Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentlewoman for the time to speak on this.

Mr. Chair, I do rise in opposition to the amendment. I thank my colleague, Mr. Diaz-Balart, for his leadership on this bill.

While certainly I don't think any of us want to send American dollars to terrorists, I do think this amendment would effectively prohibit financial assistance that is key to protecting religious minorities in Iraq.

The United States has long been committed to the principle of promoting religious freedom around the world, and our support for Iraq for this purpose is no exception.

As drafted, the amendment before us would eliminate critical assistance to religious and ethnic minorities, including the Christian Chaldeans, and Assyrians, who have been victims of ISIS extremism and genocide.

These people have suffered unspeakable harm in the name of their religious beliefs and, quite honestly, their Christian beliefs, and they need our assistance.

Mr. Chair, I would encourage my colleagues to oppose this amendment.

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