[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 84 (Thursday, May 18, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E464-E465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             REINTRODUCTION OF THE JUSTICE FOR SHIREEN ACT

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                           HON. ANDRE CARSON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2023

  Mr. CARSON. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to reintroduce the Justice for 
Shireen Act today. I thank my House and Senate Colleagues that joined 
me to call for a report to Congress from the FBI and State Department, 
in consultation with the Attorney General, Secretary of Defense and 
Director of National Intelligence, on the death of American-Palestinian 
Journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh. I send my deep condolences to the Abu 
Akleh family for this terrible .killing and stand with them to demand 
justice and accountability.
  Shireen Abu Akleh, an American-Palestinian Journalist, was killed, 
one year ago, on May 11, 2022. She was killed wearing a clearly marked 
press vest on assignment, reporting on a military raid which took place 
in the occupied city of Jenin. One year ago, I led a letter, signed by 
58 Members of Congress, to the FBI and State Department calling for an 
independent and open investigation led by her home country, the United 
States, and 24 Senators have echoed this request. It is imperative that 
Congress be given the information it needs to conduct the necessary 
oversight. We must ensure no taxpayer dollars contribute to human 
rights violations or anyone's death--most especially an American 
abroad.
  As an American, Ms. Abu Akleh was entitled to the full protections 
afforded to U.S. citizens living abroad. As Members of Congress, we 
need to uphold the values that our Nation was founded on, including 
human rights, equality for all, and freedom of speech. As Members of 
Congress, we have a duty to protect Americans reporting abroad. An 
Israeli investigation has concluded, finding that it was indeed an 
Israeli soldier that shot Ms. Abu Akleh in her line of duty. It is the 
responsibility of the U.S. to learn all the unanswered questions 
leading up to, during and after the fatal shot that killed Ms. Abu 
Akleh. Additionally, this bill requires an identification of any United 
States defense materials or services that were implicated in the death 
of Ms. Abu Akleh. No U.S. weapons and military services by the U.S. 
should be used to kill Americans on foreign soil. American taxpayers 
should not be paying for any violation of human rights abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in calling for justice 
and accountability for Shireen Abu Akleh.

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