Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), Co-Chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing entitled “Tibet & China: Searching for a New Way Forward.” Watch livestream here. Excerpts from Congressman McGovern’s opening statement: “All of us are present today because we care about the fundamental rights of Tibetans, including the right to worship as they choose and to enjoy and protect their culture. But the situation in Tibet is di...
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Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat and co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, released the following statement on the death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a Tibetan human rights activist who had been imprisoned by the Chinese government for the last thirteen years. “I am deeply saddened by the tragic and unnecessary death of the well-known Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche in a Chinese prison. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was serving a twenty-year sentence under v...
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Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat, led today’s floor debate for House Democrats on H.R. 6, the 21st Century Cures Act and called out House Republicans for their amendment to allow the Confederate flag to be displayed in National Parks and cemeteries run by the National Park Service. Excerpts from Congressman McGovern’s floor speech today: “Americans are ready to leave behind the discrimination and hate symbolized by the Confederate flag, but my friends on the other side ...
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Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat and co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, spoke on the House floor to call for passage of H. Res. 337, a bipartisan resolution calling for meaningful dialogue and a negotiated settlement for the people of Tibet. Congressman McGovern introduced the bipartisan resolution with Representative Joseph Pitts (PA), his fellow co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission; House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (CA); Repres...
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Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) joined state and local leaders to celebrate the advertisement of Phase I of the Blackstone Heritage Corridor Visitor Center in Worcester with the bid ready for review by construction contractors. The Visitor Center is set to open in 2017 and will be a hub for recreational, historical, cultural, and geographic attractions in Worcester and the National Heritage Corridor. Congressman McGovern helped to secure funding for the Visitor Center through a federal h...
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ANKARA, TURKEY – Today, U.S. Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) completed a two-day visit to Turkey as part of a Congressional Delegation to the Middle East this week led by U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (VA). Yesterday, the delegation traveled to the Syrian border town of Gaziantep to meet with interim Syrian government officials and local council representatives, Syrian opposition forces, as well as independent Syrian media activists. The delegation also visited an urban refugee center that provides Sy...
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Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat and leading advocate of modernizing U.S. relations with Cuba, praised the announcement by President Obama that the Administration has reached a deal with Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations and re-open embassies. The effective date for re-establishment is July 20 when the Cuban government will re-open its embassy in Washington. “Today’s announcement that the U.S. will re-open its embassy in Cuba is a victory for American dipl...
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On a Congressional Delegation (CODEL) trip to the Middle East this week, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02) met with two constituents. During the delegation’s time in Iraq, Congressman McGovern met with military and diplomatic leaders, including John Sullivan of Worcester and Scott Harney of Everett, both serving in the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. View photo online here. “On my Congressional trip to Iraq this week, I was proud to meet with two constituents serving our country in the U.S. Embassy in B...
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Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat, released the following statement on the announcement by the U.S. State Department that the U.S. will renew military aid to Bahrain. “Today's action by the Administration to renew foreign military sales to Bahrain is a dangerous step backward for human rights. “If the U.S. is truly committed to regional stability, we must push our allies to embrace policies that will strengthen free societies, not silence entire segments of their p...
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AMMAN, JORDAN – Today, Congressman Jim McGovern (MA-02), a senior House Democrat, arrived in Amman, Jordan after spending three days in Kuwait and Iraq. McGovern is joining a Congressional Delegation to the region focused on the U.S. mission against ISIS and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Iraq and Syria. In Kuwait City on Saturday, the delegation paid their respects at the Grand Mosque to national officials and families impacted by the Friday ISIS bombing that claimed 27 lives and injured hu...
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