[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 17338-17339]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          THE LIBERTY LIST ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, when he presented the 2003 State Department 
human rights report, Secretary of State Colin Powell declared, ``We 
join in solidarity with courageous men and women all over the world who 
strive to advance human rights and democratic values within their own 
countries and throughout the international community.''
  Today, joined by the gentlewoman from Ohio (Mrs. Jones) and the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), I am introducing legislation 
that will build upon the foundation of the State Department's annual 
human rights report and the annual report on religious freedom. The 
Liberty List Act will reinforce the special significance of the central 
pillars of American foreign policy: freedom, democracy, and human 
rights.
  The Liberty List will be an independent annual report issued by the 
State Department. It will highlight the work of individuals and 
organizations, including the media, that promote the development of 
liberty, democracy, and respect for human rights.
  In addition to honoring these individuals and organizations for their 
important contributions to society, the Liberty List will draw 
attention to the conditions against which these honorees struggle and 
will offer some protection for honorees by identifying them to the 
national community.
  A few individuals and groups, such as Aung San Suu Kyi and her 
National League for Democracy, are known around the world for their 
struggle. Yet for every individual who is known to the international 
community, there are many other heroes who deserve recognition and 
support as they risk their lives for the improvement of others.
  How many of us in this body have heard of Shirin Ebedi before she was 
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her work on behalf of Iran's 
women and children? There are Aung San Suu Kyis and Shirin Ebedis 
working in countless places around the world. Their struggle is our 
struggle; and they deserve our attention, our admiration, and support.
  The Liberty List is fundamentally different from the existing State 
Department report on international religious freedom and the annual 
country reports on human rights practices. Current reports focus on the 
human rights records of national governments. They deal with the 
imposition of State power. The Liberty List in contrast will spotlight 
individuals and organizations who are working against that power to 
build freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights.
  For example, a group of courageous women called Women of Zimbabwe

[[Page 17339]]

Arise have been struggling against the cruelty of the dictatorship of 
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe. Despite facing arrest, rape and 
force, these brave women have continued a peaceful struggle for a 
better life for all Zimbabaweans.
  In Uzbekistan, Ruslan Sharipov, an independent human rights activist 
and journalist, was sentenced to 5\1/2\ years in prison last summer. 
Sharipov has been a fearless critic of police corruption and human 
rights abuses in Uzbekistan, a nation whose human rights record has 
been so dismal, the United States cut off aid earlier this month.
  These leaders and others like them who struggle for freedom and 
democracy around the world deserve recognition for their sacrifices and 
their struggles. It is too easy to forget that the advancement of human 
rights, democracy, and religious liberty is the product of individuals 
and small groups of people who fight to improve the lives of their 
family, friends, and neighbors.
  The Liberty List Act will allow the United States to honor these men 
and women as they strive to make the world a better, safer place for 
themselves, their children, and ultimately for all of us.
  I urge my colleagues to join as cosponsors of the Liberty List Act.

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