Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 554, affirming the nature and importance of the support of the United States for the religious and ethnic minority survivors of genocide in Iraq, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this resolution introduced by Representative Slotkin, which shines a much-needed spotlight on the significant contributions of Iraq's religious and ethnic minority communities, as well as the profound suffering they have endured. Iraq is home to a rich tapestry of communities, each contributing to the nation's cultural heritage. Among them are the Yazidis, Shabak, and Chaldean, Syriac, and Assyrian Christians. These groups are not just a part of Iraq's history, but they are integral to its identity. The persecution faced by these communities is well-documented, especially during the rise of ISIS. The brutal terrorist group committed unimaginable horrors against Iraq's minorities. The list of atrocities is long: kidnappings, torture, public executions, arbitrary detentions, and systematic rape. The scale of this cruelty led the State Department, under Secretary Kerry in 2016, to formally declare ISIS' actions as genocide and crimes against humanity. While the territorial defeat of ISIS was achieved through the courageous efforts of the Iraqi Security Forces with critical support from the United States and our international partners, efforts at recovery are far from over.…”