In May of this year, I reintroduced the Vietnam Human Rights Act, which parenthetically passed the House four times in the past, only to die in the Senate.

I think each one of them, the evidence clearly suggests they ought to be CPC.

I think the distinguished members of this panel and many other elected officials know that's not the truth.

We should take full advantage of it in order to promote freedom of religion, human rights here at home and abroad.

I would be remiss not to mention the threat to religious freedom in our own hemisphere, including the Ortega regime, who promoted persecution of the church in Nigeria.

The U.S. should tirelessly advance and defend internationally recognized human rights around the world.

The Chinese Communist Party has committed horrific crimes against believers, including genocide against Uyghur Muslims and other religious and ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

It is very discouraging because, you know, forced conversions, all the things that they have done against the churches.

We meet at a time when there is an actual genocide taking place.

I urge the Department to do more to hold the Taliban accountable for its gross violations of human rights, including religious freedom.

Our recommendations are supported by Members of Congress in H. Resolution 82 introduced by you, Mr. Chair, Chris Smith, earlier this year.

I mean, this man is an incredibly brave man of God, and he is being persecuted horribly.

I wrote the language into the bill that you have a right to believe or not to believe.

I am especially grateful you put India on the list of countries that ought to be CPC.

I was shocked that the State Department failed to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern in 2022.

I remain deeply concerned, along with my colleagues for Bishop Alvarez, who was recently released, only to be rearrested for bravely refusing to leave his country.

The worst violators of religious freedom globally are often the biggest threats to our nation and that is no coincidence.

We call for the unconditional and immediate release of Bishop Alvarez, and he has been unjustly sentenced to more than 26 years.