[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 34 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RESOLUTION CALLING ON THE EGYPTIAN GOVERNMENT TO RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS 
                         AND RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 26, 2009

  Mr. WOLF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to join me 
in calling on the Egyptian government to respect human rights and 
religious freedom by supporting the res which I have just introduced.
  Each year the United States gives Egypt approximately $1.5 billion in 
foreign military assistance--with no strings attached. No strings 
attached.
  The United States gives Egypt $1.5 billion a year and the Egyptian 
government continues to arbitrarily detain and brutally torture human 
rights and democracy activists, bloggers, and members of opposition 
political parties in its attempt to suppress dissent.
  The United States gives Egypt $1.5 billion a year and the government 
of Egypt continues to show utter and blatant disregard for human rights 
and religious freedom.
  The United States gives Egypt $1.5 billion a year and Egypt continues 
to allow weapons to be smuggled to Hamas through elaborate networks of 
underground tunnels.
  The United States gives Egypt $1.5 billion a year and Egyptian 
government deploys an arsenal of Washington's heavy hitter lobbyists to 
peddle excuses for the deplorable conduct of the Egyptian government.
  If you speak to the Egyptian on the street, you will find that they 
long for freedom. They long to speak without censure, assemble in 
absence of fear and worship in peace. So I call on the Egyptian 
government to respect these fundamental rights.
  We too often forget how we are blessed to live in the United States 
of America. But to whom much is given, much is required. America has a 
responsibility to the world.
  President Ronald Reagan once said that the Constitution is ``a kind 
of covenant. It is a covenant we've made not only with ourselves but 
with all of mankind.''
  We have a rare opportunity before us. The fact is that we not only 
have the opportunity, we have the obligation to stand up for freedom 
where it is stifled, and to seek out justice where there is tyranny.
  This nation was founded upon the principle that every man is endowed 
with certain inalienable rights. These are the principles which led 
this nation to rise to greatness. Let us not turn our backs on these 
principles now.
  This resolution will put Congress on the right side of history. I 
urge its passage.

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