Supporting the Rights of the People of Iran to Free Expression

Floor Speech

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Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Iranian people and our condemnation of the Iranian regime's crackdown on legitimate protests.

I want to first thank Congressman Deutch for bringing this important legislation, introducing this resolution. And I am proud to be a cosponsor of it.

Twice in the past 3 months, the Iranian people have bravely raised their voices to protest the conduct of the despotic Iranian regime. And both times, these peaceful, popular demonstrations have been met with utter violence.

In November, protestors across Iran voiced their anger at an abrupt increase in gasoline prices. This soon broadened to voicing their anger at the regime as a whole.

The Islamic Republic of Iran responded with brutal force. Security thugs opened fire on unarmed protestors. The regime cut off the internet in an attempt to silence the voice of the people and suppress the evidence of the security forces' bloodshed.

Despite the regime's efforts, the world still knows about their cruelty. We have all seen the videos of security forces shooting innocent people on the streets. The regime killed as many as 1,500 people, by far the largest and most violent crackdown since the 1979 revolution.

Just a few weeks later, the Iranian people were once again furious with their government. This time, it was because the regime shot down a commercial airliner, killing 176 innocent people, many of whom were Iranian. Even worse, the regime did not admit to having done so for 3 days. They intentionally lied to their own people and to the world.

Once again, security forces fired on peaceful protestors.

The broad frustration with this cruel, lying regime is evident. An Iranian Olympic medalist announced she was defecting because of ``hypocrisy, lies, injustice, and flattery.''

Iran's State TV anchor resigned, saying, ``It was very hard for me to believe the killing of my own countrymen. I apologize for lying to you on television for the last 13 years.''

With this resolution, we declare that the House of Representatives stands with the people of Iran demanding accountability from their leaders.

I thank the President for loudly and clearly supporting the rights of the Iranian people. The President has urged the regime not to use violence against their own people. He has also worked to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its cruelty.

The administration has actively sought information about the perpetrators of violence through its tip line. Using those tips, the administration has sanctioned those with blood on their hands, such as the IRGC commander who oversaw a massacre in November, killing as many as 148 people. I want to thank the administration for taking concrete action to support the people of Iran.

This resolution is our opportunity in the Congress to show the same support. It is an important step, but we can and must do more. Our next course of action should be to pass my bill that holds the Iranian officials accountable for serious human rights abuses.

So let's stand together as Americans and keep the process and pressure up on this dangerous regime.

And let me just say, I have talked to many Iranians throughout this country, and the people of Iran are watching this Chamber. They are watching what we say here. Our voices do matter in Iran and to the Iranian people who are in the United States.

So I want to again thank Congressman Deutch for bringing this important resolution that stands up for the people of Iran.

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Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), the ranking member on the Subcommittee for the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism.

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, I thank the Republican leader, Mike McCaul, for yielding.

I am pleased to speak in favor of H. Res. 752, which supports the rights of the Iranian people to protest without violent consequences from the Islamic Republic regime, which I coauthored with my appreciative colleague, Chairman Ted Deutch from Florida.

Last November, thousands of people all over 100 cities of Iran demonstrated against the regime's oppressive economic and tyrannical other policies. The Islamic Republic responded viciously to these peaceful protests. The regime killed over 1,000 people and arrested thousands more. We mourn the deaths of these courageous individuals who died while advocating for their rights.

The Iranian people again voiced their anger in January when the Islamic Republic lied about shooting down a Ukrainian civilian passenger Boeing jet, killing 176 people.

How did the regime respond to the protests over the death of these innocent people? By using more violence against innocent civilians.

Today, we say to the people of Iran: We respect the importance of Persian culture to the world and your right to be heard without fear. We support your rights to ask for a better governance. We ask for accountability from your government, to ask for a government that puts your interests first and does not deceive you with blatant corruption. We will not allow you to be overlooked or forgotten, and we will stand by you while this regime brutalizes you.

President Donald Trump has taken a firm stand in support of the protestors, saying: ``To the brave, long-suffering people of Iran: I've stood with you since the beginning of my Presidency, and my administration will continue to stand with you. We are following your protests closely and are inspired by your courage.''

I agree with President Donald Trump, and I am gratified to stand today in support of the free expression of the Iranian people. President Trump's sanctions deter terrorism and protect American families.

I thank my colleagues for bringing this bipartisan resolution to the floor. I look forward to seeing it pass and continuing to work together to support the rights of the Iranian people.

Iranian Americans are extraordinarily successful in America and very much appreciated in every State. In my home State of South Carolina, Iranian American doctors are vital.

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Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock).

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Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I met with a group of Iranian Americans just this last weekend, and I talked to them about their friends in Iran who are fighting this oppression. I saw the video, the internet feed that they are able to get out of country. One of the problems has been they shut down the internet. They control the internet in Iran because it was built with security in mind, first.

It is very difficult to get communications both inside and outside of Iran, but we are working on those technologies today, Madam Speaker, so that these people can communicate with the outside world. They are being held hostage themselves by the Ayatollah, who held our Embassy officials hostage in 1979. They are listening to our voices here in the Congress, and they are shooting out texts and emails, and we are finding ways to get them to communicate.

There are 80 million people in Iran, once a great empire, the Persian empire that brought us so many great things; and now, under this oppressive theocracy, the majority of these people do not support their own oppressive, brutal killing regime.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, in my judgment, their days are limited, and it is time for the people of Iran to take back their country. And when I say this to the people of Iran, know that the American people stand with the people of Iran. Know that this House stands with the people of Iran and that this Congress and President stand with the people of Iran.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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