(Minghui.org) Editor's note: Below is Congressman Sam Farr's speech delivered in person on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on July 17, 2014, at the rally marking 15 years of the persecution of Falun Gong.

Congressman Sam Farr has served on the House Appropriations Committee since 1999. He is the second ranking Democrat and the only Californian on the Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, which has legislative jurisdiction over the Department of Veterans Affairs and military construction for the Department of Defense.

Congressman Sam Farr speaks at the rally on July 17, 2014, at the U.S. Capitol.

***Thank you very much for allowing me to come. Thank you for being here on the Capitol steps. I'm going to be short because we just got called for votes. So I have to run up behind me to cast some votes.

What I want to say is, one of the most important responsibilities I have as a Member of Congress is to protect human rights. As the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, every person has the right to the freedom of thought, the freedom of conscience, and the freedom of religion.

And I share Falun Gong's commitment to the freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration.

It is estimated that millions of individuals have been drawn to Falun Gong's guiding principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. These principles are enduring cornerstones of a democratic society.

And yet, as we mark over 60 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Human Rights, it is a travesty that Falun Gong practitioners have been persecuted and tortured, including heinous acts that are beyond comprehension.

They have been singled out as victims of persecution and discrimination in the most recent State Department human rights report.

I understand that those who hold Falun Gong's beliefs have responded to this violence using peaceful means. They have used education to raise awareness about the nature of their practice.

I deeply respect the courage of those who peacefully protest against violence. And I look forward to the day when Falun Gong practitioners can freely express their beliefs without fear of reprisal.

Like so many of you, I believe that peace and justice are not only values. They are calls to action that we must live out every single day.

I will continue to act in Congress to promote peace for all persecuted communities and work for a more just world.

And I stand with you in the peaceful fight for human rights and positive change. Thank you for being here today.