Ed Royce: “In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me thank my friend and colleague, Eliot Engel, for his eloquence in explaining the enormity…”

“In closing, Mr. Speaker, let me thank my friend and colleague, Eliot Engel, for his eloquence in explaining the enormity of the tragedy here and the meaning of this terrorism. I think Mr. Engel has been such a diligent partner in not only helping us move this bill through, but helping us run the committee in a bipartisan way. I want to thank him at this moment as we pass this act for all of his work on this issue through the legislation and through the hearings. I think it has had an impact in the understanding of the Members here. I also want to recognize and thank our former colleague, Senator Lindsey Graham. I have talked with him about this issue. He originated this bill in the Senate. I know also how passionately he feels about this, as do Eliot and myself. I look forward to working with our Senate colleagues to ensure that the bill that we pass here in the House or the Senate bill, either one, the bottom line is that the Taylor Force Act must become law quickly. That is our objective. The purpose of our aid, as we understand it, is to advance U.S. interests around the world. That is why we give aid. I think all of us can agree that that does not include paying people to commit crimes of terrorism. The Palestinian Authority is flatout undermining U.S. interests by compensating and incentivizing violence, as articulated by my friend, Mr. Engel.…”