Political Quotes

On the recordDecember 14, 2021
I thank the chairman for yielding and thank him for his extraordinary bipartisan leadership on this issue and on so many issues that come before our committee. I want to begin by acknowledging the leadership of the Speaker who has been an advocate and a strong voice for human rights around the world, but particularly in China for many, many years. I rise, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of this bicameral version of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, to ensure that the United States does all we can to condemn the appalling human rights record of the Chinese Government against Uyghur Muslims. With the ongoing genocide against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang, and with the crackdown on democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong, the world has seen what a glimpse of Chinese leadership in the international system would mean: a rejection of human rights; a commitment to authoritarianism; a silenced press; and the abandonment of the rule of law. In Xinjiang, over 1 million members of the Uyghur population have been forced to live in squalor; forced to abandon their beliefs; forced to abandon their children; and forced to work. Many have been tortured. Many have died. All have suffered. Policies undertaken in Xinjiang continue to stir the conscience and represent this country's most agonizing human rights catastrophes ever. The Chinese Government has unleashed a series of draconian measures that should give anyone in the civilized world a pause.…
Said by
David Cicilline
Democratic · Rhode Island

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