Political Quotes

“I am proud to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), my colleague, the sponsor of this bill, and a great fighter for human rights. Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Washington for yielding me the time and for her leadership on this legislation. I appreciate it very much. And I am grateful to my colleagues from Florida, as well, for their support and for their leadership. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for human rights. The House is about to approve our bipartisan bill, the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, that will impose real consequences for China's bad behavior in Tibet. America's foreign policy ought to send a message that we value human rights, that we stand with those working for freedom, that those values compel us to speak out when we see something that is wrong, and that we will hold accountable those who violate the basic human rights we all are entitled to. That is exactly what this bill today is all about. The basis of diplomatic law is mutual access and reciprocity. But while Chinese diplomats, journalists, and tourists travel freely within the United States, the Government of the People's Republic of China has erected many barriers to travel in areas of China inhabited by ethnic Tibetans. U.S. diplomats, journalists, and tourists must obtain permission to enter the Tibet Autonomous Region, a requirement that does not exist for any other provincial-level entity of China.…”