Don Nickles: “I recognized three persons for their many hours of work and their important leadership roles in guiding this legislation…”

“I recognized three persons for their many hours of work and their important leadership roles in guiding this legislation to passage-- Steve Moffitt of my staff, John Hanford on the staff of Senator Richard Lugar, and Cecile Shea with Senator Joseph Leiberman. I would like to take this opportunity to add to this honor roll the names of several additional congressional staff whose efforts were essential to the crafting and historic passage of this legislation. Often when legislation is passed into law, we, who work in Congress, never have the full benefit of seeing the aid and blessing which our efforts bring to others. This will assuredly be the case for this small group of staff who worked with such dedication and excellence for the passage of the International Religious Freedom Act. Their work has now received the unanimous acclaim of both Houses of Congress, as the Senate voted 98-0 in favor of this bill, followed the next day by a unanimous voice vote in the House. But, more importantly, I hope that these individuals will rest in the satisfaction that their selfless efforts will, for decades to come, redound to the benefit of countless persons around the world imprisoned, tortured, or otherwise persecuted or restricted in the practice of their religious beliefs.”