Human Rights

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… 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… Read more »

M. Chairman, the Colombia FTA is bad for American workers; bad for jobs; and bad for Colombian workers, small farmers and human rights defenders. Read more »

Wyden and McGovern Introduce Resolutions Blocking Arms Sale to Bahrain U.S. is set to sell $53 million in weaponry to regime violently suppressing protests. As the Arab Spring spread across the Arab world, ordinary citizens in the Kingdom of Bahrain began to rise up and demand political and economic rights from their government. The ruling family, members of a powerful Sunni… Read more »