Syrian Chemical Attacks

Floor Speech

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Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, over the weekend, President Trump and our British and French allies made it known that the heinous actions of dictator Bashar al-Assad will not be tolerated.

Over the past 3 years, Assad, aided by Iran and Russia, has continued to carry out chemical warfare against his own people. Not only is this in direct violation of Syria's previous agreement to destroy their chemical weapons stockpile, but it also violates every tenet of basic human decency and violates our Geneva Conventions standards.

Through pictures and images, the world quickly saw the aftermath of Assad's most recent attack on his own people: scores of people dead or dying while foaming at the mouth, including women and innocent children.

By aiding Assad's murder of his own people and then working to prevent a response by the United Nations, Russia and Iran deserve equal blame and scrutiny when it comes to these attacks.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to follow through with the sanctions on Russian companies that was announced by Ambassador Nikki Haley and to continue sending a clear message that these horrific criminal actions by the dictator, Assad, will not be tolerated.

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