U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., scored a win this week as his proposal condemning the Assad regime in Syria and its supporters, including Russia and Iran, cleared the House.
At the end of last month, Mast, a combat wounded veteran who lost his legs serving in Afghanistan, unveiled a resolution “condemning the Assad regime and its backers, including Russia and Iran, for their continued support of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria.” Mast serves on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and on the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.
The resolution urges President Donald Trump and the U.S. State Department to “work towards a sustainable political transition in Syria that results in a government in Syria that is not a danger to its own people” and to “develop a strategy to prevent a permanent Iranian presence in Syria, understanding that the Russia Federation has not proven to be a viable partner to help in this effort.”
The House passed Mast’s resolution without objection on Tuesday. After his resolution cleared the House, Mast weighed in why he had introduced it.
“After seven years of war and the deaths of more than half of a million people, the atrocities of the Assad regime are still ongoing with the help of Russia and Iran,” Mast said. “The United States must push for an end to the violence and suffering in Syria and hold the perpetrators accountable.”
Mast was able to bring in more than a dozen cosponsors including three members of the Florida delegation. U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the former chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee and currently the chair of the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, backed the resolution. So did U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., the top Democrat on the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Fla., also cosponsored Mast’s resolution.
Mast won a second term in the House last month. While he was a top Democrat target, Mast held off Lauren Baer’s target in a competitive contest.
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