Republicans and Democrats in the House of Representatives took time out from a bruising week of partisanship Friday to unite for a moment of silence for the nearly 300 teenage Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by the terrorist group Boko Haram last month.
'Americans have watched in horror this week the atrocious news reports coming out of Nigeria,' said House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. 'Hundreds of young girls kidnapped with the intent to be sold into slavery or marriage - simply because they had the courage to seek an education and a better life.'
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said 'It is clear what happened in Nigeria is outside the circle of civilized human behavior.'
'The most horrible form of torture for someone who is held by terrorists is when their captors tell them: 'Nobody knows you're here, who you are, and is even worried about you,'' Pelosi said. 'We want to remove all doubt, every minute of every day.'
Both Pelosi and Cantor commended the Obama administration for sending U.S. intelligence, military and law enforcement advisers to Nigeria to assist the Nigerian government in the locating and rescuing the girls.
Cantor said that when the House returns from a week-long recess it will consider five bipartisan bill designed to curtail human trafficking.
'Together, these bills provide resources and authorities to fight domestic human trafficking, provide services to the victims, and take steps to deal with international human trafficking,' Cantor said.
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