April 25, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3571 AWARENESS AND flicts. Last April, I introduced the Elie cause no one knows what is happening. PREVENTION MONTH Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Preven- Many, many people warned us for years The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under tion Act to improve U.S. efforts to pre- about the potential for genocide the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- vent mass-atrocity crimes, named after against the Rohingya in Burma. The problem is that we have not been uary 3, 2017, the Chair recognizes the the courageous Auschwitz survivor. very good at turning knowledge and gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. WAG- The legislation honors the legacy of moral indignation into action to pre- NER) for 30 minutes. Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel and his life work to fight evil around the world. vent a bad situation from worsening. GENERAL LEAVE Mr. Wiesel was just 15 years old when We must do better. We must do more. Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Nazis deported him and his family This year, in the Tom Lantos Human unanimous consent that all Members to Auschwitz. He was the only member Rights Commission, which I co-chair may have 5 legislative days in which to of his family to survive. Having wit- along with my colleague Congressman revise and extend their remarks and to nessed the near total destruction of his RANDY HULTGREN, we are looking at include extraneous material on the people, he spent his life defending the the tools we have as U.S. policymakers subject of my Special Order. persecuted. In his honor, we fight to to prevent mass atrocities and asking The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there rectify injustice and protect the most how we can strengthen them. objection to the request of the gentle- vulnerable in our society and across We are asking what it would mean to woman from Missouri? the globe. institutionalize an atrocity preven- There was no objection. As Mr. Wiesel understood so well, the tion’s lens so we don’t wait until it is Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in true horror of genocide is that it is pre- so late and the problem is so big that honor of Genocide Awareness and Pre- ventable, and the U.S. Government has all we can do is lament the immorality vention Month. Today we remember the tools to effect real change. The Elie and the inhumanity and then provide the millions of victims of genocide Wiesel Act would affirm the mission of humanitarian aid to the victims and throughout history, and we recommit the United States Atrocities Preven- survivors. As we undertake this effort, to working toward the day when geno- tion Board and its work to coordinate we know that there is a lot of good cide and mass-atrocity crimes are not prevention and response efforts. It work already underway in both Cham- only inconceivable, Mr. Speaker, but would also authorize the Complex Cri- bers of Congress and on both sides of they are nonexistent. sis Fund to support agile, efficient re- the aisle to find new ways forward. One example is H.R. 3030, the Elie April marks the commemorations of sponses to unforeseen crises overseas. some of the worst in history, This time, when America says ‘‘never Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Preven- including and Rwandan, again,’’ our actions will reinforce our tion Act of 2017, led by Representative ANN WAGNER and cosponsored by both Cambodian, and Armenian genocides. platitudes and our words. I thank the myself and Representative HULTGREN. Time and again, senseless bloodshed Chair, Mr. Speaker, and I thank all of We also recognize that government of- has ended innocent lives and fractured my colleagues who share in this fight. families and livelihoods. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman ficials cannot do this work alone. We need civil society, in all its , My hometown, St. Louis, is home to from Massachusetts (Mr. MCGOVERN). to help us. We need community asso- the largest Bosnian community outside Mr. MCGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I want of . This com- to thank my colleague, the gentle- ciations, churches, synagogues, munity has shaped what the city looks woman from Missouri, for her leader- mosques, schools, and businesses to and feels like. It has added great cul- ship. I am honored to join her and take a stand against , to tural diversity to the city, immense in- other distinguished colleagues this teach and live tolerance, to document and denounce violations, tellectual capital, thriving small busi- evening in recognition of Genocide to open their hearts to reconciliation nesses, and a strong religious presence. Awareness and Prevention Month. Two decades ago, members of our Preventing genocide and mass atroc- based on justice. We need to get to the Bosnian community were refugees. In ities is a moral imperative that de- point where our societies recognize and 1995, Orthodox Serbs, under the com- serves to be at the very top of our pri- honor every person’s innate human dig- nity. mand of General Ratko Mladic, initi- ority list. Mass atrocities are large- And I want to take this opportunity ated a horrific cam- scale, deliberate attacks against civil- paign against majority Muslim to salute one of the many organiza- ian populations. They include genocide tions that are doing just this kind of . The escalating bloodshed but also , war work. STAND is a student-led move- forced 130,000 Bosnian refugees to seek crimes, and ethnic cleansing. ment to end mass atrocities and geno- new lives in the United States. Thou- After the Holocaust—the systematic, cide by organizing and educating their sands were murdered in . bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecu- peers and communities. I first met stu- Today I wish to honor these brave men tion and of 6 million Jews and dent leaders of STAND in 2005 and 2006, and women. members of other persecuted groups by when they were part of the national The resilience of our Bosnian neigh- the Nazi regime and its collaborators movement that brought the genocide bors has enriched our city, and their between 1941 and 1945—people all happening in Darfur, , to public courage inspires me. It has inspired me around the world vowed to never again awareness. They were my teachers dur- to seek change. Tomorrow I am offer- stand by in the face of genocide; but ing that time. ing an amendment to the State Depart- since then, mass atrocities, including Tonight, representatives of STAND ment Authorization Act of 2018 asking genocide, have been committed in In- are here listening to this debate. They the administration to study countries donesia, Cambodia, Guatemala, East push us to do better, and I thank them at risk of genocide and mass-atrocity Timor, the former Yugoslavia, , for their commitment and their vision. crimes and craft training regimens for Sudan, and South Sudan, among other Mr. Speaker, mass atrocities are U.S. Foreign Service officers. places. Hundreds of thousands of people human rights violations on a grand Should this bill become law, Amer- have been murdered, tortured, dis- scale. We must find new strategies to ica’s diplomats will have the know-how appeared, or suffered sexual violence; prevent them from happening and more to respond to those conflicts on the and millions more have been forced to effective strategies to interrupt and ground and act before violence spirals flee with profound humanitarian, polit- stop them at the very earliest stages, out of control. Most importantly, this ical, and national security con- should they begin to unfold. amendment establishes that the offi- sequences. Mr. Speaker, all of us in this Cham- cial policy of the United States of I don’t believe the world’s failure to ber, all of us in this country, need to do America is to regard the prevention of prevent atrocities is because no one more, because I believe, if the United genocide and atrocity crimes as a core cares. In this era of instant commu- States of America stands for anything, national security interest. nication powered by social media, most we stand for human rights. We need to However, this is just one step in the people I meet have seen and passion- be better. We need to be more effective right direction. The U.S. Government ately condemn the ongoing atrocities in preventing these mass atrocities and must improve how it responds to con- in Syria and elsewhere. Nor is it be- these genocides.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Apr 26, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25AP7.080 H25APPT1 H3572 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE April 25, 2018 So I am very proud to stand with my other parts of human history. They region, and we are grateful to them. colleagues in these efforts. I want to were also victims during the Nazi inva- And we are also grateful to the Bosnian thank the gentlewoman from Missouri sion, as well, during World War II. community for the decision to have so for her incredible leadership, and I am I had the lucky opportunity to grad- many wonderful Bosnian families visit honored to participate in this Special uate from college and work as a foreign our city and now remain as citizens. Order with her. correspondent in the Press and Cul- They provided the same ingenuity and Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank tural Office of the former Yugoslav the entrepreneurship and the vibrancy the gentleman from Massachusetts Consulate in New York. I also worked, and the creativity that I remembered (Mr. MCGOVERN) for his outstanding at that time, alongside with ABC during my days of studying this very words and his support, his support and Sports during the Winter Olympics special part of the world. that of Representative RANDY held in Sarajevo in 1984. I am especially grateful to them for HULTGREN on sponsoring and cospon- The war in Yugoslavia was a tragic enabling me to sustain the bond that soring with me my piece of legislation, saga in the history of human experi- developed between me, my family, who the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atroc- ence, especially for me, with my long have all traveled to that part of the ities Prevention Act. history and love of the country and the world, and this amazing group of peo- This truly is an issue that is not just people who inhabited this part of ple for the past 37 years of my life. It about human rights and giving voice to world. has become almost a vocation for me, the voiceless and speaking for the most I worked with people from the con- just my study of Serbo-Croatian and vulnerable in our society; it is about sulate, from all the republics and au- my study of this region. human dignity across our globe. tonomous provinces from the former As we mark these tragedies of the Yugoslavia. It just seemed unthinkable b 1830 past, we must not overlook what is to me that this human genocide could taking place in the present. I just want It is about the U.S. responding to occur in a region of the world which to mention a little bit about my city, these conflicts in the way that only we had experienced many occupying forces Utica, New York. can and should do and provide the kind due to its very unique, very important It has been recognized as one of the of moral authority and support to do so geopolitical, strategic location in the friendly cities to refugees. The Utica through both our Congress and through world. City School District now has over 42 our foreign service officers and others Yugoslavia was always known as the languages spoken, and so we have a who are working across the globe. So I gateway between East and West, the number of people coming from war- thank the gentleman for his fine words. place where you could get from Europe torn areas where, very graciously and I now yield to the gentlewoman from through Yugoslavia to, eventually, the also very generously, our communities New York (Ms. TENNEY). Middle East along the Mediterranean. have accepted them and provided them Ms. TENNEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank This region had diverse culture, reli- a home. Congresswoman ANN WAGNER for yield- gion, and people from all parts of Eu- I want to just highlight one of the ing. She is a wonderful inspiration to rope and the Middle East, and the communities that is in our region as me as a new Member. world all united together for centuries, well, and those are the people from I also want to thank Congressman actually, living alongside each other Myanmar, where over 700,000 Rohingya MCGOVERN for his comments. with different values. Certainly, they people have fled the Rakhine State in This is really important that she is had their differences. the face of expulsions and violent per- hosting tonight’s Special Order on But sadly, unfortunately, after all secution at the hands of government genocide awareness and prevention. this history of unrest, the war in Yugo- forces. During the month of April, we joined slavia eventually elicited the worst in In Syria, Bashar al-Assad’s military together to honor victims and sur- humankind and was witness to one of butchers its own citizens and uses vivors to educate the public about the most horrific genocides in our gen- chemical weapons without regard for genocide—it is hard to believe it is hap- eration against Bosnian citizens. . pening in our time—and to advocate To the Bosnian community, April, Under this dark cloud of atrocities for the prevention of future atrocities. again, marks 26 years since the begin- and massive human rights violations, In the past 150 years, tens of millions ning of the siege in Sarajevo, Bosnia. both present and past, I just want to of men, women, and children have lost The horrific period of violence lasted join with my colleagues today in re- their lives during brutal genocides and for over 31⁄2 years and was the longest membering these and remembering to mass atrocities. Millions have been siege in modern warfare. All told, over ensure that these lessons are never for- tortured, raped, and forced from their 10,000 people, including 1,500 children, gotten, but more important, if we homes. Some of the darkest moments were killed in Sarajevo during the could only make sure they are never in world history have occurred, oddly siege. repeated. enough, in the month of April. In 1995, the worst massacre within I sincerely thank my colleague, Con- In April 1933, the Nazi Party began Europe since World War II took place. gresswoman ANN WAGNER, for her great its boycott of Jewish-owned businesses. The killed more leadership on this issue, her tenacity This marked the beginning of a cam- than 8,000 Bosnian boys and men during and her courage and her continued paign of hatred that led to the murder the . fight to try to help these people who of 6 million Jews. In addition to these horrific killings, are the most needy, who have just been My district is home to thousands of more than 20,000 civilians were expelled victimized in our society and across refugees from the former Yugoslavia. I from the area. Many of these Bosnian our country and our world. I thank her have a long history with Yugoslavia. I refugees immigrated to my region. We for including me tonight. began my study of the country of are thrilled to have them. It is very special for me to especially Yugoslavia in 1981 when I first partici- It is just worth noting that my son recognize the Bosnians. It has been pated as a student, a college student was actually a student in the after- such a long part of my history, and my from Colgate University, in a semester school program at the Jewish Commu- heart and my sympathy go to these abroad, and we traveled throughout the nity Center in my area. The Jewish wonderful people who suffered unfairly. entire Yugoslavia and all the different Community Center was actually in- I just want to say thank you again to principalities and republics. It was a strumental in helping to find safe ref- Mrs. WAGNER for her great leadership spectacular and beautiful country, and uge in our community for these Bos- on this issue. it sparked a lifelong interest for me in nian Muslims who were suffering from Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank this region. this unconscionable genocide and the gentlewoman for her kind words. I completely fell in love with the atrocities against them. The gentlewoman from New York country and was fascinated by the peo- I think it was the solidarity and the (Ms. TENNEY) is also a leader in this ple who were there who survived con- sympathy and the understanding, the cause and this effort that is really quests, whether it was from the Otto- true understanding of genocide that about, as we said, human dignity and man Empire to being part of so many our Jewish citizens recognized in our human rights across this world.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Apr 26, 2018 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K25AP7.082 H25APPT1 April 25, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3573 We want a day when no longer are and injuries. These atrocities have partisan level, Mr. Speaker, continue these refugees suffering, whether it is been confirmed by many people who to hope and, more importantly, to in Syria. On the day that President had no ax to grind here or anything, So work towards a time when America Macron addressed a joint session here this is something that the world must says, ‘‘Never again,’’ and our actions in this very Chamber, the President of see and must believe. reinforce our words. the People’s Republic of France, that In addition, hundreds of villages have Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues stood with the United States, along been burned and others have been sim- for coming out. I thank those advo- with the United Kingdom, in the bomb- ply bulldozed in a clear attempt to pre- cates on the Friends Committee on Na- ings against Syria that were targeted vent the Rohingya from ever returning. tional Legislation’s stand. Together we against those who had been barrel- Together, these heinous acts are a de- remember the Carl Wilkens Fellowship bombed and victimized and murdered liberate attempt to irreparably harm and so many others that stand with the by the Assad regime in Syria. the Rohingya. This is absolutely geno- victims of genocide and mass atroc- We share a common bond with the cide. ities. It is an honor to be with my col- Bosnian community. We both have Together with Mr. ENGEL and Mr. leagues here tonight and with the ad- very large Bosnian communities, many CROWLEY, our colleagues here in the vocacy groups that stand for the mil- of whom started out as refugees some House, I have helped to lead the lions that say, ‘‘Never again.’’ 20 years ago. Now, as I said, the cul- House’s efforts to address this crisis. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance tural diversity, the business, the reli- With our passage of H. Con. Res 90, the of my time. House unequivocally condemned the gious presence has been just wonderful f to see flourish in a district like Mis- Burmese military’s atrocious actions, souri’s Second Congressional District, but more serious action is still needed. ENROLLED BILL SIGNED so I recognize the common bond that Burma’s constitution allows the Bur- Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House, we have there. mese military to control much of the reported and found truly enrolled a bill I thank Ms. TENNEY for participating government, and civilian leadership of the House of the following title, in this Special Order that goes to the has taken virtually no real steps to ad- which was thereupon signed by the heart of genocide and mass atrocities dress this violence. That is why I Speaker: joined again with Mr. ENGEL and Mr. across our globe. I know that the peo- H.R. 4300. To authorize Pacific Historic ple of Ms. TENNEY’s district in New CROWLEY to introduce the BURMA Act, Parks to establish a commemorative display York are also appreciative of all she which applies tough, targeted sanc- to honor members of the United States does there to represent them and those tions on the individuals involved in Armed Forces who served in the Pacific The- who are the most vulnerable in our so- leading this genocide. I urge my col- ater of World War II, and for other purposes. ciety, so I thank the gentlewoman leagues to cosponsor this legislation f from New York. and then, ultimately, of course, to vote I now yield to the gentleman from for it when the time comes. BILL PRESENTED TO THE Ohio (Mr. CHABOT). As we remember the victims of all PRESIDENT Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I thank genocides this month, we must work to Karen L. Haas, Clerk of the House, the gentlewoman from Missouri for adequately address one which is unfold- reported that on April 25, 2018, she pre- yielding. ing right before our eyes, right before sented to the President of the United It is Genocide Awareness and Preven- the world’s eyes right now. So, again, I States, for his approval, the following tion Month, and the gentlewoman from want to thank the gentlewoman from bill: Missouri (Mrs. WAGNER) has been a Missouri for calling this particular ac- H.R. 4300. To authorize Pacific Historic leader in speaking out on this critical tion to the attention of our colleagues Parks to establish a commemorative display issue for many years now, and we ap- and the attention of the world, but also to honor members of the United States preciate her leadership on that. other genocides and other atrocities Armed Forces who served in the Pacific The- As a senior member of the House For- that have occurred across the globe. ater of World War II, and for other purposes. eign Affairs Committee, I have had the She is truly a leader, and we are lucky f opportunity to advocate for global to have her doing that in Congress on human rights issues for many years. an everyday basis, but also, in par- ADJOURNMENT Tonight, I want to condemn a genocide ticular, this evening. Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I move that has been happening before our Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank that the House do now adjourn. eyes: the genocide against the the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. CHABOT) The motion was agreed to; accord- Rohingya in Rakhine State, Burma. for his kind words. He is a leader and a ingly (at 6 o’clock and 45 minutes Last September, the Burmese mili- senior member of our House Foreign p.m.), under its previous order, the tary began a so-called clearing oper- Affairs Committee, and I also have the House adjourned until tomorrow, ation, allegedly in response to some in- privilege of serving on it. Thursday, April 26, 2018, at 10 a.m. for surgent attacks. In reality, this was It is an honor to have Congressman morning-hour debate. just an excuse for a massive and bar- CHABOT here at this Special Order dur- baric campaign to forcibly remove the ing Genocide Awareness and Preven- f Rohingya from Burma altogether and tion Month to give voice to those mil- EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, erase their memory from the Rakhine lions of victims and to say we live for ETC. State once and for all, resulting in over a time when this is nonexistent in soci- Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive 700,000 Rohingya, many of whom are ety. communications were taken from the children, fleeing Burma for Ban- I look forward, Mr. Speaker, tomor- Speaker’s table and referred as follows: gladesh. This has needlessly left Ban- row, to offering my amendment to the gladesh and the world with one of the State Department Authorization Act of 4680. A letter from the General Counsel, Government Accountability Office, trans- worst humanitarian crises that the 2018, asking the administration to mitting a letter reporting violations of the world faces today. study countries at risk of genocide and Antideficiency Act by the Department of While these numbers are truly shock- mass atrocity crimes and crafting the Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Fire- ing, as we learn more about the crimes kind of training regimens for U.S. for- arms and Explosives, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. committed by the Burmese military, eign service officers that are so very 1351; Public Law 97-258; (96 Stat. 926) and 31 there can be no doubt that this is, in important. U.S.C. 1517(b); Public Law 110-161, Sec. fact, genocide. I look forward to the time when my 1517(b); (121 Stat. 2285); to the Committee on When the Rohingya arrived in Ban- piece of legislation, the Elie Wiesel Appropriations. gladesh, they told story after story of Genocide and Atrocities Prevention 4681. A letter from the Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, Legal, Federal Deposit the crimes that they had witnessed and Act, will, Mr. Speaker, be signed into Insurance Corporation, transmitting the that they had personally suffered: law. It will improve the U.S. efforts to Corporation’s final rule — Removal of Trans- widespread killings, mass graves, prevent mass atrocity crimes, and I ferred OTS Regulations Regarding Consumer rapes, and other unspeakable horrors think we all, in this Chamber, on a bi- Protection in Sales of Insurance (RIN: 3064-

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