Civil society plays a pivotal role in democracy, holding government accountable and standing up for the rights of marginalized groups.

The free debate is the cornerstone of democracy.

We have spent 9 months and hundreds of hours dealing with the Indian bureaucracy on this.

I share your concern about challenges some NGOs are facing in India.

I was one of the leading voices pushing for a U.S. visa for Chief Minister Modi.

If we stay committed to deepening this venture further, if we think long term while working to meet day-to-day challenges, then this relationship will help both our countries become stronger and more prosperous.

Thank you for calling this hearing today. I welcome the chance to speak with you about Compassion International's recent struggles in India.

These democracies need to protect the right of free expression and free assembly.

We can't avoid the hard questions or avoid discussions simply because they are difficult conversations to have.

I have been concerned by reports that NGOs are having difficulty registering and operating in India.

I managed the U.S.-Indian civil nuclear agreement on the House floor and beat back the anti-India amendments.

I was tasked with briefing President Bush on the importance of deepening our relationship with India.

Today, in my view, the U.S. relationship with India is one of our most important, driven by our shared interests and shared values.

I thank the gentleman for yielding to me. Mr. Speaker, I support the defense authorization bill. Our men and women in uniform are the greatest fighting force in the world, and they deserve our unwavering support. I thank Chairman…

We cannot delay action on Syria any longer. The violence has gone on too long and at too great a cost. If we don't get this legislation across the finish line in the next few weeks, we are back at square one. The gentlewoman from Florida…

I now yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly), a very valued member of our Foreign Affairs Committee.

Yesterday there was an explosion in my district and yesterday New York City lost one of its bravest: FDNY Battalion Chief Michael Fahy, a 17-year veteran of the department and a father of three. He was a resident of Yonkers, New York, in…

I demand a recorded vote. A recorded vote was ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 5- minute vote on passage of the bill will be followed by 5-minute votes on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the…

I demand a recorded vote. The CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from New York will be postponed.

Let me say that I appreciate my friend, Chairman Royce's words. We don't agree totally on this, but we do agree that the Iranian regime is a bad regime and they need to be checked. And I would hope that after this whole process is done…

I am offering this amendment because I do think there is a lot of common ground when it comes to this issue. My concern is that the administration really did not give Congress its due with respect to this payment. We were told about the…

First of all, I think everybody knows I am from New York, and, frankly, I don't need anyone lecturing me about 9/ 11. That is a pain in my heart that I will live with for the rest of my life. So I think that any reference to 9/11 from this…

I do appreciate the sentiment behind what the gentleman is seeking to do. Of course we want to punish anyone who is unjustly holding American citizens behind bars, but there are so many potential unintended consequences in this amendment…

Let me respond just to some of the things that we have heard from some of our colleagues. This was not a ransom payment. This was payment for a 30-year-old claim over a weapons shipment that was never delivered, and the United States…

Let me, first of all, say I appreciate Chairman Royce's consideration of my feedback during the markup, and I know he is well-intentioned with this measure. As he mentioned, I believe that the underlying legislation was too broad. It could…