Hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. McCaul, Hearing on H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act
Hearing
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Engel,
Thank you for holding today's markup and including my bill to hold Iranian regime accountable.
I introduced H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, with Mr. Deutch and am grateful to have the support of you and Ranking Member Engel.
The Iranian regime continues to perpetuate gross human rights abuses against its own people.
They continue to suppress the country's voices for reform through censorship of the media.
They continue to recklessly use the nation's resources to expand its regional influence through its support for terrorist groups.
They continue to engage in corrupt practices.
And they continue to illegally detain and imprison our citizens without just cause or reason.
This is unacceptable.
Mr. Chairman, my bill serves as a clear signal to the people of Iran that we support them in their quest for freedom.
My bill shines a light on the regime's human rights violations and sanctions those who are complicit in such crimes.
The same goes for Iranian officials guilty of corruption, censorship, and the diversion of goods intended for the Iranian people.
Lastly, my bill sanctions individuals complicit in taking Americans and other nation's citizen's hostage and requires the President to work with our international partners to develop a strategy to put an end to this practice.
We have five Americans currently detained in Iran. This is intolerable.
We must do all we can, and apply as much pressure on Iran as necessary to ensure their safe release, and prevent future Americans from being held hostage by this brutal regime.
Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Engel, thank you for leadership on this committee to hold Iran's corrupt officials accountable.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill's passage, and the passage of all the important measure before us today.
Thank you.
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