Date: 2005-07-11
Speaker: GINNY BROWN-WAITE (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Flor

ida. Mr. Speaker. I rise this evening to highlight one of the most underreported and freedomaffirming policies that the world has seen since the end of World War II. For centuries. the world has heard the oppressed. the downtrodden and the vulnerable cry out for their freedoms. for their rights and for a chance to emerge from the shadows of the tyranny and bloodshed that they had lived with. Those yearning for basic liberties and for basic rights have occasionally been led by vocal and dedicated women of the world. Theirs has been too often a silent battle. however. with no clear voice. no champion and no opportunity to cry out for their freedom. I am proud to say tonight that this Congress and this President have heard those cries. We have recognized the unmistakable voice of freedom rumbling across the ocean and into these hallowed chambers. and we have answered that call. Too often. this House has dealt with the aftermath of turning a blind eye to the horrors of present regimes and of past despots. This Republicanled Congress has said. "no more." to those policies. No longer should women be denied the right to vbte. no longer should women be treated as second class citizens. no longer should women not be allowed to be a citizen at all. The world today is changing rapidly. and we are helping to make it better for our childrens future. Since President Bush took office in 2001. this Congress has supported an agenda of democracy. freedom and expansion of rights for all peoples throughout the world. The list of nondemocratic regimes that have seen significant reforms since 2001 is long and significant. Iraq. Afghanistan. Libya. Egypt. Lebanon. Kuwait. Georgia. the Ukraine and others have all held elections. increased minority rights or have committed to democratic reforms. We have before us a picture of an Iraqi woman who voted. She was so proud that she was able to vote. We see the inkstained finger that told everyone that at last she had the opportunity to vote. While all of these are important and significant events. it is the United States foreign policy that furthers the advancement of freedoms and rights for women that is the most striking for me. The world watched October 19 as 19yearold Mokadasa Sidekey cast the first vote in Afghans landmark presidential election. Here we have some more women participating in the Iraqi elections proudly holding up their ballots. We also have the picture -of the thousands of women lined up in Afghanistan to go to vote. They value that privilege. They value that ability that they now have to vote. Today. women comprise 41 percent of the 8.2 million Afghan voters. With our support. these women will continue to lead to fan the flame of democracy and give them hope for a brighter future. Tonight. you will hear personal stories from Members who have traveled to countries like Jordan. Iraq and Afghanistan. From the tales of women who voted for the first time in their familys history to the meetings with newly elected female representatives of Iraq. these stories are truly inspiring. Now I would like to yield to the distinguished gentleman from Texas .