Political Quotes

“Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 139, S. Res. 198. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: A resolution (S. Res. 198) condemning Brunei's dramatic human rights backsliding. There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution, which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with an amendment to strike all after the resolving clause and insert the part printed in italic, and with an amendment to strike the preamble and insert the part printed in italic, as follows: Whereas Brunei has been led since 1967 by one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah; Whereas Brunei gained independence in 1984; Whereas emergency powers in place in Brunei since 1962 allow the sultan to govern with few limitations to his authority; Whereas, according to the United States Department of State 2018 Human Rights Report, human rights issues in Brunei included censorship, interferences with the rights of peaceful assembly and freedom of association, crimes involving violence or threats targeting homosexuality, and exploitation of foreign workers, including through forced labor; Whereas Brunei's media are neither free nor diverse, with broadcasting dominated by the state and private media owned or controlled by the royal family; Whereas homosexuality has been illegal in Bru…”