Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

The measure calls on the Bush Administration to use its diplomatic leverage to ensure that the new Iraqi government respects the rights of all Iraqis, regardless of sex or religious affiliation. It also calls on the Administration to allocate USAID funds for the welfare and resettlement of Assyrians and other Christian groups in Iraq.

“The Eshoo amendment is consistent with my recent work on this issue, including a letter I sent on July 6^th to the Bush Administration asking that the rights of Assyrians and Christians in Iraq be protected in the new Iraqi constitution,” said Cardoza. “Like my colleague Representative Eshoo, I represent a large Assyrian community in my Congressional district in central California. Since the January 2005 elections, many in the community have expressed deep concerns over the direction of Iraq’s constitutional process.”

“Throughout history, the Assyrian people have suffered greatly in their attempts to obtain greater freedom and recognition.  Despite this oppression, the Assyrians were essential partners in the Iraqi opposition movement, and paid dearly with the assassination of many political leaders under Saddam Hussein’s regime. We must make certain that the ethnic and religious groups that suffered and sacrificed under Saddam’s regime are afforded human rights guarantees in the permanent constitution,” said Cardoza.