Ann Wagner

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4723) to provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to foreign persons undermining the Dayton Peace Agreement or threatening the security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in 1995, the Dayton Accords brought an end to more than 3 horrific years of war and genocide in Bosnia and Herzegovina and ushered in a new era of peace. Today, this peace is being threatened. Self-serving, corrupt politicians like Milorad Dodik are engaged in a sustained attack on Bosnia's unity, sovereignty, and multiethnic character. As Dodik and his cronies know well, a prosperous and western-facing Bosnia and Herzegovina threatens their personal power and ill-gotten wealth. They are willing to tear the country apart to maintain control over their illicit patronage networks, aided and abetted by the destructive Putin regime, which fears Bosnia's integration with the west. Dodik, who has been under U.S. sanctions for more than 2 years, continues to threaten secession in public interviews and through reckless and inflammatory policies. According to Treasury, he: ``Has used his official BiH position and a network of personal ties and companies to accumulate personal wealth through graft, bribery, and other forms of corruption.'' These actions have drastic consequences. The 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community concluded that the Western Balkans will face an increased risk of localized interethnic violence during 2024. At a time when the United States faces conflicts and crises around the world, we cannot afford to see the Western Balkans descend into chaos. The Dayton Peace Agreement that ended the Bosnian war may be flawed, but it is holding Bosnia together during this period of rising ethnic tension, corruption, and Russian aggression. However, because of the reckless actions of a few cynical elite, Bosnia's stability and sovereignty are at risk. As a guarantor of the Dayton Peace Agreement, the United States must use its economic toolkit to deter corruption, obstructionism, and secessionism in Bosnia and promote its accession to Euro-Atlantic institutions. My bill, the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act, does just this. Through this bill, we will impose and codify sanctions against bad actors like Milorad Dodik, who continue their agenda of secessionism, corruption, and destabilization. Mr. Speaker, sanctions work. In a hearing before the Europe Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar shared with us that officials in Bosnia's Dodik-controlled Serb entity begged the U.S. to please, please, no more sanctions. However, much more leverage needs to be brought to bear against Dodik's inner circle, their Russian backers, and the corrupt politicians who recklessly use their country's dysfunction to grow their power and their wealth. My bill would hold these criminals and politicians accountable and deter others who would seek to undermine peace and stability in the region. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Turner, Representative Kean, and Representative Wild for introducing this bill with me. I urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Washington, DC, February 8, 2024. Hon. Michael McCaul, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman McCaul: Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Financial Services regarding H.R. 4723, the Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act. I agree that the Committee shall be discharged from further consideration of the bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House Floor. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that, by foregoing consideration of H.R. 4723 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved on this or similar legislation as it moves forward. The Committee also reserves the right to see appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any conference with the Senate involving this or similar legislation, and we request your support for any such request. Finally, as you mentioned in your letter, I ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this bill be included in your Committee's report to accompany the legislation, as well as in the Congressional Record during floor consideration thereof. Sincerely, Patrick McHenry, Chairman.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close. Mr. Speaker, as the vice chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as Representative of the largest Bosnian community outside of Bosnia and Herzegovina, I know what the consequences will be if we fail to stand strong against destructive politicians who seek to undo years of peace. If we let the Dayton Accords--a symbol of American leadership and commitment--collapse, then we risk seeing violence return to Bosnia. Adversaries like Russia and China would welcome these upheavals and solidify a stronger economic and security foothold. I remind my colleagues that Congress has acted on this once before. Last Congress, I introduced a similar version of this bill which passed the U.S. House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support. This time, the stakes are much higher. With our adversaries emboldened like never before, Congress must act and confront these potent threats to peace and stability. Will we turn a blind eye to corrupt autocrats like Milorad Dodik, or will we uphold the peace secured by the Dayton Accords many years ago? To me, the choice is obvious. Time is running out to send a strong deterrent message to bad actors intent on destabilizing the country. Let's pass this bill again and get it to the President's desk so that the United States has the tools that it needs to break the ethnonationalist and Russian hold on Bosnia's future. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 6610) to provide for the modernization of the passport issuance process, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), who is the author of this bill.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to have worked with Mr. Issa and our Foreign Affairs colleagues to bring this bill before the House today. H.R. 6610 modernizes processing capabilities at the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs. That means new performance standards for issuing passports, new tools for our caseworkers to track our constituents' passport requests, and new text and email notifications for Americans throughout the whole passport process so they know where their applications stand and how much longer the process is likely to take. Finally, H.R. 6610 requires the State Department to expand the online passport renewal system so that Americans can apply for and get the travel documents they need as efficiently as possible. I commend Representative Issa for prodding the State Department to adopt the best commercially available technology solutions. The private sector has much to offer that will reduce wait times and streamline bureaucracy at the State Department. I also thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, and the bipartisan members of the Foreign Affairs Committee who voted unanimously for this bill during the committee markup. The American people deserve a more responsive passport process when they seek to exercise their right to travel. For that reason, H.R. 6610 deserves our unanimous support. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin's barbarism knows no bounds. The actions of his lawless forces against the people of Ukraine, including the forcible deportation of innocent Ukrainian children, constitute genocide. We have the opportunity to state that truth plainly today and to stand with the grieving families of Ukraine whose children are still kidnapped inside Russia. Mr. Speaker, I urge unanimous support for this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 149) condemning the illegal abduction of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation, as amended.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine, we continue to witness unspeakable acts perpetrated by Vladimir Putin's forces. Since the start of the war, Ukrainian officials estimate that over 120,000 war crimes have been committed by lawless Russian invaders. One of the most horrific acts being conducted by the Putin regime is the kidnapping of Ukrainian children to Russia and occupied territories. Since February 2022, more than 19,000 children have been forcibly deported from their homeland--possibly many, many more. Ukraine's Ambassador to the United Nations has stated that: ``Ukraine has strong grounds to believe that several hundred thousand Ukrainian children were forcibly, unlawfully taken.'' Not only have these children been kidnapped and handed over to Russian families, but they have also been forced into pro-Russia reeducation systems. They are being brainwashed, taught to hate their home country and to love their oppressors, Russia. Kidnapped Ukrainian children are being taught that Ukraine does not exist as a sovereign country and that Russia is conducting some sort of justified mission for mankind. Additionally, if they don't comply or fall in line, these children face punishment and abuse. Russia's depravity gets even more twisted, Mr. Speaker. There are reports that kidnapped Ukrainian teenagers are being conscripted to fight in Ukraine on behalf of the Russian Federation. Ukrainian officials say Russia's efforts specifically target teenagers so that they can be turned into soldiers once they reach the age of 18. Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, can claim all they want that they are saving these children, but we know their true intent--the complete eradication of Ukrainian culture and identity. Both U.S. statute and international law define genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy a people, in whole or in part, including forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. I was proud to join my colleague from Pennsylvania, Representative Wild, in introducing the resolution before us today. It rightfully condemns this barbarism and calls it what it is: genocide. We were there together on the Ukrainian border. We were there and saw Ukrainian refugees and children who have suffered this kind of abuse at the hands of Vladimir Putin. Mr. Speaker, during our markup, this resolution received unanimous bipartisan support from the Foreign Affairs Committee. Today, the entire House has the opportunity and the moral duty to denounce Russia's genocide against these children of Ukraine. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, Representative Wild, for shedding light on these heartbreaking abuses. Mr. Speaker, I urge all of our colleagues to support this important resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for Roll Call votes on March 13, 2024. Had I been present, I would have voted YEA on Roll Call No. 86.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I regret that I was not present for roll call today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 81, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 82, ``nay'' on rollcall No. 83, ``yea'' on rollcall No. 84, and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 85.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Speaker, I regret that I was not present for rollcall votes today. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcall No. 79 and ``yea'' on rollcall No. 80.

Mrs. WAGNER

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition, and I am indeed opposed to this amendment.

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, Republicans agree that the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and other institutions last March should be studied to better understand their impact on lending and community banks. That is why the Financial Services Committee devoted much of last spring and summer to holding a series of bipartisan hearings to better understand the bank failures and their consequences. We also advanced a package of legislation in response to the bank failures. However, studies about lending and community banks should be done by banking regulators. Such a study is far outside the expertise of the SEC and especially the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation. H.R. 2799 does not include a study on banking services for venture funds. However, the focus of our study is to better understand venture capital and the potential obstacles preventing their growth or hindering their ability to serve the entrepreneurs they invest in, especially for smaller venture funds outside of major financial hubs. The study required by this amendment is materially different. The SEC is very experienced in regulating and studying venture funds, but bank lending and community banks are far outside the SEC's remit. While I appreciate my colleague's interest in better understanding the implications of the bank failures on lending, this is not the proper package for this amendment. For those reasons, I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment and support the underlying legislation. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to this amendment.

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan. Not only is this amendment problematic, but as drafted, it is also unenforceable. Nowhere in Federal law is the term ``junk fees'' defined--not in our securities laws and not in this amendment. I know the Biden administration's financial regulators like to create new terms to advance the President's political agenda, but we shouldn't be making up new terms without defining them here in Congress. The companies impacted by this amendment would be equally in the dark. How can a company know if a given fee is so-called junk when neither the SEC nor the amendment can define it? Should they just charge no fees at all, potentially putting some firm out of business? The only fees Democrats seem to want to spare from this political crusade are those charged by the government itself. For example, the IRS charges fees to folks who pay their taxes late. I get it. No one wants to pay fees, but charging fees for a product or service is a normal part of doing business. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, may I inquire how much time I have remaining.

Mrs. WAGNER. Madam Chair, I just want to reiterate my opposition to this amendment. As I said, the only fees Democrats seem to want to spare from the political crusade are those charged by the government itself. As I said, the Internal Revenue Service charges fees to folks who pay their taxes late. There is no definition of junk fee anywhere in here. I would also like to point out to the gentlewoman from Michigan that I was a sponsor of the Families Fly Together Act which did away with additional fees for children who are accompanied by their parents on a plane. Those children get to fly free with their parents. That was my piece of legislation. It is called Families Fly Together. It was in the base legislation of the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization, and it passed this U.S. House Chamber without the gentlewoman from Michigan's support. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.