Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, this piece of legislation is a bad idea. The right to participate in a boycott is an expression of free speech and free association that has been enshrined in American law since our Nation's founding. This bill would allow the President, any President, to compel the speech of Americans. That is unconstitutional and dangerous. Let me lay out a few scenarios that this bill would enable: An international organization calls for a boycott of goods made through forced Uyghur labor in China. An American citizen, concerned about the ongoing Uyghur genocide vocally expresses support for this boycott and participates in it. Under this bill, a President could decide that China is a ``friend to the United States'' and penalize one of our own fellow citizens with a $1 million fine and 20 years in prison. Under this bill, an American citizen who participates in a European Union boycott of goods made in Russian-occupied Ukraine could be jailed for 20 years under an American President who was friendly to the invasion. There are no safeguards under this law. The President has the complete power to decide when a country is covered by this law. That, I cannot support. If an American chooses to participate in such a boycott, it should be their decision and theirs alone, not the United States Government's. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation.”