Political Quotes

“I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes. Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I would like to enter into a colloquy with the majority and minority floor managers--the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman)-- just to clarify the congressional intent regarding the use of the classified annex mentioned in section 404(c)(2) of H.R. 6156. Section 404 of the bill would hold accountable Magnitsky's killers and other human rights violators by placing targeted sanctions on them. In particular, the bill imposes a visa ban and asset freeze on individuals responsible for participating in or for covering up Sergei Magnitsky's detention, abuse and death, and on individuals responsible for certain other gross violations of human rights. As part of that accountability, section 404 requires the President to publish a list of the people responsible for those particular abuses. It is my understanding that the congressional intent behind title IV is for people subject to sanctions to be placed on an unclassified list in a transparent manner and that any classified annex may be used only as an exception and not the rule. The administration may list a person in the classified annex only if the President determines that it is absolutely vital to the national security interests of the United States and provides Congress with prior notice and justification. I yield to the floor manager for the majority, Mr.…”