[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 806-808]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            CONDEMNING THE RECENT TERRORIST ATTACKS IN PARIS

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 37) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Paris that 
resulted in the deaths of seventeen innocent persons and offering 
condolences to those personally affected by this cowardly act.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. 37

       Whereas, on January 7, 2015, armed radical Islamist 
     terrorists stormed the offices of the satirical newspaper 
     Charlie Hebdo and slaughtered twelve people, including 
     editorial staff of the paper, a visitor, a security guard, a 
     maintenance worker, and a Muslim police officer;
       Whereas terrorists Cherif and Said Kouachi, who carried out 
     the attack, were located and killed by police two days later 
     and their hostages rescued;
       Whereas Amedy Coulibaly killed a female police officer on 
     January 8, 2015, and intentionally targeted a kosher 
     supermarket, taking multiple hostages and murdering four 
     Jewish men on January 9, 2015, before French police raided 
     the store, killed Coulibaly, and rescued the surviving 
     hostages;
       Whereas Amedy Coulibaly stated that he had worked in 
     coordination with Said and Cherif Kouachi and called them 
     ``brothers from our team'';
       Whereas Hayat Boumeddiene, a fourth suspect connected with 
     the attack and the common-law wife of Amedy Coulibaly, 
     remains at large;
       Whereas the Kouachi brothers are believed to have traveled 
     to Yemen in 2011 where they are reported to have received 
     weapons training and met with Anwar al-Awlaki, a senior 
     member of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula;
       Whereas al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed credit 
     for the Charlie Hebdo attack;
       Whereas Amedy Coulibaly claimed to be a member of the 
     Islamic State of Iraq and Syria;
       Whereas radical Islamist terrorist groups, including the 
     Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, al-Qaeda and its 
     affiliates worldwide, the Taliban and Haqqani network in 
     Afghanistan and Pakistan, Ansar al-Sharia in Libya, Boko 
     Haram in Nigeria, al-Shabaab in Somalia, Hizballah in Lebanon 
     and Syria, Hamas in Gaza, and others, pose a growing threat 
     to international peace and stability;
       Whereas these terrorist attacks represent an assault on 
     fundamental principles essential to a democratic society, 
     including the universal right to free expression and freedom 
     of religion;
       Whereas the increase in anti-Semitic attacks in France and 
     throughout Europe remains of great concern;
       Whereas the United States and France share a longstanding 
     cultural, political, and economic relationship that has 
     greatly benefitted both nations;
       Whereas since the founding of our Nation, France has been 
     an ally of the United States, and French soldiers have fought 
     side-by-side with American soldiers throughout history, 
     including during two World Wars;
       Whereas security cooperation between the United States and 
     France plays an essential role in combating violent extremism 
     in West and North Africa, the Middle East and around the 
     world; and
       Whereas the United States is committed to supporting its 
     oldest ally France in this difficult time: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns the recent terrorist attacks in Paris that 
     resulted in the tragic loss of seventeen innocent lives;
       (2) extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by 
     this tragedy;
       (3) supports the efforts of the Government of France to 
     ensure that all of those individuals who committed or 
     supported these attacks are brought to justice;
       (4) remains concerned regarding the flow of foreign 
     fighters to and from the Middle East and West and North 
     Africa and the threat posed by these individuals upon their 
     return to their local communities;
       (5) appreciates and supports France's continuing efforts to 
     combat terrorism and promote stability throughout the Middle 
     East and West and North Africa;
       (6) appreciates France's contributions to the multilateral 
     effort to destroy the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant;
       (7) recognizes the growing threat posed by radical Islamist 
     terrorist groups worldwide and reaffirms the commitment of 
     the United States to the multilateral, global fight against 
     such violent extremists;
       (8) calls upon all nations to join a global effort to 
     combat violent extremist ideologies and terrorist groups; and
       (9) remains committed to the defense of free expression, 
     including religious freedom, as well as other universal 
     values that terrorists seek to destroy through a campaign of 
     cowardly threats and reprehensible violence.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add any 
extraneous material to the Record in this debate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this resolution. The 
resolution condemns the terrorist attack in France carried out by 
Islamist extremists earlier this month.
  On January 7, two armed gunmen entered the offices of Charlie Hebdo, 
the satirical magazine in Paris, and, in a brutal, premeditated attack, 
killed 12 people and injured 11 others.
  The following day, as we watched this play out on international 
media, their associate, Amedy Coulibaly, shot and killed a female 
police officer, and in the following days with the Kouachi brothers on 
the run, Coulibaly targeted a kosher supermarket where he shot and 
killed four Jewish shoppers and took multiple hostages. Later that day, 
courageous French police officers stormed the supermarket, killed the 
attacker, and freed the hostages.
  There are no words that we can speak today, I think, that will 
comfort the families and the friends of the 17 people murdered in those 
terrorist attacks.
  The victims included cartoonists and maintenance workers, police 
officers, grocery shoppers, Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

                              {time}  1415

  There are no words strong enough to condemn these terrorists and 
their radical jihadist ideology.
  The Charlie Hebdo offices were attacked because their cartoons 
offended. The magazine's editor was specifically marked as a target for 
death by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula's online newspaper magazine 
called Inspire under the not-so-subtle headline, ``A Bullet a Day Keeps 
the Infidel Away.'' Indeed, the Kouachi brothers called out the 
editor's name before they shot and killed him.
  Mr. Speaker, the attack on Charlie Hebdo was an attack on free 
speech. The right to express ideas and opinions, even if they are 
unpopular or offensive, is a foundation for a free society--France's 
and ours. Frankly, the struggle of the Enlightenment has largely been a 
struggle against blasphemy laws going all of the way back to the 
foundation of this Republic and our First Amendment and Jefferson's 
concept of freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
  It was not the first time that this magazine was attacked by 
terrorists. And, unfortunately, it probably won't be the last time a 
media outlet like this is targeted. That is why this resolution 
resolves to uphold and defend the basic principle--free speech.
  The grocery store victims were murdered because they were Jewish. In 
the days following, France stationed thousands of police officers to 
guard

[[Page 807]]

France's Jewish schools and synagogues in the aftermath of the 
terrorist attacks. Alarmingly, anti-Semitic forces are on the rise in 
France and in much of Europe.
  This resolution puts the House on record as condemning in the 
strongest terms possible the Paris attacks and extends the sympathy of 
every American to those affected by the tragedy. It reiterates our 
support for France, America's sister republic, our oldest ally, and it 
calls upon all nations to join the global effort of fighting violent 
extremism.
  This is a time to not just express sorrow for those killed but also a 
time to show resolve in the face of terror. Our intelligence-sharing 
with allies, already strong, will need to get much sharper; border 
checks improved; and coalition efforts to destroy ISIS will need to be 
stepped up. I urge all Members to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, the terrorist attacks by radical Islamists in Paris were 
a tragedy for all who love peace and freedom. What happened at the 
offices of Charlie Hebdo and the kosher market reminds us this violent 
extremism remains a critical threat. I am happy to stand with the 
chairman here in showing strong bipartisanship once again because we 
grieve with France, our oldest ally. Our hearts break for all those who 
have lost loved ones in these attacks and for all who watched this 
carnage spill into their peaceful city streets.
  As a New Yorker, I remember the outpouring of support from France 
following September 11, 2011. But even as we mourn the dead, we draw 
inspiration from the displays of courage and solidarity on the streets 
of the City of Light, across Europe, and around the world.
  With the attackers still at large, Parisians took to the streets in 
massive and peaceful vigils. They sent a clear message to the world: 
freedom and justice will not be cowed by violence and terror.
  In these attacks, Mr. Speaker, the ancient evil of anti-Semitism once 
again showed its ugly face. Anti-Semitism is both a threat with which 
governments need to deal and a societal challenge requiring honest 
dialogue, critical self-examination, and constant vigilance. France's 
deployment of special troops and extra police to Jewish sites was the 
right thing to do. But much more will be needed in the days ahead to 
ensure that Europe's largest Jewish community is safe from attack and 
free from fear.
  Just as America stands with the people of France against terrorism, 
Americans also stand shoulder to shoulder with European Jewry.
  That is the message we are sending today with this resolution. 
Whether in Paris or New York, Moscow or Jerusalem, whether homegrown or 
imported, whether targeting Jews, Muslims, Christians, or anyone else, 
violent extremism has no place in a civilized world. We will continue 
to work with our friends and allies to put a stop to this threat. It is 
important that Congress go on record as strongly opposed to this 
violence. We will do whatever it takes to secure the future of freedom 
and democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I am Jewish--Je suis Juif. I am Charlie--Je suis 
Charlie.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), the chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, and the author 
of this measure.
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and the ranking 
member for bringing this resolution to the House floor so quickly.
  Mr. Speaker, it was a cold winter morning in Paris just before 
lunchtime when two masked men with AK-47s approached a woman standing 
outside the door of the Charlie Hebdo newspaper, forcing her to let 
them in.
  Once inside the door, they gunned down the security guard in the 
lobby and ran up to the second floor shouting, ``Where is Charb? Where 
is Charb?'' Charb is the nickname of the newspaper's editor, Mr. 
Charbonnier. After reaching their target, they executed him and 10 
others. They exited the building shouting, ``Allahu Akbar,'' or ``God 
is the greatest.'' Then they sped off. They would kill an injured 
Muslim police officer lying on the ground before they fled.
  The two terrorists got away, but not for long. French law enforcement 
found and killed the men in a standoff near the Paris airport. That 
same day, another terrorist killed a female police officer and attacked 
a kosher supermarket and murdered four Jewish men. Once again, French 
law enforcement took care of the terrorists and rescued the hostages.
  These terrorists killed because they didn't like what people had to 
say. Mr. Speaker, it is a fundamental human right to have freedom of 
expression, freedom of press, freedom of speech, and freedom of 
religion. No amount of violence can take those rights away from us. It 
is basic.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution says we are not going to let Islamic 
radical terrorists steal those rights from anyone, whether it is the 
French, whether it is someone else in the world or even here in 
America. Mr. Speaker, after all, they killed at the kosher cafe because 
they not only didn't like what people were saying, they didn't like 
those people because they were Jews.
  France did an excellent job bringing swift justice down on these 
terrorists, but the fight is certainly not over. There may be, and 
probably are, hundreds of others around the world plotting to kill 
neighbors and countrymen and people in other Nations because those 
terrorists don't agree with what those people say or what those people 
look like or what those people's personal religion may be. They think 
they have the right to kill in the name of a radical Islamic religion.
  Mr. Speaker, the threat is serious and it is deadly. This resolution 
remembers those folks who were killed because they believed the way 
they did or because they looked the way they looked or because their 
religion was different than others. We mourn when the French mourn. As 
stated earlier, the French are our oldest and first ally.
  In fact, Mr. Speaker, we have two portraits in this House Chamber, 
one of George Washington and one of Lafayette, the first great 
Frenchman who helped the United States. We have a close bond with the 
French. And it is important that we let them, the world, and especially 
the terrorists know that our bond with freedom-loving countries will 
remain strong, especially in time of need, when people are attacked 
because of their beliefs and the idea that they can express a 
difference of opinion.
  I want to congratulate French law enforcement for their speedy and 
quick resolve in disposing of these terrorists, and we should let them 
know that we appreciate all law enforcement who fight back against 
terrorists who want to kill us because we don't agree with them.
  Once again, I thank the chairman and the ranking member for bringing 
this resolution to the House floor.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Royce and Mr. Engel and Mr. 
Poe for their leadership in bringing the House together on a very 
important issue.
  Earlier today I stood and spoke about the tragic news that we heard 
early this morning of two Japanese citizens being held and ISIS asking 
for $200 million.
  The work of these individuals in Paris, France, and beyond was in 
their mind a connectedness to al Qaeda and others, proudly so, as they 
slaughtered those individuals who chose to lift up liberte in the 
spirit of the French people and take to the pen and assess the 
atmosphere of the day and provide humor to it.
  Mr. Speaker, I do not comment on one person's opinion, but I do know 
that liberte, democracy, liberty, and

[[Page 808]]

our own beliefs give every human being dignity and the freedom of 
expression, the free press, the right to free speech and religion, and 
I believe these are very valuable ideals. And so this resolution speaks 
to that by condemning the heinousness of the act.
  How many families--children, mothers, and fathers--were impacted by 
the loss of their loved ones? What a tragedy to see a police officer 
gunned down in the street who asked, as I reflect on the words as I 
recall them, to be left alone, and yet was shot again, and other 
officers in the line of duty being subjected to the violence of these 
individuals.
  This is an intolerable situation that should not be tolerated. But we 
are hearing from the voices of these terrorist groups that they are now 
asking individuals to stay in place, to stay at home and create jihad. 
At the same time, I have heard voices from the Islam extended 
community, people of the faith, Islamic faith, and I have heard them 
condemn these violent acts. I have heard them condemn these acts as not 
reflecting their faith.
  Then again, as we watched an individual slaughter Jewish persons in a 
kosher market purposely because of their faith, we cannot tolerate 
that. In one single voice, we should rise up as this resolution, H. 
Res. 37, says to express the affection for all people and their right 
to exist. That is, if you will, a universal phenomenon, to allow 
individual persons and individuals to exist without threat of heinous 
violence. As I talked about Dr. Martin Luther King, I said the very 
words he has commended to us: Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice 
everywhere.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. As we begin this journey into a new year, I don't 
know how much we will be confronted with these horrible acts. I am on 
the Homeland Security Committee, and for a long time we were seeing the 
signs of what I call franchise terrorism. But I do know that it has to 
be a world, a global effort, but it also has to, as I began to talk 
about earlier, reach the hearts and minds of young men and possibly 
women who are being subjected to radicalism on the Internet or 
elsewhere.
  We have to stop that bleeding, if you will, and begin to promote 
openly our values, which include respect for religious differences. As 
we do that, I believe it will be well worth the investment because we 
don't know where this is going to end, and we certainly need to say to 
the American people that we are committed, in essence that we are on 
top of it, and that we have many solutions to this tragic problem.
  So I rise in support of H. Res. 37 for its condemnation and 
recognition of where we are today, and I ask for us to address this in 
a multitude of ways in order to have peace in this world and in our 
Nation.

                              {time}  1430

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Je suis Juif, I am Jewish. Mr. Speaker, Je suis Charlie, I am Charlie 
Hebdo. This is what we are all saying collectively as a Congress as we 
debate this bill today. This is what the people of France were saying 
and have been saying ever since the tragedy happened. People with 
placards and banners were carrying them high above France to show 
solidarity in the fight against terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, we have had an important conversation here in the House. 
I am heartened by the expressions of unity and resolve, and I hope they 
provide a measure of comfort to those families that are suffering who 
had loved ones who were killed and those who were wounded by this 
recent attack.
  Symbolism looms hard in foreign affairs, and with this resolution, we 
deliver a powerful message. We deliver it on the day the President is 
going to speak with us in the State of the Union, and I think nothing 
could be stronger than for this House unanimously to fight terrorism, 
to reject terrorism, and, again, to say, ``Je suis Juif, Je suis 
Charlie.''
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Poe from Texas, chairman of 
the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, for 
authoring this important resolution; but I also want to thank our 
ranking member, Eliot Engel of New York, for his support in bringing 
this resolution to the floor to ensure that we speak with one voice on 
issues of violent extremism and to ensure that we stand with our ally 
France at this difficult time.
  Last week, many Members visited the Foreign Affairs Committee to sign 
a condolence book and greet the French Ambassador in person. Mr. Engel 
and I thanked them for their show of solidarity in this.
  Mr. Speaker, the ultimate reality is that these attacks in Paris are 
indicative of a resurgent terrorist threat from radical Islamist 
extremists. The brothers were connected to al Qaeda in Yemen, a 
particularly active and deadly al Qaeda franchise. The kosher market 
gunman pledged his allegiance to ISIS, which now controls parts of Iraq 
and Syria and has specifically targeted Americans.
  Up to 5,000 Europeans are believed now to have traveled to Syria to 
fight or get training. Whether from organized groups or returning 
foreign fighters or lone wolves, the terrorist threat is real, and it 
is growing.
  These are not criminals united by happenstance but by a militant 
jihadi impulse united by ideology, by doctrine, and by practice, its 
adherents drawn all the way from Africa to Southeast Asia, from the 
Middle East to the Caucasus.
  Unlike some of the rhetoric we have heard by some here in Washington, 
in every corner of the globe, terrorist groups are growing in number, 
and they are growing in strength. In Europe, France is at the front 
lines of a dangerous and growing ideology that has, again, demonstrated 
that it knows no bounds.
  As we face an expanding and evolving threat, it is imperative that we 
unequivocally condemn attacks on freedom of speech, condemn attacks on 
religious pluralism, and reaffirm our resolve to fight extremism.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 37.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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