Urging Afghanistan to Purse A Transparent, Credible, and Inclusive Run-Off Presidential Election

Floor Speech

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Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important bipartisan resolution to urge the Government of Afghanistan to ensure a transparent process in its June 14 runoff Presidential election.

I want to commend my former Foreign Affairs Committee colleague, Mr. Grayson, for bringing this measure forward, and also Chairman Royce for his leadership on this important issue.

It makes clear that the United States supports the Afghan people in their pursuit to form an effective government through credible, violence-free elections.

Afghanistan certainly faces major challenges, but this transition is an opportunity for Afghanistan to build upon the progress it has made since 2001. Under the Taliban, women were banned from social, political, and educational participation. Now, more than one-quarter of the country's parliament is female, and more than one-third of the voters in the first round of elections were women.

There has been other strong progress, both big and small. Infant mortality has declined, the media is more accessible, the literacy rates have increased from the single digits, and there are even substantially more paved roads. Don't get me wrong. It is not all cotton candy and rainbows. To be certain, Afghanistan still has a long road ahead to achieve a democratic future, but this election is a critical step in the right direction.

It is my hope that the Government of Afghanistan recognizes the sacrifices that have been made to get to this point and will turn a page to ensure a peaceful transition of power.

I urge all of my colleagues to support this bipartisan measure.

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