[House Hearing, 114 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
FRANK R. WOLF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OF 2015; STRATEGY TO
OPPOSE PREDATORY ORGAN TRAFFICKING ACT; UNITED STATES-CARIBBEAN
STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT ACT OF 2016; REAFFIRMING THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
AND THE SIX ASSURANCES AS THE CORNERSTONE OF UNITED STATES-TAIWAN
RELATIONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORITY FOR THE SUCCESSORS AND
ASSIGNS OF THE STARR-CAMARGO BRIDGE COMPANY TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE A
TOLL BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE NEAR RIO GRANDE CITY, TEXAS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
=======================================================================
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
H.R. 1150, H.R. 3694, H.R. 4939,
H. Con. Res. 88 and S. 2143
__________
APRIL 20, 2016
__________
Serial No. 114-158
__________
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/
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______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
99-851PDF WASHINGTON : 2016
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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
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
MARKUP ON
H.R. 1150, To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of
1998 to improve the ability of the United States to advance
religious freedom globally through enhanced diplomacy,
training, counterterrorism, and foreign assistance efforts, and
through stronger and more flexible political responses to
religious freedom violations and violent extremism worldwide,
and for other purposes......................................... 2
Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1150 offered by
the Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in
Congress from the State of New Jersey........................ 45
H.R. 3694, To combat trafficking in human organs, and for other
purposes....................................................... 81
Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 3694 offered by
the Honorable David A. Trott, a Representative in Congress
from the State of Michigan................................... 100
Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
H.R. 3694 offered by the Honorable William Keating, a
Representative in Congress from the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts............................................ 109
H.R. 4939, To increase engagement with the governments of the
Caribbean region, the Caribbean diaspora community in the
United States, and the private sector and civil society in both
the United States and the Caribbean, and for other purposes.... 110
H. Con. Res. 88, Reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six
Assurances as the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations 118
Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Con. Res. 88
offered by the Honorable Steve Chabot, a Representative in
Congress from the State of Ohio.............................. 121
Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
H. Con. Res. 88 offered by the Honorable Gerald E.
Connolly, a Representative in Congress from the
Commonwealth of Virginia................................. 126
S. 2143, A bill to provide for the authority for the successors
and assigns of the Starr-Camargo Bridge Company to maintain and
operate a toll bridge across the Rio Grande near Rio Grande
City, Texas, and for other purposes............................ 127
LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC., SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD
APPENDIX
Markup notice.................................................... 146
Markup minutes................................................... 147
Markup summary................................................... 149
The Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in Congress
from the State of New Jersey: Prepared statement............... 150
The Honorable Joe Wilson, a Representative in Congress from the
State of South Carolina: Prepared statement.................... 151
The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly, a Representative in Congress
from the Commonwealth of Virginia: Material submitted for the
record......................................................... 152
FRANK R. WOLF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OF 2015; STRATEGY TO
OPPOSE PREDATORY ORGAN TRAFFICKING ACT; UNITED STATES-CARIBBEAN
STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT ACT OF 2016; REAFFIRMING THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
AND THE SIX ASSURANCES AS THE CORNERSTONE OF UNITED STATES-TAIWAN
RELATIONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORITY FOR THE SUCCESSORS AND
ASSIGNS OF THE STARR-CAMARGO BRIDGE COMPANY TO MAINTAIN AND OPERATE A
TOLL BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIO GRANDE NEAR RIO GRANDE CITY, TEXAS, AND FOR
OTHER PURPOSES
----------
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 2016
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:09 a.m., in
room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ed Royce
(chairman of the committee) presiding.
Chairman Royce. The committee will come to order.
Pursuant to notice, we meet today to mark up several
bipartisan measures. And without objection, all members may
have 5 days to submit statements or any extraneous material for
the record.
Consideration of S. 284 is being postponed, and as members
were notified yesterday, we intend to consider the other five
measures en bloc. And so without objection, the following items
previously provided to members will be considered en bloc and
are considered as read: H.R. 1150, the Frank Wolf International
Religious Freedom Act; Smith amendment 76 in the nature of a
substitute to this measure; also, H.R. 3694, the Strategy to
Oppose Predatory Organ Trafficking Act, along with Trott
amendment No. 8 in the nature of a substitute to this measure,
and the Keating amendment 63 to the Trott amendment; then we
have H.R. 4939, the U.S.-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of
2016; and we have House Concurrent Resolution 88, Reaffirming
the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as the
Cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan Relations, along with Chabot
amendment 36 in the nature of a substitute and the Connolly
amendment 72 to the Chabot amendment; and we have S. 2143,
Starr-Camargo Bridge Act, as passed by the Senate.
[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 member
seeking recognition to speak once on any of these measures.
I want to thank our Subcommittee Chairman Smith and his
more than 100 bipartisan cosponsors on their work on H.R. 1150,
the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act. Inspired by
years of oversight and multiple hearings, this bill updates the
International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to improve the
coordination and effectiveness of U.S. efforts to promote
religious liberty worldwide.
Eighteen years after that law was passed, freedom of
religion remains under threat not only by authoritarian regimes
obsessed with control, but also by new nonstate actors. ISIS,
Boko Haram, al-Shabaab have turned religious intolerance into a
murderous force of global instability. The right to believe and
practice according to the dictates of conscience is a direct
challenge to their very ideologies. And thus, it is not just a
human rights issue. It has become a global security issue.
By improving coordination, confronting nonstate actors, and
bettering reporting and training, this bill, 1150, is a helpful
refinement of our statutory commitment to combat religious
persecution around the world.
Moving on to House Concurrent Resolution 88, a resolution
reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as
the cornerstone of U.S.-Taiwan relations. Congress has long
championed a strong relationship with Taiwan through landmark
measures like the Taiwan Relations Act and through pressing
successive administrations to fulfill their obligation to sell
defensive arms to Taiwan.
Today, our committee is once again reaffirming the U.S.
commitment to Taiwan by upholding the Six Assurances as one of
the cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan policy, right alongside the
Taiwan Relations Act. And I want to thank Representative Steve
Chabot for offering this important measure and Representative
Connolly for his amendment stressing the role Congress has
played in fostering this critical relationship.
I also want to thank and recognize Representatives Trott
and Deutch for introducing H.R. 3694, the STOP Organ
Trafficking Act.
Organ trafficking has been reported in over 20 countries in
all regions of the world. Criminal organizations and terrorist
groups are increasingly engaging in this black market industry.
It is valued today as an industry at over $1 billion. ISIS
recently issued a ``fatwa'' sanctioning forced organ harvesting
from its captives and from apostates, that would be Yazidis or
Christians or Kurds or others who they believe are apostates to
their ideology. And traffickers smuggling refugees into Europe
have reportedly coerced organ donations as the payment now for
travel.
The U.S. has led the fight against human trafficking with
help from this committee and its members. This bill continues
that leadership by closing the gap in U.S. law that currently
fails to recognize organ trafficking as a form of human
trafficking. The legislation also supports voluntary organ
donation systems, authorizes the President to revoke passports
or deny visas for anyone convicted of organ trafficking crimes,
and requires annual reporting to Congress on actions by the
U.S. and other countries to combat organ trafficking.
And I want to address H.R. 4939, the United States-
Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act of 2016, and thank Ranking
Member Engel and Chairman Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen for their
leadership in advancing U.S. interests in the Western
Hemisphere.
For over a decade, countries in the Caribbean have been
largely beholden to Venezuelan oil subsidies in exchange for
their support of the authoritarian Venezuelan Government of
Hugo Chavez and now Nicolas Maduro. The United States has not
developed a comprehensive strategy of how best to engage this
region to enhance diplomatic relations, to help the region
improve energy security, to reduce violence and curb drug
trafficking, and advance cooperation on democracy and human
rights.
So this bill will require the State Department and USAID to
develop a comprehensive and clear strategy on best engaging the
Caribbean region. And the bill also requires the Government
Accountability Office to evaluate the Caribbean Basin Security
Initiative so that we can be sure we are advancing our
interests in the region using the best and most efficient
approach.
Lastly, we consider S. 2143, the Starr-Camargo Bridge Act.
Two weeks ago, the Senate unanimously passed this measure,
which was introduced by Senator Cornyn. And Representative
Cuellar here, of Texas, on the House side, has introduced an
identical version in this body.
This bill, the Senate bill 2143, will grant the Starr-
Camargo Bridge Company the permanent authority to operate and
maintain the international bridge that connects via the Rio
Grande City, Texas, and Monterrey, Mexico. This will give
Starr-Camargo the same authorities Congress has previously
given to other privately owned international bridges.
The bridge has seen continued growth in commercial traffic
since 2009, and it plays an important role in facilitating
trade and travel in the region. By granting this authority, we
are incentivizing Starr-Camargo to continue maintaining and
expanding the bridge's capacity to keep up with the growing
trade and commerce along the Texas border with Mexico.
And I want to thank both Representative Cuellar and
Representative Castro for their leadership in bringing this
measure forward for consideration here today.
I now recognize the ranking member for his remarks.
Mr. Engel. Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this
markup. We have a slate of good bipartisan measures that we are
taking up today. And thank you especially for calling up the
Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act, which I was proud to
introduce recently with Representative Ros-Lehtinen.
As this committee well knows, it is a big world with a lot
of challenges. Some are getting more attention than others. So
it is important to stay focused on our neighbors in the
Caribbean. These countries are profoundly important to the
United States. My own district in New York has a sizable
diaspora population from Caribbean countries, and I hear from
these proud and engaged communities very often.
This bill makes it clear that U.S.-Caribbean relations are
a major priority. It directs the State Department and USAID to
devise a multiyear strategy for engaging with Caribbean
governments. We want to put a particular focus on improving
energy security, strengthening the rule of law, reducing drug
trafficking, and enhancing economic cooperation.
We want to ramp up diplomatic engagement, especially when
it comes to key issues at the United Nations and the
Organization of American States and with the five Caribbean
countries where the United States still doesn't have Embassies,
and, I might add, should have Embassies as soon as possible.
We will end up with the best policy if we shape it in
consultation with many Caribbean American citizens in the
United States. It is a strength for us to have such a strong
and vibrant diaspora community. So this bill also calls for
revitalized outreach to this community, seeking greater input
on ideas for economic development and citizen security.
Mr. Chairman, again, thank you for moving this legislation
so quickly. I ask that all members support it.
Next, I will turn to Mr. Smith's International Religious
Freedom Act. I want to thank him for all his hard work on this
issue. Thank you, Mr. Smith.
The freedoms of thought, conscience, and religion are
enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet,
around the world, religious communities are subjected to
escalating violence and persecution. In the 21st century, it is
unacceptable for anyone to suffer discrimination because of how
they worship or, for that matter, if they choose not to worship
at all.
The United States has a responsibility to speak out when we
see basic freedoms under threat, and this bill will help the
administration promote religious freedom around the world. So I
support this bill, and I also support continuing to fully fund
the Human Rights and Democracy Fund for all human rights
abuses.
I will now turn to the bill offered by Mr. Trott and Mr.
Deutch aimed at cracking down on predatory organ trafficking.
This legislation would change our human trafficking law to
include the trafficking of persons for the removal of their
organs.
We don't know much about this crime. Who are the victims?
How do they get trapped by this illegal trade? What are
governments doing to halt the practice, track down those
responsible, and provide services to survivors? If this is a
pervasive problem, then, yes, of course, we must act.
This bill calls for a report on this crime so that we gain
a fuller understanding of the problem. While I have questions
about including these provisions as part of our global effort
to confront modern slavery, I am glad that we are working on
the issue.
Moving to Mr. Chabot's measure, I am happy to support his
resolution reaffirming the close ties between the United States
and Taiwan. This is an exciting time for the Taiwanese people.
Next month, a new President will be sworn in, the first woman
to be elected President there. I could add, so that the
Taiwanese are ahead of us by a few months. I had the pleasure
of meeting with her several times before the election, and I am
very hopeful for her success.
As Taiwan's democracy prepares for a political transition,
it is important that the United States signal our unwavering
support for Taiwan, for Taiwan's defense, for its participation
on the global stage, for its robust democracy. And so this
resolution reaffirms our commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act
and the Six Assurances.
These are the measures that have underpinned our
relationship with the Taiwanese people since we normalized
relations with the People's Republic of China. Those ties
remain deeply important to this day, and I am glad to support
this resolution. The chairman and I have talked about this a
great time, and we both believe it is important for the United
States to stand squarely with our friend and ally Taiwan.
Lastly, I am glad to support this bill from my good friend
Representative Cuellar, which would allow the Starr-Camargo
Bridge to continue as an important connection between the
United States and Mexico. I have to say, at a time when we hear
so much about building walls, it feels pretty good to talk
about strengthening bridges.
The Starr-Camargo Bridge connects Rio Grande, Texas, with
Monterrey and Ciudad Camargo in Mexico. Under current law, the
authority to operate this bridge will expire in 16 years.
Though it seems like a long way off, that end date has already
started to constrain investments in long-term improvements.
This legislation would eliminate that expiration date, just as
we have done for the Weslaco-Progreso International Bridge.
This bill doesn't cost U.S. taxpayers a penny. And in the
midst of a lot of ugly rhetoric, it sends a clear signal:
Mexico is an extremely important partner to the United States
and bridges, not barriers, will help that friendship to thrive.
So I agree with the chairman. I urge support for this
measure and all the things contained in this measure.
And I thank you again, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Engel.
Any other members seeking recognition?
Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much.
First of all, let me thank you for scheduling all of these
bills, including the International Religious Freedom Act, the
Frank Wolf bill, which honors a tremendous advocate for
religious freedom and the author of the landmark 1998
International Religious Freedom Act.
I want to thank Eliot Engel as well, the ranking member,
for working so closely with us on this important legislation.
And I would like to thank Anna Eshoo, who is the original
Democratic cosponsor of the bill and a great supporter of
religious freedom, especially in the Middle East. Her work has
been greatly appreciated, and we have come up, I think, with a
bill that will make a significant difference.
The world is experiencing an unprecedented crisis of
international religious freedom, a crisis that continues to
create millions of victims, a crisis that undermines liberty,
prosperity, and peace, a crisis that poses a direct challenge
to the U.S. interests in the Middle East, North Korea, China,
and in sub-Saharan Africa.
The bill we passed almost 18 years ago needs to be updated
to match the challenges of the 21st century. And, again, that
is what we are doing with the legislation: Provide tools,
training, and resources used by the administration to advance
this universally recognized human right.
Among its many provisions--and they are mutually
reinforcing provisions--it clarifies that the Ambassador-at-
Large will report to the Secretary of State. Sometimes there
has been a little glitch there over the years in terms of that
information going right to the ears of the Secretary of State.
It creates a special watch list, not unlike what we did
with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. When a country
doesn't rise to the level of a Country of Particular Concern
but is a bad actor, this gives the President a way to say we
are watching. And the special watch list will provide that very
useful utility.
Curricula for training Foreign Service Officers so that
they really do understand before deployment, especially
overseas, exactly what the lay of the land is and what
international religious freedom is all about.
We also include, as you pointed out, Mr. Chairman, a new
designation of nonstate actors. We call them entities of
particular concern. They are not countries. Boko Haram, ISIS,
al-Shabaab, and others need to be focused upon for their
nefarious deeds and individuals held to account to the greatest
extent practicable for their horrible deeds.
CPC designations need to be made annually. There were a
number of years where they were not made. And this will at
least clarify that those Country of Particular Concern
designations do need to be made every single year.
And then there are a number of other provisions that will,
I think, significantly strengthen.
And I would ask unanimous consent that my full statement be
made a part of the record, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Royce. Without objection.
Mr. Smith. And I would just finally say how grateful I
think we all are that Mr. Trott and Mr. Deutch have really
stepped up to the plate with their H.R. 3694, the Strategy to
Oppose Organ Trafficking Act.
Twenty years-plus ago, I held a hearing on organ
trafficking, and we actually had a man who was a part of that
testify about this horrific practice of killing people in order
to steal their organs and to make money for the regime in China
and elsewhere. That has gotten worse and is particularly
focused on the Falun Gong who have suffered disproportionately
from this very shocking abuse of human rights.
So, again, I want to thank them for their wonderful bill,
and it will make a difference.
I yield back.
Chairman Royce. Mr. Sherman.
Mr. Sherman. I yield a minute-and-a-half to the gentleman
from Virginia.
Mr. Connolly. I thank my friend from California for his
graciousness. I have to run to another hearing.
Mr. Chairman, I want to associate myself with the remarks
both of yourself and of the ranking member with respect to the
Taiwan resolution we have here. And I want to ask unanimous
consent to assert in the record an interesting document, pages
44 through 48 of the Department of State Bulletin from March
1979, which was their draft for what we ought to do with
respect to Taiwan.
And you can see that it does not address security at all.
And it took Congress to take the initiative in rewriting this
into the vibrant, dynamic Taiwan Relations Act that now
undergirds our relationship with that island and that was the
basis for the defensive military assistance we currently
provide and have provided to Taiwan. It is a great example of
actually congressional foreign policymaking that was
desperately needed. A vacuum had been created, and we rose to
the occasion.
So I would ask unanimous consent to enter this into the
record. It is a rather rare document. And I think it
underscores----
Chairman Royce. It is often referenced, this piece of
history, in textbooks about Congress' role. And without
objection, we will put it in the record.
Mr. Connolly. I thank the chair. And I thank Mr. Sherman so
much for his courtesy.
Mr. Sherman. Thank you.
I want to thank the chairman for holding these hearings. I
am a cosponsor of H.R. 1150, the Frank Wolf International
Religious Freedom Act; H.R. 4939, the United States-Caribbean
Strategic Engagement Act; and the H. Con. Res. 88, the Taiwan
Relations and Six Assurances resolution.
I want to focus on Taiwan, as the gentleman from Virginia
did as well. I am the lead Democratic cosponsor of this
resolution, which affirms the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six
Assurances as the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan
relations.
The Taiwan Relations Act is critical to the U.S.-Taiwan
relationship. On January 1, 1979, when the Carter
administration established diplomatic relations with the
People's Republic of China, it ended formal ties with the
Republic of China on Taiwan. However, the United States
Congress acted swiftly to reaffirm the United States-Taiwan
relationship with the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act
just 100 days later, ensuring that the United States would
maintain a robust and enduring relationship with Taiwan.
Since 1979, we have seen Taiwan develop into a strong
democracy. We are in the process of seeing a peaceful and
orderly transition of power from one political party to
another. Taiwan is an important ally, and we need to do
everything possible to make sure that it remains so.
The Six Assurances to Taiwan have been a verbal U.S. pledge
since 1982. This bill is important because it solidifies this
commitment in legislation for the first time. Three of those
Six Assurances are a commitment to continued arm sales to
Taiwan, a commitment to not consult with Beijing on U.S.-Taiwan
relations, and a commitment to stand by the Taiwan Relations
Act, which was passed 3 years before the Six Assurances in 1979
and which Mr. Connolly has already referenced.
This resolution not only affirms that the Taiwan Relations
Act and the Six Assurances are the cornerstone of U.S.
relations with Taiwan, but it also urges the President and the
State Department to affirm the Six Assurances publicly,
proactively, and consistently as a cornerstone of United
States-Taiwan relations.
Mr. Chairman, I think Congress not only has been doing good
work on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship for a long time, the
Taiwan Relations Act, which was mentioned by Mr. Connolly, but
also just recently our committee. Back in December we passed a
resolution saying it was time to transfer the frigates to
Taiwan. And 5 days later, they finally transferred the friggin'
frigates.
And it was good to join with you in that bill and to join
with Mr. Salmon in the bill on Interpol, which was signed into
law recently, and which will be causing us to develop a
strategy to get Taiwan into Interpol, because after all, who is
in favor of the international criminals that Interpol is trying
to incarcerate.
So, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
Chairman Royce. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I did have the pleasure of going aboard one of those
frigates as we were trying to expedite the process with my
legislation. But it is now done, and this legislation will now,
after our vote, go to the floor.
But in the meantime, I think Ileana Ros-Lehtinen was
seeking time.
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman, thank
you, Ranking Member Engel, for convening this markup and
bringing up all of these important measures in front of our
committee in a bipartisan manner as always.
I am going to briefly speak about two of the bills. I am
proud to be the Republican lead, alongside my good friend and
the ranking member, Eliot Engel, on the U.S.-Caribbean
Strategic Engagement Act, a bill which would help push the
State Department to prioritize U.S.-Caribbean relationships.
That is so important.
When not sharing the national stage with Hillary Clinton,
Ranking Member Engel has long made the Caribbean one of his top
priorities, and I want to thank him for his tremendous
leadership on this issue.
This bill would require the State Department to develop a
strategy to partner with our Caribbean neighbors on everything
from counternarcotics to energy security and to broaden our
outreach to the Caribbean diaspora community in our Nation.
South Florida makes up a large segment of this diaspora, and I
understand well the importance of both the Caribbean and the
need for increased engagement by the United States with those
countries.
Too often Caribbean nations are either taken for granted or
are neglected by the State Department, leaving them with little
to no presence of the U.S. or diplomatic engagement, and this
course must and should be corrected. Deepening our strategic
relationship with the Caribbean represents an extraordinary
opportunity to expand our economic ties, cooperate on security
issues, and advance our values and interests at places like the
OAS and the U.N.
So I fully support this measure. I thank Mr. Engel for
sponsoring it. I urge my colleagues to give this bill their
full support as well.
And I would also like to offer my support for my dear
friend Steve Chabot's resolution, which would reaffirm the
importance of the Taiwan Relations Act and President Reagan's
Six Assurances to the U.S.-Taiwan relationship. I am proud to
be a cosponsor because I continue to believe that the Taiwan
Relations Act and the Six Assurances should be unequivocal
guidelines to which the United States must remain fully and
firmly committed.
Taiwan is and remains an important ally, a friend, a
strategic, economic, and security partner of the United States,
and there should be no doubt about this commitment to her, and
as the Taiwanese people continue to prove, their vibrant
democracy, Taiwan must have the capability to defend herself
from aggression from China, whether political, economic, or
military in nature.
And it is critical that both China and Taiwan know that our
commitment to Taiwan, to the Taiwan Relations Act, and to the
Six Assurances, has not wavered one bit. Taiwan must be allowed
to peacefully determine its own future, and I urge my
colleagues to reaffirm this principle by passing this important
Steve Chabot resolution here today.
I thank the chairman.
Chairman Royce. Thank you, Ileana.
Mr. Ted Deutch from Florida.
Mr. Deutch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I appreciate the
opportunity to have all these bills before us today.
I would like to speak about the Strategy to Oppose
Predatory Organ Trafficking Act. I want to thank Mr. Trott for
his leadership on this issue.
And thanks to Mr. Smith as well for your longstanding
attention to the issue of organ trafficking.
This bill, H.R. 3694, addresses an important but often
underacknowledged global trafficking issue. In places all over
the world, amid the millions of people enslaved into the
various forms of human trafficking, are individuals trafficked
specifically for the illicit purpose of removing their organs.
This black market of organ trafficking finds at-risk people and
entices them with money in exchange for their organs. Often
these victims are poor and vulnerable to offers of money that
they can then use to pay for food and basic necessities for
their families.
A 2013 United Nations report found that the economic and
social divisions within and among countries is similarly
reflected in the most common victims of illegal organ
trafficking, specifically in poor and unemployed populations.
The sad reality is the people most in need of help are the
easiest to fall pray by extortion by traffickers.
But this problem is global, and while victims may come from
lower-income countries, the demand that keeps the illegal organ
trafficking market so profitable comes from higher-income
countries, including the United States. Many of our allies
already list trafficking of persons for the removal of their
organs as a form of human trafficking, and a number of
international protocols and agreements urge countries to do
more to restrict the market. These illicit activities are
simply unacceptable and are against our American values.
So I am thrilled that this bill will allow our government
to do its part to work against this illicit black market,
including empowering the Secretary of State to deny or revoke
passports to anyone convicted of organ trafficking offense and
asking the State Department to keep Congress informed of what
our government and other governments are doing to address this
problem.
We have received support from a number of groups advocating
for stronger laws against illicit trafficking of organs and
better protection of victims. And I would like to specifically
thank the Coalition for Organ Failure Solutions for their
support.
I am proud of the attention that this committee has given
to human trafficking, and I ask that we continue our strong
record by acknowledging that trafficking of persons for the
removal of their organs is a violation of our American values.
And I yield back the balance of my time. Thank you, Mr.
Chairman.
Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Deutch.
Mr. Rohrabacher of California.
Mr. Rohrabacher. I will make this short. I just would like
to thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank Ranking Member Engel. One
needs only to take a look at the issues that are being
discussed today to note that you are reaffirming this
committee's traditional positioning and support for human
rights throughout the world.
You obviously are taking up where Henry Hyde and others who
before you sat in that chair, you are building upon what they
created as a foundation for freedom and justice and liberty and
human rights as being values that this committee will uphold.
And I appreciate every one of these bills reflects that. So
thank you, Ranking Member, and thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher.
Mr. Keating from Massachusetts.
Mr. Keating. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to thank Mr. Trott and Mr. Deutch for their
leadership in introducing the Strategy to Oppose Predatory
Organ Trafficking Act. Too often vulnerable individuals are
coerced or forced into supporting this illicit trade. And just
in a world where you think things can't get much worse, you see
this kind of coerced or forced activity really hurt victims who
are typically poor or unemployed. Some of them indeed were
known to include children.
Countries must have an effective law on the books if we are
to protect against future victims of this trade, and it is
crucial that countries then enforce these laws so that
perpetrators do not continue to target vulnerable individuals
with impunity. My amendment adds to the bill a report on host
country enforcement of these laws against trafficking of
persons for the removal of organs.
Finally, I would like to thank all the sponsors of the four
additional bills being considered this morning, all of which I
support. These pieces of legislation will have important
consequences in advancing human rights, security policy, and
U.S. engagement abroad.
And I do want to say, in a Congress that is often stymied
on its ability to act, this committee continues to move forward
and stands out in that regard for working cooperatively and in
a bipartisan fashion to really address very important issues. I
want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for that
as well.
And I yield back.
Chairman Royce. I want to just respond if I could, Mr.
Keating. I thank you for this amendment and support its
inclusion in the bill.
Having adequate laws on the books without strong
enforcement, frankly, is meaningless, so amending the annual
report to highlight a country's implementation and enforcement
efforts will send this clear message, and it is going to
enhance our efforts to stop organ trafficking. So we thank you
for your improvement to the legislation.
Mr. Salmon of Arizona.
Mr. Salmon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I am very pleased to support Mr. Chabot's legislation, H.
Con. Res. 88, Reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six
Assurances as the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan
relations.
Mr. Chairman, I was a missionary in 1979 when Jimmy Carter
was President and severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan. It was a
very dark time for me personally. It was something I was very,
very frustrated about at the time. But then Congress kind of
came to the rescue. I think it was the leadership of the
Senator from my State, Barry Goldwater, that put forth the
Taiwan Relations Act.
And I think us reaffirming our commitment to that--and Mr.
Chabot, you are just to be congratulated--this is so very, very
important, not just to our relationship with Taiwan, but I
think to the world at large. Taiwan's vibrant democracy is so
incredibly important to the region as a guidepost for other
nations to follow, and many are following suit with Taiwan's
leadership in the world.
I was fortunate to go to Lee Teng-hui's swearing-in,
President Chen Shui-bian's, and I will be going in just a
couple weeks to the swearing-in of Tsai Ing-wen, the newly
elected President of Taiwan. And I am just really excited that
we are doing the right thing today.
America's commitment to Taiwan was so important that Ronald
Reagan led the way toward this country's policies and
commitment to Taiwan that have been in place for several
decades now. I strongly support this resolution and urge my
colleagues to support its passage.
I would also like to speak in support of Mr. Trott's
legislation, the Stop Organ Trafficking Act. The illegal
trafficking of human organs is despicable. The World Health
Organization estimates that 10 percent of all transplanted
organs worldwide are illegally obtained, coerced from
vulnerable populations and prisoners, and it is long past time
for the U.S. to make a policy to combat this brutal activity
that seeks only to terrorize defenseless individuals.
Terrorists and doctrinal regimes use this practice to fund
their activities and to brutally punish those they seek to
control, and this bill will put a stop to it.
And finally, I would like to speak in support of Chairman
Smith's legislation, H.R. 1150, the Frank R. Wolf International
Religious Freedom Act of 2015. I am a cosponsor of this
legislation and I am proud to support international religious
freedom.
As a man of faith, one of the greatest freedoms we enjoy in
this, the greatest Nation on the Earth, is the ability to
worship as we please. Our Founding Fathers fought for this
principle, and Congress has a responsibility to continue that
fight for others. And I really appreciate Representative Smith
constantly being a reminder of this important truth and this
important responsibility that we have in Congress and
constantly standing up for the fight for human rights.
God is going to have a special place for you, for all the
great work you have done, my friend.
So thank you, and I will yield back my time.
Chairman Royce. We will go to Mr. Cicilline from Rhode
Island.
Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you
and Ranking Member Engel for holding this markup and for once
again conducting the business of this committee in a bipartisan
way.
I want to thank the sponsors of the bills that we are
considering this morning, and I support all of the bills before
us. But I want to spend a few moments to speak about H.R. 1150,
the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act.
This legislation has special significance to people in my
home State, the State of Rhode Island founded by Roger
Williams, because of his desire for religious liberty that he
didn't think he could quite enjoy in the neighboring
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I waited until Mr. Keating left
to say that.
But I strongly support the goals of this legislation to
protect and promote religious freedom around the world. Our
former colleague, Frank Wolf, dedicated his career to fighting
for basic human rights, and it is fitting that this legislation
honors the extraordinary work that he has done in this area.
Religious minorities around the world face discrimination,
harassment, persecution, and worse. Today, the Islamic State is
engaged in systemic persecution against religious minorities as
part of their bloody campaign in the Middle East that targets
any group that doesn't fit within its radical ideology. Just
last month, the House and the Obama administration found that
ISIS has engaged in acts of crimes against humanity, war
crimes, and genocide against religious and ethnic minorities in
the region.
I do want to use this occasion to remind my colleagues that
there are widespread abuses taking place in the world right
now, in Syria, Sudan, Nigeria, DRC, and many other countries.
Governments, terrorist groups, and other actors are engaged in
horrific campaigns that encompass women, children, minorities,
and other vulnerable populations. And it is incredibly
important that we are careful not to seem to be elevating
abuses against one particular group above others.
For example, around the world, those perceived to be part
of the LGBT community are facing absolutely horrific violence,
especially today in territories controlled by the Islamic
State. ISIS has proudly advertised its crimes against allegedly
LGBT individuals through gruesome social media, videos, and
photos.
Groups such as OutRight Action International have compiled
dozens of incidents in which people, usually men, have been
blindfolded, tortured, thrown off tall buildings, and brutally
murdered by crowds incited by anti-LGBT slurs. I have a list
here that details some of these particular instances of
violence against those perceived to be LGBT, and they are
horrific.
Last summer, BBC magazine ran a heartbreaking story
entitled, ``Why My Own Father Would Have Let IS Kill Me,''
which detailed a young man who had to flee Iraq undercover
after his own father agreed to turn him over to ISIS for being
gay.
I raise these issues not to suggest that those within the
Islamic State territory or elsewhere who are being persecuted
for being LGBT are more deserving of our attention than those
suffering any other type of persecution, but I do want to
ensure that LGBT people and other vulnerable groups who are
being persecuted around the world are not forgotten and that we
raise our voices in condemnation of all abuses of basic human
rights and refrain from creating a hierarchy of human rights
and I look forward to our consideration of legislation intended
to do just that.
I hope we can learn from the important example of U.S.
efforts to combat religious persecution and use lessons learned
and best practices to inform the work we do as a country to
combat the persecution of all vulnerable groups around the
world, including women, children, and LGBT individuals.
I thank you, and I yield back.
Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Cicilline.
We go now to Mr. Chabot of Ohio.
Mr. Chabot. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
As one of the founding Members of the Congressional Taiwan
Caucus, I have been actively involved in all Taiwan-U.S. issues
for many years now and chaired the Asia and the Pacific
Subcommittee as well, and I have been to Taiwan many times.
That is why I am honored to have introduced House Concurrent
Resolution 88, which reaffirms the Taiwan Relations Act and the
Six Assurances as cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan relations.
Our relationship has been an enduring one. Taiwan is a
close ally of ours, one that truly believes in and practices
freedom and democracy. And the people of Taiwan proved that yet
again this past January with the election of President Tsai,
and I want to wish her and all the people of Taiwan the best of
luck in her new role as President of Taiwan. I want to restate
our support, just as this committee has for many, many years,
and Congress has as well, our support of Taiwan.
As most of my colleagues are aware, Taiwan faces an
unrelenting threat from China, which has nearly 1,600 ballistic
missiles aimed at her. And although Taiwan enjoys--let's face
it--de facto independence, China's ultimate goal is to take the
island, if by force or over time. China has made no bones about
this. They have been pretty open about it for a long time.
Unfortunately, the Taiwan Strait remains one of the potentially
most dangerous flashpoints in the world.
April 10, 2016, marked the 37th anniversary of the
enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, codifying into law an
institutional framework and a legal basis for continued
cooperation between the U.S. and Taiwan that would serve to
maintain peace and stability in the western Pacific. However,
when President Reagan agreed to sign the so-called U.S.-China
Third Communique in 1982, he was aware of the communique's
possible effect on Taiwan and recognized that Taiwan needed and
deserved reassurance that the United States would be there
whenever Taiwan needed us.
So to reinforce American support for Taiwan, the United
States issued the Six Assurances, which are guidelines to
conduct relations between the U.S. and Taiwan, and they are as
valid today as they were in 1982. They rightfully function,
along with the Taiwan Relations Act, as cornerstones of the
U.S.-Taiwan relations.
And this is a relationship that has been a very strong one
over the years. It is one of the reasons that I think it is
very important that this administration reconsider the military
cutbacks which have been proposed, and the fact that when
Ronald Reagan was President his goal was to build up a 600-ship
Navy, and we are down 250-some ships at this time.
And a lot of those ships need to be in the Pacific and
particularly in and around China, which clearly has plans. It
is building up its navy. It is building islands and
militarizing them. It is bullying its neighbors from the
Philippines to Vietnam to Taiwan, you name it.
And so it is very important for the U.S. to have the
strength and for Taiwan also to continue to build up its
military. The one thing that would make an armed conflict more
likely is if Taiwan appears to be weak or the United States is
weak. That is when there is a real danger of military action
occurring. As long as Taiwan and the United States are strong,
I don't think China would ever take any overt hostile military
action.
But I am afraid that the message that is being sent out
worldwide is that the U.S. is pulling back, and that is a
message that must change. We ought to have just the opposite.
The United States needs to be actively engaged around the
world, particularly in the Pacific.
So I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and
thank them for their support and yield back the balance of my
time.
Chairman Royce. Mr. Trott.
Mr. Trott. I would like to thank Chairman Royce for
scheduling H.R. 3694 for consideration, and also my colleague,
Representative Deutch, for his partnership and leadership on
the Stop Organ Trafficking Act. I also want to thank Mr. Smith
for his commitment and years of work on this important issue
and Representative Keating for his helpful amendment.
The illegal trafficking of human organs has long been a
terrible and heinous crime, but, unfortunately, the United
States policies and laws have not kept pace. China has
inexplicably been targeting Falun Gong for years. And more
recently, ISIS has reportedly been resorting to this brutal
practice to finance their nefarious activities and strike fear
in the hearts of innocent people.
Late last year, ISIS released a religious edict stating
that taking organs from a living captive to save a Muslim's
life was permissible, making religious minorities in Iraq, like
the Chaldeans and the Assyrians, even more vulnerable targets.
Mr. Chairman, it is time the United States shine a bright
light on this problem and take a leading role in combating this
heinous crime, standing with the world's most vulnerable. I
urge my colleagues to vote in support of this timely and
necessary legislation.
Thank you, and I yield back my time.
Chairman Royce. Any additional members seeking recognition?
Hearing no further requests for recognition, the question
occurs on the items considered en bloc.
All those in favor, say aye.
All those 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.
And that concludes our business for today.
I again want to thank Ranking Member Engel. I want to thank
all of our committee members for their contributions and
assistance with today's markup.
This committee stands adjourned, and these measures are
passed.
[Whereupon, at 10:55 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
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