Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 3764, and I thank our Senate colleagues, especially Senators Marco Rubio, Ben Cardin, and James Lankford, and my dear friend and colleague, Representative Chris Smith, for their leadership in advancing this important measure. This bill would reauthorize the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, which was established nearly 26 years ago as an independent, bipartisan U.S. Government advisory body to monitor and report annually on religious freedom abroad and make policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. Mr. Speaker, the right of each individual to freely practice his or her religion or hold nonreligious beliefs is a fundamental human right. Yet, everyday individuals and communities around the world are subject to escalating violence, persecution, and discrimination simply for practicing their beliefs. USCIRF's 2024 report outlines serious violations of religious freedom and highlights some concerning global developments, including laws restricting religious freedom like blasphemy laws, anti-conversion laws, and restrictions on religious garb, governments engaged in transnational repression to silence religious minorities and their advocates abroad, and the disturbing global rise of anti-Semitism during 2023 and 2024.…”