Calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 892, calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Paul is a hero of the Rwandan genocide and a permanent resident of San Antonio, Texas, my hometown where his family also lives today.

Last year, a Rwandan court sentenced Paul to 25 years in prison on politically motivated charges. Paul is 68 years old, and for him that is a life sentence.

Congresswoman Young Kim and I have been closely following his case for several years, and we were proud to introduce H. Res. 892 in February of this year.

Paul's story begins in Rwanda, the country of his birth. Nearly three decades ago, he was serving as assistant general manager of a luxury hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, when the Rwandan genocide began.

The genocide, which led to the deaths of an estimated 800,000 people over a 3-month period, targeted mostly members of the ethnic Tutsi minority. Paul is a member of the Hutu majority, but he was determined not to see his Tutsi countrymen die on his watch.

As genocidal killing squads roamed through Rwanda, Paul sheltered more than 1,200 people in his hotel, saving their lives.

In the aftermath of the genocide, Paul and his family received asylum in Belgium and later moved to San Antonio with the help of the late Texas Senator Bob Krueger, an international leader in the fight against genocide. In 2005, President George W. Bush presented Paul with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our Nation's highest civilian honor.

Since the 1994 genocide, the Government of Rwanda has made tremendous strides in economic development and stability. However, the country's government is still plagued by corruption, abuse of power, and human rights issues that amount to violations of international law--including enforced disappearances.

At home and abroad Paul Rusesabagina has used his voice and elevated platform to call attention to the need for change in Rwanda. In response, the Rwandan Government launched an extraordinary campaign of persecution against him.

In August 2020, Paul was extrajudicially transferred from Texas to Rwanda by way of the United Arab Emirates and arrested on trumped-up charges.

The Rwandan Government did not acknowledge his detention for 3 days, during which he was reportedly subject to torture. In September 2021, Paul was found guilty and sentenced in a trial that the European Union described as ``marred by numerous violations of his fair trial rights.''

He is a cancer survivor who lives with serious cardiovascular issues, and Rwandan authorities have not provided him with the care he needs in prison.

I have my children here on the floor with me, and my heart breaks for Paul's family who can only speak to him once a week for 5 minutes. It is long past time for Rwanda to release Paul and allow him to come home to San Antonio.

My colleagues and I on both sides of the aisle have raised our concerns previously. In December 2020, we sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Rwandan President Paul Kagame urging him to release Paul on humanitarian grounds. We spoke out about the way Paul was taken against his will to Rwanda, which for all intents and purposes was a kidnapping by the Kagame regime.

In June 2021, my colleagues and I wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken urging him to use all diplomatic means at his disposal to ensure Paul's safe return to the United States.

We are not the only ones who are concerned.

Last year, the American Bar Association Center for Human Rights issued a report that found Paul's right to confidential communication, his right to the presumption of innocence, and his right to prepare his defense have all been violated.

In October 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution denouncing Paul's illegal arrest. The resolution strongly condemns the conviction, which it said was ``exemplary of the human rights violations in Rwanda.''

Paul is a permanent resident of the United States, and we must work just as hard as our European allies to bring him home.

In May, the State Department announced its determination that Paul was ``wrongfully detained,'' noting that ``The determination took into account the totality of the circumstances, notably the lack of fair trial guarantees during his trial.''

I appreciate the support of the State Department, which has been working with Paul's family and the Congress on this issue. I am especially pleased that Paul's case is now under the purview of the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Ambassador Roger Carstens.

Rwanda's President Kagame wants to be seen as a global leader and a reliable partner to the United States, including on issues including climate change. But Paul's unlawful detention is a blight on Rwanda's international reputation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues, both Republican and Democrat, to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 892) calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 892, as amended, calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 892, which calls for the release of Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Chairman Castro, for drafting this important measure.

Nearly 30 years ago, Paul Rusesabagina, a Belgian citizen and permanent resident of the United States, risked his life to protect more than a thousand people during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. In honor of his singular and valiant actions during one of the worst human rights crises and mass murders in history, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In August 2020, Paul Rusesabagina boarded a plane in the UAE that he believed was headed to Burundi only to arrive in the capital of Rwanda and be arrested by Rwandan authorities under dubious terrorism-related charges.

In September, despite a lack of due process and fair trial, he was sentenced to 25 years in prison. He has been placed in solitary confinement and charged with numerous crimes of no credence.

The Rwandan Government's unlawful actions, including the extrajudicial transfer of Mr. Rusesabagina from the UAE to Rwanda and his deteriorating medical condition while detained, are of great concern.

The Department of State has now determined that he was wrongfully detained pursuant to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage- Taking Accountability Act. As such, this resolution calls for the immediate release and return of Mr. Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to raise the case of Mr. Rusesabagina in all interactions with the Rwandan Government and continue to press for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Castro), who is the chair of the Subcommittee on International Development, International Organizations, and Global Corporate Social Impact.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for the purpose of closing.

Mr. Speaker, Paul Rusesabagina's history and circumstances as a war hero wrongfully detained and denied adequate medical care is one that we cannot ignore. Congress must stand with Paul Rusesabagina's family who have not wavered in championing his legacy and calling attention to his plight to call for his immediate release and return to the United States on humanitarian grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I, again, thank Chairman Castro for his leadership on this resolution. I urge all my colleagues to join us by voting in the affirmative, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 892: Calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to Release Paul Rusesabagina on Humanitarian Grounds.

The resolution calls on the government of Rwanda to immediately release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds, ensure that he receives access to appropriate qualified medical professionals and all medical care, and permit him to return safely to the United States .

The resolution als urges the U.S. government in all interactions with the government of Rwanda to raise e case of Paul Rusesabagina and to press for his immediate release on humanitarian grounds.

Paul Rusesabagina is a 67-year-old cancer survivor who suffers from a cardiovascular disorder, and his permanent residency is in Texas.

He is also very special in the eyes of our entire nation, as he is a Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree.

He came to global prominence because he was the manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines in Kigali, a hotel that provided safe haven to over 1,200 Hutu and Tutsi refugees during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

In August 2020, Mr. Rusesabagina, on a flight meant to land in Burundi, was extrajudicially transferred to Kigali by the Rwandan government and put on trial.

He was immediately arrested, although the Rwandan government did not acknowledge his detention for three days during which he was reportedly subjected to torture.

Paul Rusesabagina was sentenced to 25 years in prison on September 20, 2021.

The rogue extrajudicial transfer of Mr. Rusesabagina from Texas to Rwanda, and the subsequent trial, have been widely criticized by human rights organizations for the lack of fair trial standards, including violations of attorney-client privilege.

Human Rights Watch called the trial ``flawed'' and ``emblematic of the government's overreach and manipulation of the justice system.''

The U.S. State Department said it was ``concerned'' about Rusesabagina's ``lack of confidential, unimpeded access to his lawyers and relevant case documents and his initial lack of access to counsel.''

His own daughters only get to speak to him for about five minutes once a week.

Mr. Rusesabagina has been a vocal critic of Rwandan President Paul Kagame, accusing the president of war crimes and human rights violations, and is suffering because of it.

Our Constitution was built with the belief that every person has the right to express political dissent.

An attack on free speech anywhere is an attack on our American values.

The reported lack of fair trial guarantees calls into question the fairness of the verdict and the lack of protections meant to be consistent with Rwanda's international commitment.

To allow a foreign government to abduct and hold hostage an American permanent resident without a fair trial is to turn our back on a fundamental rule of law and democracy.

I urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 892, calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to Release Paul Rusesabagina on Humanitarian Grounds.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 892, a resolution calling on the Government of the Republic of Rwanda to release Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds.

The Rwandan genocide is considered one of the deadliest and most brutal tragedies in the history of humankind. In just 100 days, more than 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were systematically assaulted, raped, and slaughtered by the Rwandan and Interahamwe militaries. And except for a few peacekeeping forces, the international community at large refused to get involved--leaving any resistance efforts to come from within the country.

That's when Paul Rusesabagina stepped in. As the manager at a hotel in the capital city of Kigali at the time, he was credited for housing and feeding more than 1,200 Tutsi and Hutu refugees during the genocide. He knew that the consequences of his efforts would put both himself and his family in danger, but he still chose to help his people in their greatest hour of need.

Now, the Rwandan government has convicted, detained, and reportedly tortured Mr. Rusesabagina on charges stemming from a trial that the State Department and American Bar Association considered unfair and irreparable. He has also been denied the medical attention required as a cancer survivor and individual suffering from a cardiovascular disorder.

By passing this resolution, the House of Representatives will join several other international democratic bodies to express concern over his conviction and call for his immediate release. We will also urge the United States Government to continue to raise awareness about Mr. Rusesabagina's case and convey our support to his friends, family, and loved ones.

Mr. Speaker, Paul Rusesabagina's story reminds us that hope can be found even during our darkest days. I would urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 892, calling for the release of Paul Rusesabagina on humanitarian grounds. I am proud to co- lead this resolution alongside Representative Castro. I thank him for his leadership.

Paul Rusesabagina is a legal permanent resident of the United States who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his heroic actions during the Rwandan genocide.

In August 2020, he was extrajudicially transferred from Texas to Kigali, Rwanda, by way of the United Arab Emirates, and subjected to an enforced disappearance for 3 days before the Government of the Republic of Rwanda acknowledged his detention.

He underwent trial proceedings for terrorism-related charges, and the American Bar Association has subsequently determined that his fair trial rights have been violated.

Pursuant to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Act, the Department of State has determined that Mr. Rusesabagina was wrongfully detained.

Mr. Speaker, I urge the Rwandan Government to urgently work with the State Department and authorities in Europe to secure a path forward for his release and return to the United States.

It is also critically important that the Government of Rwanda grant access to his U.S.-based doctor to assess his health and well-being.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution and efforts to bring Paul Rusesabagina home to his family.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution offered by Representative Castro and myself. I want to recognize Paul's family, especially his wife and children, who have tirelessly advocated for his release.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.