While she no longer leads Republicans on the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., currently the chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, continues to rank as one of the most influential shapers of foreign policy on Capitol Hill.
Ros-Lehtinen’s influence was in the spotlight this week as she moved two pieces of legislation across the congressional finish line.
The South Florida congresswoman’s resolution condemning the Iranian regime for persecuting its Baha’i minority and violating the International Covenants on Human Rights passed the House on Wednesday with no opposition. Ros-Lehtinen reeled in more than 150 co-sponsors for her resolution including U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., who leads Democrats on the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee. Other co-sponsors from Florida included Republican U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Vern Buchanan, Carlos Curbelo, Ron DeSantis, Mario Diaz-Balart, David Jolly, Bill Posey and Dennis Ross and Democratic U.S. Reps. Lois Frankel andAlan Grayson.
Ros-Lehtinen weighed in on why her resolution was needed after the vote.
“Iran’s deplorable human rights record at home is often overshadowed by its destructive behavior abroad, including its global support for terror and destabilizing influence in the region and beyond,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “Iran’s Baha’i community is a frequent target of the regime, subjecting adherents to arbitrary arrest and harassment, refusing to recognize Baha’i marriages, and destroying their cemeteries and holy places. Economic repression is also severe as Baha’is are prohibited from public sector employment while private employers are pressured not to hire them.
“With this resolution, Congress makes clear that it has not forgotten about the suffering of the Iranian people, condemning the regime’s repression and its notable persecution of the Baha’is while urging the State Department to sanction the officials responsible for human rights violations,” Ros-Lehtinen added. “Despite failed attempts to portray Rouhani as a moderate, human rights under the current regime are worse than ever and I urge the administration not to turn a blind eye to the torment the regime inflicts at home by holding those responsible accountable with the sanctions at its disposal.”
That wasn’t the only win for Ros-Lehtinen on international issues this week. The House also passed her “Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act” without opposition. The bill, which U.S. Rep. Albio Sires, D-NJ, the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, opposed “loans at international financial institutions for the government of Nicaragua, other than to address basic human needs or promote democracy, unless the government of Nicaragua is taking effective steps to hold free, fair, and transparent elections, and for other purpose.”
Seven Florida Republicans--U.S. Reps. Bilirakis, Ander Crenshaw, Curbelo, DeSantis, Diaz-Balart, Tom Rooney and Ted Yoho--co-sponsored the bill.
On Wednesday, after her bill was passed, Ros-Lehtinen took aim at Nicaraguan leader Daniel Oretga.
“Daniel Ortega continues to consolidate power and trample on the rule of law and democratic foundations of Nicaragua which has led to economic and political instability in the country.” Ros-Lehtinen said. “This bill is aimed at holding Ortega and his regime accountable for violating human rights and manipulating the electoral process for his own political gain. In addition, the NICA Act directs the Department of State to issue a report on how Nicaraguan regime officials in the Supreme Electoral Council, the National Assembly, or the judicial systems are directly involved in acts of public corruption and human rights violations. By passing this bill, the House has taken action to prevent Ortega from accessing international funds until reforms are implemented that promote democracy, strengthen the rule of law, respect human rights, and until Nicaragua holds free, fair and transparent elections overseen by electoral observers. We will continue to support the people of Nicaragua and assist civil society in democracy and governance programs but we must not allow Ortega to continue down this dangerous path without any serious repercussions.”
“I am proud to have worked with my good friend from Florida, Rep. Ros-Lehtinen to pass this urgent piece of legislation,” Sires said. “The U.S. should stand strong in the face of Ortega’s continued efforts to stifle democratic processes and attempt to create an Ortega dynasty by naming his wife as his running mate. Ortega and his cronies mistakenly think that the U.S. will turn a blind eye to his autocratic actions and corrupt policies that have made him one of the richest men in the country while Nicaraguan people work hard to make ends meet. I will continue to stand with the Nicaraguan people until their voices are heard. I thank my colleagues for their bipartisan and unanimous support of the NICA Act which urges the U.S. to curb Ortega’s access to international financing institutions until he tackles corruption and holds free, fair, and transparent elections.”
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