amendment no. 29 offered by mr. tran of california

       Page 31, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
     by $5,000,000) (increased by $5,000,000)''.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1423, the gentleman
from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms.
Lois Frankel) each will control 10 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the bipartisan
amendments en bloc, which includes amendments from both sides of the
aisle.
  The amendments include nine noncontroversial amendments that advance
the priorities of both sides, including support for Taiwan, countering
the PRC's influence in Latin America and the Caribbean, better
leveraging U.S. assistance to Mexico, and increasing funding designated
to combat human trafficking.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support these amendments, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I rise in support and thank
Mr. Diaz-Balart for working with me to include these bipartisan
priorities in these amendments. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DIAZ-BALART. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the cooperation of my
colleagues, the ranking member and others. I urge adoption of these
bipartisan amendments en bloc, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Tran).
  Mr. TRAN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of this en bloc
package of bipartisan amendments that includes my amendment, Tran No.
65, which supports the annual U.S.-Vietnam Human Rights Dialogue and
reaffirms Congress' commitment to advancing fundamental freedoms and
human rights in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
  As the United States continues to deepen its engagement with Vietnam,
human rights must remain central to the bilateral relationship.
  The Vietnamese Government continues to restrict freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, and peaceful political expression.
  Independent journalists like Le Huu Minh Tuan, human rights
activists, religious leaders, and ordinary citizens face harassment,
arbitrary detention, and imprisonment simply for exercising their basic
rights.
  A stronger economic and security partnership between our two nations
cannot come at the expense of the democratic values and universal
freedoms that the United States has long championed.
  My amendment supports a critical diplomatic tool to press the
Vietnamese Government on these concerns, including the immediate
release of prisoners of conscience.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support these amendments en
bloc.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance
of my time.
  The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendments en bloc offered
by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Diaz-Balart).
  The en bloc amendments were agreed to.

                              {time}  1310

                 Amendment No. 1 Offered by Ms. Boebert

  The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1
printed in part A of House Report 119-749.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Page 4, beginning on line 24, strike ``, of which not less
     than $287,800,000 shall be for the Fulbright Program''.
  The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 1423, the gentlewoman
from Colorado (Ms. Boebert) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Colorado.
  Ms. BOEBERT. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of fiscal
responsibility and protecting Americans from foreign adversaries.
  President Trump's domestic policy is defined by his commitment to rid
the Federal Government of waste, fraud, and abuse. It is time that
Congress followed through on the President's promise.
  Last year, the Fulbright Program cost the American taxpayers nearly
$300 million, set to be repeated in next year's State Department
budget. My amendment returns these funds to the pockets of hardworking
American taxpayers.
  The President's FY27 budget proposed an 80-percent cut to the
Fulbright Program and for good reason. For years, the Fulbright Program
acted as a taxpayer-funded handout for trans fanatic, Green New Deal
activists and agents of foreign powers seeking to undermine the United
States of America.
  While the President confronted Fulbright's board of directors about
this injustice of their leftist bias, they resigned rather than face
the truth.
  Every year, nearly 5,000 foreign applicants receive a Fulbright
Scholarship. These recipients include citizens of countries with very
close ties to adversaries, such as Russia, China, and North Korea, a
known pathway for agents of foreign powers to enter the United States
and spy on us.
  This is an unacceptable risk to the American people and our national
security. The Fulbright Program is a bad deal for the American people,
and my amendment restores fiscal responsibility and keeps our great
Nation safe.
  For the good of our country and responsibility to every American
taxpayer, we must act to end this harmful and wasteful program.
  Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in
opposition to this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Chair, the Fulbright Program is one
of the most well-established and prestigious exchange programs in the
world.
  Each year, the best and the brightest globally compete for spots to
study in the United States or have American students experience and do
research overseas.
  The proof is in the results. Fulbright alumni include--listen to
this--44 heads of state, 63 Nobel Prize winners, 94 Pulitzer Prize
winners, 83 MacArthur Fellows, and numerous national leaders.
  Each of these individuals and 450,000 more have had a life-changing
experience being exposed to United States culture and values, affecting
their impressions of our country for the rest of their lives.
  This is a smart investment. May I say, as my mother once said, this
is penny-wise and pound-foolish.
  This is not just our investment. Mr. Chair, 89 foreign governments
also contribute to sending their students to the