[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 8 (Monday, January 12, 2026)]
[House]
[Page H619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         WARMTH OF COLLECTIVISM

  (Mr. Hill of Arkansas was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, America recently witnessed the new 
mayor of America's largest city share his democratic socialism vision 
with New Yorkers. He pledged to ``replace the frigidity of rugged 
individualism with the warmth of collectivism.''
  Here in our Nation's semiquincentennial, 250 years of liberty, the 
new mayor rejected the fundamentals of American hard work and the 
extraordinary benefits of markets that have freed billions from hunger 
and poverty around the globe.
  Anyone with even a basic knowledge of history knows that government-
enforced collectivism always ends in poverty, death, and despair.
  Mr. Speaker, look at Cuba, where the warmth of communism has left 
people with no rights, no freedom, and driving cars from the 1940s and 
1950s; or Xinjiang, China, where the Uyghurs are imprisoned and 
enslaved to labor; or certainly no modest case, the Korean Peninsula, 
North Korea, where people are in darkness for 12 months a year and 
where people are stunted by malnutrition and oppression and live in 
darkness, literally and figuratively.

                              {time}  1215

  Compare that to South Korea, Mr. Speaker. In less than three 
generations since the end of the Korean conflict, the average South 
Korean is three inches taller, lives 12 years longer, and earns 18 
times more than their northern struggling counterpart. Same people; 
same peninsula. One system embraced the individual; the other, the 
collective.
  Of course, there are the millions starved to death and thrown into 
the gulags by Mao's China and Stalin's Soviet Union.
  These aren't abstract failures, Mr. Speaker. They are graveyards 
built on broken bodies. What starts as hope ends in tyranny and death 
every time.


                       Coptic Christians in Egypt

  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to shed light on the 
discrimination faced by Coptic Christians in Egypt.
  Coptic Christians face restrictions on building churches, have 
limited representation in government, and, tragically, have been 
targets of violence and persecution. They are attacked in the streets, 
held as political prisoners, and have little recourse.
  The discrimination they face not only violates their basic human 
rights, but also undermines Egypt's rich cultural diversity and 
history, as well as Egypt's own legal commitments to its citizens.
  It is critical for the international community to encourage the 
Egyptian government to further embrace religious tolerance, effectively 
protect minority rights, and ensure equality under the law for all of 
its citizens.
  It is important for us to bring to light these issues and do all we 
can to promote our values: that no matter what race or religion, all 
people deserve dignity and respect.
  As the Coptic Pope Tawadros II told me: ``All Egyptians take their 
water from the Nile.'' In that spirit, Egypt has work to do.


                     Recognizing Dr. Cam Patterson

  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
leadership of Dr. Cam Patterson, our former chancellor of the 
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
  Last year, Dr. Patterson announced his decision to step down from his 
leadership position after 7 years of focused, dedicated service to the 
university, the medical school, and the people of Arkansas.
  Under his leadership, UAMS continued its commitment to excellence. As 
UAMS faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Patterson 
helped expand access to care across the State and navigated the 
pandemic while strengthening the university's reputation for excellence 
and research, patient care, and medical education.
  As he remains at UAMS as a professor of cardiovascular medicine, Dr. 
Patterson will continue to advance his spirit of innovation, 
compassion, and service.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Patterson for his leadership and for always 
putting Arkansas families first.


               Condolences to the Family of Doug LaMalfa

  Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in condolence to Jill 
LaMalfa and the LaMalfa family of northern California, that beautiful 
area north of Sacramento, deep in the wilderness, home to Mt. Shasta. 
There was no better representation of the people of California than 
Doug LaMalfa.
  He was a gentle giant. I had so much fun with him over the years. He 
was such a committed person to his constituents, to the State of 
California, to public service, to his relationships on both sides of 
the aisle. He had deep respect. From the most liberal Democrat in 
California to the most conservative Republican down in Texas, they all 
loved Doug LaMalfa. He will be missed.
  Mr. Speaker, Martha and I share our condolences. We pray for the 
family at this tragic loss, but we are grateful for our friendship and 
service with Doug LaMalfa.

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