[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 168 (Wednesday, October 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H8392-H8393]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           RECOGNIZING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND TURKISH INVASION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a concerned American, 
concerned because our country stands at a crossroads in foreign policy 
and history, I might add.
  In recent days, we have seen this administration cynically abandon 
our Kurdish allies in northeast Syria and open the door to a Turkish 
invasion. These decisions were made without consulting our allies, our 
distinguished diplomats, and regional experts like Ambassador Jeffrey.
  Much damage has been done. Yesterday, President Putin and President 
Erdogan signed an agreement, I believe, that harms American interests 
in that part of the world.
  Hundreds of people have been killed. Tens of thousands have been 
displaced. Dangerous ISIS prisoners, who have been killing and wounding 
Americans, are now on the loose, threatening increased international 
terrorist actions in Europe and the United States. This is a real 
threat.
  Turkey's actions have shown it to be a dangerous actor on the 
international stage, but it is not the first time. We must immediately 
impose sanctions to show our commitment to a stable international order 
and the rule of law, and Turkey must understand that.
  Clearly, the international reputation of the United States has, I 
think, been deeply damaged.
  As chairman of the Transatlantic Legislators' Dialogue, I know. Our 
European partners ask me all the time: Are we together? Do we share the 
same values of the rule of law, of democratic freedoms?
  The United States should never, ever end up standing alone. The past 
few days also reminds us of another injustice that must be rectified.
  In 1915, the Ottoman Empire embarked upon systematic deportation of 
1.5 million Armenians. These innocent men, women, and children became 
the first genocide in the 20th century. Yet, as I stand here this 
morning, the brutal atrocity has still not received the official 
recognition by our government that it deserves.

                              {time}  1015

  Turkey outrageously continues to ignore the voices of the survivors 
and the descendants around the world. Many of these survivors settled 
in my district in the San Joaquin Valley where they have lived and 
where they have raised their children in the blessings of liberty, and 
they made it in the American way.
  But this is not justice. The road to justice begins with full 
recognition of the Armenian people's suffering. Both Turkey and the 
United States, immediately, should recognize that the Armenian genocide 
occurred, as the European Union has done.
  I am proud to support H. Res. 296 which, over the objections of 
Ankara, would establish permanent U.S. recognition and ongoing American 
remembrance of the Armenian genocide. That is the right thing to do.
  I call upon my colleagues who have yet to publicly endorse this 
bipartisan resolution to join me, with over 110 cosponsors, in calling 
for a long-overdue

[[Page H8393]]

passage by the United States House of Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, the horrors of the Armenian genocide can never ever be 
undone. Words alone cannot comfort those who suffered nor dry the tears 
of another mother or grandmother who has lost her children or 
grandchildren. By acknowledging the suffering of the victims through 
the official recognition of the Armenian genocide, we can at least 
ensure that future generations will never ever forget this atrocity to 
mankind.


                         Election Interference

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the growing 
serious threat to our democracy and the interference in elections of 
foreign adversaries. Yes, these things are all related.
  With the 2020 elections fast approaching, now is the time to take 
action by supporting the SHIELD Act. The SHIELD Act puts four 
commonsense bipartisan reforms to improve our defenses against anyone 
meddling in our elections. No one should do that, and every American 
should take issue. It closes loopholes, strengthens reporting 
requirements, restricts exchange of information between campaigns, and 
limits any involvement with foreign agents.
  As public officials, we raise our hand to protect and defend the 
Constitution of the United States. We must rise to this occasion to do 
just that. That is what we should do as Members of the House of 
Representatives. Our constituents expect it from us to ensure that 
every vote is counted and that no one--no foreign source--can meddle in 
American elections, ever, as took place in 2016.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join with Congresswoman Zoe 
Lofgren and others who have worked very hard on this important 
legislation to pass the SHIELD Act this week. It is the right thing to 
do.

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