[Page H9067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A STEPPING STONE FOR PEACE IN KASHMIR

  (Mr. OLSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, I rise to share the facts and give an 
update on what is happening in the Jammu Kashmir region. Jammu Kashmir 
was given special treatment in the Constitution of 1947 in India. It 
was created by the ``Temporary Provisions with Respect to the State of 
Jammu Kashmir.'' It is known as article 370.
  It was supposed to be a stop-gap measure because the government had 
not been formed yet. For 70 straight years, this temporary article has 
forced citizens of Jammu Kashmir to live under different laws than all 
other Indians; different rules for citizenship, property ownership.
  Earlier this year, the Indian Parliament confirmed that article 370's 
temporary status should end. It ended. It gave the people of Jammu 
Kashmir the same rights as all Indians. It was a landslide, 125-to-61 
in the Rajya Sabha and 370-to-70 in the Lok Sabha. This action is 
solely about equality for all Indians.
  Hopefully, this can be a step toward peace in Kashmir.

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