[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 168 (Monday, November 16, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1630-E1631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
 REGARDING THE VICTIMS OF TERROR PROTECTION FUND--HOUSE RESOLUTION 528

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 16, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, the past 36 hours have been a very 
trying time for the world family as we grapple with the reality of 
terrorists wreaking havoc in our world.
  One only needs to look at the current news events across the globe to 
appreciate the imperative of countering violent extremism, empowering 
and protecting victims of terror, refugees and displaced persons.
  In the past three months alone, ISIS has claimed responsibility for 
crimes, atrocities and terroristic attacks, claiming lives in Saudi 
Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Beirut and Paris.
  Daesh-ISIL and other terrorist networks that have pledged allegiance 
to ISIS today pose the gravest extremist threat faced by our generation 
and those of our children.
  But we must not be moved by their evil ways, for eventually, the arc 
of the moral universe always tips on the side of justice of peace of 
equity of the rule of law.
  This is why I remain steadfast in my commitment to combatting violent 
extremism and protecting victims.
  Today, I introduced legislation expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding the creation of a Victims of Terror 
Protection Fund.
  I urge support of this legislation.
  As a result of terrorism in the region and Boko Haram in particular 
in Nigeria, recent reports inform us that Nigeria has the highest 
number of displaced persons in Africa and the third largest in the 
world, following Syria and Columbia.
  As we know, the recent coordinated attacks in Paris, following 
military interventions by at least two United Nations Security Council 
permanent members: Russia and France highlights the fact that we are 
dealing with an enemy of humanity and compels us to launch an 
international and coordinated strategy to diminish ISIS to protect our 
children and our children's children.
  Moreover, the recent events underscore the importance of a 
Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism to degrade and 
permanently destroy ISIS and its vitriolic ideology that is inflicting 
pain on innocent people.
  As we all know, humanitarian crises triggered by sectarian and 
ideological violence has plagued our world at a disheartening rate.
  According to one United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
(UNHCR's) annual Global Trends report, which is based on data compiled 
by governments and non-governmental partner organizations, and from the 
organization's own records, over 60 million people have been forcibly 
displaced across the globe.
  Moreover, according to a report by the International Displacement 
Monitor Center, an estimated 3,300,000 persons have been displaced and 
5,500 killed as a result of the violence wreaked by Boko Haram.
  One United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) report asserts that as 
the most populous nation in Africa with 174,000,000 persons, 1,500,000 
people have fled their homes to escape Boko Haram.
  In April, 2014, 276 girls were terrorized and kidnapped from their 
dormitories in Chibok by Boko Haram.
  In addition to the still missing Chibok girls, approximately 
3,300,000 persons are displaced in the Lake Chad Basin which sits on 
the edge of the Sahara which encompasses Chad, Cameroon, Niger and 
Nigeria.
  We must not forget these girls or displaced persons and must work to 
provide the support they will need to recover from the trauma they have 
suffered.
  The victims will be in dire need of humanitarian assistance which the 
Victims of Terror Protection Fund can provide.
  The Victims of Terror Protection Fund should be modeled after the 
cases of Khazistan and Equatorial Guinea where prior kleptocracy 
initiatives have been created to benefit communities and victims in 
need of support.
  A kleptocracy is when a government in power exploits or steals 
national resources, which unfortunately has happened all too often 
across the globe.
  Here, the United States Department of Justice through its Kleptocracy 
Asset Recovery Initiative has identified the forfeited ``Abacha 
Funds,'' funds stolen by former Nigerian dictator Sanni Abacha.
  Indeed, the ``Abacha Funds'' is the largest kleptocracy forfeiture 
action ever brought in the United States resulting in a $450,000,000 
judgment of the forfeited assets facilitated by Justice's remarkable 
Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.
  The Abacha Administration embezzled Nigerian public funds under other 
false claims, that the Administration was investing in national 
security measures to protect Nigeria and the Nigerian people.
  As we all see now, as a result of or in part because of the Abacha 
Administration's failure to invest in and implement security measures, 
the security in Nigeria and the region is tenuous, with the country and 
region currently under continuous threat by the ISIS affiliated group 
Boko Haram.
  Indeed, Boko Haram and other sectarian terrorists have trafficked, 
kidnapped, murdered and caused the displacement of millions of 
children, women and men.
  Recovered victims displaced by terrorist activity as well as 
refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons fleeing for their 
lives will be in dire need of protection and support.
  A Victim of Terror Protection Fund can supply health aid, educational 
support, employment training, economic empowerment, dignity and overall 
improved social welfare of these victims.
  I continue to have a deep appreciation of the patriotism, resilience, 
and commitment of the Nigerian people under the leadership of their 
newly democratically elected President Muhammadu Buhari.
  As an emerging democracy, Nigeria is a country that has faced its set 
of challenges, conflicts, and contradictions analogous to the human 
condition itself.
  Yet, resiliency flows through the veins and into the hearts of the 
Nigerian people.
  That is why I urge my colleagues to support the victims through the 
protection fund to protect, support and address the unprecedented 
migrant and refugee crisis across the Mediterranean triggered by 
violent extremism, conflict and natural disasters.
  Boko Haram is an existential threat to the human rights, well being 
and security of the Nigerian people and their regional neighbors with 
its relentless drive to commit genocide.
  Part of the strategy to help address the scourge of Boko Haram's 
atrocity should be through the creation of a Victim of Terror 
Protection Fund and accessibility of military technical assistance to 
Nigeria and its regional neighbors pursuant to the UN Security Council 
and neighboring African countries call for accelerated military 
collaboration to combat this extremist group.
  This is why I commend the U.S. Administration's announcement that it 
is deploying 300 U.S. troops to Africa to set up a drone base to track 
fighters from Boko Haram, which continues to seek to destabilize 
Nigeria and neighboring countries during its blood thirsty assault on 
innocent people.
  The U.S. forces' presence will be critical to combatting Boko Haram, 
which now appears to continue to wage its vicious insurgency in Nigeria 
and now spilling into neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger and leaving 
an estimated 20,000 people dead.
  In light of these atrocities and its pleading of allegiance to the 
Islamic State (ISIS), we must remain vigilant of Boko Haram, since both 
groups are fighting to establish a caliphate across the Middle East and 
in Africa.
  Our global strategy for ending the suffering, preventing displacement 
and creating solutions for displaced persons in Africa requires a

[[Page E1631]]

multi-pronged strategy which would involve a sustained humanitarian 
response, government and civil society capacity building, and the 
creation of resilient political and security infrastructures and 
landscapes.
  This proposed Victims of Terror Protection Fund is one of the 
strategies for addressing the growing African migrant and refugee 
crisis.
  I commend President Buhari's commitment to Nigerian security and his 
directive to local authorities to tighten vigilance in vulnerable 
places.
  I hope we continue to build a stronger alliance with President Buhari 
and Nigeria.
  To succeed at all our objectives, Nigeria must have continued U.S. 
support in protecting victims of terror, technical training, logistical 
and infrastructural capabilities and professionalizing its military 
force to battle Boko Haram.
  Nigeria has emerged from so many trials and tribulations stronger, 
more united, more focused, and committed to reestablishing the 
stability, peace, security, growth, and development of the country.
  I invite all Members including those who have supported previous 
efforts, letters and resolutions related to combatting terrorism and 
Boko Haram and the promotion of U.S. Nigeria relations to join me in 
sponsoring this resolution expressing a sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding the Victims of Terror Protection Fund.

                          ____________________