[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.
____________________