Jeff Fortenberry: “First, let me thank my colleague and good friend, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, for his tireless efforts on a…”

“First, let me thank my colleague and good friend, Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, for his tireless efforts on a whole, broad spectrum of assaults on human dignity. He is constantly trying to elevate the conscience of this body and the worldwide community. I thank the chairman, as well, for coordinating this effort and speaking favorably to it, as well as Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, who passed this through the Foreign Affairs Committee. I need to also, because she is not here, thank Anna Eshoo, a Democratic colleague from California. We are living in a time when our country looks at Congress and sees stagnation, anger, and gridlock and not being able to get things done. What we have before us today is a transpartisan resolution. It has risen above the petty and difficult differences that we often work out here on the floor of the House of Representatives. It has risen above it because of its essential nature. Not only is there a grave injustice happening in the Middle East to the people, to the Christians, Yazidis, and other religious minorities who have as much a right to be in their ancient homeland as anyone else, but this is a threat against civilization itself.…”