congressman honda letter to president obama regarding kidnapped nigerian girls
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MICHAEL M. HONDA COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
17TH DISTRICT, CALIFORNIA SUBCOMMITTEES:COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE
WASHINGTON OFFICE: LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
1713 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING EDUCATIONWASHINGTON, DC 20515 _______
PHONE: 1202) 225—2631 SENIOR WHIPFAX: (202) 225—2699
http://www.honda.house.govCONGRESSIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC
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May 9, 2104The PresidentThe White HouseWashington, DC
Dear President Obama:
Mr. President, knowing of your longstanding interest in promoting fundamental human rightsand freedoms, we write to express concern over the recent abduction of over 200 girls in Nigerialast month, and the at least eight kidnapped earlier this week. This brazen attack is only the latestof Boko Haram’s repeated and well-publicized attacks throughout the north of the country. Weurge your administration to use every avenue possible to assist in the immediate recovery of themissing girls and in bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The group Boko Haram, which the State Department has designated as a Foreign TerroristOrganization, has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and threatens to sell the girls into thehuman trafficking market. Boko Haram has continually condemned education for youngwomen—their name loosely translates as “Western education is forbidden.” In Nigeria, 40% ofthe population is under the age of 15. Boko Haram seeks to prevent access to education for theseyoung people, which is vital to keeping communities productively employed, and in preventingand resolving conflict.
The mass kidnapping and threat of human trafficking are human right violations that cannot betolerated. Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery, which America must proactivelyseek to end. We call on you to lead in seeking action at the United Nations to unite the globalcommunity behind this cause.
We believe there is much more the United States government should do to address the growingthreat Boko Haram poses to international peace and security. We urge you to work towardsadding Boko Haram, and the splinter faction, Ansaru to the United Nations Security Council’s
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Al Qaida Sanctions List, the mechanism by which international sanctions are imposed on AlQaida and Al-Qaida linked organizations. While the Department of State officially designatedthe group as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in November of 2013, Boko Haram’s addition tothe Security Council’s Sanctions List would further curtail its terrorist activities. In addition toefforts with the United Nations, creating a strong working relationship with the African Union isalso important to bringing about a sustainable peace in the region.
The Administration’s efforts this week to form an interdisciplinary team to assist Nigerianauthorities in rescuing these young girls is a positive step forward that we applaud. We standcommitted to supporting the Administration as it provides assistance in the recovery of thekidnapped victims, and we thank you for your timely response to the incident and call for justicefor the victims.
Sincerely,
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Cosigners for Rep. Honda Letter to President Obama Re: Support for Assistance of 05-‐12-‐2014 Robert B. Aderholt Spencer Bachus Andy Barr Karen Bass Joyce Beatty Dan Benishek, M.D. Kerry Bentivolio Ami Bera Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. Marsha Blackburn Bob Brady Bruce Braley Corrine Brown Julia Brownley Michael C. Burgess G.K Butterfield Michael Capuano André Carson Matt Cartwright Kathy Castor Joaquin Castro Donna Christensen Judy Chu Yvette D. Clarke Howard Coble Steve Cohen John Conyers, Jr. Joe Courtney Kevin Cramer Henry Cuellar Elijah Cummings Steve Daines Susan Davis Danny K. Davis Peter DeFazio John Delaney Rosa DeLauro Suzan DelBene Ted Deutch Lloyd Doggett Tammy Duckworth Jeff Duncan Donna Edwards Keith Ellison Eliot Engel
Anna G. Eshoo Sam Farr Chuck Fleischmann Bill Flores Jeff Fortenberry Lois Frankel Marcia Fudge Pete Gallego Joe Garcia Louie Gohmert Gene Green Al Green Tim Griffin Raul M. Grijalva Luis Guitierrez Janice Hahn Colleen Hanabusa Alcee L. Hastings Denny Heck Ruben Hinojosa George Holding Rush Holt Steven Horsford Richard Hudson Jared Huffman Bill Huizenga Steve Israel Sheila Jackson Lee Hakeem Jeffries Eddie Bernice Johnson Hank Johnson Marcy Kaptur William R. Keating Robin Kelly Dan Kildee Derek Kilmer Ann McLane Kuster John B. Larson Tom Latham Robert C. Latta Barbara Lee John Lewis Zoe Lofgren Alan Lowenthal Nita M. Lowey
Cosigners for Rep. Honda Letter to President Obama Re: Support for Assistance of 05-‐12-‐2014 Michelle Lujan Grisham Stephen F. Lynch Dan Maffei Carolyn Maloney Jim Matheson Doris Matsui Carolyn McCarthy Betty McCollum James P. McGovern Patrick McHenry Jerry McNerney Gregory W. Meeks Grace Meng Mike Michaud Gwen Moore James P. Moran Patrick E. Murphy Jerold Nadler Grace Napolitano Gloria Negrete McLeod Rick Nolan Eleanor Holmes Norton Alan Nunnelee Alan Nunnelle Beto O'Rourke Frank Pallone, Jr. Erik Paulsen Donald Payne Jr Ed Perlmutter Scott Perry Scott Peters Thomas Petri Chellie Pingree Robert Pittenger Joseph R. Pitts Mark Pocan Ted Poe Charles B. Rangel Reid Ribble Cedric L. Richmond Scott Rigell Dana Rohrabacher Dennis A. Ross Lucille Roybal-‐Allard Bobby Rush
Tim Ryan Linda T. Sánchez John P. Sarbanes Jan Schakowsky Robert C. Scott David Scott Jim Sensenbrenner José E. Serrano Terri Sewell Kyrsten Sinema Albio Sires Louise Slaughter Adam Smith Jackie Speier Steve Stivers Steve Stockman Eric Swalwell Mark Takano John F. Tierney Scott Tipton Paul Tonko Niki Tsongas David Valadeo Chris Van Hollen Juan Vargas Marc Veasey Filemon Vela Jackie Walorski Tim Walz Debbie Wasserman Schultz Maxine Waters Henry A. Waxman Randy Weber Frederica Wilson Joe Wilson John Yarmuth Ted Yoho Don Young