[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 469--SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF IRAN AS THEY ENGAGE IN 
    LEGITIMATE PROTESTS, AND CONDEMNING THE IRANIAN REGIME FOR ITS 
                           MURDEROUS RESPONSE

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Ms. McSally, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Rubio, Ms. 
Ernst, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Romney) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 469

       Whereas Iran began experiencing severe political unrest 
     following the increase of fuel prices in November 2019;
       Whereas reports state that the November 2019 protests were 
     the deadliest period of political unrest since the Islamic 
     Revolution occurred in 1979, resulting in the deaths of 
     hundreds of Iranian citizens;
       Whereas, spurred by the shooting down of a Ukrainian 
     airliner by the Iranian military and the Government of Iran's 
     subsequent denial, thousands of Iranian protesters, 
     undeterred by water cannons, tear gas, and the reported use 
     of live ammunition, continue their legitimate protest against 
     a corrupt regime, hoping that their efforts will result in a 
     brighter future for all Iranians, not just the elite;
       Whereas, on January 10, 2020, during a press briefing at 
     the White House concerning new tough sanctions on Iran, 
     Secretary Pompeo stated, ``These sanctions targets include 
     the Secretary of the Supreme National Council and the 
     Commander of the Basij Forces; that's the regime's brute 
     squad, which has, in the last few months, killed 
     approximately 1,500 Iranians who were simply demanding 
     freedom.'';
       Whereas, on January 11, 2020, Iran's only Olympic medalist, 
     Kimia Alizadeh, announced her defection from Iran, stating 
     that she was ``one of the millions of oppressed women in 
     Iran'' and that she had defected due to ``hypocrisy, lies, 
     injustice, and flattery'' of the Iranian regime;
       Whereas, on January 11, 2020, Secretary Pompeo tweeted, 
     ``The voice of the Iranian people is clear. They are fed up 
     with the regime's lies, corruption, ineptitude, and brutality 
     of the IRGC under @khamenei_ir's kleptocracy. We stand with 
     the Iranian people who deserve a better future'';
       Whereas, on January 12, 2020, in a tweet directed towards 
     Iranian leaders, President Trump stated, ``Thousands have 
     already been killed or imprisoned by you, and the World is 
     watching. More importantly, the USA is watching'';
       Whereas the United States Government supports the rights of 
     all people to peaceably assemble and allow for substantive 
     discourse, and it is deeply troubling that a government would 
     ignore the concerns of its citizens as the Government of Iran 
     has continually done; and
       Whereas, now more than ever, it is imperative that all 
     nations support the people of Iran as they protest a 
     government that for far too long has ignored the needs of its 
     citizens: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) stands with the people of Iran, hopeful for change, as 
     they protest their corrupt and oppressive government;
       (2) condemns the lethal crackdown by the Iranian regime on 
     the peaceful protestors;
       (3) calls on all peaceful and law abiding nations to 
     support the legitimate protests by the Iranian people; and
       (4) demands that the Iranian leadership be held accountable 
     for their murderous actions against their own citizens who 
     want nothing less than to be represented by a fair and just 
     government.

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