Thank you, Madam Chair.
I too want to recognize the wonderful work we've done in this subcommittee over the past number of years, working with all parties and really making an impact. I think one of the most empowering moments was having human rights defenders come here and really recognizing and awarding.... I appreciate Mr. Sweet for really pushing that and for making that happen, as well as the rest of the committee. I really appreciate that. I think the work we've done here, in whatever small way, has made an impact and will continue to make an impact. I think what happened today and the testimony we heard today was strong and powerful. Obviously the two hours that we had on this is not enough. I think in the next mandate, those of us who return should be picking this up as a fulsome study to ensure that we continue this conversation.
Mr. Anderson, you will be very deeply missed in this subcommittee. You've played a very important role in religious freedoms. I appreciate all of the work you have done. I know that for you this is not the end of this work and that you will keep on doing it.
As for our consensus model versus unanimous consent, I was disappointed not to have unanimous consent on the Uighur study, for example, because I felt that our inability to really get across a strong report was to the detriment of Uighurs. That's why I think issues like the ones we've discussed over the past number of years are non-partisan. They are not political. They're something we must all come together on as human beings to really understand objectively the suffering that occurs around the world. I've seen in each and every one of us a lot of empathy and a lot of compassion, and I hope that continues.
I take the point Ms. Hardcastle has made over the past number of years that we must have a stand-alone committee on international human rights, and that is something I look forward to pushing if I return in the next mandate.
Thank you to all of you for making this an amazing four years.