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





            CALLING FOR THE GLOBAL REPEAL OF BLASPHEMY LAWS

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

                                 MARKUP

                               BEFORE THE

                 SUBCOMMITTEE ON AFRICA, GLOBAL HEALTH,
                        GLOBAL HUMAN RIGHTS, AND
                      INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

                                 OF THE

                      COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                    ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS

                             SECOND SESSION

                                   ON

                              H. Res. 290

                               __________

                             JULY 14, 2016

                               __________

                           Serial No. 114-198

                               __________

        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 PUBLISHING OFFICE 

20-750PDF                     WASHINGTON : 2016 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
  For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing 
  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         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
                                 ------                                

    Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and 
                      International Organizations

               CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, Chairman
MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         KAREN BASS, California
CURT CLAWSON, Florida                DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island
SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee          AMI BERA, California
DANIEL DONOVAN, New York


















                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page

                               MARKUP ON

H. Res. 290, Calling for the global repeal of blasphemy laws.....     2
  Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute to H. Res. 290 offered 
    by the Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in 
    Congress from the State of New Jersey, and chairman, 
    Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, 
    and International Organizations..............................     9

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

Markup notice....................................................    18
Markup minutes...................................................    19
Markup summary...................................................    20
 
            CALLING FOR THE GLOBAL REPEAL OF BLASPHEMY LAWS

                              ----------                              


                        THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2016

                       House of Representatives,

                 Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health,

         Global Human Rights, and International Organizations,

                     Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                            Washington, DC.

    The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2 p.m., in 
room 2255 Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Christopher H. 
Smith (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
    Mr. Smith. The subcommittee will come to order and, 
pursuant to notice, we are here this afternoon to mark up an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 290 calling 
for the global repeal of blasphemy laws.
    Let me point out that the underlying resolution introduced 
by Congressman Joe Pitts and Sheila Jackson Lee is also co-
sponsored by Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Donovan, Mr. Meadows, and 
myself.
    Due to the strong bipartisan support for this measure, the 
fact that this subcommittee will reconvene following the markup 
for our hearing, as well as for scheduling other events, it is 
the intent of the Chairman to expedite consideration of the 
measure.
    All members have copies of the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute to H. Res. 290 before them.
    [The information referred to follows:]
    
    
    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
        
    Mr. Smith. After we have concluded our expedited 
consideration, I would be glad to recognize any member, if he 
would like to say a word or two or put it in the record for on 
behalf of this resolution.
    Before I do, I would note that there is one technical 
correction that needs to be made in the first whereas clause. 
Rather than ``International Declaration of Human Rights,'' it 
should read ``Universal Declaration of Human Rights.''
    All members are given leave to insert written remarks into 
the record, if they so choose to do so.
    Seeing that with the consent of Mr. Cicilline, by way of 
his staff, we have the requisite number of members present, 
without objection, the following amendment in the nature of a 
substitute to H. Res. 290, calling for the global repeal of 
blasphemy laws, is considered read.
    The Chair moves that the item be adopted. All those in 
favor say aye.
    Those opposed, no.
    The ayes have it. In the opinion of the Chair, the item is 
adopted without objection. The measure is amended.
    As reported favorably to the full committee, the staff is 
directed to make technical and conformative changes.
    The subcommittee markup is adjourned and I thank my 
friends, both of whom have to be at other hearings, Mark 
Meadows is chairing one right now, for making time to be here, 
as well as to Mr. Donovan.
    [Whereupon, at 2:11 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.]

                                     

                                     

                            A P P E N D I X

                              ----------                              


                   Material Submitted for the Record
                   
    [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]               
 
                                 [all]