Gus Bilirakis: “I thank the ranking member for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I rise in favor of my amendment, which is included…”

“I thank the ranking member for yielding me the time. Madam Speaker, I rise in favor of my amendment, which is included in the en bloc package. My amendment builds upon the successes of the East Med Act, signed into law last year, by taking steps to increase the United States rotational deployments to Greece and diplomatic ties with Greece, Cyprus, and Israel--the trilateral agreement. In an increasingly unstable region, and with Turkey making a decisive turn from the West, the United States needs to focus on strengthening our bonds with our reliable allies in the region. This amendment sends a strong message of deterrence to Turkey as it attempts to undermine the sovereignty of our friends in the Eastern Mediterranean. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of this amendment.”