Chris Smith: “First of all, I want to thank the distinguished chairman and the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for their strong support…”

“First of all, I want to thank the distinguished chairman and the ranking member, Mr. McCaul, for their strong support for this effort, both bills that are up today. And I would also especially like to thank the Speaker for her leadership as well. Mr. Speaker, since the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre 30 years ago, I have had the privilege of working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, including, and especially, Speaker Pelosi, Jim McGovern, my good friend--and he is the chairman of the China Commission, and I am ranking member--and Congressman Frank Wolf, a former Member who was tenacious in his fight for human rights, the rule of law, and democracy for the people of China. We have always believed that every person deserves better than the brutality so many endure in the systematic violations of their universally recognized human rights. China's ruthless dictators do not agree, and they are driven--they are obsessed--to tighten their control. Today, Mr. Speaker, Hong Kong is burning. The status quo is no longer. The brutal government crackdown on democracy activists has escalated. Tragically, under President Xi Jinping, human rights abuse throughout China has significantly worsened, including the pervasive use of torture, religious persecution, human trafficking, and genocide against Muslim Uighurs. Last month, Mr.…”