    [House Hearing, 115 Congress]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

                               VARIOUS MEASURES

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

                                     MARKUP

                                   BEFORE THE

                          COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS
                            HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                         ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS

                                 FIRST SESSION

                                       ON

                 H.R. 1918, H.R. 2061, H.R. 2408, H. Res. 128,
              H. Res. 259, H. Res. 311, H. Res. 357, H. Res. 359,
                                and H. Res. 449

                                   __________

                                 JULY 27, 2017

                                   __________

                               Serial No. 115-56

                                   __________

            Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

      [GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/
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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                       KAREN BASS, California
    DARRELL E. ISSA, California          WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts
    TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania             DAVID N. CICILLINE, Rhode Island
    JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina          AMI BERA, California
    MO BROOKS, Alabama                   LOIS FRANKEL, Florida
    PAUL COOK, California                TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii
    SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania            JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas
    RON DeSANTIS, Florida                ROBIN L. KELLY, Illinois
    MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina         BRENDAN F. BOYLE, Pennsylvania
    TED S. YOHO, Florida                 DINA TITUS, Nevada
    ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois             NORMA J. TORRES, California
    LEE M. ZELDIN, New York              BRADLEY SCOTT SCHNEIDER, Illinois
    DANIEL M. DONOVAN, Jr., New York     THOMAS R. SUOZZI, New York
    F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, Jr.,         ADRIANO ESPAILLAT, New York
        Wisconsin                        TED LIEU, California
    ANN WAGNER, Missouri
    BRIAN J. MAST, Florida
    FRANCIS ROONEY, Florida
    BRIAN K. FITZPATRICK, Pennsylvania
    THOMAS A. GARRETT, Jr., Virginia

         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. 1918, To oppose loans at international financial
      institutions for the Government of Nicaragua unless the
      Government of Nicaragua is taking effective steps to hold free,
      fair, and transparent elections, and for other purposes........     2
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1918 offered by
        the Honorable Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Representative in
        Congress from the State of Florida...........................    18
    H.R. 2061, To reauthorize the North Korean Human Rights Act of
      2004, and for other purposes...................................    30
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 2061 offered by
        the Honorable Ted S. Yoho, a Representative in Congress from
        the State of Florida.........................................    37
          Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
            H.R. 2061 offered by the Honorable Ted S. Yoho...........    45
    H.R. 2408, To enhance the transparency, improve the coordination,
      and intensify the impact of assistance to support access to
      primary and secondary education for displaced children and
      persons, including women and girls, and for other purposes.....    49
    H. Res. 128, Supporting respect for human rights and encouraging
      inclusive governance in Ethiopia...............................    56
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 128 offered
        by the Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in
        Congress from the State of New Jersey........................    66
          Amendment to the amendment in the nature of a substitute to
            H. Res. 128 offered by the Honorable Christopher H. Smith    72
    H. Res. 259, Expressing concern and condemnation over the
      political, economic, social, and humanitarian crisis in
      Venezuela......................................................    73
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 259 offered
        by the Honorable Ron DeSantis, a Representative in Congress
        from the State of Florida....................................    79
    H. Res. 311, Recognizing that for 50 years the Association of
      South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has worked toward stability,
      prosperity, and peace in Southeast Asia........................    87
      Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 311 offered
        by the Honorable Joaquin Castro, a Representative in Congress
        from the State of Texas......................................   100
    H. Res. 357, Reaffirming the strategic partnership between the
      United States and Canada, recognizing bilateral cooperation
      that advances United States national interests, and urging
      increased bilateral cooperation on security, economic issues,
      and energy, and for other purposes.............................   105
      Amendment to H. Res. 357 offered by the Honorable Jeff Duncan,
        a Representative in Congress from the State of South Carolina   109
    H. Res. 359, Urging the European Union to designate Hizballah in
      its entirety as a terrorist organization and increase pressure
      on it and its members..........................................   112
      Amendment to H. Res. 359 offered by the Honorable Theodore E.
        Deutch, a Representative in Congress from the State of
        Florida......................................................   118
    H. Res. 449, Urging the Government of Kenya and Kenya's political
      parties to respect democratic principles and hold credible,
      peaceful, and transparent elections in August 2017.............   122

                                    APPENDIX

    Markup notice....................................................   148
    Markup minutes...................................................   149
    Markup summary...................................................   151

                                VARIOUS MEASURES

                                  ----------

                            THURSDAY, JULY 27, 2017

                           House of Representatives,

                         Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                Washington, DC.

        The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:08 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 nine
    bipartisan measures and, without objection, all members may
    have 5 days to submit statements or extraneous materials on
    today's business.
        As members were notified yesterday, we intend to consider
    today's measures en bloc and so, without objection, the
    following items previously provided to members and also in your
    packets will be considered en bloc and are considered as read.
        We have H.R. 1918, this is the Nicaraguan Investment
    Conditionality Act with the Ros-Lehtinen Amendment 33 in the
    nature of a substitute; we have the  deg.H.R. 2061,
    the North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act, with Yoho
    Amendment 60 in the nature of a substitute and Yoho Amendment
    58 to Amendment 60; we have H.R. 2408, Protecting Girls' Access
    to Education in Vulnerable Settings; we have House Resolution
    128, Supporting respect for human rights in Ethiopia, with the
    Smith Amendment 48 in the nature of a substitute and Smith
    Amendment 49 to Smith Amendment 48; we have House Resolution
    259, Condemning the crisis in Venezuela with the DeSantis
    amendment in the nature of a substitute to House Resolution
    259; House Resolution 311, Recognizing the work of ASEAN
    nations with the Castro amendment in the nature of a substitute
    to the House resolution; we have House Resolution 357,
    Reaffirming the U.S.-Canada partnership with Duncan Amendment
    29; House Resolution 359, Urging the EU to designate Hezbollah
    as a terrorist organization with Deutch Amendment 27; and,
    lastly, House Resolution 449, Urging peaceful and transparent
    elections in Kenya.
        [The information referred to follows:]H.R.
    1918 deg.
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

        Chairman Royce. I now recognize myself to speak on today's
    business.
        I recognize here the good work of Representative Deutch on
    this House Resolution 359. This urges the European Union to
    designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. Hezbollah has
    one leadership, fungible finances, and a singular hostile
    mission. All its branches and operations serve its terrorist
    agenda and it is dangerous to try and distinguish among its
    arms. We must work with our allies to deprive this terrorist
    organization of its financial support and its logistical
    support.
        H.R. 2061 reauthorizes important provisions of the North
    Korea Human Rights Act. This is the decades-old U.S.
    humanitarian policy that provides much needed assistance to
    North Korean defectors and to refugees.
        It also promotes freedom of information inside North Korea
    through radio broadcasting, an issue on which this committee
    has a long history of promoting critical reforms. As the Kim
    regime desperately tries to preserve its monopoly on
    information, these broadcasts are critical to empowering the
    people of North Korea, and I want to thank Chairman Emeritus
    Ros-Lehtinen and Asia Subcommittee Chairman Yoho for their work
    on this bill's provisions.
        House Resolution 311 recognizes the growing importance of
    the ASEAN nations. For 40 years, the U.S. has expanded its
    cooperation with this collection of 10 Southeast Asian nations.
    It has a combined economy of $2.5 trillion. Southeast Asia
    represents a major opportunity for strengthening U.S. commerce
    and security interests across that region.
        On the other side of the globe, the situation in Venezuela
    continues to deteriorate and President Maduro continues to dig
    in with plans to rewrite Venezuela's constitution and give
    himself full dictatorial powers. This would undo any semblance
    of democratic order.
        I want to thank Mr. DeSantis for his leadership on House
    Resolution 259, which echoes strong words and actions from the
    administration including yesterday's sanctions--these are
    sanctions on certain individuals in Venezuela who are part of
    that dictatorship--to warn Maduro against his illegal efforts
    to rewrite the constitution.
        As we look at the crisis in Venezuela, we must be mindful
    that Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega has been decidedly
    unhelpful to regional efforts to respond. Indeed, he has been
    among the corrupt few trying to bolster President Maduro, not
    to mention pursuing his own undemocratic consolidation of power
    at home.
        So I want to thank Chairman Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen for
    authoring H.R. 1918. This measure requires U.S. representatives
    to international financial institutions to oppose any loan that
    benefits the Government of Nicaragua unless we can certify that
    Nicaragua is taking steps to reestablish free and transparent
    elections and respect basic human and democratic rights.
        I want to thank Chairman Duncan of the Western Hemisphere
    Subcommittee for his leadership on these measures and his
    resolution reaffirming the U.S. Canada relationship. Canada
    continues to be one of our most important allies and a vital
    trading partner, and House Resolution 357 encourages even
    greater commercial collaboration.
        Mr. Duncan will be leading a delegation of lawmakers to
    Canada in September for the U.S.-Canada IPG. So we wish him
    well.
        I am also proud to support Representative Chabot's bill to
    protect girls' access to education in vulnerable settings. With
    many developing countries hosting large numbers of refugees for
    longer stretches of time, we are seeing a concerning trend of
    more children out of school due to conflict. These children,
    and girls in particular, face an increased risk of exploitation
    and less hope for their future.
        So I am pleased to support H.R. 2408, which authorizes U.S.
    support for improving girls' access to education in conflict
    settings.
        I also want to thank Mr. Smith, chairman of the Africa
    Subcommittee, for his work on House Resolution 128. While we
    recognize our longstanding partnership with Ethiopia, we must
    also stress the importance of that government's respect for
    human rights and democratic principles, including the need for
    Ethiopia to take tangible steps to ensure opposition voices are
    protected, are respected, and are welcomed.
        And I would also like thank my colleague, Representative
    Coffman, for his dedication and leadership in ensuring that
    this resolution be considered today.
        And, lastly, I want to thank Ranking Member Engel for his
    timely resolution underscoring the importance of Kenya's
    upcoming elections. As a critical leader in the region, this
    election holds important significance as an example for other
    African countries with their upcoming elections.
        I understand two of our colleagues--Representative Bass and
    Representative Frankel--will travel to observe these elections
    next month, and we look forward to monitoring the results and
    wish Kenya the best as they prepare for this momentous
    occasion.
        I now recognize our ranking member, Mr. Engel, for his
    remarks.
        Mr. Engel. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for calling
    the markup. We have a number of good bipartisan measures and I
    am glad to support all of them.
        I would like to start with the measure I authored which
    sends a strong message as Kenya prepares for its next elections
    and I am grateful to you, Mr. Chairman, for bringing this
    resolution up today. I also am grateful to Mr. Smith of New
    Jersey and Ms. Bass of California, the chair and ranking
    members of the Africa Subcommittee, who are lead co-sponsors of
    this legislation.
        Kenya is an important partner of the United States. This is
    a country that promotes regional stability and serves as an
    economic and humanitarian hub for East Africa. We want Kenya to
    remain strong and that's why the State Department and USAID
    have long supported credible, open elections in that country.
        This has been a challenging time for Kenya. A decade ago, a
    wave of violence following elections and, in 2013, troubling
    irregularities plagued the voting process there.
        In advance of the election scheduled for August 8th, this
    resolution calls upon Kenya to hold credible, peaceful, free,
    and fair elections and condemn in the strongest terms hate
    speech and the incitement of violence by political candidates,
    the media, or any Kenyan citizen.
        It also calls upon the United States and Kenya's other
    international partners to continue to support Kenya's efforts
    to address the remaining electoral preparation challenges and
    to identify gaps where additional resources or diplomatic
    engagement could make important contributions to the conduct of
    the elections.
        This measure isn't about taking sides in Kenya's politics
    but instead reaffirms the importance of our partnership with
    Kenya and our support for the people of that country as they go
    to the polls.
        I wish Ms. Bass and Ms. Frankel well. I am proud that they
    are representing us during that election and I ask all members
    to support this resolution.
        I would like to say a few words about some other measures
    we are conducting today. I am proud to be an original co-
    sponsor of the North Korean Human Rights Act introduced by my
    friend, Representative Ros-Lehtinen. This measure authorizes
    the current law until 2022, extending American efforts to
    promote the human rights of North Koreans and making important
    adjustments to U.S. broadcasting and other efforts to get
    unbiased information in to the people of North Korea.
        These are timely changes as we are all very concerned by
    North Korea's advancing weapons capability. I know the chairman
    has done a lot of work with Korea. I have been there twice. I
    don't think we are going to go in the short future. But I am
    glad to support this measure. I think it sends a very strong
    message to the North Korean regime.
        I am also glad to support another resolution from Chairman
    Smith calling on authorities in Ethiopia to lift the state of
    emergency and end the excessive use of force by Ethiopian
    security forces, urging protestors to refrain from violence,
    and calling on the administration to hold accountable
    individuals responsible for gross human rights violations.
        I am grateful to Mr. DeSantis for his resolution
    highlighting the devastating political, economic, and
    humanitarian prices in Venezuela. With its massive energy
    resources, Venezuela should be one of the wealthiest countries
    in the world.
        It marks a profoundly sad day when our Congress and others
    and the international community must consider how to most
    effectively provide food and medicine to the Venezuelan people.
        But that's the deeply troubling record of the Maduro
    government, and we have all been very vocal on that, Ms. Ros-
    Lehtinen probably the most vocal and right on the money, so the
    speak, through the years by talking about Maduro and his
    predecessor, Mr. Chavez, both of whom have run that country and
    are running that country to the ground.
        Chairman Duncan of our Western Hemisphere Subcommittee has
    offered a good resolution reaffirming the strategic partnership
    between the United States and Canada. I am particularly pleased
    that this resolution takes note of extensive cooperation
    between our two countries within NATO at a time when our own
    administration has questioned the importance of this alliance.
        Next, I would again like to thank Representative Ros-
    Lehtinen and also Representative Sires for introducing the
    Nicaraguan Investment Conditionality Act, also known as the
    NICA Act.
        President Ortega and his lackeys have shown zero regard for
    democracy and the rule of law in Nicaragua. This legislation is
    an important step in holding the Nicaraguan Government
    accountable by opposing loans to these corrupt leaders while
    taking precautions not to make things worse for the many
    Nicaraguans who are already suffering in what is the second
    poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
        I remember when I was the chairman of the Western
    Hemisphere Subcommittee and we visited Ortega in Nicaragua, and
    we knew there were problems then. There are certainly even
    greater problems now.
        I am also glad to support a measure by Mr. Deutch of
    Florida urging the EU to name the Hezbollah organization as a
    terrorist organization and put greater pressure on Hezbollah
    fund-raising within Europe.
        In July 2013, the European Union announced that it would
    consider the military wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist
    organization after a spike of terrorist activity in Europe.
        This came after a wave of attacks and attempted attacks
    perpetrated by Hezbollah in Europe. The United States does not
    make the distinction, and rightfully so, between the military
    and political wings of Hezbollah and, frankly, neither does
    Hezbollah. We consider the whole organization to be a terrorist
    organization and the European Union should do the same.
        I appreciate Representative Castro and Wagner's leadership
    on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which we call
    ASEAN, both in offering this measure and launching the
    Congressional ASEAN Caucus. This resolution recognizes the 50
    years ASEAN has promoted stability, prosperity, and peace in
    Southeast Asia and underscores why this institution and, most
    importantly, the countries that make it up, matter to America's
    economy and security.
        And lastly, I am glad to support a bill by Representatives
    Chabot and Kelly to help improve access to education to
    displaced children, especially girls.
        Around the world, nearly 4 million displaced children don't
    have access to public education. We know, obviously, this
    disadvantage can set these young people back for the rest of
    their lives. So this bill would make it a priority for the
    State Department and USAID to work with multilateral
    organizations with civil society and with private sector
    partners to help these vulnerable young people access education
    and get on a better path forward.
        I am grateful to both of my colleagues for introducing this
    measure and I am grateful to members on both sides of the aisle
    for all their hard work, their willingness to collaborate, and
    their commitment to advancing good, bipartisan legislation that
    enhances American leadership and security.
        Mr. Chairman, this has been a hallmark of our committee
    under your leadership and I am delighted to play a part in it.
        Thank you. I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We go now to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
        Ms. Ros-Lehtinen. Thank you so much, Chairman Royce and
    Ranking Member Engel, for bringing forth these various
    bipartisan measures before us today.
        Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1918, the Nicaraguan Investment
    Conditionality Act (NICA) of 2017 is a bipartisan bill that I
    authored alongside my colleague, Albio Sires. I am also
    thankful that Mr. Duncan, chair of the Western Hemisphere
    Subcommittee, has also supported the legislation. The bill aims
    to press the Ortega regime to improve its human rights
    practices to address its problems with corruption within the
    government and increase its transparency.
        And until the government starts implementing some reforms,
    there should be no reason for the United States to support the
    Ortega regime receiving more cash while it continues to violate
    human rights, ignores the rule of law, and perpetuates
    fraudulent elections. The U.S Congress has passed bills which
    have become law, imposing similar conditions on El Salvador,
    Honduras, and Guatemala, and they have been effective in moving
    these countries in the right direction.
        The NICA Act seeks to do the same with Nicaragua. If the
    electoral system is not changed in Nicaragua, the fraud
    orchestrated by Ortega will continue, and let us not forget
    that Ortega invited the Russians into Nicaragua, has let them
    set up operations there to undermine U.S. national security
    interests and it is Ortega who has been leading the charge at
    the Organization of American States to undermine our efforts to
    hold the Venezuelan regime accountable.
        So passing this measure is the right thing to do because
    the time to take action in support of the people of Nicaragua
    and their democratic future is now.
        The House already passed a similar version of this bill
    last Congress. Let us make sure that this becomes law.
        And the next bill, Mr. Chairman, the Reauthorization of
    North Korea Human Rights Act--I first authored it in 2004. It
    has been an important piece of our U.S.-North Korea policy ever
    since. I am proud to lead the law's reauthorization in 2008 and
    then again in 2012, and I am thankful to Ranking Member Engel
    for being our Democratic lead on this bill.
        Thank you to Chairman Yoho and Ranking Member Sherman for
    also joining us in introducing this measure. This bill ensures
    that essential tools for promoting North Korea human rights
    continues to be available, including grants for advancing human
    rights, democracy, and rule of law, humanitarian assistance for
    North Korean refugees, defectors, migrants, orphans, and women
    victims of trafficking, and continued reporting by the special
    envoy for North Korea human rights issues.
        I also want to thank Chairman Yoho for his leadership and
    his important amendment which makes some valuable additions to
    the bill, including adding new methods of communication so that
    North Koreans can be aware of their inherent rights and their
    absent freedoms.
        I want to briefly express my support for Ted Deutch's and
    Gus Bilirakis' resolution, House Resolution 359. Because the
    idea that somehow a terrorist group can be split into a
    military wing and a political and that somehow one part is a
    terror group yet another is not is beyond absurd.
        Iran is a state sponsor of terror. Hezbollah is its biggest
    tool. There can be no justification for this bifurcation.
        And, finally, briefly to express my support for Ron
    DeSantis' resolution in support of the Venezuelan people. Mr.
    DeSantis has been a real champion in this.
        The deteriorating situation in Venezuela is unacceptable
    and I am grateful that the administration took action yesterday
    to sanction regime officials in anticipation of the illegal
    Constituent Assembly planned for this Sunday.
        We have to keep the pressure on Maduro, staying in
    solidarity with the people of Venezuela as they continue with
    their quest for freedom, democracy, and fundamental human
    rights. So thank you to Mr. DeSantis.
        And I yield back, Mr. Chairman.
        Chairman Royce. I now recognize Mr. Connolly to speak on
    today's bills.
        Mr. Connolly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am pleased to
    support all of the bills in front of us en bloc and
    congratulate all of our colleagues for their fine efforts.
        I thank you and Mr. Engel for your leadership of bringing
    these bipartisan measures before us. Would that all committees
    in the Congress could have such comity as we have today.
        I would like to speak to one of those bills in particular,
    which is H.R. 2061, the North Korea Human Rights
    Reauthorization Act of 2017. I want to thank my friend, Ileana
    Ros-Lehtinen, for introducing this bill, the Korean Human
    Rights Reauthorization Act.
        The North Korean regime has conducted 17 ballistic missile
    tests in 2017 alone, including the July 4th launch of an
    intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching Alaska.
    The United States, the Republic of Korea, and other regional
    stakeholders must demonstrate a commitment to addressing this
    threat.
        At the same time, it is vital that our North Korea policy
    be informed with an understanding that there are human victims
    of the ongoing conflict on the peninsula who reside on both
    sides of the 38th Parallel. This bill responds to that
    imperative by reauthorizing the Human Rights Act of 2004 and
    prioritizing the protection of North Korean refugees and
    defectors.
        I want to thank Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for working with me on an
    amendment we adopted to H.R. 2061 that requires a report on
    ongoing or planned efforts regarding the repatriation of
    members of the United States Armed Forces, the reunification of
    Korean Americans with relatives in North Korea, and an
    assessment of security risks posed by travel to North Korea for
    U.S. citizens. And, of course, we now have a ban on such
    travel.
        The division of North and South Korea along the 38th
    Parallel offers one of the world's most striking dichotomies.
    Yet, on both sides of the DMZ resides a shared pain. The pain
    is that of families ripped apart by the Korean War and an
    enduring division of one people into two countries.
        Reunions are a welcome respite from that separation but, in
    the end, provide yet another reminder that family reunification
    on the peninsula is all too fleeting. Many of these Americans,
    more than 100,000 according to the last estimate, have been
    waiting to reunite with their family members in North Korea, in
    some cases since the armistice or the cease fire of the Korean
    War 60 years ago. Too many have already passed away without
    realizing that fervent hope that they would see the faces of
    their loved ones one more time.
        This amendment would require an update on efforts to
    conduct family reunification for those Korean-Americans. It
    would also help heal old wounds by addressing the issue of
    repatriation of members of the U.S. Armed Forces who have been
    missing since the Korean War 60 years ago.
        I thank the chair, thank all of my colleagues for their
    hard efforts, and I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        I now recognize Mr. Smith to speak on today's bills.
        Mr. Smith. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
        Let me, first of all, thank you for co-sponsoring, and
    Eliot Engel, a resolution that Karen Bass and I put together--
    H. Res. 128--and I want to thank Mike Coffman for his
    leadership--it has been extraordinary--on this resolution as
    well. Thank you, Mike.
        This resolution is like a mirror held up to the Government
    of Ethiopia on how others see them and it is intended to
    encourage them to move on reforms.
        Ethiopia is an important ally and partner in international
    peacekeeping. However, the continuing violations of human
    rights are absolutely unacceptable.
        I would note that the Country Reports on Human Rights
    Practices couldn't be more clear, put out by the U.S.
    Department of State, and they cite serious human rights
    violations including arbitrary arrests, killings, and torture
    committed by security forces, restrictions on freedom of
    expression and the freedom of association, politically-
    motivated trials, harassment, and intimidation of opposition
    members and journalists. And when you read the report, it is
    like an indictment against the Government of Ethiopia.
        Let me say to my colleagues that just yesterday I sent a
    letter to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on
    behalf of Demssew Abebe to get his family humanitarian parole
    to enter the United States and to remove the threats expressed
    to them by government forces.
        Demssew was a track star, a world-class track star, who was
    tortured by the Ethiopian security forces in a way that made
    his ability to run go away. They tortured him on his feet so he
    couldn't run.
        I mean, that is so despicable and it is just part of what I
    think is a very malevolent attitude toward people who disagree
    with them on human rights.
        I spoke to him in person on this. We had him at a press
    conference, and again, his story was absolutely compelling.
        Another victim of government torture, Abaguya Deki,
    testified at our subcommittee's hearing on Ethiopia on March
    9th. Abaguya is disabled and headed a government organization
    for disabled persons in Ethiopia.
        When he refused to join the ruling party or to sign off on
    what he described as the misuse of donated equipment for
    disabled people, he was jailed and made to crawl around his
    cell without his wheelchair, and in a subsequent imprisonment
    he was taken from his cell and left in a forest without his
    wheelchair to die, vulnerable to wild animals. Fortunately, he
    was able to set a fire and was saved by some kind people who
    spotted the fire and came to his aid.
        These are not actions of a government that respects human
    rights as they say they do and they have a very good PR
    campaign, I have to admit. But it is all about the deeds, not
    the words, and the deeds, again, continue to be, I think,
    egregious.
        My staff and I--Greg Simpkins and I--first traveled on one
    of the many trips to Ethiopia in 2005 and I can tell you, we
    had been trying to get this government to respect fundamental
    human rights and one of the findings or the sense of Congress
    statements is that we want individuals to be held accountable
    for gross violations of human rights in Ethiopia through
    appropriate mechanisms, including using the new Global
    Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to hold those
    individuals to account.
        Again, I want to thank the 50 members how have co-sponsored
    and I do hope the members will support the resolution.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Ted Deutch of Florida.
        Mr. Deutch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I would like to join my colleagues in expressing support
    for all of the measures before us today and to join all who
    have already expressed their appreciation for the bipartisan
    leadership of this committee from our chairman and our ranking
    member.
        I would like to especially thank the chairman for bringing
    forward my resolution urging the EU to designate Hezbollah as a
    terrorist organization and I thank the members of this
    committee on both sides of the aisle who have co-sponsored this
    legislation.
        Mr. Chairman, in 2013 the EU designated Hezbollah's
    military wing but not its political wing as a terrorist
    organization. This is a false distinction. Hamas in Gaza, ISIS
    in Iraq and Syria--they both administer government services.
    But the EU, no one would ever suggest that they aren't
    terrorist organizations.
        Hezbollah is a terrorist organization--one unified
    terrorist organization. It has one leader, Hasan Nasrallah, a
    U.S.-designated terrorist, who even before becoming leader of
    Hezbollah was directly involved in attacks, hostage taking, and
    airline hijacking.
        Hezbollah was responsible for the 1983 bombings in Beirut,
    one on the U.S. Embassy that killed 17 Americans and 46 others,
    and one on the U.S. Marine barracks that killed 241 American
    Marines and dozens of French service members. Hezbollah killed
    23 more Americans the following year in an attack on the U.S.
    Embassy annex in Beirut, and then in 1985 summarily executed a
    U.S. Navy diver during the hijacking of TWA 847.
        Hezbollah is also responsible for the 1992 Israeli Embassy
    bombing in Argentina, which killed 29 people, and the 1994
    bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires that killed 85
    people. In 1996, Hezbollah killed 19 more U.S. service members
    in the Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia, and 5 years ago
    this month a Hezbollah suicide bomber blew up a bus in
    Bulgaria, killing six Israelis and Bulgarians. And thousands of
    Hezbollah fighters at the direction of Iran have now been sent
    to Syria to prop up the brutal Assad regime, which is
    responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths.
        Iran's leaders seek to cement Hezbollah's hold on parts of
    Syria so there is a direct line to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to
    add to its arsenal over 150,000 rockets at every corner of
    Israel.
        This is not an organization that should be allowed to skirt
    the consequences of its terrorist activity by parading as a
    political entity.
        Last year, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League
    both designated Hezbollah a terrorist organization. I urge our
    European friends to take note and to finally designate
    Hezbollah without artificial distinction as a terrorist
    organization.
        The EU's designation of Hezbollah's military wing has
    already enabled substantial cooperation with the United States
    to uncover and to thwart Hezbollah's international criminal
    activities including drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and
    money laundering, and we appreciate that cooperation. The full
    designation, though, would allow for significantly improved
    cooperation to freeze Hezbollah's assets in Europe and prohibit
    fund-raising activities in support of Hezbollah, all to help
    prevent more devastating terror attacks by this terrorist
    organization.
        I urge my colleagues to join me in sending this important
    message to our European friends and allies, and I yield back
    the balance of my time.
        Chairman Royce. I recognize Mr. Rohrabacher of California
    to speak on today's bills.
        Mr. Rohrabacher. Thank you very much. I rise in support of
    the bills that have been presented to us today. I especially
    would like to focus on a number of areas.
        Ethiopia, for example--I want to congratulate Chairman
    Smith on a great job of analyzing the type of tyranny that is
    evident in Ethiopia. This is a corrupt regime that is also
    oppressive and brutal with its own people.
        Let me note that its corruption spills beyond its own
    borders. We have U.S. citizens whose property was confiscated
    by the Ethiopian Government and, arrogantly, the Ethiopian
    Government expects the U.S. to continue in a good relationship
    with it and perhaps even giving some type of aid to Ethiopia
    when it actually has stolen property that it refuses to give
    back to U.S. citizens.
        I know that personally because we have a very prominent
    family in Orange County, California, whose property was
    confiscated and after continuing to try they get nowhere after
    years of attempting.
        But that property damage and property theft is nowhere near
    as offensive to our values as is the murder and repression and
    the torture that goes on in Ethiopia. What we have is a
    dictatorship that knows no bounds. So I appreciate this bill.
        I also would like to note that Venezuela keeps sinking
    further, further into the depths of tyranny and injustice. Let
    us hope that while the situation is still fluid enough that we
    stand with the people of Venezuela in creating a real democracy
    there rather than these tough guy leftists who love Fidel
    Castro and other lowlife dictators who then serve as their
    model.
        And finally, about Hezbollah--I identify myself with the
    remarks that were just made by my colleague about Hezbollah.
        Look, it is time for the Palestinians to understand peace
    is in their hands and they have the ability to make peace with
    Israel. There was a two-state solution that was accepted and
    there was great hopes for that. But it is the continuing
    violence against Israel--organized violence against Israel that
    is destroying any chances for peace in that region, and we
    cannot blame Israel for retaliating against forces that are
    killing their own people and shooting rockets into their
    country.
        So today we are reaffirming that Hezbollah should be
    designated as a terrorist organization as it continues to push
    for war and continues to kill innocent people.
        Let me just note that there was a hearing here--I believe
    it was yesterday--in which we were talking about Qatar, and one
    of the things they said about Qatar was the good was that they
    helped rebuild destruction in Gaza. That is not a pro-peace
    solution and in fact Qatar's rebuilding those buildings that
    had been destroyed in retaliation for the missile attacks and
    rocket attacks on Israel only encourages more missile attacks
    on Israel.
        So Hezbollah and Hamas and the other Palestinian
    organizations that are active in that part of the world, we
    must be very clear that we want peace. We want them to make
    peace with the rest of the world and they are not doing so and
    they are conducting themselves in a way that they should become
    the pariahs of decent peoples and countries throughout the
    world.
        That whole notion is something that runs through this list
    of resolutions. I want to thank the chairman and I want to
    thank the ranking member for helping focus this committee with
    this--you know, with our basically bipartisan support on these
    type of values.
        So thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I rise in support
    of these resolutions.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We go to Lois Frankel of Florida on today's bills.
        Ms. Frankel. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I want to thank you,
    the ranking member, and all the members who have participated
    in putting together these very fine bills, which I proudly co-
    sponsor some of them.
        I really wanted to make a comment on three of those. The
    first, on urging the European Union to designate Hezbollah in
    its entirety as a terrorist organization and increase pressure
    on it and its members, so I am going to try--I am going to
    start with an analogy. It is probably not the best one but
    maybe my colleague here can help me figure out a better one.
        But I came in here today and I saw a bottle of water, which
    is pretty good. You can drink the water but when you think
    about it what is water made out of? Hydrogen and oxygen. Is
    that right?
        So, to me, and I don't think you can have water without the
    hydrogen or the oxygen, and to me this is what this resolution
    is.
        I know it is an analogy. I am not sure if it is that great.
    But I think--you all tell me, all right? Yes. You know, to try
    to separate the political and the military wing of Hezbollah,
    to me, is like saying, well, you know, separating the hydrogen
    and oxygen is saying, well, you have water. Okay. I think you
    get what I mean.
        My colleagues have made a lot of good comments about this.
    I think that the piece that I want to stress is how Hezbollah
    is really being used as a proxy by what I think many of us
    consider one of the most if not the most dangerous country in
    the world and that is Iran, which is trying to take over Iraq,
    Syria, to name a couple of countries--Yemen. They are
    destabilizing and dangerous in many areas that we are very,
    very concerned about and so they have to be stopped. And I
    think this resolution goes toward that direction.
        On what I would hope is a more positive note of inspiration
    is our urging or our resolution to work with displaced children
    toward education.
        You know, in reading about it, I think there is about 25
    million of the world's out of school children who are in
    conflict zones. Think about that.
        What does that mean? We are talking about a lost
    generation, and here is what is happening. Not only are the
    kids not getting educated but here is what is happening. We
    will use Syria as an example. They are not only not getting
    educated but the number of young girls who are now forced into
    child marriage has doubled from 12 to 26 percent. I mean, you
    imagine 12-year-olds, 14-year-old girls being forced to get
    married.
        You have child labor rapidly increasing in very illegal and
    unsafe conditions and I think as important is a complete lack
    of hope for young people. What happens to young people when
    they have no hope, no education, no potential of a real job
    other than maybe 1 day joining some terrorist organization or
    being the victims of one? So I thank this committee for that
    resolution on education.
        And then I know Ms. Bass is not here but I also want to say
    something about urging Kenya to have a fair and safe election.
    Some of us will be traveling to the region to monitor that
    election and I wish us well on that.
        But I think it is very important for us to support
    democracies and fair election anyplace in this world. And with
    that, Mr. Chair, I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Steve Chabot of Ohio on today's bills.
        Mr. Chabot. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for
    holding this important markup. I support all the bills. I will
    focus on one in particular.
        It has become apparent that the challenges that many girls
    across the globe face are daunting. Many of those difficulties
    begin at birth when millions of children, mostly girls, are not
    properly registered. They don't have birth certificates, making
    it easier for those children to disappear in human trafficking
    networks or be coerced into a childhood marriage, as Ms.
    Frankel just indicated, or forced labor.
        That is why in the House Betty McCollum and myself, in a
    bipartisan way, and Marco Rubio and Senator Shaheen over in the
    Senate introduced legislation to bolster efforts to develop
    birth certificates and national registries for children in
    developing countries. That legislation was passed by this
    committee, it was passed by both Houses, and President Obama
    signed it into law. That was about 2 years ago.
        However, another equally important aspect of the problem
    facing girls, as Ms. Frankel just indicated, is access to
    education. As a former teacher, myself, in an inner city school
    I've seen firsthand how education empowers children.
        Unfortunately, millions of children receive no education
    due to circumstances beyond their control. This is particularly
    true for the growing number of displaced people around the
    world as it is exceedingly difficult for children in conflict
    zones to receive a primary or a secondary education.
        Armed conflicts across the world, particularly in places
    like Syria, South Sudan, and others have resulted in the
    internal displacement of millions of women and children and
    forced them to literally flee their homes.
        Education is one of the key components in helping lift this
    most vulnerable population out of the depths of poverty and the
    difficult circumstances that they are facing. Access to
    education not only gives children the opportunity to grow and
    learn but also offers safety and shelter from the violence that
    is going on and the circumstances around them, safety from
    extremist ideology and human trafficking networks and a
    horrible cycle of abuse.
        Simply stated, access to education provides stability and
    consistency to children living in extremely unstable
    conditions, especially girls. Boys also are involved in this
    but girls are particularly vulnerable to this.
        It is our responsibilities as leaders of the free world to
    step up and ensure that education, a basic right, is accessible
    to all.
        I want to thank my colleague on the other side of the
    aisle, Robin Kelly of Illinois, for her leadership in
    introducing the legislation--one of the pieces that we are
    discussing here this morning, H.R. 2408, the Protecting Girls'
    Access to Education Act.
        It will move us in the right direction by calling on the
    Secretary of State and U.S. AID, previously known as USAID--I
    still have a hard time, whether it is U.S. AID, USAID. USAID
    makes more sense but if you've been around here a while like I
    have, sometimes you struggle with that one. But USAID now--to
    prioritize access to primary and secondary education.
        It aims to directly benefit displaced children,
    specifically girls, and will help to address one of the world's
    biggest challenges facing refugees. This legislation also
    encourages greater international coordination and promotes
    needed education for refugees where they are through local
    schools.
        The Protecting Girls' Access to Education Act will ensure
    that millions of child refugees will have an opportunity to
    reach their highest potential, even those in the most dire
    conditions.
        So I, again, want to thank my colleague, Robin Kelly, for
    her hard work on this legislation and hopefully we can continue
    to work on things down the road because, as the chairman knows,
    this is one committee that really does work in a bipartisan
    fashion.
        I wish the rest of the Congress did it. The other committee
    that I happen to chair, the House Small Business Committee with
    Nydia Velazquez, we actually work in a pretty bipartisan way as
    well.
        So the rest of the Congress should model themselves after
    those two committees.
        So with that, I will yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii to speak on today's bills.
        No? We then go to--Norma Torres, I think, is next in the
    queue. All right. Who seeks recognition? Joaquin Castro of
    Texas.
        Mr. Castro. Thank you, Chairman.
        I want to thank all of the members whose bills are being
    considered before us today.
        Representative Wagner and I co-founded the Congressional
    Caucus on ASEAN earlier this year to deepen the United States
    and Congress' engagement with Southeast Asia.
        ASEAN, as you know, serves as an example of successful
    regional cooperation. The nations of Southeast Asia, despite
    distinct histories, cultures, and religions have placed their
    faith in cooperation rather than conflict.
        U.S. security interests in Southeast Asia are wide ranging
    and supported by many regional partners. Members of ASEAN have
    worked closely with the United States to address mutual
    security concerns.
        Two members--the Philippines and Thailand--are treaty
    allies of the United States. Singapore and the United States
    cooperate closely to safeguard the maritime passageways of
    Southeast Asia and maintain a rules-based order in the Asia
    Pacific region.
        U.S. relationships with other ASEAN members such as Vietnam
    have grown in recent years as we not only acknowledge our past
    but also partner for a brighter future the member states of
    ASEAN hold significant economic promise and our economic
    relationship underpins much of U.S. engagement with the region.
        My home state of Texas exports over $13 billion worth of
    goods to ASEAN countries each year. These exports support over
    70,000 Texas jobs and over 500,000 jobs across the United
    States.
        The U.S.-ASEAN relationship is also built on history and
    cultural exchange. Millions of Americans can trace their family
    roots to the countries of ASEAN including over 400, 000 Texans.
        Tourism to and from ASEAN exposes hundreds of thousands of
    people to our cultures and communities across the Pacific.
    Language, literature, food, and music link our cultures across
    the ocean, set roots, and enrich both of our societies.
        House Resolution 311, the resolution we are considering
    here today, is part of America's continuing engagement with
    ASEAN. It commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of
    ASEAN and I am proud to present it here today.
        Thank you.
        Chairman Royce. Is Mr. Duncan seeking recognition?
        Mr. Duncan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        Just a few quick words. I want to thank you and the
    committee for continuing to stand up for the people of
    Venezuela against oppression.
        I want to commend Mr. DeSantis for his Resolution 259,
    which I fully support, and I appreciate the president talking
    about sanctions yesterday and continuing to point out how bad a
    Constituent Assembly would be in the face of democratic
    principles that should be in place in Venezuela.
        I also want to thank the committee for its continued
    efforts to support democracy and human rights all across the
    globe, not just in Venezuela but anywhere that human rights are
    violated.
        On the Canada Resolution 357, the time is right to reaffirm
    our partnership with our close friends and Canada is our best
    friend. They are our second largest trading partner. The
    strategic alliances that we have with our friends to the north
    are important and this resolution reaffirms that.
        Thirdly, I want to point out that Hezbollah is a terrorist
    organization and anytime we can point that out and point out
    the fact that they are backed by Iran--and neither Iran nor
    Hezbollah has America's best interest at heart. We should
    encourage our allies, whether they are in Europe or anywhere
    they may be, to point out that Hezbollah is a terrorist
    organization. So I commend and even support the words of Ms.
    Frankel.
        And with that, Mr. Chairman, this is a good markup with a
    good slate of bills and I look forward to supporting them all.
        I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you, Mr. Duncan.
        Any other members seeking recognition?
        Mr. Brad Sherman of California on today's bills.
        Mr. Sherman. I want to commend the chair and the ranking
    member for bringing to us nine well-crafted bipartisan bills. I
    want to commend the authors of each of them.
        I particularly want to thank the committee for focusing at
    the full committee level on human rights in east Africa. My
    wife works on that every day at the State Department and it is
    good that I can go back and tell her that I am also doing my
    part.
        In particular, I want to praise the chair of the Africa
    Subcommittee, Mr. Smith, and I would lavishly praise the
    ranking member, Karen Bass, if she were here, and in any case,
    the work of that subcommittee is to be commended.
        I want to associate myself with Ted Deutch's remarks about
    Hezbollah. This is an international terrorist organization and
    no one in Europe should be fooled into thinking that it is a
    Lebanese political party or that you can separate the actions
    of the political wing from the military wing, which is like
    blaming some of the fingers but not all of the fingers on the
    hand that holds the gun and shoots the innocent person.
        Keep in mind that Hezbollah has done more than any other
    organization that I--perhaps but along with Russia and Iran to
    support Assad's tyranny in Syria kill nearly 500,000 people and
    create a refugee crisis that Europe is suffering from. Perhaps
    if Europe had dealt with Hezbollah effectively in the past
    Europe would not face the refugee crisis that it faces today.
    We can't be sure.
        As ranking member of the Asia Subcommittee, I commend to
    the full committee two bills on Asia and thank Chairman Yoho
    for his leadership of that subcommittee.
        The first deals with North Korean human rights. I want to
    commend our former chair of the full committee, Ileana Ros-
    Lehtinen, and I also support Chairman Yoho's amendment to
    authorize the President to distribute or provide grants to
    provide information-receiving devices--electronically reachable
    devices. So many North Koreans get their information smuggled
    in through devices that simply didn't exist 10 or 20 years ago.
        Finally, I should commend the gentleman from Texas, Mr.
    Castro, for his bill on ASEAN.
        And with that, I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Mr. Yoho of Florida on today's bills.
        Mr. Yoho. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I want to share my support for H.R. 2061, the North Korean
    Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2017. I commend Chairman
    Emeritus Ros-Lehtinen for leading this reauthorization effort
    as she has done in the past.
        The substitute amendment I have offered for this
    legislation reflects the work performed at the subcommittee
    markup and I thank my colleagues on the Asia Pacific
    Subcommittee for joining me to move this legislation forward in
    the legislative process.
        The horrific human rights abuses committed by Kim Jong-Un
    are an integral part of his power structure. Countering these
    unspeakable crimes however we can is both a moral imperative
    and sound strategy.
        I have also offered a second amendment to this legislation
    and I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for
    including it in today's en bloc package.
        This amendment will attach the distribution and promotion
    of Right to Knowledge Act to today's reauthorization.
    Importantly, this amendment will expand the authority of the
    President and the Broadcasting Board of Governors to transmit
    and distribute information inside North Korea, one of the
    surest ways to weaken Kim's regime's grip on power.
        The two bills are natural partners and represent an
    important step to promote human rights and the free flow of
    information in North Korea.
        Again, I thank the chairman and ranking member, and yield
    back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We go to Brad Schneider of Illinois to speak on the bills.
        Mr. Schneider. Thank you, Chairman Royce.
        I want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for
    holding this markup today. I appreciate the consideration of
    these bipartisan pieces of legislation that address key foreign
    policy issues and I am proud to add my voice to those of my
    colleagues in supporting these measures.
        I am particularly pleased that today we are marking up
    House Resolution 359, which I am honored to cosponsor with my
    colleagues. This resolution urges the European Union to
    designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist
    organization.
        The EU designated Hezbollah's military wing as a terrorist
    organization in 2013 and has made notable progress in
    countering Hezbollah activities.
        But more must be done. As the resolution states, we urge
    the EU to take practical and tangible steps to reduce the
    terrorist threat posed to the United States, Europe, Israel,
    and our other allies in the Middle East by Hezbollah.
        For example, increasing cross-border intelligence sharing,
    freezing Hezbollah's assets, prohibiting Hezbollah fund-raising
    activities, and issuing arrest warrants for Hezbollah members
    and supporters in Europe would not only send a strong message
    but it would have a concrete impact, inhibiting the ability of
    Hezbollah to operate with impunity.
        Let us be clear. There is no distinction between the
    military and political wings of Hezbollah. They are part and
    parcel of the same entity and that is a terrorist organization
    that threatens the United States and our allies and contributes
    to the instability in the Middle East and the suffering of
    millions of people.
        I am also proud to co-sponsor H.R. 2061 that reauthorizes
    the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004, extending its
    provisions until 2022.
        While North Korea poses a grave and growing threat to the
    security of the United States, those who suffer most at the
    hands of the brutal regime of Kim Jong-Un are the North Korean
    people themselves who lack basic freedoms, are subject to
    torture and oppression, and are denied access to the basic
    goods and services.
        This bill also authorizes support for democracy and
    governance and humanitarian assistance programs for North Korea
    in recognition of the vital role that our diplomacy and
    development programs play in addressing conflict situations.
        In addition, I offer my support for the other pieces of
    legislation being marked up today supporting human rights and
    democratic elections, protecting vulnerable women and girls,
    and reaffirming the United States' enduring bilateral and
    multilateral relationship with allies around the world.
        The national security of the United States rests upon three
    pillars--defense, diplomacy, and development.
        We must ensure that our foreign policy continues to use all
    of the tools available to us in appropriate balance with each
    other.
        Indeed, these pieces of legislation exemplify how crucial
    it is that we maintain robust support for the Department of
    State and the U.S. Agency for International Development so that
    they can continue to advance our national priorities and
    sustain our position as a global leader in democracy, human
    rights, poverty alleviation, and defense of the world's most
    vulnerable populations.
        I would like to thank the committee again for considering
    these important and relevant bills, and with that, I yield
    back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you.
        We go to Mr. Ted Poe of Texas on today's bills.
        Mr. Poe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I would like to comment on two of these pieces of
    legislation. First, the North Korea Human Rights
    Reauthorization Act. If we look around the world there is no
    greater violator of human rights than North Korea. The people
    of that country live in a life of hopeless slavery and they are
    denied nearly all the basic human rights that most countries
    believe in. Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and
    freedom of movement are nonexistent in the kingdom of North
    Korea.
        Little Kim and his cronies have absolutely no concern for
    human life and decency. Hundreds of thousands of North Koreans
    are held in camps for political prisoners. In many cases, three
    generations of the same family are detained together in these
    prison work camps. They are routinely beaten, they are
    tortured, and if they are not executed, many die from
    starvation. Live births are prohibited in these prison camps.
    Forced abortions, killing of the newborn babies, are standard
    procedure in North Korea in these prison camps.
        The North Korean regime is not content simply with
    controlling these camps. Little Kim is a paranoid dictator. He
    and his fathers have tried to control all aspect their people's
    lives, even their beliefs. According to the regime, only the
    Kim family should be worshiped and they expect that. Christians
    are particularly singled out for persecution. Bibles are
    outlawed. A person can be thrown in jail for professing any and
    all religious beliefs.
        The people of North Korea suffer on a scale not imaginable
    anywhere in the world today. Two million people--two million
    people have died of starvation since the 1990s. Nearly one out
    of every 10 children suffers from malnutrition and 4 out of 10
    are chronically malnutritioned.
        These tragic figures are the direct result of decisions of
    the North Korean regime. Their slavery of their people does not
    just include the borders of North Korea.
        North Korea takes people in North Korea and sells them on
    the marketplace of slavery to other countries like China and
    sends their workers to China where they work and the money that
    is paid to the workers never goes to the workers. It goes to
    the Government of China. China is complicit in this slave trade
    and the slavery of humans from North Korea going to its
    country.
        The world basically did away with slavery many, many years
    ago but yet we see it raising its ugly head again in Little
    Kim's regime.
        It is amazing to me what a country can do to its own
    people. I think we are morally and legally obligated on behalf
    of those people who cannot help themselves and we can't just
    watch while millions starve to death.
        I support this reauthorization of the North Korean Human
    Rights Act. I commend my colleague, the gentlelady Ros-
    Lehtinen, for her work. North Korean people deserve basic
    humanity.
        The other issue that I'd like to mention is the Hezbollah
    bill, 359, and encouraging our European friends to recognize
    them as a terrorist organization.
        Historically, if we look at Europe especially since the
    '30s, they are late coming to the table to realize threats to
    their own nation and their own continent. And then Europe tries
    to act, sometimes successfully, sometimes not, to threats that
    are obvious from outsiders.
        And I would hope that Europe understands that Hezbollah is
    a threat to them--that they are not, as my friend, Mr. Sherman
    said from California, a political organization. They are a
    terrorist organization that does things politically as well.
        So I hope they realize the importance of working with the
    United States on Hezbollah. Hezbollah is in many places in the
    world, not just one place, and Hezbollah is funded from the
    number-one terrorist state in the world out of 195 countries
    and that is the country of Iran.
        Europe needs to recognize the threat within their own
    borders and they need to do it as soon as they can, and that is
    just the way it is, Mr. Chairman.
        I will yield to you.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you. Thank you for yielding back, Mr.
    Poe.
        I think--I think our last speaker is Robin Kelly of
    Illinois on this measure.
        Ambassador Wagner, did you seek time as well?
        We go to Robin Kelly in Illinois.
        Ms. Kelly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am honored to
    introduce, with Congressman Steve Chabot, H.R. 2408, the
    Protecting Girls' Access to Education Act, a bill that would
    provide all children of all genders access to quality
    education.
        I thank the chairman for including this bill in our final
    markup before August recess and I encourage all of my
    colleagues to support it.
        At the beginning of this year, 65 million people had been
    displaced from their homes, half of whom were 18 or younger.
    Too often these children are not only subject to violence and
    discrimination but they are also stripped of their basic human
    right to an education.
        The U.N. refugee agency recently reported that 4 million
    displaced children are without access to elementary school and
    88 percent of displaced children will never attend college.
        Without access to primary and secondary education these
    children become increasingly vulnerable to the most appalling
    human rights abuses. Lacking comfort and stability, displaced
    children are targeted for sex trade, abduction, child labor,
    early marriage, extreme poverty, and abuse.
        For the millions of displaced children, especially young
    girls, school may provide their only means of escape. Education
    helps children cope with trauma, avoid sexual violence, and
    transition into their new lives. The classroom environment
    gives them a sense of normalcy, community, support, and helps
    them overcome isolation and resentment.
        In addition, college and career training programs equip
    displaced students with the skills and confidence they need to
    become responsible members of their communities. For this
    reason, I have worked closely with Congressman Chabot to
    introduce H.R. 2408, the Protecting Children's Access to
    Education Act.
        With this bill, Congressman Chabot and I hope to provide
    displaced children, especially young girls, with economic,
    emotional, and educational opportunities they deserve.
        H.R. 2408 calls on the U.S. Government to collaborate with
    donors, private organizations, and other countries to include
    displaced children into the global public school system.
        Our bill supports programs that close the language barrier
    between teachers and displaced students and that train
    displaced students for college and careers.
        The Protecting Girls' Access to Education Act would
    authorize the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the
    U.S. Agency for International Development to provide efforts
    that provide safe accessible education to displaced children
    and to measure the success of these efforts.
        Most importantly, our bill would help educational
    institutions prevent discrimination against displaced children,
    especially young girls, who often become victims of bullying
    and sexual harassment.
        I also applaud Congressman Rubio and Congressman Menendez
    for introducing their companion bill in the Senate. Together,
    we have led a comprehensive bipartisan effort to improve the
    lives of displaced children. I look forward to seeing its
    enactment.
        Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Ambassador Ann Wagner of Missouri.
        Ms. Wagner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
        I would like to first state my strong support for all of
    the bills that we are marking up today but I want to speak
    specifically in support of House Resolution 311, the resolution
    that I was honored to introduce with my colleague,
    Representative Castro, to commemorate ASEAN's 50th anniversary
    and the 40th anniversary of U.S.-ASEAN relations.
        Southeast Asia has tremendous cultural, political,
    historical, and religious diversity. ASEAN was formed in part
    to create a bulwark against communism in Southeast Asia among
    these diverse nations. Today, ASEAN's goals have evolved and
    the region is experiencing tremendous growth. Nearly $100
    billion of U.S. goods and services are exported to the ASEAN,
    rivaling our $113 billion market in China.
        In January, I founded the bipartisan Congressional Caucus
    on ASEAN with my friend and colleague, Congressman Castro. The
    caucus acknowledges America's special relationship with ASEAN
    and is pushing Congress forward in strengthening engagement in
    Southeast Asia.
        House Resolution 311 was one of our first initiatives and
    the resolution encourages the enhancement of economic and
    defense cooperation with ASEAN.
        It reaffirms the U.S. commitment to continue joint efforts
    with ASEAN to halt human smuggling and human trafficking and
    urges ASEAN to improve assistance to refugees and migrants.
        I am grateful that the chair and ranking member are strong
    supporters of this effort and I look forward to next seeing
    this resolution on the House floor.
        I thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back.
        Chairman Royce. Thank you very much, Congresswoman Wagner.
        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.
        Without objection, the measures considered en bloc are
    ordered favorably reported as amended. Staff is directed to
    make any technical and conforming changes and the Chair is
    authorized to seek House consideration under suspension of the
    rules.
        And that concludes our business here today. I thank the
    ranking member and all of our committee members for their
    contributions and assistance with this markup.
        And the committee is adjourned.
        [Whereupon, at 11:16 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]

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