[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3532]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 MIDDLE EAST CHRISTIANS FACE EXTINCTION

  (Mr. BYRNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BYRNE. Mr. Speaker, we are in the midst of Holy Week, one of the 
most important time periods for the Christian faith.
  Sadly, in too many places around the world, Christians are under 
attack simply because of their religious beliefs. The stories of rape, 
assault, and murder are heartbreaking.
  Just look at some of the numbers from the Middle East. In 2003, there 
were 1\1/2\ million Christians in Iraq. Now that number is down to 
275,000 and falling. In the very land where Jesus once walked, 
Christians are becoming extinct.
  This Holy Week, may we, as the people's House, reaffirm our 
commitment to fighting Christian persecution abroad. May we not become 
discouraged or angry, and may we keep fighting to encourage religious 
tolerance in the Middle East and all around the world.
  And, Mr. Speaker, may we remember what is written in the Gospel of 
John: ``The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not 
overcome it.''

                          ____________________