[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5892-H5893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AFFIRMING NATURE AND IMPORTANCE OF UNITED STATES-IRAQ BILATERAL
RELATIONSHIP
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1062) affirming the nature and importance of the
United States-Iraq bilateral relationship, including security and
economic components of the relationship, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1062
Whereas the United States remains committed to supporting a
sovereign and democratic Iraq at peace with its neighbors and
safe for its citizens, regardless of their religion, sect, or
ethnicity;
Whereas in 2014, forces of the Islamic State (commonly
known as ``IS'' and also known as ``ISIS'' or ``ISIL'')
seized significant territory in Iraq, leading Iraq's Prime
Minister to request international military intervention;
Whereas the United States began military intervention
against the Islamic State in Iraq in 2014, working with
international coalition partners and Iraqi security forces to
combat the Islamic State and to retake Iraqi territory from
Islamic State fighters;
Whereas the Islamic State ruled areas it controlled with
terror and brutal violence, including through heinous acts
such as mass executions, public beheadings, desecration of
holy sites, sexual enslavement and rape, and abuse and
torture of minors;
Whereas the Government of Iraq declared military victory
against the Islamic State in December 2017, but insurgent
attacks by remaining terrorist fighters have continued and
threaten peace and stability in some areas of Iraq;
Whereas an estimated 6 million Iraqis have been rendered
internally displaced since 2014, of whom 1.4 million remain
internally displaced;
Whereas members of religious and ethnic minority groups,
including Iraqi Christian communities and Yezidis, faced
particular brutality under the Islamic State and often lacked
the resources and capacity for protection;
Whereas the Islamic State's destructive rule and ensuing
military campaign left large areas of key population centers
uninhabitable, including Anbar, Salah al-Din, and Ninewa
governorates, where efforts at resettlement, reconstruction,
service delivery, governance, and security remain
challenging;
Whereas the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) 2020 humanitarian needs
assessment previously anticipated that as many as 4.1 million
Iraqis will need some form of humanitarian assistance in
2020, and humanitarian needs are likely to be further
exacerbated by socio-economic disruptions attributable to the
COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas the United States was the top donor to the 2018 and
2019 United Nations Iraq Humanitarian Response Plans and has
contributed nearly $2.75 billion to humanitarian relief
efforts in Iraq since 2014, including more than $750 million
in humanitarian support since fiscal year 2018;
Whereas in July 2017, the United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) reported that
``after decades of war, the sheer volume of explosive devices
renders Iraq one of the most heavily contaminated countries
in the world'';
Whereas multiple nongovernmental human rights organizations
and media investigations have reported that areas still
suffering from the lack of reconstruction, service delivery,
governance, and security are acutely susceptible to re-
radicalization by Islamic State underground cells or follow-
on elements;
Whereas human rights organizations have reported that
thousands of displaced Iraqis, including children, are unable
to obtain or replace civil documentation due to displacement
caused by Islamic State;
Whereas some paramilitary forces, including some elements
of the ``Popular Mobilization Units'' or ``PMUs'' that
mobilized to fight Islamic State terrorists have yet to be
fully integrated into national security institutions and
threaten civilian populations in some areas, including
vulnerable minority groups;
Whereas in late 2019, some Iraqi security force units,
including non-state militias, responded violently to peaceful
protests resulting in the deaths of more than 550 Iraqi
civilians and many more injured;
Whereas in 2019 and 2020, Iranian aligned militias, some of
whom operate Iraqi PMUs conducted numerous attacks on United
States and coalition forces in Iraq as well as Iraqi military
facilities and Iraqi nationals, including a December 2019
attack that killed a United States citizen contractor and
wounded others, and a March 2020, attack that killed a United
States servicemember, a United States contractor, a British
soldier, and injured at least a dozen other troops;
Whereas Iranian aligned militias and some PMUs were
reportedly involved in the December 31, 2019, to January 1,
2020, siege on the United States Embassy in Baghdad, in which
attackers set fire to structures and damaged property;
Whereas in July 2019 the Combined Joint Task Force-
Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) informed the Department
of Defense and Department of State Inspector General that the
Islamic State in Iraq continues to recruit from isolated
rural areas ``exploiting perceived weaknesses and failures of
the Iraqi government, particularly in Sunni areas where the
population feels neglected'';
Whereas a July 2019 Department of Defense and Department of
State Lead Inspector General (LIG) Report to Congress on
Operation Inherent Resolve stated the ``Department of State
and USAID reported that the greatest obstacles preventing
IDPs from returning . . . are lack of security and economic
opportunity, and damage to housing'' as well as a lack of
``legal assistance to recover or renew identification
documents'';
Whereas in March 2020 Iraq confirmed its first case of
COVID-19, which soon spread throughout the country, straining
Iraq's already struggling healthcare system, and infecting
64,000 Iraqis and killing 2,685 Iraqis, including 592 Iraqi
doctors, as of June 2020; and
Whereas the LIG reported in May 2020 that ``the emergence
of COVID-19 in Iraq has further restricted humanitarian
access and presented a significant risk to internally
displaced person (IDP) and refugee camps across the
country'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports a sovereign and democratic Iraq at peace with
its neighbors and safe for its citizens, regardless of
religion, sect, or ethnicity;
(2) calls on the Administration to provide continued
support for Iraqi efforts to ensure stability and security
for a democratic Iraq;
(3) calls on the Government of Iraq to take all appropriate
action to protect United States diplomats and United States
servicemembers, including by holding accountable those
involved in the December 31, 2019, through January 1, 2020,
attack on the United States Embassy;
(4) supports robust exercise by Iraqis of the rights to
free speech and assembly as guaranteed to them by the
Constitution of Iraq;
(5) calls on the Government of Iraq to hold accountable all
those responsible for violence against peaceful protestors,
including members of Iraqi security forces as applicable;
(6) calls on all countries to continue upholding the
principle of non-refoulement for refugees subject to
violence, persecution, or death if forcibly returned to Iraq,
including for reasons of religious persecution, and to assist
internally displaced Iraqis to safely and voluntarily return
to their homes;
(7) encourages the United States to continue to work with
bilateral and multilateral partners and international
nongovernmental organizations on the stabilization of Iraq;
(8) calls on the Administration to continue assisting
religious and ethnic minority communities targeted by the
Islamic State for genocide;
(9) calls on the Administration to continue to work with
the Government of Iraq to eliminate child labor and forced
labor in Iraq;
(10) supports expanded bilateral trade and investment
between the United States and Iraq;
(11) supports development of an Iraqi private sector based
on rule of law and free market principles;
(12) supports the 2020 United States-Iraq Strategic
Dialogues and the principles agreed upon by both the United
States and Iraq in such Dialogues and the fostering of
continued dialogue based on such Dialogues;
(13) calls on the Administration to continue providing
medical assistance to support the Iraqi healthcare sector in
combatting COVID-19; and
(14) calls on the Government of Iraq to allow humanitarian
and stabilization assistance programs to be implemented
without bureaucratic delays or impediments.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H. Res. 1062, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of Congressmen Allred and
Reschenthaler's resolution affirming the importance of the United
States-Iraq relationship.
Iraq faces many challenges. ISIS cells are beginning to reemerge;
coronavirus cases have climbed in recent months; and Iraq's economy,
like much of the globe, is suffering. When
[[Page H5893]]
Iraq grapples with such challenges, the United States must show up to
demonstrate leadership and friendship.
This bipartisan resolution expresses support for sovereign,
democratic Iraq and strong relations between our two nations, while
also highlighting the need to address humanitarian challenges facing
Iraq, such as internal displacement, violence against minority
religious and ethnic groups, and recovery of communities impacted by
the counter-ISIS fight.
H. Res. 1062 also calls on Iraq to take all necessary steps to
protect United States diplomats and servicemembers. When diplomats are
able to do their job safely, investment in a growing economy can
follow, benefiting the Iraqi people and their livelihoods.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for putting forth this resolution,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, November 11, 2020.
Hon. Richard E. Neal,
Committee on Ways and Means,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Neal: I am writing to you concerning H.Res.
1062, Affirming the nature and importance of the United
States-Iraq bilateral relationship, including security and
economic components of the relationship. I appreciate your
willingness to work cooperatively on this legislation.
I acknowledge that provisions of the bill fall within the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways and Means under House
Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H. Res.
1062 to expedite floor consideration. I further acknowledge
that the inaction of your Committee with respect to the bill
does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the
matters contained in the bill that fall within your
jurisdiction. I will also support the appointment of
Committee on Ways and Means conferees during any House-Senate
conference convened on this legislation.
Lastly, I will ensure that our exchange of letters is
included in the Congressional Record during floor
consideration of the bill. Thank you again for your
cooperation regarding the legislation. I look forward to
continuing to work with you as the measure moves through the
legislative process.
Sincerely,
Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Ways and Means,
Washington, DC, November 17, 2020.
Hon. Eliot L. Engel,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Engel: In recognition of the desire to
expedite consideration of H. Res. 1062, Affirming the nature
and importance of the United States-Iraq bilateral
relationship, including security and economic components of
the relationship, the Committee on Ways and Means agrees to
waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that
fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Ways
and Means.
The Committee on Ways and Means takes this action with the
mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction
over the subject matter contained in this or similar
legislation, and the Committee will be appropriately
consulted and involved as the bill or similar legislation
moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues
within our jurisdiction. The Committee also reserves the
right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of
conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or
similar legislation.
Finally, I would appreciate your response to this letter
confirming this understanding and would ask that a copy of
our exchange of letter on this matter be included in the
Congressional Record during floor consideration of H. Res.
1062.
Sincerely,
Richard E. Neal,
Chairman.
Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1062, reaffirming the U.S.-
Iraq bilateral relationship.
In recent years, the United States and Iraq worked together to defeat
the caliphate and free the Iraqi people from ISIS' tyrannical rule.
The American people are committed to supporting a sovereign and
democratic Iraq. We have provided billions of dollars in foreign
assistance to help Iraqis recover from the devastating impact that ISIS
has had on their lives.
This year, the United States and Iraq held a strategic dialogue to
further our bilateral relationship and discuss how we can continue to
work together for our shared benefit.
With this resolution, the House is reaffirming our commitment to
helping the Iraqi people and calling on the Iraqi Government to fulfill
its commitments too.
The Iraqi Government needs to protect the United States' diplomats
and servicemembers and hold accountable those involved in attacks
against our Embassy, such as earlier this year.
The Government of Iraq also needs to hold accountable those
responsible for violence against peaceful protesters.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Engel for his work on this bipartisan
resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I want to thank the gentleman from Texas
(Mr. Allred) and the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Reschenthaler)
for their leadership in introducing this bipartisan resolution, which I
support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this legislation, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to join me today in
supporting this important resolution, H. Res. 1062, and 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 agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1062, 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.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________