Date: 2016-06-15
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. again. let me thank the ranking member for his support and assistance. and let me also thank the chairman. I ask my colleagues to support this amendment for the protection and safety and security of women and girls around the world. Peace and security can be emphasized by the Jackson Lee amendment. I want to thank Chairman FRELINGHUYSEN and Ranking Member VISCLOSKY for shepherding this legislation to the floor and for their devotion to the men and women of the Armed Forces who risk their lives to keep our Nation safe and for their work in ensuring that they have resources needed to keep our Armed Forces the greatest fighting force for peace on earth. Mr. Chair. thank you for the opportunity to explain my amendment. which is simple and straightforward and affirms an example of the national goodness that makes America the most exceptional nation on earth. The purpose of the Jackson Lee amendment is to provide the Secretary of Defense flexibility to allocate resources needed to provide technical assistance by U.S. military women to military women in other countries combating violence as a weapon of war. terrorism. human trafficking. narcotics trafficking. Mr. Chair. the United States is committed to combating violent extremism. protecting our borders and the globe from the scourge of terrorism. The United States Armed Forces possess an unparalleled expertise and technological capability that will aid not only in combating and defeating terrorists who hate our country and prey upon innocent persons. especially women. girls. and the elderly. But we must recognize that notwithstanding our extraordinary technical military capabilities. we face adversaries who adapt very quickly because they are not constrained by geographic limitations or norms of morality and decency. Al Qaeda. Boko Haram. Al Shabaab. ISIS/ ISIL and other militant terrorists. including the Sinais Ansar Beit alMaqdis in the Sinai peninsula which poses a threat to Egypt. The Jackson Lee amendment will help provide the Department of Defense with the resources needed to provide technical assistance to countries on innovative strategies to provide defense technologies and resources that promote the security of the American people and allied nation states. Terrorism. human trafficking. narcotics trafficking and their impact on women and girls across the globe has had a great adverse impact on us all. According to a UNICEF report. rape. torture and human trafficking by terrorist and militant groups have been employed as weapons of war. affecting over twenty thousand women and girls. Looking at the history of terrorism highlights the importance of providing technical assistance through our military might. as this enables us to combat terrorism which now can plague us here in the United States. The Jackson Lee amendment will help curb terrorism abroad by making available American technical military expertise to military in other countries. like Nigeria. who are combating violent jihadists in their country and to keep those terrorists out of our country. Time and again American lives have been lost at the hands of terrorists. These victims include Christians. Muslims. journalists. health care providers. relief workers. schoolchildren. and members of the diplomatic corps and the Armed Services. This is why the technical assistance offered by our military personnel is integral to promoting security operation of intelligence. surveillance. and reconnaissance aircraft for missions to empower local forces to combat terrorism. Terrorists across the globe have wreaked havoc on our society and cannot not be tolerated or ignored. for their actions pose a threat to our national security and the security of the world. Mr. Chair. from the United States to Africa to Europe to Asia and the Middle East. it is clear that combating terrorism remains one of highest national priorities. Collectively. helping our neighbors and their military build capacity to combat terrorism. eradicate human trafficking. stop narcotics trafficking and negate their impact on women and girls across the globe serves our national interest. I urge my colleagues to support the Jackson Lee amendment. Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Texas .