[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.

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