Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act. I thank my good friend, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce, and Ranking Member Engel for their support in bringing this important legislation to the floor today. I also appreciate the work of Ambassador Wagner on this measure, and I am proud to be a cosponsor and the lead Democrat on this bill with Congresswoman Wagner. Standing up against genocide and mass atrocities is a critical responsibility for the United States. There is no other country in the world that can hold other nations accountable but the United States. No other country can do it like we can--not France, not Germany, not Great Britain, certainly not China, especially not Russia. No other country in history has had the moral suasion of the United States. Many of us are concerned about what is happening to our country right now and our positioning in being able to push back against atrocities and human rights violations around the world. I would be remiss if I didn't mention a concern for what took place yesterday in Helsinki as an example of a growing concern of our ability to hold and to sway moral convictions on these issues. But it is a responsibility that is important to our country and, more importantly, it is a responsibility that is important to our world.…”