Political Quotes

“Madam President, I imagine the people of the United States have been able to follow the demonstrations in Belarus in opposition to the President declaring victory there. Since Aleksandr Lukashenko came to power in Belarus in 1994, he has consolidated power, and, in the process, suppressed democratic opposition. So the fact that the Belarus August Presidential election was a sham, as we all know, and he was once again declared to be the winner by a highly implausible margin, should not surprise anyone. However, this time, the Belarusian people have had enough. This time, brutal crackdowns by security forces have not crushed grassroots demands for democracy. The quest for liberty is embedded in the DNA of the American Republic, so the Americans naturally watch with interest as the people of Belarus continue to demand their God-given rights. The American people stand with the people of Belarus. I also appreciate very much the strong stance taken by European governments supporting the Belarusian people as the American people have. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll. Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________”