On the recordJuly 13, 2017
On the night of April 14, 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in Nigeria, a night we all remember. Although some girls fled or have been released, more than 100 Chibok girls remain in captivity today with Boko Haram, the deadliest terrorist organization in the world. Last year, Congress unanimously passed bipartisan legislation sponsored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins and myself to require a 5-year strategy to conquer Boko Haram. Last night, an amendment to solidify the bill and add a sense of Congress that expresses our support for the kidnapped schoolgirls and the United States strategy for countering Boko Haram was passed in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act. I thank Armed Services Committee Chairman Thornberry, Ranking Member Smith, Rules Committee Chairman Sessions, Ranking Member Slaughter, and Congressman Alcee Hastings. We will continue to fight against Boko Haram and their vicious and cruel tactics against the Nigerian people. We will continue to wear red every Wednesday until all of our girls are released. Remember to tweet, tweet, tweet, #bringbackourgirls. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair would ask Members to heed the gavel. ____________________
