Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. The right to free religious belief and practice is a fundamental human right. But as Coptic Christians in Egypt and other religious minorities can attest, that right is frequently and tragically denied. It was for this reason that Congress established the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent, bipartisan Federal Commission charged with monitoring and protecting and promoting religious freedom abroad. Our State Department prioritizes an array of diplomatic, economic, and other issues that sometimes keep it from speaking and acting boldly against religious suppression. For this reason alone, the single-minded role of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom as a truth-telling watchdog and policy advocate remains critically important. The commission's annual report, its list of countries meriting CPC designation, and its special reports push American foreign policy to better reflect America's most cherished liberties. For example, in spite of long-standing abuses, Vietnam has not been redesignated by the State Department as a Country of Particular Concern, CPC, for religious freedom violations.…”