Urging Respect for the Constitution of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Floor Speech

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure.

Let me start by thanking our chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Royce, for his leadership. I had the good occasion to travel with him to Congo last year, and we pushed very, very hard on the fact that we believe democracy needs to be carried out there.

In fact, the President of Congo, who is running for an unprecedented third term, which he is not supposed to do according to their Constitution, opted not to see us because he was angry at the fact that we came to Congo and spoke out so heavily, with one voice I might say, for democratic reforms. That has been the tradition of the Foreign Affairs Committee during the time that Chairman Royce has been chairman and I have been ranking member. We speak with one voice on most things, and we are more effective that way.

I think that foreign policy, especially, should be bipartisan and partisanship should stop at the water's edge. So we, personally, the two of us and the colleagues that came with us on the trip, drove that message home to the President of Congo. We met with the Prime Minister, and we didn't mince our words.

So I want to thank Chairman Royce for his leadership. I want to thank the chair and ranking member of the Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations Subcommittee, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, and Ms. Bass of California for her hard work in bringing this measure to the floor.

As I mentioned before, Mr. Speaker, in recent months, protesters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have faced an increasingly violent crackdown at the hands of armed authorities. These people are protesting, again, the illegal third-term grab by the President of Congo. Citizens have been subject to arbitrary arrest, and civil society groups are finding it harder and harder to operate. In just over a month, when President Joseph Kabila's term expires, I fear that this instability will grow even worse.

We want to see democracy thrive and the constitution prevail in the DRC, but we know forces are hard at work to tear that country's democracy down. This resolution sends a message that the United States is watching this situation closely. Those who try to undermine democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo won't get a free pass from us.

This measure calls for U.S. sanctions on core government and opposition officials who hinder democratic processes or stand in the way of progress toward a peaceful democratic transition. It calls for sanctions to remain in place until President Kabila declares that he will abide by the constitution and step down on December 19--until there is verifiable progress toward holding a free and fair election and until the opposition and civil society groups are free to operate without interference.

Lastly, this resolution requests that our government support civil society groups and the media so that the DRC citizens and the world have a clear picture of democracy and governance.

I am glad to support this timely resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

In closing, the situation simmering right now in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is such a good example of why the United States can never retreat from our role on the world stage. This is a situation that doesn't touch most Americans directly, so why should we be focused on it, some might wonder. Because anytime and anywhere democracy is under threat, it makes the world a little less safe, it makes regions a little less stable, and it makes populations a little more vulnerable.

Standing up for democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo--or anyplace else, for that matter--isn't just good for the people of that country, it is good for all of us. It helps advance American values and American interests. We believe in democracy. And it helps when other countries practice what they preach.

So when people on the ground are fighting for democracy, demanding transparency of their leaders, and trying to make their societies more open and inclusive, we are going to have their backs, and it is what we should be doing. That is what the U.S. does. That is what our values demand. That is what it means to be the global standard bearer for freedom and democracy.

I am glad to support this measure. I again thank Chairman Royce for his leadership, Mr. Smith, and Ms. Bass. I urge all Members to do the same.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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