior High School and Brawley Union High School, where he graduated in 1976. In high school he was in the cadets, and on the football and wrestling team. Mr. Miranda attended Imperial Valley College. From a young age, Miguel was an active member in the Brawley community. He served as an altar boy at St. Margaret Mary Church. Later, he would serve as the church's Hospitality Ministry member and parishioner. Throughout his life, Miguel played many roles within the Brawley community. He was actively involved with the Brown Society, Poor Side of Town and Latin Cruisers Low Riders Car Clubs. He was an honorary member of Hidalgo Society and during his 40 years, he was an active member, past president and served in other board roles. Other public service memberships included Brawley Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Imperial Valley College Affirmative Action Advisory, Pioneers Memorial Hospital Intensive Care Foundation Advisory Council, Brawley American Citizens Club Member and past political chairman, California Rural Legal Assistance board member, Imperial County Manpower Panning Council, North-End Optimist Club and Imperial Valley Housing Authority. He was a past member and Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 2130, and a member of the Brawley Elementary School District Advisory Committee. Miguel was also a coach, supporter, fan, and friend of the Brawley Junior Gladiators Wrestling and Brawley Union High School Wrestling Programs. He participated in the Los Camperos Camping Group. Miguel also served a judge for community contests, such as the Chili Cook-Off and the Jalapeno Eating Contest, a contest Miguel won for several years in a row. Miguel was employed by Friends Outside as a Family Liaison Specialist at Calipatria State Prison and was previously employed by the Institute for Social Economic Justice, SER Jobs for Progress, Work Training Center, Campesinos Unidos Inc., and Brawley Elementary School District. In 2001, Miguel was Board President of the Clinicas del Salud del Pueblo, and in November 2015, he was voted by his constituents to serve as the City of Brawley Treasurer. He had previously served the City of Brawley as a Council Member and Mayor pro-tempore. Miguel's constant involvement in the community earned him the friendly title, ``Amigo de la Comunidad'' (Friend of the Community). Miguel was an outstanding individual, husband, father, papa Mike, brother, brother-in-law (cunado), son-in-law (yerno), uncle (tio), buddy (compa) and friend to many. He was considerate, genuine, devoted, and an avid Raiders Booster Club fan. He loved spending time with his family. In 1981, he met the love of his life, Estela Robles, and was married in April of 1982. He was enormously proud of his family, and they of him. Miguel will be missed by his family--his wife, Estela; son and daughter-in-law, Miguel Jr. and Danitza, son, Alex; daughter, Vanessa; future son-in-law, Andres; and his new grandson, Michael Angel--and his Brawley community. I want to commemorate Miguel Miranda for all lifetime of service to his community. His leadership is sure to leave a lasting legacy.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the epidemic of gun violence in our country. A number of years ago, James Huberty, heavily armed, walked into a McDonald's in my district and killed 21 people. A few years later, shortly after delivering his valedictorian speech at Lincoln High School in my district, Willie James Jones, III, was tragically shot and killed in a drive-by shooting. On March 5, 2001, those in the very high school from which I graduated were victims of a shooting that left two people dead and 13 injured. It is past time for Congress to act and to save American lives. I am calling on my colleagues to work together to find comprehensive solutions to this dire problem. I believe that Representative King's legislation, which prevents people from flying who are deemed too dangerous, would also prevent them from purchasing assault weapons. I believe it is a step in the right direction; so let's work together and get it done.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and commend the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. The initiative, established in 1990, has sought to address the educational disparities faced by the Hispanic community. This year, the White House launched the Bright Spots catalog to commemorate the initiative's success. This newly created resource honors organizations around the country significantly furthering the educational attainment of the Hispanic community. While there are 230 programs included in the catalog, I would like to honor three organizations in California's 51 District: Barrio Logan College Institute, Reality Changers, and the San Ysidro Vanguard Education Foundation. Barrio Logan College Institute, established in 2007, is a nonprofit working to provide disadvantaged students with the opportunity to attend college. The organization begins working with students in third grade and continues providing support and guidance throughout high school. Since its creation, 100 percent of its graduates have gone on to college. Reality Changers was founded in 2001 in an attempt to better prepare disadvantaged Hispanic youth for college. By establishing various support systems and college readiness programs, the organization has seen 97 percent of its students become first generation college students. San Ysidro Vanguard Education Foundation was created in 2012 to address the racial and ethnic disparities within the San Ysidro School District. The organization focuses on early learning, college access, Latino teacher recruitment, and STEM education. Again, I would like to extend my admiration and sincere appreciation for all the work that these groups continue to do for our community.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Ron Shane, a career technical teacher at Central Union High School in El Centro, CA, for his commitment to the education and training of his students. I would like to congratulate him on receiving the ASE Industry Alliance Instructor Recognition Award for his long trajectory of commitment and excellence. Since 1991, Mr. Shane has been teaching his students to the best of his abilities. Mr. Shane stands out as an exceptional teacher, always striving to push his students. He instills in them an attitude to never be complacent and always work towards improving themselves. Mr. Shane is an inspiration for all educators who seek to improve not only themselves but also the instruction that they provide to their students. On behalf of California's 51st Congressional District, I would like to thank Mr. Shane for his determination to give his students the best education possible.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jose Flores, a civics teacher at Brawley Union High School in Brawley, CA, for guiding his students to become civic-minded citizens. I would like to congratulate him on receiving the 2015 American Civic Education Teacher Award for motivating students to learn about the Constitution, Congress and public policy. For 23 years, Mr. Flores has been teaching students about their community by making them think critically about water, air, and soil quality issues. Jose Flores pushes his students to be active and engaged members of their communities. Mr. Flores embodies the dedication that Imperial Valley teachers possess to educate their students. I would like to recognize Jose Flores for his outstanding work collaborating and forming partnerships with the local government for his students. On behalf of California's 51st Congressional District, I would like to thank Mr. Flores for his commitment to improving his students and the community.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action between the P5+1 and Iran. The deal fails to dismantle Iran's nuclear program. It fails to guarantee intrusive enough inspections to ensure that Iran does not cheat, it fails to keep Iran from achieving nuclear threshold status, and it rewards Iran's horrific behavior. In the initial phase of this agreement, Iran would quickly receive a whopping sanctions relief package potentially totaling $150 billion. We all know that Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and that this money will embolden a regime openly committed to confronting the United States and destabilizing the Middle East. In 8 years, Iran legally begins expanding its ballistic missile program and continues expanding its intercontinental ballistic missile program under the guise of satellite testing. And who do we think these missiles are aimed at?

Mr. VARGAS. As recently as yesterday, Ayatollah Khamenei declared: ``I am saying to Israel that they would not live to see the end of these 25 years. There will be no such thing as a Zionist regime in 25 years.'' This is a bad deal, and we should reject it.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. I thank the gentleman from Georgia, Representative Doug Collins, for his opening remarks and especially for his courage to speak out for religious freedom around the world and also for his courage serving our Nation in uniform. At this moment, religious freedom around the world is in a state of emergency. The recently released International Religious Freedom annual report describes ``humanitarian crisis fueled by waves of terror, intimidation, violence,'' and ``the horrific loss of human life, freedom, and dignity that has accompanied the chaos.'' From the brutality of ISIL in Iraq and Syria to Boko Haram's mass murders at mosques and churches and the displacement of over 140,000 Rohingya Muslims and 100,000 Kachin Christians in Burma, the past year has seen unspeakable violations of the basic right to practice one's religion. Additionally, blasphemy laws, the vast displacement of religious minorities, and the persistent attacks on religious communities and places of worship should all be a cause for concern. Today, I would like to highlight the plight of religious minorities in ISIL-held territories a year after the fall of Mosul. The Nineveh plains have been inhabited by Christians for the past 2,000 years and was first settled in 6000 BCE. In the Bible, the Prophet Jonah was ordered by God to ``Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.'' Based in modern-day Mosul, with the Tigris River to the east, the Nineveh plains is rich in cultural history and religious diversity. Before the fall of Saddam Hussein, the number of Christians in Iraq had been estimated to be between 800,000 and 1.4 million. This included Armenian Catholics, Chaldean Christians, Assyrian Church of the East members, and Protestants. In 2013, the Christian population was estimated at 500,000 and shrinking significantly. Last year, the world watched in horror as a transnational Sunni insurgency initiated a political and religious insurrection in the name of establishing a caliphate across Iraq and Syria. After ISIL established its control over northwestern Iraq, these Islamist insurgents warned religious minorities living under its jurisdiction to either convert to Islam, pay a cumbersome religious tax, or be executed. These religious minorities included Christians, Yazidis, Turkmen, and Shabak, all of which have a long and rich history in the region and have historically coexisted peacefully with Muslims. Since ISIL's declaration, thousands of families have packed their belongings and fled to neighboring communities in Kurdistan, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Many thousands have been murdered or abducted, and an unknown number of women and girls have been sexually assaulted and forced into marriage. We all witnessed in August 2014 thousands of Yazidis fleeing to Mount Sinjar to escape the brutality and persecution as ISIL advanced in the surrounding areas. I would like to read the testimony of a Yazidi recounting that horrible time: Hours later, ISIS forces attacked the Yazidis in Sinjar. The Yazidis in towns and villages of the south side of Mount Sinjar had some light weapons, such as AK-47 rifles, with a small amount of ammunition. They fought against ISIS forces for 4 or 5 hours. While this minimal defense was proceeding, many Yazidis fled to Mount Sinjar. Finally, the defenders ran out of bullets and our positions were overrun. The lucky few Yazidis who made it to Mount Sinjar stayed for several days without any food or water. Hundreds then died from starvation and dehydration, especially infants, young children, sick people, and elders. On August 6, while ISIS forces flushed other Yazidi and Chaldo-Assyrians from their Nineveh plain homes, ISIS also advanced toward Mount Sinjar. Then the Yazidis had no choice but to flee by foot, a journey that took days. On Friday, August 15, more than 210 Yazidi families in Kocho village, which is just south of Sinjar City, received an ISIS order to convert to Islam or be killed. In that village, the ISIS militia beheaded more than 70 young men, killed hundreds, and took all women, girls, and children to Badush Prison near Mosul. The women and children were sold as sex slaves by ISIS commanders. While American leadership assisted in providing humanitarian relief as events unraveled, little was done to alleviate ISIL's reign of terror. Since then, over 2 million people have been displaced, and thousands continue to face crimes against humanity. These include torture, enslavement, rape, forced prostitution, imprisonment, and extermination. Additionally, as a means to eradicate the history and heritage of these different groups, ISIS has led a campaign to destroy cultural and religious properties. Assyrians and other Christians have seen the destruction of the statue of the Virgin Mary at the Immaculate Church and the tomb of the Prophet Jonah, and numerous churches have been destroyed, looted, and burned down. In closing, I would like to echo the words of Pope Francis, who eloquently stated: ``Our brothers are being persecuted, chased away, they are forced to leave their homes without being able to take anything with them. I assure these families that I am close to them and in constant prayer. . . I know how much you are suffering. I know you are being stripped of everything.''

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, again, I would like to thank Mr. Franks from Arizona and Mr. Walker from North Carolina and especially you, Representative Collins, for your remarks and your leadership on this issue. Thank you. I would also like to conclude my remarks today by highlighting a few other key issues. According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, there are more than 50 million refugees around the world, half of which are women and children. Religion is a key factor in humanitarian crises worldwide, as we saw earlier this year, with a record number of refugees attempting to cross the Mediterranean to seek asylum. In this Congress, I have also introduced legislation--the Protecting Religious Minorities Persecution by ISIS Act of 2015--to address the plight of religious minorities in ISIS-held territories. Additionally, there are far too many people imprisoned for religious belief and religious freedom advocacy. We heard already about Mr. Saeed Abedini. I would also like to take a moment to focus on the issue of prisoners of conscience around the world by highlighting the plight of Behnam Irani of Iran, as detailed in the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's Defending Freedom Project Prisoner's List: Behnam Irani is an evangelical Christian leader from Iran who led a 300-member church of Iran in Karaj, a city less than 15 minutes outside the capital of Tehran. In 2011, Irani was sentenced to 6 years' imprisonment for his Christian activities after a raid on a house church in Karaj. In September 2014, Mr. Irani was hit with 18 additional charges, including Mofsed-e-filarz, which means ``spreading corruption on Earth,'' a crime punishable by death. However, in October 2014, this charge was dropped and Irani was sentenced instead to 6 years' imprisonment due to his alleged acting against national security and forming a group to overthrow the government. In total, Pastor Irani is expected to serve a total of 12 years in prison and is, therefore, due for release in 2023. Mr. Irani has faced numerous health problems while in prison, including severe bleeding due to stomach ulcers and colon complications. Mr. Irani is married and has a daughter and a son. Lastly, I would like to bring a spotlight to the increase in anti- Semitism in Europe. According to numerous reports, there has been an increase of anti-Semitic acts in France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria, Italy, and Germany between 2013 and 2014. These include violent acts and attacks with an anti-Jewish motivation. Earlier this year, the world saw four Jewish patrons being murdered during an attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, France. We must continue to partner with and support Jewish communities around the world to mitigate these anti-Semitic attacks. With that, I again would like to thank my Republican colleagues and all of my colleagues for their support on this issue. Again, I would like to thank, in particular, my colleague and friend from Georgia (Mr. Collins).

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I wish the record to reflect that I would have voted to oppose the following items on the House floor today: 1) Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1314--Trade Act of 2015 (Trade Adjustment Assistance Provision); 2) Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1314--Trade Act of 2015 (Trade Promotion Authority Provision); 3) Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendments with an Amendment to H.R. 644--Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert Olivieri, the outgoing President of the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS, for his outstanding leadership in the South Bay region of San Diego County. Robert Olivieri was born in Providence, Rhode Island and has been a resident of Chula Vista and Bonita for the past 30 years. Robert graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Engineering and went on to earn an MBA in Finance from the University of Phoenix. Robert holds a California Real Estate Broker's License, a California Insurance Broker's License, a Series 7 Securities License, and has been in the real estate business for over 29 years. Robert has been an active broker and manager for several real estate offices in South San Diego County. Robert served the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS (PSAR) as their 2014 President. During his tenure, he focused on membership recruitment and retention, while also providing useful resources for members' professional and personal growth. Robert has also served PSAR on their Board of Directors, as a California Association of REALTORS State Director, and as a member of the Community Involvement Committee and the Merger Steering Committee. Robert has been ranked by real estate tracking agencies as one of the top house selling agents and in the top 7% of agents who sell homes for top dollar. Robert and his wife, Marcia, are very involved in their community and help support Bonita Vista High School and Corpus Christi Parish.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Thomas Holt for the outstanding commitment and dedication he has demonstrated to the City of Imperial Beach. Mr. Holt started his public service as an ocean lifeguard in 1967. During his 47 years of service, Thomas Holt made thousands of ocean rescues and provided medical aid to hundreds of beach visitors. On March 1, 2014, Mr. Holt officially retired at the age of 70. His service is a remarkable achievement in the ocean lifeguarding field. Mr. Holt is recognized by his lifeguard colleagues and the community of Imperial Beach as a hardworking, reliable and dedicated mentor. Mr. Holt has devoted his life to preserving the lives of others. His outstanding achievements, his leadership and his commitment to the people of California's 51st District, are an inspiration to us all.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the State of Israel in celebration of the 67th anniversary of the declaration of its independence. Israel was founded and declared an independent state on April 14, 1948, moments before the British Mandate was due to end. From that point on in history, Israel has had to face many challenges that threaten the free and democratic nation. Under the administration of President Harry Truman and minutes after its independence, the United States found in Israel a friend and an ally. From the beginning of its history as an independent state, Israel has had to face and overcome constant challenges to its freedom of speech, religion, press, and to its democracy. Israelis have had to fight for the strengthening of their independence and their advancement as a global state. Despite constantly being threatened by turmoil from bordering regions, Israel has been able to flourish and become a global leader in scientific research and medical advancements, and a model to the world for its economic stability. Today, we celebrate the 67th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the State of Israel. We celebrate that Israel has been able to stand strong and thrive against all adversity. For this, I would like to commend the State of Israel for its tremendous accomplishments while fighting for the peace and freedom of an independent state.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the members of the Southwest High School Chess Club for their outstanding achievement in winning First Place at the 2015 Super States Southern California Scholastic State Chess Championship for the K-12 Under 1200 rating section. This championship offers students across the state an opportunity to showcase their chess skills through friendly competition. I would like to recognize the Southwest High School Chess Club for providing instructors, equipment and curricula to after-school programs. These programs are designed to promote problem-solving, higher-level thinking skills, and improved self-esteem, which are crucial to developing the young minds of our children. Once again, I would like to congratulate the Southwest High School Chess team for a job well done!

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Andrea Vallejo, Shelbie Verbrugh, and Kennent Sandoval, seniors at Southwest High School in El Centro, California, for their outstanding achievement in winning Third Prize at C-SPAN's National 2015 StudentCam Competition. StudentCam offers students across the nation an opportunity to showcase their talents in a friendly national competition. All aspects of the video production, including the research and planning in their documentary, ``Salton Sea Restoration,'' demonstrated the highest level of critical thinking, initiative, and ingenuity. The ``Salton Sea Restoration'' placed third out of the 2,280 videos submitted, by more than 5,000 students around the country. This competition is one of our nation's best platforms for our youth to express their opinions on national issues, provide eye-opening and inspiring views of the country, and contribute to the construction of a beloved community. I want to congratulate these award recipients and encourage more youth involvement in the greater discourse about our communities.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the millions of Americans who are concerned about the state of our national security. In today's world, we face many threats from foreign enemies who intend to do us harm. Americans expect that Congress will fulfill its duty to act in the best interests of those we serve. The question of whether or not to fund the Department of Homeland Security should never even be up for debate. I respect the difference of opinions some of my colleagues hold with respect to the President's recent executive action on immigration. But taking hostage a funding bill that is intended to keep American families safe in order to get what you want is reckless, and it is not the way this body was intended to function. Let's pass a clean DHS funding bill, and then let's have a serious debate on immigration. We need to find a comprehensive solution to our immigration challenges, and the only way to do that is by working together to pass a bipartisan bill. Let's utilize this Chamber to debate and pass meaningful legislation, and let's start right now by approving the Department of Homeland Security funding for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Mr. VARGAS

Mr. VARGAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Robert Olivieri, the outgoing President of the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS, for his outstanding leadership in the South Bay region of San Diego County. Robert Olivieri was born in Providence, Rhode Island and has been a resident of Chula Vista and Bonita for the past 30 years. Robert graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.S. in Engineering and went on to earn an MBA in Finance from the University of Phoenix. Robert holds a California Real Estate Broker's License, a California Insurance Broker's License, a Series 7 Securities License, and has been in the real estate business for over 29 years. Robert has been an active broker and manager for several real estate offices in South San Diego County. Robert served the Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS (PSAR) as their 2014 President. During his tenure, he focused on membership recruitment and retention, while also providing useful resources for members' professional and personal growth. Robert has also served PSAR on their Board of Directors, as a California Association of REALTORS State Director, and as a member of the Community Involvement Committee and the Merger Steering Committee. Robert has been ranked by real estate tracking agencies as one of the top house selling agents and in the top 7 percent of agents who sell homes for top dollar. Robert and his wife, Marcia, are very involved in their community and help support Bonita Vista High School and Corpus Christi Parish.