Chris Smith

We did not have, as I think everyone knows now, any U.S. foreign aid going to assist the Christians and the Yazidis.

We know that trying to address this strictly from a security perspective or militarily is not going to be enough.

I want to thank him for this strategic vision that he has and, again, for making this hearing a reality.

Indeed, the Frank Wolf Act elevates the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, and we are all waiting with bated breath for when Governor Brownback assumes that chair.

The law strengthens the ability to investigate and monitor religious persecution by creating a designated persons list of violators.

Last year, an important weapon in the fight against extremism was passed by the Congress and signed into law, the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act.

Advancing freedom of religion both as an end in and of itself and as a means to achieve peace, stability, and human flourishing should be a core objective of U.S. foreign policy.

I think the answer has to be yes.

Thank you, Dr. Mittelman. That is so encouraging, and thank you for your leadership and for providing this subcommittee with those insights.

It concerns me that USAID, and I have had conversations with Mark Green, the new administrator.

It's a bipartisan effort. Again, I mentioned Tom Cole, the chairman who's doing a wonderful job.

The total estimated global cost of addressing this condition today is $818 billion.

The number of victims who have Alzheimer's is projected to double every 20 years.

This legislation is named in honor of U.S. Army veteran and West Point graduate Taylor Force, who was tragically killed by a Palestinian knife attack in 2016.

Spearheaded by Representative Brian Mast and Josh Gottheimer, the Palestinian International Terrorist Support Prevention Act will impose sanctions on foreign people and governments who provide support to terrorist groups.

I want to thank Representative Crowley and Representative Chabot for introducing Resolution 90 condemning ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya.

I support Representative Grothman's resolution condemning the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities worldwide.

Arguably, there are more Christians in China than anywhere else in the world.

There is no other group on the face of the Earth that are being discriminated against, killed, forced to convert to other faiths than Christians.

This is a bill whose time has come.

I am especially grateful that H.R. 1415, the End Neglected Tropical Diseases Act, is under consideration.

I think that would be a colossal mistake. We cannot hope to defeat neglected tropical diseases or advance our global health priorities if we fail to keep investing in those areas.

I thank my good friend for yielding. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 599 urges a political solution to the war in Yemen, condemns Iranian efforts to fuel the deadly violence, and calls on all parties to the conflict to increase efforts to adopt all…

Well, on that point, it is my experience that the church plays a very decisive peacemaking role.

Sanctions work, but they have to be applied.