Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment. The executive branch has the ability to determine how the United States engages and manages our relationship with Taiwan. This is because Congress has left it to the executive branch to conduct diplomacy and the recognition or nonrecognition of foreign states and governments in this case. If you wish to legislate how the executive branch should engage with Taiwan, then mark up a separate bill in the Foreign Affairs Committee that deals with just that. In the absence of that, the executive branch needs to determine how to handle diplomatic engagements abroad. It is their job to weigh multiple equities, and balance delicate factors that are simply not considered by this amendment today. The amendment sponsor knows that Taiwan is a sensitive, geopolitical subject with respect to our relations with the PRC. That is why we have a select committee in the House on it, and I think this is something that they could examine, that would be much more appropriate. There is too much at stake to have this amendment decide what the guidelines for engagement will be. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”