- As Delivered -

WASHINGTON—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today delivered the following remarks in the House of Representatives on a resolution expressing the House’s support for NATO, which was brought to the floor and passed without the opportunity for debate:

“I want to first of all thank the Chairman for bringing this resolution to the floor.

“The Foreign Affairs Committee marked up this resolution a while back. It passed unanimously. And we were under the impression that it might come up for debate on Tuesday under suspension.

“That’s what should have happened. Members should have had the opportunity to debate this in the House—before the NATO summit meeting began this morning—and sent a clear message that this body stands with NATO; that we support this alliance, the most successful in history; that our allies can count on American leadership and American resolve.

“Instead, we’re rushing it through today, after the summit is halfway over and after President Trump has again insulted our closest friends on the global stage.

“This is an important resolution. It should not be swept under the rug. But because it’s important that this body stand up for NATO, even if we’re late to the game, I withdraw my reservation.”

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