[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 84 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H3970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1615
REFUGEE SANITATION FACILITY SAFETY ACT OF 2019
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 615) to provide women and girls safe access to sanitation
facilities in refugee camps.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 615
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 ``Refugee Sanitation Facility
Safety Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. SECURE ACCESS TO SANITATION FACILITIES FOR WOMEN AND
GIRLS.
Section 501 of the Foreign Relations Act, Fiscal Years 1994
and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 2601 note) is amended in subsection (a)--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
(2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) the provision of safe and secure access to
sanitation facilities, with a special emphasis on women and
girls, and vulnerable populations.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 615, the Refugee Sanitation
Facility Safety Act 2019.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank Ms. Meng and Mr. Zeldin
for authoring this important bipartisan measure.
We are facing a devastating refugee crisis around the world right
now. Over 25 million people are currently refugees having fled from
violence, conflict, and crisis. Many of these people are now living in
refugee camps.
And let me be clear, we need a foreign policy that addresses the root
causes of this crisis.
So I am pleased we just considered my Global Fragility bill, which
works to prevent the kind of conflict and instability that leads to
these refugee crises.
The United States also needs to open its doors to more of these
families who have fled violence in search of a better life. America
should be leading the world to help in relocating these displaced
people, so they can find new homes and start anew.
And we need to make sure that when people are living in refugee
camps, they are cared for and treated with dignity.
Sadly, far too many women and girls in these camps face danger right
now. Bathrooms and shower facilities have often become dangerous places
with predators taking advantage of poor lighting to stage attacks.
After facing the trauma of being driven from their homes, women and
girls in refugee camps should not have to worry about being sexually
assaulted, period.
We need to do what we can to make sure that refugee camps have safe,
accessible sanitation facilities for everyone. So I am pleased that we
are considering legislation today that works to do just that.
Madam Speaker, with H.R. 615, the State Department, when providing
overseas assistance for refugees, will seek to ensure safe access to
sanitation facilities, especially for those most vulnerable.
Madam Speaker, this is a good bipartisan bill. I am proud to support
it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Refugee Sanitation Facility
Safety Act.
I want to commend my two colleagues from New York, Representatives
Meng and Zeldin, and also Chairman Engel for the good work on this
bill.
Around the world, conflict and humanitarian disasters are causing
unprecedented levels of displacement in places like South Sudan,
Somalia, Syria, Nigeria, and Venezuela.
Some of these crises have dragged on for years and even decades.
Generations of young people are growing up knowing only life in a
refugee camp where conditions can be dire, and even dangerous, for
women, children, and other vulnerable populations.
In these situations, things as basic as lights and locks can make a
difference between safe restrooms and bathing facilities in dangerous
environments where refugees are vulnerable to sexual violence and other
crimes.
This bill amends the Foreign Relations Act to ensure support for safe
sanitation facilities for refugees and displaced persons living in
camps around the world.
The U.S. continues to be the largest donor to refugees and displaced
persons around the world, and we will continue to lead, while
encouraging other countries to step up and do more.
In closing, Madam Speaker, the United States is a leading donor of
humanitarian assistance to refugees around the world. Through the work
of UNHCR and NGO partners, we are saving millions of lives every day.
This bill does not increase those assistance levels but will help
ensure that our funding is put to effective use in protecting the
safety and dignity of vulnerable refugees.
Madam Speaker, I want to, again, thank Chairman Engel and
Representatives Meng and Zeldin for their leadership, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, in closing, let me say that we are facing a
refugee crisis around the world. Wars, violence, instability--millions
of people have fled their homes in search of safety.
We need to do what we can to help these people find new homes and
start anew. And while they are living in temporary refugee camps, we
need to make sure they have the tools to stay safe and healthy.
The Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act of 2019 provides refugee
women and girls with safe access to sanitation facilities.
This is one clear, straightforward way we can help those most
vulnerable people. It is a good, commonsense bill; I am pleased to
support it. And I thank Mr. McCaul as well for his support.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 615.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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