[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 28 (Tuesday, February 13, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H545-H546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AMERICA MUST CONTINUE TO OPPOSE BASHAR AL-ASSAD'S BARBARIC REGIME

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, it has been more than a dozen 
years since the Syrian revolution

[[Page H546]]

began against Bashar al-Assad's dictatorship. In that time, America and 
our allies have stood together in opposition to Assad's barbaric 
regime.
  Some in the region may be ready to look past the atrocities committed 
by Assad's forces. Some countries are even willing to recognize the 
Assad regime. America must not.
  We must go further. We must use our diplomatic strength to counter 
these misguided steps. Assad, his regime, and their backers have given 
us no basis whatsoever to justify normalizing relations with a 
government responsible for the slaughter of 600,000 men, women, and 
children.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass the Assad Anti-
Normalization Act.


   Pakistan's Elections Must Reflect the Will of its People, Not its 
                                Military

  Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, I will address the results of 
Thursday's elections in Pakistan and the ongoing vote count there.
  I am deeply disturbed by the numerous reports that Pakistan's 
military is engaging in vote-rigging and violence to overturn the 
results of Thursday's elections.
  These latest actions follow months of targeted suppression, 
politically motivated arrests, and brutal intimidation tactics.
  The results of Pakistan's elections must reflect the will of its 
people, not its military. It is imperative that every effort is made to 
ensure that every vote is counted fairly and accurately, and that 
violence is prevented at all costs.
  As we continue to monitor the results out of Pakistan, I urge the 
State Department to delay recognizing a winner until these allegations 
are fully reviewed.

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