    [House Hearing, 113 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                VARIOUS MEASURES

    =======================================================================

                                     MARKUP

                                   BEFORE THE

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 SECOND SESSION

                                       ON

                  H.R. 4347, H.R. 2283, H.R. 4411, H.R. 4640,
                    H.R. 4653, H. Res. 435, H. Res. 562 and
                                  H. Res. 588

                                   __________

                                 JUNE 26, 2014

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 113-186

                                   __________

            Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/
                                      or
                           http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/

                                     ______

                             U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

    88-461PDF                     WASHINGTON : 2014
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
      For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing
      Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800
             DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2104 Mail: Stop IDCC,
                              Washington, DC 20402-0001

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                     EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman
    CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey     ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
    ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida         ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American
    DANA ROHRABACHER, California             Samoa
    STEVE CHABOT, Ohio                   BRAD SHERMAN, California
    JOE WILSON, South Carolina           GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
    MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas             ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey
    TED POE, Texas                       GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
    MATT SALMON, Arizona                 THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
    TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania             BRIAN HIGGINS, New York
    JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina          KAREN BASS, California
    ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois             WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts
    MO BROOKS, Alabama                   DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    TOM COTTON, Arkansas                 ALAN GRAYSON, Florida
    PAUL COOK, California                JUAN VARGAS, California
    GEORGE HOLDING, North Carolina       BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER, Illinois
    RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas            JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III,
    SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania                Massachusetts
    STEVE STOCKMAN, Texas                AMI BERA, California
    RON DeSANTIS, Florida                ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California
    DOUG COLLINS, Georgia                GRACE MENG, New York
    MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
    TED S. YOHO, Florida                 TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii
    SEAN DUFFY, Wisconsin                JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas

         Amy Porter, Chief of Staff      Thomas Sheehy, Staff Director

                   Jason Steinbaum, Democratic Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

                                   MARKUP OF

    H.R. 4347, To require the Secretary of State to provide an annual
      report to Congress regarding United States Government efforts
      to survey and secure the return, protection, and restoration of
      stolen, confiscated, or
      otherwise unreturned Christian properties in the Republic of
      Turkey and in those areas currently occupied by the Turkish
      military in northern Cyprus....................................     2
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4347 offered by
        the Honorable Edward R. Royce, a Representative in Congress
        from the State of California, and chairman, Committee on
        Foreign Affairs..............................................    10
        Amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
          H.R. 4347 offered by:
          The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly, a Representative in
            Congress from the Commonwealth of Virginia...............    32
          The Honorable Alan Grayson, a Representative in Congress
            from the State of Florida................................    39
          The Honorable George Holding, a Representative in Congress
            from the State of North Carolina.........................    40
    H.R. 2283, To prioritize the fight against human trafficking
      within the Department of State according to congressional
      intent in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
      without increasing the size of the Federal Government, and for
      other purposes.................................................    43
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2283 offered by
        the Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in
        Congress from the State of New Jersey........................    51
        Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
          H.R. 2283 offered by the Honorable Christopher H. Smith....    58
    H.R. 4411, To prevent Hezbollah and associated entities from
      gaining access to international financial and other
      institutions, and for other purposes...........................    60
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4411 offered by
        the Honorable Edward R. Royce................................    80
        Amendments to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
          H.R. 4411 offered by:
          The Honorable Ted Poe, a Representative in Congress from
            the State of Texas.......................................   100
          The Honorable Ron DeSantis, a Representative in Congress
            from the State of Florida, the Honorable Theodore E.
            Deutch, a Representative in Congress from the State of
            Florida, and the Honorable Grace Meng, a Representative
            in Congress from the State of New York...................   102
    H.R. 4640, To establish the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy
      Commission.....................................................   107
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4640 offered by
        the Honorable Eliot L. Engel, a Representative in Congress
        from the State of New York...................................   120
        Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
          H.R. 4640 offered by the Honorable Joaquin Castro, a
          Representative in Congress from the State of Texas.........   133
    H.R. 4653, To reauthorize the United States Commission on
      International Religious Freedom, and for other purposes........   134
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4653 offered by
        the Honorable Christopher H. Smith...........................   138
        Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
          H.R. 4653 offered by the Honorable Grace Meng..............   142
    H. Res. 435, Calling on the government of Iran to fulfill their
      promises of assistance in this case of Robert Levinson, one of
      the longest held United States civilians in our Nation's
      history........................................................   143
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 435 offered
        by the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Representative in
        Congress from the State of Florida...........................   147
    H. Res. 562, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
      with respect to enhanced relations with the Republic of Moldova
      and support for Moldova's territorial integrity................   150
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 562 offered
        by the Honorable Edward R. Royce.............................   156
    H. Res. 588, Concerning the suspension of exit permit issuance by
      the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo for adopted
      Congolese children seeking to depart the country with their
      adoptive parents...............................................   161
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 588 offered
        by the Honorable Christopher H. Smith........................   165
        Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
          H. Res. 588 offered by the Honorable Edward R. Royce.......   168

                                    APPENDIX

    Markup notice....................................................   184
    Markup minutes...................................................   185
    Markup summary...................................................   187
    The Honorable Edward R. Royce: Statement submitted for the record
      by the Honorable Gus Bilirakis, a Representative in Congress
      from the State of Florida......................................   188
    The Honorable Eliot L. Engel: Material submitted for the record..   189
    The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly: Prepared statement.............   190

                                VARIOUS MEASURES

                                  ----------

                            THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014

                           House of Representatives,

                         Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC.

        The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:08 a.m. in room
    2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ed Royce (chairman of
    the committee) presiding.
        Chairman Royce. This committee will come to order. Pursuant
    to notice, today we mark up eight different measures. And I am
    going to ask the members to take their seats. I want to begin
    by thanking all of our committee members, and I want to thank
    the staff, too, on both sides of the aisle, for the extensive
    preparatory work that went into today's markup, including those
    subcommittees that held their own markups.
        Without objection, all members may have 5 calendar days to
    submit statements for the record on any of today's business.
        And I now call up H.R. 4347, the Turkey Christian Churches
    Accountability Act. Without objection, Royce Amendment 117 in
    the nature of a substitute, which was provided to all offices
    on Tuesday morning, will be considered base text for purposes
    of markup, and is considered read and open for amendment at any
    point.
        [The information referred to follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Royce. After opening remarks by myself and the
    ranking member, I will recognize other members seeking to speak
    on the bill before moving to any amendments. And I now
    recognize myself to speak.
        Members, in the midst of a turbulent Middle East lies
    Turkey, a democratic nation that, despite its Muslim majority,
    has historically bridged East and West, Christian and Muslim
    worlds.
        I have long been concerned that this balance is shifting as
    Christian heritage sites in Turkey deteriorate and disappear in
    the face of hostile government policies.
        Despite optimistic claims by Turkish leaders in 2011 that a
    revised law would allow all church properties to be returned to
    their rightful owners within a year, 3 years later most of
    those properties remain unreturned.
        Despite the Turkish Government's numerous promises to
    reopen the Halki seminary, that seminary remains closed. Of
    course, no seminary, nobody then to practice the faith, no
    future church.
        Recently, two Byzantine Orthodox churches previously
    expropriated and turned into museums, have been converted into
    mosques by the Turkish Directorate General of Foundations.
        There is even legislation before the Turkish Parliament to
    convert the landmark Hagia Sophia in Istanbul into a mosque.
    Hence the timeliness of this resolution.
        As a beacon for religious freedom around the world and
    having an interest in seeing Turkey maintain its secular
    tradition, its respect for freedom of religion, the U.S. must
    hold Turkish leaders to their promises.
        By passing H.R. 4347, the U.S. will send a clear message to
    Turkey that it must return church properties to their rightful
    owners while providing an objective measure of its progress.
        I would like to thank Congressman Gus Bilirakis for his
    contributions to this bill, and without objection, I will
    submit his prepared statement for the record. And I urge my
    colleagues to support this important bill.
        I now recognize the ranking member for any remarks on
    today's markup that he might wish to make.
        Mr. Engel. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, for holding
    this markup of H.R. 4347, the Turkey Christian Churches
    Accountability Act. I commend you for introducing this
    important legislation, and I am pleased to be the lead
    Democratic cosponsor.
        In the last century, thousands of Christian properties in
    Turkey have been confiscated by successive Turkish governments.
    The same has happened in Northern Cyprus since the Turkish
    invasion in 1974. Recently, Turkey has returned some
    properties, but many cases remain unresolved. Clearly, more
    needs to be done.
        H.R. 4347 directs the Secretary of State to provide
    Congress with an annual report through the year 2021 on the
    status of stolen, confiscated, and otherwise unreturned
    Christian churches, places of worship, and other properties in
    Turkey and Northern Cyprus.
        The report should include a comprehensive listing of all
    properties claimed to have been removed from their rightful
    Christian church owners and should describe all engagement over
    the previous year by State Department officials with Turkish
    representatives. This bill also mandates that the report be
    included in the State Department's Annual International
    Religious Freedom Report and in the Country Reports on Human
    Rights Practices.
        I want to acknowledge two visitors here today who are in
    the audience, Arch Bishop Vicken Aykazian and Bishop Anoushavan
    Tanielian. I hope I didn't mess the names up too much, but we
    welcome you here, gentlemen.
        In this context, let me take a moment to express my concern
    about recent disturbing anti-democratic trends in Turkey. Over
    the past several years, we have seen a lot of red flags:
    Questionable trials of political opponents, increased media
    censorship, propaganda blaming foreigners and in particular
    Jews and Israel for domestic problems, and an increase of
    government control over various state institutions, including
    the judiciary.
        As Mr. Keating and I wrote in a recent letter to the editor
    in The Economist, the current government of Prime Minister
    Erdogan is eroding Turkish democracy. I ask unanimous consent
    that the letter be included in the record of today's markup.
        Chairman Royce. Without objection.
        Mr. Engel. While I have concerns about Turkey's current
    course, we should also take note of the bright spots.
    Negotiations to resolve the 30-year Cyprus dispute are moving
    along. Ending the division of Cyprus is critical for stability
    in the Eastern Mediterranean and for prosperity on the island.
    Also, Ankara's vitriol toward Israel has diminished somewhat in
    recent months. This provides hope that reconciliation between
    the countries might not be too far off.
        Turkey and the United States have a long history as NATO
    allies and partners. Our relationship is strongest when it is
    based on our shared values: Democracy, human rights, tolerance,
    and justice. When Turkey's commitment to those values is called
    into question, it damages our partnership and it hampers
    Turkey's progress as a free and prosperous country. One clear
    way Turkey could reaffirm its commitment is by returning
    confiscated and stolen church properties to their rightful
    owners.
        So, Mr. Chairman, I hope H.R. 4347 will bring attention to
    this important issue and make it clear to Turkey that it needs
    to do more to resolve the longstanding and legitimate claims of
    the Christian churches. I urge my colleagues to support this
    legislation. And once again, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for
    holding the markup.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Engel.
        Are there any members who wish to speak on the underlying
    bill? Mr. Rohrabacher, go ahead.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. I just would like to commend you, Mr.
    Chairman, for bringing up this legislation. And let me just say
    that I share the concerns that were just voiced by our ranking
    member, Mr. Engel. There are some disturbing trends in Turkey.
    And while we recognize that Turkey has made long-term progress
    over the last 20 and 30 years, over the last few years there
    has really been reason for concern here, and that people who
    wish Turkey well need to make sure we are paying attention and
    that those trends, those short-term trends that we have seen,
    do not continue in the wrong direction.
        And finally, one last point about the specific nature of
    the legislation that we are dealing with today, Mr. Chairman, I
    agree with you totally on the substance of this bill. We are
    expressing our concern about properties that are taken that
    also have very significance as to the very nature of the
    government and the nature of the decision making that is going
    on in that part of the world.
        I would just suggest that as we pass this, with my strong
    support, that we do note that there are probably properties in
    surrounding countries, like Greece, for example, that belong to
    the Turkish tradition that need to be addressed as well, and
    people need to respect each other's rights. And we are
    demanding today that the rights of Christian churches be
    respected in Turkey. I would hope that we respect the rights of
    Islamic and Turkish institutions in nearby countries, such as
    Greece. Thank you very much.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        Mr. Cicilline.
        Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you
    and Ranking Member Engel for your continued commitment to
    working across the aisle and marking up legislation to benefit
    the American people. I am happy to see forward momentum on a
    number of bills that I have cosponsored.
        It is the responsibility of Congress to prevent terrorist
    organizations like Hezbollah from growing stronger; to
    emphasize the importance of our relationship with Moldova; and
    to express our concern about the timeliness of adoption
    processes from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
        But I would like this morning to speak particularly in
    support of H.R. 4347, the Turkey Christian Churches
    Accountability Act, which rightly calls out Turkey for the
    theft of Christian churches, religious artifacts, and religious
    artwork. The United States was founded on the principles of
    religious liberty and freedom, and the respect for religious
    freedom must be central to the values and ideals that we
    promote all over the the world.
        Christian communities in Turkey have long suffered from the
    destruction and confiscation of their holy sites, the force
    closure of their theological schools, and restrictions on their
    right to worship. There have even been reports that Turkish
    people are prevented from praying in their own churches.
    Continued persecution of the vulnerable Christian minority in
    Turkey threatens the survival of their religious tradition.
        In the 112th Congress, I was proud to work with Ranking
    Member Berman to offer an amendment during the markup of the
    Foreign Relations Authorization Act, which called on Turkey to
    end its repression of its Christian minority and to return
    stolen churches to their rightful owners. More specifically,
    the amendment stated that Turkey should end all forms of
    religious discrimination, allow the rightful church and lay
    owners of Christian church properties to organize and
    administer prayer services, religious education, clerical
    training, community gatherings, and social services, and return
    to their rightful owners all Christian churches, places of
    worship, and properties, including artwork, relics, and other
    artifacts. The amendment was overwhelmingly adopted by a vote
    of 43-1 in committee and became part of the underlying bill
    which was passed by the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
        This April, I had the pleasure of visiting Armenia on a
    congressional delegation trip with Chairman Royce and Ranking
    Member Engel, as well as several other colleagues. On that trip
    I was disturbed to hear more on the ground about the
    persecution of Christians in Turkey and the desecration and
    fundamental lack of respect for Christian holy sites. More than
    2,000 properties destroyed; reused for things like museums,
    storage, and even a gas station.
        Today, I am proud to continue advocating for religious
    freedom in Turkey, and I urge support of this important bill.
    Again, I commend you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Engel,
    for moving these important pieces of legislation. I look
    forward to their passage. I thank you, and I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We go now to Mr. Sires.
        Mr. Sires. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for marking up H.R.
    4347, the Turkey Christian Churches Accountability Act, in
    order to ensure religious freedom for all faiths in Turkey.
    Christians in Turkey and Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus
    deserve our assistance in ensuring that they can freely
    practice their faith in houses of worship without fear of
    hindrance or restrictions.
        Since the early 20th century, thousands of Christian
    properties have been confiscated, desecrated, and otherwise
    taken from their owners in Turkey by the Turkish Government,
    and since the 1970s in Northern Cyprus. I have personally been
    to Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus and seen the devastating
    destruction to these churches firsthand. It is unacceptable
    that Turkey has yet to return some of these properties. For
    example, the Halki Theological School, the main seminary of the
    Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, has been closed
    since 1971.
        Mr. Chairman, a century is much too long for violations of
    religious freedom to go unanswered, and I am pleased that by
    supporting H.R. 4347 a message will be sent to Turkey that the
    United States does not stand for such intolerance. Thank you.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        Mr. Meeks.
        Mr. Meeks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I want to thank you
    and Mr. Engel for working in a bipartisan fashion to actually
    address some of the concerns that I have had with H.R. 4347,
    because I believe that there has to be balance, et cetera. But
    I just remain apprehensive, and I will have to oppose it,
    simply because, you know, not because I don't have concerns. I
    do have concerns. I have concerns of the status of stolen and
    confiscated Christian property in Turkey; for example, I am
    concerned about the continued closure of the Halki Theological
    Seminary, an important Greek Orthodox educational institution
    in Turkey for training, for one.
        But I think we did the right thing when Congress directed
    the State Department to carefully monitor the situation in
    Turkey, which they have been doing. And when I looked at the
    2013 State Department religious freedom report, it indicated
    that Turkey has been responsive to some of the calls to return
    stolen and expropriated Christian property. And maybe we need
    to go further. But how do we do it, and what do we do? How do
    we make sure things are balanced in the best way to work
    forward with an individual who has been a strong ally of the
    United States?
        You know, this comes at a time when we are partnering
    closely with Turkey on issues that are critical to the U.S.
    global interest. At this very moment, Turkey is working to
    secure the release of 80 of its citizens recently taken hostage
    by ISIS during the insurgence in Iraq. Just a month ago, Vice
    President Biden indicated during a monumental visit to Cyprus
    that after a 2-year hiatus, talks were on the verge of speeding
    up. That is something that I think that needs to be highlighted
    and we should also talk about.
        Also, in trying to make a decision on how and what I was
    going to do on this particular bill, I talked and asked the
    State Department where we were, and they say this bill will
    probably or could cause tension between U.S.-Turkey relations,
    as well as being burdensome on the Department so they can do
    the very thing that we have directed them to do.
        So, again, Mr. Chairman, I thank you for working on this
    bill and trying to alleviate some of my concerns. I just think
    that as we go forward right now we need a little more balance
    and we have got to make sure that--Turkey has been an ally that
    we are working with, a very important ally in the region, and I
    think that this sends the wrong message at the wrong time. I
    yield back the balance of my time.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        Mr. Connolly.
        Mr. Connolly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to first of
    all say that you, Mr. Chairman, and Mr. Engel have conducted
    this committee in your tenure in a way that fosters comity and
    civility, and I appreciate that. And I appreciate the attempt
    we have had in the last 2 days with our staffs trying to work
    together to see if we could modify the language of this
    resolution to make it mutually acceptable. Unfortunately, we
    were not able to do that, and as you know, Mr. Chairman, I will
    be offering a substitute amendment that expresses our concerns
    about these issues but in what I consider a more balanced way.
        The current resolution in front of us is not about whether
    you favor the return of Christian properties. I favor, all of
    us favor that. All of us want to see more progress in Turkey.
    This resolution shortchanges the progress that has been made.
    Over 800 properties worth $1.5 billion. The restoration of
    liturgical services in some religious facilities, some very
    significant religious facilities.
        I am fearful that in our haste to make a statement that
    provides understandable comfort to our constituents, we are
    going to rupture one of the most important bilateral
    relationships we have right now in one of the most sensitive
    parts of the world. Turkey isn't a perfect country; neither are
    we. I know. I come from a Roman Catholic tradition. Catholics
    suffered enormous discrimination in this country for a long
    time.
        But are we willing to junk the relationship with Turkey we
    need right now? If we are looking at any kind of intervention
    in Iraq, we need Turkey. Turkey has taken in 1 million
    refugees, unsung. An enormous act of generosity in that region.
    Turkey is strategically in a place where it is as an ally more
    important than ever for the United States of America.
        As we speak, Turkey has had almost 80 Turkish nationals,
    including diplomats and truck drivers, kidnapped by ISIS in
    Mosul. We are going to pretend none of that happened and none
    of that is about to happen. We are going to make a statement as
    if Turkey were a country that is at the very beginning of
    evolution and needs to be lectured by us, and the consequences
    we will not examine because we are determined to do something
    else.
        We are the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We are the
    committee that Congress counts on to show judicious exercise of
    judgment, pondering and weighing and balancing consequences.
    The consequences of the resolution as worded--words matter--I
    guarantee you will rupture the relationship with Turkey.
        And by the way, if our objective is to get Turkey to show
    more progress, and I share in that objective, this language
    will only backfire. They have elections pending. We are
    politicians. A politician in Turkey is going to use this
    resolution to say, I am willing to stand up to the United
    States of America. I am not going to be bullied. I am not going
    to be lectured like we are some tinhorn dictatorship here in
    Turkey, when we are not.
        Turkey is not a perfect democracy, but it is an evolving
    democracy, and it is one we want to encourage to turn westward,
    to open up, to liberalize even more than they have. We want a
    pluralistic, secular society in Turkey. It is the only such in
    the Muslim world. To treat it with such disrespect in the
    language included in this resolution is bound, bound to have
    negative effects in Turkey. And all of the goals I think all of
    us share in this committee will, in fact, be set back for a
    cause that is noble, but for a resolution that is worded in a
    way that can only be calculated to inflame Turkey, Turks, the
    politics of Turkey, and do terrible damage to the bilateral
    relationship between the United States and Turkey.
        I urge my colleagues. I am going to offer a resolution that
    I think is more balanced that recognizes the problem but also
    says they have made a lot of progress and let's move forward.
    Let's encourage them. If you want to vote as a statement that
    more progress is needed on this subject and that you are on
    record, my substitute gives you that opportunity. But I pray my
    colleagues look at the wording of this resolution.
        I thank the chairman.
        Chairman Royce. Well, I thank the gentleman. The Chair is
    going to recognize himself, and especially inasmuch as we
    worked very carefully on the wording in this resolution.
        I would just remind the members here that this bill
    addresses an issue that has frequently been raised by the
    United States in the past, including at the highest level by
    President Obama, including raised by our Vice President, Joe
    Biden, including an issue which has been raised by Secretary
    Kerry. It has also been raised by our European allies.
        At none of these previous times has there been any
    deterioration in our relations or levels of cooperation with
    Turkey. In fact, the opposite has been true. During or
    immediately following these dialogues, the Turkish Government
    has made positive steps on property returns.
        We now face a situation where things are sliding in the
    opposite direction, and if we do not reassert this principle we
    will find, in all likelihood, an acceleration of a trend which
    will not be reversible.
        And I think we also have to disabuse ourselves of the
    notion that every choice that Turkey makes is in response to
    U.S. actions. Turkey is a mature, sovereign state. It evaluates
    its relationships and cooperation with other countries based on
    its calculus of what is in Turkey's best interest, not solely
    in reaction to U.S. measures, certainly not solely in reaction
    to a report by the House of Representatives.
        Primary examples of this, one I would give you, was in
    2010, when Turkey voted against the U.S. and the U.N. Security
    Council on the Iran sanctions. That had to do with Turkey's own
    calculus of its relationship with Iran. This was a significant
    action by Turkey, and it wasn't in response to any
    congressional action.
        It is clear that maintaining close cooperation with the
    United States on Iraq and Syria is, in fact, in Turkey's best
    interest. Should Turkish leaders choose to point to our raising
    of this longstanding issue, in which they are moving in the
    opposite direction, if they point to that, this well-known
    religious freedom issue, an issue they themselves have
    repeatedly promised to correct, as the reason to cut off
    security cooperation, as I think was implied here, then it
    would raise legitimate questions about their commitment to
    church property returns and where security cooperation with the
    U.S. weighs in their decision-making process.
        But I think at the end of the day, because the President,
    the Vice President, the Secretary of State are all weighing in
    with the same intention that we have here, we need to do the
    same.
        And with that said, I am going to recognize Mr. Smith of
    New Jersey.
        Mr. Smith. Thank you so very much, Mr. Chairman. First of
    all, I want to congratulate you and thank you for this
    extremely important bill. It is timely. It is worded in such a
    way, I think, that it strongly encourages and admonishes Ankara
    to do the right thing. And you even point out in the bill, you
    and the ranking member, that there have been some aspects of
    progress, but it doesn't even come close, frankly, to where
    they ought to be.
        Let me just say to my friends and colleagues, unfortunately
    the State Department for years has always taken the view that
    we do not speak about human rights in a substantive way, even
    though the human rights report couldn't be clearer about those
    rights violations. I am the one who chaired the Armenian
    genocide hearing in this room years ago. We had a Turkish
    Ambassador come and testify, and he threatened us right from
    the witness table that if you bring up an Armenian genocide
    resolution we will take away your base in Incirlik. That kind
    of friend in the soft underbelly of NATO certainly underscores
    a weakness, and if that has a chilling effect on our ability to
    speak about human rights, shame on us.
        Let me also point out that today is Torture Victims Day. I
    have written four laws called the Torture Victims Relief Act. I
    am reintroducing a reauthorization for that legislation today,
    and I hope friends and colleagues here on this committee will
    join me in introducing that bill. There are torture victim
    centers in Ankara and in other parts of Turkey. Torture is
    endemic.
        I have held several hearings on the use of torture, and I
    have raised it in Ankara. And as chair of the OSCE
    Parliamentary Assembly and the Helsinki Commission, I will be
    in Baku tomorrow and will be meeting with members of the
    Turkish delegation. Mr. Chairman, I will put in each of those
    delegates' hands a copy of your resolution and we will have a
    dialogue. Friends don't let friends commit human rights abuses.
        Let me also point out that Reporters Without Borders makes
    it absolutely clear--I have chaired hearings on this, as well--
    that the journalists, they claim, and they have good
    substantive background for it, there are 42 journalists in
    prison suffering because they dared to write the truth about
    what goes on or does not go on in Turkey, and especially if
    anyone mentions the Armenian genocide, watch out, they will be
    knocking on the door and it is off to the gulag for you.
    Seventy-two media people in all.
        Let me also point out that I will never forget, after
    George Bush, first Bush, after the Persian Gulf War, kind of,
    perhaps unwittingly, suggested that we had the backs of the
    Kurds, and it looked like they were looking to overthrow and
    topple Saddam Hussein. Next thing you know, they were all in
    flight. Talking about refugees, when it comes to Syria, Turkey
    has very little choice in the streaming of refugees, and we
    congratulate them for providing temporary housing and help for
    those who are coming across the border.
        When the Kurds came across the border, the line of
    demarcation between Turkey and Iraq was very strong. If it
    wasn't for our special forces, I would say to my friends,
    colleagues, we were there 4 or 5 days, after all of these Kurds
    came to the border and couldn't get across, we would have seen
    thousands of dead people, who happened to be Kurds, from the
    elements from sickness and even from attack.
        While we were there, a helicopter laden with foodstuffs for
    Kurdish refugees, women and children, and the elements were
    killing a lot of little children because it was cold--when
    people went to get the meals ready to eat, one of the Turkish
    soldiers shot and killed one of those who were just hungry
    beyond words. Our military, thankfully, helped keep things in
    check.
        They are friends. They are colleagues. They are allies. But
    we need to speak about human rights. And again, I think this
    very, very prudently written bill will make a difference. And
    we should not act out of fear because then it invites impunity
    in a sense that we can do whatever we want and the Americans
    and others who are concerned about human rights will muffle
    their criticism.
        So again, Mr. Chairman, thank you for this bill, as well as
    Ranking Member Eliot Engel.
        Mr. Connolly. Would my friend yield for a minute?
        Mr. Smith. Happy to yield.
        Mr. Connolly. I thank my friend.
        My only point is, I agree with him. We need to speak
    forthrightly about human rights and abuses that may occur and
    encourage democracy. It is how we say it that is important. And
    I respectfully believe that how this resolution is worded is
    going to be counterproductive.
        Mr. Smith. I understand that. But let me just say, if I
    could reclaim Mr. Royce's time, the churches, the Christians
    there, are under a constant cloud. The sword of Damocles hangs
    over them 24/7. This tells them we have their backs. And again,
    I think the chairman has crafted a bill that is very
    diplomatically articulated. And so I hope the members will
    support it.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Sherman.
        Mr. Sherman. Thank you.
        I am a co-sponsor of this bill. I think it is well written,
    and I commend the chairman for it. Its passage will build upon
    the adoption of H. Res. 106, which we adopted in 2011, which I
    and many of us cosponsored, put the U.S. House on record
    calling for Turkey to return Christian religious properties.
    The vote was 43-1.
        This legislation is needed to address the ongoing
    destruction of Christian religious heritage in Turkey. This is
    a result of the Turkish Government's desecration in some cases
    and just failure to protect in other cases Christian holy
    sites. Because of this area's ancient history, so many of these
    churches are tied to an important global Christian heritage.
    Christians cannot legally train clergy in Turkey, any
    Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Armenian Patriarchate are
    prevented from owning and transferring property.
        The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has
    listed Turkey as a serial violator of religious freedom for
    several years. The U.S. Commission on International Religious
    Freedom reported, over the previous 5 decades, the Turkish
    state has, using convoluted regulations and un-Democratic laws,
    they have used these to confiscate hundreds of religious
    minority properties, primarily those belonging to the Greek
    Orthodox community, as well as the Armenian Orthodox. The state
    has closed seminaries, denying these communities their right to
    train clergy.
        Despite a few public pronouncements vowing to return some
    religious property, as the U.S. Commissioner on International
    Religious Freedom reports, ad hoc announcements have not
    resulted in systemic changes in constitutional legal structures
    that would remedy violations of religious freedom for non-
    Muslim minorities, some of which are on the verge of virtual
    disappearance.
        Now, there is the argument that Turkey will retaliate if
    anybody brings any of this to their attention. The fact is that
    France faced a similar issue about a decade ago when its
    Parliament recognized on the parliamentary floor the Armenian
    genocide. That, as members of this committee know, is a much
    bigger issue with Turkey than this resolution. The French
    Parliament passed that resolution with France being under
    threat by Turkey to cut the one thing France cared about, which
    was trade and French exports. After the French Parliament
    acted, French exports to Turkey tripled over the next 8 or 9
    years.
        So I don't think we should be dissuaded by bluffs, and I
    think this committee should at least show the fortitude and
    courage of the French Parliament. If we can't do that, why are
    we here?
        I will yield to the chair.
        Chairman Royce. We have two amendments, Mr. Grayson and Mr.
    Holding, that I was going to bring up on en bloc, but, Mr.
    Connolly, you referenced an amendment that you have at the
    desk.
        Mr. Connolly. Yes, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Royce. Do you want to offer that amendment?
        Mr. Connolly. Certainly. I have an amendment at the desk in
    the form of a substitute.
        Chairman Royce. The clerk will report the amendment.
        Mr. Walden. Substitute for the amendment in the nature of a
    substitute to H.R. 4347 offered by Mr. Connolly of Virginia.
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following:
    It is the sense of Congress that Turkey has made progress in
    ending religious discrimination and in returning church
    properties to their owners. It is further the sense of Congress
    that the Secretary of State, in all official contacts with
    Turkish leaders and other Turkish officials, should emphasize
    that Turkey should (1) endeavor to end all forms of religious
    discrimination; (2) continue to make progress in allowing the
    rightful church and lay owners of Christian church properties,
    without hindrance or restriction, to organize and administer
    prayer services, religious education, clerical training,
    appointments, and succession, religious community gatherings,
    social services, including ministry to the needs of the poor
    and infirm, and other religious activities; (3) continue the
    ongoing process being undertaken by the Government of Turkey to
    return to their rightful owners all Christian churches and
    other places of worship, monasteries, schools, hospitals,
    monuments, relics, holy sites, and other religious properties,
    including movable properties, such as artwork----
        Chairman Royce. Without objection, the amendment will be
    considered read.
        [The information referred to follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Royce. All members now have a copy of the
    amendment. The Chair recognizes the author to explain his
    amendment.
        Mr. Connolly. I thank the chair.
        This resolution is fairly simple. It recognizes progress
    has been made but much progress needs to be done. I listened my
    friend from California, Mr. Sherman, and I listened to my
    friend from New Jersey, Mr. Smith, and to listen to them would
    be to conclude, if one knew nothing else, that Turkey has
    apparently done nothing with respect to the return of Christian
    properties. The report cited actually also notes the return of
    864 properties worth $1.5 billion.
        In 2013 mass was held at Hagia Yorgi Church for the first
    time in 89 years. Baptismal service was observed at the Akdamar
    Church of the Holy Cross for the first time in 100 years.
    Structures that have been restored, preserved to begin
    restoring, include the Akdamar Church of the Holy Cross, Surp
    Vortvots Vorodman Church, St. Nicholas Church, Mor Petrus-Mor
    Paulus, and the Sahinbey Synagogue--and I am probably torturing
    the Turkic language here--lands associated with the Mor Gabriel
    Monastary have been returned, Heybeliada Theological School,
    Surp Giragos Church, Hagia Yorgi Church, Bomonti Mkhitarian
    School, and Galata Elementary School.
        Now, one could go on. We are trying to achieve a balance
    here where Turkey can work with the Christian communities to
    return Christian properties. I favor that. I voted for H. Res.
    306. But that was something that brought us together because it
    didn't gratuitously just bash Turkey throughout the resolution.
    And I am concerned that that kind of gratuitous language is
    going to get us into a situation where the relationship is far
    more complicated and the goals we all seek, in fact, will be
    retarded rather than progressed.
        And so I am urging my colleagues to vote for an alternative
    that expresses our sense of Congress with respect to the need
    for Turkey to have a lot more progress on the return of
    Christian properties, but avoids language that I think can be
    construed as inflammatory and unnecessary at a very delicate
    moment in that region of the world. And I urge my colleagues to
    support the resolution.
        With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Connolly. You know, I
    appreciate your amendment. I appreciate your perspective on
    these issues. I know that you have been deeply involved in this
    region of the world. But I am somewhat disappointed because as
    members, I know myself and Mr. Engel have worked very hard
    making many changes to the introduced text and accepting
    changes from members yesterday, and we did that in an effort to
    get this legislation to a place where I hoped all members could
    support it.
        And of course, that is not always possible. But we did make
    an effort, and in particular we amended the base text from its
    original version to include findings that note instances of
    progress on church property returns to Turkey, as you
    referenced. We make note of the 2011 reforms to the law on
    foundations, which provide a process for churches to apply to
    get their properties returned. We also note that since the
    enactment of this reform Turkey has returned over 300
    properties to the appropriate church authorities.
        And further, clauses 23, 24, 25, clause 27, they all point
    to positive developments in terms of church property being
    returned, religious ceremonies being allowed, and the historic
    meeting between Prime Minister Erdogan and the Ecumenical
    Patriarch Bartholomew back in 2009.
        But while recognizing these positive developments, there is
    an urgency on some of the issues that are before Turkey today.
    Progress on church returns, as everyone here knows, has been
    haphazard, it has been very slow. The 2014 U.S. Commission on
    International Religious Freedom report notes many religious
    communities regard this process as biased and of course very,
    very slow. And it highlights that over 1,000 applications by
    churches to have their property returned have been denied.
        But that said, even more troubling, this is why this
    resolution is before us today. Since that time, two ancient
    Byzantine-era Orthodox churches, which had been seized by the
    Turkish government rather than being returned to their rightful
    owners, have been converted into mosques. And as I referenced
    earlier, there is a proposal before the Parliament now to do
    likewise with the Hagia Sophia, the great church in Istanbul.
        That is one of the most significant religious sites for
    Orthodox Christians in the world. It is the former Eastern
    Orthodox Cathedral and seat of the Patriarchate of
    Constantinople for a thousand years, and for decades has
    symbolized Turkey's efforts to respect the rights of Christian
    minorities while promoting the country's secular democracy.
        I am, and I know many other members are pretty troubled by
    what this says about trends in Turkey. And we feel that if we
    take a stand we may be able to arrest what would otherwise be a
    very unfortunate circumstance here. Turkey has not acted
    positively since we passed the last resolution. We cannot
    expect sudden progress if we pass the same language again. We
    need to reference these discussions that are underway in Turkey
    and these events.
        And lastly, as to now is not a good time, that argument,
    which we have heard, and I partially answered that, but with
    all respect to my own legislation here, we are just making a
    report. Second, there has never been what has proven to be a
    bad time to raise it, if you think about it. This issue was
    raised, as I shared with you, by President Obama, and that was
    in 2009 when we were relying upon Turkey's support in isolating
    Iran and pressing Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
        It was raised by our Vice President, Joe Biden, in 2011,
    when the Syrian conflict was beginning. It was discussed once
    again a few months ago by Secretary Kerry on a visit to Turkey
    and Cyprus as the situation in Syria worsened and as ISIS was
    gaining greater influence in Iraq. And each of these times, I
    think it is fair to say, there was no breach in relations or
    cooperative efforts with Turkey on key U.S. foreign policy and
    security issues. It was raised because it was important that
    the United States take a stand.
        And as I said, Turkey is a mature sovereign state. It
    measures its actions based on its calculation of what is in its
    best interests. When we have common interests, Turkey will back
    us; when we don't, it won't.
        And thirdly, I would ask why are we so sensitive? Do we
    change our fundamental policies every time a foreign government
    critiques us? No. Maybe a report will be used as an excuse, but
    a report isn't going to tip that balance away from cooperative
    relations between the United States and Turkey, in my opinion.
        And I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this
    amendment. And I recognize Mr. Engel.
        Mr. Engel. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I want to, first of all, commend Mr. Connolly. He is a good
    member of this committee and very thoughtful and we generally
    agree on most things, but on this one I have to respectfully
    disagree and oppose his substitute. I know his intentions are
    very, very well, very, very good.
        The question here, as the chairman has mentioned, let's put
    this in perspective. What are we doing here? We are mandating a
    report. We are not taking any punitive actions against Turkey.
    We are not hitting them over the head. We are mandating a
    report. And I think that we need to put that in perspective.
        The findings on our bill, the findings on the bill, the
    chairman's bill, is based on the U.S. Commission on
    International Religious Freedom report. It is also based on
    State Department Human Rights Report. So we are taking two
    reports that have been issued, and we are simply stating what
    these reports, which have already been done, are saying.
        Now, Turkey cannot have it both ways. You know, I am
    disturbed about recent trends in Turkey over the past several
    years by Mr. Erdogan. I am very much chagrined over what seems
    to be his authoritarian rule, his maneuverings to swipe away
    the secularism of the Turkish state, his attempts to neuter the
    military so that they are no longer a barrier in preventing the
    move toward an Islamist state in Turkey. I think those are very
    troubling.
        And I think, while Mr. Erdogan doesn't hesitate to tell the
    United States when he thinks we are doing something wrong, I
    don't think that we should hesitate to tell him. And they can't
    really have it both ways. On the one hand, they say, well, we
    are an ally so that should make you immune of any kind of
    criticism; on the other hand, when we look around and we have
    needed them, they haven't always been there.
        Yes, they are an important country, but we are not
    denigrating that importance. We are simply saying that the
    findings in our bill are based on the U.S. Commission on
    International Religious Freedom and the State Department Human
    Rights Report.
        The other thing to put this bill in perspective, there are
    no sanctions or any penalty against Turkey in the bill. It is
    just a statement of what we believe is fact, which has been
    documented and proven about Christian properties. And so that
    is what we are doing. It is a finding, again, based on the U.S.
    Commission on International Religious Freedom report, the State
    Department Human Rights Report, and we are not imposing any
    sanctions. So I don't see why the chairman's bill should be
    opposed. We are simply stating what is a fact. No one is
    disputing the fact.
        We are saying, well, Turkish sensitivities, they may not
    like it, it is poking a finger in their eye. Well, you know
    what, we are entitled to say what we feel and what we see. And
    since we are mandating a report here, we are not imposing any
    sanctions here, I think this is a very moderate bill and should
    be supported by everyone on both sides of the aisle.
        I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Lowenthal.
        Mr. Lowenthal. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
        I would like to say, I want to speak against the substitute
    amendment from my dear colleague from Virginia and speak in
    support of the underlying H.R. 4347. You know, one of the
    groups, a little background, one of the groups that I belong
    to, in fact, that I am proud to be a member of, is the Tom
    Lantos Human Rights Commission. And last year, through the
    Commission's defending justice project, I adopted a Vietnamese
    prisoner of conscience named Mr. Nguyen Tien Trung. My role was
    to bring attention to Trung's plight, and I am proud to say
    that recently Trung was released from jail.
        And just this week, I adopted another prisoner of
    conscience in Vietnam, Pastor Nguyen Cong Chinh. Pastor Chinh
    was unjustly sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2012 for simply
    practicing his faith and exercising his right to religious
    freedom.
        These cases have raised my awareness of religious
    intolerance around the globe, particularly in cases where it is
    systemically and institutionally practiced by various
    governments.
        The reason why we are here today and talking about this
    amendment and the underlying resolution is another sad
    situation where a government is actively hindering its own
    citizens' freedom of religion.
        There is no denying that the Republic of Turkey has a poor
    record on the treatment of Christians, and that is why the
    substitute amendment does not go far enough. Christian churches
    and communities in the Republic of Turkey and in Northern
    Cyprus continue to be prevented from fully practicing their
    faith and face serious obstacles to reestablishing full legal,
    administrative, and operational control over stolen,
    expropriated, confiscated, or otherwise unreturned churches,
    and other religious properties and sites.
        It should be pointed out that in the 3 years since the
    Republic of Turkey revised its law to provide legal process for
    claims to the return of religious properties that it has
    confiscated, that more than 300 Christian church properties
    have been returned. However, it is an encouraging sight, but
    with more than 1,000 applications for the return of the
    properties being denied by the Turkish Government, it is clear
    that much more needs to be done. The only way we are going to
    change this situation is to convince the Republic of Turkey,
    and that is through international pressure. And that is why I
    think this amendment does not really deal with the underlying
    factors. And I oppose the substitute motion and encourage the
    support of H.R. 4347.
        And I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Hearing no further requests for
    recognition--oh, Mr. Cicilline.
        Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I begin by saying I have tremendous respect for my
    colleague from Virginia, who I rely on a lot as a new member of
    this committee, a new Member of Congress, and admire his
    thoughtful approach to this issue and to all the work before
    our committee, but I most respectfully oppose his amendment.
        I think it is correct that we have to be careful about both
    what we say and how we say it. And this underlying resolution,
    or bill, sends a message and creates the reporting requirement.
    But the substitute amendment offered by the gentleman from
    Virginia, I think, makes assertions that just aren't true: ``It
    is the sense of Congress that Turkey has made progress in
    ending religious discrimination.''
        We have the United States Commission for International
    Religious Freedom 2014 report, where they say,

            ``Turkish secularism, as codified in the 1982
            constitution, requires absolute state control over
            religion, which leads to governmental interference and
            restrictions that hinder full religious freedom in the
            country. The government limits all religious groups'
            rights to own and maintain places of worship, train
            clergy, and offer religious education. This has been
            particularly detrimental to the smallest minority
            communities and their ability to transmit their faith
            to future generations. Other concerns include the
            listing of religious affiliation on national identity
            cards, societal discrimination, anti-Semitism, and
            persistent religious freedom violations in the Turkish-
            occupied northern part of Cyprus. Finally, it should be
            noted that the overall landscape for democracy and
            human rights has deteriorated significantly during the
            past year.''

        So I don't think we should express the sense of Congress
    that Turkey has made progress in ending religious
    discrimination. In fact, the report goes on to say that they
    heard views from some religious minority communities that
    conditions had worsened and that the steps taken were
    negligible, as well as concerns that the improvements, which
    are not codified in law, could be easily revoked, especially in
    the current political environment.
        So I do think, while some progress has been made on the
    return, or some efforts have been made on the return of
    property--that is reflected on page 3, paragraph 7. The
    underlying resolution acknowledges that. But this is an
    opportunity for us to again state, or to share our values, to
    demonstrate that this is an important priority for our country,
    an important shared value. And I urge my colleagues to reject
    the substitute amendment and adopt H.R. 4347 as originally
    proposed.
        And, with that, I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Hearing no further requests for
    recognition, the question occurs on the Connolly amendment.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, say no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the noes have it, and the
    amendment is not agreed to.
        I now ask unanimous consent that the following two
    amendments that were provided to members yesterday be
    considered en bloc and be considered read: Grayson Amendment
    No. 284 and the Holding Amendment No. 851.
        [The information referred to follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Royce. Do any members seek recognition to speak on
    these amendments en bloc?
        Mr. Grayson.
        Mr. Grayson. Thank you.
        With regard to my amendment, Mr. Chairman, it is simply a
    matter of making sure that the terms are accurate and that we,
    to the extent we can, avoid language that might be misconstrued
    by any party. That is the purpose of my amendment.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Grayson.
        Mr. Holding?
        Mr. Holding. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for recognizing me
    and want to thank you for all the work you have done advocating
    for religious freedom across the globe. It is certainly an
    issue that I know is of great importance to many members of
    this committee and Members of Congress.
        In this committee, under your leadership and the leadership
    of Chairman Smith, we have examined the plight of many across
    the world who are prohibited from freely and safely practicing
    the religion of their choosing.
        As part of a delegation to Turkey last year, I had the
    opportunity to meet with Christian church leadership while in
    Istanbul. And there I heard firsthand about the ongoing
    difficulties in the process to get church properties not only
    returned but correctly identified in the inventory. However, it
    was also expressed that, while this process was not proceeding
    as expeditiously as it should be, the Government of Turkey and
    local communities had been making strides, and positive
    developments were noted.
        That being said, Mr. Chairman, it is certainly my belief
    and, I believe, the belief of many here today that more can and
    should be done to move this process in the right direction.
    While the base text before us today does note some of the
    positive developments, I believe more could be added to
    recognize some of these positive developments, which is
    precisely what my amendment seeks to do.
        So I urge support, and I appreciate the chairman and
    ranking member's support for my amendment.
        And I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Well, thank you, Mr. Holding.
        I appreciate Mr. Grayson and Mr. Holding's contribution.
        And the question now occurs on the Grayson and Holding
    amendments, considered en bloc.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All opposed, no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the
    amendments en bloc are agreed to.
        Are there any other amendments?
        Hearing no further amendments, the question occurs on
    adopting H.R. 4347 as amended.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the bill
    as amended is agreed to.
        Without objection, H.R. 4347 as amended is ordered
    favorably reported as a single amendment in the nature of a
    substitute. Staff is directed to make any technical and
    conforming changes.
        As all members were previously notified, we now intend to
    consider en bloc the remaining seven bills, whose base texts
    were circulated on Tuesday. All of the amendments to those
    texts that were provided to your office, you got those
    yesterday. And so, without objection, the following items will
    be considered: H.R. 2283, the Human Trafficking Prioritization
    Act; Smith Amendment No. 58 in the nature of a substitute to
    that bill; and Smith Amendment No. 60 to that amendment; H.R.
    4411, this is the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention
    Act; the Royce Amendment No. 120 in the nature of a substitute
    to the bill; the Poe-Sherman Amendment No. 92; and the
    DeSantis-Deutch-Meng Amendment No. 5; then we go to H.R. 4640,
    the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act; the Engel
    Amendment No. 60 in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 4640;
    and the Castro Amendment No. 36; then H.R. 4653, the U.S.
    Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization
    Act; the Smith Amendment No. 55 in the nature of a substitute
    to the bill; and the Meng Amendment No. 47; next, we have House
    Resolution 435, calling on the Government of Iran to assist in
    the case of Robert Levinson; and Ros-Lehtinen Amendment No. 49
    in the nature of a substitute; next is House Resolution 562
    with respect to enhanced relations with the Republic of
    Moldova; and Royce Amendment No. 123 in the nature of a
    substitute; finally, House Resolution 588, concerning the
    suspension of exit permit issuance by the Democratic Republic
    of the Congo for adopted Congolese children; we have the Smith
    Amendment 57 in the nature of a substitute, and the Royce
    Amendment No. 122 to that amendment.
        [The information referred to follows:]

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Royce. After opening remarks by myself and Ranking
    Member Engel, I will be glad to recognize any member seeking
    recognition to speak on the en bloc items.
        So, first, let me thank Chairman Smith for authoring his
    bill, the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act. The fight
    against modern-day slavery has long been a priority for this
    committee. The annual report and country rankings by the State
    Department's trafficking office have turned trafficking into a
    global policy priority.
        But this annual work is a tug-of-war--a tug-of-war between
    those charged with assessing trafficking conditions and State
    officials concerned with the potential diplomatic fallout from
    stating very hard truths.
        This bill is intended to help level the playing field by
    elevating the trafficking office to a bureau, without
    additional cost or personnel.
        Next, we have H.R. 4411, the Hezbollah International
    Financing Prevention Act. It was good to work with Mr. Meadows,
    Mr. Schneider, and Mr. Engel on this critical legislation.
        The threat posed by Hezbollah's global operations, aided by
    a vast financial network, has exploded. In 2011, we saw the tip
    of the iceberg when a massive drug and money-laundering
    operation for Hezbollah's benefit in weapons, logistics, and
    training were uncovered.
        To increase the risk in dealing with Hezbollah, the bill
    would target those financial institutions that knowingly do
    business with what has been called the ``A-Team of
    terrorists.''
        Then, H.R. 4640, the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy
    Commission Act, sponsored by Mr. Engel. The ranking member has
    been deeply involved in these issues, as has Subcommittee
    Chairman Salmon.
        The bill establishes an independent commission to conduct a
    comprehensive review and make recommendations on U.S. efforts
    to reduce the supply of illicit drugs. This includes an
    evaluation of the link between the illegal narcotics trade in
    this hemisphere and terrorist activities around the world.
        H.R. 4653 will continue the good work of the United States
    Commission on International Religious Freedom.
        The Commission is an independent body of distinguished
    experts who advocate for the first freedom of religious
    practice.
        This function has become even more critical as the State
    Department has dropped the ball in prioritizing religious
    freedom. So the Department has failed to make the required
    annual designations of the countries of particular concern for
    religious-freedom violations since 2011. And the Ambassador-at-
    Large position for international religious freedom has been
    vacant now for a total of more than 3 years.
        So this bill carries forward the important work of this
    streamlined body and includes some needed management
    improvements.
        House Resolution 435 addresses the case of U.S. citizen
    Robert Levinson, who disappeared in Iran 7 years ago.
        The Iranian regime has continually obstructed U.S.
    Government efforts to investigate his disappearance, despite
    promises of assistance. And this individual and his family
    deserve our every effort to secure his freedom and safe return
    home.
        And I want to commend Mr. Deutch for his relentless efforts
    in securing Mr. Levinson's release.
        House Resolution 562 voices U.S. support for our relations
    with Moldova and for that country's sovereignty. They have had
    a long, difficult path.
        Democratic reforms have not come easily, but the Moldovan
    people have persevered, have absolutely persevered, in their
    expressed desire to join more fully with the West and with
    Europe. And, recently, the Russian Government has enforced
    trade embargoes and threatened the cutoff of energy supplies as
    consequences.
        This resolution stands by Moldova, and we urge its support.
        Finally, House Resolution 588. The Democratic Republic of
    the Congo has suspended exit permits for Congolese children
    adopted by foreign parents, affecting hundreds of families.
        And, at this time, I would just like to briefly recognize
    the families that are here today from across the United States
    who have been impacted by the actions of the Congolese
    Government. We are going to ask them to stand for a minute,
    those who are here, the families, if you would.
        And I want them to know we will continue to do everything
    we can for your families. Thank you very much for attending
    this hearing today.
        And, as you can see, some of them are holding pictures of
    their adopted children. These children are barred from leaving
    the country to join with their parents here, even though the
    courts have declared these parents as their legal guardians.
    Nine hundred American cases are caught up in this adoption
    limbo, and that breaks a lot of hearts here in the United
    States, and it breaks a lot of hearts of children in Congo.
        I witnessed firsthand the power of providing a child with a
    loving home when my chief of staff, Amy Porter, who is here
    with us, adopted internationally. And these children must be
    allowed to make their way to homes that desperately want to
    care for these children.
        Congressional approval of this resolution, of course, will
    send a strong message to Kinshasa that we need to unite these
    families.
        I now recognize the ranking member for his remarks on the
    en bloc items.
        Mr. Engel?
        Mr. Engel. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for holding
    this important markup. And, once again, I am grateful that we
    could work together in bipartisan fashion on all of these
    measures.
        First of all, let me express my strong support for H.R.
    4411, the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act.
        Hezbollah has continued to terrorize the globe, reaching
    into Latin America, Europe, Asia, and across the Middle East.
    How does Hezbollah fund this violence and terrorism?
    Kidnappings and ransom, conflict diamonds, narcotrafficking,
    and other criminal enterprises. Claims that Hezbollah is simply
    just a political organization or a social services agency are
    simply naive. And this bill exposes the group for what it is: A
    vicious terrorist organization with a global footprint.
        This legislation goes after financial institutions that
    knowingly support Hezbollah. It is modeled after the
    Comprehensive Iranian Sanctions and Divestment Act of 2010. And
    that measure worked. It was one of the prime causes of the
    severe economic downturn that brought the Iranians to the
    negotiating table.
        H.R. 4411 also focuses on Hezbollah's efforts to spread
    hateful propaganda through its media outlet, Al-Manar, which
    is, in itself, a specially designated terrorist group.
        Through sanctions, we hope to cut off Hezbollah's lifeline
    and prevent future terrorist attacks.
        I want to thank Representatives Meadows and Schneider for
    their thoughtful leadership on this issue and their bipartisan
    work.
        And thank you, Mr. Chairman, for moving this forward,
    especially at this critical time.
        Next, Mr. Chairman, I would like thank you for bringing up
    H.R. 4640, my Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission
    legislation. Let me also thank Congressman Salmon, who is the
    lead Republican cosponsor of this legislation, a great partner
    of mine, and strongly committed to a strong U.S.-Latin American
    partnership.
        Despite at least $15.7 billion spent on counternarcotics
    programs in Latin America and the Caribbean between 1980 and
    2012, illicit drug use in our country remains high. In 2012,
    there were around 24 million illicit drug users in the United
    States. And while cocaine use at home is declining, heroin use
    is on the rise. In fact, heroin overdose deaths in the United
    States increased by an alarming 45 percent between 2006 and
    2010.
        This bill would create an independent commission to take
    stock of what is working, what isn't, and help guide the future
    of U.S. drug policy through recommendations submitted to
    Congress, the Secretary of State, and the Director of the
    Office of National Drug Control Policy. This commission will
    save our Government money in the long run. Its recommendations
    will help ensure that we are getting the biggest bang for our
    buck as we tackle this problem in Latin America and the
    Caribbean.
        A similar bill passed the House of Representatives
    unanimously in 2009 but stalled in the Senate. This year, I and
    Mr. Salmon are determined to get this legislation onto the
    President's desk.
        I would also like to express my support for H. Res. 435,
    which calls attention to the disappearance of Robert Levinson
    in Iran more than 7 years ago. The United States has repeatedly
    raised Mr. Levinson's case with the Iranian Government. Now is
    the time for Iran to make a good-faith effort to bring Robert
    Levinson home. Thanks to the leadership and tireless work by
    Representative Deutch, Mr. Levinson's Congressman, this
    resolution with lend a new sense of urgency to this effort.
        Mr. Chairman, I would like to commend our committee
    colleague, Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey, as well as
    Representative Wolf for their leadership on international
    religious-freedom issues and for their work on H.R. 4653, which
    reauthorizes the U.S. Commission on International Religious
    Freedom.
        Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
    states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought,
    conscience, and religion. This right includes the freedom to
    manifest his religion or beliefs in teaching, practice,
    worship, and observance. Nevertheless, every day religious
    communities around the world are subject to escalating
    violence, persecution, and discrimination. USCIRF is pushing
    back against violations and helping to uphold our most
    cherished values.
        I would like to again thank Mr. Smith for introducing H.R.
    2283, legislation that would elevate the Office to Monitor and
    Combat Trafficking to the status of a bureau within the State
    Department.
        Human trafficking, as Mr. Chris Smith has always pointed
    out, is a modern-day slavery and one of the most offensive
    violations of a person's freedom and dignity. Around the world,
    as many as 27 million people are victims of this heinous crime.
        Elevating this trafficking office to a bureau will send a
    message that combating modern-day slavery is a priority for the
    United States. I urge my colleagues to support this important
    legislation.
        Mr. Chairman, let me also express my strong support for H.
    Res. 562, a resolution introduced by Representative Pitts. This
    measure reaffirms our support for the sovereignty,
    independence, and territorial integrity of Moldova, expresses
    strong support for strengthened U.S.-Moldova relations, and
    affirms that Moldova has a sovereign right to determine its own
    partnerships, free of external coercion and pressure. I am
    delighted that tomorrow Moldova will sign an association
    agreement with the EU.
        The resolution also calls on Russia to remove its forces
    from the Transnistria region of Moldova and urges all parties
    to work for a peaceful resolution to the Transnistria issue.
        I have met with Moldovan officials. They want to look
    westward rather than eastward. They are frightened to death of
    Russia's aggression, and it is very important that the United
    States stand by them. This resolution does that, and I am very
    proud of it.
        And, finally, Mr. Chairman, we are taking up H. Res. 588, a
    resolution introduced by Representative Peterson on adoptions
    from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We have seen all
    these brave parents stand up before.
        The Government of the DRC has stopped issuing exit permits
    for adopted children, affecting hundreds of children who were
    set to be taken in by loving families. This is a terribly
    painful situation that we need to help resolve.
        This resolution recognizes the importance of ethical and
    transparent adoptions, and it seeks to raise awareness about
    the plight of the families currently stuck in limbo over these
    suspended permits. It encourages dialogue between the
    governments of the U.S. and DRC to find a path forward on this
    issue. And I urge my colleagues to support it.
        So, in closing, Mr. Chairman, I would like to once again
    thank you for holding this markup and for working with our side
    of the aisle in a bipartisan manner.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Engel.
        Do any other members seek--Mr. Smith?
        Mr. Smith. Chairman, thank you very much. And thank you for
    bringing these very important pieces of legislation to the full
    committee and, hopefully, to the floor very shortly.
        H.R. 2283, the Human Trafficking Prioritization Act of
    2013, is a bipartisan piece of legislation. We have 91
    cosponsors, including some 13 who are members of this
    committee. I want to thank Karen Bass for her co-sponsorship
    and, again, all the other members of the committee and the
    subcommittee.
        The Human Trafficking Prioritization Act will keep the
    fight against human trafficking from being downgraded or
    trivialized in the shuffle of politics of other U.S. interests.
        In the 14 years since my legislation, the Trafficking
    Victims Protection Act of 2000, was signed into law,
    legislation that created the State Department's Office to
    Monitor and Combat Trafficking Persons, commonly known as the
    TIP office, many countries have said that they have
    strengthened their own trafficking laws--as a matter of fact,
    more than 130 of them--because of U.S. leadership, guidance,
    prioritization, and accountability.
        The metamorphosis that has happened throughout the world
    really can relate squarely to U.S. leadership, carried out so
    effectively and faithfully by the personnel at the TIP office.
    There are some 65 people who make up that office. Our
    Ambassador-at-Large, Luis CdeBaca, is doing an outstanding job.
    And in every Embassy in the world, when Members travel, there
    is always one person, at least, who is tasked in the Embassy to
    work on trafficking issues. We hope our Ambassadors and DCMs
    will also make it a high priority.
        We have found a strategy that works. Now is the time to
    build on successes, however, for the sake of the 21 million
    people--Free the Slaves puts that number at 27 million people--
    who are captives of modern-day slavery. And we can do it
    without increasing the cost of government.
        H.R. 2283 will raise the status of the TIP office to that
    of a bureau within the State Department bureaucracy without
    creating new costs. These changes simply give TIP the latitude
    it needs, the voice it deserves, and, above all, the line
    authority within State that it requires. It gives the
    Ambassador-at-Large who heads it equal stature with the
    regional and the functional bureaus.
        Mark Lagon, who was the Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and
    Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2007 to 2009, testified here
    that the State Department does a tremendous job in producing a
    report which tells it like it is, offering objective rankings.
    Yet, at times, he pointed out, it pulls punches, typically due
    to the urging of regional specialists rather than the TIP
    office specialists dedicated to trafficking. This bill will
    give the State Department's trafficking team the leverage
    necessary to allow it to advocate most effectively on behalf of
    the victims of trafficking.
        And we saw a need for this just last week when China
    undeservedly received an upgrade from Tier 3, an egregious
    violator of human trafficking, to Tier 2 Watch List, despite
    their atrocious record on trafficking.
        Hence, I am offering another amendment that limits the
    ability--it is in the en bloc--so that, the 4-year cycle of
    being on the Watch List--is as long as it can be. There has to
    be an automatic movement up or down after 4 years. After you
    have been downgraded to Tier 3 after the 4 years, you get 1
    more year, not a recess of 4 more years. And China would game
    that system, believe me, for another 4 years, and they would
    stay off being cited, and potentially sanctioned, by the
    provisions of the law.
        Next, I want to mention H.R. 4653, which reauthorizes the
    U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF.
        In 1998, Congress had the foresight to make the protection
    and promotion of religious freedom a priority in U.S. foreign
    policy by creating an Ambassador-at-Large for Religious
    Freedom, the Office of International Religious Freedom at the
    Department of State, and, so very importantly, the U.S.
    Commission on International Religious Freedom.
        Importantly, this landmark piece of legislation, authored
    by Chairman Frank Wolf, IRFA, created a system for naming and
    taking action against Countries of Particular Concern, or CPCs.
    History has shown that when the U.S. makes religious freedom a
    priority and that priority is conveyed to Countries of
    Particular Concern, we have seen conditions improve, with
    minimal harm to security or economic cooperation, but, frankly,
    human rights ought to trump that. And, in this case, it does
    mean that prisoners are set free, and the record is replete
    with those examples.
        Two and a half years ago, there were some problems with the
    reauthorization of USCIRF. It got bogged down in the Senate. I
    don't think that will happen this year. It has to be
    reauthorized by the end of this fiscal year or it becomes
    defunct.
        Dr. Robert George, who is the chairman of the Commission,
    testified here just a few weeks ago before my subcommittee. And
    if any Member travels anywhere, I strongly urge you to read
    their reports. They are incisive, they are accurate, they have
    action items, and those action items go to the country that is
    committing deplorable acts against religious believers and
    leaders, clerics, bishops, and the like, but it also admonishes
    the administration and Congress to take effective action.
        For example, the President has not designated CPC
    countries, which is supposed to be done on an annual basis,
    since 2011. We have asked the President, we have asked the
    Secretary of State repeatedly, and USCIRF, Dr. George testified
    to that effect. Name those countries, and, please, apply
    sanctions where they are necessary.
        And, finally, a brief word about the very important
    legislation authored by Collin Peterson from Minnesota on the
    Democratic Republic of the Congo and the parents, some of whom
    are here. The government took the ill-advised action of cutting
    off adoptions. Many of those were already well into the
    process. Collin Peterson has picked up that baton, and he is
    pushing very hard. This will help.
        And, again, to the families that are here, Congress has
    your back. We will do everything we can. I have been to DR
    Congo a number of times, along with Greg Simpkins. They need to
    listen. A home is awaiting kids who are orphaned. Thank you for
    your generosity.
        And I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        Mr. Deutch?
        Mr. Deutch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        And I want to thank you and Ranking Member Engel for
    bringing forward these important bills today.
        I want to especially thank you both, as well as my
    colleague on the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee,
    Chairman Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen, for your continued support of
    House Resolution 435, which calls on the Government of Iran to
    fulfill its promises of assistance in the case of my missing
    constituent, Robert Levinson.
        Thanks to so many of our colleagues on this committee who
    have spoken passionately in the past about securing the release
    of the three American citizens detained in Iran.
        Robert Levinson disappeared from Kish Island, Iran, on
    March 9th, 2007, 2,664 days ago. That is 2,664 days that his
    wife of 40 years, Christine, and their seven children have gone
    without their husband, their father, and now their grandfather.
    He has missed the birth of three grandchildren in the years
    since his disappearance.
        When Bob first disappeared, the U.S. was not sitting across
    the table from Iran. Today, we meet almost weekly. And I know
    that our team raises Bob and other American citizens' cases in
    every meeting, and I am grateful for that. If Iran wants to
    show the world that they can be trusted, whether they can be
    taken at their word, then come through on the promise to assist
    in reuniting Bob Levinson with his family.
        Mr. Chairman, last week in our subcommittee markup, I spoke
    at length about the Levinson family and about Bob's commitment
    to his country over his 30-year career as an FBI agent. Today,
    I simply want to remind everyone watching here and around the
    world that the United States Congress has not and will not
    forget about Bob Levinson.
        I would also like to commend the chairman, Ranking Member
    Engel, and Congressmen Meadows and Schneider for working to
    advance our efforts to crack down on the Iranian-backed
    terrorist organization, Hezbollah. Thanks for working with me
    and my colleagues, Mr. DeSantis and Ms. Meng, to include the
    language that would require reporting on steps other countries
    are taking to disrupt Hezbollah's illicit networks operating
    throughout the world.
        This legislation will help expose Hezbollah for what it
    really is: A global criminal and terror enterprise that uses
    every available avenue to fundraise and finance terror
    activities around the world. To say that Hezbollah is a
    resistance organization or a political party with a separate
    military wing is simply false.
        In just the past few years, we have seen Hezbollah plot and
    launch attacks in Europe, fully back--fully back and assist the
    murderous Assad regime in Syria, and expand its criminal
    activity in Latin America. We know that Hezbollah's
    fingerprints can be found on a broad range of activities in all
    of those countries and in Africa, a whole range of activities
    from counterfeiting and credit card fraud to fundraising to
    weapons trafficking. Hezbollah members and supporters operate
    front companies, as well as legitimate businesses, used for
    money laundering and other fraud schemes.
        So as we continue to have a debate with some of our friends
    and allies as to whether it is possible to distinguish
    Hezbollah's political operations from its terrorist wing--and
    we know that it is not--this amendment will help us get a
    clearer picture not only of Hezbollah's reach but what other
    countries are doing to disrupt Hezbollah's global operations.
        In addition, this language will ensure that the
    administration briefs Congress on these activities, ensuring
    close consultation as we work together to thwart Hezbollah's
    worldwide terrorism.
        Thanks again to the chairman and the ranking member for
    working to make these measures bipartisan. It is critical that
    Congress shows that it is united on these vital security
    measures, and I appreciate it, Mr. Chairman.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Deutch.
        Mr. Chabot?
        Mr. Chabot. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be brief.
        I want to particularly associate myself with H.R. 4411, the
    Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act, introduced by
    the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Meadows. The legislation
    is certainly timely, in view of the developments in Lebanon and
    the Middle East region in general and the nefarious role
    Hezbollah is playing.
        Hezbollah's sources of power have always been, in addition
    to Iranian-supplied weapons, financial transactions and foreign
    donations that keep the wheels of this terrorist organization
    running. Sanctioning entities that do business with Hezbollah
    is a significant step in our efforts to confront this issue.
        So I want to commend the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.
    Meadows, for introducing this legislation, and I urge my
    colleagues to support it.
        I yield back the balance of my time.
        Chairman Royce. We go to Ms. Meng.
        Ms. Meng. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Engel.
        I appreciate the incorporation of the DeSantis-Deutch-Meng
    amendment to the Hezbollah International Financing Prevention
    Act.
        This amendment strengthens sanctions against Hezbollah by
    enabling the disruption of Hezbollah's global logistics
    networks and its fundraising and money-laundering activities.
    Furthermore, it requires the Obama administration to shed light
    on those countries that either overtly or covertly enable any
    sort of Hezbollah activities within their borders.
        This provision is particularly important in the Hezbollah
    context, because there are far too many countries that
    outwardly condemn Hezbollah's military and terrorist activities
    while privately fostering environments where Hezbollah can
    operate politically and financially. Well, no more, not if you
    want to do business with the United States.
        I thank Mr. DeSantis and Mr. Deutch for their leadership
    and partnership, the sponsors of the bill for crafting such
    important legislation, and the committee staff for all their
    hard work in putting it all together.
        I would also like to thank the committee for accepting my
    amendment to the United States Commission on International
    Religious Freedom reauthorization legislation. USCIRF is
    invaluable, and I am proud to be a cosponsor of this
    reauthorization bill and to support its passage today.
        My simple amendment revises the applicable
    antidiscrimination laws relating to USCIRF to bar
    discrimination at the Commission on the basis of religion. This
    is only fitting for a commission that is devoted to religious
    freedom. It is also appropriate given the sensitivities
    regarding which violations of religious freedom around the
    world the Commission chooses to focus on.
        My hope is that this amendment will help ensure the
    diversity, credibility, and strength of the Commission for a
    long time to come.
        I thank Congressmen Wolf and Smith for their leadership on
    these important issues, as always, and Janice Kaguyutan and
    Doug Anderson for their assistance with my amendment.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Ms. Meng.
        We go to Judge Poe.
        Mr. Poe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I want to thank you and the ranking member for bringing all
    of this legislation up today. It is a good day in the Foreign
    Affairs Committee, all of this important legislation.
        I want to talk about four of the bills in the time that I
    have, first the trafficking legislation that Mr. Smith has
    sponsored; I commend him for his long endurance in making sure
    that international trafficking is something that we recognize
    is a problem and the work that he has done over the years.
        And now Congress, 2 weeks ago, we passed the Justice for
    Victims of Trafficking Act out of the House, bipartisan
    legislation authored by Carolyn Maloney and myself, a unanimous
    decision on a rollcall vote of all Members of Congress that
    voted, going after the traffickers, the demand, and, of course,
    rescuing children.
        And that is a worldwide problem. That is a national
    problem, as well. Unfortunately, my hometown of Houston, Texas,
    is the hub for international minor sex trafficking that comes
    into the United States. And this legislation, along with the
    Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, will let the world know
    where the United States stands on the issue of trafficking:
    That kids are not for sale--not here, not there, not anywhere.
        Hezbollah, a terrorist organization. I commend Mr. Meadows
    for bringing this legislation up.
        My amendment to this legislation encourages the State
    Department to offer the rewards program to get information
    about Hezbollah's finances and where that money comes from. It
    is the old-fashioned, kind of the code of the West, the
    ``wanted'' poster. You post up some outlaw's photograph--we
    just say ``wanted'' now, not ``dead or alive,'' just
    ``wanted"--information about them, and other outlaws give
    information to the good guys and they pay to get their buddies
    arrested.
        That has always worked. It has worked in the past with
    legislation that is already on the books. It has worked in
    Colombia. It has worked in other parts of the country, or other
    parts of world, as well. So I thank Mr. Meadows, but, also, I
    think this amendment will help put some teeth in it and go get
    some folks brought to justice.
        The other point I want to--the legislation is Moldova. I
    met with Members of the Parliament from Moldova; they came over
    here. They were nervous. They are worried. They think the
    Russians are coming and they are next.
        And we need to recognize the world the way it is, that
    Putin sees himself as Czar Nicholas III. He wants the Russian
    Empire again. He went into Georgia. Mr. Smith was in Georgia
    right after the Russians were there. I was there about a week
    after him. We saw those tanks on the border with Russia and
    Georgia. Russia took one-third of the country, and the Russians
    are still in Georgia. They waited a few years; they took
    Crimea. Now they are in eastern Ukraine, and I don't see them
    stopping.
        So, the West, primarily the United States, needs to make
    sure that the Russians know we are not Chamberlain, we are
    going to act like Churchill. When it comes to aggression, and
    let the Moldovans know that the United States sees them as a
    partner and ally, and Czar Nicholas III needs to stay away from
    Moldova.
        And the last group I want to talk to are these wonderful
    mothers that are here.
        Thank you. God bless you for your tenacity--I can't even
    say it right--tenacity and going and getting your children.
    That is something that is just neat. It is great. It is God's
    work.
        I have 11 grandchildren, and my newest one, a 4-month-old,
    is a special child. They are all special, but she is adopted.
    And my youngest daughter and her husband adopted a child. And
    when you get to pick the child, it is just--it is neat.
        So thank you for your work in rescuing children in this
    humanitarian effort, saving one child at a time. And thank you
    for your perseverance with Congress, hoping we can get in this
    case the Congo to do what is right. And so thank you for that.
        And, Mr. Chairman, I will do something I rarely do; I will
    yield back the rest of my time
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, sir. Thank you, Judge.
        Mr. Schneider?
        Mr. Schneider. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I want to thank the chairman for the time and for the
    tremendous bipartisanship you have shown in this committee in
    general and, in particular, with respect to H.R. 4411, to
    address one of most critical national security challenges we
    face.
        A special thank you to my good friend, Mark Meadows, who,
    with me, initiated this bill, along with the chairman and
    ranking member, for their tireless effort on this important
    piece of legislation.
        I would also like to thank the outstanding effort of the
    majority and minority staff, along with Ansley Rhyne from Mr.
    Meadows' staff and Tyler Stapleton from my staff, who have put
    so much time into perfecting this bill.
        The Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act is a
    leap forward in combating the threat of global terrorism
    financing.
        We have known for years that the international terrorist
    organization Hezbollah has planned, funded, and executed
    terrorist attacks in the Middle East, Europe, and the Western
    Hemisphere. Hezbollah continues to use underground networks and
    illicit materials to fundraise their global instability
    efforts. They have used U.S. and European banks, along with
    their subsidiaries, to hide and launder money out of South
    America and Europe to help finance thousands of Hezbollah
    operatives around the globe.
        One must only look at some of Hezbollah's past acts to
    understand the true threat they pose to U.S. national security.
    In 1983, Hezbollah bombed the U.S. barracks in Beirut, killing
    241 Marines. In 1992, Hezbollah bombed the Israeli Embassy in
    Buenos Aires, killing 29. In 1994, Hezbollah bombed the AMIA
    Jewish cultural center in Argentina, killing 85.
        In 2006, Hezbollah operatives conducted cross-border raids
    into Israel, kidnapping IDF soldiers, which led to a 34-day
    military conflict between Israel and Lebanon. In 2011, reports
    indicated that Hezbollah was behind the bombing in Istanbul
    that wounded eight Turkish citizens. In 2012, authorities
    apprehended a Hezbollah operative planning terrorist activity
    in Cyprus against civilians and commercial airlines. In 2012,
    Hezbollah bombed a tourism bus in Burgas, Bulgaria, killing six
    Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian driver.
        These are just a few of the activities of Hezbollah that
    have targeted U.S. interests and our allies around the world.
    We can and must do more to stem the global financing of these
    activities. Today we have the opportunity, and I hope that my
    colleagues will join in combating this pressing threat to U.S.
    national security.
        The Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act
    provides the administration with important tools to go after
    financial institutions and satellite providers that provide
    material support and propaganda tools to Hezbollah. This
    important effort will result in fewer resources falling into
    the hands of terrorists who have shown great resilience in
    attacking Western targets in addition to their destabilizing
    efforts in the Middle East.
        I want to again thank the chairman and ranking member,
    along with Mark Meadows, for working with us to introduce this
    important legislation. With more than 300 co-sponsors in the
    House, I hope that this committee will support its passage. I
    also want to express my support for the other measures offered
    today by members of this committee. It is a real pleasure to
    work with my colleagues and to share a deep personal interest
    in solving these complex problems.
        And I also want to welcome the mothers and thank you for
    what you are doing, standing up and continuing to fight so
    hard.
        Thank you to the chair. And I yield back the balance of my
    time.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Salmon?
        Mr. Salmon. Thanks a lot, Mr. Chairman.
        I would like to just make a few comments about H.R. 4640,
    but before I do, it is hard not to have your heart touched when
    you see such a wonderful group of mothers here. And I just want
    to remind you of one of the best sayings I ever heard, and that
    is, ``The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.'' And so
    you are making a difference. We see a lot of terrible things in
    this world, but, you know, it is good to see great things and
    it is good to see great people like you stepping forward. So
    God bless you.
        I would like to thank Ranking Member Engel for partnering
    with me and allowing me to partner with him on H.R. 4640. And I
    agree with you; this time it is going the distance. It is going
    to go all the way to the President. And it is so needed. And I
    thank the chairman for bringing up all the bills today but
    especially this one.
        You know, we have spent billions upon billions of dollars
    fighting the war on drugs right in this hemisphere, and the
    work continues. And this bill is going to make sure that our
    precious taxpayer dollars are being spent in the most effective
    way that we can possibly do it.
        It establishes a commission that is going to evaluate
    across all the Federal agencies what is working and what isn't.
    And that is just common sense. It provides this Congress with a
    report that will allow this committee and our partner
    committees to implement a legislative strategy to attack this
    vicious narcotrafficking criminal process and eliminate the
    scourge of drugs from our streets.
        But it is not just about drugs. The narcotrafficking
    criminal organizations, they support terrorism in our region.
    And they are actively participating in this current
    humanitarian crisis that is happening right on our border with
    the kids from Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.
        In fact, I visited the facility in Nogales just a couple of
    weeks ago where 1,250 children are sitting in cages. I don't
    know what else to call them; they are chain-link rooms with
    razor wire on the top. And every one of those children is being
    brought to this country by coyotes that are aided and abetted
    by the narcotraffickers, the cartels. And so it is a terrible
    scourge on our society.
        And I had to ask myself, as I looked at those little
    children, how many of them didn't make it? How many of them are
    sold into sexual slavery? How many of them are murdered along
    the way? How many of them die in the desert of dehydration? We
    have to solve the problem, but we have to make sure that our
    drug policies are working, because it is the drug scourge that
    is funding these animals that are now preying upon these
    children.
        So fighting these criminal organizations whose staple is
    the drug trade, even though they branch out into human
    trafficking, is a U.S. national security priority. And this
    commission is going to help us provide lessons learned in the
    field to ensure we are spending our limited resources in the
    most effective way and putting us on a path to winning this
    war.
        Finally, I would like to congratulate Congressman Engel,
    the ranking member, for making sure that we are being fiscally
    responsible, too, and that this bill, once we get the report,
    it sunsets 60 days after. So it is not one of those things--
    like Ronald Reagan said, ``The closest thing to eternal life is
    a government program.'' That is not the case here.
        So thank you very much, and I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Let's see. Mr. Perry, were you next? You
    were seeking recognition.
        Mr. Perry. I will take it, Mr. Chairman, thank you very
    much, on House Resolution 588.
        Since September 2013, hundreds and hundreds of Congolese
    children and their adoptive American families have been
    affected by the suspension of exit permits in the Democratic
    Republic of the Congo.
        Just yesterday, I got to hear firsthand the very
    heartbreaking, heartwarming story of numerous families,
    including one in the district I represent, that have legally
    adopted and financially supported their two Congolese children
    but have been unable to welcome them into their loving homes.
        And I found it fascinating--maybe the world doesn't know--I
    mean, the Congolese Government is happy to accept the money.
    And these families have gone through every hoop, and they pay
    every month, and they don't know the status of their children.
    Imagine committing yourself to a child, having that child see
    you, and wonder when the child is coming home. And the child, a
    little baby, doesn't understand and doesn't know why they can't
    come home with their loving parents, but they can't.
        And the parents here in America, they pay the bill, and
    they wonder what kind of care, what kind of treatment. And they
    know, because they have lived it and they have heard, in many
    cases they have lived it themselves, the horrific stories of
    the children that never do make it while they wait, when they
    were healthy when they started, because of the conditions that
    they reside in far away from their loving parents, and never
    get to come home.
        As a father of two beautiful little girls, I can't begin to
    imagine the uncertainty and the anguish these families go
    through. And we owe it, we absolutely owe it, to these parents
    and the children to request that the DRC Government resume
    immediately the issuing of exit permits and to encourage and
    demand--and demand the State Department work sincerely and
    diligently.
        That is the other thing, Mr. Chairman. I heard stories
    about families that go to our Embassy in the Congo and wait
    hours and hours and hours. These are Americans meeting other
    Americans, and wait hours and hours for a 10-minute appointment
    to hear nothing new. It is unacceptable. We demand that the
    State Department work on these families' behalf and those
    children's behalf to bring this to a successful resolution and
    conclusion.
        With that, I yield back, Mr. Chair.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We go to Mr. Weber.
        Mr. Weber. I am good.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Cotton.
        Mr. Cotton. Thank you.
        I associate myself with the comments of Judge Poe earlier.
    It is a good and proud day of this committee.
        It has been said by cynics that justice is the interest of
    the stronger, or, put differently, that the strong do what they
    will and the weak suffer what they must.
        We are blessed to live in a country where that is not the
    case, where justice is based on the natural rights of every
    person given to us by our creator. But too often in the world,
    the strong do, in fact, do what they will, whether it is an
    outlaw regime like Iran pursuing nuclear weapons and holding
    American citizens like Robert Levinson in captivity or a
    terrorist gang like Hezbollah that engages in drug trafficking,
    money laundering, arts and antiquity looting, and human
    trafficking to finance its activities around the globe,
    criminal syndicates that prey on the most vulnerable people
    among us to gain their own money through human trafficking, or
    a government that exploits orphaned children at the expense of
    loving families.
        Fortunately, though, the strongest of the strong in the
    world is the United States. We are also the most noble and the
    most just. So I am proud to stand with my colleagues on this
    committee, I am proud to be a part today of the Foreign Affairs
    Committee to use American power and influence to deliver some
    small measure of justice to the wicked and to their victims
    alike.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Meadows.
        Mr. Meadows. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        It is indeed an honor to serve on this committee. Your
    leadership and that of Ranking Member Engel is to be applauded.
        Before I speak on 4411, you know, the tears that I see from
    many of the moms touch my heart. The prophet Isaiah, many, many
    years ago, said that we need to defend the cause of the orphan.
    So thank you for defending that cause.
        I want to speak on 4411 and offer my thanks to the chairman
    and the ranking member for their leadership, my friend Mr.
    Schneider for his unrelenting work, for the committee staff,
    for my staff, for those 313 co-sponsors that are on this bill,
    truly for the outside groups that have helped perfect this
    bill, for Mr. Deutch, Ms. Meng, Mr. DeSantis, Mr. Poe, who made
    this bill better.
        But in thanking all of them, it is really not about any of
    us. It is about the target that Hezbollah has and about the
    victims that they continue to perpetrate their terrorist
    activities on each and every day.
        When we look at this, it is about the fact that there are,
    today, 40,000 to 60,000 rockets aimed at Israel by Hezbollah.
    Today, there are thousands and thousands of Hezbollah fighters
    in Syria. Today, there is trafficking of narcotics in Latin
    America, in Africa, and throughout the world because of
    Hezbollah.
        This terrorist organization does not relent. But we have a
    unique opportunity today, that because of global sanctions in
    other areas, we can put our foot on the neck of Hezbollah and
    finish them off by taking the financial resources they have and
    stopping it.
        I am pleased to be a sponsor of this bill.
        But, more importantly than that, there are many others who
    say, well, what about Hezbollah, you know, it may affect Israel
    and it may affect Latin America, but it doesn't really affect
    me. And that is where they are wrong, because Hezbollah's reach
    is global. It is something that must be stopped.
        And I want to conclude with this, Mr. Chairman, by reading
    a quote from the U.S. attorney of the Western District of North
    Carolina, my district that I represent, because we, too, have
    dealt with Hezbollah. And the quote is,

              ``Mohamad Hammoud was a student and a member of
            Hezbollah as a youth in his home country, and he came
            to the United States on a Hezbollah-driven mission. His
            loyalty accomplished his mission by creating a criminal
            enterprise which accumulated millions of dollars in
            profits, purchased businesses in the U.S., preached
            radical Muslim fundamentalism, and truly led a
            clandestine terrorist cell in Charlotte, North
            Carolina, raised funds for the cause, and saw that the
            funds were delivered to Hezbollah leadership in
            Lebanon.
              ``His guilty verdicts rendered by the jury were
            upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States. But
            during his time of imprisonment, while he was awaiting
            trial, he ordered the murder of the then-prosecuting-
            attorney and the bombing of Charlotte's Federal
            courthouse. He continues to this day to pose no less a
            threat to our country and our citizens.''

        If this is not enough for us to act today, if not for
    Israel, if not for Latin America, if not for Africa, then for
    the United States. And I urge the support and I thank the
    support of all my colleagues on this particular bill.
        I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Royce. Well, we thank you, Mr. Meadows, for your
    authorship of the Hezbollah Financing Prevention Act and your
    leadership on this.
        We thank all of the members. I want to just mention also
    the contributions of our ranking members, the ranking member of
    this committee, Mr. Engel, as well as all of those who offered
    up amendments and legislation that we have passed out today.
        Hearing no further request for recognition, the question
    occurs on adopting the en bloc items.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the
    measure and amendments under consideration en bloc are agreed
    to.
        Without objection, each of the seven measures as amended is
    ordered favorably reported as a single amendment in the nature
    of a substitute. Staff is directed to make any technical and
    conforming changes.
        And that concludes our business today. The committee is
    adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 10:53 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]

                                A P P E N D I X

                                  ----------

                       Material Submitted for the Record

    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

                                     [all]