Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 129) condemning the Government of Saudi Arabia's continued detention and alleged abuse of women's rights activists, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 129 Whereas the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been an important strategic partner of the United States, and the United States and Saudi Arabia share broad interests, including defeating the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), regional stability, and countering Iran's malign activities in the Middle East; Whereas, in June 2018, the Government of Saudi Arabia reversed the longstanding ban on women driving; Whereas Saudi Arabia's male guardianship system requires women to attain the permission of their male guardian for a vast array of decisions, including health care, employment, applying for a passport, international travel, getting married, or even leaving prison; Whereas, since May 2018, the Government of Saudi Arabia has arrested prominent human rights advocates and imposed travel bans on numerous others, many of them longtime supporters of ending the ban on women driving and abolishing the male guardianship system; Whereas none of the jailed activists has been convicted of any crimes, and many reportedly have been held in solitary confinement for prolonged periods; Whereas Aziza al-Yousef, a United States resident who helped lead a campaign against the male guardianship system…”