REMEMBERING THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYRIAN CONFLICT

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REMEMBERING THE EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYRIAN CONFLICT

(Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia asked and was given permission to

address the House for 1 minute.)

Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today in

remembrance of the eighth anniversary of the Syrian conflict, which

resulted in the tragic loss of many human lives and the destabilization

of the entire region.

This is all because of the dictator Bashar Assad, who is unwilling to

step aside and heed the Syrian people's call for freedom. After

destroying Syria, Assad is now attempting to attract economic

investment. But in addition to killing over 400,000 Syrians of the

Muslim faith, Assad has also failed to protect the religious minority

of Christians in Syria.

Having personally met with the Syrian Christians for Peace, I have

heard firsthand how Assad repeatedly targeted Syria's most vulnerable

populations.

Few Christians continue to live in Assad's Syria, due to brutality by

pro-Assad militias. That is why we must support the Trump

administration's isolation of the regime and its allies in Tehran and

Moscow. That is why the Senate must follow the House and pass the

Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act.

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