    [House Hearing, 115 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                VARIOUS MEASURES

    =======================================================================

                                     MARKUP

                                   BEFORE THE

                                SUBCOMMITTEE ON
                        THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA

                                     OF THE

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                       ON

              H. Res. 185, H. Res. 218, H. Res. 274, H. Res. 317,

                           H. Res. 359 and H.R. 2646

                                   __________

                                 JUNE 29, 2017

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 115-49

                                   __________

            Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/
                                      or
                           http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/
                                      ______

                             U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    26-047 PDF                     WASHINGTON : 2017
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing
      Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800;
             DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2104 Mail: Stop IDCC,
                              Washington, DC 20402-0001

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                     EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman
    CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey     ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
    ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida         BRAD SHERMAN, California
    DANA ROHRABACHER, California         GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
    STEVE CHABOT, Ohio                   ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey
    JOE WILSON, South Carolina           GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
    MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas             THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
    TED POE, Texas                       KAREN BASS, California
    DARRELL E. ISSA, California          WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts
    TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania             DAVID N. CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina          AMI BERA, California
    MO BROOKS, Alabama                   LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
    PAUL COOK, California                TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii
    SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania            JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas
    RON DeSANTIS, Florida                ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
    MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania
    TED S. YOHO, Florida                 DINA TITUS, Nevada
    ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois             NORMA J. TORRES, California
    LEE M. ZELDIN, New York              BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER, Illinois
    DANIEL M. DONOVAN, Jr., New York     THOMAS R. SUOZZI, New York
    F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, Jr.,         ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York
        Wisconsin                        TED LIEU, California
    ANN WAGNER, Missouri
    BRIAN J. MAST, Florida
    FRANCIS ROONEY, Florida
    BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania
    THOMAS A. GARRETT, Jr., Virginia

         Amy Porter, Chief of Staff      Thomas Sheehy, Staff Director

                   Jason Steinbaum, Democratic Staff Director
                                     ------

                Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa

                     ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida, Chairman
    STEVE CHABOT, Ohio                   THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
    DARRELL E. ISSA, California          GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
    RON DeSANTIS, Florida                DAVID N. CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
    PAUL COOK, California                BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania
    ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois             TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii
    LEE M. ZELDIN, New York              BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER, Illinois
    DANIEL M. DONOVAN, Jr., New York     THOMAS R. SUOZZI, New York
    ANN WAGNER, Missouri                 TED LIEU, California
    BRIAN J. MAST, Florida
    BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

                                   MARKUP ON

    H. Res. 185, Calling on the Government of Iran to fulfill
      repeated promises of assistance in the case of Robert Levinson,
      the longest held United States civilian in our Nation's history     3
    H. Res. 218, Recognizing the importance of the United States-
      Israel economic relationship and encouraging new areas of
      cooperation....................................................     8
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 218 offered
        by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Representative in
        Congress from the State of Florida, and chairman,
        Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa.............    14
    H. Res. 274, Condemning the Government of Iran's state-sponsored
      persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation
      of the International Covenants on Human Rights.................    19
      Amendment to H. Res. 274 offered by the Honorable Ileana Ros-
        Lehtinen.....................................................    25
    H. Res. 317, Calling for the unconditional release of United
      States citizens and legal permanent resident aliens being held
      for political purposes by the Government of Iran...............    26
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 317 offered
        by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.........................    31
    H. Res. 359, Urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in
      its entirety as a terrorist organization and increase pressure
      on it and its members..........................................    35
    H.R. 2646, To reauthorize the United States-Jordan Defense
      Cooperation Act of 2015, and for other purposes................    41

              LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

    The Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Representative in Congress
      from the State of Florida, and chairman, Subcommittee on the
      Middle East and North Africa: Material submitted for the record    47

                                    APPENDIX

    Markup notice....................................................    56
    Markup minutes...................................................    57
    Markup summary...................................................    58

                                VARIOUS MEASURES

                                  ----------

                            THURSDAY, JUNE 29, 2017

                         House of Representatives,

               Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa,

                         Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC.

        The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:06 a.m., in
    room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ileana Ros-
    Lehtinen (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. The subcommittee will come to order. We
    have members who are here and drinking some coffee in the side
    room, so I am not starting without Ted. He is really here. And,
    Mr. Connolly, I don't know if you have seen the current issue
    of Time Magazine, but like President Trump, Mr. Connolly is the
    cover boy for this week's edition and the headline is
    ``Connolly is Winning So Much He's Increasingly Tired of
    Winning,'' correct? But congratulations. It is not everyone who
    can be on the cover of Time.
        But we meet today pursuant to notice----
        Mr. Connolly. If I may?
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
        Mr. Connolly. It tells you something about how literal-
    minded some people can be, though. I have had people saying
    congratulations, it is about time you get recognized, will you
    sign the cover for me, you know. Oh, well. So thank you,
    everybody.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Congratulations. I will have to bring in
    my edition and you can sign it for me, as well. We will auction
    it, give it to charity.
        But we meet today pursuant to notice to mark up six
    bipartisan measures. As your offices were previously notified,
    it is the intent of the Chair to consider today's measures en
    bloc, and so without objection, the following items, which were
    provided to members earlier this week, are in your packet are
    considered as read and will be considered en bloc.
        House Resolution 185, Calling on the Government of Iran to
    fulfill repeated promises of assistance in the case of Robert
    Levinson, the longest held United States civilian in our
    Nation's history; House Resolution 218, Recognizing the
    importance of the United States-Israel economic relationship
    and encouraging new areas of cooperation; Ros-Lehtinen
    amendment in the nature of a substitute to House Resolution
    218; House Resolution 274, Condemning the Government of Iran
    state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its
    continued violation of the International Covenants on Human
    Rights; Ros-Lehtinen amendment 28 to House Resolution to 274;
    House Resolution 317, Calling for the unconditional release of
    United States citizens and legal permanent resident aliens
    being held for political purposes by the Government of Iran;
    Ros-Lehtinen amendment in the nature of a substitute to House
    Resolution 317; House Resolution 359, Urging the European Union
    to designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist
    organization and increase pressure on it and its members; and
    H.R. 2646, The United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation
    Extension Act.
        [The information referred to follows:]

        [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. After my remarks and the ranking member's
    remarks on these measures, I will be glad to recognize any
    other members seeking recognition. Without objection, all
    members may have 5 days to submit statements for the record on
    today's business.
        Today, we have before us a series of important measures
    that get to the heart of some of the subcommittee's top
    priorities. Unfortunately, for the third straight Congress, we
    are marking up yet another resolution presented by Ranking
    Member Deutch on behalf of his constituent, Robert Levinson,
    who went missing in Iran and is the longest held United States
    citizen in our history.
        While the Levinson family laments his absence, his life's
    milestones continue without Bob. We dedicate our commitment to
    bringing him home to his family and to continuing to press the
    administration to demand the regime fulfill its promises. And
    we do so in tandem with my resolution, House Resolution 317,
    which calls upon Iran to release unconditionally all U.S.
    citizens, U.S. legal permanent resident aliens, and foreign
    nationals that the regime has unjustly detained and is holding
    hostage.
        Ever since Iran signed the JCPOA and received a ransom
    payment in exchange for American hostages, it has sought to
    take advantage of what it believed was a lucrative policy. It
    was emboldened and has since imprisoned dual U.S.-Iranian
    citizens: The Namazis, a father and son, who have been
    separated from their family, sentenced to prison on unjust and
    trumped-up charges and whose health and well-being are in
    jeopardy.
        The regime has imprisoned U.S. legal resident, Nizar Zakka,
    and sentenced him to 10 years under false charges. Mr. Zakka
    announced this week that he has begun a hunger strike. This
    subcommittee has received an audio of Mr. Zakka where he
    states, ``I am innocent. Never done any crime in my life.'' I
    would like to ask unanimous consent to insert into the record a
    transcript of the transcribed telephone conversation of Mr.
    Zakka from Evin Prison in Iran.
        [The information referred to follows:]

    Material submitted for the record by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,
     a Representative in Congress from the State of Florida, and chairman,
                Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                  ----------

        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. My resolution also calls on Iran to
    fulfill its promises regarding Robert Levinson, Mr. Deutch's
    constituent. This will be the third consecutive Congress that
    Ted and I mark up a resolution on Iran's persecution of the
    Baha'i, and we would like to recognize some of them are in the
    audience today. Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, over 200
    Baha'i leaders have been executed. Many more have been
    arbitrarily imprisoned. More than 10,000 have been dismissed
    from government and university posts.
        We are calling on the United States and others to use these
    tools and all available authorities to sanction individuals
    directly responsible for these serious human rights abuses, and
    not just against the Baha'is.
        We must be willing to do what is right and demand that Iran
    release all hostages and hold the regime accountable for its
    human rights abuses and for its illicit activities. That is why
    we are also here to take up House Resolution 359, urging the
    European Union to designate Hezbollah, in its entirety, as a
    terrorist organization, and this is authored by Ranking Member
    Deutch and Mr. Bilirakis. The notion that they could be
    separate wings of a terrorist organization and that one wing is
    bad, and full of terrorists, but the other wing is merely a
    political organization; that is an absurd thought. There can be
    no justification for such a bifurcation.
        Iran is a state sponsor of terror, and Hezbollah is its
    foremost proxy. The European Union needs to wake up, and we
    must urge it and its member states to designate the whole of
    Hezbollah as the terrorists that they are. Also a great tool to
    combat Hezbollah's activities is to strengthen our relationship
    with the democratic Jewish state of Israel, which is why we are
    pleased to take up Ted Lieu's House Resolution 218--thank you,
    Mr. Lieu--recognizing the importance of that economic
    relationship and encouraging new areas of cooperation. Israel
    was the first country we signed a free trade agreement with
    over 30 years ago, and while the economic and commercial ties
    remain strong, we can certainly find ways to upgrade and
    improve those.
        That is why Mr. Lieu's resolution is important, because it
    stresses the support not only to expand our economic
    relationship, but it also urges the President to explore new
    agreements with Israel in the fields of cybersecurity,
    technology, medicine, agriculture, water, and energy. We have
    already seen this happening between Israel and Jordan,
    especially in the fields of energy and water.
        And that is one of the major goals of our final measure, a
    bill I authored alongside Mr. Deutch, Hal Rogers, Nita Lowey,
    and Adam Schiff, the United States-Jordan Defense Cooperation
    Extension Act. I am glad to see that Congresswoman Kay Granger
    of Texas has also cosponsored the bill. The Act would authorize
    the U.S. to enter into a new 5-year memorandum of
    understanding, MOU, with Jordan. The Kingdom has been on the
    front lines in the fight against ISIS, and in the humanitarian
    crisis, we must stand with our ally and continue to strengthen
    its security capabilities.
        This bill would also authorize the creation of a Jordanian
    Enterprise Fund, which is precisely what Jordan needs to
    attract private investment to help entrepreneurs and small
    businesses create jobs and spur economic development in Jordan.
    We are hopeful that we can tie some economic developments in
    Jordan alongside its neighbors, including Israel, to spur
    economic growth and bring these nations closer together to
    create long-term stability.
        So I urge my colleagues to support all of these measures,
    and the Chair now recognizes the ranking member, Mr. Deutch,
    for his statement.
        Mr. Deutch. Thank you, Madam Chairman, I would like to
    express my support for all of these measures before us today. I
    am proud to be a cosponsor of each of them, and I thank the
    chairman for moving this bipartisan slate of bills.
        The U.S.-Jordan relationship is one that provides needed
    stability throughout the region, and I am pleased to join the
    chair in offering this legislation, which will further ensure
    that Jordan has the resources she needs to defend herself and
    to help shore up the Jordanian economy.
        I would like to thank Mr. Lieu for his resolution
    highlighting the U.S.-Israel economic partnership, the country
    with the third most companies listed on the NASDAQ is Israel.
    Israel has been a true incubator for innovation, just one of
    the many reasons that the United States and Israel enjoy deep
    cooperation on a wide range of issues.
        I want to thank the chairman for bringing forward the
    resolution I introduced with Mr. Bilirakis urging the EU to
    designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. I thank the
    many members of this committee who have cosponsored this
    measure.
        In 2013, the EU listed Hezbollah's military wing as a
    terrorist organization. It has yet to include Hezbollah's
    political wing. There is no distinction. This is one terrorist
    organization, one that is wreaked havoc across the globe for
    over 30 years, from the bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina
    in 1994 to the bombing of a tourist bus in Bulgaria in 2012, to
    its thousands and thousands of fighters doing Iran's dirty work
    inside Syria, propping up the murderous Assad regime.
        The so-called business affairs component of Hezbollah
    brings in hundreds of millions of dollars a year through
    narcotrafficking, money laundering, and counterfeiting
    operations throughout Latin America, Africa, and Europe. I
    applaud the cooperation that has taken place between law
    enforcement agencies across Europe, and our own, to crack down
    on these illicit activities, but we cannot continue to pretend
    that any part of Hezbollah has any sort of legitimacy. I urge
    our European friends to take action now and designate the whole
    of Hezbollah as the terrorist organization that it is.
        I would like to spend my remaining time talking about the
    despicable human rights abuses taking place in Iran against the
    Iranian people, and against foreign nationals. First, House
    Resolution 274 condemns the horrific persecution of the Baha'i
    faith in Iran.
        For years, Baha'is have been subject to government raids on
    their businesses, their schools, and their homes. They are
    prevented from working in government jobs, from attending
    colleges, and from worshipping. There are currently 93 Baha'is
    in prison in Iran. Iran's persecution of the Baha'is and
    another minorities is just another example of this brutal
    regime's complete and total disregard for human rights and
    international norms.
        Second, House Resolution 317 calls for the immediate
    release of all Americans held in Iran. For too long, this
    regime has taken American and other foreign nationals prisoners
    on trumped-up charges resulting in sham trials and outrageous
    sentences. There is no rule of law. There is no due process.
    This is nothing more than hostage taking, and it must stop.
    This committee has a long history of speaking out against these
    unjust attentions, and we will not sit idly by while Americans
    languish in Iranian jails. And every responsible nation should
    join us in condemning Iran and calling for the immediate
    release of these Americans and other foreign nationals unjustly
    held in Iran.
        And, finally, I would like to thank the chairman and the
    other cosponsors of House Resolution 185, which calls on Iran
    to return my constituent, Bob Levinson. For those of you who
    have served on this committee for a while now, you have heard
    me tell Bob's story many times. You have heard me tell it to
    three Secretaries of State, to U.N. Ambassadors, to State
    Department officials. You have heard it while members of the
    Levinson family sat before you in this very room. I will keep
    telling Bob's story until Bob is home in South Florida with his
    wife of over 40 years, Christine, with his seven children,
    Susan, Stephanie, Sarah, Samantha, Dan, David, and Doug, his
    sons and daughter-in-law and his seven grandchildren.
        One of Bob's grandsons recently underwent treatment for
    cancer. Thankfully his prognosis is good, but it makes me sick
    to think that this family had to endure those months of
    treatment without their husband, their father, and their
    grandfather. Bob's eighth grandchild is due any day now.
        On the 10th anniversary of Bob's disappearance back on
    March 9th, I said that Bob should be home in time for the
    birth, but here we are, 10 years, 3 months and 20 days from the
    date Bob went missing in Iran. That is too long for any family
    to go without their loved ones. Iran must return Bob now. If
    this regime claims it doesn't have Bob, it knows who does. More
    promises of assistance are too little too late. The time for
    action is now.
        Iran wants sanctions relief? Iran wants foreign investment?
    Why would any responsible company do business in a country that
    illegally kidnaps and detains foreigners? And I might ask, why
    would any reasonable American company do business in a country
    that kidnaps American citizens?
        Bob Levinson is now the longest-held American hostage, but
    I remain hopeful. I am hopeful that this administration will
    continue to exert pressure on Iran. I am hopeful that we will
    soon welcome Bob home to Coral Springs, Florida. I am hopeful
    that Bob will be home to see the birth of his next grandchild.
        Madam Chairman, you have been a heroic ally with me in this
    effort. I thank you for being my partner. I thank you for
    bringing forward all of these bipartisan measures today, and
    for continuing to conduct this committee in such a strong
    bipartisan manner. And I yield back.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much, Mr. Deutch, and I am
    sure the family is just so grateful for you being a fighter for
    Bob all the time. Thank you, Ted.
        Mr. Chabot of Ohio.
        Mr. Chabot. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you for holding
    this hearing, this markup this morning. I first want to speak
    briefly on H. Res. 185 by first commending you and also Mr.
    Deutch for your relentless dedication to the case of Robert
    Levinson, as my colleagues mentioned, the longest-held U.S.
    civilian hostage in American history. And I would like to
    associate myself with both of the remarks that you have made
    this morning and not repeat everything.
        I know that my colleagues will continue to press this
    issue. The U.S. has consistently called for the safe return of
    Mr. Levinson and requested Iranian assistance in the matter,
    and the administration and our allies must continue to include
    Mr. Levinson's disappearance in any future communications with
    Iran. Iran has continued to make promises, yet no tangible
    results. Unfortunately, it is probably not surprising, as we
    are talking about Iran here.
        I also rise in support of H. Res. 218, a resolution that I
    cosponsored, aims to strengthen U.S.-Israel economic
    relationship. A strong economic partnership is critical to
    Israel, and it is also obviously in the United States'
    bestinterests, as well. Israel continues to be one of our, if
    not our strongest allies, on the globe, and we want to make
    sure that that continues.
        Furthermore, in light of Ambassador Haley's remarks, and
    she, of course, was before the full committee as recently as
    yesterday, regarding the U.N. Human Rights Council's targeted
    assaults on Iran this legislation is particularly timely. As we
    all know, Israel consistently seems to be the target, of all
    things, the Human Rights Council in the U.N. They spend, it
    seems, at least, half their time targeting Israel, criticizing
    Israel. It is absolutely absurd. And then they will say nothing
    about human rights abuses in Venezuela or Cuba or a whole range
    of other pretty horrible places right now for human rights on
    the globe.
        Yet, Israel consistently is a target, so I think this is
    very timely that we are passing this today. We have to show our
    partners all around the world that we will continue to support
    Israel in every possible way, and H. Res. 218 reaffirms that
    position.
        So I would urge my colleagues to support all of the
    measures we have before us. I think they are all good, but I
    wanted to particularly talk about those two. Thank you very
    much. I yield back.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you, Mr. Chabot. Thank you for your
    words. And now we will turn to cover boy, Mr. Connolly.
        Mr. Connolly. Thank you, Madam Chairman. And thank you for
    bringing these bipartisan bills to us today. I am proud to
    support all of them. I would ask unanimous consent that I be
    added before we vote to as a cosponsor----
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Without objection, will do so.
        Mr. Connolly [continuing]. H.R. 2646. Thank you. And I
    particularly want to thank my friend and colleague, Ted Deutch,
    for his passion and commitment to the Levinson family and for
    the cause of Bob Levinson. Everything he said is absolutely
    correct. No civilized nation can kidnap somebody visiting that
    country with impunity, indefinitely, and with no cause. And
    that is not the rule of law. That is not how civilized nations
    behave. And we certainly hope Mr. Levinson can be rejoined with
    his family at the earliest possible time.
        Madam Chairman, I think it is also important, I was
    listening to my friend, Mr. Chabot, and I agree with him about
    the hypocrisy involving human rights in Israel and the Human
    Rights Commission at the United Nations, but I think it is
    important we have to be consistent. It would be nice if the
    President of the United States would speak out about human
    rights when he has the opportunity, an opportunity he did not
    choose to use when he visited Saudi Arabia, an opportunity he
    did not choose to use when he visited with the Russian foreign
    minister, and one can go down the list. It is vital that we
    speak with one voice and that we speak consistently in
    upholding rule of law and universal human rights, whether it be
    in Cuba, or Iran, or Venezuela.
        And we need to speak with one voice, and, so, I would hope
    the President would hear that message from Mr. Chabot and
    myself and others. It is really important that it come from the
    top if we really mean it, and if we are going to effectuate
    change.
        With that, Madam Chairman, I, again, thank you for bringing
    these bills to us today. Happily I support all of them, and
    thank you for your leadership. I yield back.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much, sir. Thank you.
        And our hero, Mr. Mast.
        Mr. Mast. Thank you, Madam Chair. What an incredible series
    of resolutions. I applaud this committee for their work on
    them. They get directly to the heart of the most important
    issues for this committee. We identify and work with our allies
    like Jordan, with our friends like Israel. They seek to be the
    light. We call out evil. We call out injustice in Iran,
    Hezbollah where we see it. These resolutions, they vow truth. I
    am proud to support them, proud of this committee for their
    work on them, and I yield back. Thank you.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you, Mr. Mast.
        Mr. Schneider was here. He is not here? Mr. Lieu.
        Mr. Lieu. Thank you, Madam Chair and Ranking Member Deutch
    for holding today's markup. I support all the legislation under
    consideration today and am pleased that one of those measures
    is a resolution I introduced with Congressman Ted Poe. I also
    want to thank Congressman Chabot for his kind words today and
    for being a coauthor of the resolution.
        This legislation recognizes the incredible economic
    partnership and relationship between the United States and
    Israel, and encourages the administration to explore new areas
    of cooperation in promising fields like energy, water
    conservation, neurotechnology, and cybersecurity.
        Today, two-way trade is $40 billion annually, and despite
    representing only 2 percent of the population in the region,
    Israel is the third largest importer of U.S. goods in the
    region. And Israel, in fact, as mentioned before, has more
    companies listed on the NASDAQ than any other country, except
    the U.S. and China, and this is fueling amazing innovations in
    companies from Silicon Beach in Los Angeles to Silicon Wadi in
    Tel Aviv, and the partnership has even thrived at the State
    level with over 30 U.S. States, including my home State of
    California, signing agreements with Israel to deepen
    cooperation on mutual areas of interest.
        This revolution enjoys broad support in both the House and
    Senate, and I hope we continue to move it through Congress to
    send a strong bipartisan support for deepening U.S.-Israel
    cooperation in a promising field of science and technology. And
    with that, I yield back.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much, Mr. Lieu. Mr.
    Schneider of Illinois.
        Mr. Schneider. Thank you, chairman, and I want to thank
    Chairman Ros-Lehtinen and Ranking Member Deutch for holding
    this markup today. I appreciate the timely consideration of
    these bipartisan pieces of legislation that address key foreign
    policy issues, and also wish to express my support for all of
    them. One such issue is the terrorist organization, Hezbollah,
    and its impact around the globe.
        I was pleased to see that in 2013, the European Union
    designated Hezbollah's military wing as a terrorist
    organization. But this is simply not enough. That is why I am
    proud to colead with my colleagues H. Res. 359, which is a
    resolution that urges the EU to designate Hezbollah in its
    entirety as a terrorist organization.
        The resolution also expresses appreciation to the EU for
    progress in countering Hezbollah activities since the 2013
    designation, and urges the EU to increase pressure on the group
    by freezing assets in Europe, prohibiting fundraising
    activities, and improving cross-border cooperation between EU
    members in combating Hezbollah.
        I am also proud to cosponsor H. Res. 218, which highlights
    the importance of the U.S.-Israel economic relationship, and
    encourages continued cooperation in the fields of science and
    technology.
        The U.S. and Israel have a robust partnership when it comes
    to innovation, and we have seen this manifested through the
    creation and success of programs, such as the United States-
    Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development
    Foundation, U.S.-Israel Science and Technology Foundation, and
    the U.S.-Israel Binational Agricultural Research and
    Development Foundation.
        I look forward to the continued collaboration between our
    two nations and the innovative creations this partnership will
    deliver.
        I am also proud to be a cosponsor and colead of House
    Resolution 274, Condemning the Government of Iran's persecution
    of its Baha'i minority and continued violations of human
    rights.
        While Iran is a diverse country and home to religious
    minorities, including the Baha'is, as well a Jewish community
    with roots that go back to thousands of years, the government's
    autocratic rule in the name of a narrow interpretation of one
    version of Islam denies freedom of religion to many of its
    citizens, a liberty we value so deeply here in the United
    States, and enshrine in the First Amendment of our
    Constitution.
        This persecution of Iranian members of the Baha'i faith,
    which ranges from blatant discrimination in the educational and
    employment spheres, to the brutality of imprisonment and
    execution, cannot be tolerated. We must not forget that in
    addition to Iran's flagrant testing of intercontinental
    ballistic missiles, and outright support for terrorism that
    threaten Israel and our other allies in the region, the Iranian
    people also suffer at the hands of the regime.
        The U.S. Baha'i House of Worship is headquartered in the
    Chicago area, and I firmly stand with Baha'i community in the
    U.S. and Iran in calling for an end to this horrific religious
    persecution.
        I would also like to join my colleagues in highlighting the
    case of Robert Levinson, as has been noted, the longest-held
    U.S. civilian in our Nation's history. No family should have to
    go through what Mr. Levinson's family has gone through. I am
    pleased to see this subcommittee take up House Resolution 185,
    which calls on the Government of Iran to fulfill its repeated
    promises to assist in this case of Robert Levinson, and I look
    forward to him joining his family and welcoming his eighth
    grandchild.
        I would like to thank the subcommittee again for
    considering these important and relevant bills, and with that,
    I yield back.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much. Mr. Suozzi?
        Mr. Suozzi. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. I want to thank
    you and the ranking member for your excellent bipartisan
    cooperation on all of these different issues, and I want to
    make a special thank you to Ranking Member Deutch, for actually
    reintroducing me to Mr. Levinson's sons recently. There are
    seven children in the Levinson family, and it was 12 years ago
    that Mr. Levinson's mother-in-law passed away, and on Long
    Island I was there for the family wake, I was serving as the
    county executive at the time, and we were reintroduced here in
    the hallway, not long ago, by Mr. Deutch, and I want to thank
    him so much for doing that. And I want to thank him for his
    personal commitment to this family in trying to help relieve
    the suffering that they are undergoing. And in each of these
    different issues that we are addressing, everyone on this
    committee is working together to try and relieve suffering in
    different parts of the world, and this is really important
    work, and it is wonderful that when everything in politics seem
    so petty and small these days, that people can work together to
    try and achieve some common good. So I am happy to support each
    of these initiatives. Thank you so much.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you, sir. And we are glad to see
    Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Zeldin with us, as well. And hearing no
    further requests for recognition, the question occurs on the
    items considered en bloc. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All
    those opposed say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the
    measures considered en bloc are agreed to. Without objection
    the measures considered en bloc are ordered favorably reported
    to the full committee as amended, and staff is directed to make
    any technical and conforming changes.
        That concludes our markup. The subcommittee stands
    adjourned. And thank you ladies and gentlemen for being with
    us.
        [Whereupon, at 10:33 a.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

                                A P P E N D I X

                                  ----------

             Material Submitted for the Record

       [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                     [all]