Political Quotes

“Mr. President, as a part of my office's ``Expression NOT Oppression'' initiative, I come to the floor today to highlight once again both a good news story with regard to human rights and a continuing challenge. First let me begin by highlighting the good news. Aya Hijazi, whom I have spoken about before on the floor, is an American-Egyptian citizen whom Egyptian officials had imprisoned on trumped-up charges almost 3 years ago. She was released, and she was able to return home to the United States last week. I am pleased that she was set free, as are many of my colleagues in the Senate who had been calling for the Egyptian authorities to release her. I know this was a topic of conversation during Egyptian President Elsisi's visit to the United States 3 weeks ago. I want to also take this moment to thank the Trump administration for working to ensure her freedom. They were instrumental--in fact, they were key in this being possible. They made it a priority in their private engagements with regard to President Elsisi. Sadly, there are still many more political prisoners who remain jailed in Egypt. We here in Congress as well as the administration should continue to raise these issues with the Egyptian Government until all of them are released, regardless of their citizenship status. As the leader of the free world, the United States must work to safeguard the freedoms and liberties of all people.…”