[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 SUPPORTING DISSIDENT IRANIANS IN THEIR QUEST FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY

  (Mr. PENCE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, for the fifth day in a row, hundreds of 
thousands of Iranian citizens have taken to the streets on behalf of 
free elections and democracy. Sadly, the response by the Iranian 
government has been more oppression and violence against its own 
people, deaths confirmed, hundreds of citizens beaten, and foreign 
journalists intimidated and banned from the streets. We are witnessing 
a Tiananmen in Tehran.
  While I respect the fact the President of the United States has 
denounced the violence, that he has said the protestors had a right to 
be ``heard and respected,'' this administration has not yet expressed 
the unqualified support of the American people for those who are 
courageously taking to the streets on behalf of self-government and 
free elections in Iran.
  Yesterday, I introduced House Resolution 549, a resolution that would 
give voice to countless Americans who want our Nation to support the 
dissidents in Iran who are struggling for their own freedom.
  The American cause is freedom. In this cause, America must never be 
silent. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important resolution and 
bring it to the floor this week.

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