Congresswoman Betty McCollum Statement on Collapse of Assad Regime in Syria

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ranking Member on the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement on Sunday:

"The collapse of the brutal regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is a triumph for justice. It is also a major blow to the forces that have propped up this ruthless regime - Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. For the Syrian people who have been victimized and tortured for decades, this is a historic opportunity to reclaim their future for peace and regional stability. However, the outcome of this tumultuous situation is far from certain. The people of Syria and the forces that ended the Assad regime must now quickly put together a roadmap that leads to a new constitution that guarantees and protects the rights and freedoms of all Syrians.

"The international community must come together to prevent extremist groups from reactivating in Iraq and other countries. Above all, U.S. troops must be kept out of harm's way. The U.S. and our allies will be watching in the coming days to see how things progress. Let us hope that this turn of events will bring the opportunity for stability and lasting peace in the Middle East."