    [House Hearing, 114 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                                VARIOUS MEASURES

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

                                     MARKUP

                                   BEFORE THE

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                        ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 SECOND SESSION

                                       ON

                  H. Res. 374, H. Res. 650, H. Con. Res. 129,

                               S. 1252 and S. 284

                                   __________

                                  MAY 18, 2016

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 114-181

                                   __________

            Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

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                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

                     EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman
    CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey     ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York
    ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida         BRAD SHERMAN, California
    DANA ROHRABACHER, California         GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York
    STEVE CHABOT, Ohio                   ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey
    JOE WILSON, South Carolina           GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia
    MICHAEL T. McCAUL, Texas             THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida
    TED POE, Texas                       BRIAN HIGGINS, New York
    MATT SALMON, Arizona                 KAREN BASS, California
    DARRELL E. ISSA, California          WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts
    TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania             DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina          ALAN GRAYSON, Florida
    MO BROOKS, Alabama                   AMI BERA, California
    PAUL COOK, California                ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California
    RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas            GRACE MENG, New York
    SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania            LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
    RON DeSANTIS, Florida                TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii
    MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas
    TED S. YOHO, Florida                 ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
    CURT CLAWSON, Florida                BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania
    SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee
    REID J. RIBBLE, Wisconsin
    DAVID A. TROTT, Michigan
    LEE M. ZELDIN, New York
    DANIEL DONOVAN, New York

         Amy Porter, Chief of Staff      Thomas Sheehy, Staff Director
                   Jason Steinbaum, Democratic Staff Director

                                C O N T E N T S

                                  ----------
                                                                       Page

                                   MARKUP ON

    H. Res. 374, Recognizing the 50th anniversary of Singaporean
      independence and reaffirming Singapore's close partnership with
      the United States..............................................     2
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 374 offered
        by the Honorable Eliot L. Engel, a Representative in Congress
        from the State of New York...................................     6
    H. Res. 650, Providing for the safety and security of the Iranian
      dissidents living in Camp Liberty/Hurriya in Iraq and awaiting
      resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner for
      Refugees, and permitting use of their own assets to assist in
      their resettlement.............................................    11
      Amendment to H. Res. 650 offered by the Honorable Eliot L.
        Engel........................................................    17
    H. Con. Res. 129, Expressing support for the goal of ensuring
      that all Holocaust victims live with dignity, comfort, and
      security in their remaining years, and urging the Federal
      Republic of Germany to reaffirm its commitment to this goal
      through a financial commitment to comprehensively address the
      unique health and welfare needs of vulnerable Holocaust
      victims, including home care and other medically prescribed
      needs..........................................................    18
      Amendment to H. Con. Res. 129 offered by the Honorable Ileana
        Ros-Lehtinen, a Representative in Congress from the State of
        Florida......................................................    23
    S. 1252, A bill to authorize a comprehensive strategic approach
      for United States foreign assistance to developing countries to
      reduce global poverty and hunger, achieve food and nutrition
      security, promote inclusive, sustainable, agricultural-led
      economic growth, improve nutritional outcomes, especially for
      women and children, build resilience among vulnerable
      populations, and for other purposes............................    24
    S. 284, A bill to impose sanctions with respect to foreign
      persons responsible for gross violations of internationally
      recognized human rights, and for other purposes................    61
      Amendment to S. 284 offered by the Honorable Edward R. Royce, a
        Representative in Congress from the State of California, and
        chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Honorable
        Eliot L. Engel...............................................    74
    Amendment to S. 284 offered by the Honorable Dana Rohrabacher, a
      Representative in Congress from the State of California........    80

              LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD
                                    APPENDIX

    Markup notice....................................................    88
    Markup minutes...................................................    89
    Markup summary...................................................    91
    The Honorable Dana Rohrabacher: Material submitted for the record    92
    The Honorable David Cicilline, a Representative in Congress from
      the State of Rhode Island: Material submitted for the record...    96

                                VARIOUS MEASURES

                                  ----------

                            WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2016

                           House of Representatives,

                         Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC.

        The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:06 a.m., in
    room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Edward Royce
    (chairman of the committee) presiding.
        Chairman Royce. This committee will come to order.
        Pursuant to notice, we meet today to mark up several
    bipartisan measures. So, without objection, all members may
    have 5 days to submit statements or extraneous material into
    the record.
        All members were notified yesterday that we intend to
    consider our first four measures en bloc. And so, without
    objection, the following items previously provided to members
    will be considered en bloc and they are considered as read.
        We have House Resolution 374, regarding the partnership
    between Singapore and the United States, and the Engel 78, an
    amendment in the nature of a substitute. We have House
    Resolution 650, regarding the safety and security of Iranian
    dissidents living in Camp Liberty in Iraq, and the Engel
    amendment 80 to House Resolution 650. We have House Concurrent
    Resolution 129, regarding the dignity, comfort, and security of
    surviving Holocaust victims, and the Ros-Lehtinen amendment 45
    to House Concurrent Resolution 129. And then we have the Senate
    bill 1252, the Senate-passed Global Food Security Act.
        [The information referred to follows:]

     [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Royce. And after recognizing myself and the
    ranking member, I will be pleased to recognize any members
    seeking recognition to speak once on any of these measures.
        So let me start by thanking the committee's chairman
    emeritus, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, and Congressman Deutch
    for their work on House Concurrent Resolution 129. Now, this is
    the bill expressing support for Holocaust victims. We have had
    tens of thousands of victims, unfortunately, of the Holocaust
    who have come to be found to be living in poverty, living in
    poverty today, and many of those victims have unique health and
    assistance needs.
        Now, Germany has supported a number of aid programs
    throughout the years in acknowledgment of its moral obligation
    to help these victims. In fact, the German Government engages
    with members of the Claims Conference annually to evaluate
    their programs and identify any unmet needs. This year, gaps in
    home care, in mental health programs, and long-term medical
    care were all identified. Yet, despite a commitment to provide
    this assistance, negotiations on a path forward have slowed.
        So time is of the essence, of course, as these Holocaust
    victims suffer while these talks are now stalled. This
    resolution rightly calls for these talks to be accelerated and
    for an assistance plan that ensures transparency and
    accountability to guarantee funds are helping the most
    vulnerable go forward.
        After that measure, we are going to consider House
    Resolution 374, reaffirming Singapore's strategic partnership
    with the United States. Singapore has long been a very
    dependable friend and partner for us. We have a deep defense
    and trade relationship with Singapore. Today we are reaffirming
    the importance of this partnership to securing peace and
    stability in the Asia Pacific for several reasons, and one of
    these is because we appreciate Singapore's enforcement of
    sanctions on North Korea, as evidenced by a Singapore-
    registered shipping firm which was found guilty in January of
    transferring money that could have contributed to North Korea's
    nuclear-related program.
        The prosecution of this firm by Singapore sends a very
    strong signal that Singapore is taking its international
    obligations very seriously, and we are appreciative of that.
        And I also want to thank Ranking Member Engel and the chair
    of our Asia Subcommittee, Matt Salmon, for their helpful input
    on the text we are considering today.
        I also want to thank Mr. Poe for his leadership in
    introducing a very necessary measure, House Resolution 650,
    regarding the security of Iranian dissidents living in Camp
    Liberty in Iraq.
        Camp Liberty is a former U.S. military base outside of
    Baghdad that is now home to more than 2,000 Iranian refugees
    who are members of opposition to the regime in Tehran. This
    past October, 23 residents were killed in a rocket attack on
    that camp. We have been receiving information that the Iranian
    regime and their proxies in Iraq are preparing for an imminent
    attack against the camp's residents.
        The frustration with this committee is that time after time
    after time we have had the Iranian regime go forward with
    attacks on these individuals without this being blocked by the
    government in Iraq. And in the meantime, that is why Mr. Poe's
    resolution calls on the administration and calls on the Iraqi
    Government to work to provide camp residents with the
    protections they need and to ensure they are expeditiously
    resettled outside of Iraq in such safe havens as Albania and
    other countries that have agreed to work with those who have
    opposed the regime in Iran to make certain that they are safe.
        I would hope that all of our members would support this
    resolution.
        I am also happy today that the committee is restoring
    regular order and exercising its fundamental responsibility to
    authorize before appropriating by considering S. 1252, the
    Global Food Security Act of 2015. Specifically, the bill
    authorizes, for the first time in 30 years, International
    Disaster Assistance. This is the essential humanitarian account
    that provides refugees with tents and sheeting, to water and
    medicine.
        But it also authorizes, for the first time, the Emergency
    Food Security Program, the flexible, efficient, and effective
    food aid program that helps refugees when and where they need
    it most so they won't be forced to seek refuge in Europe or
    beyond, and it advances policies that will improve food
    security and better enable people to grow their own way out of
    poverty so they will no longer have to depend upon U.S. foreign
    assistance, and it does all this without increasing spending.
        Indeed, this bill, which had much input on the Senate side
    from both Republicans and Democrats, passed unanimously in the
    Senate. This committee has held numerous hearings on food
    security. The bill before us today, which passed the Senate, as
    I say, with unanimous support, reflects more than 3 years of
    careful deliberation and inclusive discussions and amendments.
        So I want to thank Mr. Smith for his leadership on this
    important legislation and urge members to help get it to the
    President's desk without further delay.
        I now recognize the ranking member for his remarks.
        Mr. Engel. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for convening this
    markup and for bringing these bipartisan measures forward. I am
    happy to support them all. I am grateful to all of our members
    on both sides of the aisle for their hard work.
        I will speak first about the four measures we are taking up
    en bloc. I will start with House Resolution 374, which
    recognizes a half century of independence for our close friend,
    Singapore.
        Last year, Singapore celebrated the 50th anniversary of its
    independence, and this year the United States and Singapore
    mark 50 years of our bilateral relationship. In that time,
    Singapore has become an important partner for the United States
    in the Asia-Pacific region. Over the years, we have seen our
    economic and security ties grow stronger and stronger.
        In the years ahead, as American foreign policy focuses more
    and more on Asia, we know there will be additional
    opportunities to work together with our partner Singapore on
    issues from countering violent extremism to addressing climate
    change, where Singapore as an island nation has been a strong
    leader, to pushing for peaceful and rules-based resolution to
    contentious issues like the South China Sea.
        This resolution underscores the important friendship
    between our countries, and I am happy to support it.
        We are also considering House Resolution 650, calling for
    the safety and security of the Iranian dissidents living in
    Camp Liberty in Iraq. I want to thank Mr. Poe and Mr. Higgins
    for working on this measure, which I am proud to cosponsor.
        I want to welcome our friends wearing their yellow jackets
    to this committee today. And believe me, we are very concerned
    about Camp Liberty and we are making everyone know that we are
    keeping a watchful eye to make sure that those people are
    protected.
        The residents of Camp Liberty deserve to live in dignity
    and without fear of violence. Last October's rocket attacks on
    the unarmed residents of Camp Liberty by a Shia militia with
    ties to Iran killed 24 people. It is the height of cowardice.
    We are still waiting for the perpetrators of this attack to be
    brought to justice.
        I would also note that my amendment to this resolution
    highlights Albania's commitments to resettling Camp Liberty
    residents. They have resettled 1,000 already and are
    recommitted to settling 2,000 more. I have worked closely with
    the Albanian Government in all the years I have been in
    Congress. This shows a tremendous generosity of spirit and
    commitment to care for the most vulnerable on the part of the
    people of Albania. This resolution sends a message that we
    stand with the men, women, and children in Camp Liberty and
    want to see quick and meaningful action to bring them relief.
        I will turn now to House Concurrent Resolution 129, which
    calls for Germany and for all of us to redouble our efforts to
    care for those who were victims of humanity's darkest chapter,
    the Holocaust. As a spokesman for Germany's Chancellor Angela
    Merkel recently said, ``All Germans know the history of the
    murderous race mania of the Nazis that led to the break with
    civilization that was the Holocaust. We know that
    responsibility for this crime against humanity is German, and
    very much our own.''
        Part of that responsibility, of course, is to generously
    assist those survivors who endured this evil firsthand. In a
    spirit of goodwill and friendship, this measure calls on
    Germany's leaders to do whatever it takes to properly care for
    this generation, which is getting older and dying, and I am
    glad to support it.
        Lastly, I am glad to support Senate bill 1252, the Senate's
    version of the Global Food Security Act, and I was pleased that
    the House passed our version a few weeks ago. It is simply
    unconscionable that nearly 800 million people around the world
    would live without knowing how they will get their next meal.
    Half of all the deaths of children under 5 years old are tied
    to malnutrition.
        The United States has a responsibility to help meet this
    challenge, both by helping people feed themselves and by taking
    a hard look at the root causes behind poverty, hunger, and
    instability. This bill prioritizes foreign assistance programs
    aimed at reducing global poverty and hunger. It also authorizes
    a strong investment in the administration's signature effort
    Feed the Future, as well as other State Department and USAID
    initiatives. These efforts deserve our continued support, and I
    am glad we are moving ahead with this bill.
        So thank you again, Mr. Chairman, thanks to all our
    members, again, on both sides of the aisle, and I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Engel.
        Our chairman emeritus, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman and
    Ranking Member. I want to thank my good friend and south
    Florida colleague, Congressman Ted Deutch, for our work
    together in crafting H. Con. Res. 129 in support of Holocaust
    survivors.
        The United States is home to nearly one-quarter of all
    survivors, and approximately 15,000 live in south Florida. We
    both have many constituents who are survivors, and as their
    Representatives in Congress, we have an obligation to ensure
    that we are doing everything in our power on their behalf. But
    many are also close and personal friends, and as their friend,
    I also have an obligation to be their voice and express their
    frustration and concerns.
        Since the 1950s, Germany has recognized that it has a moral
    obligation to Holocaust survivors and their heirs, and to
    Germany's credit, it has attempted to ensure survivors' needs
    are met and it has attempted to resolve some of the lingering
    injustices.
        However, even by Germany's own admission, its efforts to
    date have been inadequate at addressing the medical, mental
    health, and home care needs of many of the world's survivors.
    Nearly half of all survivors live at or below the poverty line.
    This is not only shameful, it is inexcusable.
        These survivors have lived through the unimaginable. The
    pain and suffering they have endured has left physical and
    mental scars that cannot be healed and horrifying memories that
    can never be forgotten. These experiences mean their medical,
    mental health, and home care needs are more complex than other
    elderly individuals. And that is why this resolution is so
    important, and that is why we are urging Germany to act
    expeditiously to honor its commitment and fulfill its moral
    obligations to all survivors.
        These individuals have very little time. The system
    currently in place is full of red tape, riddled with layer upon
    layer of bureaucracy. The Claims Conference itself is known to
    have come under increased scrutiny for the many cases of fraud
    and abuse. And the proof that this process isn't working is
    that nearly half of all survivors, as I said, still live in
    poverty, and that under the current system many died long
    before their time as a result. Survivors deserve better than
    that. They deserve to live out their days in dignity and
    comfort. The right thing to do is for Germany to provide for
    all the survivors' needs directly and to do so transparently
    and efficiently with the urgency that circumstances demand.
        I hope that all of my colleagues will join us in urging the
    German Government to do more, to do the right thing, to honor
    its obligations and commitments with the urgency demanded by
    justice and decency. I sincerely believe Chancellor Merkel's
    heartfelt expression of concern about Germany's responsibility
    to survivors and leadership on moral issues will finally
    resolve this longstanding tragedy for survivors.
        And, Mr. Chairman, I would also like to briefly say some
    words of praise and support for Judge Poe's resolution, House
    Resolution 650, that calls for the safety and security for the
    residents of Camp Liberty in Iraq. It is no secret that the
    Iraqi Government completely failed to protect these individuals
    in Camp Liberty, not living up to its commitments made in the
    December 2011 Memorandum of Understanding.
        Camp Liberty has never been given adequate protection. And
    now, with the Iran nuclear deal and Iran getting more money to
    carry out its illicit activities, I fear that Liberty will be
    an even easier and larger target for the regime than before.
        Albania has stepped up and offered these residents a
    respite from the terror. So for that, I thank Albania for its
    courage and compassion. However, I remain concerned that the
    United Nations isn't placing the urgency required to move these
    residents to Albania. There should be at least weekly charters
    for Liberty residents to Albania. There is simply no
    justification for anything less.
        I will continue to press our administration and other
    governments to do whatever we can to help the Liberty residents
    as soon as possible, and I will continue to support all of
    these Liberty residents until every last one of them is free
    from the threat of attack. I support Judge Poe's resolution and
    I commend him for his leadership on this issue.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We now go to Mr. Brad Sherman of California.
        Mr. Sherman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for bringing these
    bills up. I have cosponsored the three House bills and support
    all bills. I join with the chair and the chair emeritus and
    especially the ranking member in their remarks in favor of
    these bills.
        I want to speak briefly about H. Res. 650, a resolution
    that calls for providing safety and security to the Iranian
    dissidents living in Camp Liberty. The MEK, also known as the
    People's Mujahedin Organization of Iran, is an Iranian exile
    opposition group that was opposed to the Shah's dictatorial
    regime and is opposed to the current regime. The MEK has played
    a critical role in revealing information about Iran's illegal
    nuclear program.
        There is a tendency to look at anything in the world
    through the lens of political controversies in the United
    States, but I think, regardless of whether the Iran deal is the
    best way or not the best way to deal with Iran's nuclear
    program, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the MEK for bringing
    this information to the world and causing the United States and
    the world to focus on the problem.
        Approximately 3,000 MEK members residing in Camp Ashraf
    were transferred to Camp Liberty in 2012. The MEK members were
    protected by the U.S. military until we transferred authority
    to Iraq in 2009. Since then, the United Nations High
    Commissioner for Refugees, which has recognized the MEK as
    persons of concern and in need of international protection, has
    worked to resettle MEK members to various countries, including
    and especially Albania. Albania has already taken approximately
    1,000 MEK members and has committed to resettling an additional
    2,000, and I commend the ranking member for his amendment that
    recognizes the important contribution Albania has made and has
    offered to make in the future.
        The Iraqis promised to provide security protection to the
    MEK members in Iraq after the U.S. transferred authority to the
    Iraqi Government. However, to date, they have not provided the
    necessary protection. We have a complicated relationship with
    the government in Baghdad. It is under siege, it relies on
    American support, and it should be called upon very strongly by
    the United States to meet its minimum human rights obligations
    to protect Camp Liberty. In 2015, an Iraqi Shiite militia
    launched rockets against Camp Liberty, killed 24 people,
    injured dozens, and of course the Iraqi Government did nothing.
        This resolution, and I commend Judge Poe for bringing it
    forward, details the history of violence against Camp Liberty
    residents, including the most recent attack in 2015. The
    resolution also calls on the Iraqi Government to improve
    security at Camp Liberty. In addition, H. Res. 650 calls on the
    U.S. Government to do a better job of pushing Iraq to uphold
    its promises and urges the U.S. Government to work with Albania
    and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in the resettlement
    process.
        I strongly support this resolution and the other bills that
    are part of the en bloc. And I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We now go to Mr. Dana Rohrabacher of California.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. It has been a black mark on our country on
    many occasions when we did not stick by the people who stuck by
    us. And I have an amendment to the bill that will be coming to
    the floor, or is on the floor today, talking about Dr. Afridi
    and how we have allowed him to lay and sit in a dungeon in
    Pakistan while we still give foreign aid and military equipment
    to the people who have incarcerated him. And these people, of
    course, are putting in jail and persecuting a man who helped us
    bring to justice the murderer of 3,000 Americans on 9/11.
        Well, what we have here today is a chance to make something
    right or to try to take a step in the right direction, reclaim
    some of our honor as a country. Those residents of Camp Liberty
    are part of an organization that have long opposed the mullah
    dictatorship in Iran. The reason they were in that camp and the
    reason that they had left Iran was because they opposed an
    enemy of the United States. The mullahs have made no beans
    about it, they believe the United States is the great Satan and
    are willing do to things and have done things that have caused
    the loss of life of Americans and have put our people in
    jeopardy. Yet, here again, we have let down the people who are
    putting their lives on the line for us and we have just let
    them drift.
        I think it is time we reclaim our honor, and I support this
    resolution, H. Res. 650. And if this does not work, let's just
    commit ourselves to saying the people of Camp Liberty put
    themselves on the line for us, they risked their lives for us,
    they are now in great danger, one way or the other we will move
    to save them. And if need be, we need to bring these people to
    the United States and let them be free from the threat of the
    mullahs who also threaten our own people.
        So this is the time for us to express solidarity with those
    brave souls who have expressed solidarity with the people of
    the United States in a desperate and a very dangerous
    situation.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher.
        We now go to Mr. Ted Deutch of Florida.
        Mr. Deutch. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman Royce and
    Ranking Member Engel, for holding today's markup and for
    advancing these important legislative efforts.
        I would like to speak about H. Con. Res. 129, which calls
    upon Germany to fully fund the needs of aging Holocaust
    survivors. I would like to start by thanking my friend,
    Chairman Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen, for partnering with me in this
    effort and for her longstanding commitment to championing the
    needs of Holocaust survivors.
        I also want to acknowledge the efforts of so many of our
    constituents, Ms. Ros-Lehtinen's and my own, who have on their
    own come to Washington over the years to talk about the
    difficulties that they and so many other face. In particular,
    Jack Rubin, a constituent and friend who has testified in this
    body before, deserves thanks for his tireless advocacy on
    behalf of survivors.
        One of the great privileges I have serving in Congress is
    representing a large number of Holocaust survivors, and earlier
    this month I attended a Yom HaShoah, a Holocaust Remembrance
    Day ceremony in my district. I have been attending the
    ceremonies for more than a decade and every year there are more
    and more empty seats. A constituent of mine recently told me
    that it feels like every day he gets a call to attend another
    funeral of a survivor.
        In short, the survivor population is aging and their needs
    are increasing. Unfortunately for the roughly 100,000 survivors
    living in the United States, tens of thousands of them live in
    poverty. They cannot afford and thus do not receive sufficient
    medical care, home care, and other vital life-sustaining
    services.
        Today, we have a chance to ensure that this population,
    these survivors who made it through the darkest time in
    history, can live out their lives with the dignity they so
    deserve.
        For decades, the German Government has remained committed
    to funding survivor needs through annual negotiations and
    appropriations, and we appreciate this ongoing commitment. I
    know that this is an issue that Chancellor Merkel cares deeply
    about as she has personally reaffirmed that commitment to me.
        Unfortunately, despite the payments of the German
    Government throughout the years, significant gaps in survivor
    care remain, and German officials have acknowledged this
    shortfall. The shortfall is the most dramatic when it comes to
    home care. For survivors, the need to stay in their homes as
    they age is critical. As they approach their late 80s and 90s
    and beyond, they rely more on home care services.
        Under the current system home care is capped so that even
    the most infirm, isolated, and poor Nazi victims can receive
    only a maximum of 25 hours of home care. This amounts to 5
    hours a day, 5 days a week.
        In addition, current funding is inadequate to provide for
    additional hours. Take, for example, a constituent of mine who
    is 91 years old and survived Bergen-Belsen. He fell last month
    and suffered a fracture, followed by rehabilitation. He likely
    needs a bone procedure on his back due to the recent fall and
    he has suffered from other debilitating circumstances in the
    past that have limited his mobility ever since.
        He requires assistance with all activities of daily living.
    He and his wife share a total of 48 hours a week home care. But
    as a result of the recent circumstances and his overall medical
    history, he needs round-the-clock care, and it is, frankly,
    unconscionable that he does not receive it and that his hours
    are limited.
        Now, many of those who survived also lack family support to
    help them with their daily needs. They need transportation to
    doctor's appointments or help preparing meals. They deserve to
    be able to access the most basic care. They deserve to be able
    to meet their mental and medical health needs.
        Now, thankfully--thankfully--we have the opportunity right
    now to alleviate the suffering of Holocaust survivors. There
    are negotiations ongoing right now with the German Government.
    And this is possibly the last opportunity for Germany to
    reaffirm its commitment to comprehensively address the unique
    health and welfare needs of vulnerable Holocaust victims by
    increasing funding for survivor care so that every survivor can
    have his or her needs met.
        Now, no amount of money can ever erase the horrors faced by
    Nazi victims, but there is a moral responsibility to ensure
    that they can receive the vital services and the medical care
    to live out the remainder of their days with dignity and in
    comfort.
        Mr. Chairman, the resolution before us today urges the
    German Government to fulfill its moral and financial commitment
    to the victims of the Holocaust. It puts Congress on record
    declaring that the time to act is now and we will fight and
    watch until this is done. No more limitations on home care
    hours. Fund the needs, all of them. Complete the negotiations.
    The time for meaningful action is now. And I urge my colleagues
    to support this resolution.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Deutch.
        Congressman Joe Wilson from South Carolina.
        Mr. Wilson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am grateful that
    once again, with your leadership and the ranking member, this
    committee is considering multiple pieces of bipartisan
    legislation.
        House Concurrent Resolution 129, sponsored by Chairman
    Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen, is particularly important to ensuring
    that victims of the Holocaust are able to live comfortable and
    happy lives. This legislation also urges the Federal Republic
    of Germany to ensure adequate resources to address the unique
    medical needs that these individuals face due to their horrific
    experiences during the Second World War. The United States must
    never forget the tragedy of the Holocaust and do all that we
    can to ensure that the rest of the world does not either.
        Next, I am grateful that the Senate version of the Global
    Food Security Act of 2016 continues to address this critically
    important issue, increasing accountability and congressional
    oversight of foreign assistance meant to address food shortages
    abroad. One of the great challenges that developing nations
    have and face is the health and well-being of their citizens.
    It is particularly encouraging to see Congress acting to help
    our friends and allies abroad.
        Today, the committee is also taking important steps, with
    the leadership of our chairman, in recognizing the cooperation
    between the United States and Singapore; protecting Iranian
    dissidents, with the leadership of Judge Ted Poe; and imposing
    sanctions against human rights abusers. I applaud the great
    work behind this legislation and urge their passage. And I
    yield back my time.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania.
        Mr. Boyle. I thank the chairman and ranking member for
    taking up today's measures. I would like to speak on one of
    them in particular, H. Con. Res. 129, introduced by
    Subcommittee Chairwoman Ros-Lehtinen and Ranking Member Deutch.
    I thank both of them for introducing this legislation and I am
    proud to cosponsor it as it has an important impact for my
    district of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, PA, which has a
    significant population of Holocaust survivors, a number of whom
    are personal friends.
        This resolution urges Germany to provide increased
    assistance for the most critical needs of Holocaust survivors.
    While I appreciate Germany's financial and moral commitment to
    Holocaust survivors thus far, even German officials admit that
    current gaps in assistance exist today.
        Constituents of mine, a married couple age 86 and 93 who
    are Holocaust survivors, reside in a two-story row house with
    stair glides provided by the Jewish Family and Children Service
    of Philadelphia through the Claims Conference. Their two
    children reside out of State. The husband has been having
    significant physical and cognitive decline over the past few
    years. His attending needs are great, but they are not medical
    at this time. He should be able to remain safely in his home
    with enough support.
        His wife is unable to attend to most of his needs due to
    her own aging issues. The greatest issue for her husband is
    that he is a fall risk due to strength and ambulation issues.
    He is also suffering from wartime nightmares and wakes up
    through the night and needs to be calmed down. His wife cannot
    do this as she must get sleep, lack of sleep greatly affecting
    her own health.
        So if JFCS of Philadelphia was able to provide more hours
    of home care for them both, they would have an aide take care
    of both of their needs. Her needs are suffering as a result of
    her taking care of his needs.
        The Holocaust survivor population is aging. They are now in
    their 80s and 90s. It is important to acknowledge that an
    estimated 100,000 Holocaust survivors live in the United States
    and--and I think this is the most galling statistic--nearly
    half of all Holocaust survivors live below the poverty line.
    Let's make sure these brave survivors live out their lives in
    dignity. And I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Judge Ted Poe of Texas.
        Mr. Poe. I thank the chairman, and I would like to discuss
    a matter that we have discussed a lot since 2009, and that is
    the folks, the good folks in, first, Camp Ashraf, and then Camp
    Liberty, who, while they have been in these camps, bad things
    have happened to them.
        Every time we meet, it seems that there have been more
    assaults, more murders, more rocket attacks against these folks
    who have lived in these two areas. Many of them are here today.
    Their families are in Camp Liberty. Some of their families have
    been killed since 2009. And I admire their perseverance.
        But there are about 2,000 members of the Iranian opposition
    movement MEK. Once again, they are unarmed and they live in
    Camp Liberty, Iraq. They live there because they have been
    forced out of Iran, a country that tolerates no political
    opposition, and if they were to be returned to Iran they would
    be killed.
        The mullahs in Iran fear and hate the MEK. MEK basically
    just wants freedom in Iran, free elections. But it turns out
    that the long arms of the mullahs in Tehran reach out to Iraq,
    where these folks have been for a long time. Last October,
    residents came under intense rocket attacks in Iraq. Twenty-
    four people were killed, dozens of others were injured, and the
    IRGC claimed the assault and warned that more would follow.
        These kinds of attacks--there have been seven, if I can
    remember correctly, on the people in the MEK that live in
    Iraq--have claimed the lives of 140 people. Not one person has
    been held accountable for these murders. Not one person has
    been arrested or gone to jail for these murders that occurred
    in these camps. Thirteen hundred others have been injured and
    seven have been kidnapped. The residents live in constant fear
    of another attack. Their only crime is opposing the tyrants in
    Iran.
        H. Res. 650 condemns these attacks. I want to thank the
    ranking member for his amendment that makes this resolution
    even better. But the resolution condemns the attacks and urges
    the Iraqi Government to bring those responsible to justice.
        Those in the Iraqi Government who claim links to the IRGC
    should not be put in charge of the camp. Several years ago,
    Chairman Rohrabacher and myself went to Iraq and we wanted to
    see Camp Ashraf, and the Government of Iraq was so irate that
    we wanted to visit what was happening in the camp before they
    were moved to Liberty that Chairman Rohrabacher and myself were
    told to leave Iraq. We were evicted, kicked out of the country.
    That is how much support the Iraqi Government gives to the
    mullahs in Iran about the camps. Of course, we didn't leave. We
    stayed anyway and did what we wanted to do. But that shows you
    the Government of Iraq's position on that, because we just
    merely wanted to see for ourselves the living conditions of
    these, I think, very patriotic people.
        So Iraq is not a safe place for those residents. They
    should be resettled to a third country. As Iran's influence
    continues to grow in the region, we must show our strong
    support for these dissidents. They want freedom for their
    fellow countrymen, but for the last 30 years that pursuit has
    cost them and they have had to flee the country they love and
    lose many of their family members. We should do all we can to
    urge their protection.
        It is important that the Government of Iraq allow the
    residents to sell the property at Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf.
    It is their property. It does not belong to the Government of
    Iraq. And once again, I want to thank Ranking Member Engel for
    his amendment that makes this clear. As it stands now, the
    Iraqi Government is only allowing the residents to take the
    clothes that they are wearing on their back. They can't even
    take their laptop computers. This is their property. It doesn't
    belong to Iraq. And the folks that leave Camp Liberty and go
    other places should be allowed to take their personal property
    whatever country that they go to. This is only right. Justice
    demands this. So I thank the chairman and the ranking member
    for their support of this legislation, this resolution, and I
    hope that we don't have to meet again and there are more
    casualties in Liberty because we have not helped get these good
    folks resettled to another country.
        I yield back. Thanks for the remaining time.
        Chairman Royce. Well, thank you for your eloquence on this
    issue, Mr. Poe, but also thank you for introducing it.
        Are there any other members seeking time?
        Mr. Chabot of Ohio.
        Mr. Chabot. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be brief. And I
    am supportive of H. Res. 650 and 129, but I will speak briefly
    on H. Res. 374.
        As former chair of the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee, I
    always paid very close attention to the U.S.-Singapore
    relationship, and it is a very tiny country who really holds
    exceptional importance to the U.S. We have a longstanding
    security relationship with Singapore, and our commercial ties
    with them have strengthened significantly over the past half
    century.
        I think that this link in all likelihood is only going to
    intensify as the global economy further intertwines and our
    partners in the Asia Pacific place greater emphasis on an
    American presence there to help combat growing maritime
    threats, specifically from the PRC, from China. As we know,
    they are not only building islands now, much to the chagrin of
    their neighbors from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, et
    cetera, but they are actually militarizing those islands right
    now. And this administration has done not very much, virtually
    nothing of substance to push back on this, which is a real
    shame.
        This legislation recognizes the importance of ensuring a
    strong U.S.-Singapore strategic partnership that encourages
    regional stability and highlights the significance of the U.S.-
    Singapore economic relationship. The bill promotes greater
    cooperation on cybersecurity and information-sharing efforts,
    both issues that are exceptionally relevant to protecting the
    region, both militarily and economically. So I am very
    supportive of this one in particular and the other ones that I
    mentioned and urge my colleagues to support them. And yield
    back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        Hearing no further requests for recognition, are there any
    further amendments? Hearing none, the Chair moves that the
    committee adopt the items considered en bloc.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All opposed, no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the
    measures considered en bloc are agreed to. And without
    objection, the measures considered en bloc are ordered
    favorably reported, as amended, and staff is directed to make
    any technical and conforming changes.
        Also, without objection, the Chair is authorized to seek
    House consideration of those measures under suspension of the
    rules.
        Moving on to our final measure, I now call up Senate bill
    284, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
    Without objection, the Senate-passed text of S. 284, as
    modified by Royce 102, the bipartisan manager's amendment
    provided previously, will be considered base text for purposes
    of amendment.
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        Chairman Royce. After recognizing myself and the ranking
    member, I will be pleased to recognize any member seeking
    recognition to speak on the underlying bill before we move on
    to the amendments.
        Now, this bill, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
    Accountability Act, authorizes sanctions against foreign
    nationals responsible for significant corruption or responsible
    for gross violations of internationally recognized human rights
    which are committed against individuals seeking to promote
    human rights or to expose government corruption.
        Today's manager's amendment strengthens the Senate text,
    specifically, the amendment requires that any sanctions
    recommendations made to the President must have the support
    from both the chair and the ranking member of the requesting
    committee. By mandating a joint referral, this bill ensures
    bipartisan support for any action the President may take.
        In addition, the amendment brings the Senate text into
    compliance with House rules regarding sunsets. The inclusion of
    a sunset to this legislation ensures that Congress has the
    opportunity and has the responsibility to review the
    application of sanctions authority after 3 years of being on
    the books.
        I want to thank the ranking member and others who worked
    with us to craft this amendment. I urge all members to support
    the bill's passage. And we will go to--yeah, Mr. Engel is on
    his way. Do any other members seek recognition?
        Mr. Rohrabacher.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. I rise in support of the legislation and
    what it is trying to accomplish. And let's make very clear that
    I have a long track record of supporting efforts by our
    Government in the area of civil liberties and especially in
    terms of opposing kleptocracies and violent dictatorships, et
    cetera. And in this case, what we are actually trying to do is
    right. We are putting in place a mechanism in order to make
    sure that those people who control other countries and have
    committed major human rights abuses don't get off scot-free,
    and that is a good thing.
        And let me just note that my amendment that will be coming
    up afterwards does not in any way disagree with the purpose of
    the bill. I will be voting for the bill. But my amendment will
    question as to whether or not the title should include a
    specific name of a case.
        So I rise in support of this legislation. I think it is
    what Americans should be for. That is standing up to gangsters
    and brutes overseas who commit violent acts and are engaged
    with human rights abuses. However, there is a question about
    the name, which I will be bringing up in an amendment later on.
        So thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher.
        Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island.
        Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to begin by
    thanking you and Ranking Member Engel for holding this markup
    today.
        As always, I am pleased that this committee has come
    together in a spirit of bipartisanship to pass legislation that
    deals with a variety of important issues and was very proud to
    cosponsor the bills we just passed that were introduced and
    passed in a bipartisan way. And I appreciate the opportunity to
    speak this morning in strong support of the Global Magnitsky
    Human Rights Accountability Act, the bill introduced in the
    Senate by Senator Cardin and here in the House by our colleague
    Chris Smith.
        This important legislation builds upon the achievements of
    the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which was signed
    into law in 2012, and has been an important tool in targeting
    those in the Russian Government who are complicit in the death
    and subsequent coverup of Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.
        The Global Magnitsky bill authorizes the executive branch
    to impose sanctions against individuals responsible for gross
    human rights violations against persons seeking to expose
    government corruption or promote human rights and freedoms. By
    expanding the scope of the sanctions beyond the Russian
    Government, this legislation sends an important message to
    those who seek to suppress human rights around the world that
    they will not be able to benefit from the U.S. financial system
    or travel to this country if they partake in gross abuses or
    corruption, which, unfortunately, we have seen with increasing
    regularity around the world in recent years.
        I commend the leadership of Senator Cardin and of my
    colleague Congressman Smith in introducing this legislation and
    getting us to this point.
        According to Freedom House, freedom around the world has
    been in steady decline for 10 years, and 2015 had the steepest
    decline yet. The war in Syria, the resulting refugee crisis,
    the rise of extremism have all contributed to crackdowns in the
    name of so-called security and a general decline of human
    rights in every region of the world.
        I am particularly concerned by the uptick in abuses against
    vulnerable populations who are already at grave risk in many
    countries. In particular, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
    transgender communities around the world have experienced
    horrific violence and violations of basic human rights that
    puts individuals in these categories at grave risk for injury
    or death simply because of who they are.
        Yesterday, the world commemorated the International Day
    Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is
    dedicated to raising awareness of the terrible discrimination,
    violence, and other violations committed against LGBT
    communities around the world. To be clear, we are not talking
    about marriage or bathroom laws in the international context.
    LGBT people abroad face horrific persecution, threats, constant
    harassment, lack of access to health care, marginalization,
    violence, and death because of their status or perceived status
    of being gay, lesbian, or transgender.
        Some illustrations. In The Gambia and sub-Saharan Africa,
    President Yahya Jammeh has threatened to personally ``slit the
    throats'' of gay men found in his country and has arrested and
    tortured a number of gay men, including one who was beaten so
    badly in detention he needed to be hospitalized. In Indonesia,
    this year the Defense Minister publicly called the LGBT
    community a threat that must be defeated with ``kind of modern
    warfare.'' Last year in Brazil, a transgender teen was beaten
    to death and two Sao Paulo police officers implicated in her
    death were freed because the judge did not believe they
    ``seemed like criminals.''
        Numerous reports of horrific murders of allegedly gay men
    have come out of territories controlled by the Islamic State,
    including men being thrown off tall buildings, then stoned to
    death by crowds incited by homophobic rhetoric. In Russia, the
    Duma is considering legislation to follow up on its infamous
    anti-homosexual propaganda bill with legislation making it
    illegal to come out as gay, punishable with jail time.
        Unfortunately, I could go on and on with additional
    examples.
        Because of the particularly heinous nature of the
    violations routinely committed against LGBT communities around
    the world, I intended to offer an amendment to this legislation
    clarifying that the persecution of the LGBT individuals and
    those protecting their rights are included in the abuses
    sanctionable by this legislation. However, it is my
    understanding, after speaking with our chairman on this
    subject, that he agrees with my assessment that these rights
    are, indeed, included in the legislation.
        And with that, I would probably yield before I conclude to
    the chairman.
        Chairman Royce. Well, yes, thank you for raising this
    point.
        Certainly, around the world we have witnessed some truly
    severe human rights violations, some directed at people solely
    on the basis of their professed or perceived sexual orientation
    or gender. In a number of African countries, gay people are at
    risk of being killed or jailed for life, and in places like
    Russia and Iran, we see authorities trying to ban even the
    discussion of sexual orientation. And, of course, there was the
    brutal murder of a USAID employee and gay rights activist in
    Bangladesh just last month. This was an abhorrent crime.
        And I want to make clear that the internationally
    recognized human rights referenced in the Global Magnitsky Act
    apply to all people, including those who identify as LGBT, and
    the committee is planning a hearing for later this year on the
    alarming threats to fundamental human rights worldwide.
        So I look forward to working with the gentleman on that,
    and today it is important that we advance this legislation that
    promises to improve human rights of all.
        Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I thank you for
    your consideration of this. I look forward to working with you
    and other members of this committee to ensure that the rights
    of LGBT individuals and other vulnerable minorities receive due
    consideration here at the committee, and I think a hearing on
    this matter would be a great step forward. And with that, I
    yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        Other members seeking recognition?
        Mr. Higgins.
        Mr. Higgins. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you, Ranking Member
    Engel. Thank you for holding this important markup today. I am
    pleased that we will be considering House Resolution 650, a
    resolution introduced by Congressman Ted Poe, which would
    reiterate our strong commitment to the residents of Camp
    Liberty by providing for their safety and expedited
    resettlement.
        Since 2009, seven attacks at Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf
    have killed 140 residents, with over 1,000 wounded. Despite
    pledges to provide for their safety, the Government of Iraq has
    failed to live up to this commitment and some of its forces may
    have been complicit in these attacks.
        Approximately 2,000 residents of Camp Liberty are currently
    awaiting resettlement by the United Nations High Commissioner
    for Refugees. We must work with the U.N. and the Iraqi
    Government to expeditiously relocate these individuals before
    any more harm befalls them. In the interim, the Government of
    Iraq must provide for the safety and security of this
    vulnerable population.
        I look forward to the passage of this resolution. I yield
    back the balance of my time.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Higgins.
        Other members seeking recognition?
        Mr. Engel.
        Mr. Engel. Mr. Chairman, again, thank you for convening
    this markup. I also want to thank you for bringing forward our
    last bill, the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability
    Act. This is a product of many years of hard work by
    Representatives Smith and McGovern here in the House and by
    Senators Cardin and McCain in the Senate.
        This bill would authorize the President to sanction foreign
    individuals who commit gross violations of human rights, as
    well as government officials involved in significant acts of
    corruption. It would allow the chairs and ranking members of
    relevant congressional committees to send names of potential
    violators to the administration, and requires a determination
    of whether those people meet the criteria for sanctions.
        This measure builds on the 2012 Magnitsky Act, which
    created a similar process for people inside Russia. This
    legislation would send a powerful message that human rights
    abusers and corruption aren't just internal matters, they are
    the concern of all countries, and they should not be permitted
    to go on with impunity.
        So I urge support for this important legislation. Thank
    you, again, Mr. Chairman. Thank you to all our members. I yield
    back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Engel.
        We now go to Mr. Brad Sherman of Los Angeles.
        Mr. Sherman. First, I want to commend the gentleman from
    Rhode Island for focusing on LGBT rights, and especially thank
    the chairman for his comments, the colloquy, and the upcoming
    hearing. LGBT rights are human rights.
        I heard the gentleman from Orange County on the name
    ``Magnitsky'' being in the bill. On the one hand, this bill
    really isn't focused on Magnitsky or on Russia. It deals with
    our human rights approach worldwide. And the Magnitsky case is
    inspiring to many. I know the gentleman from California
    believes that some of what we believe about that case is not
    true. But I would point out that there are many other inspiring
    cases.
        On the other hand, the author of a bill who works so hard
    on it usually gets to suggest a title. This bill has gone
    through the Senate, has been the product of all the Senators
    and House Members that the chair named. So I realize the
    gentleman from California feels strongly that Magnitsky's name
    should not be part of the title and look forward to the
    comments of our colleagues here on that issue.
        Chairman Royce. Does the member have an amendment at the
    desk? And I am not suggesting that the gentleman should offer
    an amendment. I am just commenting that he makes an interesting
    point, and I see both sides of that point. And I am not trying
    to inspire any action by any member.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. I have an amendment at the desk.
        Chairman Royce. The clerk will report the amendment.
        Ms. Marter. Amendment to S. 284, offered by Mr. Rohrabacher
    of California, page 2, line 2, strike ``Magnitsky.''
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        Chairman Royce. The Chair recognizes the author to explain
    the amendment.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. Yes, my amendment is very simple. I mean,
    it would change the name of the bill simply by removing the
    word ``Magnitsky'' from the bill. So we would then call it the
    Global Human Rights Accountability Act, which is more accurate
    than to put ``Magnitsky'' in the middle of that. I mean, the
    fact is this bill isn't just about Russia. It is about setting
    an international standard. By putting ``Magnitsky'' in the
    title, we are taking a gratuitous slap at Russia and we are
    confusing people about the real purpose of this bill.
        The purpose of this bill is not just to attack Russia. We
    already have legislation doing that, specifically on Magnitsky.
    And basically, we should be very proud that we are setting an
    international standard and not confuse it by adding one case.
    Let's note about this case, there has been a lot of talk about
    it. It is confusing. We need to look into this and ask some
    serious questions before we just accept what is being handed to
    us.
        In the 1990s, Russia was in economic chaos as it shifted
    from state control to a market economy. At this time, you had
    very notorious characters arise in Russia and coming from
    outside of Russia to exploit that situation for their own
    situation. We saw the rise of oligarchs who were not just
    Russians, but other people as well, and they ended up walking
    away with billions of dollars. Some of these foreigners,
    including Mr. Browder, who was Mr. Magnitsky's boss, walked
    away with billions of dollars. Let me note that Mr. Browder is
    not a U.S. citizen. He gave up his citizenship at a time to
    shield himself from major tax liabilities. So we have people
    there.
        And I notice that he sent a letter to us talking about
    kleptocracy, and here is a man himself who made billions of
    dollars in the middle of this chaos. And there is a major
    question--and that is what this whole issue is about--as to
    whether $230 million worth of taxes the Russian Government
    deserved from those billions of dollars made by Mr. Browder,
    whether or not those--that he legitimately paid this or whether
    or not he was trying to shield that.
        Mr. Magnitsky was the man who helped keep his books. He was
    arrested. And the question is whether or not what he went
    through and the horrible confinement that he was kept in and
    treatment that he was given was the Russians trying to find
    out--have him say where is the money that Browder hid, or is it
    that he had some information that showed corruption on the part
    of the Russians. And I will have to say that it is possible
    either one of those explanations could be true, but we don't
    know enough.
        I would put for the record, submit for the record now, Mr.
    Chairman, an article from The New Republic and an article from
    The Wall Street Journal that calls into question this account
    that we have been told over and over again.
        Let me note that there was a major, one of the most
    respected documentary filmmakers, an anti-Putin documentary
    filmmaker from Russia who started to do research on this and
    was going to have a documentary condemning the Russian
    Government on this, and he came away after the investigation
    changing his basic belief and believing instead that Mr.
    Browder has actually had a PR campaign to cover up some of his
    own activities in escaping this tax liability.
        So let me just note that also Mr. Browder has, from what we
    are told, and there is evidence that indicates, that he has
    threatened to sue NBC for a documentary that says something
    else than what he would like presented about this Magnitsky
    case.
        So let me just say, this is a confusing situation and there
    are serious questions that need to be addressed, and there is
    no reason, as I say, when we are setting up this global
    standard, that we need to include another factor that adds
    confusion to the purpose of the case.
        So with that said, I would ask my colleagues just, let's
    name this the Global Human Rights Accountability Act. We can be
    proud of that. I have always been a proud supporter of human
    rights measures throughout my career. And I think this
    actually, by doing this, we take away the confusion.
        And I think it is striking a blow to say what we want is an
    explanation, what we want to base this on is truth, not just
    some gratuitous slap at Russia by some, and at the same time
    backing up the claims of a guy who made billions of dollars at
    a time when Russia was economically confused.
        So with that, I would ask my colleagues to join me in what
    I consider to be a very rational and reasonable proposal, that
    we make this the Global Human Rights Accountability Act instead
    of the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher.
        Do any other members seek recognition to speak on this
    amendment?
        Mr. Engel.
        Mr. Engel. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Let me first say, with respect to my good friend and
    classmate from California, I have to oppose this amendment.
    Sergei Magnitsky was a lawyer who worked to shine a light on
    corruption, fraud, and theft by authorities inside Russia. As
    we well know, opponents of Russia's increasingly authoritarian
    regime don't get the benefits of due process or rule of law. So
    he was thrown in prison, held for a year with no trial, denied
    medical care, subjected to horrific conditions, and beaten by
    prison guards in the final hours of his life. His basic rights
    and dignity were pushed aside when he was dying in a Russian
    prison cell, but now his name and his story have become
    synonymous with efforts to advance human rights and fight
    corruption.
        There is a good reason we put his name on a law years ago,
    and we should reject any attempt to revise history or sweep it
    under the rug. We should not be apologists for Putin. We should
    not be worried about offending Putin or his incredibly more and
    more authoritarian regime. Let the chips fall where they may.
        Stripping's Magnitsky name from this bill dishonors his
    work and diminishes the tragedy of his death. So with all due
    respect to my good friend, I urge my colleagues to oppose this
    amendment.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Other members seeking recognition?
        General.
        Mr. Perry. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        While I have the consummate respect for my good friend from
    California, I must disagree with him on this particular issue.
    And I think that it is a good thing any single time that we
    highlight the atrocities, whether they are imposed on one
    individual or millions of individuals, by the Russian state, by
    the U.S.S.R., the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. And any
    time we can highlight things like the Katyn Forest massacre of
    thousands of Poles or the Terror-Famine in Ukraine, up to 6
    million Ukrainians murdered by the Soviet Union and the Russian
    dictators, I think it is a good thing.
        And so with those reasons in mind, I will oppose this
    amendment and urge my colleagues to do the same.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, General Perry.
        Mr. Albio Sires.
        Mr. Sires. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        And I really appreciate all your hard work, especially on
    this bill, but I must disagree with my colleague from
    California. I think to worry about what Russia feels about
    this, the name of this bill, when they are just moving away
    from democracy and becoming more dictatorial every day, I
    really do not agree with removing this name. If we remove this
    name, maybe we should add Fidel Castro to the bill. That may be
    more appropriate.
        Thank you.
        Mr. Connolly. Would my friend yield?
        Mr. Sires. Absolutely.
        Mr. Connolly. I thank my friend.
        My friend from California knows how much I do respect him
    and like him. But I felt listening to him like I was watching
    RT, Russian Television.
        His argument is essentially three points. Well, there is a
    lot of confusion over the circumstances. We don't know whether
    he was beaten to death because he was himself corrupt or they
    were trying to get intelligence out of him, as if that could
    ever be justified.
        Secondly, it is a gratuitous slap at Vladimir Putin and
    Russia. Actually, of course, it is the very opposite. It is
    calling them out for behavior that absolutely fails even the
    minimal standards of international norms with respect to
    jurisprudence and protection of those in custody.
        Thirdly, with his billions, being an oligarch, who knows,
    maybe there were lots of reasons to justify this. There can
    never be any reasons to justify it.
        I would make the opposite argument of my friend from
    California. We must put this name on this bill. We must make it
    clear to Vladimir Putin and his friends in Russia that there
    are international standards we will adhere to and insist they
    adhere to.
        And so I think we have to reject this amendment on its face
    overwhelmingly and make a collective statement from this
    committee, on behalf of this Congress, that we take note and
    that we are not going to let up, and that unacceptable behavior
    by Mr. Putin, whether it be in the Crimea or in a prison cell
    involving Sergei Magnitsky, you will adhere to civilized
    international norms of behavior because we are going to insist
    on it. And when you don't, we are going to call you out.
        I yield back.
        Mr. Cicilline. Mr. Connolly, will you yield?
        Mr. Connolly. The time is Mr. Sires'.
        Mr. Sires. Yes, I yield.
        Chairman Royce. The gentleman yields.
        Mr. Cicilline.
        Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I too oppose this amendment and encourage my colleagues to
    vote against it. And I just want to say that I thank my good
    friend, Mr. Rohrabacher, actually for giving us an opportunity
    to again remind people about the circumstances of this case and
    the naming of this legislation.
        There are really no doubts about the veracity of the case
    of Sergei Magnitsky, who was only 37 years old when he was
    killed in Russian Government custody after exposing wide-scale
    corruption and tax fraud by Russian officials. After arresting
    Mr. Magnitsky for the crimes he exposed, they allowed him to
    die in horrific circumstances.
        The Russian Government then continued its campaign of
    smears and vilification, turning on Magnitsky's boss, Bill
    Browder, after he refused to let the case simply disappear.
    They convicted Bill Browder in absentia of the tax evasion that
    Magnitsky had led the charge to uncover. And even more galling,
    they had the audacity to convict Mr. Magnitsky posthumously; in
    fact, the first such prosecution in Russian history.
        The Russian Government has had no shame when it comes to
    the case of Sergei Magnitsky, the details of which have been
    pored over, verified by multiple sources, and verified again.
    To allow the Russian Government any modicum of influence over
    this legislation, including its name, would be shameful and
    would dishonor the work of Mr. Magnitsky, Mr. Browder, and all
    of those men and women in Russia and around the world who fight
    against corruption and human rights abuses.
        I have here a Daily Beast article published today which
    outlines the length the Russian Government has gone to, to
    discredit, smear, and vilify Mr. Magnitsky and to oppose this
    legislation. And with the chairman's permission, I would like
    to submit it for the record.
        And I urge my colleagues to oppose this amendment and
    support the underlying legislation, the Global Magnitsky Human
    Rights Accountability Act.
        Chairman Royce. Without objection, subject to the length
    limitations and committee rules, all members have general leave
    to submit related materials for the record.
        Mr. Chabot. Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Chabot seeks recognition.
        Mr. Chabot. Mr. Chairman, move to strike the last word.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Chabot, you are recognized.
        Mr. Chabot. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, it doesn't mean I
    support his amendment, but I yield my time to the gentleman
    from California.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. Thank you very much for yielding that
    time. And by the way, thank you for your expressions of
    friendship and respect for differences of opinion. That is all
    right. We are in a country where we do respect each other when
    we have disagreements and that is one of the things that makes
    our country great.
        Back to this particular issue, I will just have to say that
    there is ample evidence, enough evidence that major magazines,
    like New Republic and The Wall Street Journal, have called into
    question the details of this case as to whether or not what is
    being presented is not something that has been a major effort
    on the part of a multi-billionaire who made his profit at a
    time when there was chaos and confusion in Russia and basically
    became one of the oligarchs.
        What we should be talking about is basically, when we are
    talking about whether this title is appropriate, what are our
    standards of truth in this case? Do we know absolutely what the
    truth is? And I am saying that there are enough people who are
    credible.
        And the fact that we have Mr. Browder threatening a major
    television network in the United States, threatening them with
    a lawsuit if they have any major documentary on this issue. We
    also have a man who is renowned in Russia for making
    documentaries that oppose Putin, who launched an effort to do a
    documentary on Mr. Magnitsky. And guess what, as he went on, he
    began to realize it did not make any sense, the story that was
    being presented, which is that Magnitsky was being kept because
    he was exposing some Russians, government officials of
    corruption, as compared to he was being held because the
    Russian Government knew that there was $230 million in a tax
    liability that they did not have the funds that Mr. Browder was
    eligible, that was his tax liability.
        So I think that this is a murky issue. It is not cut and
    dry. And I know that over and over again it has been repeated
    that it is cut and dry and it is not. And I have tried to be an
    honest person myself, and the bottom line is that we, by taking
    this name out, in no way are we changing the standard of what
    we have and what our Government is going to have when it comes
    to this type of behavior of foreign officials.
        The downside of this, let me be very clear about this, the
    Russians feel it is a gratuitous slap just at them. And because
    of that, they have changed a law in Russia dealing with
    Americans' ability to adopt children, Russian children. Now, I
    would oppose them doing that, but that is what they did. And
    there is a side effect to this that is harming some children
    and some people here who would like to adopt Russian children
    who are in very much in need, and it is based not on trying to
    force us to change our standards, but at least trying to force
    us to take what they considered a gratuitous slap out of the
    title of the bill.
        So with that said----
        Mr. Connolly. Would my friend yield for a question?
        Mr. Rohrabacher. I certainly will.
        Mr. Connolly. The name of the bill is the Magnitsky bill,
    not the Browder bill. Is that not correct?
        Mr. Rohrabacher. To the degree officially, that is correct.
        Mr. Connolly. Thank you.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. All right. But the name of the bill should
    be, instead of that, should be Human Rights Accountability Act
    and not anybody's name.
        So with that said, I yield back the balance of my time. I
    appreciate my colleague yielding the time to me, and I yield
    back to him.
        Mr. Chabot. Reclaiming my time, I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Do any other members seek recognition to
    speak on this amendment?
        Mr. Randy Weber of Texas.
        Mr. Weber. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        When Edward Snowden was running from American officials he
    landed in Moscow eventually. American officials pushed Putin to
    either extradite him to America or to kick him out of Russia.
    Putin commented that he didn't have any control over who was in
    Russia.
        Dana, you referenced The Wall Street Journal, so it
    reminded me that Dan Henninger in that article at that time
    said that that was ridiculous what Putin said because when
    Russian officials didn't want somebody in Russia, on Russian
    soil, they either removed him from it or put him under it. So
    that is their reputation.
        I yield to my friend from Pennsylvania.
        Mr. Perry. Thank you for yielding to my good friend from
    Texas.
        Just in response to my other good friend from California,
    which I must vehemently disagree with on this, when he says we
    are not sure of the facts, we are not sure of the facts, let me
    tell you what facts we are absolutely sure of. We are sure of
    the facts of the Terror-Famine in the 1930s where the Russian
    Government murdered by starvation up to 6 million Ukrainians
    and took their land. We are sure of the facts of the Katyn
    Forest massacre of World War II and the massacre of the Poles
    that were blamed on the Germans. We are sure of the facts of up
    to 45 million untimely deaths at the boot of communism and
    socialism under the Russian Government. And we are sure of the
    fact that Vladimir Putin is a former KGB agent and he is
    coalescing power not in a democratic way, but an authoritarian
    way, and is likely responsible for the untimely and unpleasant
    deaths of many that we don't know about. But we do know about
    this one.
        I think it is our duty to remind the American people every
    single day that we can, until they change their ways, what the
    Russian Government, what the U.S.S.R. has stood for, what
    Communism and Socialism has meant for the world, world over,
    since World War II.
        And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Do any other members seek recognition?
    Hearing no further requests for recognition, the question
    occurs on the amendment.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the noes have it, and the
    amendment is not agreed to.
        Are there any other requests for amendment at the desk.
    Hearing no further amendments, the Chair now moves that the
    committee agree to S. 284's amendment.
        All those in favor, say aye.
        All those opposed, no.
        In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and S. 284,
    as amended, is agreed to. Without objection, S. 284, 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 the Chairman is authorized
    to seek House consideration under suspension of the rules.
        So that concludes our business for today. I want to thank
    Ranking Member Engel and all of our committee members for their
    contributions and assistance with today's markup.
        The committee is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 11:22 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]

                                A P P E N D I X

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                       Material Submitted for the Record

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    Material submitted for the record by the Honorable Dana Rohrabacher, a
            Representative in Congress from the State of California

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     Material submitted for the record by the Honorable David Cicilline, a
           Representative in Congress from the State of Rhode Island

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