NAN A. S. HAYWORTH: “I come to the well of this House this afternoon to invoke the name of Brandon Funk of Show Low, Arizona, and 23 others…”

“I come to the well of this House this afternoon to invoke the name of Brandon Funk of Show Low, Arizona, and 23 others, our men and women in uniform, being detained by the People's Republic of China. Mr. Speaker, our President has been clear and unequivocal. In addressing the Communist Chinese regime, he has said simply, ``Let our people go now and return our plane.'' I support the President, as does this House, united with one voice, not a voice of Republicans or of Democrats, but one voice as Americans. Mr. Speaker, I would appeal to the Chinese Government to understand what is at stake. They should not underestimate the resolve of the American people, and they should not mistake the genial nature of our new Commander-in-Chief or the gentility he brings to his job as a lack of resolve. With each passing day, the People's Republic of China is placing in jeopardy its place among the community of nations, its status as an economic power, its opportunity to highlight and showcase some of the world's great events. There is a clear choice to be made. There are a number of options available to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I do not come here to try to abridge or in any way describe the actions our Commander-in-Chief can take, but they are numerous, with serious repercussions for the Chinese regime in Beijing. Mr. Speaker, again I would ask the Chinese Government not to underestimate the United States of America.”