[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 3632]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DIANE BLACK

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 23, 2016

  Mrs. BLACK. Mr. Speaker, on Roll Call Number 138 (H. Res. 658), which 
took place Wednesday March 23, 2016; I am not recorded because I was 
unavoidably detained at the United States Supreme Court. Had I been 
present, I would have voted AYE. I firmly stand with my colleagues in 
the House in condemning in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks in 
Brussels on March 22, 2016, which murdered more than 30 innocent 
people, and severely wounded many more.
  I would like to reflect my deepest sympathies and condolences to 
those killed and injured in the attacks and their friends and families. 
I also reflect my pledge to support the Belgium government in its 
efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the attacks.
  Finally, I declare my belief that the Islamic State poses a 
fundamental threat to the universal value of freedom in all countries, 
and that the flow of foreign fighters to and from the Middle East and 
West and North Africa remains a grave concern.

                          ____________________