[Pages H4060-H4061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE CENTENNIAL
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of
January 3, 2019, the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill) is recognized
for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the minority leader.
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to
the historic vote taken exactly 100 years ago when this body passed the
19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote.
The most powerful tool we have is to share our voice, cast our
ballot, and exercise our right to vote. This momentous vote finally
allowed women to use that tool and forever have a voice in the future
of our beloved Nation.
Adolphine Fletcher Terry, a civic-minded woman from a prominent
Little Rock family in the late 1800s and early 20th century, served her
State and her country tirelessly to promote the education of women and
women's rights. Terry marched for voting rights for women during the
ratification process in 1920, saying: ``To me, the vote represents more
than just saying how a person feels about an issue or a candidate. It
represents human dignity and the fact that a citizen can express his or
her opinion on any subject without fear of reprisal. That, I think, is
what real human dignity consists of.''
In advance of the final State's ratification vote in Tennessee, both
suffragists and antisuffragists began wearing roses to identify their
respective sides. Those favoring women's voting rights wore yellow
roses; those against wore red roses. I proudly, today, have worn a
yellow rose on my lapel throughout today's activities to show my
support of women's right to vote.
What a thrill it is and a proud thing to say, thank you, Madam
Speaker, for your service.
Fentanyl Sanctions
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, across Arkansas, heartbroken
families have told me of their stories about the opioid crisis and how
it has claimed the lives of their loved ones. We can't allow more
families to be destroyed by this truly national nightmare that is
killing more than 130 Americans every day.
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control reported that fentanyl
is now considered the number one U.S. opioid killer in 2018. Targeting
the source of the world's largest producers and distributors of
fentanyl will begin to stop the flow of these drugs coming across our
borders and onto our streets.
Madam Speaker, in just one Sweet'N Low packet, about a gram, an equal
amount of this as fentanyl has the power to kill 500 of our citizens.
That is why I am pleased to support the bipartisan legislation that I
recently helped introduce, H.R. 2483, the Fentanyl Sanctions Act. This
takes the necessary steps to target the bad actors responsible for
illegally trafficking fentanyl into the United States.
I applaud my colleagues Max Rose of New York, Anthony Brindisi of New
York, and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania for their support in
introducing H.R. 2483.
This legislation is the first ever fentanyl sanctions effort by the
House of Representatives. It will apply pressure on the Chinese
Government to honor their commitment to make all fentanyl illegal in
China. This bill will also provide the United States with more tools
and resources to go after illicit traffickers in China, Mexico, and
other countries.
H.R. 2483 has support from both parties and both Chambers, and we
need to act now in order to get this done. We cannot wait any longer.
Association of Military Banks of America 60th Anniversary
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, today I rise to congratulate the
60th anniversary of the Association of Military Banks of America.
Just as they did back in 1959, military banks today consider
themselves privileged to provide financial services, support, and
education to the military and veteran communities across this country.
I am particularly proud that First Arkansas Bank and Trust, which
serves our airmen and -women at Little Rock Air Force Base, is one of
these military banks.
On base, financial institutions have proven to be the single best
sources of financial education and support available to our troops.
They ease financial burdens and stress faced by our troops and their
families so that they can focus on their mission of protecting our
great Nation.
Congratulations on 60 years of serving the financial needs of our
Nation's heroes.
Court Security Officer of the Year, Jimmy Howington
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the
life of a security officer who continues to have an indelible impact on
my State of Arkansas, Mr. Jimmy Howington, who this year was the Court
Security Officer of the Year.
Jimmy is one of 33 court security officers in Arkansas and serves
under the jurisdiction of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
He was chosen for the award from roughly 600 court security officers
working in 30 courthouses in the seven States within the Eighth
Circuit's jurisdiction.
Jimmy was recommended for this honor for noticing and investigating
two suspicious situations on courthouse property during a period of
several bomb threats at Little Rock's Richard Sheppard Arnold U.S.
Courthouse, where he has worked since 2016.
A former state trooper and sergeant major in the United States Marine
Corps Reserve, Jimmy's life of service makes him well deserving of this
award.
I would like to extend a hand of gratitude and congratulations to him
for his selfless service to Arkansas and our Nation.
Brigadier General Paul Rowlett
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the
accomplishments and to congratulate Brigadier General Paul Rowlett, who
recently was promoted to brigadier general of the Arkansas Air National
Guard.
Rowlett is a native of Salem, Arkansas, and as a brigadier general
will serve as the chief of staff for the Arkansas Air National Guard.
He joined the military in 1988 and is currently an intelligence
officer with the National Guard and works with remote-piloted aircraft.
His duties include strategic planning on current and future missions.
Rowlett has been assigned to Active-Duty positions throughout his
career, including locations such as Guantanamo Bay, and recently he has
been assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base for the majority of the
time since 2001. He has become one of only three general officers in
Arkansas.
My congratulations and best wishes for Brigadier General Rowlett and
his bright future defending our beloved Nation.
National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Eric
Johnson of the Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex for
being named the National Wildlife Refuge System Employee of the Year by
the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
[[Page H4061]]
Eric is an administrative forester that is in charge of restoring and
managing some 90,000 acres of forested habitat for waterfowl and
migratory birds in the lower Mississippi Valley.
While protecting this extensive acreage, he developed the Nation's
first Spatial Habitat Management Plan. This plan will serve as a new
national standard for refuge systems and protect all of Arkansas' five
refuges, including Bald Knob's Wildlife Refuge in my district.
His service to the State of Arkansas and to wildlife conservation
will not be forgotten, and I join all Arkansans in congratulating Eric
on this recognition and wish him much continued success.
U.S. Policy in Syria
Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to speak out
against the daily atrocities in Syria.
Few would have predicted that 8 years ago peaceful protests would
turn into violent conflict that has left more than half a million men,
women, and children dead, millions more displaced, and the entire
region feeling like a lit fuse ready to explode into further conflict.
Shortly after coming to Congress, I met Mouaz Moustafa, a young
Syrian American from Arkansas who has been leading a Syrian pro-
democracy group here in Washington called the Syrian Emergency Task
Force.
After meeting Mouaz, I studied his efforts and learned more and more
about the horrific events happening in Syria over the past few years.
{time} 1915
Mouaz led me through the Caesar file photos in a special exhibit at
the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Earlier this year, he
introduced me to Omar Alshogre, who was arrested as a teenager and
survived the torture, starvation, and other brutalities in Assad's
prisons for more than 3 years. Seeing those photos and hearing Omar's
personal testimony were powerful experiences.
I believe what is happening in Syria today is a modern-day holocaust,
and our obligation to end Assad's reign of terror is something that all
Americans must confront.
I am grateful for The New York Times and its recent extensive front-
page story, in last Sunday's newspaper, going inside Assad's torture
prisons.
Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a link to this article:
www.nytimes.com/2019/05/11/world/middleeast/syria-torture-prisons.html
Madam Speaker, it is the experiences shared by former prisoners like
Omar that remind us of the likes of Hitler, Mao, and Stalin. Bashar al-
Assad can add his name to this list of barbarous thugs who rule with
evil, torture, and mass murder.
We have known about these atrocities for years but have only
expressed outrage while we twiddled our thumbs as these modern-day
Hitlers annihilate the civilian population in Syria.
I commend Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for passing S. 1,
the Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act.
Last week, many of us, including myself, signed the discharge
petition for the companion legislation to S. 1 here in the House, H.R.
336 sponsored by Mike McCaul from Texas. This legislation includes the
Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, which has critical provisions to
hold Assad accountable for his atrocities.
As Speaker Pelosi well knows, this House, under Republican
leadership, has passed the Caesar bill three times over the last three
Congresses, only to have it bogged down in the Senate.
Now Leader McConnell has acted, and we, in the House, must now act
with expedition and pass H.R. 336 to end this step back into darkness,
to stop the torture and the murder of thousands, and to move to convict
Assad and his henchmen for war crimes.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
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