H.R. 4310National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013
Floor Speech
I rise in strong support of this motion to instruct. I join my colleagues first in congratulating Congresswoman Davis for the enormous work that she has done to protect the women of Afghanistan, and I thank my Republican colleagues, too, for their support. This truly is a bipartisan effort.
I am committed to a peaceful transition and to a secure future for Afghanistan as U.S. troops withdraw. There is no better way to reach that goal than to involve women in the process--to ensure their voices are heard, to protect their fundamental rights. The security of women has to be a top U.S. priority.
Afghan women have made incredible advancements over the past decade, but they face enormous challenges. Just this week, the acting head of Women's Affairs in an eastern Afghan province was shot to death in broad daylight as she was traveling to work. Her predecessor in that position was killed in July when an IED exploded under her car. Particularly women who are involved in the political process or civil society are targeted, intimidated, threatened, and even killed.
Since the 2009 trip I took to Kabul, I've kept a sky blue burqa in my office as a reminder of the responsibility that we have to the women of Afghanistan. Women's rights are essential to the long-term stability of Afghanistan. Women must feel safe participating in politics and in civil society, and they have to be free to seek education and to start businesses, and they must have the opportunity to help their country forge a peaceful future.
Mr. Speaker, the Casey-Hutchison amendment requires a three-part plan to promote the security of Afghan women and girls. By including this language in the NDAA, we show that we are serious about human rights in Afghanistan and that we are committed to a peaceful transition away from U.S. military engagement. We have the opportunity to use the NDAA to stand with our Afghan sisters, to promote the security of all Afghan women and girls, and to ensure that women have the opportunity to engage in the rebuilding of their country.
I urge my colleagues to support this motion to instruct.
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