[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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