Chris Smith

I do think, you know, just as Bush made a huge impact on getting the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in the first place it would be very helpful to, I think, have the President engage both individuals, Machar as well as Salva Kiir.

Unfortunately, two U.S. administrations have failed to take actions sufficient to sustain the gains Congress and the administrations have achieved.

Sadly, the answer is no. As this Commission's most recent Annual Report documents, China continues to massively violate the most basic human rights of its own people and to systematically undermine the rule of law.

These massive trade deficits are unacceptable and cost jobs in places like Toledo, Akron, and towns and cities all over this country.

I applaud the USTR's announcement on Monday that it is now requesting China to enter consultations in this case.

Statement for the record from the Honorable Bill Cassidy

If we don't bring something up, they get the message. They get the message that we don't care.

It needs to be integrated. It needs to be part of that discussion and then he will be released.

When there is a deficiency, I believe we have a duty to speak out.

Photograph of Naghmeh Abedini and her children submitted for the record

The reason why I wanted to chair and put together this hearing... was precisely because of our concern that it was not being raised.

We said that on religious freedom, there ought to be conditionality there as well.

Every conversation we had with the Iranians should have begun with Saeed Abedini and ended with Saeed Abedini.

We must enforce all of the sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes on regime officials responsible for committing human rights abuses.

I was a lead sponsor of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act that was signed into law last August.

For these flagrant violations, the U.S. has designated Iran as Country of Particular Concern since 1999.

We must judge this regime not by its words, but by its actions, and in this regard, it has utterly failed.

The U.S. Government must not waste another opportunity to secure the release of this brave and courageous father of two and devoted husband and a great pastor.

Who will report on what is happening with the Uyghurs, who will report on Tibet, who will report on the plight of human rights activists if not foreign independent journalists?

We must do all we can to prevent that from happening.

Imagine that. Those two very respected worldwide news organizations who have reporters darned near everywhere will not be able to paint that picture of China.

That is why the recent actions from the government to shut down foreign journalists is so troubling.

It is imperative that foreign journalists, that journalists worldwide, get an opportunity to travel freely in the People's Republic of China.

If the situation does not improve, we will consider other steps that Congress may take to address this issue.

What we need to address at the moment are issues of illiteracy and poverty that make constituents vulnerable when they vote.