[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H9597-H9600]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO DEMOCRACY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 
                                  2018

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 6207) to support democracy and accountability in 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows

                               H.R. 6207

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo Democracy and Accountability Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       (a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Democratic Republic of Congo has historically faced 
     election-related political instability, endemic corruption, 
     armed conflict, gross human rights abuses, and humanitarian 
     crises, which destabilizes the region and causes massive 
     human suffering;
       (2) the United States has provided billions of dollars to 
     help stabilize the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 
     including through humanitarian aid, development assistance, 
     and support for peacekeeping operations, since the end of the 
     civil and regional war in 2003;
       (3) the stability of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
     is a strategic priority for the United States on the African 
     continent and it is in the national security interest of the 
     United States to support accountable governance in the 
     Democratic Republic of Congo;
       (4) United States policy with respect to the Democratic 
     Republic of Congo should focus on helping the country become 
     more stable and democratic, including through supporting 
     legitimate state authority, such that the Government of the 
     Democratic Republic of Congo is better able to respond to and 
     provide for the basic needs of its citizens and live in 
     peaceful coexistence with its neighbors;
       (5) the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo 
     should comply with all obligations under its Constitution, 
     the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 
     ratified on November 1, 1976, and the December 2016 Saint 
     Sylvestre agreement brokered by the Congolese Conference of 
     Catholic Bishops, by--
       (A) immediately lifting restrictions on the freedoms of 
     assembly, expression, and association;
       (B) releasing all political prisoners, including those 
     detained for peacefully exercising their rights;
       (C) ensuring that state security forces protect the rights 
     of peaceful demonstrators;
       (D) bringing to justice security force personnel accused of 
     serious abuses against citizens, including against protesters 
     or opposition supporters; and
       (E) allowing private media outlets to operate freely;
       (6) the United States should continue to support efforts to 
     hold free, fair, and democratic elections in the Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo, including by supporting the completion 
     of an inclusive, transparent voter registration process and 
     civic education, preventing or mitigating violence, and 
     facilitating credible election observation by the African 
     Union, the Southern African Development Community, and other 
     appropriate civil society entities.
       (b) Sense of Congress on Humanitarian Assistance for the 
     People of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.--It is the 
     sense of Congress that the Secretary of State, in 
     coordination with the Administrator of the United States 
     Agency for International Development, should continue to 
     provide humanitarian and development assistance to the people 
     of the Democratic Republic of the Congo through credible and 
     independent nongovernmental organizations, including local 
     partners, human rights organizations, women-led 
     organizations, and faith-based or non-faith-based 
     organizations. In providing such assistance, the Secretary 
     and Administrator should prioritize--
       (1) promoting partnerships with organizations that have had 
     a long-term presence in the country and have achieved 
     measurable impact, including by building the capacity of 
     local partners, human rights organizations, women-led 
     organizations, or faith-based or non-faith-based 
     organizations to address local needs;
       (A) placing the country on a trajectory toward ending the 
     need for foreign assistance; and
       (2) evaluating the comparative merits of grants, 
     cooperative agreements, contracts, and other methods for 
     providing foreign assistance.
       (c) Sense of Congress on Support for Democratic Governance 
     and Conflict Mitigation Mechanisms in the Democratic Republic 
     of the Congo.--It is the sense of Congress that the Secretary 
     of State and the Administrator of the United States Agency 
     for International Development should--
       (1) continue to--
       (A) support long-term peace and stability in the Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo by strengthening democratic 
     institutions and promoting respect for the rule of law at the 
     national, provincial, and local levels;
       (B) support the capacity of civil society actors to promote 
     transparency, accountability, freedom of expression, and 
     anti-corruption efforts;
       (C) support conflict prevention and mitigation activities 
     where appropriate, particularly in the Kasai region, the 
     Tanganyika Province, the North and South Kivu Provinces, and 
     the Ituri Province; and
       (D) work to address the root causes of chronic violence and 
     fragility, with a focus on youth empowerment, education, and 
     the promotion of justice and accountability mechanisms; and
       (2) seek to work directly with and through credible, 
     independent, nongovernmental organizations, including local 
     partners, human rights organizations, women-led 
     organizations, and faith-based or non-faith-based 
     organizations, to--
       (A) defend internationally recognized democratic rights;
       (B) support freedom of expression, including through media 
     broadcasting;
       (C) combat public corruption; and
       (D) improve the transparency and accountability of 
     governing institutions in the Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo.

     SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR EFFORTS AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE 
                   DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.

       The President should instruct the Permanent Representative 
     of the United States to the United Nations to use the voice, 
     vote, and influence of the United States at the United 
     Nations to--
       (1) emphasize the importance of implementing the December 
     2016 Saint Sylvestre agreement to the Government of the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo, including the need to lift 
     restrictions on the freedoms of assembly, expression, and 
     association, and the need to conduct free, fair, and 
     democratic elections;
       (2) keep the humanitarian and political crisis in the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo on the regular agenda of the 
     United Nations Security Council until the completion of a 
     peaceful transfer of power through free, fair, and democratic 
     elections;

[[Page H9598]]

       (3) ensure that the United Nations Organization 
     Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
     has an appropriately focused mandate tailored to security and 
     governance conditions on the ground with a particular focus 
     on civilian protection, and that the mission has sufficient 
     means, including specialized personnel and effective 
     leadership, to execute its mandate; and
       (4) improve Member states' implementation of United Nations 
     Security Council-imposed sanctions on individuals and 
     entities violating the United Nations arms embargo, 
     threatening the peace and security of the Democratic Republic 
     of the Congo, engaging in human or resource trafficking, or 
     perpetrating gross human rights violations in the Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo.

     SEC. 4. CODIFICATION OF SANCTIONS RELATING TO THE DEMOCRATIC 
                   REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO.

       (a) In General.--United States sanctions provided for in 
     Executive Order 13671 (79 Fed. Reg. 39947; relating to taking 
     additional steps to address the national emergency with 
     respect to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo) and Executive Order 13413 (71 Fed. Reg. 64103; 
     relating to blocking property of certain persons contributing 
     to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo), as 
     amended by Executive Order 13671 (79 Fed. Reg. 39947; 
     relating to taking additional steps to address the national 
     emergency with respect to the conflict in the Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo), as in effect on the day before the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, shall remain in effect for 
     the 5-year period beginning on such date of enactment unless 
     the President determines and certifies to the appropriate 
     congressional committees that the Government of the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo--
       (1) is making significant progress towards holding free and 
     fair elections and respecting the freedoms of press, 
     expression, and assembly, as described in the December 2016 
     Saint Sylvestre agreement and in United Nations Security 
     Council Resolution 2348 (2017); or
       (2) has held free and fair presidential elections in 
     accordance with the Constitution of the Democratic Republic 
     of the Congo and a democratically elected President has been 
     sworn in and taken office.
       (b) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to limit the authorities of the President under the 
     International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 
     et seq.) or any other provision of law.
       (c) List of Senior Political Figures.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a list of each senior foreign political figure, as 
     such term is defined in section 1010.605 of title 31, Code of 
     Federal Regulations (as in effect on the day before the date 
     of the enactment of this Act), of the Government of the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo.
       (d) Additional Sanctions Determination Required.--Not later 
     than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
     the President shall submit to the appropriate congressional 
     committees a report listing each person included in the list 
     required by subsection (c) that the President determines 
     meets the criteria to be sanctionable pursuant to one or more 
     of the following:
       (1) Executive Order 13671 (79 Fed. Reg. 39947; relating to 
     taking additional steps to address the national emergency 
     with respect to the conflict in the Democratic Republic of 
     the Congo).
       (2) Executive Order 13413 (71 Fed. Reg. 64103; relating to 
     blocking property of certain persons contributing to the 
     conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
       (3) Executive Order 13818 (82 Fed. Reg. 60839; relating to 
     blocking the property of persons involved in serious human 
     rights abuse or corruption).
       (4) Paragraph (3) or (4) of section 1263(a) of the National 
     Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2016 (22 U.S.C. 
     2656 note).
       (e) Report on Human Rights Abuses and Corruption in the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo.--Not later than 120 days 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
     State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, 
     shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a 
     report describing each of the following:
       (1) The extent to which government officials in the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo, including members of the 
     military and security services, are responsible for or 
     complicit in human rights abuses against civilians, including 
     by deliberately impeding humanitarian access to civilians.
       (2) The methods used to transfer and conceal financial 
     assets of senior officials of the Government of the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo that are acquired through 
     acts of corruption.
       (3) United States actions to combat such corruption, which 
     could include the issuance of a FinCEN Advisory by the 
     Department of the Treasury or the imposition of targeted 
     sanctions.
       (4) To what extent and in what manner such corruption 
     threatens the security of the surrounding region or United 
     States national security interests.
       (5) Any assistance provided by the United States to 
     facilitate oversight, transparency, and adherence to due 
     diligence and accountability measures within the Democratic 
     Republic of the Congo's minerals, forestry, and agribusiness 
     sectors.
       (f) Form; Public Availability.--
       (1) Form.--The list required by subsection (c) and the 
     reports required by subsections (d) and (e) shall be 
     submitted in unclassified form but may contain a classified 
     annex.
       (2) Public availability.--The unclassified portion of the 
     report required by subsection (e) shall be published on a 
     publicly available website of the Department of State.
       (g) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, 
     the term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
       (1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, the Committee on Financial Services, and the 
     Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives; 
     and
       (2) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Committee on 
     Appropriations, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
     Urban Affairs of the Senate.
  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 of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and to include extraneous material on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill. This is the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo Democracy and Accountability Act.
  Mr. Speaker, I would begin by thanking Congressman Smith and 
Congresswoman Karen Bass, they are the chairman and ranking member of 
the Africa Subcommittee, and I thank the ranking member of this 
committee, Mr. Engel, for their work on this bipartisan legislation.
  Long overdue elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are 
scheduled now for December 23, 2018. But we all know that simply 
holding elections is not enough.
  President Kabila already has remained in power 2 years past his 
constitutional mandate. And while I am pleased that he will reportedly 
step aside, the corruption of the Kabila government runs much deeper 
than just the presidency. Government officials and security forces 
continue to use their positions of power to undermine the election and 
to stoke instability in the country.
  Peaceful protests have been met with violence, with mass arrests. 
They have even been met with torture. New reports of abuse and 
intimidation against journalists and against activists by government 
forces emerge now every day.
  Meanwhile, arbitrary legal impediments have barred prominent 
opposition candidates from running. The government insists on using 
untested and confusing voting machines, leaving the election vulnerable 
to vote manipulation and to rigging.
  Throughout all of this, the government continues to boycott 
international efforts to support election preparations and to increase 
humanitarian assistance, and continues to deny, in the face of serious 
and mounting evidence, that there is a problem.
  I have been on three trips to the Congo over this issue over the 
years. The people of the Congo are suffering and the humanitarian 
situation is dire. Over 4 million Congolese are internally displaced. 
More than 13 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian 
assistance, including 7 million facing acute food insecurity. And 
another Ebola outbreak is threatening the lives of thousands.
  We know that government security forces are responsible for horrific 
human rights abuses and for provoking instability across the DRC. Just 
last year, two researchers were killed investigating human rights 
abuses in the country. One of these researchers was an American. The 
government continues to block efforts to fully investigate and hold 
individuals accountable. This cannot stand.
  The U.S. must be fully engaged in support of the Congolese people and 
their struggle to freely choose their next leader. This legislation we 
are considering today is a call to action. It requires a determination 
on individuals responsible for undermining peace and security, impeding 
the democratic process, committing human rights violations, and 
engaging in corruption so

[[Page H9599]]

that they can be sanctioned. It calls for a focus on those that are 
blocking the democratic process.
  Mr. Speaker, we have seen this sad situation before in the DRC. We 
have seen instability and conflict spill into neighboring countries and 
undermine the entire region. We cannot let this cycle continue. A 
failed election in December would surely inflame the violence. This is 
why we must take decisive action to hold individuals accountable and 
ensure free and fair elections this December.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith), and I ask unanimous consent that he may control 
that time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Bass), the lead Democrat on this bill and the ranking member of 
the Africa Subcommittee.
  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly support H.R. 6207, 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democracy and Accountability Act 
of 2018.
  I am proud to be a cosponsor of this important piece of legislation 
that seeks to promote free and fair elections in the DRC by imposing 
sanctions on high level individuals who are undermining democratic 
processes and institutions in the country as well as those who are 
responsible for extrajudicial killings and have engaged in public 
corruption.
  The DRC has the potential to be one of the richest countries on 
Earth. It has abundant deposits of copper, gold, diamonds, cobalt, and 
many other minerals. The Congo River is the second largest river in the 
world and the most powerful river in Africa, making way for enormous 
potential to generate hydroelectric power, and some scientists say it 
could provide enough power for all of sub-Saharan Africa's electricity 
needs. DRC also has great agricultural potential, with its 80 million 
hectares of arable land, climate conditions, and water resources.
  This country has all the conditions to thrive and flourish, but it 
has not. Instead, continued delays in holding elections have increased 
tensions and unrest. Ongoing conflict in many parts of the country has 
resulted in hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons and 
refugees. The country is in a human rights crisis, and on top of all of 
this, the DRC is suffering from an Ebola outbreak. The humanitarian 
crisis in the DRC has been exacerbated by the political crisis over 
elections.

  With respect to the ongoing political situation, the current crisis 
in the DRC started in 2015 when President Kabila, who is 
constitutionally barred from reelection, deliberately stalled planned 
elections. President Kabila remained in post, although his second 
constitutional term ended in 2016.
  Since then, the political situation has steadily declined. The 
Congolese government and security forces have cracked down on anti-
government mobilization through excessive use of force on peaceful 
protesters, shut down media outlets, and targeted arrests of activists.
  In August 2018, President Kabila finally said he would uphold the 
constitution and not stand for a third term. Even with this 
announcement, the pre-electoral environment remains tense and unsafe 
for activists, journalists, political opposition, and religious 
leaders.
  Additionally, according to Human Rights Watch and Amnesty 
International, just this month the government made a new round of 
arrests of pro-democracy activists ahead of presidential elections 
scheduled for December 23. This heavy-handed display of police and 
government security forces ahead of the long-awaited presidential 
election undermines and threatens people's ability to freely 
participate in the electoral process.
  The government must immediately release all people arbitrarily 
detained for peacefully protesting, including the numerous pro-
democracy activists, political opposition leaders, and journalists.
  Finally, the government must investigate and hold to account those 
responsible for human rights violations, including arbitrary arrests 
and detention, torture, and other serious abuses.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass).
  Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, this legislation is extremely important for 
addressing conditions in the DRC, but it is also important for sending 
a message to the world that the United States has not retreated from 
its commitment to protect human rights and advance democracy around the 
world.
  The late former U.N. Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and nine former 
African presidents said Congo's future ``is in grave danger.''
  ``We are deeply concerned about the political situation in the 
Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], which represents a threat to the 
stability, prosperity and peace of the Great Lakes region. . . .''
  Mr. Speaker, the situation in the DRC is deteriorating as we speak. 
It is time we act.
  Following a call from the region, please join my colleagues Chris 
Smith, Chairman Ed Royce, and Ranking Member Eliot Engel, and I, and 
support this bill that supports human rights, democracy, and 
accountability in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
Democracy and Accountability Act of 2018.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel 
for their very strong support of this legislation and for their strong 
statements today.
  I think this is, again, another example of bipartisan legislation and 
the House uniting over a very egregious situation that is occurring in 
the DRC.
  I would point out to my colleagues that I have visited the DRC 
myself, been to Kinshasa, the capital, raised a number of human rights 
issues when I was there.
  But I also traveled to Goma, where there was terrible acts of 
bloodshed committed by both the government troops. As well as those 
that were combating the government, and even terrible acts by the 
peacekeepers, the U.N. peacekeepers, some years ago, where they were 
complicit in human trafficking, particularly of little children.

                              {time}  1745

  In my subcommittee, I chaired four hearings on this horrible practice 
of the peacekeepers themselves causing such violence against kids. 
There is now a much better situation, but it is still awful, and, 
again, we are now facing another serious crisis.
  I would also point out to my colleagues that Karen Bass and I had a 
trip planned to Kinshasa for August 24 and 25. We made part of that 
trip where we went to Ethiopia, but we were denied visas. We could not 
get visas to go to the DRC. We wanted to raise issues with Kabila, 
himself, with regards to the election and human rights abuse. We were 
denied that by not getting a visa.
  This bill could not be more timely. Indeed, there is an urgent need 
to focus attention on the DRC, a strategically located, resource-rich 
country, which has been misgoverned for much of its history and again 
is in crisis today.
  The wonderful people of the DRC deserve better, far better than they 
have gotten from the Kabila regime. Next month, just before Christmas, 
the country is scheduled to vote to replace Joseph Kabila, who has 
retained power in defiance of constitutional term limits for some 2 
years beyond his mandate.
  Right now, there is talk of further postponement of the election, 
which would accord with Kabila's desire to postpone a transfer of power 
for as long as possible. If such a delay occurs, it would be 
attributable to the obstacles placed by the Kabila government to 
holding a free and fair election.

[[Page H9600]]

  This bill before us today shows congressional resolve that there be 
accountability and codifies three executive orders by three Presidents: 
President Bush, President Obama, and President Trump.
  It points out that there needs to be significant progress towards 
holding free and fair elections or else they will not be lifted, and it 
does so for 7 years. We are talking about respecting fundamental 
freedoms of the press, expression, and assembly, as described in the 
December 2016 Saint Sylvestre agreement and in U.N. Security Council 
Resolution 2348.
  It also points out that there needs to be, in the legislation, a free 
and fair Presidential election in accordance with the constitution of 
the DRC and that a democratically elected President has been sworn in 
and taken office.
  It also supports the humanitarian and accountability efforts of civil 
society groups pushing back against civil strife and political 
repression. In particular, it acknowledges the role of the faith 
community and the Catholic Church, which educates and heals the 
Congolese people through its schools and hospitals, while upholding the 
need for the rule of law and respect for constitutional principles in 
the DRC.
  Indeed, the Congolese Conference of Catholic Bishops, known as CENCO, 
has played a singular role in promoting restoration of democracy and 
respect for fundamental civil and political rights, including brokering 
the December 2016 Saint Sylvestre agreement.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a critical time for the DRC. We have an emerging 
Ebola crisis in the eastern part of the country. I note that, over the 
weekend, our Embassy in Kinshasa was forced to close due to ``credible 
and specific'' terror threats. The Embassy will remain closed at least 
until tomorrow because of those threats and perhaps even beyond that 
date. We are hurtling towards a political inflection point within the 
next month, which will either mark a turn towards proper constitutional 
governance or a downward spiral towards growing chaos and bloodshed.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the bill, and I reserve the balance 
of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our staff members who made this bill 
possible, particularly Lesley Warner of my staff. We traveled to the 
Congo in 2016 with Chairman Royce and had very important meetings 
there, frustrating but important meetings.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this measure.
  The Democratic Republic of the Congo, or DRC, borders nine other 
countries in sub-Saharan Africa, and positive or negative events there 
often impact the entire region. This is why stability in the DRC is a 
priority not for that country's people, but for many other countries, 
including the United States. That is why Chairman Royce and I led a 
codel there and why so many of our other members on the Foreign Affairs 
Committee--Mr. Smith and Ms. Bass--have been there and have really 
cared about the region.
  For years, the DRC has been on the brink of crisis. More than 13 
million people need humanitarian support, including 7.8 million 
children. Across the country, violent conflicts have intensified, 
including near the city of Beni, where health workers are battling a 
deadly Ebola outbreak.
  The current government, as my colleagues mentioned before, has shown 
a concerning disregard for democracy and the country's constitution, 
with troubling restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly and 
disturbing reports of Congolese security forces violating the human 
rights of peaceful protestors.
  Next month, the DRC will hold elections, as my colleagues have 
mentioned, that were supposed to be held back in December of 2016. It 
is a critical time for the United States to show that we are committed 
to the DRC having a peaceful political transition and moving toward 
accountable, democratic governance.
  The Democratic Republic of the Congo Democracy and Accountability 
Act, this bill, asks the administration to continue providing robust 
humanitarian and development assistance to the people of the DRC. It 
also requires the President to submit a report to Congress detailing 
the extent to which Congolese Government officials are involved in 
human rights abuses against civilians and codifies previous executive 
orders that target the property and interests of any persons 
responsible for actions that threaten the stability of the DRC.
  It is important that we continue leading the international community 
to address the many challenges in the DRC. That is why this bill asks 
the administration to keep the DRC on the U.N. Security Council agenda 
and work to ensure the U.N. peacekeeping mission there has sufficient 
means to operate effectively.
  After decades of conflict and instability, the people of the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo deserve a peaceful democratic 
transition. By passing this bill today, we show that the House is 
committed to supporting that process.
  Mr. Speaker, it is in the national security interest of the United 
States to support a peaceful political transition and accountable 
governance in the DRC. With elections scheduled for next month, this 
bill comes at a critical time.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me in supporting this 
important legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New 
York for his comments and for his strong support.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a true bipartisan bill. Our fingers are crossed 
for the people of the DRC. They deserve a free and fair election. 
Whoever emerges as the winner hopefully will take them on a new course.
  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 pass the bill, H.R. 6207, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________