On the recordNovember 27, 2018
I want to express my strong support for this legislation of which I am an original cosponsor. I was proud to work alongside Ranking Member Engel, Mr. Adam Smith, Mr. McCaul, and Representative Keating on this legislation. Around the globe today, Mr. Speaker, fractured nations are struggling with conflict, violence, and a range of other challenges that degrade security and prevent their internal development. Weak states and ungoverned places anywhere in the world provide opportunities for terrorism and instability to flourish. As a result, these fragile states become national security concerns for our country. Mr. Speaker, we need to solve problems in a smarter way so we don't have to constantly deploy America's sons and daughters into harm's way to fight more foreign wars. The United States has been at war consistently for over 17 straight years. Maybe it is time we rethink our philosophy of constant military involvement throughout the globe as a first response to turmoil and unrest. We need to address the underlying root causes of instability: treat the disease, not just the symptoms. That is what this bill will do. It will require the development of a whole-of-government approach to targeting root causes of instability and conflict in the world's most fragile regions before they require military interventions by the United States.…
