Chris Smith

I commend the Administration--Secretary Pompeo and Vice President Pence--for speaking out forcefully.

Xi Jinping talks about realizing the 'China Dream'--but when Bibles are burned, when a simple prayer over a meal in public is an illegal religious gathering, and when over a million Uyghur and Kazakh Muslims are interned in 're-education…

The current assault on religion in China is the most comprehensive attempt to manipulate and control religious communities since the Cultural Revolution.

But with all the efforts under way to forcibly sinicize religion, it certainly seems an odd time to strike a deal with Xi Jinping's China.

This Commission is needed now more than ever, as is the Government's response

The Chinese Government is using 9/11 as a way of focusing on the Uyghurs

This Government, and our President, and this Commission, and every one of us needs to quadruple our efforts to stop this horrific crackdown that has been initiated by Xi Jinping

I have always had a great admiration for her.

It certainly has not been a focus.

I think the Vatican can do much better and they have the moral authority to do that.

The Catholic Church stands for the religious freedom of all Chinese religious groups and citizens.

If you're going to keep this agreement, this provisional agreement, demand more from the Chinese.

This is something that I wish our own religious freedom diplomacy would be involved in, and that is making the argument that religious freedom is good for the economy.

I would have the President say to him, Stop persecuting your own people. It's bad for China's international reputation, and it's bad for China's economy.

I believe on human rights we were sold out by President Clinton.

I sincerely hope I am wrong about the long-term effects of the Sino-Vatican agreement, but I don't believe it will help the Roman Catholic Church, China's Catholic minority, or the cause of religious freedom in China.

Taking a hammer and sickle to the cross or jailing a million Muslims will not only ensure that a tougher China policy will be widespread and bipartisan but will garner even global support.

In my view, the Holy See's role should be now as it was then, to press for human rights and especially for religious freedom for all religious communities in China and elsewhere.

Unfortunately, the persecution of Chinese Catholics has not decreased. If anything, it has intensified since the signing of the agreement.

The text of the agreement, as Mr. Smith said, has not been made public

I do hope and pray that this agreement will bring true religious freedom for Catholics in China, but I have my doubts.

The present-day assault on religion in China is the most comprehensive attempt to manipulate and control religious communities since the Cultural Revolution.

I thank the chairman for his leadership on this bill, and Eliot Engel and Barbara Lee. We were there when George W. Bush signed this legislation. We were sitting next to each other. This has made an enormous difference in the lives of so…

We are committed to supporting the people of Hong Kong in their quest for democracy.

Publicly and privately advocate on behalf of persons whom Chinese authorities continue to severely harass or have detained for exercising their freedom of religion or belief.