The Hill News

On Wednesday, the House passed the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011 (H.R. 515), which I authored, reaffirming our country’s strong and sustained promotion of human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Belarus through sanctions targeting the dictatorship of Alexander Lukashenka. In doing so, the House signaled its support for the aspirations of Belarusians denied elementary human rights and democratic freedoms. H.R. 515 states a U.S. government policy of strong support for the Belarusian people in their struggle against the Lukashenka dictatorship â€" aspiring to live in a free and independent country where their human rights are respected, they can choose their government, and officials apply just laws that they themselves are subject to. 

This measure reinforces earlier legislation I sponsored, the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 and Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006, both of which passed the House and Senate with overwhelming b! ipartisan support and were signed into law. Both the Bush and Obama administrations have put their provisions to good use â€" yet Congress clearly needs to remain engaged on Belarus.

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