CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

On 2026-02-03, Representative Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY-3) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM" in the House. The speech addressed foreign policy and also covered China.

CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 24 (Tuesday, February 3, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 3, 2026)] [House] [Page H1970] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1430 CELEBRATING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM (Mr. SUOZZI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.) Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, religious leaders from across the world are coming to Washington, D.C., this week to celebrate religious freedom. It is hard to imagine that something we take for granted, like the right to worship, is denied to much of humankind across the globe. Muslim Uyghurs are put in forced labor camps by the Chinese Communist Party. Hindu and Buddhist religious minorities are being persecuted in Bangladesh. Christians are being tormented in Syria, India, Egypt, Nigeria, and elsewhere. Jews worldwide are facing anti-Semitism. Sikh turbans are banned, and Muslim headscarves are not permitted. Have you heard about the Ahmadis, the Rohingyas, the Druze? What about the Tibetan Buddhists in China and the Baha'is in Iran? There must be a worldwide effort to celebrate our diversity, promote religious freedom, and stop the evil forces that try and divide us instead of seeking the common ground that we all share. As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Nation, let us promote the religious freedom that we enjoy in our country, and let us serve as a beacon to the world once again. ____________________