[Pages H4378-H4381]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

EXPRESSING CONCERN FOR THE UNITED STATES-TURKEY ALLIANCE

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 372) expressing concern for the United States-
Turkey alliance.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:

H. Res. 372

Whereas the United States and Turkey have been treaty
allies since 1952, when Turkey became a member of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO);
Whereas the United States and Turkey are treaty bound to
safeguard the principles of democracy, individual liberty,
and the rule of law, as well as to unite their efforts for
collective defense and the preservation of peace and
security;
Whereas Turkey is in a unique geostrategic position on
NATO's southeastern flank, at the confluence of Europe,
Russia, the Middle East, and the Caucasus;
Whereas Turkey is a critical NATO ally and important
military partner for the United States, contributing to key
NATO and United States missions and providing support for
United States military operations and logistics needs;
Whereas Turkey permits United States military access to
Turkish territorial waters, airspace, and base and port
facilities, and hosts over 2,000 members of the United States
Armed Forces, air defense equipment, and other equipment
necessary to conduct global operations and power projection;
Whereas Turkey is a key player in the long-term strategic
competition Western allies face with revisionist powers such
as Russia and China;
Whereas despite the fact that Turkey shares key regional
interests with the United States, its cooperation with Russia
and Iran, its military occupation of northern Cyprus, its
rollback of democratic norms and institutions, including
attacks on the free press, and its continued unjust detention
of United States citizens and locally employed United States
Embassy staff is deeply problematic for the United States-
Turkey relationship;
Whereas the United States recognizes that Turkey perceives
growing regional security

[[Page H4379]]

threats from aircraft and ballistic missiles and sees an
urgent need for a new air and missile defense system;
Whereas Turkey announced an agreement to acquire the S-400
air and missile defense system from Russia in July 2017 and
has publicly stated it could take delivery as early as July
2019;
Whereas section 231 of the Countering America's Adversaries
Through Sanctions Act of 2017 (CAATSA) requires the President
to impose sanctions on any individual or entity that engages
in a significant transaction with the Russian defense or
intelligence sector;
Whereas the United States Government has developed an
attractive alternative offer to provide Turkey with a strong,
capable, NATO-interoperable air and missile defense system
that meets Turkey's defense requirements;
Whereas Turkey's planned acquisition of the Russian-made S-
400 undermines the security of the United States and NATO
allies, weakens the United States-Turkey relationship, and is
incompatible with Turkey's plan to operate the F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter and participate in F-35 production;
Whereas the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is the
world's leading 5th generation fighter aircraft program with
more than a trillion dollars in investment among United
States and international partners;
Whereas Turkey has been a critical partner in the F-35
Joint Strike Fighter program since 2002, with significant
industrial participation, including manufacturing of certain
F-35 components, plans to host a maintenance facility for
regional F-35 operators, investments of more than $1.25
billion in the program, and plans to procure 100 F-35As; and
Whereas in addition to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter,
Turkish defense acquisition programs that could be affected
by sanctions include the Patriot air and missile defense
system, CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopter, UH-60 Black
Hawk utility helicopter, and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) fully supports the United States Government's January
2019 offer to sell the Patriot air and missile defense
systems to Turkey, with the condition that Turkey not acquire
the S-400 air and missile defense system from Russia;
(2) condemns the Government of Turkey's stated decision to
acquire the Russian S-400 air and missile defense system,
which would endanger the integrity of the United States-
Turkey alliance and undermine NATO;
(3) calls for terminating Turkey's participation in the F-
35 industrial program and delivery of F-35 aircraft to Turkey
if Turkey acquires the Russian S-400 air and missile defense
system;
(4) declares that Turkish acquisition of the Russian S-400
air and missile defense system would constitute a significant
transaction within the meaning of section 231 of the
Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of
2017 (22 U.S.C. 9525);
(5) calls for full implementation of sanctions under the
Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act of
2017 if Turkey acquires the Russian S-400 air and missile
defense system; and
(6) calls on the Government of Turkey to cancel the
acquisition of the Russian S-400 air and missile defense
system.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.

General Leave

Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H. Res. 372.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am pleased to rise in strong support of this measure to address the
developing situation with Turkey. I want to thank my colleagues who
joined me to introduce this legislation; first and foremost, Ranking
Member McCaul, Leader Hoyer, Minority Leader McCarthy, Chairwoman
Lowey, Ranking Member Granger, Chairman Nadler and Ranking Member
Collins.
Madam Speaker, Turkey is a NATO ally and a nation with which we have
had a long history of friendship and partnership. But I am deeply
troubled by the direction that President Erdogan is taking his country.
During his time in office, we have watched as Erdogan has turned
Turkey into an authoritarian state, attacking the democratic values
that our two nations had shared for many years. He has cracked down on
the freedom of the press, thrown innocent people in jail for voicing
opposition, and consolidated his grip on power at the expense of
Turkey's democratic institutions.
And his troubling behavior doesn't stop there. Erdogan is cozying up
to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, putting the security interests of
the United States and the NATO alliance at risk.
Turkey's plan to acquire the Russian S-400 air defense system would
threaten American security and do lasting damage to our historic
bilateral relationship. It simply cannot happen, especially while
Turkey is still a U.S. and NATO ally participating in the F-35 program
and hoping to acquire these planes.
Today's resolution gets at this very issue. If Turkey wants to
continue as a NATO ally and U.S. partner, it must commit to upholding
our shared interests. And if Turkey decides to follow through on its
plan to acquire the Russian S-400, then they must not be able to get
American F-35s; they must not participate in the F-35 program; and they
must face the consequences of their decision.
And it is not that the United States is unable to comprehend Turkey's
need for air defense. In fact, we have offered the Patriot anti-
aircraft/anti-missile defense system, the top of the line in our
inventory. That offer remains on the table.
We rarely see it in foreign affairs, but this is simply a black-and-
white issue. There is no middle ground. Either Mr. Erdogan cancels the
Russian deal, or he doesn't. And there is no future for Turkey having
both Russian weapons and American F-35s.
There is no third option. There is no path for mitigation that will
allow Turkey to have its cake and eat it too. We cannot risk exposing
our national-security technology to Russia.
There is no partisan divide on this issue. The State Department, the
Defense Department, the Treasury, even Vice President Pence have all
been raising the alarm and urging President Erdogan to cancel the sale.
I hope President Trump listens to his advisers and makes sure Turkey's
leaders understand the consequences of their actions.
And the consequences are serious. If Turkey follows through with the
acquisition of the S-400, it would trigger sanctions that Congress
overwhelmingly, bipartisanly passed 2 years ago. It is critical that
Turkey knows that the United States will use these tools if the
situation arises.
In the meantime, it is important that we pass this measure and send a
clear message: The United States will not sit by as Erdogan turns
Turkey into an authoritarian state aligned with our adversary Russia.
Let me say that again. It is important that we pass this measure and
send a clear message: The United States will not sit idly by as Erdogan
turns Turkey into an authoritarian state aligned with our adversary
Russia.
So I am pleased to support this.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Financial Services,

Washington, DC, March 21, 2019.
Hon. Elliot Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H. Res. 372,
Expressing Concern for the United States Turkey Alliance.
Because you have been working with the Committee on
Financial Services concerning provisions in H. Res. 372 that
fall within our Rule X jurisdiction, I agree to forego formal
consideration of H. Res. 372 so that it may proceed
expeditiously to the House floor. The Committee on Financial
Services takes this action to forego formal consideration of
H. Res. 372 with our mutual understanding that, by foregoing
formal consideration of H. Res. 372 at this time, we do not
waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in
this or similar legislation.
Finally, and consistent with your letter of May 30, 2019, I
would request that a copy of our exchange of letters on this
matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of H. Res. 372.
Sincerely,
Maxine Waters,
Chairwoman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, May 30, 2019.
Hon. Maxine Waters,
Chairwoman, Committee on Financial Services, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chair: I am writing to you concerning H. Res.
372, Expressing concern for the United States-Turkey
alliance.

[[Page H4380]]

I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions
that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Financial Services. I acknowledge that the Committee will not
seek a referral of or formally consider H. Res. 372 and agree
that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill
does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the
matters contained in H. Res. 372 which fall within your
Committee's Rule X jurisdiction.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in
the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the
bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you
as this measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Oversight and Reform,

Washington, DC, June 7, 2019.
Hon. Eliot Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr.Chairman: I write concerning H. Res. 372, A
Resolution Expressing Concern for the United States-Turkey
Alliance. This resolution contains provisions within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Oversight and Reform. As a
result of your having consulted with me concerning the
provisions of the resolution that fall within our
jurisdiction under Rule X, I agree to forgo consideration of
the resolution so it may proceed expeditiously to the House
floor.
The Committee takes this action with our mutual
understanding that by forgoing consideration of H. Res. 372,
we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter
contained in this or similar legislation, and we will be
appropriately consulted and involved as the resolution or
similar legislation moves forward so we may address any
remaining issues within our Rule X jurisdiction. Further, I
request your support for the appointment of conferees from
the Committee on Oversight and Reform during any House-Senate
conference on this or related legislation.
Finally, I would appreciate a response confirming this
understanding and ask that a copy of our exchange of letters
on this matter be included in the bill report filed by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, as well as in the Congressional
Record during floor consideration thereof.
Sincerely,
Elijah E. Cummings,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, May 30, 2019
Hon. Elijah E. Cummings,
Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Reform, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H. Res.
372, Expressing concern for the United States-Turkey
alliance.
I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions
that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Oversight and Reform. I acknowledge that the Committee will
not seek a referral of or formally consider H. Res. 372 and
agree that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the
bill does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the
matters contained in H. Res. 372 which fall within your
Committee's Rule X jurisdiction.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in
the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the
bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you
as this measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, June 3, 2019.
Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel, I am writing with respect to H. Res.
372, ``Expressing concern for the United States-Turkey
alliance.'' As a result of your having consulted with us on
provisions on which the Committee on Ways and Means has a
jurisdictional interest, I will not request a sequential
referral on this measure.
The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the
Mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction
over the subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately
consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation
moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues
within our jurisdiction.
Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter
confirming this understanding, and would ask that a copy of
our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of H. Res.
372.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Neal,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, May 30, 2019.
Hon. Richard Neal,
Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H. Res.
372, Expressing concern for the United States-Turkey
alliance.
I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions
that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways
and Means. I acknowledge that the Committee will not seek a
referral of or formally consider H.Res. 372 and agree that
the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does
not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters
contained in H. Res. 372 which fall within your Committee's
Rule X jurisdiction.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in
the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the
bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you
as this measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on the Judiciary,

Washington, DC, May 31, 2019.
Hon. Eliot Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel: This is to advise you that the
Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to
review the provisions in H. Res. 372, Expressing concern for
the United States-Turkey alliance, that fall within our Rule
X jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those
provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your
including them in the resolution for consideration on the
House floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to
waive sequential referral, with the understanding that we do
not thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those
provisions or their subject matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar
legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the
right to request an appropriate number of conferees to
address any concerns with these or similar provisions that
may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record
during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank
you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked
regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
____

House of Representatives,

Committee on Foreign Affairs,

Washington, DC, May 30, 2019.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing to you concerning H. Res.
372, Expressing concern for the United States-Turkey
alliance.
I appreciate your willingness to work cooperatively on this
legislation. I recognize that the bill contains provisions
that fall within the jurisdiction of the Committee on the
Judiciary. I acknowledge that the Committee will not seek a
referral of or formally consider H. Res. 372 and agree that
the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill does
not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the matters
contained in H. Res. 372 which fall within your Committee's
Rule X jurisdiction.
I will ensure that our exchange of letters is included in
the Congressional Record during floor consideration of the
bill. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this
legislation and look forward to continuing to work with you
as this measure moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.

Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution that
Chairman Engel and I introduced because of our serious concerns
regarding the United States-Turkey alliance.
Turkey has been a member of NATO for almost 70 years. Through our
bilateral and multilateral relationship, we have worked together to
advance our shared objectives.
However, I am deeply disturbed and concerned that our relationship is
increasingly characterized by bumps in the road. And right now, we are
all watching as Turkey stands at a fork in the road.
This summer, Turkey is scheduled to obtain the Russian S-400 defense
system. Purchasing the S-400 would have unavoidable negative
consequences for U.S.-Turkey relations.
By law, the purchase would trigger congressionally-mandated sanctions
under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions law. The
purchase also puts at risk Turkish participation in the F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter

[[Page H4381]]

Program and broader security cooperation, including future U.S. arms
sales.
The F-35 program promotes NATO interoperability. And Turkey's
decision to complete the purchase of the S-400 would erode its
partnership in this multilateral alliance.
While we are deeply, deeply concerned about our alliance with Turkey,
we very much want to rehabilitate our relationship. Both sides of a
bilateral partnership need to take steps toward strengthening and
preserving it. That is why this resolution expresses full support for
the United States Government's offer to sell Turkey the Patriot system
if Turkey does not acquire the S-400. We want to give Turkey the
ability to accommodate its security needs without endangering its place
in NATO.
So Turkey really has a clear binary choice between buying Russian S-
400s and the U.S. offer to accelerate the delivery of Patriot missiles.
So I call upon Turkey to now step forward and choose the United
States and NATO over Russia.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I don't have any speakers on this side. I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R.
372, Expressing Concern for the United States-Turkey Alliance.
Turkey has failed in its basic NATO responsibility to safeguard the
freedom and security of NATO allies, both politically, and militarily.
Turkey has bullied and continues to bully the U.S. and NATO allies
around the world, in particular, Greece and Cyprus.
Meanwhile, Turkey has grown ever closer in diplomatic and military
ties to the authoritarian regimes of Russia and Iran, sowing
international instability, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean,
Madam Speaker, which is why I joined my colleagues in introducing H.R.
91, to reaffirm the robust commitment of the House of Representatives
to the importance of the United States, Israel, Greece, and Cyprus
partnership.
The Russian S-400 missile defense system is in no way interoperable
with NATO's defense systems and represents a dangerous vulnerability to
the F-35 program in the event an S-400 system user learns how to target
lock F-35s and shares that knowledge with other international bad
actors. We can't take that chance.
Rewarding an international bad actor with F-35s, one of the most
sophisticated articles of U.S. military technology, while they imprison
and orchestrate brazen acts of violence against U.S. citizens, threaten
U.S. allies and their sovereignty, and violate international law, sends
the wrong message to the enemies of freedom and stability around the
world.
The clock has nearly struck midnight on the U.S.-Turkey relationship,
and the time has come for Turkey to choose whether it will stand with
the United States and NATO or fall with revisionist powers like Russia
and China.
In closing, Madam Speaker, I would like to applaud my good friends,
Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul, along with Leaders Hoyer and
McCarthy and the leadership of both the House Appropriations and
Judiciary Committees, who made this possible.
I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Let me just say this: Chairman Engel and I met with the Foreign
Minister of Turkey and their Ambassador trying to avoid this impasse,
this choice between Russia and the United States.
And Chairman Engel and I talked about this alliance that we have with
them.

Nearly 70 years ago, NATO and the United States stood with Turkey
against growing Soviet aggression. In fact, that is the reason NATO was
formed in the first place. That is why we have Incirlik Air Force Base
in Turkey. And yet, the idea that Turkey would break from this alliance
and choose Russia over the United States, truly, is a defining moment
for Turkey.
I hope they are listening to this debate as we speak right now. They
still have time to salvage this, what I consider to be an error in
judgment of choosing Russia over NATO and the United States of America.
That is why this resolution is so important. It sends a very strong
message to Erdogan and to Turkey, that we are not going to allow this
to happen; and, in fact, it would run afoul of the sanctions that we
passed almost overwhelmingly in the House and Senate against Russia. It
would sort of violate the Russia sanctions law.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Engel for his strong
bipartisan support on this issue. We are on the right side of history,
and I urge my colleagues to support this.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume
for the purpose of closing.
Once again, I am pleased to support this bipartisan measure that
strengthens our security policy in Europe. I thank Ranking Member
McCaul and all of the other chairs and ranking members of important
committees who have stood by us on this bill. It is really a Congress
speaking with one voice in a very bipartisan fashion for something that
is really very important.
Today's resolution reaffirms the historic partnership between the
United States and Turkey, and it lays the groundwork for how Erdogan
can start to put this relationship back on the right track.
We cannot stand by as he turns this NATO ally into an authoritarian
regime aligned with Vladimir Putin. So I urge my colleagues to join me
in supporting this measure.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 372.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

____________________