{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://aderholt.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/aderholt-joins-appropriators-foreign-affairs-leaders-investigate", "Aderholt Joins Appropriators, Foreign Affairs Leaders to Investigate Escalating Religious Persecution in Nigeria", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "AL", "Robert B. Aderholt", "A000055", "aderholt.house.gov", "aderholt", "https://aderholt.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Chairman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and Chair of the Values Action Team (VAT), joined House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario D\u00edaz-Balart (R-FL) and Congressman Riley Moore (R-WV) in leading a joint briefing with the House Foreign Affairs Committee to examine the worsening violence and targeted persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Nigeria.\n\nCongressman Aderholt said, \u201cThe rising violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a crisis that can\u2019t be ignored. Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to protect the most vulnerable, including those whose lives and liberties are threatened simply because of their faith. We must stand firmly with Nigeria\u2019s Christian communities and all persecuted believers worldwide, and I commend our collaborative efforts to provide the President with the information needed to confront this growing tragedy.\u201d\n\nThis roundtable follows President Donald J. Trump\u2019s October 31 directive to the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria and report findings to the White House.\n\nJoint Briefing Includes Congressional and Expert Participants\n\nParticipants in the briefing included:\n\nRep. Mario D\u00edaz-Balart (R-FL), House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairman\n\nRep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman and Values Action Team (VAT) Chair\n\nRep. Riley Moore (R-WV), House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee Vice Chair and leading religious liberty advocate\n\nRep. Brian Mast (R-FL), Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee\n\nRep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman, House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee\n\nHon. Vicky Hartzler, Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)\n\nSean Nelson, Senior Counsel for Global Religious Freedom, Alliance Defending Freedom International\n\nDr. Ebenezer Obadare, Council on Foreign Relations\n\nFocus on the Scale and Nature of Violence\n\nMembers and witnesses emphasized that religiously motivated attacks\u2014including kidnappings, mass killings, and displacement\u2014have intensified across Nigeria, with Christian communities bearing the brunt of the violence in many regions. Expert testimony underscored the role of extremist terror groups such as Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, and radicalized militant factions that seek to drive believers from their homes and suppress religious freedom.\n\nExpert Testimony Highlights Urgent Need for Action\n\nWitnesses offered on-the-ground perspectives and policy recommendations for Congress and the Administration, including:\n\nStrengthening U.S. diplomatic pressure on Nigerian authorities to protect vulnerable communities\n\nLeveraging U.S. security assistance for accountability, police reform, and early-warning systems\n\nSupporting efforts to dismantle terrorist networks and prevent further religious cleansing\n\nSeveral witnesses cited recent mass abductions and assaults on churches and religious schools to illustrate the immediate threat facing families of faith in Nigeria today.\n\nContinued Oversight and Next Steps\n\nCongressman Aderholt reaffirmed his commitment to protecting religious liberty worldwide and supporting persecuted believers through U.S. foreign policy and appropriations work. The House Appropriations Committee will continue investigating the violence in Nigeria pursuant to President Trump\u2019s directive and is preparing a comprehensive report to provide the Administration with actionable recommendations.\n\n\u201cAs we move forward,\u201d Aderholt added, \u201cCongress must ensure America remains a beacon for religious freedom and a defender of those who are targeted simply for worshipping God.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://aderholt.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/aderholt-joins-appropriators-foreign-affairs-leaders-investigate"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.8605110235512257, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}