Erik Paulsen: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank Chairman Smith, along with his bipartisan…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I want to also thank Chairman Smith, along with his bipartisan colleagues, in joining together in authoring this legislation and bringing this bipartisan legislation forward and speaking in support of and respect of human rights in Ethiopia. This legislation takes a very important first step for what needs to be identified and moved forward in terms of identifying what has been happening for too long, where the Ethiopian Government has been persecuting the Oromo, Ethiopia's largest minority and ethnic group. Peaceful protests, led largely by Oromo's youth, have been met with government repression. Hundreds have been killed and thousands more have been injured. Now, most of those have also been arrested and detained by Ethiopia's security forces. Estimates are that hundreds of thousands of Oromians have been uprooted from their homes and forced to flee the persecution and the violence. There is no doubt that Ethiopia is a very important U.S. ally, but that does not mean that we should turn a blind eye as it oppresses its people. Now, in my State of Minnesota, we are home to the largest community of Oromians outside of Ethiopia. They are valued members of our community and we are very fortunate to have them.…”