Hilda L. Solis: “in closing I just want to reiterate the importance of our discussion here tonight. Let us not forget the shroud, the…”

“in closing I just want to reiterate the importance of our discussion here tonight. Let us not forget the shroud, the burqa, that may veil and provide coverage in a foreign land that we do not know, but let us remember here as women, as Members of the House of Representatives, and our male colleagues, that we shall not go unheard; that our voices will be heard throughout the country and throughout the world; and that we are not just pleading for those woman who are suffering, those children in Afghanistan, but throughout the Middle East. There are many women who are treated very differently in other parts of the Middle Eastern countries. They do not have to wear this shroud. They walk in honor, they walk in dignity. They have education, they have jobs. We want that for women of Afghanistan, and we will not stop until our voices are heard. I want to thank the Women's Caucus and the Members that shared the dais with me this evening, and for the artwork that was provided for us tonight, so that Members might see what young girls in Afghanistan are seeing through their eyes.”