[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H10546-H10547]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       ELIE WIESEL GENOCIDE AND ATROCITIES PREVENTION ACT OF 2018

  Mr. ROYCE of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (S. 1158) to help prevent acts of genocide and other 
atrocity crimes, which threaten national and international security, by 
enhancing United States Government capacities to prevent, mitigate, and 
respond to such crises.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                S. 1158

       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 ``Elie Wiesel Genocide and 
     Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

       It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
     Government's efforts at atrocity prevention and response 
     through interagency coordination, such as the Atrocities 
     Prevention Board (referred to in this Act as the ``Board'') 
     or successor entity are critically important, and that 
     appropriate officials of the United States Government 
     should--
       (1) meet regularly to monitor developments throughout the 
     world that heighten the risk of atrocities;
       (2) identify any gaps in United States foreign policy 
     concerning regions or particular countries related to 
     atrocity prevention and response;
       (3) facilitate the development and implementation of 
     policies to enhance the capacity of the United States to 
     prevent and respond to atrocities worldwide;
       (4) provide the President and Congress with recommendations 
     to improve policies, programs, resources, and tools related 
     to atrocity prevention and response;
       (5) conduct outreach, including consultations, not less 
     frequently than biannually, with representatives of 
     nongovernmental organizations and civil society dedicated to 
     atrocity prevention and response;
       (6) operate with regular consultation and participation of 
     designated interagency representatives of relevant Federal 
     agencies, executive departments, or offices; and
       (7) ensure resources are made available for the policies, 
     programs, and tools related to atrocity prevention and 
     response.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It shall be the policy of the United States to--
       (1) regard the prevention of atrocities as in its national 
     interest;
       (2) work with partners and allies, including to build their 
     capacity, and enhance the capacity of the United States, to 
     identify, prevent, and respond to the causes of atrocities, 
     including insecurity, mass displacement, violent conflict, 
     and other conditions that may lead to such atrocities; and
       (3) pursue a United States Government-wide strategy to 
     identify, prevent, and respond to the risk of atrocities by--
       (A) strengthening the diplomatic, risk analysis and 
     monitoring, strategic planning, early warning, and response 
     capacities of the Government;
       (B) improving the use of foreign assistance to respond 
     early, effectively, and urgently in order to address the 
     causes of atrocities;
       (C) strengthening diplomatic response and the effective use 
     of foreign assistance to support appropriate transitional 
     justice measures, including criminal accountability, for past 
     atrocities;
       (D) supporting and strengthening local civil society, 
     including human rights defenders and others working to help 
     prevent and respond to atrocities;
       (E) promoting financial transparency and enhancing anti-
     corruption initiatives as part of addressing causes of 
     conditions that may lead to atrocities; and
       (F) employing a variety of unilateral, bilateral, and 
     multilateral means to prevent and respond to atrocities by--
       (i) placing a high priority on timely, preventive 
     diplomatic efforts; and
       (ii) exercising leadership in promoting international 
     efforts to prevent atrocities.

     SEC. 4. TRAINING OF FOREIGN SERVICE OFFICERS IN CONFLICT AND 
                   ATROCITIES PREVENTION.

       Section 708 of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
     4028) is amended in subsection (a)(1)--
       (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(D) for Foreign Service Officers who will be assigned to 
     a country experiencing or at risk of mass atrocities, as 
     determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation with 
     the Director of National Intelligence and relevant civil 
     society organizations, instruction on recognizing patterns of 
     escalation and early warning signs of potential atrocities, 
     and methods of preventing and responding to atrocities, 
     including conflict assessment methods, peacebuilding, 
     mediation for prevention, early action and response, and 
     appropriate transitional justice measures to address 
     atrocities.''.

     SEC. 5. REPORTS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the 
     following six years, the President shall transmit to the 
     Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate a report, with a classified 
     annex if necessary, that includes--
       (1) a review, in consultation with appropriate interagency 
     representatives, including the Board, consisting of a 
     detailed description of--
       (A) current efforts to prevent and respond to atrocities, 
     based on United States and locally identified indicators, 
     including an analysis of capacities and constraints for 
     interagency detection, early warning and response, 
     information-sharing, contingency planning, and coordination;
       (B) recommendations to further strengthen United States 
     capabilities described in subparagraph (A);
       (C) funding expended by relevant Federal departments and 
     agencies on atrocities prevention activities, including 
     appropriate transitional justice measures and the legal, 
     procedural, and resource constraints faced by the Department 
     of State and the United States Agency for International 
     Development throughout respective budgeting, strategic 
     planning, and management cycles regarding support for 
     atrocity prevention activities;
       (D) a global assessment of ongoing atrocities, including 
     the findings of such assessment and, where relevant, the 
     efficacy of any steps taken by the Board or relevant Federal 
     agency to respond to such atrocities;
       (E) countries and regions at risk of atrocities, including 
     a description of specific risk factors, at-risk groups, and 
     likely scenarios in which atrocities would occur; and
       (F) the atrocities prevention training for Foreign Service 
     officers authorized under subparagraph (D) of section 
     708(a)(1) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980, as added by 
     section 4;
       (2) recommendations to ensure shared responsibility by--
       (A) enhancing multilateral mechanisms for preventing 
     atrocities, including strengthening the role of international 
     organizations and international financial institutions in 
     conflict prevention, mitigation, and response; and
       (B) strengthening relevant regional organizations;

[[Page H10547]]

       (3) the implementation status of the recommendations 
     contained in the previous review required by this section; 
     and
       (4) identification of the Federal agencies and civil 
     society, academic, and nongovernmental organizations and 
     institutions consulted for preparation of such report.
       (b) Consideration of Recommendations.--The preparation of 
     the report required by subsection (a) shall include a 
     consideration of analysis, reporting, and policy 
     recommendations to prevent and respond to atrocities produced 
     by civil society, academic, and other nongovernmental 
     organizations and institutions.
       (c) Availability to Congress.--The report required by 
     subsection (a) shall be made available to all members of 
     Congress.

     SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act--
       (1) the term ``genocide'' means an offense under subsection 
     (a) of section 1091 of title 18, United States Code;
       (2) the term ``atrocities'' means war crimes, crimes 
     against humanity, and genocide;
       (3) the term ``transitional justice'' means the range of 
     judicial, nonjudicial, formal, informal, retributive, and 
     restorative measures employed by countries transitioning out 
     of armed conflict or repressive regimes to redress legacies 
     of atrocities and to promote long-term, sustainable peace; 
     and
       (4) the term ``war crime'' has the meaning given the term 
     in section 2441(c) of title 18, United States Code.

     SEC. 7. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorizing the 
     use of military force.

  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 measure.
  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, S. 1158, the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities 
Prevention Act, passed the Senate unanimously. It is the Senate version 
of H.R. 3030, which this body passed on July 17. The vote here on the 
floor was 406-5.
  Mr. Speaker, it is an important bipartisan, bicameral bill that 
ensures that the United States is a leader in efforts to prevent 
genocide and crimes against humanity. It deserves our unanimous 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back 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 this measure.
  This is an important bill that improves our ability to prevent and 
respond to genocides and mass atrocities.
  This version of the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention 
Act passed the Senate unanimously and is the companion to H.R. 3030, 
which the House approved in July.
  It is a bipartisan, bicameral bill, and I urge all Members to join me 
in supporting it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1100

  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, S. 1158.
  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. MASSIE. 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.

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