Albio Sires: “For the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. In response to Ortega's brutal crackdown on…”

“For the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure. In response to Ortega's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests and human rights violations, H. Res. 981 condemns the violence, persecution, and intimidation committed by the Government of Nicaragua against its citizens. The Nicaragua National Police, or militias, controlled by the Nicaraguan Government have murdered, detained, and tortured innocent people peacefully standing up for their rights. Stories of Nicaraguan protesters being electrocuted and waterboarded by gangs aligned with the Ortega regime continue to horrify the international community. While the Ortegas may condemn foreign interference in their affairs, let us be clear: The United States condemns the violence, the persecution, the intimidation, and the murders of peaceful protesters by the Ortega security forces and his henchmen. We support the people of Nicaragua in their pursuit for democracy, including their call for free and fair elections overseen by credible domestic and international observers, and we demand that Nicaragua release those individuals wrongfully detained by the government. Again, I want to thank the chairman and ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ed Royce and Eliot Engel. I want to take this opportunity to thank Ed Royce for his last 3 years of bipartisan work.…”