[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16967]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             PROVIDING SUPPORT TO IRAQI WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT

  (Ms. SOLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge some guests that have 
visited us today, and I am proud to stand with my colleagues from both 
sides of the aisle. The Women's Caucus of the U.S. Congress had a 
meeting earlier today, along with Iraqi women who represent their 
government, members of the Provisional Assembly.
  We met to talk about reforms that are much needed in their 
Constitution and respect for women's rights, and I am happy and pleased 
that our Members stood with them today and also were in the presence of 
the State Department who brought these courageous women here.
  These women are in need of our support. Their Constitution, as we 
were told, is fluid. It is changing. They need protections, they need 
assistance, and we have pledged our help, along with our colleagues 
from the other side of the aisle, to do as much as we can to provide 
support so they can continue with these reforms that are so sorely 
needed.
  Their Constitution has changed. When we were first told upon their 
first visit here that they would be represented well in government, 
that their rights would be reinstated, they would be able to attend to 
their careers, we know that has changed. There is now a different edict 
that is coming about; and we would like to stand tall and firm with our 
colleagues in Iraq, the Iraqi women, and send that message to their 
government as well as to our government.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, will the gentlewoman yield?
  Ms. SOLIS. I yield to the gentlewoman from California.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge this is a very strong 
bipartisan effort on behalf of the Congress, the Women's Caucus and the 
Iraqi Women's Military Caucus as well. We acknowledge their presence 
here.

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