Today, Congressman Sires joined his colleagues on the Committee on Foreign Affairs to mark up four pieces of legislation, preparing them to be sent to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote. These critical and timely pieces of legislation address several current international humanitarian crises.
Legislation calling for an end to attacks on Syrian civilians, as well as legislation requiring the immediate establishment of a Syrian war crimes tribunal (H.Con Res. 51 and H.Res 520) were debated and unanimously approved. These bills condemn the attacks against innocent civilians and encourage accountability for the human rights abuses being committed in Syria. Additionally, legislation to include the desecration of cemeteries among the violations under the International Religious Freedom Act also passed with bipartisan support (H.R. 4028).
"Finally, a long overdue overhaul of our public diplomacy and engagement policies was approved. H.R. 4490, The United States International Communications Reform Act, of which I am a cosponsor, takes real steps to improving our public diplomacy efforts to help people deprived of free and fair information, just like those oppressed in Cuba. Now, more than ever, we should be working to ensure people have access to fair and balanced media reporting to counter the anti-U.S. propaganda spread by some governments. I am pleased my colleagues and I were able to work together in a bipartisan manner to mark up these pieces of legislation, bring them closer to becoming law," said Congressman Sires on all four bills being reported favorably out of the Committee.