[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 166 (Friday, September 24, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H5165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      COUNTERING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

  (Ms. JACOBS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACOBS of California. Mr. Speaker, the United States should not 
provide support to foreign military units that repeatedly commit human 
rights violations. That should be clear.
  Yet, in Burkina Faso, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of the 
Congo, military units backed by the United States did just that; 
terrorizing civilians in the name of security.
  Backing these units is supposed to be against U.S. law, but for 
decades there has been one big loophole, and it is called section 127E, 
one specific DOD authority that authorizes support for these units 
without any human rights vetting.
  This loophole means that we have no assurances that our operatives 
aren't working with partners who are in direct conflict with our 
values. And if we are truly focused on countering violent extremism, we 
have to acknowledge that abuses by security forces often propel victims 
into violent extremist groups.
  That is why I brought forward an amendment to the NDAA to close this 
loophole, and I am proud to say it was adopted with bipartisan support.
  My amendment ensures that we aren't contributing to the very same 
problems we aim to solve, and it sends a clear message. When it comes 
to human rights, there cannot be loopholes, exemptions, or exceptions.

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