[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 53 (Friday, April 4, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E505]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE REGARDING CREATION OF REFUGEE POPULATION

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2008

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Madam Speaker, on April 1st, the House of 
Representatives approved an important piece of legislation, H. Res. 
185, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
creation of refugee populations in the Middle East, North Africa, and 
the Persian Gulf region. I was proud to support the passage of this 
legislation because it recognized all those who have suffered during 
this long-standing conflict. For the first time in my memory, the House 
of Representatives has gone on record to say that the refugee 
population in the Middle East is not simply comprised of Palestinians, 
it is also the 850,000 Jews who have been displaced from Arab countries 
since the declaration of the State of Israel in 1948. The U.S.-led 
roadmap to peace specifically calls for an ``agreed, just, fair, and 
realistic solution to the refugee issue;'' and in my opinion, and in 
the unanimous and united opinion of this House, that means Jewish and 
non-Jewish refugees alike.
  Throughout my tenure in the United States Congress, I have seen the 
U.S. act as a stalwart champion of human rights, and I have seen this 
House stand up and voice concerns about the treatment of refugees and 
minorities, as well as concerns on violations of basic human rights 
throughout the Middle East and elsewhere. As the U.S. continues to play 
a pivotal role in seeking an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict in the 
Middle East, I urge my colleagues to continue to speak out and remind 
the world that we must not overlook the Jewish refugee problem in our 
enthusiasm for peace.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to further this 
important effort.

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