[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 1610-1611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              PROMOTING DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN IRAN

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, included in the omnibus bill is a 
provision I authored permitting the use of fiscal year 2003 foreign 
operations funds to support the advancement of democracy and human 
rights in Iran. While I believe that Iran rightly belongs in the Axis 
of Evil, I also recognize that the people of Iran, those residing in 
the country and abroad, are growing increasingly weary of the 
repression imposed upon them by Iran's ruling clerics.
  We all know how these clerics came to power, and today, many 
Americans appreciate the demographic changes underway in that country. 
To put it simply, with each new birth in Iran, the popularity and 
control of the regime is further undermined. An estimated 50 percent of 
Iran's 70 million people were born after our compatriots were held 
hostage for 444 days. The call of the clerics is falling on 
increasingly deaf ears, and Iran's youth are already in the streets 
demanding good governance, accountability, and economic opportunity 
from Iranian hardliners.
  The ingredients for political and economic change in Iran already 
exist. Our task must be to consider how best to support these efforts. 
I propose worthwhile endeavors include funding for Iranian newscasts, 
publication of Iranian political journals, development of websites, and 
dissemination of information on democracy, the concepts of nonviolent 
struggle, and secularism.
  As I am familiar with democracy programs that have been implemented 
in other parts of the world, including the former Yugoslavia and Burma, 
I am well aware of the challenges posed in funding democracy and human 
rights programs in Iran. But I am confident that it can be done.
  I will have more to say on this topic at a later date, but I 
appreciate the attention of my colleagues on this important issue.
  Let me close by thanking Jennifer Chartrand for her five years of 
service with the Foreign Operations Subcommittee. Jennifer left earlier 
this year to work with the Defense Subcommittee, and she will be 
missed. In addition to managing her accounts in a professional and 
effective manner, Jennifer deserves special recognition for helping the 
people of Burma in their struggle for democracy and human rights. As 
this is a cause close to my heart, I am particularly grateful for all 
her hard work on this issue. I wish Jennifer all the best in her new 
position, and I look forward to continue to work with her in her new 
capacity.

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