[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 130 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H5870-H5871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                REFUGEES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Curbelo) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention 
to the tragic humanitarian crisis currently underway with the migration 
of refugees from Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey making their way into 
Western Europe.
  With the unfolding of the horrific conflict in Syria and the 
continuing grotesque violence of ISIS, we can only

[[Page H5871]]

expect that hundreds of thousands more will attempt to flee hostile 
regions for the safety of Europe and beyond.
  Since 2011, at least 4 million Syrians have fled their country, 
uprooting their families to escape brutal violence and miserable living 
conditions.

                              {time}  1015

  However, the refugees' plight for a safe environment since leaving 
Syria and escaping to Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey has been bleak.
  In just the last few days, we have seen heartbreaking images of 
refugees making the difficult journey to enter European countries, 
sometimes paying with their lives. These migrants and refugees will do 
anything for a better future.
  I was proud to see the leadership of Angela Merkel in Germany 
accepting so many of these people in need. I strongly encourage all 
European Union countries to follow Chancellor Merkel's lead in 
welcoming these migrants and refugees and also supporting Germany's 
efforts in ensuring this undertaking is spread across the continent.
  Most importantly, the United States must also offer any humanitarian 
assistance we can to ensure these vulnerable refugees have all 
available resources to return to a sense of normalcy. The world must 
step up, and I hope this Congress will play a role in the process of 
assisting these refugees.
  Mr. Speaker, the conflict in Syria is one of the great blemishes on 
human history. Approximately 250,000 people have been killed. This 
administration said early on that Bashar al-Assad had to go. Nothing 
happened. The administration then said that, if Mr. Al-Assad used 
chemical weapons, then he really had to go. The dictator did, gassing 
innocent people, including children, and the world did nothing.
  This is a heavy burden we carry now, and that is why it is essential 
that we do everything we can to assist these refugees. My parents were 
refugees; my grandparents were refugees, and the United States took us 
in and gave us an opportunity. The world must also now account for our 
failure in Syria and do everything we can to help these innocent 
people.


                      World Suicide Prevention Day

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize today, 
September 10, as World Suicide Prevention Day. Anyone who has been 
impacted by the horrible tragedy of a suicide, whether it be a family 
member, friend, or colleague, is well aware of the devastating impact 
when one person they love takes their own life.
  It is critical that we continue the conversation about not only 
suicide, but mental health issues as well. People of all ages, races, 
and socioeconomic status can be plagued with mental health problems, 
and we must ensure those who are suffering receive the proper diagnosis 
and treatment.
  In addition, communities must work together to foster understanding 
rather than judgment. If you or a loved one is experiencing 
difficulties, I encourage you: Please, take the time to seek counseling 
from a professional.
  Every life is worth living, and every life is precious. Let's come 
together to support our friends and neighbors and work to address 
mental illness and prevent suicide.


                         Maduro Border Closing

  Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it was recently announced by 
Venezuela's de facto dictator, Nicolas Maduro, that the single 
remaining border crossing with Colombia will be completely bolted.
  This action is only the latest example of Maduro's weak attempts to 
search for phantom scapegoats of his regime's failed economic policies. 
The figment of Maduro's imagination is Colombians are the cause of food 
shortages, the collapse of the Venezuelan currency, and his country's 
rampant crime. As a result, the Venezuelan dictator has ordered the 
border between Colombia and Venezuela closed.
  Colombians living in Venezuela have been unlawfully arrested and have 
had their homes bulldozed, leaving them with no other option but to 
flee; but with the latest and final border closure, Colombians are 
forced to return to their home country using very dangerous routes. 
This has been dubbed a humanitarian crisis by the United Nations.
  Make no mistake, this crackdown by Maduro is a sick and twisted 
attempt to distract the Venezuelan electorate from Caracas' failed 
socialist and antidemocratic policies ahead of the December elections.
  Unfortunately, the horrible suffering these policies have caused for 
both Colombian refugees and the Venezuelan people are all too real.

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