Debbie Dingell: “Persecution for one's religious beliefs is wrong. It should not be permitted anywhere, and this bill, the ``Freedom from…”

“Persecution for one's religious beliefs is wrong. It should not be permitted anywhere, and this bill, the ``Freedom from Religious Persecution Act,'' has the important and laudable goal of intending to reduce and eliminate the widespread and ongoing religious persecution taking place throughout the world today. The United States, as a world leader, should do what we can to eradicate this human rights abuse. This Nation was founded on principles of religious freedom, and we have thriving faith communities today because of our commitment to those principles. Persecution is reprehensible, and we need to pursue all appropriate ways to stop it. The bill seeks to achieve its objective by increasing the priority attached in U.S. foreign policy to the problem of religious persecution. The bill would impose sanctions on foreign governments that carry out or condone serious religious persecution. Also, the bill would seek to increase the refugee and asylum protections available to victims of religious persecution. While I want to end religious persecution globally, there are defects in this bill that do not permit me to support the measure as reported to the House. The bill's automatic sanctions, which include restrictions on exports and foreign assistance would be counterproductive.”