[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 123 (Friday, August 1, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H7236-H7237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN IRAQ

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 683) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need to 
protect religious minorities from persecution from the Sunni Islamist 
insurgent and terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant 
(ISIL) as it expands its control over areas in northwestern Iraq, and 
ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Holding). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 683

       Whereas Iraq is currently embroiled in a political and 
     religious insurrection stemming from an Islamic State in Iraq 
     and Levant (ISIL)-led offensive that began in the Anbar 
     province and has spread to key locations such as Mosul, 
     Tikrit, and Samarra and continues to engulf the region in 
     violence and instability;
       Whereas ISIL is a transnational Sunni insurgency whose 
     ideological and organizational roots lie in both al Qaeda in 
     Iraq and the Syria-based Jabhat al Nursa and has a stated 
     mission of establishing an Islamic state and a caliphate 
     across the Levant through violence against Shiites, non-
     Muslims, and unsupportive Sunnis;
       Whereas Iraq's population is approximately 31,300,000 with 
     97 percent identifying

[[Page H7237]]

     themselves as Muslim and the approximately 3 percent of 
     religious minorities groups comprising of Christians, 
     Yezidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Bahais, Shabaks, Kakais, and Jews;
       Whereas the Iraqi Christian population is estimated to be 
     between 400,000 and 850,000 with two-thirds being Chaldean, 
     one-fifth Assyrian, and the remainder consisting of Syriacs, 
     Protestants, Armenians, and Anglicans;
       Whereas the Iraqi constitution provides for religious 
     freedom by stating--
       (1) ``no law may be enacted that contradicts the principles 
     of democracy'';
       (2) ``no law may be enacted that contradicts the rights and 
     basic freedoms stipulated in this Constitution''; and
       (3) ``[This Constitution] guarantees the full religious 
     rights to freedom of religious belief and practice of all 
     individuals such as Christians, Yazidis, and Mandean 
     Sabeans'';

       Whereas over 500,000 people have been displaced by the 
     current situation in Iraq and reports have surfaced of 
     targeted harassment, persecution, and killings of Iraqi 
     religious minorities by ISIL with little to no protection 
     from the Iraqi Government and other security forces;
       Whereas the fall of Mosul in particular has sparked enough 
     anxiety among the Christian population that for the first 
     time in 1,600 years there was no Mass in the city;
       Whereas over 50 percent of Iraq's Christian population has 
     fled since the fall of Saddam Hussein, 1,100,000 people of 
     diverse religious backgrounds remain internally displaced and 
     the government under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has not 
     upheld its commitment to protect the rights of religious 
     minorities;
       Whereas the United States has provided over $73,000,000 of 
     cumulative assistance to Iraq's minority populations since 
     2003 through economic development, humanitarian services, and 
     capacity development;
       Whereas 84,902 Iraqis have resettled to the United States 
     between 2007 and 2013 and over 300,000 Chaldean and Assyrians 
     currently reside throughout the country, particularly in 
     Michigan, California, Arizona, Illinois, and Ohio; and
       Whereas President Barack Obama recently declared on 
     Religious Freedom Day, ``Foremost among the rights Americans 
     hold sacred is the freedom to worship as we choose . . . we 
     also remember that religious liberty is not just an American 
     right; it is a universal human right to be protected here at 
     home and across the globe. This freedom is an essential part 
     of human dignity, and without it our world cannot know 
     lasting peace'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) reaffirms its commitments to promoting and protecting 
     religious freedom around the world and providing relief to 
     minority groups facing persecution;
       (2) calls on the United States Department of State to work 
     with the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Iraqi central 
     government, neighboring countries, the diaspora community in 
     the United States, the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Refugees, and other key stakeholders to help secure safe 
     havens for those claiming amnesty in Iraq; and
       (3) respectfully requests the addition of a Special 
     Representative for Religious Minorities to be included in 
     Prime Minister al-Maliki's newly reconstructed government.


                     Amendment Offered by Mr. Royce

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the text at the desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
     following:

     That the House of Representatives--
       (1) deplores and condemns the religious bigotry, vandalism 
     and destruction of property, and violent attacks on and 
     intimidation of innocent Iraqi civilians by armed extremists;
       (2) calls on the United States Department of State to work 
     with the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Iraqi central 
     government, neighboring countries, the diaspora community in 
     the United States, the United Nations High Commissioner for 
     Refugees, and other key stakeholders to help secure safe 
     havens for those claiming amnesty in Iraq;
       (3) calls on the United States Permanent Representative to 
     the United Nations to work with the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees on a sustained basis to document 
     human rights abuses against Iraqi civilians and develop an 
     immediate plan to facilitate safe humanitarian access to 
     potable water, health care, fuel, electricity, and basic 
     security for the most vulnerable civilian populations;
       (4) calls upon the Government of Iraq to take immediate 
     steps to protect the safety and constitutional rights of all 
     Iraqi citizens;
       (5) respectfully requests the addition of a Special 
     Representative for Religious Minorities to be included in the 
     newly reconstructed government of Iraq; and
       (6) reaffirms its commitments to promoting and protecting 
     religious freedom around the world and providing relief to 
     minority groups facing persecution.

  Mr. ROYCE (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.


             Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Royce

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the preamble at the 
desk.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Strike the preamble and insert the following:

       Whereas Iraq is currently embroiled in a political and 
     religious insurrection stemming from an Islamic State in Iraq 
     and Levant (ISIL)-led offensive that began in the Anbar 
     province and has spread to key locations such as Mosul, 
     Tikrit, and Samarra and continues to engulf the region in 
     violence and instability;
       Whereas ISIL is a transnational Sunni insurgency whose 
     ideological and organizational roots lie in both al Qaeda in 
     Iraq and the Syria-based Jabhat al Nursa and has a stated 
     mission of establishing an Islamic state and a caliphate 
     across the Levant through violence against Shiites, non-
     Muslims, and unsupportive Sunnis;
       Whereas Iraq's population is approximately 31,300,000 with 
     97 percent identifying themselves as Muslim and the 
     approximately 3 percent of religious minorities groups 
     comprising of Christians, Yezidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Bahais, 
     Shabaks, Kakais, and Jews;
       Whereas the Iraqi Christian population is estimated to be 
     between 400,000 and 850,000 with two-thirds being Chaldean, 
     one-fifth Assyrian, and the remainder consisting of Syriacs, 
     Protestants, Armenians, and Anglicans;
       Whereas the Iraqi constitution provides for religious 
     freedom by stating--
       (1) ``no law may be enacted that contradicts the principles 
     of democracy'';
       (2) ``no law may be enacted that contradicts the rights and 
     basic freedoms stipulated in this Constitution''; and
       (3) ``[This Constitution] guarantees the full religious 
     rights to freedom of religious belief and practice of all 
     individuals such as Christians, Yazidis, and Mandean 
     Sabeans'';
       Whereas over 500,000 people have been displaced by the 
     current situation in Iraq and reports have surfaced of 
     targeted harassment, persecution, and killings of Iraqi 
     religious minorities by ISIL with little to no protection 
     from the Iraqi Government and other security forces;
       Whereas the fall of Mosul in particular has sparked enough 
     anxiety among the Christian population that for the first 
     time in 1,600 years there was no Mass in the city;
       Whereas over 50 percent of Iraq's Christian population has 
     fled since the fall of Saddam Hussein, 1,100,000 people of 
     diverse religious backgrounds remain internally displaced and 
     the government under Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has not 
     upheld its commitment to protect the rights of religious 
     minorities;
       Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
     reports as of January 2014 a total population of concern in 
     Iraq numbering 1,522,855 people, including refugees and 
     internally displaced persons, many of whom face grave 
     deprivation and imminent threats to life, health, and safety;
       Whereas the United States has provided over $73,000,000 of 
     cumulative assistance to Iraq's minority populations since 
     2003 through economic development, humanitarian services, and 
     capacity development;
       Whereas 84,902 Iraqis have resettled to the United States 
     between 2007 and 2013 and over 300,000 Chaldean and Assyrians 
     currently reside throughout the country, particularly in 
     Michigan, California, Arizona, Illinois, and Ohio; and
       Whereas President Barack Obama recently declared on 
     Religious Freedom Day, ``Foremost among the rights Americans 
     hold sacred is the freedom to worship as we choose . . . we 
     also remember that religious liberty is not just an American 
     right; it is a universal human right to be protected here at 
     home and across the globe. This freedom is an essential part 
     of human dignity, and without it our world cannot know 
     lasting peace'': Now, therefore, be it

  Mr. ROYCE (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
to dispense with the reading.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________