Religious Freedom

Floor Speech

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, in recent weeks, it has been sad to read that a judicial nominee, Brian Buescher from Nebraska, has been targeted for his membership in the Knights of Columbus as a part of his Senate Judiciary Committee's review of qualifications.

The assertion that being a Catholic and being a member of the Knights of Columbus would prevent Mr. Buescher from properly and effectively serving our Nation is preposterous.

Religion should not be a factor when measuring someone's ability to serve their country.

I remind Senators that our Constitution, in Article VI, states that ``no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.''

The Knights of Columbus was originally founded over 120 years ago. It is a society for working-class and immigrant Catholics and is still true to its founding principles of charity, unity, and fraternity.

As a Catholic, my faith plays a significant role in every aspect of life and fosters a respect for the religious rights and freedoms of others.

I was encouraged to see last month that the Senate unanimously passed a resolution confirming that membership in a religious organization does not make a person unfit for public office.

Fundamental American values, among which are commitments to religious freedom and human rights, will always be the cornerstones of U.S. domestic and foreign policy.

I will continue to advocate for the rights of individuals to express their feelings without living in fear of violence and persecution.

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and the ineffective, inhumane, and irresponsible actions of the Maduro government.

For years, Venezuela's United Socialist Party has pushed a once- prosperous nation towards desperate poverty and open tyranny.

Today in Venezuela, Maduro celebrates while his people eat garbage.

For too long, the authoritarian regime has acted without accountability. Water sanitation is nonexistent, and hospitals stand without power or medicine, the results, Mr. Speaker, of 20 years of irresponsible socialism under the Chavez and Maduro regimes--all this while 200 tons of U.S. food and medical assistance sit unused at the Venezuela-Colombia border, blocked by Maduro from entering the country.

I stand with the Organization of American States and over 50 countries with interim President Juan Guaido and call on Maduro to step down so that humanitarian aid can flow to the Venezuelan people, who are sick, starving, and scared.

All Americans stand with Venezuelans, who want their republic back; they want their rights back; they want their freedom back.

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