[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H3000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      STANDING UP FOR HUMAN RIGHTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Santos) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SANTOS. Mr. Speaker, in March, I introduced H.R. 1736, also known 
as the Equality and Fiscal Accountability Protection Act of 2023.
  This bill will cut off the cash faucet the U.S. Government gives away 
to countries such as Uganda that persecutes, criminalizes, or 
discriminates against individuals based on their sexual orientation.
  Since June is Pride Month, I thought this bill would be a great way 
to remind the American people and this body that the best way to 
celebrate the history and achievements of gay rights is to stand up to 
countries actively oppressing the LGBT community. Many countries are 
light-years behind everything we have worked for to be treated civilly 
and humanely in this country.
  In fact, many countries are still persecuting their citizens for the 
simple fact that they are gay. Uganda is just one of many countries 
executing and prosecuting its people based on their sexual orientation; 
however, they received hundreds of millions of dollars in 2022 alone 
from President Biden's emergency plan for AIDS relief, or PEPFAR.
  While waving rainbow flags and changing corporate logos is pleasant 
enough lipservice and virtue signaling, we need to send a clear message 
that the United States will not offer Federal aid to countries that 
habitually violate basic human rights based on sexual orientation.
  We, as a Nation, have a responsibility to stand up for the human 
rights of all people, regardless of race, religion, or sexual 
orientation.

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