[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H1048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    U.S. DELEGATION SILENT AT UPR OF THE WORLD'S WORST HUMAN RIGHTS 
                               OFFENDERS

  (Mr. WOLF asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WOLF. The United Nations Human Rights Council is now conducting 
reviews of the human rights record of 16 countries, among which are 
China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Russia. And I was shocked and, quite 
frankly, disappointed to learn that the new administration has failed 
to fill its seat and has washed its hands of even questioning these 
countries. How can America be silent about four of the worst offenders 
of human rights and religious freedom around the world?
  China has been designated by the State Department's annual Religious 
Freedom report as a country of particular concern since 1999. No 
administration comments.
  Saudi Arabia has received this designation, too. Again, no comments 
from the new administration.
  The U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom placed Cuba on their watch 
list. Again, no comment from this administration.
  The administration made a pledge to place human rights at the top of 
its agenda, and yet they're absent at this very critical point. This is 
a bad start for this administration in the area of human rights and 
religious freedom.

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