[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 165 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4724]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PHILIPPINE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT

  (Ms. WILD asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WILD. Mr. Speaker, today, across the Philippines, Rodrigo 
Duterte's brutal regime is using the pretext of a so-called anti-
terrorism law to ramp up efforts targeting labor organizers, workers, 
and political opponents. This law allows suspects to be detained by the 
police or military without charges for as long as 24 days and placed 
under surveillance for up to 90 days.
  In response to these abuses, I introduced the Philippine Human Rights 
Act, which would block U.S. funding for police or military assistance 
to the Philippines--outlining a series of basic criteria which would 
have to be met in order to resume such funding.
  I am proud to stand alongside so many faith and civil society 
organizations in advocating for this legislation. And I am especially 
proud to stand with leaders of the U.S. labor movement: the AFL-CIO, 
the SEIU, the Teamsters, the Communication Workers of America. They 
understand that in fighting for their brothers and sisters in the labor 
movement abroad, they are also helping safeguard their own rights and 
dignity here at home.
  Let us make clear that the United States will not participate in the 
repression. Let us stand with the people of the Philippines.

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