[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4529-H4530]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UKRAINE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 496) to oppose violations of religious freedom in Ukraine by
Russia and armed groups commanded by Russia, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 496
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 ``Ukraine Religious Freedom
Support Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States--
(1) to never recognize the illegal, attempted annexation of
Crimea by the Government of the Russia or the separation
through the use of military force or recognition of
independence of any portion of Ukrainian territory; and
(2) to consider any alien who, while serving as an official
of the Government of Russia, was responsible for or directly
carried out particularly severe violations of religious
freedom in the sovereign territory of Ukraine that Russia
illegally occupies, controls, or recognizes as independent,
including through non-state armed groups and illegal entities
it commands or otherwise supports or which act on Russia's
behalf, to have committed particularly severe violations of
religious freedom for purposes of applying section
212(a)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1182(a)(2)(G)) with respect to any such alien.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF RUSSIA AS A COUNTRY OF PARTICULAR
CONCERN FOR RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
For purposes of making a determination of whether to
designate Russia as a country of particular concern for
religious freedom under section 402 of the International
Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6442), the President
shall consider any particularly severe violation of religious
freedom in the territory of Ukraine that Russia illegally
occupies, controls, or recognizes as independent, including
through non-state armed groups and illegal entities it
commands or otherwise supports or which act on Russia's
behalf, during the period of time that is the basis for the
determination and designation, to be a particularly severe
violation of religious freedom that the Government of Russia
has engaged in or tolerated.
[SEC. 4. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS.
The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of
complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall
be determined by reference to the latest statement titled
``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act,
submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the
Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such
statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.]
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr.
Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
General Leave
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 496, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Minnesota?
There was no objection.
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 496, the Ukraine Religious Freedom
Support Act, and thank my committee colleague and friend, the gentleman
from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson), for introducing it.
As we speak here in this Chamber, Russian forces are ravaging
Ukrainian cities and towns. They are committing unspeakable atrocities
and war crimes against innocent civilians and continuing to wage an
unprovoked and unjustified war. The world cannot and will not overlook
or forget Russia's heinous acts of aggression, nor the war crimes and
other human rights violations it is committing.
But, sadly, Russia's human rights violations against Ukrainian
civilians and on sovereign Ukrainian territory started well before
February of this year. Ever since Russia illegally attempted to annex
Crimea and backed the separatists in the Donbas region, Russia and
Russian-backed forces, as well as the so-called authorities in those
regions, have demonstrated a complete disregard for human rights,
including the rights of Ukrainians and others to practice their
religions freely.
That is why H.R. 496 is so critically important. We must hold
accountable those Russians and Russian-backed individuals responsible
for committing severe violations of religious freedom on Ukrainian
sovereign territory. Not only must we ensure that it is held
accountable for the daily human rights violations that characterize its
illegal war in Ukraine, but also for those committed long before this
latest invasion.
Given that the U.S. may take actions, including by withdrawing
development assistance, against countries who defy religious freedoms
protected under U.S. Federal law, H.R. 496 directs the President to
include Russia-controlled areas and groups when determining concern for
religious freedoms and funding eligibility for Russia.
Mr. Speaker, I support this important legislation and thank the
gentleman from South Carolina once again for introducing it. I urge all
Members to vote in support, and I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, April 20, 2022.
Hon. Gregory Meeks,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of
Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Meeks: This letter is to advise you that the
Committee on the Judiciary has now had an opportunity to
review the provisions in H.R. 496, the ``Ukraine Religious
Freedom Support Act,'' that fall within our Rule X
jurisdiction. I appreciate your consulting with us on those
provisions. The Judiciary Committee has no objection to your
including them in the bill for consideration on the House
floor, and to expedite that consideration is willing to forgo
action on H.R. 496, with the understanding that we do not
thereby waive any future jurisdictional claim over those
provisions or their subject matters.
In the event a House-Senate conference on this or similar
legislation is convened, the Judiciary Committee reserves the
right to request an appropriate number of conferees to
address any concerns with these or similar provisions that
may arise in conference.
Please place this letter into the Congressional Record
during consideration of the measure on the House floor. Thank
you for the cooperative spirit in which you have worked
regarding this matter and others between our committees.
Sincerely,
Jerrold Nadler,
Chairman.
[[Page H4530]]
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House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, April 21, 2022.
Hon. Jerrold Nadler,
Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Nadler: I am writing to you concerning H.R.
496, Ukraine Religious Freedom Support Act, as amended. 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 the Judiciary under House
Rule X, and that your Committee will forgo action on H.R. 496
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
also acknowledge that your Committee will be appropriately
consulted and involved as this or similar legislation moves
forward, and will support the appointment of Committee on the
Judiciary 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,
Gregory W. Meeks,
Chairman.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of a bill that I am grateful to
have introduced with the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver), my
longtime friend and codel colleague, the Ukraine Religious Freedom
Support Act.
It is important that we first acknowledge the heinous escalation by
the war criminal Putin, as he continues to wage a one-sided, full-scale
war in sovereign, democratic Ukraine. Putin's war in Ukraine and
illegal occupation of Crimea have dragged on for 8 years. The human
toll is staggering.
Prior to the full-scale invasion, fighting in the Russian-occupied
regions had already claimed over 13,000 Ukrainian lives, including
thousands of innocent civilians. That is even before the current
invasion.
Another casualty of Russian aggression in Ukraine has been the attack
on religious freedom. Russian occupation authorities in Crimea continue
to persecute and intimidate the minority Christian, Muslim, and other
religious groups, like the Jehovah's Witnesses.
Putin's puppets in Crimea during the duration of their occupation
subjected them to kidnappings, torture, forced psychiatric
examinations, and imprisonment. Muslim Crimean Tatars have been
sentenced to serve lengthy terms in Russian prisons on the entirely
baseless charge of terrorism.
Minority religious groups in the area of eastern Ukraine controlled
by pro-Putin proxies have also been forced to flee in order to escape
the oppressive conditions. The religious persecution in Ukraine being
committed at the hands of the Putin authorities is self-destructive and
must be stopped.
Throughout American history, the United States has worked tirelessly
to advance religious freedom and protect religious minorities around
the globe. The bill follows that strong tradition by accomplishing the
following:
One, making clear that it is the policy of the United States to never
recognize the illegal attempted annexation of Crimea by Russia or the
separation through the use of military force or recognition of
independence of any portion of Ukrainian territory;
Second, it helps ensure that war criminal Putin and his cronies are
held accountable by considering any official involved in carrying out
severe violations of human rights in sovereign Ukrainian territory by
applying the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Three, additionally, this legislation requires a determination of
whether to designate Russia as a country of concern for religious
freedom.
We cannot allow these grave violations to continue. It is vital that
the United States continues to be a leader in advancing international
religious freedom around the world.
This bill not only brings international attention to the religious
persecution being committed in the territory of Ukraine that Putin
illegally occupies or controls through illegal armed groups it
commands, but also ensures that war criminal Putin and his thugs are
held accountable.
Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of this legislation, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time
as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, it is vital that the United States continue its
tradition of advancing religious freedom and human rights around the
world.
This bill brings accountability to the Putin regime for its crimes of
oppressing religious minorities as it illegally occupies sovereign
Ukrainian territory.
Additionally, it is so critical that the United States continue to
send a clear message that it will never recognize Putin's illegal
occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.
Mr. Speaker, as ranking member of the Helsinki Commission, I
especially recognize our dear friend, the late Chairman Alcee Hastings
for championing this issue and the Helsinki Commission for prioritizing
human rights and holding war criminal Putin accountable for his
continued violations of human rights and religious liberty in Ukraine.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume
for the purpose of closing.
I thank my friend and colleague from South Carolina. He is a
gentleman and a champion of religious freedoms around the world. This
is an example of what this institution, and we Americans can do
together when we find common ground and set our minds to it in the face
of such aggression and risk around the world.
Putin's flagrant violations of the basic human rights of Ukrainian
civilians on Ukraine's sovereign territory are disturbing, and they are
unacceptable. Freedom of religion is a moral imperative that the United
States must continue to strive to defend as we support the people of
Ukraine through these incredibly trying and horrific times.
This is personal to me. My own family fled Russian persecution during
the pogroms of the late 19th century to come to this extraordinary
country. Little could they have imagined that I would be standing here
with you, my friend from South Carolina, talking about religious
freedoms and doing everything we can as a country to preserve and
protect those all around the world. That is what it means to be an
American, not just here, but all around the world.
We must take action where we can, including by ensuring that the
President considers all regions where Russian influence is determining
future development funding for the Nation. I trust my colleagues will
join me in supporting this terribly important bill to defend these
freedoms all around the world.
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 Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 496, 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. ROY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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