Wendy Sherman: “One programming note: At this point in the schedule, we were scheduled to deal with three Sherman amendments, No. 20…”

“One programming note: At this point in the schedule, we were scheduled to deal with three Sherman amendments, No. 20, No. 21, and No. 22. No. 22, also in the Rules Committee numbering No. 83, was included in an en bloc adopted by this House last evening. Amendment No. 20, Rules Committee No. 301, is not being considered at this time because it will be included in an en bloc that comes up later today. So we are now focused on No. 21, Rules Committee No. 82, and I rise in support of that amendment. Mr. Chair, on September 1, 1983, Korean Air Lines 007 was shot down-- 269 casualties, including a Member of this House, Congressman Larry McDonald. On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines number 17 was shot down--298 casualties. If there is one thing this House can agree on, it is that we are opposed to shooting down--especially, deliberately shooting down-- civilian aircraft. And yet the Government of Azerbaijan has stated, with regard to flights going into Stepanakert Airport, that they envision the physical destruction of airplanes landing in that territory. This threat has been repeated several times by Azeri officials, and in times past, Azerbaijan has actually shot at civil airliners going into Stepanakert Airport. That is why this amendment is necessary. It prohibits the transfer of Defense Department articles to Azerbaijan unless the President can certify that the weapons being transferred will not threaten civilian aviation.…”