[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 48 (Monday, March 23, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H1829-H1832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING THE ATTACK ON THE NIGERIAN TOWN OF BAGA
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 53) condemning the cowardly attack on innocent men,
women, and children in the northeastern Nigerian town of Baga, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 53
Whereas on the night of January 3, 2015, the terrorist
group Boko Haram launched a horrific attack on innocent men,
women, and children in the northeastern Nigerian town of
Baga;
Whereas the terrorists of Boko Haram used assault rifles,
grenade launchers, and fire to slaughter innocent civilians
and the scope of casualties in this one attack totals in the
hundreds and possibly thousands;
Whereas some nongovernmental organizations have described
the attack in Baga as the terrorist group's ``deadliest
massacre'' to date;
Whereas Nigerian security forces have been largely unable
to prevent Boko Haram's territorial advances in the northeast
since July 2014;
Whereas human rights groups have indicated that the
Nigerian state security forces should improve efforts to
protect civilians during offensive operations against Boko
Haram;
Whereas this Islamist terrorist group, designated as a
United States Foreign Terrorist Organization in November
2013, has killed over 5,000 people in Nigeria in 2014 alone
and displaced over 1,000,000 innocent people;
Whereas Boko Haram has launched attacks in the neighboring
countries of Cameroon, Niger, and Chad;
Whereas Boko Haram's leadership has voiced support for and
received some funding and training from other Islamist
terrorist groups, such as al Qaeda and its affiliates, and
has recently embraced propaganda tactics similar to the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL);
Whereas Boko Haram's leadership pledged official allegiance
to ISIL, which ISIL has publicly accepted;
Whereas Boko Haram has abducted hundreds of civilians,
using women and children as slaves, subjecting them to sexual
abuse, and deploying them as suicide bombers, and forcibly
recruiting boys as child soldiers;
Whereas Boko Haram has threatened to disrupt the Nigerian
elections and attacks such as the one in Baga may result in
many Nigerians being unable to vote in the upcoming national
elections;
Whereas election-related violence in Nigeria has occurred
in successive elections, including in 2011, when nearly 800
people died and some 65,000 were displaced in clashes
following the presidential election;
Whereas President Goodluck Jonathan, Major General
(retired) Muhammadu Buhari, and other presidential candidates
signed the ``Abuja Accord'' on January 14, 2015, committing
themselves and their campaigns to refrain from public
statements that incite violence, to run on issue-based
platforms that do not seek to divide citizens along religious
or ethnic lines, and to support the impartial conduct of the
electoral commission and the security services;
Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Nigeria
on January 25, 2015, to emphasize the importance of ensuring
the upcoming elections are peaceful, nonviolent, and
credible;
Whereas Nigeria was scheduled to hold national elections on
February 14, 2015, but the elections were postponed for 6
weeks and are now scheduled for March 28, 2015;
Whereas political tensions in the country are high, and
either electoral fraud or violence could undermine the
credibility of the upcoming election;
Whereas Nigeria is Africa's largest economy, biggest oil
producer, and most populous nation, making it an influential
country in the region; and
Whereas Nigeria is an important partner of the United
States and it is in the best interest of the United States to
maintain close ties with Nigeria: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) expresses its strong support for the people of Nigeria,
especially the men, women, and children in northeastern
Nigeria, including the town of Baga, who have been
terrorized, abducted, trafficked, and murdered by the
terrorist group Boko Haram;
(2) condemns Boko Haram for its violent attacks on civilian
targets, including schools, mosques, churches, villages, and
markets in Nigeria;
(3) expresses concern about the possibility of an expanded
relationship between Boko Haram and ISIL in light of Boko
Haram's pledge of allegiance to ISIL;
(4) encourages the Government of Nigeria to strengthen
efforts to protect civilians from the terrorists of Boko
Haram, including through cooperation with neighboring
countries and other international actors;
(5) urges all political candidates to uphold the
commitments outlined in the ``Abuja Accord'' and the
Government of Nigeria to hold their elections without further
delay on March 28, 2015;
(6) remains committed to protecting democratic principles
and universal human rights worldwide;
(7) supports United States assistance to the Government of
Nigeria to combat Boko Haram and search for those who have
been abducted by Boko Haram; and
(8) applauds the countries of the region and the African
Union for their efforts to establish a regional security
force, which will include Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, and
Benin, to combat Boko Haram and supports offers of robust
security assistance to strengthen the force's capacity.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include any extraneous materials in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, as always, I very much appreciate the assistance of Mr.
Engel in moving this resolution today to the House floor, and I commend
Ms. Kelly, a new member of the committee, for her focus on this
important issue. The Africa Subcommittee chairman, Chris Smith, and the
ranking member of that committee, Karen Bass, have also done in-depth
work on Nigeria, and on Boko Haram in particular. I appreciate their
travels to Nigeria.
Mr. Speaker, Nigeria holds a critical presidential election this
weekend. It is expected to be the continent's most consequential
political event in years. Africa's most populous nation has over 70
million registered voters who will report to more than 100,000 polling
stations.
I had the opportunity, with Don Payne, to lead a delegation years ago
with election observer responsibility there for one of these national
elections in Nigeria, along with General Colin Powell at the time.
Let me tell you, the political environment is always tense, but it is
especially tense now. The leading candidates are neck and neck, as was
the case then.
I just have to say that we have seen Nigeria transition from military
rule to democracy in the election that General Powell and I witnessed,
and that was a very peaceful--very peaceful--time. But recent elections
in Nigeria have seen political violence, and we are right to be
concerned.
[[Page H1830]]
This resolution urges all political candidates to respect their
pledges of nonviolence and insist that the government hold a free,
fair, and credible election, and that they do so on time. This election
date has already been postponed once.
Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to face grave insecurity in the north at
the hands of Boko Haram, which loosely translates to ``Western
education is sin.'' This Islamist terrorist organization
indiscriminately kills in mass and pillages villages in their quest to
establish a sharia state. Satellite images document that after Boko
Haram comes through, villages are literally wiped off the map.
The group is responsible for 5,000 deaths last year, in 2014, and
displacing over 1 million people last year, making this organization,
by the way, one of the world's most deadly. But this weekend, forces
fighting Boko Haram reported discovering another hundred bodies in a
shallow mass grave. We don't really know how many they have killed out
there in total, but we know that the killing continues.
Mr. Speaker, after watching Boko Haram's violence, I wasn't surprised
to see that that group pledges allegiance to ISIS. ISIS publicly
accepted the overture claiming this new relationship expands their
self-declared caliphate to west Africa. At the same time, we have seen
Boko Haram's propaganda increase in quality, mimicking the production
of ISIS videos sweeping what we call the virtual caliphate on the
Internet.
So the good news, Mr. Speaker, is that Nigeria's neighbors, Chad,
Niger, and Cameroon, have all been making progress in the fight against
Boko Haram under a newly established African Union regional force.
{time} 1730
They have rescued more than 30 northern Nigerian towns to date from
Boko Haram and from that harsh rule. This is a good beginning, but this
African Union regional force lacks equipment and it lacks training.
This resolution expresses the House's support for robust security
assistance to these troops in their fight against Boko Haram.
Nevertheless, we cannot rely solely on other countries in the region.
Nigeria's security forces should have the lead role to play. If
dismantling Boko Haram is the goal, we need a well-trained, well-
equipped Nigerian military. We must make sure there are no impediments,
legislative or otherwise, to providing this much-needed assistance.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H. Res. 53.
I would like to begin by commending our colleague Robin Kelly, our
colleague on the Foreign Affairs Committee. She is a new member of the
committee. We are delighted to have her. I want to commend her for
introducing this important resolution, which condemns the brutal
terrorist group Boko Haram and calls for free, fair, and on-time
elections in Nigeria.
I also want to commend our colleague Frederica Wilson of Florida, who
has raised this issue more than anyone else time and time and time
again with resolutions on the House floor and just in general. So I
want to thank Ms. Wilson of Florida.
I want to thank Chris Smith and Karen Bass of our committee, the
Africa Subcommittee, who have also together pushed for a resolution of
importance as this.
For 5 years, Mr. Speaker, Boko Haram has torn a path of violence and
destruction across northeastern Nigeria, ruthlessly killing civilians,
kidnapping children, and looting and destroying towns. In the last
year, they have started to swallow up territory and, just a few weeks
ago, they pledged allegiance to ISIS, the Islamic State.
The Nigerian Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens,
but, obviously, it hasn't done nearly enough to confront this horrific
group. Only in the past month, with Presidential elections looming, has
Nigeria seemed to get more serious about turning back the tide of Boko
Haram.
In recent weeks, neighboring countries, including Chad, Niger, and
Cameroon, have stepped up their efforts to combat the group, and we
have seen real results. In some cases, troops in those nations have had
to occupy towns they have liberated inside Nigeria because Nigerian
forces simply aren't showing up to do their part. That is, obviously,
disgraceful.
Instead of providing professional security forces and long-term
economic investment into a long neglected region of the country, what I
see are last minute political stunts to persuade Nigerian voters to
reelect President Jonathan.
That brings me to the second subject of this resolution: Nigeria's
upcoming elections. Presidential elections were supposed to take place
on February 14, but were delayed until March 28 because of concerns
about Boko Haram. Many believe this delay was politically motivated.
Elections lacking legitimacy in Nigeria, which is Africa's most
populous nation, could, obviously, send a destabilizing shock wave
across the continent.
This resolution urges the Government of Nigeria to hold elections on
March 28, without further delay, and for all parties to refrain from
violence.
Mr. Speaker, Nigeria is a huge nation. It is the largest nation
populationwise in Africa. What happens in Nigeria is very important.
What happens in Nigeria counts. Nigeria needs to set a strong example
for the region and for the continent by holding credible elections and
by getting serious about Boko Haram. Nigeria needs to send a very
strong message about that.
I strongly support this resolution and urge all my colleagues to
support it as well.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Hurd), chairman of the Information Technology Subcommittee of the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Mr. HURD of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman.
I had the honor of serving my country for almost a decade as an
undercover officer in the CIA. I was in the back alleys and bazaars of
South Asia and the Middle East. I was the guy recruiting spies and
stealing secrets and collecting intelligence on threats to our
homeland, so I know a little something about dealing with bad guys. I
looked our enemies in their eyes and I know what they were capable of.
Those who are committed to spreading terror, murdering and destroying
the lives of the innocent, such as Boko Haram, cannot be reasoned with
because they are not reasonable. They cannot be bargained with because
they do not value the lives of others. They have nothing to lose. Only
their destruction will stop their reign of terror over the men, women,
and children of northeastern Nigeria.
So I encourage the United States to help. Let's help Nigeria and
other nations, such as Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, to help their
citizens. When terrorists such as Boko Haram are allowed to operate
unchecked, our world is less safe and less free.
As the greatest and the freest Nation in the world, let's extend a
hand to our friends in Nigeria and let them know that we stand with
them in this war on terror.
I want to thank the chairman for this resolution. And I want to thank
my colleague from Illinois, Congressman Robin Kelly, for her hard work
and leadership on this resolution.
I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to
the gentlewoman from Texas, Sheila Jackson Lee, my friend.
(Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, let me, with enthusiasm, thank the
chairman of the full committee, Mr. Royce, and the ranking member, both
my friends, and my friend from New York (Mr. Engel). We have worked
together on a number of issues.
I am both a student of Nigeria and a Member of Congress who has one
of the largest--I am being polite. I believe I have the largest
population of Nigerian Americans in my congressional area, which is in
Houston, Texas. And we are very proud of the contributions that
Africans from the continent but, in particular, in this instance,
Nigerian Americans have made over the years.
[[Page H1831]]
I am also privileged to chair with Congressman Chabot the Nigerian
Caucus. I invite my colleagues to join because Nigeria is the largest
population and I think the largest economy. I know that South Africa
has been touted as such, but the numbers go up and down. There are many
good people in Nigeria who want a better education for their children
and for that economy to help develop all of Nigeria.
I represent a number of energy companies who have been in Nigeria for
at least half a century. But, more importantly, we have seen Nigeria do
some very positive things. And might I first make sure that I mention
Congresswoman Robin Kelly, who I know is en route. I want to thank her
for her leadership on this legislation. I am delighted to cosponsor. I
had likewise introduced legislation that was legislation sponsored by
myself and Congressman Chabot. But I am delighted to have the
opportunity to support this legislation, which is, in essence, a
combination of our points about Nigeria. And also to acknowledge
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney and Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, whom
we have been working together with on Boko Haram.
My point is that Nigeria has had some positive successes. It is one
of the only and first states on the continent to fight and successfully
overcome Ebola, to have the kind of medical care and science to make
sure that they eliminated Ebola in Nigeria, even though one of the
first cases was in Nigeria by way of someone traveling to Nigeria.
Of course, we have faced a crisis not of the making of the Nigerian
people but in a northern state, unfortunately through the
misunderstandings and the horrors of believing--not only believing but
evidence--that the resources of Nigeria did not reach northern state,
Bono state. ISIS was able to root its evilness. And, of course, it has
been in Nigeria for a period of time.
However, the acts of Boko Haram came to our attention with the taking
of 165-plus girls and boys that we all know in terms of the tragedy of
taking the girls.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. ENGEL. I yield the gentlewoman an additional 2 minutes.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. I thank the gentleman.
And we began this campaign of ``bring the girls back.''
In the spring of 2014, I led a bipartisan delegation to Bono state
and met with families whose girls had been taken and whose girls were
still taken. I met with Jubilee, an organization that had saved some of
the girls and were educating them here.
This resolution is particularly important because it tracks the
legislation I authored, H. Res. 143, and condemns the cowardly acts of
what has occurred through Boko Haram, particularly in the town of Baga,
where it is alleged that thousands were killed. It also focuses on the
Nigerian election, where we are asking that the elections pending this
weekend will be held expeditiously and safely.
I want to mention that we understand that Boko Haram is a heinous
evil group that kills children and men and women and innocent persons
and burns down villages and intimidates people who just want democracy
and an opportunity to live. That means these elections are crucial. And
those who stand for election, they must stand for democracy and the
ending of the siege of Boko Haram in whatever way it can be.
Let me express my gratefulness to the African Union, of which I
raised a question with them, led by Chad and Nigeria and other
countries to fight off the siege of Boko Haram. But let me be very
clear that Boko Haram wants to be associated with ISIS. They want to
continue to be heinous and evil and dangerous. They must be weeded out,
and the continent of Africa must stand with them.
I do want to acknowledge that there has been a victims fund set up.
It is important for the Government of Nigeria to fund that victims fund
and use that victims fund for the broken families and broken children.
We know that Boko Haram has caused the death of over 9,000 persons.
This resolution asks for the recognition of the dangers of Boko Haram
and the elimination of Boko Haram and the safety and security of a
strong election.
Mr. Speaker, as I close, let me simply say that I urge the candidates
to stand for peaceful elections. I urge the people to exercise their
right to vote. I urge the international community to continue to
support and promote a safe and free and fair election. And I urge the
winner to bring people together and to stop this horrible siege.
I ask my colleagues to support the resolution, H. Res. 53.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong and enthusiastic support of H. Res. 53,
a resolution condemning the cowardly attack on innocent men, women and
children in the Northeastern Nigerian town of Baga.
This resolution also urges the Government of Nigeria to hold a safe,
free, and fair election on March 28, 2015.
I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their commitment
to peace, security, stability, justice and democracy around the world
in general and in Nigeria in particular, and for shepherding this
important resolution to the floor.
I also thank the gentlelady from Illinois, Congresswoman Kelly, for
introducing this resolution which I am proud to co-sponsor.
Also I want to thank the Ranking member Karen Barr and Chairman Smith
of the African Sub-Committee.
Mr. Speaker, many of us are very passionate about this very important
issue of peace, security, stability and democracy in Nigeria.
Nigeria, a regional giant and one of Africa's largest economies,
possesses abundant natural resources and a historically capable
military force which has provided regional stability and humanitarian
support to its African neighbors and other countries around the world.
We also recognize that peace, security and a stable economy in
Nigeria have a great bearing on global peace, security and stability
because of its posture in the African continent.
Mr. Speaker, since I have been in Congress, I have worked to promote
peace, security, stability, democracy and economic empowerment in
Nigeria.
Indeed, earlier this year, I authored H. Res. 143, a resolution
urging the government of Nigeria to move forward expeditiously with
national general elections.
Also, last year in response to the devastating kidnapping of the
Chibok school girls, I led a bipartisan congressional delegation to
Nigeria, along with my colleagues Frederica Wilson, Steve Stockman and
Lois Frankel.
While we were in Nigeria, we met with key stakeholders for peace in
Nigeria: political, community and civil society leaders.
During our meeting with these leaders on the ground in Nigeria, we
called for the creation of a Nigerian fund to compensate the victims of
the Boko Haram attacks, starting with the families of the kidnapped
schoolgirls.
Thus, H. Res. 53, the resolution offered by Congresswoman Kelly, is a
continuation of prior concerted efforts to catalyze peace, security,
stability, and free and fair elections in Nigeria.
Mr. Speaker, Nigeria's efforts to adhere to democratic political
processes, including safe, free, and fair elections are under direct
attack by the terrorist group Boko Haram.
Boko Haram's terroristic activities are intended to wreak havoc on
and incite fear on the part of the Nigerian people in order that they
stay away from the polls.
These violent threats by Boko Haram are in direct derogation of the
constitutionally protected rights of the Nigerian people to exercise
their right to vote.
For instance, Boko Haram has caused the death of over 9,000 persons,
according to a report by the Council on Foreign Relations and over 1.5
million persons have been displaced in Nigeria and regionally as
reported by Amnesty International.
In addition to the kidnapping of children such as the school girls
from the Government Girls Secondary School in the Northeastern province
of Chibok, Boko Haram has become more brazen with children now being
used as bomb shields as recent news reports inform us.
Boko Haram is decapitating and slicing the throats of women, leaving
them for dead.
These terrorists have taken over villages, raping, pillaging and
stealing the resources of innocent villagers who are not able to defend
themselves.
Mr. Speaker, Boko Haram is a rogue bully and terrorist organization
that needs to be dismantled and defeated.
Nigeria's success in combatting national and regional extremism is
critical to the security not only the Nigerian and African people but
of the United States and the global community.
Our commitment to promoting democracy and security in Nigeria and
Africa continues to be underscored by each and every cowardly brutal
act by Boko Haram.
It is critically important that we remain steadfast in our resolve to
defeat Boko Haram
[[Page H1832]]
in view of the fact that this band of cowards and terrorists has now
cast its lot with ISIS.
Today, by this resolution, the United States stands in solidarity
with the Nigerian people in condemning Boko Haram and supporting a
government that promotes peace, security, stability and democracy in
Nigeria.
We stand together in promoting the Nigerian people's constitutional
right to exercise their right to vote and have their voices heard.
Today, 5 days before March 28, the National elections, a historical
day for the country of Nigeria, I have four concluding points to make:
1. I urge Presidential candidates Goodluck Johnathan and Muhammadu
Buhari to adhere to the 2015 Abuja Accord to avoid any conduct or
behavior that will endanger the political stability and national
security of Nigeria and fully abide by all rules and regulations as
laid down in the legal framework for elections in Nigeria;
2. I urge the Nigerian people to exercise their right to vote and
promote peace as they engage in this sacred act of lending their voices
to the political process which will affect their future and the future
of Nigerian youth;
3. I urge the international community to continue to support and
promote a safe, free and fair election in Nigeria and sustainable
democracy to promote economic upward mobility in Nigeria and
opportunities for youth; and
4. I urge the winner of the national election, whomever he may be to
protect the Nigerian people from the scourge of Boko Haram, and to help
find the abducted girls and work with the United States and regional
governments in Africa to contain and ultimately defeat Boko Haram.
Mr. Speaker, peace in Nigeria requires democratic elections, the
creative weapons of transparency, peace coalition building, addressing
grievances, negotiations, the use of social media, infrastructure
building and political intellectual capital building.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time to close.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is my great pleasure to yield 5 minutes to
the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly), the author of this
resolution.
Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce
and Ranking Member Engel for their bipartisan leadership in helping
bring the attention of Congress to the vile acts of the terror group
Boko Haram.
This weekend, the international community received the sickening news
that a mass grave with beheaded remains was uncovered in formerly Boko
Haram-held territory in northern Nigeria.
It still stands that America will never tolerate terrorism, and this
Congress will never abide terrorists. Despite their beliefs, a few
things about Boko Haram are quite clear to the world.
Abubakar Shekau's acts are cowardly. He remains a man who fears the
power of the people of Nigeria, a man afraid of the promise and
potential of girls who are educated and whose minds will change the
world.
History will not celebrate Boko Haram because they are on the wrong
side of it. They have mistaken cowardice for courage, and their crimes
against innocent men, women, and children cannot be forgiven.
It has been 10 months since the world demanded that Boko Haram bring
back the 200 school girls they kidnapped because they wanted to be
educated. They defied these calls.
Boko Haram has murdered scores of innocent Nigerians--an estimated
17,000 since 2011. And this month, we received the news that they have
sworn allegiance to ISIS.
I, like so many across the world, was outraged at the brutality and
senselessness of Boko Haram's crimes. Victimizing innocent men, women,
and children for perverse ideological gain will never be tolerated or
treated as just by the international community.
With our vote today, this committee and this Congress can affirm that
we stand for the human rights, dignity, and security of the Nigerian
people; that we will not tolerate a world in which Boko Haram, or any
terrorist organization, can slaughter innocent civilians; that we
respect the right of women to be educated without the threat of
violence; and that we support free and fair elections free of
suppression and intimidation.
{time} 1745
We say this positively on this House floor, and we stand today with
the force and confidence that is much stronger than groups of the likes
of Boko Haram.
I thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, Congresswoman
Frederica Wilson for her constant leadership on this issue, Congressman
Will Hurd of Texas for being the first to come across the aisle and
lend his name to this resolution, and I thank all of the other Members
who stood up and spoke out against the cowardly acts of Boko Haram and
ISIS. I urge my colleagues to pass this important resolution.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
In our committee, we heard the testimony of Deborah Peters, a young
girl from northern Nigeria. She survived, but she was tied to her
father's body and her brothers, who were massacred by Boko Haram.
She came to tell us about what it was like, of her girlfriends or her
schoolmates, of course, who have never been returned and of her
chilling account of the practices committed as that village was
decimated--``decimated'' is not the right word--as that village was
eliminated.
I mean, we are talking about communities here--villages--in which
there are a handful of survivors when Boko Haram comes through, of
young people like Deborah who are left with a world shattered, with
their families massacred and, in her case, in front of her very eyes.
Now, as this country of Nigeria prepares for elections, this
insurgency that is burning in the north is creating a huge problem.
U.S. support for the African Union force, which is making some gains in
stomping out Boko Haram's violent march, has got to be stepped up. The
region's stability depends on it.
In the meantime, I just want to say that the presidential election in
Nigeria is going to be critical not just for Nigeria, but for the
region. Nigeria has the largest population and the largest economy. The
outcome could have a far-reaching impact.
This resolution puts the House's views on record, and I thank Ms.
Kelly for that. It spells out the need for a nonviolent, free, and fair
election. Not only do I thank her for drafting this resolution, but I
thank her and Eliot Engel and Chris Smith and all of our committee
members who have been focused on Nigeria and Boko Haram.
It is a necessity that we devote more time and energy to this mission
of trying to figure out how we can bring support to the Nigerian
military in their effort to suppress Boko Haram.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
In closing, I would like to, once again, thank Congresswoman Kelly
and, certainly, Chairman Royce, along with other Members who have
worked on this issue--I mentioned Frederica Wilson--for helping to
highlight the major challenges facing Nigeria today.
Nigeria is a critical ally of the United States, and Congress must
stay strongly engaged on these key issues of democracy and security
pertaining to Nigeria.
Lastly, let me thank the leadership for moving this resolution to the
floor in a timely manner before the upcoming election in Nigeria. I
urge a ``yes'' vote.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 53, 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: ``A resolution
condemning the cowardly attacks on innocent men, women, and children in
northeastern Nigeria by Boko Haram and urging a peaceful and credible
national election''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________