[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 92 (Monday, July 11, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5612-H5613]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  COMMENDING THE STATE OF KUWAIT FOR GRANTING WOMEN CERTAIN IMPORTANT 
                            POLITICAL RIGHTS

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 343) commending the State of Kuwait 
for granting women certain important political rights.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 343

       Whereas on May 16, 2005, the Parliament of the State of 
     Kuwait amended Article 1 of the Election Law 35 of 1962, 
     providing female citizens of Kuwait the right to vote and run 
     in the 2007 elections;
       Whereas the rights of women are of paramount importance in 
     international human rights, to be respected and promoted 
     regardless of historical, cultural, or religious heritage;
       Whereas the active advancement of women's rights throughout 
     the world is and remains an important policy priority of the 
     United States; and
       Whereas the Department of State recognizes that the Kuwaiti 
     parliamentary vote of May 16, 2005, was an important step 
     forward for the women of Kuwait and the nation as a whole, 
     and the United States views this step as a positive 
     development on the road to political reform, serving as a 
     positive example for other governments and societies in the 
     region that are on the path to political freedom, inclusion 
     of women, and full democratization: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the Government and Parliament of the State of 
     Kuwait for providing female citizens of Kuwait the right to 
     vote and hold public office;
       (2) urges the full participation of Kuwaiti women in the 
     political life of their country; and
       (3) encourages the Government of Kuwait to continue taking 
     positive steps to achieve full modernization of its political 
     system and lasting democratic reform.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 343 introduced by my 
friend and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley), and 
commend him for sponsoring this. At least ten other Members have joined 
him as cosponsors on the resolution.
  In May of 2005, the Kuwaiti Parliament amended its basic election 
laws to provide something which we in America take for granted, the 
rights of women to vote and to run for office. This resolution puts the 
U.S. House of Representatives on record as commending this important 
step in the Middle East. The Kuwaiti Parliament has taken action to 
recognize the important role of women in international human rights, 
and the House states in its resolution how important that role is and 
how it must be respected and promoted regardless of historical, 
cultural or religious heritage. This action by the Kuwaiti Parliament 
underscores its recognition of these important rights and shows its 
support for the American policy of actively advancing women's rights 
all over the world.
  This resolution recognizes America's view that this important step by 
the Kuwaiti Parliament is an important step for the women of Kuwait and 
for the nation as a whole. The resolution formally commends the 
government and the Parliament of Kuwait for this important action and 
urges full participation of Kuwaiti women in the political life of 
their country.
  I urge support of this resolution, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. I thank, 
again, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his kind words of 
support for this resolution as well.
  Mr. Speaker, on May 16, 2005, after many years of opposition, the 
Kuwaiti Parliament finally granted women the right to vote and to run 
for public office. If you and I, Mr. Speaker, had drafted this bill in 
the Kuwaiti legislature, I know it would have read somewhat 
differently. As worded, it states that ``a Kuwaiti woman, voting and 
running for political office, should do so while fully adhering to the 
dictates of Islamic Sharia.''

                              {time}  1430

  That suggests the possibility of limiting the application of this 
law.
  However, my Kuwaiti friends assure me that the law indeed will be 
applied universally to all of Kuwait's women citizens, and it is my 
hope that that will indeed be the case. In any case, the Kuwaiti 
parliament's action marks an important step on the path towards full 
democratization.
  It should also be noted that, with the enfranchising of women in 
Kuwait, women in every nation that holds elections now have the right 
to vote, except in Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, there still remain 
nations where neither men nor women have the right to vote, a peculiar 
and regrettable form of gender equity.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution. I urge my colleagues to 
support it as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.

[[Page H5613]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pearce). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 343.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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