Political Quotes

“since 2009, I have lead a bipartisan coalition of Senators to pass a resolution each Congress acknowledging the plight of the Baha'i community in Iran. I want to note that Chairman Menendez and I have worked together on a lot of issues, and he and I are both very much in support of this. In doing this, I have carried on the work of former colleagues on both sides who have used their bully pulpit to condemn the Iranian Government's persecution of the Baha'is in every Congress since 1982. In fact, the House of Representatives passed their own resolution on this issue earlier this month. In my view, it is crucial--and I know Chairman Menendez feels strongly about this too--that the Senate pass this resolution and strongly condemn the repressive Iranian Government. Over the past 13 weeks, the world has witnessed the Iranian Government's violent repression of its own people in response to nationwide protests defending women's rights. It should come as no surprise to my colleagues that the Iranian Government has a long history of repressing and targeting religious minorities and, in particular, the Baha'i community. The Wyden family knows quite a bit about authoritarian regimes targeting and persecuting individuals on the basis of religion. I know the distinguished Presiding Officer has known several Wydens over the years who have lived in his home State and has heard the stories about how we fled the Nazis. In our family, not all got out.…”