WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), co-chairs of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, and Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA-47) today introduced companion resolutions in the United States Senate and House of Representatives honoring Human Rights Day and the 69th Anniversary of the 1948 ratification by the United Nations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
“On Human Rights Day, we celebrate the anniversary of the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and honor those around the world who work tirelessly to advance fundamental rights like freedom, justice, and equality,” said Senator Coons. “As co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, I call for passage of this resolution and recommit myself to advocating for the freedom of all those who suffer from violence and persecution.”
“I am proud to introduce the Human Rights Day resolution that honors the adoption of the historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 affirming the rights of individuals and setting the standard for human rights protections,” said Senator Tillis. “As co-chair of the Senate Human Rights Caucus, I will continue to fight on behalf of those who advocate for basic human rights and ensure that the United States continues to be the standard for promoting freedom across the world.”
“The promotion of respect for human rights as embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a key component of the leadership role the United States plays around the world,” Congressman Lowenthal said. “The Congress, and the world, must recognize that those who are denied basic human rights, such as the freedoms of speech, religion, and political expression, are also denied basic human respect and dignity. It diminishes our shared humanity when people are denied these basic and universal rights. The world would be a safer place if human rights were universally protected.” ?
Joining Senators Coons and Tillis in introducing the resolution were Senators Blumenthal, Inhofe, Baldwin, Rubio, Brown, Young, Franken, McCain, Van Hollen, Murkowski, Menendez, Merkley, Casey, Wyden, and Klobuchar.
Joining Congressman Lowenthal in introducing the resolution were Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton, Raul Grijalva, Jerry McNerney, Jimmy Gomez, Suzanne Bonamici, Jackie Speier, Ro Khanna, Trent Franks, Gerry Connolly, Luis Gutierrez, Mark Pocan, David Cicilline, Bill Foster, Zoe Lofgren, Salud Carbajal, Jan Schakowsky, Barbara Lee, James McGovern, Katherine Clark, Betty McCollum, Michael Capuano, Dwight Evans, Lou Correa, Brian Higgins, Joseph Crowley, Scott Peters, Alcee L. Hastings, Darren Soto, Marcy Kaptur, Sheila Jackson Lee, Keith Ellison, Doris Matsui, Sander Levin, Grace Napolitano, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Norma Torres, Frank Pallone, Judy Chu, Gwen Moore, Jamie Raskin, Adam Schiff, John Yarmuth, Jared Huffman, Eric Swalwell, Seth Moulton, Randy Hultgren, Val Demings, Matt Cartwright, Anna Eshoo, Andre Carson, Linda Sanchez, Dina Titus, Joyce Beaty, Tom Garrett, Peter King, Brenda Lawrence, Debbie Dingell, and Susan Davis.
The text of the resolution is available here.
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