[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 28, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BRINGING KAI LI HOME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. LaLota) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, we, the United States Government, must do 
everything in our power to bring my constituent, Kai Li, home from his 
unlawful imprisonment by the Chinese Communist Party.
  Since 2016, Kai Li, of Huntington, New York, has been unjustly 
imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party.
  In 2016, Kai Li visited Shanghai to mark the first anniversary of his 
mother's death. When he arrived at the airport in Shanghai, Chinese 
Communist Party authorities immediately arrested him on what they 
called espionage charges.
  For months, Kai was held in secret detention without access to legal 
counsel. Almost 2 years later, in July of 2018, in a one-hour secret 
trial, Kai was convicted of espionage.
  This is yet another example of the Chinese Communist Party's long 
history of aggressively targeting and detaining individuals on trumped-
up charges of spying.
  Since coming into office 14 months ago, I have called on the 
administration to do everything in its power to bring Kai Li home to 
his family, including his son, Harrison.

  Soon, I will be introducing legislation to urge this administration 
to prioritize bringing Kai Li home and end his unlawful detainment. We 
must right this wrong and fix a broken situation.


                        police explorers program

  Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, the Suffolk County Police Department has 
an exciting program to increase interest among teenagers in pursuing a 
career in law enforcement. It is called the Police Explorers.
  Participants in the program must show an interest in a law 
enforcement career, meet minimum academic standards, and have no 
criminal convictions or history.
  The Police Explorers program is a learning-for-life program, which 
provides participants with police training and community service 
experience.
  I had the chance to meet with Sergeant Linda Piotrowski of the 
Suffolk County Police Department in my Hauppauge office, and she 
briefed me on this program.
  We had a great discussion about public safety and how to increase 
awareness among young people interested in a career in law enforcement.
  As the son and grandson of police officers, I am thrilled to see 
efforts to increase law enforcement recruitment numbers and to help 
those interested in a career in law enforcement. Together, we must 
continue to support and back the blue at every opportunity.


                  combating the rise in anti-semitism

  Mr. LaLOTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to condemn the disturbing 
rise in anti-Semitism in this country and around the world, especially 
in the months following the October 7 terrorist attacks committed by 
Hamas against the people of Israel.
  Since October 7, America has seen a demonstrable rise in anti-
Semitism on college campuses where students have been harassed and even 
insulted simply for being Jewish.
  Despite their years of elitist rhetoric, talk of safe spaces, and 
feigning how they welcome all cultures, duplicitous liberal college 
presidents have refused to take action to protect these students.
  In America, every student should be free to live and learn without 
fear of harassment or physical violence. America's colleges must do 
better.
  Here in Washington, I am proud to cosponsor several pieces of 
legislation to support Israel, hold Hamas and Iran accountable, and 
condemn anti-Semitism, including H.R. 6090, the Anti-Semitism Awareness 
Act, which would require the Department of Education to clearly define 
anti-Semitism and ensure anti-Semitic hate crimes on college campuses 
are properly investigated and prosecuted.

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