Helping American Victims Afflicted By Neurological Attacks Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the HAVANA Act.

I was proud to introduce this legislation in the House, and I appreciate the continued support from Ranking Member Nunes, Chairman Meeks, and Ranking Member McCaul in moving this legislation through the House and to the President's desk.

Every day, thousands of patriotic Americans serve our country abroad, representing our values and interests across the globe. They are diplomats, soldiers, intelligence officers, and more. But we must never forget they are also mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, and sons and daughters who routinely make tremendous personal sacrifices in service of their country.

In return for their service to our Nation, we have a sacred responsibility to make sure that we take care of them. That is what this bill does.

Over the past several years, public servants from the intelligence community and elsewhere have experienced symptoms of unknown origins. These cases, which have been described as Havana syndrome or anomalous health incidents, named for the cohort whose symptoms onset in Havana, remain a mystery.

But two things are clear. First, we must spare no effort to identify their source and to hold anyone responsible accountable. Second, we must ensure that those who are injured receive the highest quality of care and the benefits that they need as they recover.

The HAVANA Act does just that. It would adjust and expand the authority we gave to the intelligence community and the State Department in 2019 to provide compensation for those experiencing these injuries to also include those suffering from traumatic brain injuries. Members of both parties have united behind this critical legislation to provide benefits to afflicted individuals.

Even as we pass this legislation, our work is not done. On a bipartisan basis, the Intelligence Committee has continued to provide vigorous oversight of how individuals experiencing these health incidents were treated and how they are being treated today. We will continue to prioritize this issue and put our people first.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, Mr. Castro and Mr. McCaul, for their efforts.

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