Lee Zeldin: “I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Ranking Member Engel, Mr. Deutch…”

“I thank Chairman Royce for his leadership on the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as Ranking Member Engel, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Meadows, Ms. Meng, and Mr. Tom Price of Georgia. This has been a strong bipartisan effort that was started before I came to Congress this past January. Some of my fellow lead cosponsors on this bill have worked tirelessly over years. America's greatness is nothing to apologize for. We are a great, free, exceptional nation. Being the leader of the free world is, this body, today, passing legislation, the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act, to tackle a rising threat in the Middle East and to United States interests all around the world. American leadership is on display here in the Halls of Congress. Hezbollah has helped Assad fight Syrian rebels in that country. It is estimated that Iran has provided Hezbollah $60 million to $100 million per year in financial assistance. The Dubai-based Gulf Research Center estimates Hezbollah's armed wing at about 1,000 full-time fighters and 6,000 to 10,000 volunteers. According to the Iranian Fars News Agency, Hezbollah has up to 65,000 fighters. {time} 1415 This legislation, H.R. 2297, addresses the need to pursue foreign banks that knowingly do business with entities that facilitate Hezbollah's activities. This legislation addresses the need to counter Hezbollah's other criminal enterprises, which include money laundering and counterfeiting of goods and pharmaceuticals.…”