Calling On Vietnam To Release Imprisoned Bloggers And Respect Internet Freedom

Floor Speech

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Mr. CAO. I thank the gentleman from Arkansas.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 672, calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to release imprisoned bloggers and respect Internet freedom.

It is vital that the United States take a bold stance against the tyranny of the Vietnamese Government and more effectively promote democracy there and throughout the world.

While the Vietnamese Government continues to control and stifle its citizens, this bill lays out very specific goals that will push for freedom of speech in Vietnam. It promotes the actions of the Vietnamese people who desire to have a say in government policy and actions. It will repeal statutes that restrict an individual's Internet usage and calls for the release of all political prisoners who have been incarcerated under the false pretenses of causing unrest and disturbance.

The Vietnamese Government fears these changes and continues to promote backward policies that restrict the Vietnamese people's basic freedoms. In the United States, we have been blessed with these rights. With these gifts comes great responsibility. It is necessary that we advocate on behalf of the Vietnamese citizens who simply hope for a better future.

We, as leaders of the most powerful democracy in the world, must not only pass this resolution, but we also must pass the Vietnam human rights bill. We must put Vietnam back on the CPC list. We must require Vietnam to pay the $3.5 million in restitution that the High Court of American Samoa adjudicated 10 years ago. We must deny Vietnam the GSP status that it so desires until it improves its labor laws.

Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I ask that the Members of the House support House Resolution 672.

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