Sen. Cruz: Hong Kong Dissidents' Powerful Stories Need to Be Heard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, participated in a subcommittee hearing examining how the United States' refugee policy supports Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

Sen. Cruz, who also sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, reaffirmed his support for political dissidents and the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong:

"I want to welcome each of the witnesses. Thank you for being here. Thank you for speaking out for liberty. Thank you for speaking out for democracy. Thank you for speaking out for Hong Kong and for the world. In October of last year, I traveled to Hong Kong and had the opportunity to meet with many pro-democracy activists, meet with brave dissidents, young men and women putting their lives on the line to stand up to the dark hand of oppression coming from the Chinese communist government.

"At the time, I did a Sunday show interview by satellite from Hong Kong, dressed in all black to stand in solidarity with the democracy protesters, to show visually the reality that Americans and people all over the world were inspired by the courage that we saw in the streets of Hong Kong. I think the power of the stories of dissidents, the power of the stories of heroism and courage and persecution and strength - those stories need to be heard."

Sen. Cruz then asked each of the witnesses to share their testimonies of fighting for freedom and liberty. Watch Sen. Cruz's remarks and full line of questioning here.

Last year, Sen. Cruz introduced the Hong Kong Policy Reevaluation Act of 2019, which requires the State Department to report on whether China was eroding Hong Kong's autonomy, and to alter U.S. policy if it was. A version of the bill was signed into law in November 2019 as part of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act.

In October 2019, as part of his Indo-Pacific ‘Friends and Allies' tour, Sen. Cruz met with pro-democracy activists, dissidents, and protest leaders in Hong Kong and expressed his support for those fighting to protect Hong Kong's autonomy, free speech, and basic human rights.

Sen. Cruz has called for a fundamental reassessment of the U.S.-China relationship, and has introduced numerous bills to unwind the United States from China. Read more about Sen. Cruz's comprehensive push to reassess the United States' relationship with China here.

###