Transcripts For CSPAN U.S. House Of Representatives U.S. Hou

Gentleman from tennessee, dr. Roe and the gentleman from california, mr. Takano, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from tennessee. Mr. Roe i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks. The speaker pro tempore so granted. Mr. Roe i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the chairman is recognized. Mr. Roe i rise in support h. R. 4533 as amended, a bill to designate the collective Health Care Facilities of the department of Veterans Affairs v. A. In lexington, kentucky as the lexington, v. A. Health care system, to designate the Lexington Medical Center lease salsleythe franklin are campus. This bill is sponsored by my good friend congressman andy barr from kentucky and im grateful for introducing this legislation. One Health Care Facility of the department of veteran affairs located at 2250 in leasetown road would be the would be named after private first class salsly. He was a marine in 1944. Following basic training he was assigned to the fifth Marine Division and slated for the iwa jima. Nvasion at they landed on february 19, 1945 on the south side of the island. On the fourth day of the invasion, he was one of the six men in the famous photograph of the United States marines raising the flag. Tragically, he was killed in action by a japanese sniper 27 days later. He was awarded with the is i very star, Pacific Campaign medal with a bronze star and the world war ii victory medal. The other Health Care Facility of the department of Veterans Affairs located at 1101 Veterans Drive in lexington, ntucky, would be named the troy bowling campus. Private troy bowling was born in hamilton, ohio, and another proud marine who served during world war ii. Private bowlings unit was among the first to land at the beaches ofy row jeema. His of iwo jima. Two project aisles struck mr. Bowling leaving his critically wounded on the battlefield. Private bowling said he looked to the heavens and committed to serving mankind the rest of his life if he survived. Miraculously a combat photographer and another rried him to the landing craft. Private bowling followed through on his battlefield promise to god. Devoting over 78,000 hours of volunteer service at the lexington v. A. Medical center and rising through the ranks of the disabled American Veterans, eventually holding nearly every position possibly including state commander. At the 2005 national convention, private bowling received the george h. Seal award for outstanding volunteer and the Lifetime Service Achievement Award. He was nominated and selected to be put into the kentucky lifetime hall of fame for his service to veterans. He passed away on june 17, 2017. Mr. Speaker, it is only fitting and appropriate that a week before his 73rd anniversary of the invasion of iwo jima we honor both of these heroes by honoring the two v. A. Campuses in lexington, kentucky, after them. This legislation satisfies all of the committees naming criteria and cosponsored by the entire kentucky delegation and supported by many kentucky veteran services organizations. I am proud to support it as well and urge my colleagues to join me. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore and the chair recognizes mr. Takano. Mr. Takano thank you, mr. Speaker. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Takano mr. Speaker, i rise today to support h. R. 4533 which designates the Health Care System of the department of Veterans Affairs in lexington, kentucky, as the lexington v. A. Health care system. However, it is two other designations in this bill that i wish to highlight because they honor the memories of two extraordinary greatest generation heroes from kentucky, troy bowling, and franklin r. Sousley. H. R. 4533 names two campuses in the lexington, virginia, Health Care System after these brave marines. 75 years ago this month the United States marines landed on the Pacific Island of iwo jima and engaged the Japanese Forces in some of the most intense and costly fighting of world war ii. Among them were troy bowling and franklin r. Sousley, just teenagers at the time. Bowlings unit was among the first to arrive on iwo jima. On the second day he was critically wounded by mortgage arse and eventually evacuated to the mortars and and saw evacuated the flag being launched at Mount Suribachi. Mr. Bowling made a deal with god. If he survived he would spend his life in the service of others. He kept that promise and over 72 years through more than 78,000 hours of volunteer service at the lexington v. A. Medical center, thats how he kept his promise over the next 72 years by volunteering that 78,000 hours at the lexington v. A. Medical center. In his work were the disabled veterans of disabled American Veterans hes held nearly every position pog include state commander position, including state commanders, among others. He is the resit yent of the lifetime a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement award by the department of Veterans Affairs. Private sousley was also involved in intense concentrated fighting. Eventually as we all know, American Forces prevailed. Private sousley was among the six marines proudly hoisting that flag. Tragically, less than a month later, he would be killed in action. Highly decorated for bravery, private sousley is now buried in the cemetery in flemming county, kentucky. Mr. Speaker, these two men are the personification of duty, patriotism, and selfsacrifice. It is entirely appropriate that the two campuses of the lexington v. A. Health care system be named in their honor. Thank you, mr. Speaker, and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes dr. Roe. Mr. Roe thank you, mr. Speaker. At this time id like to yield four minutes to my good friend and mr. Bowlings congressman from lexington, andy barr. The speaker pro tempore and the chair recognizes the gentleman from kentucky. Mr. Barr well, thank you, chairman roe. Thank you for your tireless leadership. As a veteran yourself, as a physician and your Exceptional Leadership on Veterans Issues as chairman of the committee. Mr. Speaker, i rise today in support of h. R. 4533, to designate the Health Care System of the department of Veterans Affairs in lexington, kentucky, my hometown, as the lexington v. A. Health care system, and to individually designate medical facilities located at 1101 Veterans Drive in lexington, kentucky, as the troy bowling campus, a campus where my own grandfather, world war ii veteran, spent his final days. And to designate the department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Center located at 2250 leestown road as the franklin r. Sousley campus. Born in hilltop, kentucky, Marine Private first class sousley landed on iwo jima on friday, february 19, 1945, and he actively fought in the battle for the island. During these intense fighting moments, members of the United States armed forces secured Mount Suribachi and hoisted a United States flag on top of the summit. On february 23, 1945, private first class sousley, alongside five other brave u. S. Service members, raised a larger u. S. Flag so it could be seen over the island. The iconic photograph taken of these six marines, while they raised the u. S. Flag attached to a heavy japanese pipe, soon became the immortalized symbol of american bravery, perseverance and sacrifice endured by members of the United States armed forces during the intense battles of world war ii. Tragically private first class sousley was killed in combat by katans se sniper around was t in march, 1945 and ised to rest in flemming cemetery. The v. A. Always goes out to pay their respects to the sousley family right at that gravesite. Private troy bowling bravely unit at iwo jima but his came under intense fire, completely overwhelming his unit. Two project aisles struck private bowling in the chest and leg leaving him critically wounded on the battlefield. At that moment bowling said, quote, as i lay bleeding on the black sands of iwo jima i looked to the heavens, promising if i survived i would serve mankind for the rest of my life, unquote. Troys unit received the president ial Unit Citation and he received the purple heart. In keeping faith with his commitment to god made during that battle, private bowling, who i had the honor of meeting on several occasions, devoted the next 66 years of his life by giving over 78,000 hours of volunteer service to others at the lexington v. A. Medical center and rose to the ranks within the disabled Veterans Organization holding every position including state commander. He received a Lifetime Service Achievement Award from the department of Veterans Affairs and nominated and selected to be inducted in the kentucky Veterans Hall of fame for his lifetime of service to veterans. , ese two deserving veterans ranklin sousley and troy bowling, never abandoned the rine motto of searcher idelis, always semper idelis, always faithful. We honor these two Service Members for their service and sacrifice to our country and to our veterans. Id like to thank the members of the sixth Congressional District Veterans Coalition for bringing this idea for this legislation to my attention. I would also like to thank my colleagues in the kentucky congressional delegation, leader mitch mcconnell, senator rand paul, congressman hahl rodgesers, hal rogers, kongman guthrie, congressman massie, and congressman comer for their support as well. Mr. Speaker, in closing, i urge my colleagues in the house to support the passage of this meaningful legislation, honoring veterans in kentucky, and i yield back the remainder of my time. The speaker pro tempore the chair recognizes the gentleman from tennessee. Mr. Roe reserve. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california, mr. Takano. Mr. Takano i reserve, mr. Speaker. Mr. Roe mr. Speaker, i have no further speakers. I am ready to close. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Takano mr. Speaker, i have no further speakers. I urge my colleagues to join me in passing this meaningful piece of legislation, and i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore and the gentleman, doctor, chairman from tennessee. Mr. Roe once again, i encourage all members to support this legislation, and i wish private sousley and private bowling from this army veteran to rest in peace, semper fi. With that i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman yields. There being no further debate, the question is will the house suspend the rules and pass the bill h. R. 4533. Those in favor say aye. Those opposed, no. In the opinion of the chair, 2 3 are in the affirmative i ask for a recorded vote. The speaker pro tempore the yeas and nays are requested. The gentleman requests the yeas and nays. All those in favor of taking this vote by the yeas and nays and will rise and remain standing. A sufficient number having arisen, the yeas and nays are ordered. Pursuant to clause 8, rule 20, further proceedings on this uestion will be postponed. Mr. Williams i move the house success perned the rules and pass h. R. 3542 as amended. The speaker pro tempore the clerk will report. The clerk h. R. 3542 a a bill to impose sanctions against hamas for gross violations of human rights by reason of the use of civilians as human shields and for other purposes. The speaker pro tempore pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from South Carolina, mr. Wilson and the gentleman from california, mr. Sherman, each will control 20 minutes. The chair recognizes the gentleman from South Carolina. Mr. Williams i ask unanimous consent that all members may have five legislative days to revise and extend and to include extraneous material on this measure. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Williams i ask unanimous consent to place in the record an exchange of letters between the Foreign Affairs and judiciary committees. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Williams thank you. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Williams im grateful for the coauthor of this legislation and a good friend, congressman seth moulton of massachusetts, a valued iraq veteran and the orange cosponsors, representative roslehtinen and congressman ted deutch. I also appreciate chairman ed royce for allowing it to proceed to a floor vote. R. 3542, the hamas human shields prevention act will sanction hamas for violating human rights standards by using civilians as human shields. For far too long, hamas has taken shelter and launched offenses including schools, hospitals and mosques. Their cowardly actions knowly put innocent lives at risk in gross violation of human rights and international law. Last june, the United Nations relief and works agency discovered hamas tunnels under two of its schools in gaza demonstrating how they integrate terrorist operations with children in civilian areas. Sadly, the iranians are willing to fight to the last palestinian man, woman and child in their people i nile ate the of israel. They havent have not answered for their crimes against humidity. The Prior Administration never raised this as a serious issues with the iranians. The cowardly iranians and hamas sacrifice innocent palestinians for their selfdestructive ideology. The world must face the threat as it continues to perpetrate atrocities. This legislation imposes direct sanctions against any hamas terrorist who is responsible for using human shields. This hamas human shields prevention act encourages the representatives to the United Nations to secure a u. N. Security council multilateral resolution imposing sanctions against hamas for the use of human shields. It should also sanction federal governments and individuals who provide material and Financial Support to hamas which would cut off the resources that allow hamas to terrorize civilians. I appreciate that Ambassador Haley has been outspoken against the murderous terrorists in the global war on terrorism. I believe this legislation will promote working to ensure that lives of innocent civilians of the citizens of gaza are spared by proactively imposing strong sanctions against hamas and their murderous actions. I reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. The gentleman from california is recognized. Mr. Sherman i rise in support of this measure and i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Sherman i rise in support of h. R. 3542, the hamas human shields prevention act. This is an act that came before our committee and was adopted by voice vote unanimously. I was there. My hearing has been tested recently and there was not one dissenting voice. I want to thank the representative wilson and representative moulton for authoring the hamas human shields prevention act and im proud to be a cosponsor. This calls out the hamas and sanctions anyone who supports or takes part in this horrific practice. Let us be perfectly clear about whats at stake. There are designated terrorist entities using innocent civilians even innocent children as a means to camoflauge their ar sendingals and every time hamas does it and islamic jihad, the leadership is making a horrific statement and put a higher value to kill israeli civilians than they do on the lives of Gaza Civilians. Keep in mind, this practice is a violation of the geef conventions on the rules and laws of war. It is a war crime. And should, indeed, be sanctioned by the United Nations. First and foremost, this is an issue of basic human rights. Hamas has forced civilians to gather on the roofs of their homes so they can hide terrorist military leaders and hide weapons below. Hamas has even built their tunnels that they use to move weapons and fighters right under civilian infrastructure. This puts hospitals, schools, mosques and markets and innocent plings at great risk. And it doesnt stop there. Hamas purposely puts rockets in u. N. Facilities compelling the u. N. To launch daily inspections of each of their facilities during times of heightened tension and putting International Personnel in harms way. Hamas use of human shields raises Important National security concerns for israel, because unlike these Palestinian Terrorist groups, groups that seek to kill as many israeli civilians as possible, in cont