[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H307-H311]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 COMMENDING THE BRAVERY, COURAGE, AND RESOLVE OF THE WOMEN AND MEN OF 
IRAN DEMONSTRATING IN MORE THAN 133 CITIES AND RISKING THEIR SAFETY TO 
       SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE IRANIAN REGIME'S HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 7) commending the bravery, courage, 
and resolve of the women and men of Iran demonstrating in more than 133 
cities and risking their safety to speak out against the Iranian 
regime's human rights abuses, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution, as amended, is as follows:

                             H. Con. Res. 7

       Whereas, on September 16, 2022, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini 
     passed away in the custody of Iranian ``morality police'' 
     following a 3-day coma due to wounds, including bone 
     fracture, hemorrhage, and cerebral edema consistent with 
     severe beating, inflicted by the police for purportedly 
     wearing a hijab improperly;
       Whereas, on September 16, Iranians gathered in the streets 
     of Tehran to protest the killing of Mahsa Amini;
       Whereas demonstrations have since spread to more than 133 
     cities and 130 universities in Iran, where women are removing 
     or burning hijabs, cutting their hair, and dancing in front 
     of Iranian security forces, joined by their fellow Iranian 
     citizens;
       Whereas Iranian security forces have responded to such 
     demonstrations with violence and detentions, including 
     detentions of journalists and activists for covering the 
     protests;
       Whereas the security forces have reportedly killed more 
     than 450 protestors, including at least 58 children; however, 
     the number of injuries and deaths is likely higher but 
     unobtainable due to internet blackouts;
       Whereas at least 18,000 Iranians have been arrested across 
     Iran according to official sources, and many thousands more 
     have been detained according to independent reports;
       Whereas videos, images, and demonstrations have spread to 
     social media platforms and are an important way for the 
     voices of the Iranian people to be heard;
       Whereas internet monitoring groups have reported that the 
     Iranian regime has--
       (1) caused near-total disruption of internet connectivity 
     in parts of Iran and partial disruptions in city centers; and
       (2) blocked WhatsApp, Twitter, Telegram, Facebook, 
     Instagram, and video games with chat functions;
       Whereas common protest chants include--
       (1) ``Women, life, and freedom!'';
       (2) ``Iranians die but will not be suppressed!''; and
       (3) ``Death to the dictator Ayatollah Ali Khamenei!'';
       Whereas the Iranian regime has a long history of structural 
     and legal discrimination against women, including barriers 
     for women seeking justice against domestic violence and 
     criminal prohibitions against women singing or showing hair 
     in public and studying certain technical subjects;
       Whereas the Iranian regime approved of ``depriving one 
     social right or more'' for any woman who posts an unveiled 
     picture of herself on social media, and, in August 2022, 
     approved of enforcing mandatory hijab laws through facial 
     recognition;
       Whereas, through misogynistic criminal statutes, the 
     Iranian regime for decades has detained and engaged in the 
     ongoing persecution of women, including--
       (1) Saba Kord Afshari, who was sentenced to 15 years in 
     prison for posting videos to social media without a hijab and 
     transferred into Ward 6 of the notorious Qarchak Women's 
     Prison, identified by the Secretary of the Treasury for gross 
     violations of human rights;
       (2) Yasaman Aryani, her mother Monireh Arabshahi, and 
     Mojgan Keshavarz, who were sentenced to serve five and a half 
     years in prison for posting a video for International Women's 
     Day in 2019, during which they walked without headscarves 
     through a metro train in Tehran, handing flowers to female 
     passengers;
       (3) human rights attorney Nasrin Sotoudeh, who was 
     sentenced in 2019 to 38 years in prison and 148 lashes for 
     providing legal defense services to women charged with not 
     wearing a hijab;
       (4) Narges Mohammadi, a prominent rights advocate, who--
          (A) was arrested in November 2021 on the second 
     anniversary of countrywide protests and is currently serving 
     a 2-year sentence in prison;
          (B) was handed a further sentence of 15 months 
     imprisonment for ``propaganda against the state''; and
          (C) previously, had been sentenced to 10 years in prison 
     in May 2015 for ``establishing an illegal group'', ``assembly 
     and collusion to act against national security'', and 
     ``propaganda against the state'';
       (5) former Vice President for Women and Family Affairs 
     Shahindokht Molaverdi, who was charged with encouraging 
     ``corruption, prostitution, and sexual deviance'', a common 
     charge against women refusing mandatory hijab laws, and 
     sentenced in December 2020 to 30 months in prison for 
     defending the right of women to attend sporting events and 
     criticizing the practice of child marriage;
       (6) six women who were sentenced by the Culture and Media 
     Court of Tehran in July 2022 to each serve 1 year in prison 
     for the offense of singing songs in public;
       (7) Niloofar Hamedi, one of the first Iranian journalists 
     to report on Mahsa Amini's death, who was arrested on 
     September 22, 2022, and is being held in solitary 
     confinement; and
       (8) countless other women; and
       Whereas peaceful protests in Iran over the last year have 
     focused on grievances that include--
       (1) mismanagement of the economy and national resources;
       (2) prioritization of funding for terror groups and pariah 
     regimes over social services for the people of Iran; and
       (3) widespread political corruption: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) condemns--
       (A) the brutal beating and death of Mahsa Amini; and
       (B) the violent suppression by the Iranian regime of women 
     and men participating in the current demonstrations, 
     including children, and calls for transparent accountability 
     for all killings of protesters by Iranian security forces;
       (2) supports the women and men of Iran who are--
       (A) participating in the current protests to defend their 
     fundamental human rights; and
       (B) risking their safety to speak out against the human 
     rights abuses committed by the Iranian regime;
       (3) supports internet freedom programs that circumvent the 
     regime and provide support for VPNs and other alternatives 
     that can be used to bypass attempts by authoritarian 
     governments to censor internet access during times of 
     protest, and commends private entities willing to provide 
     programs to circumvent such censorship;
       (4) encourages continued efforts by the Biden 
     Administration to respond to the protests, including the 
     recent sanctioning of the Iranian morality police, and 
     further encourages the Biden Administration--
       (A) to immediately impose, under existing authorities, 
     additional human rights sanctions on officials and entities 
     responsible for the repression of the current protests;
       (B) to prioritize efforts to expand unrestricted internet 
     access in Iran, consistent with existing law; and
       (C) to work to develop a strategy to prevent the Iranian 
     regime from obtaining and exploiting facial recognition data 
     and software for the use of mass surveillance and enforcement 
     of mandatory hijab;
       (5) encourages the private sector, following the recent 
     clarification by the Biden Administration of sanctions 
     exemptions on communications technology, to work with the 
     Biden Administration to ensure protestors and activists have 
     access to tools needed to circumvent government surveillance 
     and repression; and
       (6) welcomes the efforts of the international community to 
     support protestors in Iran, and calls on the international 
     community--
       (A) to publicly condemn violence by the Iranian regime 
     against peaceful protesters;
       (B) to speak out against violations by the regime of 
     fundamental human rights, including the freedom of 
     expression, assembly, and redress of grievances of the 
     Iranian people; and
       (C) to impose human rights sanctions on officials and 
     entities that are responsible for the repression of current 
     protests and involved in violating the human rights of the 
     Iranian people.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Ms. Tenney) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney).


                             General Leave

  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today, we consider an urgent bipartisan concurrent 
resolution condemning the Iranian regime for its gross human rights 
abuses against protesters in Iran, who are bravely speaking out and 
standing up to this terrorist regime after being brutally silenced for 
two generations.
  I thank my Democratic co-lead, Mr. Gottheimer, and House Foreign 
Affairs Committee Chair McCaul for their support of this resolution.
  While I was disappointed we were not able to get this resolution to 
the floor last Congress when I partnered with former Congressman 
Malinowski, I am grateful that this resolution is now

[[Page H308]]

being brought up for a vote so quickly in our new Congress and with 
such broad bipartisan support.
  Whether it be China, Iran, or Russia, this new House Republican 
majority is ready and willing to stand up to our adversaries and 
protect America's vitally important national security interests.
  Since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of 
Iran's religious police in September of last year, the Iranian people 
have boldly taken to the streets to demand justice. Now, almost 4\1/2\ 
months later, Iranian men, women, and children continue to protest the 
regime and its cruelty, despite the immense risk to themselves and 
their families. They are literally risking their lives for a just cause 
greater than themselves.
  These demonstrations are the most significant popular protests 
against the brutal regime's authoritarian rule since it came to power 
in 1979. The response from the regime has been vicious, violent, and 
vindictive, not surprisingly.
  Hundreds of protesters have been murdered by regime security forces. 
Thousands more have been detained on trumped-up charges. Many of those 
in custody, especially women, have been subject to cruel and inhumane 
torture.
  The regime has unjustly executed Iranian protesters in sham trials 
that lack any modicum of due process. Many dozens more face the 
imminent possibility of execution.
  The brave Iranian people are not backing down. In fact, they are more 
resolved than ever. They are demanding a government that respects their 
rights at home, stops funding terrorism abroad, and makes peace with 
its neighbors. They are demanding a future built on freedom, justice, 
the rule of law, and a chance at prosperity.
  It is vital that we, the U.S. Representatives, a body that is among 
the greatest symbols of freedom and democracy around the world, stand 
with one voice to affirm our support for the brave Iranian people.
  The resolution we are considering today does just this. It reaffirms 
our resounding support for the brave Iranians who continue to put their 
lives on the line to secure their fundamental rights and freedoms.
  The resolution is a call to action. It urges the Biden administration 
to do more. Instead of negotiating with this brutal regime at a moment 
of weakness and true vulnerability, the Biden administration must meet 
the moment and do everything in its power to stand with the Iranian 
people. It must sanction those responsible for these brutal killings. 
It must do everything it can to counter the Iranian regime's cowardly 
attempts to restrict internet access that prevents its citizens from 
sharing images and videos and communicating with the outside world.
  We have the power to give the Iranian people the voice they need to 
tell the truth about their oppression at the hands of the Ayatollah, 
and we must exercise it.
  Finally, the Biden administration must lead the effort to press our 
allies and partners around the world to designate the Islamic 
Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. The Islamic 
Revolutionary Guard Corps uses terror to silence Iranian citizens at 
home and targets innocent citizens abroad.
  The United States rightly designated the group a Foreign Terrorist 
Organization in 2019. Now, the rest of the world must join in this 
noble cause. The IRGC's reign of terror must come to an end.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution says loudly, clearly, and with a strong 
bipartisan voice that the American people are on the side of the 
courageous Iranian people. The U.S. House of Representatives condemns, 
in the strongest possible terms, the regime's horrific violence.
  Finally, as we recognize the bravery of the protesters in Iran, I 
also want to take a moment to remember that we have American citizens 
being held hostage in Iran today. These innocent American citizens have 
endured years of false allegations, wretched conditions, and separation 
from their loved ones simply because they are Americans. They must all 
be released. No American can be left behind.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the 60 Members who have cosponsored this 
resolution, and I urge the entire House to support its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. Let me 
first thank Representative Tenney and former Representative Malinowski 
for their hard work on this bill. We wanted so much to get it done in 
the last Congress, but it is important that it is one of the first 
things that we get done in the 118th Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, last year, the world held their breath as Iranian women 
took to the streets protesting the devastating murder of 22-year-old 
Mahsa Amini, who was detained for allegedly violating the Islamic 
Republic's strict dress code. The world thought maybe, just maybe, the 
regime would be ushered by their own people into the dustbin of 
history.
  The protests quickly escalated into calls for the overthrow of Iran's 
theocracy and posed one of the most serious challenges to the ruling 
clerics since the 1979 revolution that brought them to power.
  Although today the protests have slowed some, and the regime remains 
firmly in place, something has changed. The Iranian people have a new 
understanding of their power. Despite bullets, despite arrests and the 
threat of execution, they have persisted. Cracks have been formed 
within the Iranian leadership elite.
  The regime is not willing to meet the people's demands, and the 
people are not willing to accept the status quo forever. This is going 
to be a long, drawn-out domestic conflict.
  The Supreme Leader is a corrupt old man who has stolen from and 
killed his own people for decades. The Iranian people know it. The 
Iranian President has not delivered on any of his promises and has left 
the Iranian economy in tatters through mismanagement, corruption, and 
international pressure. And guess what? The Iranian people know it.
  It will not be instant, and it will not be easy, but change will 
come. Brighter days await the Iranian people.

                              {time}  1400

  The Iranian people, and also this regime know, it is only a matter of 
time. This resolution commends the bravery, the courage, and the 
resolve of the women and men of Iran who have participated in the 
protests to defend their human rights, their dignity, at the risk of 
their own safety to speak out against the horrific abuses committed by 
the Iranian regime.
  It asks the Biden administration to continue its important work to 
support the people of Iran, as well as encourages the private sector to 
do even more to help Iranians to communicate with one another in a safe 
manner.
  Also, this resolution before us today sends a clear message to the 
Iranian people that we in the United States Congress and the millions 
of Americans that we represent stand with them in their time of 
struggle for freedom. We want the Iranian people to know that we see 
you. We know the risk you are taking and the danger that you face. Stay 
strong. Stay strong, as freedom will always win over tyranny.
  Mr. Speaker, we want the Iranian people to hear our voices. We want 
the world to hear our voices that the United States of America, in a 
bipartisan way--I know it is bicameral--and people all across this 
country stand with those brave people.
  It reminds me of struggles of others when they had to fight for their 
freedom in the streets. Freedom will come in the morning because the 
voices of the people cannot be deterred.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Meeks for his support, which I 
greatly appreciate.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Miller).
  Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend and 
colleague, Ms. Tenney, for yielding and for her leadership on this 
issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 7. Today, the 
United States House of Representatives stands up for human rights, for 
the same freedoms that we as Americans hold so near and dear in our own 
country and against the brutal regime in Iran.
  The Iranian Government has a long track record of vile human rights

[[Page H309]]

abuses. Notably, they are the largest state sponsor of terrorism in the 
world, not just against the United States, but also against countries 
such as our own democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel.
  In September, the senseless murder of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini at the 
hands of the so-called morality police for wearing her hijab improperly 
once again put the regime's human rights record front and center for 
the world to see.
  Now, as the Iranian people protest in the streets of more than 133 
cities across the country, demanding basic human rights, the regime's 
response is to crack down even harder. Since the protests broke out in 
September, more than 450 have been killed, including 58 children. At 
least another 18,000 were arrested.
  This is reprehensible, unacceptable, and inexcusable. No government 
should ever treat its people this way.
  The United States must continue to support the Iranian people in 
their struggle for freedom. The Biden administration should take a 
strong stand and end its quest for a new Iran nuclear deal. Great 
American companies, like Starlink, should help bring much-needed 
internet access to those protesting in the streets, which will 
significantly increase their communication and information sharing.
  That is why I am proud to stand here on the floor of the House of 
Representatives today and support H. Con. Res. 7.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode 
Island (Mr. Cicilline).
  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
brave women and men in Iran who are risking their lives to speak out 
against the Iranian regime's human rights abuses.
  Today marks 131 days of ongoing protests in Iran. It has been 131 
days since Mahsa Amini was laid to rest after being harassed, arrested, 
and ultimately killed by Iran's so-called morality police for simply 
wearing her hijab incorrectly.
  Since her murder, the people of Iran--women and men alike--have taken 
to the streets in more than 133 cities across the country to demand 
their basic rights and freedoms be respected.
  For nearly 19 weeks, protesters have gone out into the streets making 
their voices heard and demanding to be treated with dignity. But 
instead of listening, the Iranian regime is brutally cracking down on 
its own citizens, gunning down protesters, arresting people en masse, 
and resorting to torture and sexual violence.
  Since the protests began, human rights activists in Iran have 
reported that nearly 20,000 people have been detained and more than 500 
people have been killed, including children.
  What is more, the Iranian regime has also executed four protesters, 
with many more being sentenced for crimes that carry the death penalty. 
These brutal human rights abuses must stop immediately.
  The international community must stand with the Iranian people and 
against this violent suppression.
  The Iranian regime must stop supporting Russia's brutal invasion of 
Ukraine, stop spreading terror across the region, and start listening 
to its own people.
  Today, the House is coming together to condemn unequivocally the 
Iranian regime's brutality and to express support for the Iranian 
people. Their bravery in the face of suffocating repression and 
increased impunity is inspiring the world and deserves our respect and 
strong support. They must know America stands with them.
  Mr. Speaker, I will end by applauding the Biden administration for 
working with our allies and our partners to hold the regime accountable 
for the human rights abuses by imposing sanctions on Iranian officials 
deemed responsible for the violent crackdown on peaceful protesters.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to continuing our bipartisan work to 
advance the cause of human rights in Iran.

  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, while I am pleased at the bipartisan support of this 
resolution, I think it is important to reinforce that there can be no 
legitimacy or lifeline for this inhumane regime; that means no 
sanctions relief or nuclear negotiations.
  Just a few months ago, the Biden administration was actively 
negotiating sanctions relief as part of a new nuclear deal with a 
regime that is detaining, torturing, and killing its own citizens.
  Let me be clear, Iran did not comply with the last nuclear deal. Why 
would they comply with a new deal?
  The only thing a new nuclear deal could accomplish is giving the 
autocratic regime more resources to attack its own people.
  Mr. Speaker, I implore the Biden administration to not resume these 
foolhardy efforts. We do not negotiate with terrorists, and the 
Ayatollah and his regime are terrorists. They use fear, violence, and 
intimidation to achieve political goals.
  We must return to a position of firm pressure and strong resolve 
while enhancing our deterrence in the region. Until this regime changes 
its behavior, it must remain under pressure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
North Carolina (Ms. Manning).
  Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of H. 
Con. Res. 7, a bipartisan resolution supporting the brave women and men 
peacefully protesting for their rights and freedom in Iran.
  Fundamental human rights are under attack in Iran. It has been nearly 
4 months since the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of 
Iran's so-called morality police for allegedly wearing her headscarf 
incorrectly.
  Since then, thousands of Iranians have peacefully protested the 
regime, calling for their basic rights and freedoms to be respected. 
Young women and girls have been horribly beaten for protesting a 
repressive, authoritarian government that controls how they dress and 
act in public.
  In response to these demonstrations, Iran's security forces have 
reportedly used live ammunition and tear gas against the protesters, 
and horrifically, have killed more than 500 people, including at least 
70 children.
  It is clear Iran has no problem sentencing their own people to death 
simply for joining demonstrations. They are willing to do almost 
anything to maintain their grip and control.
  The United States must stand unified against the oppressive Iranian 
regime and stand up for the Iranian people, whose basic human rights 
are being violated. The Iranian people deserve justice and 
accountability.
  That is why I recently led a bipartisan letter, with my friend and 
colleague,   Joe Wilson, calling for the United Nations to take urgent 
action to hold Iran accountable for its human rights abuses. Following 
our bipartisan effort, I was glad that the U.S. and 43 other countries 
supported our call for a U.N. special session on Iran.
  At that special session, the U.N. Human Rights Council voted to 
establish an independent investigative mechanism into Iran's brutal use 
of force and grave human rights abuses.
  Today, the bipartisan resolution we are all voting on will also help 
shine a light on Iran's human rights abuses. It makes clear that the 
United States stands with the people of Iran, that we are watching 
closely, and that all Iranians, including young women and girls, are 
entitled to the same human rights and fundamental freedoms of all 
people around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I am voting ``yes'' on this resolution today, and I 
encourage all my colleagues to join with me.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just wanted to point out that this is a bipartisan 
bill in which we are working together. Just last week, the Biden 
administration hit Iran with fresh new sanctions.
  Not only did he do that individually, as he has been doing throughout 
the world, but he is bringing others together so that we can speak with 
one voice. Of course, the European Union was a part of it. Of course, 
he brought along other countries so that the world is speaking with one 
voice, collectively, keeping us together.
  As things go on, we are continually ratcheting it up so that the 
people of Iran can get their freedom. In fact, the only thing that was 
somewhat changed and was done in this bill is where it encouraged the 
private sector, following

[[Page H310]]

the recent clarification by the Biden administration of sanction 
exemptions or communication technology, to work with the Biden 
administration to ensure protesters and activists have access to tools 
needed to circumvent government surveillance and repression.
  The only thing that was eased some, so that we can make sure we are 
communicating and allowing the Iranian people to communicate with 
others as they protest, is what is in this bill. I think, in a 
bipartisan way, we agree with that.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. 
Jackson Lee).
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member and I thank 
Ms. Tenney for her leadership on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in the name of Iranian freedom. Freedom now for 
Iran and the Iranian people.
  This legislation is brave, as it speaks clearly in a clear tone 
without fear for the courageous persons who have gone to the streets, 
not regarding their life or the lives of their families. I call them 
brave, courageous, resolved freedom fighters, fighting for their very 
life.
  This legislation is absolutely necessary, and it is, of course, 
bipartisan. I thank Mr. Meeks for indicating the strength of the Biden 
administration and the sanctions that have been offered, and the manner 
in which the Biden administration, Democrats, and Republicans have said 
to Iran: No nonsense. No nonsense, and certainly no nuclear capacity.

                              {time}  1415

  Anything that we have to do to ensure that that does not happen 
should not be tabled. But what should be tabled is the unbelievable 
brutal fighting and killing that has occurred against freedom-loving 
people.
  I have been a longtime fighter with the people of Iran who are here 
in the United States. Iranian Americans have taken to the streets to be 
able to say: No more.
  We will stand with our brothers and sisters in Iran.
  I have seen the various attacks that have resulted in mass killings. 
I have seen the fight in Camp Ashraf in Iraq where there has been a 
large loss of life of people who have been fighting for freedom. I went 
to the camp to see the devastation.
  I have supported plans for democracy in Iran. I understand that they 
need us to stand by them.
  What a horrible and brutal scene that we have seen: children falling 
dead, mothers, brothers, fathers, and uncles.
  What about Mahsa Amini?
  She was just 22 years old, wanting her life to be before her, seeking 
democracy and freedom. She was a young, bright woman with courage that 
was taken away viciously in an ugly attempt to show how domineering 
this regime is. In the course of taking her away, her life was snuffed 
out.
  We don't know her last hours, last days, last minutes, or last 
seconds. We don't know how brutal it might have been, how she might 
have cried out for someone to be able to be empathetic and sympathetic, 
someone to understand that her life deserved an opportunity to live, 
and yet this brutal regime continues to be without concern for anything 
that it does.
  I want to say to all of the Iranian women, men, and children 
protesters who are leading the fight, I say loudly and clearly that we 
are standing with you.
  I support this legislation entirely, and I want to continue the U.S.-
Iran friendship with those people who are fighting for freedom.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Miller of Ohio). The time of the 
gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Texas an 
additional 30 seconds.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me conclude my remarks by saying I 
support Iranian women struggling against dictatorship.
  Let me continue to say that I want this relationship between the U.S. 
and Iran to continue with the Iranian people who are fighting for 
democracy. I believe it is important that this legislation pass to show 
that America is a champion for global democracy.
  I would like to also indicate that I look forward to organizing the 
Iranian women's struggle against dictators congressional caucus, and I 
hope there will be many who will join us. Let us keep our voices alive.
  I rise again to support H. Con. Res. 7. I thank the gentleman from 
New York for his leadership, and I thank the sponsors of this 
legislation for their leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 7, a resolution that 
commends the bravery, courage, and resolve of the women and men of Iran 
protesting and speaking out against the Iranian Regime's human rights 
abuses.
  As a long-time advocate and fighter for justice and equality, I am 
inspired by the millions of Iranians that are putting their lives on 
the line day after day in hopes that one day they will live in a 
country that values justice, freedom, and the rule of law.
  The U.S. Department of State cites Iran for a wide range of human 
rights violations; among them injustices such as arbitrary arrest, 
torture, and unjust executions.
  I remember the attack on Iranian refugees at Camp Ashraf by Iraqi 
soldiers on April 3, 2011.
  Camp Ashraf was the home to more than 3,000 members of the People's 
Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI), an opposition group against the 
Iranian regime.
  I went to Camp Ashraf in solidarity and support of the democracy and 
freedom loving Iranian people and that support continues to this day.
  In July 2019, I penned a letter to President Maryam Rajavi to 
commemorate the occasion of the Annual Gathering for a Free Iran and to 
extend my heartfelt congratulations on her election.
  I expressed my support for her 10-Point Plan for the future of Iran, 
which ensures freedom of parties and assembly, an abolition of the 
death penalty, a separation of church and state, gender equality and 
several other promising policy positions that will thrust Iran into the 
future.
  Under President Maryam Rajavi's leadership, women have risen to hold 
pivotal positions in the Iranian Resistance.
  Iranian women will be the engine for change in Iran.
  The uprising in Iran started with the murder of Mahsa Amini, a 22-
year-old woman arrested by morality police in Tehran on September 13, 
2022, for allegedly violating Iran's strict rules requiring women to 
cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf.
  Since the day of Mahsa Amini's funeral, women, men, and children have 
taken to the streets, risking their lives for a free and democratic 
Iran.
  It is estimated that since the start of the protests in September, 
over 500 protesters have been killed, and thousands more arrested.
  To all the Iranian women, men, children, and protestors who are 
leading the fight, I say loud and clear that I stand with you. America 
stands with you.
  I am proud to support the women of Iran, the youth, and the brave men 
and women who are struggling to make these freedoms possible for the 
people of their nation.
  Let us continue to foster U.S.-Iran friendship and collaboration as 
we work together to advance the universal rights of all humans, 
including basic respect for human rights and the rule of law.
  The mountaintop of justice for women, for men, for children and for 
all Iran is on the horizon.
  I will always champion global democracy, stand against human rights 
violations, and never shy away from speaking truth to power in the 
presence of oppression.
  That is why I encourage my colleagues to work toward putting human 
rights at the center of America's diplomacy by supporting H. Con. Res. 
7.
  Together, we will put an end to the indiscriminate violation of human 
rights in Iran.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Texas for her 
strong compassion for these horrific situations in Iran and for the 
women of Iran.
  Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Torres).
  Mr. TORRES of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the 
resolution.
  Iran is the leading aggressor in the Middle East, the leading state 
sponsor of terrorism in the world, and a longstanding oppressor of its 
own people.
  The Iranian regime, which has repressed far too many for far too 
long, has been shaken to the core by a revolution led by powerful 
women. The women in Iran who are risking their lives in confronting a 
monstrous and murderous regime are among the most courageous freedom 
fighters in the world.
  The United States must stand unequivocally with our Iranian sisters 
in their fearless fight for freedom.

[[Page H311]]

  On September 13, 2021, Mahsa Amini was brutally beaten to death by 
Iran's Orwellian morality police merely for not wearing a head 
covering. Out of the tragedy of Mahsa's murder came a spontaneous 
groundswell of thousands of Iranian women rising up for their freedom, 
some removing their head coverings and cutting their hair as a poignant 
form of protest.
  The revolution reminds us that the future of Iran does not belong to 
a regime whose malevolence and obsolescence have become too glaring to 
ignore.
  Iran's future belongs to its people led by its fearless formidable 
female freedom fighters. The vision of a free and democratic Iran is an 
unrealized dream whose time has come and whose realization is long 
overdue.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York also for 
his compassionate remarks in support of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for 
the purpose of closing.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 7 commends the brave people--the brave 
Iranian freedom fighters--for their fight against the brutal Iranian 
regime and demonstrates that the United States' commitment is with 
them, standing with the men and women of Iran.
  In the face of so many human rights abuses, the Iranian people have 
remained strong.
  I say to our Iranian friends: Though change won't happen overnight, 
continue to stand strong because the time of this regime will soon be 
up.
  The international community recognizes--and that is us pulling 
together, all of the people of the United States and the international 
community around the world--the bravery and the strength of the Iranian 
people in the fight for their human rights, for their freedom from 
tyranny, and for a better tomorrow.
  We have got to keep our voices.
  Dr. King once said that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice 
everywhere.
  We have got to stand together, and that is what this resolution does. 
It puts the regime on notice that its people are on the march because 
freedom cannot be denied.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I am sure that there will be a resounding voice by 
this United States Congress by passing this bill to say to the Iranian 
people who put everything on the line that we hear you, we see you, and 
we stand with you until you get your freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Speaker McCarthy, Majority Leader Scalise, Whip 
Emmer, and the new chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. 
McCaul, for prioritizing this important resolution and bringing it to 
the floor.
  The fact is that this resolution was brought to the floor so quickly 
this week because the House majority demonstrates the importance of 
this issue.
  I want to thank Mr. Meeks for his continued support and help in 
ushering through unanimous support for this resolution in the last 
Congress. We are finally here getting it through, and I am grateful to 
the gentleman for his leadership and also for being so supportive.
  Again, I thank Mr. Gottheimer, especially, and Mr. McCaul for 
cosponsoring this resolution with me and all the speakers and everyone 
who have spoken in support of this resolution. It is important that we 
stand as a united voice against the Iranian regime and in support of 
the people of Iran.
  I say to the people of Iran: We commend your bravery, we mourn your 
losses, and the American people are with you as you stand up for 
freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Tenney) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 7, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on the question will be postponed.

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