Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen Condemn Massive Human Rights Abuses by the Syrian Government and Call on the United Nations to Place Strong Pressure on the Assad Regime to Stop the Violence Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) today strongly condemned the Syrian government for continuing to commit massive human rights abuses against its citizens. The co-chairmen also urged the United Nations Security Council to demand th...
Read More »
For Immediate Release Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA) denounced the Bahraini government's use of force to prevent Bahrainis from assembling yesterday in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of major demonstrations in Bahrain. Bahraini security forces yesterday used tear gas, armored personnel carriers, and other forceful means to block Bahrainis from gathering in public spaces and expressing their political views. These actions are inconsistent with the fundamental hum...
Read More »
Congressman James P. McGovern (D-MA) today urged the Bahraini government to allow Bahrainis to assemble and express their political views on February 14 in commemoration of the one-year anniversary of the outbreak of major demonstrations in Bahrain. Congressman McGovern also urged the Bahraini security forces and Bahraini protesters to refrain from the use of violence on the anniversary. Violence by either side only serves to strengthen those opposed to genuine peace and reconciliation. -The ri...
Read More »
The following OpEd, cowritten with Free Speech for People co-founder Jeff Clements, appeared in the Boston Globe on Saturday January 21st. "THE FIRST three words of the preamble of our Constitution are -We the People.'' Two years ago today the US Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission upended that promising vision. Corporations — which do not have mouths, minds, or consciences — won a -free speech'' right to spend unlimited money to influence elections. The court cast a...
Read More »
"While internet piracy is an issue that should be addressed, HR 3261 (SOPA), as written is unwise, unfair, and against what I believe are fundamental rights for all Americans. I plan on voting against the current legislation, although the GOP is now indicating that they will not bring SOPA to the floor for a vote at all."
Read More »
Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen Call for Immediate and Unconditional Release of Gao Zhisheng Following news reports that Chinese human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng was returned to prison, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Co-Chairmen Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) and James P. McGovern (D-MA) today called for his immediate and unconditional release. Gao, a tireless advocate for political and religious dissenters, faces up to three years in prison for -seriously- violating his probation, acc...
Read More »
Pelosi, McGovern Members of Congress Send Letter to President Santos of Colombia Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and seven Members of Congress sent a letter to President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia this week thanking him for his commitment to address labor rights in Colombia and establishing a Congressional Monitoring Group on Labor Rights in Colombia that will work with the Obama Administration and others to ensure that progress is made on labor rights in the coming months. Below is the full...
Read More »
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern has introduced a Constitutional amendment in the House of Representatives to repeal the recent Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and to restore the Founding Fathers' intent to grant rights to people, not corporation
Read More »
Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Congressman John Conyers, Congressman Barney Frank, Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, Congressman Jared Polis, Congressman David N. Cicilline and other House Democrats filed an Amicus Brief in the consolidated case of Massachusetts v. Dept. of Healthand Human Servicesand Gill vs. Office of Personnel Management. Pelosi and 132 House Members filed the brief toda...
Read More »
Fortenberry, McGovern Comment on White House LRA Announcement Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and Congressman Jim McGovern today commented on the announcement from the White House this morning concerning the Department of Defense's new effort to combat the Lord's Resistance Army in central Africa. -Through over 20 years of civil war, the brutal insurgency has created a humanitarian crisis that has displaced over 1.5 million people in one of the world's most difficult ungoverned spaces,- said Forte...
Read More »
