[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 126 (Thursday, July 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1076]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       H.R. 3542 AND H. RES. 129

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BRENDAN F. BOYLE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 26, 2018

  Mr. BRENDAN F. BOYLE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to make 
clear that, had I been able to vote, I would have voted Nay on roll 
call vote 72, Nay on roll call vote 73, Yea on roll call vote 74, and 
Yea on roll call vote 75 on February 14, 2018.
   I cosponsor Ms. Roybal-Allard of California's bill, H.R. 3440, the 
Dream Act of 2017. Last September, the Trump Administration announced 
its shameful decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals 
(DACA) program with a six-month delay. While Republicans have 
continually refused to take up legislation to reform our nation's 
broken immigration system, the President's announcement now forces 
Congress to act. I join my Democratic colleagues urging Speaker Ryan 
and our Republican colleagues to bring H.R. 3440 to the floor in order 
to permanently protect DREAMers and allow them to remain here and work 
legally to contribute to strengthening the nation they have called home 
since childhood.
   H.R. 3542, the Hamas Human Shields Prevention Act, imposes sanctions 
on Hamas for violating internationally recognized human rights by using 
civilians as human shields. The gross human rights violations committed 
by Hamas are numerous and well-documented. Since its takeover of Gaza 
in 2007, Hamas has summarily executed and tortured civilians, and 
continuously put the civilian population of Gaza at risk. Hamas 
continues to intentionally position missile launch facilities, weapon 
stockpiles, and fighters near mosques, hospitals, homes, and schools. 
The terrorist organization routinely discourages Palestinian civilians 
from heeding warnings from the Israeli Defense Forces regarding 
imminent military strikes, and in some cases has forced civilians to 
gather on roofs to act as human shields. This legislation is sadly 
necessary. I remain dedicated to addressing these issues as a member of 
the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and I hope the Senate acts quickly 
to pass H.R. 3542.

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