Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
GENTLEMAN FROM MISSOURI MR.
CARNAHAN 1 1/2 MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
I CALL UPON MY
COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT THIS
RESOLUTION STRONGLY.
THE COMMITMENT TOLL ISRAEL IN A
NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT BY AND
BETWEEN THE ISRAELIS AND
PALESTINIANS.
THE FUTURE OF ISRAEL IS LINKED
TO THAT OF ITS NEIGHBORS IN THE
MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA.
WITH GAS PRICES RISING,
CONFLICTS IN THAT REGION HAVE A
DIRECT IMPACT ON AMERICANS HERE
AT HOME.
I HAVE LONG SUPPORTED A
TWO-STATE SOLUTION TO THE
CONFLICT WITH ISRAEL AS THE
RECOGNIZED HOME OF THE JEWISH
PEOPLE AND A STRONG PALESTINIAN
STATE TO PROMOTE THE WELL-BEING
OF THE PALESTINIANS AS WELL.
THIS PROCESS.
U.S. AND OUR ALLIES MUST SUPPORT
WE MUST ALLOW THE TWO PARTIES TO
COME TOGETHER AND NEGOTIATE A
SETTLEMENT.
THIS IS THE BEST AVENUE TO
ACHIEVE LASTING PEACE.
I STRONGLY OPPOSE PALESTINIAN
ATTEMPTS FOR UNILATERAL
RECOGNITION THROUGH THE U.N.
THAT WOULD DELEGITIMATE MIES
THIS PEACE PROCESS.
HARRY TRU TRUMAN RECOGNIZED
ISRAEL WITHIN MINUTES OF ITS
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AND
WE MUST CONTINUE THIS KIND OF
SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AND OUR
ALLIES STRIVING FOR PEACE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH
MY COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF
AHEAD.
THE I'LL -- AISLE IN THE MONTHS
I YIELD BACK.
THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
WE RESERVEAL
THE OTHER SIDE YIELDS BACK AND
THEN WE'LL CLOSE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO
YIELD TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM
VIRGINIA, MR. MORAN 2 1/2
MINUTES.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA 2 1/2
MINUTES.
I THANK MY GOOD
FRIEND FROM CALIFORNIA FOR
YIELDING ME THE TIME.
THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE PROCESS IS
AT RISK OF COLLAPSE.
AND I BELIEVE THAT ONLY AMERICAN
LEADERSHIP CAN SAVE IT.
BOTH SIDES CAN AND SHOULD DO
MORE TO RESTART NEGOTIATIONS.
HOUSE RESOLUTION 268, DESPITE
THE FACT THAT IT HAS VIRTUALLY
UNANIMOUS SUPPORT FROM THIS BODY
AND INCLUDES A LAUDABLE
REAFFIRMATION OF THE UNITED
STATES' COMMITMENT TO A
NEGOTIATED SOLUTION OF THE
CONFLICT FALLS SHORT OF THE KIND
OF LEADERSHIP I BELIEVE IS
NEEDED.
THIS RESOLUTION CHASSES THE
PALESTINIANS AND FOR PURSUING
RECOGNITION OF THEIR STATE AT
THE UNITED NATIONS.
THE FIRST POINT, I THINK WE
SHOULD GIVE THE PALESTINIAN
AUTHORITY WHICH IT HAS DONE AN
IMPRESSIVE JOB OF DEVELOPING
INSTITUTIONS AND ITS ECONOMY IN
THE WEST BANK SOME CREDIT.
THEY HAVE TRIED TO PROVIDE THE
LEADERSHIP TO PURSUE THE GOALS
THAT WE HAVE ENCOURAGED THEM TO
DO AND THEY HAVE, I THINK, DONE
SO IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING
DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN A WAY
THAT WE SHOULD BE PROUD OF
BECAUSE WE HAD A ROLE IN THAT, A
MAJOR ROLE.
NO INDICATION THEY HAVE
ANY INCLINATION TO ALLOW HAMAS
TO JEOPARDIZE THOSE GAINS THAT
HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE WEST
BANK AND THUS FAR THE
RECONCILIATION AGREEMENT BETWEEN
HAMAS AND FA FATTAH HAS ANY
EVIDENCE TO YIELD A AGREEMENT.
IN MANY WAYS, THE PURPOSE FOR
BRINGING FORTH THIS RESOLUTION
IS MOOT.
SHOULD HAMAS BE INVITED TO JOIN
THE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT ACCEPTING
THE CONDITIONS OF THE CORTE,
UNITED NATIONSES, UNITED STATES,
RUSSIA, THOSE ARE THE DESIGNATED
BODIES THAT HAVE COME FORWARD
WITH AN GEEMENT WE HAVE AGREED
TO IF THEY INVITE HAMAS TO JOIN
A COALITION GOVERNMENT WITHOUT
ACCEPTING THE CONDITIONS THAT WE
INSIST UPON, IT WILL HAVE VERY
SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR
RELATIONSHIP AND THAT'S THE
REASON WHY WE SHOULD CUT OFF
FINANCIAL AID.
IN 2006, PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS,
WHICH WERE ADVANCED BY THE BUSH
ADMINISTRATION -- THAT'S WHAT
BROUGHT HAMAS INTO POWER.
IN REACTION, THE UNITED STATES
AS WELL AS THE INTERNATIONAL
CORTET SUCCESS PNDED ASSISTANCE
TO THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY AND
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION IS
CONTINUING THAT POLICY.
THERE IS NO AID GOING INTO GAZA.
THE PALESTINIAN UNITY IS CRUCIAL
TO A LONG-TERM PEACE.
GAZA'S SEPARATION FROM THE WEST
BANK HAS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO
ADVANCE MEANINGFUL NEGOTIATIONS.
THERE IS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO
LAY OUT -- MAY I HAVE 15
SECONDS?
I YIELD 15 SECONDS.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THERE IS INSUFFICIENT
TIME TO LAY OUT THE OTHER SIDE.
I DON'T HAVE STRONG DISAGREEMENT
WITH MANY OF THE POINTS THAT
HAVE BEEN MADE BUT THERE IS
ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE TO THIS AND
BODY.
OUGHT TO BE ADVANCED IN THIS
I THANK THE SPEAKER FOR HER TIME
AND I THANK MY GOOD FRIEND FOR
YIELDING.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA
CONTINUES TO RESERVE.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
MAY I ASK THROUGH
THE CHAIR DOES THE GENTLELADY
FROM FLORIDA --
WE HAVE 3 1/2
MINUTES LEFT APPROXIMATELY AND
US.
WE HAVE MR. BURTON TO CLOSE FOR
SO WE ARE WAITING FOR YOU TO
FINISH.
MAY I INQUIRE HOW
MUCH TIME?
--
THE
GENTLEMAN HAS 45 SECONDS.
THE GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED FOR
.
45 SECONDS.
THERE ARE TWO
IMPORTANT ISSUES RAISED BY THIS
RESOLUTION.
ONE SEEMS A LITTLE MORE DISTANT
THAN IT DID AT THE TIME IT WAS
INTRODUCED AND THAT WAS THE
POSSIBILITY OF A UNITY
GOVERNMENT THAT INCLUDED AN
ORGANIZATION THAT IS ON OUR
TERRORIST LIST THAT SUBSCRIBES
TO VIOLENCE, TO THE ELIMINATION
OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND
REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE PAST
AGREEMENTS IN A UNITY
GOVERNMENT.
HOPEFULLY THAT AGREEMENT -- THE
CHANCES OF IT ARE DIMINISHING.
THE SECOND POINT IS A STRATEGY
WHICH VIOLATES THE PALESTINIAN'S
OWN COMMITMENTS TO -- THAT THEY
MADE IN MADRID, THAT THEY MADE
PART OF THE ROAD MAP, THAT WERE
MADE IN THE CONTEXT OF THE OSLO
AGREEMENTS, THAT THEY WILL
NEGOTIATE DIRECTLY WITH THE
CONFLICT.
ISRAELIS TO RESOLVE THIS
I THINK IT IS ALL TOO
APPROPRIATE TO POINT OUT THAT
SHOULD THEY PURSUE THAT CORS,
GENEROUSLY GIVEN --
THE ASSISTANCE THAT WE HAVE VERY
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
MIGHT WELL BE
TERMINATED AND I URGE AN AYE
VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION.
THE
GENTLEMAN'S TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA --
THE GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH, MADAM SPEAKER.
I WOULD LIKE TO YIELD SUCH TIME
AS HE MAY CONSUME TO MR. BURTON,
THE GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA,
WHO'S ALSO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE
COMMITTEE -- SUBCOMMITTEE ON
EUROPE AND EURASIA AND OUR
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM INDIANA IS
RECOGNIZED.
I THANK MY CHAIRMAN
FOR YIELDING.
ISRAEL'S RIGHT TO EXIST, MADAM
SPEAKER, SHOULD BE GUARANTEED.
AND ISRAEL HAS TRIED TO WORK OUT
OVER THE YEARS A PEACE AGREEMENT
WITH THE PALESTINIANS SO THAT
THERE COULD BE A TWO-STATE
SOLUTION.
IN FACT, TWICE, ONCE DURING THE
TERM OF PRIME MINISTER BARACK
AND AGAIN DURING THE TERM OF
PRIME MINISTER OLMERT, ISRAEL
OFFERED THE PALESTINIANS A VERY
GENEROUS AND FAIR FINAL
SETTLEMENT AND BOTH TIMES THOSE
OFFICERS WERE FLATLY REJECTED
AND MET WITH VIOLENCE -- OFFERS
WERE FLATLY REJECTED AND MET
WITH VIOLENCE.
AND WHAT HAVE THE PALESTINIANS
DONE RECENTLY?
THEY WENT AND SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT WITH HAMAS.
HAM IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION
-- HAMAS IS A TERRORIST
ORGANIZATION THAT'S BEEN
LOBBYING BOMBS AND MISSILES INTO
ISRAEL, TRYING TO DESTROY THE
ISRAELI STATE.
THEY'RE COMMITTED TO THE
DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL AND THE
PALESTINIANS HAVE SIGNED AN
AGREEMENT ON MAY THE FOURTH OF
THIS YEAR TO WORK WITH THEM.
ISRAEL WENT THAT EXTRA STEP WHEN
THEY ALLOWED GAZA TO BE TURNED
OVER OR TURNED OPEN AND WHAT
HAPPENED RIGHT AFTER THAT TOOK
PLACE?
HAMAS CAME IN THERE AND TOOK
OVER AND STARTED ATTACKING
ISRAEL DAY AFTER DAY.
INNOCENT WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE
RUNNING CONSTANTLY FROM BOMBING
BEING DROPPED ON THEM -- BOMBS
BEING DROPPED ON THEM BECAUSE
GAZA HAD BEEN SET IN A POSITION
WHERE THEY COULD OPEN UP TO
HAMAS.
AND SO YOU'VE GOT A CONSTANT
DEMAND BY THE TERRORISTS, HAMAS,
HEZBOLLAH AND OTHERS, TO DESTROY
THE STATE OF ISRAEL.
AND ISRAEL HAS BEEN A GREAT ALLY
OF THE UNITED STATES SINCE ITS
INCEPTION IN 1948.
WE NEED TO SEND A VERY STRONG
SIGNAL AND I THINK WE'RE DOING
IT RIGHT NOW TODAY, A VERY
STRONG SIGNAL THAT THIS COUNTRY,
THIS CONGRESS AND THE SENATE
DOES NOT WANT THE PALESTINIANS
SUPPORTS THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND
TO GO TO THE UNITED NATIONS AND
TRY TO HAVE A UNILATERAL
SETTLEMENT MADE BY THAT BODY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE
WORKED OUT AT THE CONFERENCE
TABLE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE
PALESTINIANS.
AND NOT AT THE UNITED NATIONS.
SO I'D JUST LIKE TO CONCLUDE BY
SAYING THAT ISRAEL IS OUR BEST
FRIEND AND ALLY IN THE MIDDLE
EAST, THEY'RE A STABLE ELEMENT
IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WE NEED TO
SUPPORT THEM AND MAKE ABSOLUTELY
SURE THAT HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH AND
THE OTHER TERRORIST
ORGANIZATIONS DO NOT HAVE THEIR
WAY AND DESTROY THE STATE OF
ISRAEL.
WE ARE COMMITTED TO THAT, THIS
CONGRESS IS COMMITTED TO THAT
AND THIS WHOLE DEBATE HAS SHOWN
VERY CLEARLY THAT ALMOST
UNANIMOUSLY THE PEOPLE OF THE
UNITED STATES STAND WITH ISRAEL.
AND WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER.
WITH THAT I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME AND I'D LIKE
TO ASK FOR THE YEAS AND NAYS AT
THE APPROPRIATE TIME.
ALL
TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND AGREE TO
HOUSE RESOLUTION 268.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
--
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, THE
MADAM SPEAKER.
2/3 OF
THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED IN
THE AFFIRMATIVE -- THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
ON THAT I
REQUEST THE YEAS AND NAYS.
THE
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED AND PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8
OF RULE 0, FURTHER PROCEEDINGS
ON THIS QUESTION -- 20, FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS ON THIS QUESTION
WILL BE POSTPONED.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY RISE?
THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I MOVE THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND
THE RULES AND PASS H.R. 515 AS
AMENDED.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE
RESOLUTION.
H.R. 515, A BILL TO
RE-AUTHORIZE THE BELARUS
DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2004.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA, MS.
ROS-LEHTINEN, AND THE GENTLEMAN
FROM CALIFORNIA, MR. BURTON,
WILL EACH CONTROL 20 MINUTES AND
THE CHAIR NOW RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLELADY FROM FLORIDA.
I THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS TO REVISE AND
EXTEND THEIR REMARKS AND INCLUDE
EXTRANEOUS MATERIAL ON H.R. 515
AND I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS
I MAY CONSUME.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLELADY IS NOW
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU,
MADAM SPEAKER.
I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
SUBMIT FOR THE RECORD LETTERS
FROM TWO COMMITTEE CHAIRMEN, ONE
FROM JUDICIARY AND ONE FROM
FINANCIAL SERVICES, ON THE
MEASURE BEFORE US.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK --
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK CHAIRMAN
SMITH AND CHAIRMAN BACHUS FOR
THEIR CORPORATION IN ALLOWING
THIS BILL TO PROCEED SO SWIFTLY
TO THE FLOOR.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE TODAY IN
STRONG SUPPORT OF H.R. 515, THE
BELARUS DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN
RIGHTS ACT OF 2011.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY
DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUE AND
FRIEND, MR. SMITH, FOR
INTRODUCING THIS TIMELY AND
IMPORTANT MEASURE.
BELARUS HAS BEEN CORRECTLY
DEEMED THE LAST DICTATORSHIP OF
EUROPE.
UNDER THE IRON HAND OF THE
BELARUSAN PEOPLE, THEY HAVE
ENDURED THE SYSTEMATIC DENIAL
AND VIOLATION OF THE BASIC
FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
THE AUTHORITIES IN BELARUS HAVE
SEVERELY RESTRICTED FREE SPEECH
AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA.
PRODEMOCRACY POLITICAL ACTIVISTS
ARE SUBJECT TO BEATINGS AND
IMPRISONMENT.
THE REGIME'S HEAVY-HANDED
TACTICS WERE FULLY UTILIZED IN
LAST DEAST'S -- DECEMBER'S
FRAUDULENT ELECTION FOR
PRESIDENT.
ACCORDING TO OUR OWN HUMAN RIGHT
IT'S REPORT, AND I QUOTE,
AUTHORITIES DENIED CITIZENS THE
RIGHT TO CHANGE THEIR
GOVERNMENT, MANIPULATING THE
DECEMBER 19 PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION TO ENSURE THAT THE
CHALLENGED.
PRESIDENT WOULD NOT BE SERIOUSLY
SECURITY FORCES BEAT DETAINEES
AND PROTESTERS, USED EXCESSIVE
FORCE TO DISPERSE PEACEFUL
DEMONSTRATORS AND REPORTEDLY
USED TORTURE DURING
INVESTIGATIONS.
AND IT CONTINUES, IT A CRACKDOWN
ON POST ELECTION DEMONSTRATIONS
LED TO THE ARREST OF OVER 700
ACTIVISTS INCLUDING CRIMINAL
CHARGES AGAINST FIVE
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND
NUMEROUS ACTIVISTS AND
JOURNALISTS, END QUOTE.
UNFORTUNATELY THE REGIME,
DESPITE ITS REPEATED PROMISES OF
REFORM, CONTINUES THIS CAMPAIGN
OF REPRESSION AGAINST ITS OWN
PEOPLE.
IN RESPONSE TO THE RUMORS THAT
PEACEFUL PROTESTERS WERE
PLANNING TO GATHER ON BELL RUSE
INDEPENDENCE DAY, JULY 3, JUST
RECENTLY, TO SHOW THEIR
OPPOSITION TO THE REGIME BY
CLAPPING THEIR HANDS, THE
DICTATOR STATED, AND I QUOTE,
STOMPING, CLAPPING, BELLOWING
AND ROARING ON SQUARES AND
STREETS CANNOT SOLVE PROBLEMS.
THE STATE HAS THE RESOURCES AND
POWER TO PACIFY THOSE WHO
VIOLATE THE LAW AND THE
CONSTITUTION.
END QUOTE.
AND WE HAVE NOW SEEN THE
PRESIDENT DID INDEED USE THE
STATE'S POWER TO PACIFY THE
DEMONSTRATORS.
HOW?
HE ORDERED THE AUTHORITIES TO
START BY FIRING TEAR GAS AT THE
PROTESTERS FOLLOWED BY THE
VIOLENT BEATING AND IMPRISONMENT
OF THOSE WHO DARED TO CLAP THEIR
HANDS, OVER 300 ACTIVISTS WERE
ARRESTED AND TODAY 140 WERE
CONVICTED ON SUCH DUBIOUS
CHARGES AS BEING HOOLIGANS OR
PARTICIPATING IN UNSANCTIONED
DEMONSTRATIONS.
THIS UNRELENTING PERSECUTION OF
THE BELARUSAN PEOPLE BY THE
REGIME IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE.
THE U.S. AND OTHER RESPONSIBLE
NATIONS MUST SUPPORT THE
PRODEMOCRACY FORCES IN BELARUS
AND HOLD THE AUTHORITATIVE
REGIME ACCOUNTABLE FOR ITS
GROWING ABUSES.
THAT'S WHY I'M PLEASED TO
SUPPORT THIS IMPORTANT MEASURE
WHICH AMONG OTHER THINGS
CONDEMNS THE CONDUCT OF THE
RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
AND THE CRACKDOWN ON OPPOSITION
CANDIDATES AND ACTIVISTS,
EXPRESSES A SENSE OF CONGRESS
THAT THE PRESIDENT SHOULD
CONTINUE TO SUPPORT RADIO,
TELEVISION AND INTERNET
BROADCASTING TO THE PEOPLE OF
BELARUS AND EXPANDS ON EXISTING
SANCTIONS INCLUDING THE DENIAL
OF VISAS TO ANY MEMBER OF THE
BELARUSAN GOVERNMENT WHO
OPPOSITION LEADERS, JOURNALISTS
PARTICIPATED IN THE CRACKDOWN ON
AND PEACEFUL PROTESTERS THAT
OCCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE
DECEMBER ELECTIONS.
THANK YOU, MADAM SPEAKER, AND I
RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME
AND I ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT THAT
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE FOREIGN
AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICAN
GLOBAL HEALTH AND HUMAN RIGHTS,
MR. SMITH, BE ALLOWED TO MANAGE
THE REMAINDER OF OUR TIME, MADAM
SPEAKER.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE GENTLEMAN FROM
NEW JERSEY, WILL CONTROL THE
BALANCE OF THE TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
I WILL BE THE ONLY SPEAKER TO
RESOLUTION.
SPEAK FROM OUR SIDE ON THIS
I YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I
MAY CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS
LEGISLATION.
ON DECEMBER 19 OF LAST YEAR
BELARUS PRESIDENT ALEXANDER
STAGED A FRAUGHT LEND --
FRAUDULENT ELECTION.
IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD HE HAD THE
OPPOSITION CANDIDATES ARRESTED
AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM WERE
SENTENCED TO PRINCENEN.
THE REGIME HAS CONTINUED TO A--
HARASS MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION
POLITICAL PARTIES, HUMAN RIGHTS
ACTIVISTS AND CIVIL SOCIETYS AND
TO SUPPRESS BELARUSANS' ACCESS
TO FREE PRESS AND INFORMATION.
OVER THE PAST MONTH AN
INCREASING NUMBER OF BELARUSANS
HAVE GATHERED TO PROTEST AGAINST
THE PRESIDENT AND THE
DETERIORATING ECONOMIC SITUATION
THERE.
THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION HAS
REACTED STRONGLY TO THE
FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS AND POST
ELECTION CRACKDOWN.
ON FEBRUARY 2, THE U.S.
SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED THE LIST
OF BELARUSAN OFFICIALS SUBJECT
TO TRAVEL SANCTIONS AND TO HAVE
THEIR ASSETS BLOCKED AND RESTORE
FULL U.S. SANCTIONS AGAINST
BELARUSA'S LARGEST STATE-OWNED
OIL AND GAS CONCERNS.
ON JULY 2, SECRETARY CLINTON MET
WITH ACTIVISTS FROM BELARUS
DURING HER VISIT TO LITHUANIA
FOR A MEETING OF THE COMMUNITY
OF DEMOCRACYS AND REPEATED HER
DEMAND THAT BELARUS RELEASE
POLITICAL PRISONERS AND EMBARK
ON THE PATH OF DEMOCRATIC
REFORM.
IN COORDINATION WITH THE
EUROPEAN YUPE -- EUROPEAN UNION,
THE ADMINISTRATION HAS
SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDED DEMOCRACY
ASSISTANCE TO BELARUS THIS YEAR
FROM $11 MILLION TO $15 MILLION.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO CALL FOR THE
REOPENING OF THE O.S.C. OFFICE
IN MINKS AND FOR THE GOVERNMENT
OF BELARUS TO COOPERATE WITH A
FACT FINDING MISSION REQUESTED
BY 14 PARTICIPATING STATES UNDER
THE MOSCOW MECHANISM.
AND WE MUST CONTINUE TO DEMAND
THE RELEASE OF MANY HEROIC
INDIVIDUALS STILL LANGUISHING IN
BELARUSAN PRISONS WITHOUT ACCESS
TO THEIR FAMILIES OR LEGAL
COUNCIL.
EUROPE'S LAST DICTATORSHIP
SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO STAND
UNCHALLENGED.
I SUPPORT THIS LEGISLATION AND
ENCOURAGE MY COLLEAGUES TO DO
THE SAME AND RESERVE THE BALANCE
OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN RESERVES THE BALANCE
OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM NEW JERSEY.
MADAM SPEAKER, I
YIELD MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
CONSUME.
THE
GENTLEMAN IS RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MADAM
SPEAKER.
FIRST OF ALL LET ME THANK
CHAIRWOMAN ROS-LEHTINEN FOR HER
LEADERSHIP IN BRINGING THIS BILL
TO THE FLOOR TODAY, THE MAJORITY
LEADER AND THE SPEAKER FOR
SCHEDULING IT AND TO HOWARD
BERMAN FOR HIS STRONG SUPPORT OF
IT AS WELL AND HIS VERY ELOQUENT
STATEMENT JUST A MOMENT AGO.
MADAM SPEAKER, I RISE IN STRONG
SUPPORT OF H.R. 515, THE BELARUS
DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
VISIT -- ACT OF 2011.
THE BILL DEMONSTRATES OUR STRONG
AND SUSTAINED PROMOTION OF HUMAN
RIGHTS, DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE
OF LAW IN BELARUS THROUGH
TARGETED SANCTIONS AGAINST THIS
BRUTAL DICTATORSHIP.
H.R. 515 REINFORCES EARLIER LAW,
THE BELARUS DEMOCRACY ACT OF
2004, AND THE BELARUS DEMOCRACY
RE-AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2006,
BOTH OF WHICH PASSED THE HOUSE
AND THE SENATE WITH OVERWHELMING
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND WERE
.
SIGNED INTO LAW.
THIS UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR A THE
GOVERNMENT RESPONDED TO PEACEFUL
PROTESTS WITH SAVAGE MASS
BEATINGS AND LARGE SCALE
DETENTIONS, OVER 700 PEOPLE.
LATER ON, I WILL PUT IN THE
RECORD THE LIST OF MANY OF THE
ACTIVISTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE
ALREADY IN JAIL, THEIR SENTENCES
AND THESE ARE MEN AND WOMEN
WHOSE ONLY CRIME WAS ASKING THAT
BELARUS GO FROM DICTATORSHIP TO
A DEMOCRACY.
SOME RECEIVING HARSH SENTENCES
UP TO CIRCUMSTANCE YEARS.
LUKASHENKO USUALLY FINDS A
REASON TO EXTEND THE JAIL
SENTENCES.
THESE SENTENCES ARE AWFUL
INDEED.
AS REPRESENTATIVE ROS-LEHTINEN
POINTED OUT, THIS ALSO INCLUDES
FIVE OF THE NINE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES WHO RAN AGAINST
LUKASHENKO.
THEIR FAMILY, LAWYERS,
JOURNALISTS AND ACTIVISTS
CONTINUE TO BE HARASSED AND
INTIMIDATED.
IT IS THE WORST POLITICAL
CRACKDOWN IN EUROPE IN OVER A
DECADE AND IT'S ONGOING, MADAM
SPEAKER.
THE REPRESSION REGIME WAS IN
FULL FORCE EARLIER THIS WEEK AS
POLICE BROKE UP PROTESTORS
ATTEMPTING TO MARK THEIR
COUNTRY'S INDEPENDENCE DAY.
HUNDREDS WERE DETAINED, 140
ALREADY RECEIVED ADMINISTRATIVE
SENTENCES OR FINES, INCLUDING
INDEPENDENT JOURNALISTS
REPORTING ON RALLIES HELD ACROSS
.
THE COUNTRY.
THROUGH A SERIES OF RIGGED
ELECTIONS, LARGE-SCALE
INTIMIDATION AND SUPPRESSION OF
INDEPENDENT MEDIA AND CIVIL
SOCIETY, THE DICTATOR HAS LONG
SINCE CONSOLIDATED HIS CONTROL
OVER VIRTUALLY ALL NATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS.
HIS DICTATORSHIP IS THE WORST OF
ANY IN EUROPE TODAY.
MOST SIGNIFICANTLY ABOUT THE
LEGISLATION, THE BILL SUPPORTS
TARGET THE SANCTIONS THAT
EXPRESSES THE SENSE OF THE
CONGRESS TO DENY THE PRIVILEGE
OF VISITING OUR COUNTRY TO
SENIOR BELARUS OFFICIALS,
IMMEDIATE FAMILIES AND OTHERS
INVOLVED IN HUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS AND ANTI-DEMOCRACY
ACTIONS, INCLUDING THOSE
INVOLVED IN THE DECEMBER 19TH
POST-ELECTION CRACKDOWN.
IT HAS PROVISIONS PROHIBITING
U.S. GOVERNMENT FINANCING EXCEPT
FOR HUMANITARIAN GOODS AND AG
AND NONHUMANITARIAN LOANS TO THE
BELARUS GOVERNMENT, BLOCKING
ASSETS OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT
SENIOR LEADERSHIP OR THEIR
FAMILIES AND THOSE INVOLVED IN
ANTI-DEMOCRATIC ACTIONS.
THESE SANCTIONS ARE AIMED AT THE
SENIOR LEADERSHIP OF A
DICTATORSHIP THAT DISPLAYS UTTER
CONTEMPT FOR THE PEOPLE OF
BELARUS AND WITH THESE SANCTIONS
WE STAND WITH THE BELLA
RUSSIAIAN PEOPLE.
I WOULD ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT
THAT MY STATEMENT BE MADE PART
OF THE RECORD AND I YIELD BACK
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM CALIFORNIA.
I YIELD BACK THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
AND THE QUESTION IS, WILL THE
HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES AND PASS
H.R. 515 AS AMENDED.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
BEING IN THE AFFIRMATIVE, THE
RULES ARE SUSPENDED, THE BILL IS
PASSED AND WITHOUT OBJECTION,
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER IS LAID
UPON THE TABLE.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA RISE?
I SEND TO THE DESK A
PRIVILEGED REPORT FROM THE
COMMITTEE ON RULES.
REPORT TO ACCOMPANY
HOUSE RESOLUTION 337, RESOLUTION
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF
THE BILL, H.R. 2354, MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR ENERGY AND
WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED
AGENCIES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR
ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
REFERRED TO THE HOUSE CALENDAR
AND ORDERED PRINTED.
PURSUANT TO HOUSE RESOLUTION 320
AND RULE 18, THE CHAIR DECLARES
THE FOR THE FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2219.
WILL THE GENTLEMAN FROM UTAH,
MR. BISHOP, KINDLY TAKE THE
CHAIR.
THE HOUSE IS IN THE
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON THE
STATE OF THE UNION FOR FURTHER
CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2219,
WHICH THE CLERK WILL REPORT BY
TITLE.
A BILL MAKING
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30,
2012 AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
WHEN THE COMMITTEE OF
THE WHOLE ROSE EARLIER TODAY,
AMENDMENT NUMBER 31 PRINTED IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD OFFERED
BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR.
CARTER, HAD BEEN DISPOSED AND
THE BILL HAD BEEN READ THROUGH
PAGE 122 LINE 19.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 6 OF RULE 18,
PROCEEDINGS WILL NOW RESUME ON
THOSE AMENDMENTS PRINTED IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD ON WHICH
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS WERE
POSTPONED IN THE FOLLOWING
ORDER, AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 OF MR.
CON ELLIE OF VIRGINIA, MR.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2, AMENDMENT BY
MR. KUCINICH INITCH OF OHIO,
AMENDMENT NUMBER 21, AMENDMENT
BY MR. WELCH OF VERMONT,
AMENDMENT NUMBER 22, AMENDMENT
NUMBER 26, AND AMENDMENT BY MR.
SESSIONS OF TEXAS.
THE CHAIR WILL REDUCE TO TWO
MINUTES THE TIME FOR ANY
ELECTRONIC VOTE AFTER THE FIRST
VOTE IN THIS SERIES.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1 OFFERED BY
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
CON ELLIE ON WHICH FURTHER --
CONNELLY.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 1
OFFERED BY MR. CONNELLY OF
VIRGINIA.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF A RECORDED
VOTE WILL RISE AND BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A 15-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.].
ON THIS VOTE THE YEAS
ARE 175, THE NAYS ARE 241, THE
AMENDMENT IS NOT ADOPTED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER 23 PRINTED IN
THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD OFFERED
BY THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA,
MR. BROUN, ON WHICH FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED, ON
WHICH THE NAYS PREVAILED BY A
VOICE VOTE.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 23
PRINTED IN THE CONGRESSIONAL
RECORD OFFERED BY MR. BROUN OF
GEORGIA.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTE WILL RISE
AND BE COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, A RECORDED VOTE IS
ORDERED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE.
THIS IS A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
THE YEAS ARE 87, THE
NAYS ARE 328, THE AMENDMENT IS
NOT ADOPTED.
THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2, OFFERED BY
THE GENTLEMAN FROM VIRGINIA, MR.
CONNELLY, ON WHICH CONNOLLY.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 2
OFFERED BY MR. CONNOLLY OF
VIRGINIA.
RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF A RECORDED
VOTE WILL RISE AND BE COUNTED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS A
TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
THE CHAIR WILL ASK MEMBERS TO
STAY CLOSE INTO THE CHAMBER.
IT IS A TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
--
REPRESENTATIVES. 6
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 152, THE NAYS ARE 266.
THE AMENDMENT IS NOT AGREED TO.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS IS THE
REQUEST FOR A RECORDED VOTE ON
AN AMENDMENT OFFERED BY THE
GENTLEMAN FROM OHIO, MR.
KUCINICH, ON WHICH FURTHER
PROCEEDINGS WERE POSTPONED AND
THE NAYS PREVAILED BY A VOICE
VOTE.
THE CLERK WILL REDESIGNATE THE
AMENDMENT.
AMENDMENT OFFERED BY
MR. KUCINICH OF OHIO.
A RECORDED VOTE HAS
BEEN REQUESTED.
THOSE IN SUPPORT OF THE RECORDED
VOTE WILL RISE AND BE COUNTED.
MEMBERS WILL RECORD THEIR VOTES
BY ELECTRONIC DEVICE. THIS IS
ANOTHER TWO-MINUTE VOTE.
[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE,
INC., IN COOPERATION WITH THE
REPRESENTATIVES.
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF
ANY USE OF THE CLOSED-CAPTIONED
COVERAGE OF THE HOUSE
PROCEEDINGS FOR POLITICAL OR
COMMERCIAL PURPOSES IS EXPRESSLY
PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.]
ON THIS VOTE, THE
YEAS ARE 253, THE NAYS ARE 167.
THE AMENDMENT IS AGREED TO.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
THE HOUSE WILL BE IN ORDER.
WILL MEMBERS, PLEASE TAKE YOUR
CONVERSATIONS OFF THE FLOOR.
TAKE SEATS AND CLEAR THE WELL.
AGAIN, THE HOUSE WILL BE IN
ORDER.
THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO IN ORDER.
FOR WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RISE?
MR. CHAIRMAN, I ASK UNANIMOUS
CONSENT TO WITHDRAW MY REQUEST
FOR A RECORDED VOTES ON
AMENDMENTS NUMBER 21 AND 22 TO