Washington—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 598, the Georgia Support Act:

"I’d like to start by thanking Mr. Connolly and Mr. Kinzinger for authoring this excellent bill.

"This measure comes before us at a critical time. As President Trump takes a sledgehammer to our country’s standing in the world, it falls on the Congress to uphold our relationships with our friends and partners. Strong alliances and partnerships make a stronger, safer America...and it’s important for our national security to make sure that our friends can defend themselves against hostile adversaries.

"That’s especially true for a country like Georgia, who is fighting President Putin’s aggression every single day.

"In 2008, Russia invaded and occupied parts of Georgia...flagrantly breaking international law...and violating Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"And now, over a decade later, Russia hasn’t let up the assault on Georgia. Cyber-attacks...disinformation campaigns...human rights violations—this is what the people of Georgia endure from Putin’s regime all the time. 

"So, we must support Georgia’s efforts to protect itself.

"The Georgia Support Act calls on the U.S. to continue to support Georgia’s democratic institutions, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. It also provides critical assistance for Georgia’s struggle against Russian aggression, supporting efforts to boost cybersecurity and counter Russian disinformation. And it slaps sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations in the Russian-occupied Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. 

"We should be strengthening our relationship with Georgia and bringing it into the fold of the EU and NATO. This is a good bill that moves us in the right direction, showing that Congress stands with Georgia."

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