On the recordNovember 28, 2023
I thank the gentlewoman from North Carolina for yielding. She is a true leader in this country on Middle East issues. I also thank the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. McCaul, for his steady hand and dedication to leading the Foreign Affairs Committee during this pivotal moment in world history and for moving this resolution forward alongside the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the indefatigable former Chairman Meeks. Congressman French Hill and I chair the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad, and I thank him for being my lead sponsor on this bill. It is an honor to work with him in that capacity. This resolution speaks to our collaboration and dedication to the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7. On October 7, a day that will live in infamy, 1,200 were killed in a surprise attack during a Jewish holiday. The attack didn't stop there because over 200 were taken hostage in one of the greatest hostage takings in world history. We are now in a moment when the House of Representatives is called to speak, to demand on behalf of our government the return of all the hostages held in Gaza. Mr. Speaker, I thank the hundreds of cosponsors and supporters of this resolution. It is worth noting that fellow Members of Congress who span the country and the political spectrum have joined together to call out Hamas. Mr. Speaker, the time is more than now.…





