[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18471-18473]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           VIOLENT EXTREMISM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Jody B. Hice of Georgia). Under the 
Speaker's announced policy of January 6, 2015, the gentlewoman from New 
Jersey (Mrs. Watson Coleman) is recognized for 60 minutes as the 
designee of the minority leader.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN. Mr. Speaker, last week, after many of us had 
returned to our homes across the country, while our constituents were 
enjoying the beginning of their weekend, Paris fell victim to one of 
the most violent terrorist attacks in recent memory.
  Nohemi Gonzalez, an American student studying architecture abroad, 
was among those killed.
  A day earlier, in Beirut, dozens of innocent lives were cut short in 
a coordinated attack on that city.
  Earlier this year, an attack at Garissa University in Kenya left 147 
dead.
  And just yesterday, a suicide bomber killed 34 people in Yola, 
Nigeria. That attack was followed by two more today, driving the number 
of lives lost there to 49.
  Before we go any further, Mr. Speaker, I would ask for a moment of 
silence to remember the lives of those who have been lost.
  Mr. Speaker, the world is facing an incredible wave of violence with 
the single purpose of stoking fear. It is the kind of fear that keeps 
us from solving problems and that paralyzes us into inaction. It is the 
kind of fear that we are hearing in the calls to block refugees from 
seeking shelter here in the United States, violating all of our values 
because of an immediate emotional reaction.
  The individuals who committed these atrocious acts of violence are 
counting on us to fall into that kind of fear, and that is why it is so 
important not to.
  We must stand with our allies in Paris. We must stand with the 
innocent in Beirut and Garissa and Nigeria. We must stand firm in our 
role as world leaders and as part of an international coalition 
dedicated to bringing down ISIS.
  We must stand for the values that have always been paramount in the 
United States, and one of those values is opening our doors to those 
seeking safety.
  We cannot turn our backs to the humanitarian crisis facing the 
Syrians refugees. They are fleeing a conflict they are not responsible 
for and want no part in. They have lost their homes, their jobs, and 
members of their families. The only thing that many of them are seeking 
is a chance to start over. The vast majority of these refugees are 
women and children.
  Even more importantly, agencies involved with allowing them to enter 
will prioritize survivors of violence and torture and those with severe 
illnesses.
  If we can do it safely, verifying the identities and backgrounds of 
those seeking safety here in the United States, and developing systems 
to ensure that we don't let in anyone seeking to harm us, then we must 
help these refugees. It is not just our responsibility as a world 
leader; it is the right thing to do as a nation of immigrants.
  While we can't remove every risk, we do have an intensive screening 
process in place, and refugees receive the greatest scrutiny of any 
individual coming here. The FBI's Terrorist Screening Center, the 
Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the 
Department of Defense, and the National Counterterrorism Center are all 
involved in the process of clearing these people.
  As recent events have shown us, the threat of ISIS is real. The 
terror that they spread across the world, the violence they perpetrate, 
and their disregard for innocent human life are all despicable.
  We have a chance right now to build something positive from these 
tragedies. We must unify as a global community against the evil of ISIS 
and in support of peace and freedom and humanity.
  The only goal of ISIS is to destroy life. By giving refugees the 
opportunity to escape, we can save them.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that I join all of my colleagues in prayer for 
the lives that were lost in Paris and elsewhere and for the hundreds 
more that were

[[Page 18472]]

injured in the attacks. I pray for solace for those who have lost their 
loved ones and friends. I pray for peace around the world. I pray for 
the good that we can do, as a country, that will build consensus with 
coalitions and partners around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Watson Coleman 
for her leadership in tonight's special order as we grapple with the 
horrendous terrorist attacks in Paris and Beruit as well as today's 
attack in Nigeria, claimed by Boko Haram.
  In the past week alone, we have seen lives lost in Nigeria, France 
and Beruit.
  Our prayers are with the victims and their families.
  The Paris, France attacks last Friday, November 13, which claimed 128 
lives and many more injured, as we know was claimed by ISIS.
  There were also 43 killed during a suicide bombing in Beruit, Lebanon 
with over 200 injured.
  Just today in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria, authorities inform us 
that an 11 year old suicide bomber targeted a market and detonated a 
bomb killing her, 30 others and injuring over 70 market goers.
  The terrorist group Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the attacks 
as retaliation for President Buhari's commitment for combatting violent 
extremism in Nigeria.
  The recent events underscore that we cannot let fear rule us but 
rather we must fight back against those who threaten our well being and 
security.
  At the same time, we must work on creating resources for victims of 
terror and those who have been displaced as a result of conflict and 
sectarian violence.
  This is why I introduced H. Res. 528, legislation that enjoyed 
bipartisan support of my colleagues including Representatives Chu from 
California, Dold from Illinois, Hahn from California, Kelly from 
Illinois, Fudge from Ohio, Watson Coleman from New Jersey, Sewell from 
Alabama, Bernie Thompson from Mississippi and my good friend Ms. Wilson 
of course from Florida.
  My resolution seeks to create a Victims of Terror Protection Fund for 
the displaced refugees, migrants and victims of Boko Haram's terror in 
the region.
  It is our American value to fight for those who are seeking refuge 
and needing protection.
  As founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Nigerian Caucus, I have 
been spending a lot of time on this issue since the Chibok incident.
  The past week has been a very trying time for the world family as we 
grapple with the reality of terrorists wreaking havoc in our world.
  One only needs to look at the current news events across the globe to 
appreciate the imperative of countering violent extremism, empowering 
and protecting victims of terror, refugees and displaced persons.
  In the past three months alone, ISIS has claimed responsibility for 
crimes, atrocities and terroristic attacks, claiming lives in Saudi 
Arabia, Yemen, Egypt, Beirut and Paris.
  Daesh-ISIL also known as ISIS and other terrorist networks that have 
pled allegiance to ISIS such as Boko Haram today pose the gravest 
extremist threat faced by our generation and those of our children.
  But we must not be moved by their evil ways, for eventually, the arc 
of the moral universe always tips on the side of justice, of peace, of 
equity of the rule of law.
  This is why I remain steadfast in my commitment to combatting violent 
extremism and protecting victims.
  As a result of terrorism in the region and Boko Haram in particular 
in Nigeria, recent reports inform us that Nigeria has the highest 
number of displaced persons in Africa and the third largest in the 
world following Syria and Columbia.
  The recent coordinated attacks in Paris, following military 
interventions by at least two United Nations Security Council permanent 
members: Russia and France, highlights the fact that we are dealing 
with an enemy of humanity and compels us to launch an international and 
coordinated strategy to diminish ISIS to protect our children and our 
children's children.
  The recent events underscore the importance of a Comprehensive 
Convention on International Terrorism to degrade and permanently 
destroy ISIS and its vitriolic ideology that is inflicting pain on 
innocent people.
  The humanitarian crises triggered by sectarian and ideological 
violence has plagued our world at a disheartening rate, comparable to 
or surpassing the numbers from World War II according to some 
estimates.
  According to one United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 
(UNHCR's) annual Global Trends report, which is based on data compiled 
by governments and non-governmental partner organizations, and from the 
organization's own records, over 60 million people have been forcibly 
displaced across the globe.
  Moreover, according to a report by the International Displacement 
Monitor Center, an estimated 3,300,000 persons have been displaced and 
5,500 killed as a result of the violence wreaked by Boko Haram.
  One United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) report asserts that as 
the most populous nation in Africa with 174,000,000 persons, 1,500,000 
people have fled their homes to escape Boko Haram.
  In April, 2014, 276 girls were terrorized and kidnapped from their 
dormitories in Chibok by Boko Haram.
  In addition to the still missing Chibok girls, approximately 
3,300,000 persons are displaced in the Lake Chad Basin which sits on 
the edge of the Sahara which encompasses Chad, Cameroon, Niger and 
Nigeria.
  We must not forget these girls, refugees and displaced persons and 
must work to provide the support they will need to recover from the 
trauma they have suffered.
  The victims will be in dire need of humanitarian assistance which the 
Victims of Terror Protection Fund can provide.
  The Victims of Terror Protection Fund should be modeled after the 
cases of Khazistan and Equatorial Guinea where prior kleptocracy 
initiatives have been created to benefit communities and victims in 
need of support.
  A kleptocracy is when a government in power exploits or steals 
national resources, which unfortunately has happened all too often 
across the globe.
  The United States Department of Justice through its Kleptocracy Asset 
Recovery Initiative has identified the forfeited ``Abacha loot,'' funds 
stolen by former Nigerian dictator Sanni Abacha.
  As we understand it the ``Abacha loot'' is the largest kleptocracy 
forfeiture action ever brought in the United States resulting in a 
$450,000,000 judgment of the forfeited assets facilitated by Justice's 
remarkable Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.
  The Abacha Administration embezzled Nigerian public funds under among 
other false claims, that the Administration was investing in national 
security measures to protect Nigeria and the Nigerian people.
  As we all see now, as a result of or in part because of the Abacha 
Administration's failure to invest in and implement security measures, 
the security in Nigeria and the region is tenuous, with the country and 
region currently under continuous threat by the ISIS affiliated group 
Boko Haram.
  Boko Haram and other sectarian terrorists have trafficked, kidnapped, 
murdered and caused the displacement of millions of children, women and 
men.
  Recovered victims displaced by terrorist activity as well as 
refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons fleeing for their 
lives will be in dire need of protection and support.
  A Victim of Terror Protection Fund can supply health aid, educational 
support, employment training, economic empowerment, dignity and overall 
improved social welfare of these victims.
  I continue to have a deep appreciation of the patriotism, resilience, 
and commitment of the Nigerian people under the leadership of their 
newly democratically elected President Muhammadu Buhari.
  As an emerging democracy, Nigeria is a country that has faced its set 
of challenges, conflicts, and contradictions analogous to the human 
condition itself.
  Boko Haram and ISIS are existential threats to the human rights, well 
being and security of the Nigerian people, their regional neighbors and 
the global community in general with their penchant to commit genocide.
  Part of the strategy to help address the scourge of Boko Haram's 
atrocity would be through the creation of a Victim of Terror Protection 
Fund and accessibility of military technical assistance to Nigeria and 
its regional neighbors pursuant to the UN Security Council and 
neighboring African countries call for accelerated military 
collaboration to combat this extremist group.
  I commend the U.S. Administration's announcement that it is deploying 
300 U.S. troops to Africa to set up a drone base to track fighters from 
Boko Haram, which continues to seek to destabilize Nigeria and 
neighboring countries during its blood thirsty assault on innocent 
people.
  The U.S. forces' presence will be critical to combatting Boko Haram, 
which now appears to continue to wage its vicious insurgency in Nigeria 
and now spilling into neighboring Cameroon, Chad and Niger and leaving 
an estimated 20,000 people dead.

[[Page 18473]]

  Our global strategy for ending the suffering, preventing displacement 
and creating durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons in 
Africa requires a multi-pronged strategy which would involve a 
sustained humanitarian response, government and civil society capacity 
building, and the creation of resilient political and security 
infrastructures and landscapes.
  My proposed Victims of Terror Protection Fund is one of the 
strategies for addressing the growing African migrant and refugee 
crisis.
  I commend President Obama's and President Buhari's commitment to 
Nigerian security and their collective efforts to tighten vigilance in 
vulnerable places.
  I hope the United States continues to build a stronger alliance with 
President Buhari and Nigeria.
  To succeed, at all our objectives to protect victims and combat 
violent extremism, in Nigeria, Syria and around the world, we must have 
continued U.S. support in protecting victims of terror, technical 
training, logistical and infrastructural capabilities and 
professionalizing its military force to battle Boko Haram.

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