Jefferson Van Drew

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I thank both gentlemen from the other side of the aisle that we were able to do this together. Wherever we can, whenever we can, I look forward to that participation. I guess the only words I have to say now are just: Let's do it. Let's everybody vote together. I am hoping this is one of those rare pieces of legislation that has every Member on each side of the House of Representatives voting in favor. I ask all the Members to vote for this together in unison. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H. Res. 488) denouncing the antisemitic

Mr. VAN DREW. 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 extraneous material on H. Res. 488.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, it has been nearly 2 years since the October 7 attack on Israel, the deadliest terrorist attack against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Yet, still today, we are in a moment in time where our Jewish neighbors are being increasingly threatened. Anti-Semitic protests are more and more often turning physically violent and deadly, and they are inspiring additional violent acts. Jewish students around the country are fearful as they watch spineless college administrators fail time and again to stand up to anti-Semitic harassment taking place on all of our beautiful college campuses. Right here in Washington, D.C., just 2 weeks ago, we saw a coldblooded murder take the lives of a beautiful, young couple as they exited the Jewish museum. The young Israeli Embassy staffers were set to be engaged just 1 week later and their lives were snuffed out. Their families will never get to experience that beautiful ceremony and other cherished milestones of their life with them. They are gone because of a terrorist's hateful action. There are no words that can ever be articulated that truly represent what has happened to that family. Just 1 week ago, thousands of miles away in the community of Boulder, Colorado, an unhinged anti-Semite carried out yet another terrorist attack. Peaceful marches called for hostages held by Hamas to be set free. They were attacked by a terrorist who shouted ``free Palestine'' as he lobbed homemade Molotov cocktails at them. Worst still, the act of terrorism was entirely preventable. Mohamed Soliman is not an American but an Egyptian national who traveled to the United States purporting to be a tourist. Let's think about what I am going to say here. Years before Mohamed Soliman ever tried to come to the United States, he had posted on his social media his support for the Muslim Brotherhood, a radical Islamist organization that has been deemed a terrorist group by governments across the world, including in Europe and in the Arab world. Despite this, the last administration issued Mohamed Sabry Soliman a tourist visa, which admitted him into the United States of America. Once inside, Soliman took advantage of our immigration system, applying for asylum within 1 month of arriving in the country as a supposed tourist. This action was in violation of the spirit of his tourist visa, which required that he not intend to stay in this country permanently. Indeed, the case of Mohamed Soliman reminds us all that the integrity of our immigration system is vital to our very national security. While we all should have learned this lesson after 9/11, it is clear that the last administration did not. Fortunately, this administration, the Trump administration, has taken a strong stance, once again prioritizing the integrity of our immigration system, and thus the security of all Americans, including Jewish communities. This administration has shut down the open border, aggressively enforced the immigration laws, blocked the entry of aliens who are detrimental to the United States of America's interests, and taken a tough, tough stance against cowardly universities. I am calling it as it is. They are cowardly universities that should represent what is right and good in America, and many of them are not. They fail to protect the Jewish students, vigorously vet aliens who wish to come to our country, and much more. Legal immigrants who love America hate what was going on. We are so grateful that sanity is being restored to our America. At the same time, we do pray for the victims of these senseless acts. Today, I call on my colleagues to support this resolution to honor the victims of the Boulder terrorist attack. We must all stand with our Jewish friends, colleagues, and neighbors. They are not alone. They are not alone, and we will not tolerate this scourge of anti-Semitic hatred in the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, just a few words first. I want to speak a little bit about Mr. Evans because he may not say it himself. He has served in our military, served proudly in our Army, and he has served in Colorado as a police officer. He has done more, not only served in one or the other, but served both, and did so with honor, decency, and respect. I think the benefit of having him here, he brings a lot to the table about this issue because I know that he has served and worked in Mr. Neguse's actual district, in his territory, as well. I hope maybe he will speak about that, although I know he didn't necessarily plan to do so. He is my friend and a good man. I know he cares deeply about this issue. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Evans).

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, let me just address a couple of things before we move on. Let me say that, first of all, as we all know, it was referenced over there something about Mr. Evans and what bills get to the floor. As a freshman Member of Congress, I can guarantee you that he is not determining what bills get to the floor in the United States House of Representatives. Secondly, sometimes the simple truth is something, most especially in Washington, D.C., that we here in Congress just avoid or don't see with clarity. Here is the simple truth, and this is what Mr. Evans was trying to get at: His resolution, yes, it is different than mine. Mine focused purely on anti-Semitism here in the world, but he brings up a valid point, not only for Jews but for many innocent victims, whether it was Laken Riley or whether it was the women who were raped, the women and men who were killed, those who were beaten, or those who were hurt who were in law enforcement. Illegal immigration is not a good thing. Yes, there are a few illegal immigrants who came to this country who are illegal but just trying to make their way but doing it the wrong way, but there are also real bad folks who got in. The simple truth is--let's get back to what happened--the man, the individual human being, who did this atrocious act, who made these Molotov cocktails, and who fashioned a flamethrower was an illegal immigrant with a bad history. There would be people who are good human beings in this country who would be alive if we didn't have an open-door border policy. That is the simple truth. It is not complicated. That is not using Jews. It happened to be Jews that got hurt this time. It is not using women when it was women who got raped. It is not using children when children were beaten and raped by these illegals. It is not using them. It is stating the facts of how awful and terrible what it is that we have been doing in this country by allowing known murderers to exist and to stay in the country and not detaining them, giving them due process, and then, at the very least, deporting them. That is Mr. Evans' point here. That is what he is trying to say. That is what he is trying to bring forth. It is a simple but important truth that somehow we are trying to avoid. Finally, again, I will address it because my friend, and he is my friend, my friend from New York addressed what is going on in California. Here is the other rule in the United States of America. In the United States of America, you can rally, demonstrate, and express your viewpoint. You have freedom of speech. It doesn't mean you beat people. It doesn't mean you put cars on fire. It doesn't mean you destroy buildings. It doesn't mean that you are allowed to hurt other people. We are a nation of the rule of law. There is a simple truth. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from the great State of Colorado (Mr. Crank).

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I would say that had the Biden administration adequately screened this individual, this murderer, if they had screened him the way they should have, if our borders had been operating correctly, if they looked at his social media, they would have known that he consistently posted anti-Semitic videos. He consistently posted violence. He would have been denied, and all this wouldn't have happened. How simple is that? Is this too complex for us in Washington? Maybe it is just too much simple truth. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I simply ask our Members on both sides of the aisle--I believe there will be Members on the other side of the aisle--to vote for both of these resolutions. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor today to welcome Giani Singh as our guest chaplain. Giani Singh has served as Head Granthi at the Gurdwara in Vineland, New Jersey, since 2012. Day after day, year after year, he leads not just with words but with example, with peace, with humility, and with service toward all. These are not just Sikh values. They are American values. They truly are human values. We have seen that shared spirit in action. Today is the 81st anniversary of D-day. On the beaches of Normandy, Sikh soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with Allied forces. That same spirit and that same bravery lives on today, as Sikh Americans continue to serve our great communities in the great Nation of the United States of America. Mr. Speaker, I thank all my colleagues for coming here today.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the honor of joining the General Lafayette Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution as they placed an America 250 marker at Zion Methodist Church, paying tribute to the American Revolution patriots who are buried there. The General Lafayette Chapter is a part of the New Jersey State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, an incredible organization whose members all share a unique and special bond--each can trace their ancestry to a hero of the American Revolutionary War. They are passionate about preserving the legacy of their ancestors who put everything on the line to establish our free country in the new world. The members of General Lafayette honor this sacrifice by volunteering their time through service, historic preservation, and unwavering patriotism. Their work even goes beyond remembering the past. They support our veterans and active-duty military through volunteer service and financial support, and they even craft award-winning quilts as a gesture of gratitude. These women ensure that the legacy of our country's first veterans lives on by preserving historic documents, maintaining the Isaac Watson State House, and placing markers at sites of historical meaning. I thank these incredible women, for all the work they have done for New Jersey veterans and veterans everywhere. God bless the General Lafayette Daughters of the American Revolution and God bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, recently, I had the honor of attending Devin Soffy's Eagle Scout Court of Honor after his 10 great years of service through the Boy Scouts. Devin started his journey when he was in the second grade and since that time he has achieved an impressive 47 merit badges. His badges are in a variety of different areas including first aid, search and rescue, personal fitness, and lifesaving, showing how well-rounded of a young man he is. He has dreamed of being a doctor since he was a little boy, and many of the skills he has learned through scouting will help him on that journey. Devin has already taken the next step toward that dream by being accepted into the prestigious pre-medicine program at Baylor University where he will pursue a degree in Biology. Beyond scouting and academics, Devin gives back to his community by volunteering at the local EMS station and as a swim instructor for young children. I congratulate Devin on this incredible achievement. I know he has a bright future ahead, and I look forward to seeing all that he will accomplish. God bless Devin and God bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to congratulate Jordyn Storck for passing her review board and attaining the coveted rank of Eagle Scout after years of hard work. Jordyn began her journey in Troop 452 five years ago and through the years, she has persevered through the struggles to achieve the required 22 merit badges to become an Eagle Scout. But she didn't stop there--she went above and beyond, earning five additional merit badges to receive the Bronze Palm award, an honor rarely given to Eagle Scouts. Her success extends far beyond scouting. Jordyn is a disciplined martial artist, earning her Black Belt at The Growth Dojo in South Jersey. She is also a talented singer, performing as a member of the All-Star Treble Choir, where she specializes in high-frequency vocal tones. Jordyn plans to continue her education at Rowan University to pursue a degree in Inclusive education, and I am certain that she will achieve anything she puts her mind to. God bless Jordyn and God bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute to a true patriot and beloved member of our South Jersey community, John ``Ghost'' Carman. John recently passed away after an incredibly courageous fight with cancer that began November of last year. John fought until the very end with incredible strength and grace. At the age of 18, John married the love of his life, JoAnn. They shared 47 beautiful years together and raised two children, Cherie and John the third. He was a hardworking man who made his mark in Atlantic City's construction industry, contributing to many of the city's major casino projects. John showed his love for the community by serving in public office, including positions on Egg Harbor Township Committee and Town Board for Municipal Authority. He was devoted to our country, serving most recently as the Treasurer of the American Legion Post in Somers Point, South Jersey. As John's friends and family would say, ``to know John was to love him,'' and he will be greatly missed, but we are eternally grateful for his lasting legacy and love he left behind. God bless John and God bless our United States of America. The greatest country in the world.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, today, I honor Eagle Scout Breanna Grace Ehrlich after her years of service to the Scouts of America including being a founding member of the first female Scouts Troop in South Jersey. Throughout the years, she held several leadership positions starting with Patrol Leader before climbing her way to Senior Patrol Leader, the highest youth leadership rank. Breanna showed her dedication to the scouts by achieving 36 merit badges and putting together a two-fold for the Hamilton Township Rescue Squad for her Eagle Scout project. She has been awarded a high-level scholarship to Juniata College, where she has continued her dedication to success focusing in the challenging major of Biochemistry. Breanna has also continued her passion for singing by auditioning and being chosen for the Select Choir, and she also participates in theater programs as the Stage Manager. I congratulate Breanna on achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, and I look forward to hearing what great things she will accomplish in college. God bless Breanna and God bless our United States of America. The greatest country in the world.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to honor new Eagle Scout Nathaniel Mignano, who during his time with the scouts, earned an impressive 30 Merit badges, achieved a high number of awards, and completed an outstanding Eagle Scout project. Nathan started eleven years ago as a Cub Scout and now has accumulated merit badges across a multitude of categories, including Citizenship in the Nation and the Community showing just how patriotic Nathan is. He also earned badges in personal fitness and hiking, and earned the National Outdoor Achievement Award by obtaining the Camping Award and two gold pins by completing additional tasks. Throughout his time as a Scout, Nathan hiked over 250 miles, kayaked 13 miles, and spent 70 nights camping in the wild. For his Eagle Scout project, he made major improvements to the Elephant Swamp Trail by installing a larger flower bed, and adding plants to the entrance sign as well as put in new mile markers and birdhouses every quarter mile. Nathan is homeschooled, so he is exercising his high school option as a student at Rowan College of South Jersey, where he is on the President's List and a member of the Honor Society. He has expressed interest in following in his family's footsteps and becoming an attorney, or possibly a National Park Ranger. I have no doubt Nathan will be successful in any endeavor he decides to pursue. God bless Nathan and God bless our United States of America. The greatest country in the world.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to recognize a great American servant and one of my good friends, Curtis Bashaw. Curtis grew up in Camden County, New Jersey before earning his bachelor's degree and then going to the Ivy League to earn his Master's from the University of Pennsylvania. He has devoted his life to creating jobs and building opportunities in New Jersey and the United States, working in the real estate and hospitalities industry. As its Founder and Managing Partner, Curtis has done great work for Cape Resorts which is famous for focusing on restoration and operation of the classic American resort properties in the Northeast United States. Throughout his life, he has dedicated himself to strengthening communities and bringing people together to work for a common good. He is widely recognized for his leadership in the major restorations of the historic Congress Hall established in 1816 as well as the Virginia Hotel in Cape May, South Jersey. He has also helped to launch new creative programs to dramatically extend Cape May's tourism season, which has been a major catalyst for the economic rebirth of one of the Jersey Shore's most beautiful communities. God bless Curtis and God bless our United States of America. The greatest country in the world.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to recognize a servicemember that went above and beyond the call of duty not once, not twice, but five times this man took a bullet for this country. Marco Polo Smigliani, a proud resident of South Jersey, served in the world's most tenacious fighting-force, the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Marco started off in the Merchant Marines before enlisting in the Marine Corps and deployed to Vietnam in January of 1969. He volunteered for the front lines of service as a Machine-gunner and served less than two months before being wounded five times over an eleven-day stretch. The battle began after the Marines made one of the biggest discoveries of the war when they occupied a North Vietnamese Army's arsenal with thousands of rifles, machine guns, and high-level intelligence. The North Vietnamese then ambushed the Marines, resulting in over 100 deaths before the Marines pushed the enemy away. Even after suffering shrapnel to the head, being shot, and later struck again by RPG fire, Marco refused to leave the battle, saving lives and showing extraordinary courage. Two weeks later, he continued to show his strength and bravery after being shot, patching himself up, then nearly lost an arm saving a fellow Marine's life, and then rested for a day, and went back into combat the next. After returning from the war a hero, Marco became a Deputy Sheriff before working in the casino business in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Marco has dedicated his life to helping other Veterans by contributing to organizations like the Vietnam Veterans of America and the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. I thank Marco for all he has done, and I am proud to have a great American like him in my district. God bless Marco and God bless our United States of America. The greatest country in the world.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, Clark joined the Boy Scouts in March of 2019 and quickly achieved the rank of Tenderfoot before climbing the ranks to Star Scout, Life Scout, and finally, Eagle Scout. He has held a number of leadership positions including Assistant Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, and most recently, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He earned an extraordinary 40 Merit badges, showing his strong passion to the Scout Oath and Law. His marksmanship skills were especially outstanding, earning him high honors in both Rifle Shooting and Shotgun Shooting. For his Eagle Scout project, Clark created a beautiful garden area on the grounds of Saint Gianna Parish, giving church members and visitors a peaceful place for reflection. His parents, Chris and Paige, are very proud of him, just as I am, and we all look forward to the great things Clark will do in college and the years after. God bless Clark and God bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I had the privilege of visiting Zion United Methodist Church in historic Bargaintown, South Jersey, as they were awarded an America 250 marker to honor the American Revolution patriots buried on their grounds. This church has a rich history, dating back to 1764, when it was built by Presbyterian residents and American Revolution patriot, John Brainerd. In 1814, the Methodists purchased the building before constructing the brick church that still stands today. This Church serves as the final resting place for many brave American soldiers from both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Walking through its grounds is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made for our freedom. But the Church isn't just about preserving history--it's about serving the community. Through missions like their Free Food and Walk-In Pantry Distribution, online Bible study, and summer concert series, they continue their mission of faith and service. I thank Zion Methodist Church, for the great things they do through the love of Jesus and for their incredible commitment to remembering the first heroes to our great Nation. God bless Zion Methodist Church and God bless our United States of America.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 788. It is a good and innovative bill. I also today wanted to speak in support of H.R. 832, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act of 2025. I am proud to join my good friend and a great colleague and chairman, Roger Williams, in introducing this bill, which will ensure that American small businesses have a strong voice in trade and on the discussions that take place on the global stage. My home and my district of southern New Jersey represents--as so much of the United States of America--a small business community that is the backbone of our economy; driving innovation, creating jobs, and strengthening communities. In today's world, small businesses face competition not just from their neighbors and other States, but from businesses and corporations around the globe. These businesses face challenges that larger corporations are often better equipped to navigate. This bill will clarify the authority of the Small Business Administration's august Office of Advocacy to examine international economic data and represent small business interests in trade negotiations, ensuring that our small business people are not left behind. America, as we know it, can't exist without small businesses, and this bill will give them a leg up to make the American economy even stronger. I urge my colleagues to support both of these bills, H.R. 788 and H.R. 832, and stand with America's small businesses.

Mr. VAN DREW

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, these are not prepared notes, but I wanted to address a few of the things that the ranking member, Congressman Raskin, mentioned. It seems to me that from what I hear on the other side is everything but really dealing with and focusing on what this bill says and what it does. I want to talk about inflation which, by the way, was created on that other side, food prices and energy and utilities, all of it. I want to talk about all that. I want to talk about gun violence. I am willing to debate gun violence for hours and discuss the issue, but definitely even on that issue, we don't want to speak about the liberal policies that exist in so many urban areas where we let out violent criminals over and over and over again and change very often felonies to misdemeanors. Mr. Speaker, if you want to know about gun violence, that is what gun violence does. That is what gun violence is created by, so much that is happening there. Their answer would be to put more gun laws in place that inflict more regulation upon honest, good gun owners who don't ever do anything to anybody. It would be to impinge on Second Amendment rights. Nevertheless, I don't want to talk about that. I want to talk about this act because I know we are on the right side of this. Laken Riley was killed while going for a jog. That is the issue. An innocent woman who never did anything harmful to anybody in her life, who wanted to be a nurse, who wanted to help other people, and who couldn't even get the last damn telephone call from her mother, was murdered. Then I hear from the ranking member: Well, the vast majority of illegals don't commit crimes. My God, I hope not, because we have got close to 10 million of them, as best as we can tell. There are hundreds who are on the terror watch list and thousands who have committed crimes. That is where the problems really do exist, and that is unacceptable. The previous administration has recklessly abused the mass parole policies. It has flooded our Nation with illegal immigrants. It never should have happened, and it impinges and hurts the security of the American people. I am here to represent, and we are here to represent the American people. Across the country, we heard about the woman that was set on fire in New York City. What was the first thing that the city of New York did with its liberal policies? They refused to honor ICE's detainer request for the man responsible for setting another human being on fire. Our immigration laws have to be upheld. Failure to do so is why Laken Riley is not alive today. It is why Washington State Trooper Christopher Gadd's family will never see him. His children and his wife will never know him anymore. He is gone. It is why, when Laken Riley struggled for almost a half hour, when she was beaten, when she was disfigured, when her head and skull was crushed, that we can't bring her back. We can't bring her life back. I don't want to hear about all this other political stuff. I don't think the American people do. They want an answer.

Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see that the Senate adopted the amendment that we wanted, which was to put into the bill the legislation that we had to detain and deport illegal aliens who assault cops. They have broken the law once, and now we are saying: My God, if you do it again, no, you are going to be detained, and you are going to be deported. A lot of Democrats are going to vote for it.