[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 19, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3615-H3617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
URGING ESTABLISHMENT OF U.S. CONSULATE IN KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 873) establishing a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 873
Whereas 15 countries, including leading European nations,
have diplomatic and consulate representation in Erbil, the
capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq;
Whereas the United States Department of State modified its
Travel Warning for Iraq this year to reflect the relative
safety and security of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as in other regions of
Iraq, is consistent with current United States policy to
normalize United States-Iraqi relations at the diplomatic,
commercial, cultural, and educational levels as United States
Armed Forces responsibly redeploy from Iraq in accordance
with the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States
and Iraq;
Whereas greater United States Government civilian
representation throughout Iraq, including in the Kurdistan
Region, will serve United States interests during this period
of transition;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will increase travel between the
United States and Iraq and thus strengthen people-to-people
exchanges between both sides;
Whereas currently, United States citizens either living in
or visiting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq must travel to the
United States Embassy in Baghdad, 200 miles away, to receive
consular services;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will be helpful both in
attracting greater United States business and investment to
the region and in ensuring that the region continues to serve
as a ``gateway'' to United States business success in other
parts of Iraq, as a number of United States Government
agencies have advocated;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will reaffirm United States
support for the stability, prosperity, and democracy that the
Kurdistan Region of Iraq has achieved;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region will facilitate more
governmental and nongovernmental missions between the United
States and the Iraq;
Whereas the Kurds of Iraq have been willing partners with
the United States in the democratic transition in Iraq since
2003;
Whereas the United States and the Kurdistan Regional
Government (KRG) have been full partners in the battle
against terrorists who seek to undermine progress toward an
Iraq that is prosperous, free, and federal;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region and in other regions will play a helpful
role in continuing to safeguard Iraq's territorial integrity
from external aggression and support United States and Iraqi
diplomatic initiatives that seek to prevent outside
interference in Iraq's affairs;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will also foster continued
dialogue between the United States and the KRG; and
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in
the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will positively contribute to
continued diplomatic initiatives between the KRG and Turkey:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls on the Department of State to establish a United
States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as
in other appropriate regions of Iraq; and
(2) affirms that the establishment of a United States
Consulate in the Kurdistan Region as well as in other regions
of Iraq will be an important United States diplomatic step in
supporting stability, prosperity, human rights, and democracy
throughout Iraq.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. McMahon) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution, and yield myself such time as I may consume.
This resolution expresses the sense of Congress that the United
States should establish a consulate in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. As
the United States military presence in Iraq winds down and our
diplomatic presence increases, a consulate in northern Iraq will prove
indispensable to America. Fifteen countries, including Iran, Turkey,
and a leading number of European countries, have already opened
consulates in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan regional government.
It would benefit U.S. national security to follow suit. American
economic interests would also be served by opening a consulate in
northern Iraq. Indeed, Iraqi Kurdistan offers numerous business
opportunities across a number of important sectors, including energy
development and infrastructure. The lack of a consulate in northern
Iraq is preventing U.S. firms from taking full advantage of these new
economic opportunities in a rapidly developing region. Instead,
contracts are going to Iranian, European, Turkish, and Asian
corporations.
Finally, the absence of a U.S. consulate in northern Iraq makes it
extremely difficult for the residents of that region--Kurds, Arabs, and
others--to gain access to U.S. consular services. Iraqis from the north
must drive more than 200 miles to reach the American Embassy in
Baghdad. And
[[Page H3616]]
some of the territory they are forced to cover is treacherous. This is
no way to encourage Iraqi communication with American diplomats or to
handle passport issues.
Madam Speaker, this year, the State Department modified its travel
warning for Iraq, reflecting the relative safety and security in the
Kurdistan region. And we must not forget that the Kurdish people of
Iraq have been partners with the United States for many years. I
believe that the establishment of the United States consulate in the
Kurdistan region of Iraq will demonstrate our strong commitment to
maintaining and building upon a success and stability that has already
been achieved in that part of Iraq, thanks in large part to the proud,
brave, and courageous warriors from our armed services. I also believe
that we should open consulates in the majority Shia south and the
majority Sunni Arab center of the country to expand America's
diplomatic reach and presence throughout Iraq.
Madam Speaker, the future of United States-Iraqi relations will be
based on diplomacy and security. Expanding our consular access in
northern Iraq will contribute both to our national security goals and
to the stabilization and success of the Iraqi nation. I encourage all
of my colleagues to support H. Res. 873.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Iraqi Kurds have been willing partners with the United States since
the beginning of the transition to democracy in Iraq in 2003. They
personally endured the brutal persecution and murder, including the use
of chemical weapons, that characterized the tyranny of Saddam Hussein's
regime over Iraq. Their determination to prevent the recurrence of such
persecution underlies their partnership with us in battling against
terrorists, insurgents, and other militant extremists who seek to
undermine the progress made in Iraq. They have committed themselves to
a future within a Federal Republic of Iraq, a future of stability, of
prosperity and democracy, of freedom and human rights. This is their
vision, and this is our vision. Indeed, the future of United States
cooperation with the Republic of Iraq in general, including the
Kurdistan region, contains great opportunity for us.
{time} 1515
As we responsibly redeploy from Iraq in accordance with our Status of
Forces Agreement with the Republic of Iraq, we are continuing to
normalize our bilateral relations at many different levels, as we
should. One way to do so is to establish U.S. consulates in appropriate
regions of Iraq, including in the Kurdistan region. Currently, United
States citizens living in or visiting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq must
travel 200 miles away to our embassy in Baghdad to receive consular
services. Increased U.S. Government civilian representation throughout
Iraq will serve American interests during this period of transition,
increasing opportunities for travel, governmental and nongovernmental
missions, people-to-people exchanges between our two nations, and for
attracting greater U.S. business and investment in Iraq. And in this
respect, establishing a consulate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will
help ensure that the region continues to serve as a gateway for
American businesses and investment to other regions of Iraq.
Establishing U.S. consulates will also advance continued dialogue
between the United States and the Republic of Iraq, including dialogue
with the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Finally, U.S. consulates in Iraq will hopefully help to ensure that
stability, security, prosperity, human rights and freedom in Iraq,
including in the Kurdistan Region, are protected and strengthened in
the days and months and years ahead. Already, 15 countries, including
leading European countries, have consular representation in the capital
of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Therefore, I strongly support House
Resolution 873, which calls for the establishment of U.S. consulates in
appropriate regions of Iraq, including Kurdistan.
I thank the distinguished ranking member of the Subcommittee on
International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, Mr.
Rohrabacher from California, for sponsoring this resolution.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Davis).
Mr. DAVIS of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman.
I rise in strong support of House Resolution 873. On several
occasions, I have had the opportunity to visit Iraq and had the
privilege of visiting the Kurdistan Region. I have seen firsthand the
stability in this rapidly developing part of Iraq. Which is why on
October 27 of last year, I joined Congressman Rohrabacher in
introducing H. Res. 873, a resolution that would encourage the State
Department to establish an American consulate in Erbil, which is the
capital city of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Almost 20 other
countries, including developed European allies and other world powers,
have already set up their consulates in the Kurdistan Region, and
America, I believe, should do the same. Establishing a consulate in
Iraqi Kurdistan should be part of our transition in Iraq, from a
military presence to a civilian and diplomatic one. This is an
important step on Iraq's path to normalization and recognizes the
growing stability in that part of the world and in northern Iraq.
A consulate in Erbil will serve both U.S. and Iraqi interests. A
consulate will aid in fostering the growing economic, potential
commercial and cultural/educational ties between the Kurdistan Region
of Iraq and the U.S. The lack of a consulate is putting America at a
disadvantage in the region and is a disservice, I believe, to our Iraqi
Kurdish partners.
Since introduction of this resolution, the State Department has
released plans to set up two permanent consulates in Iraq, readying
itself for a larger role in the country as the U.S. military presence
prepares to leave. The administration is requesting funds in the
military supplemental for a consulate in Basra and one in northern
Iraq. I believe the one in northern Iraq should be located in Erbil.
Erbil is one of the longest contiguous residential cities in the
world, and as we have engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom, not a single
soldier, not a single American life has been lost in combat in the
northern part of Iraq. America's friends throughout the world and
America's friends in Kurdistan I believe deserve the presence of a
consulate in this country in Erbil in northern Iraq.
Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume
to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), the ranking member
of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations,
Human Rights, and Oversight and the author of this legislation.
Mr. ROHRABACHER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of my
resolution, H. Res. 873, and ask my colleagues to join me in this both
moral and practical resolution.
A strong relationship with the Kurdish people serves the cause of
peace, stability and democratic government in a region that needs a lot
of bolstering when it comes to peace, stability and democratic
government. It is a strong relationship with the Kurds that will keep
radical Islamic forces in other parts of Iraq in check. It is a strong
relationship with the Kurds that will offset the support that is going
to these radical elements in the rest of Iraq and the region. As we
know, the Kurds over the years have a history of being an oppressed
people. Thus, they are natural allies of the United States, a country,
our country, whose tradition is supporting oppressed peoples and
struggling with them to promote democracy, opportunity and prosperity.
If we can count on the Kurds, we will know that there's an opportunity
for peace and stability in that area that wouldn't exist otherwise. And
if they can count on us, the Kurds, we can count on them. This
legislation will codify that relationship and that friendship by
establishing an American consulate in Erbil, which is in the Kurdish
part of Iraq. Let me note that 20 other countries, including European
nations and other world powers, have diplomatic and consulate
representation in Erbil, which is the capital of the Kurdistan Region
of Iraq.
[[Page H3617]]
The Kurds have been willing partners of the United States since that
democratic transition in Iraq began in 2003, and the Kurdish part of
the country has served as a model for Iraq's democratization ever since
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
We should move forward with this. Actually, it really is a sorry
comment that we have to have congressional legislation to force the
State Department to have a consulate in Kurdistan or in the Kurdish
region of Iraq. This makes all the sense in the world. It's good for
them. It's good for us. It's good for the people of Iraq. It creates an
area of stability in which we are officially recognizing that concept
of a peaceful relationship with the Kurds in order to have peace in
Iraq.
So I ask my fellow colleagues to join me today in officially
recognizing this great friendship that serves us all so well by
enabling the State Department to open a consulate in Erbil, Kurdistan,
and, again, underscoring the great friendship between the Kurds and the
American people, a friendship that serves both our countries well.
Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McMAHON. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. McMahon) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 873, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Calling for
the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region
of Iraq along with similar efforts in other areas of Iraq.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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