Warmth of Collectivism

Floor Speech

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, America recently witnessed the new mayor of America's largest city share his democratic socialism vision with New Yorkers. He pledged to ``replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.''

Here in our Nation's semiquincentennial, 250 years of liberty, the new mayor rejected the fundamentals of American hard work and the extraordinary benefits of markets that have freed billions from hunger and poverty around the globe.

Anyone with even a basic knowledge of history knows that government- enforced collectivism always ends in poverty, death, and despair.

Mr. Speaker, look at Cuba, where the warmth of communism has left people with no rights, no freedom, and driving cars from the 1940s and 1950s; or Xinjiang, China, where the Uyghurs are imprisoned and enslaved to labor; or certainly no modest case, the Korean Peninsula, North Korea, where people are in darkness for 12 months a year and where people are stunted by malnutrition and oppression and live in darkness, literally and figuratively.

Compare that to South Korea, Mr. Speaker. In less than three generations since the end of the Korean conflict, the average South Korean is three inches taller, lives 12 years longer, and earns 18 times more than their northern struggling counterpart. Same people; same peninsula. One system embraced the individual; the other, the collective.

Of course, there are the millions starved to death and thrown into the gulags by Mao's China and Stalin's Soviet Union.

These aren't abstract failures, Mr. Speaker. They are graveyards built on broken bodies. What starts as hope ends in tyranny and death every time. Coptic Christians in Egypt

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to shed light on the discrimination faced by Coptic Christians in Egypt.

Coptic Christians face restrictions on building churches, have limited representation in government, and, tragically, have been targets of violence and persecution. They are attacked in the streets, held as political prisoners, and have little recourse.

The discrimination they face not only violates their basic human rights, but also undermines Egypt's rich cultural diversity and history, as well as Egypt's own legal commitments to its citizens.

It is critical for the international community to encourage the Egyptian government to further embrace religious tolerance, effectively protect minority rights, and ensure equality under the law for all of its citizens.

It is important for us to bring to light these issues and do all we can to promote our values: that no matter what race or religion, all people deserve dignity and respect.

As the Coptic Pope Tawadros II told me: ``All Egyptians take their water from the Nile.'' In that spirit, Egypt has work to do. Recognizing Dr. Cam Patterson

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the leadership of Dr. Cam Patterson, our former chancellor of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

Last year, Dr. Patterson announced his decision to step down from his leadership position after 7 years of focused, dedicated service to the university, the medical school, and the people of Arkansas.

Under his leadership, UAMS continued its commitment to excellence. As UAMS faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Patterson helped expand access to care across the State and navigated the pandemic while strengthening the university's reputation for excellence and research, patient care, and medical education.

As he remains at UAMS as a professor of cardiovascular medicine, Dr. Patterson will continue to advance his spirit of innovation, compassion, and service.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Dr. Patterson for his leadership and for always putting Arkansas families first. Condolences to the Family of Doug LaMalfa

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in condolence to Jill LaMalfa and the LaMalfa family of northern California, that beautiful area north of Sacramento, deep in the wilderness, home to Mt. Shasta. There was no better representation of the people of California than Doug LaMalfa.

He was a gentle giant. I had so much fun with him over the years. He was such a committed person to his constituents, to the State of California, to public service, to his relationships on both sides of the aisle. He had deep respect. From the most liberal Democrat in California to the most conservative Republican down in Texas, they all loved Doug LaMalfa. He will be missed.

Mr. Speaker, Martha and I share our condolences. We pray for the family at this tragic loss, but we are grateful for our friendship and service with Doug LaMalfa.

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