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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS REFORM

ACT OF 2014; TO AMEND THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS

FREEDOM ACT OF 1998 TO INCLUDE THE DESECRATION

OF CEMETERIES AMONG THE MANY FORMS OF VIOLATIONS

OF THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; CALLING FOR AN

END TO ATTACKS ON SYRIAN CIVILIANS AND EXPANDED

HUMANITARIAN ACCESS; AND IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT

OF SYRIAN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL RESOLUTION

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED THIRTEENTH CONGRESS

SECOND SESSION

ON

H.R. 4490, H.R. 4028, H. Res. 520

and H. Con. Res. 51

APRIL 30, 2014

Serial No. 113–162

Printed for the use of the Committee on Foreign Affairs

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.foreignaffairs.house.gov/ or

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/

(II)

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California, Chairman 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

JOE WILSON, South Carolina 

MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas 

TED POE, Texas 

MATT SALMON, Arizona 

TOM MARINO, Pennsylvania 

JEFF DUNCAN, South Carolina 

ADAM KINZINGER, Illinois 

MO BROOKS, Alabama 

TOM COTTON, Arkansas 

PAUL COOK, California 

GEORGE HOLDING, North Carolina 

RANDY K. WEBER SR., Texas 

SCOTT PERRY, Pennsylvania 

STEVE STOCKMAN, Texas 

RON DESANTIS, Florida 

DOUG COLLINS, Georgia 

MARK MEADOWS, North Carolina 

TED S. YOHO, Florida 

LUKE MESSER, Indiana 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

ALBIO SIRES, New Jersey 

GERALD E. CONNOLLY, Virginia 

THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida 

BRIAN HIGGINS, New York 

KAREN BASS, California 

WILLIAM KEATING, Massachusetts 

DAVID CICILLINE, Rhode Island 

ALAN GRAYSON, Florida 

JUAN VARGAS, California 

BRADLEY S. SCHNEIDER, Illinois 

JOSEPH P. KENNEDY III, Massachusetts 

AMI BERA, California 

ALAN S. LOWENTHAL, California 

GRACE MENG, New York 

LOIS FRANKEL, Florida 

TULSI GABBARD, Hawaii 

JOAQUIN CASTRO, Texas

AMY PORTER, Chief of Staff THOMAS SHEEHY, Staff Director

JASON STEINBAUM, Democratic Staff Director 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

MARKUP OF 

H.R. 4490, United States International Communications Reform Act of 2014 .. 2

Amendments to H.R. 4490 offered by: 

The Honorable Edward R. Royce, a Representative in Congress from 

the State of California, and chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs . 69

The Honorable William Keating, a Representative in Congress from 

the Commonwealth of Massachusetts ..................................................... 74

The Honorable Alan S. Lowenthal, a Representative in Congress from 

the State of California ............................................................................... 75

The Honorable Dana Rohrabacher, a Representative in Congress from 

the State of California ............................................................................... 76

The Honorable Brad Sherman, a Representative in Congress from the 

State of California ..................................................................................... 76

H.R. 4028, To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to 

include the desecration of cemeteries among the many forms of violations 

of the right to religious freedom ......................................................................... 80

Amendment to H.R. 4028 offered by the Honorable Doug Collins, a Representative in Congress from the State of Georgia ........................................ 81

H. Res. 520, Calling for an end to attacks on Syrian civilians and expanded 

humanitarian access ............................................................................................ 83

Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Res. 520 offered by the 

Honorable Edward R. Royce ............................................................................ 91

H. Con. Res. 51, Immediate Establishment of Syrian War Crimes Tribunal 

Resolution ............................................................................................................. 100

Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H. Con. Res. 51 offered by 

the Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in Congress from 

the State of New Jersey ................................................................................... 104

APPENDIX 

Markup notice .......................................................................................................... 118

Markup minutes ...................................................................................................... 119

Markup summary .................................................................................................... 121

The Honorable Eliot L. Engel, a Representative in Congress from the State 

of New York: Prepared statement ...................................................................... 122

The Honorable Brad Sherman: Prepared statement ............................................ 123

The Honorable Gerald E. Connolly, a Representative in Congress from the 

Commonwealth of Virginia: Prepared statement .............................................. 124

(1)

UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS REFORM ACT OF 2014; TO AMEND THE INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OF 1998 TO INCLUDE THE DESECRATION OF CEMETERIES AMONG THE MANY FORMS OF VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO RELIGIOUS FREEDOM; CALLING FOR AN END TO ATTACKS ON SYRIAN CIVILIANS AND 

EXPANDED HUMANITARIAN ACCESS; AND IMMEDIATE ESTABLISHMENT OF SYRIAN WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL RESOLUTION 

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2014

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS,

Washington, DC. 

The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:07 a.m., in room 

2712, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ed Royce (chairman of 

the committee) presiding. 

Chairman ROYCE. The committee will come to order. 

Pursuant to notice, we meet today to mark up four strongly bipartisan measures by the committee here. And because there are 

four other full committee markups going on at this same time and 

because these measures enjoy such broad support here on the committee, the ranking member and I intend to proceed according to 

the expedited procedure e-mailed to your offices yesterday. 

So, without objection, all members may have 5 days to submit 

statements for the record and any extraneous materials on today’s 

items. 

And I now call up H.R. 4490. 

The clerk will report the bill. 

Ms. MARTER. H.R. 4490, a bill to enhance the missions, objectives, and effectiveness of United States international communications, and for other purposes. Be it enacted——

Chairman ROYCE. So, without objection, the bill is considered 

read. 

[H.R. 4490 follows:]

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Chairman ROYCE. And I now recognize members for opening remarks on this bill, beginning with myself and beginning with the 

ranking member. 

And so let me begin by thanking Eliot Engel for his work in moving this bipartisan bill forward. The two of us and others on the 

committee have just returned from Ukraine, and that visit, I think 

for all of us, underscored the need to reform U.S. international 

broadcasting. Traveling to eastern Ukraine, our delegation witnessed the Russian propaganda machine, which is now in overdrive, and the attempts by Russia to undermine regional stability. 

The Russian closure of local Ukrainian radio and television stations, the jamming of uncensored sources of information into the 

country—all of this demands an effective response. This committee 

recently worked on legislation, signed into law, to ramp up programming into Ukraine. 

But unfortunately, U.S. broadcasters—the Voice of America, 

Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and others—are competing 

with a hand tied behind their back. And that is because the bureaucratic structure over the top of these radios, the Broadcasting 

Board of Governors, the BBG as it is known, that structure is broken. 

So while our enemies are working right now 24/7 on their public 

information campaigns, the organization at the helm of ours meets 

once a month—once a month—and often doesn’t have a quorum. 

And that is a recipe for failure. And if we think about some of the 

witnesses we have heard on this subject, then-Secretary Clinton 

told this committee last year that the BBG, in her words, is ‘‘practically defunct.’’ Reports from the Inspector General and the GAO 

have agreed, as does nearly everyone with experience in this field, 

Republicans or Democrats. 

This legislation makes dramatic changes to the current organization by clarifying the missions of our U.S. international broadcasters, consolidating six organizations into two. 

One organization, the United States International Communications Agency, will remain a Federal entity and will consist of the 

Voice of America and the associated technical services our broadcasters depend on. And we make clear that the mission of the Voice 

of America is to ‘‘present the policies of the United States clearly 

and effectively,’’ exactly as was intended. 

Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Network, the so-called surrogates, have, of course, a very 

different mission: To provide uncensored local news and information to people in closed societies and to be ‘‘a megaphone for internal advocates of freedom.’’ So whether it is in Iran or North Korea 

or elsewhere, that is the intention of these surrogate broadcasts. 

And these freedom broadcasters, as they are known, will keep their 

names but consolidate into a private, nonprofit corporation that 

will become the Freedom News Network. 

Both the U.S. International Communications Agency and Freedom News Network will now have empowered CEOs at the helm 

and purely advisory boards. Ripping away the bureaucracy will reduce administrative overlap and allow both organizations to thrive. 

This legislation also mandates important reforms to the contracting 

practices of the BBG and increases public-private partnerships. 

67

Unlike decades past, today’s media landscape is highly competitive. Other countries are sprinting forward; we are still standing 

still. If we are going to adapt, we need a more effective and efficient use of our finite resources, which this legislation lays out 

through its mission clarification and management reform. 

And, again, I want to thank Ranking Member Engel, who I now 

turn to for his remarks. 

Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this markup of 

bipartisan legislation, as you mentioned, that will enhance the ability of the United States to facilitate the free flow of information 

and share our values with people around the world. 

Let me say firstly, Mr. Chairman, it was a pleasure to travel 

with you on our recent trip to Ukraine. We saw firsthand that the 

competition of ideas and the battle for hearts and minds are alive 

and well. 

Over the past few months, Moscow has used its state-controlled 

media to broadcast totally baseless propaganda that has been used 

as a pretext for Russia’s invasion of Crimea and its destabilizing 

activities in eastern Ukraine. 

But Ukraine is far from the only place where objective news is 

in demand. In Iran, the regime closely controls the free flow of information and has actively jammed U.S. satellite transmissions. 

And in North Korea, the regime locks radios on certain frequencies 

to prevent people from listening to the Voice of America and Radio 

Free Asia. 

Unfortunately, our efforts to disseminate objective news to societies that lack a free media are not as effective as they should be. 

Last year, a report by the State Department Inspector General 

found that the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the agency that 

currently oversees all U.S. international broadcasting, was ‘‘failing 

in its mandated duties’’ due to a flawed structure and strong internal dissension. 

The bill that Chairman Royce and I introduced with support 

from many of our colleagues on both sides of the aisle will help fix 

this structure by improving management, enhancing coordination 

among the different broadcasting entities, and empowering journalists and editors to produce high-quality programming that keeps 

pace with the rapidly changing international media landscape. 

Specifically, the legislation creates a chief executive officer to 

manage the day-to-day operations of the new U.S. International 

Communications Agency, an umbrella organization for Voice of 

America and Office of Cuba Broadcasting. And it also creates a 

CEO to run the Freedom News Network, a new organization comprised of the three existing private grantees, which are Radio Free 

Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. 

The bill also defines the missions of VOA and the Freedom News 

Network to reduce the duplication of programming and requires robust coordination between the Federal and private entities, including the sharing of content and strategic plans to maximize efficiency. Under the new organizational structure, Voice of America 

(VOA), the flagship of U.S. broadcasting for more than 50 years, 

will remain the primary source of information about the United 

States and our culture, while the three grantees that form the 

68

Freedom News Network will continue to provide news to audiences 

about developments in their own countries. 

Only by working closely together will these broadcasters be effective in providing comprehensive news and information to those who 

need it most. When I was recently with Chairman Royce in the 

eastern part of Ukraine, we met a lot of people who said that they 

really would welcome more information from the United States, 

that they really don’t get the balanced type of information. And we 

know Radio Free Europe and others are the ones that helped the 

Soviet Union collapse. And so this is a really smart thing for us to 

do. 

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, this bill maintains the requirement that U.S.-funded programming serve as an objective 

source of news and information and not simply as a mouthpiece for 

U.S. foreign policy. It is absolutely critical that the news be accurate and seen as credible by the foreign audiences we are trying 

to reach. 

So, Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you again for holding 

this important markup and really for your leadership over the 

course of many years on international broadcasting issues. This is 

one ball that you have run with for many years, even before you 

were chairman of this committee, and it is very much noticed and 

very much appreciated. And I also would like to thank you for 

working with us on this legislation in a bipartisan manner. 

I have some votes in my other committee, so I may be in and out. 

But this legislation is so important and should be passed with no 

dissension because I think this is the type of legislation that this 

committee can be proud of, again, on a bipartisan basis. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Chairman ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Engel. 

I will ask now if any other members seek recognition on the underlying bill. 

Hearing none, we will now move to the en bloc amendment package that was sent to members’ offices yesterday. 

Without objection, the following amendments to H.R. 4490, which 

all members have before them, are considered read and will be considered en bloc: The Royce Manager’s Amendment No. 102; the 

Keating Amendment circulated yesterday regarding women and 

minorities; Lowenthal Amendment No. 27, recognizing shortwave 

broadcasting; Rohrabacher Amendment No. 39, regarding U.S. national security objectives; and Sherman Amendment No. 85, regarding ethnic, cultural, or religious groups within countries of national security interest to the United States. 

[The information referred to follows:]

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Chairman ROYCE. And before recognizing other members to 

speak, I again want to thank the ranking member for working with 

me on the manager’s amendment, which includes a number of postintroduction corrections, technical changes, and other housekeeping 

matters. And, among other things, it makes it clear that the United 

States International Communications Agency is a Federal organization and requires a plan to consolidate the Voice of America and 

the International Broadcasting Bureau into that new entity. 

It also reiterates the mandate that the broadcasters share their 

content with each other and requires the development of a joint 

plan to determine how language services will be affected by the 

clarified organizational missions. 

Do any members seek recognition to speak on any of the en bloc 

items? 

Mr. Lowenthal? 

Mr. LOWENTHAL. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I want to thank you 

and the ranking member for bringing this important bill forward 

and also for leading our congressional delegation to Ukraine. It was 

an amazing, an amazing trip, where we learned a great, great deal. 

That trip to Ukraine only further affirmed to me the importance 

of international broadcasting programs and what a great impact 

they can have in regions that are desperately crying out for independent news sources. 

My amendment simply adds the following text to the findings of 

this bill: ‘‘Shortwave broadcasting has been an important method 

of communication that should be utilized in regions as a component 

of the United States international broadcasting where a critical 

need for the platform exists.’’

One of these absolutely critical regions is southeastern Asia and 

specifically Vietnam, which is a one-party, Communist state that 

has no freedom of the press. Its people rely upon the trusted news 

provided by Radio Free Asia, delivered by shortwave broadcasting, 

a media that reaches millions of people who would otherwise be uninformed of events in their country. 

International broadcasting and shortwave in particular are key 

components in promoting democratic societies and for keeping pressure on totalitarian regimes to respect the fundamental human 

rights of their own people. This amendment reiterates our support 

for shortwave broadcasting and allows the United States to continue a diversified portfolio of broadcasting to underserved peoples 

across the globe. 

Thank you, Mr. Chair, and I yield back. 

Chairman ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Lowenthal. 

Mr. KEATING. Mr. Chairman? 

Chairman ROYCE. Mr. Keating? 

Mr. KEATING. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to strike 

the last word. 

Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you and Ranking Member 

Engel for your leadership on this important reform initiative that 

I have proudly cosponsored with you. 

Public diplomacy efforts are critical to our Nation’s security, 

prosperity, and image abroad. Oftentimes, a program on Alhurra 

TV or a tweet from Radio Free Europe may be the only direct communication an individual overseas may receive from our country. 

78

In fact, yesterday alone, the Prime Minister from Latvia was here 

speaking to some of our Members, and she mentioned no less than 

three times about the increase in Russian propaganda on Russianspeaking people in her population. 

In a world where so such information exists particularly about 

U.S. interests in society, it is important that we do not only put 

our best face forward as a country but demonstrate our commitment to the truth and freedom of expression in media, as well. 

I am pleased that my amendment to prioritize the delivery of information and programming to isolated women and minority populations overseas is included in the en bloc package. 

Recently, Mr. Chairman, you and I held a hearing on the nexus 

between promoting education for women and girls and countering 

violent extremism. This amendment is a byproduct of that hearing 

and will help close the gap by encouraging more outreach and public-private partnerships to reach women in isolated communities 

and in some cases assist in increasing their access to education and 

uncensored information sources. 

In this way, we will not only be relaying a vision of democracy 

to other Nations, but we will actually be helping to build such societies by strengthening the civil society engagement and outreach 

itself. 

Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that the committee has agreed to 

include the access to education as a primary component to the 

democratic ideals the Freedom News Network aims to support in 

its report. And I hope that all of us as colleagues will join together 

in supporting this commonsense provision in the en bloc amendment. 

And I yield back my time. 

Chairman ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Keating. 

Any other members seeking recognition? 

Hearing none, the question occurs on the en bloc amendment. 

All those in favor, say aye. 

All those opposed, no. 

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it, and the en bloc 

amendments are agreed to. 

Are there any additional amendments to H.R. 4490? 

Hearing no further amendments, the question now occurs on 

agreeing to H.R. 4490 as amended. 

All those in favor, say aye. 

All opposed, no. 

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The bill as amended 

is agreed to. 

And, without objection, H.R. 4490 as amended is ordered favorably reported as a single amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

Staff is directed to make any technical and conforming changes. 

And we now move to the remaining three measures, which we 

will consider en bloc together with the bipartisan amendments provided to your offices yesterday. 

Without objection, the following items, which all members have 

before them, are considered read and will be considered en bloc: 

H.R. 4028, To amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 

1998 to include the desecration of cemeteries . . .; Collins Amendment No. 44 to H.R. 4028; House Resolution 520, Calling for an 

79

end to attacks on Syrian civilians and expanded humanitarian access; Royce Amendment 101 in the nature of a substitute to House 

Resolution 520; House Concurrent Resolution 51, calling for the establishment of a Syrian war crimes tribunal; and the Smith 

Amendment No. 51 in the nature of a substitute to House Concurrent Resolution 51. 

[The information referred to follows:]

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Chairman ROYCE. I will now recognize members who want to 

speak on the en bloc items. And I will begin with myself, because 

today we are considering two resolutions regarding the crisis in 

Syria. 

The first is House Resolution 520, which Ranking Member Engel 

and I introduced last month in response to the dire humanitarian 

situation there. Mr. Engel has led on this critical issue for years 

now, which I greatly appreciate. 

It has been over 3 years since Syrian protesters peacefully gathered to call for democratic reforms. Many of you remember the protest with the demonstrators asking, ‘‘Peaceful, peaceful,’’ as they 

walked through the street before they were fired upon by forces 

loyal to Syria’s brutal dictator, Bashar al-Assad. Since then, the 

conflict has claimed the lives of at least 150,000 people. It has displaced millions, while fueling the expansion of terrorist groups 

throughout the region. 

This crisis is a humanitarian nightmare. Backed by Russia, Iran, 

and Hezbollah, Assad continues to commit mass atrocities, including the extermination of entire families, incidents of ethnic cleansing, aerial bombardment of residential areas with barrel bombs, 


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and even the use of chemical weapons, such as last summer’s sarin 

attack on a Damascus suburb. 

The U.N. has estimated that over 9 million Syrians trapped inside the country are in need right now of humanitarian assistance. 

Yet Assad continues to use international aid as a weapon of war. 

He has instigated kneel-or-starve campaigns in which civilians are 

denied food and other basic supplies until they bow to the regime. 

This resolution demands that all parties to the conflict in Syria 

immediately cease attacks on civilians and provide aid workers 

with access throughout the country. This would include the many 

Syrian-Americans, including medical professionals, who are so 

bravely trying to provide assistance to those in need inside Syria. 

It also urges the administration to formally withdraw its official 

diplomatic recognition of the Assad regime. Shortly after this resolution’s introduction, the administration expelled Syrian diplomats 

from the United States. Given Assad’s barbaric slaughter of his 

own people and other grave abuses, ending our official recognition 

of his regime is more than justified. 

And, lastly, this resolution calls upon the President to develop 

and submit to Congress a strategy for U.S. engagement on the 

Syria crisis. 

Now the other House Concurrent Resolution 51, that I was going 

to comment on was introduced by Subcommittee Chairman Smith. 

We appreciate what strong leadership Mr. Smith has shown on so 

many humanitarian issues, and the crisis in Syria is no exception. 

I have already touched on the growing list of horrendous atrocities being committed inside Syria. Assad and his supporting forces, 

which include Hezbollah, are guilty of widespread human rights 

violations, summary executions, ethnic cleansing, chemical attacks. 

And, meanwhile, extremist groups, especially associated with alQaeda, have also been guilty of grave abuses as they strive to violently impose their own radical ideology on Syrian civilians. 

House Concurrent Resolution 51 calls for the creation of an international tribunal to hold accountable those responsible for these 

heinous crimes. The resolution envisions a flexible, ad hoc court, 

like those established following brutal conflicts in Yugoslavia, 

Rwanda, and Sierra Leone. 

To be clear, this court would be entirely distinct from the International Criminal Court and would focus solely on the Syria crisis. 

Congressional approval of this resolution will send a strong signal 

of support to the Syrian people, and I urge members to support its 

passage here today. 

And I now turn to H.R. 4028, introduced by Ms. Meng of New 

York. 

The freedom to practice the religion of one’s choosing is a core 

principle of good democratic governance. This freedom includes the 

ability to gather and pay respects to loved ones in accordance with 

religious or spiritual rights of passage. Unfortunately, in some 

places around the world, local or national governments have permitted the destruction of cemeteries with certain religious affiliations or have tolerated their desecration by hateful groups. 

H.R. 4028 modifies the International Religious Freedom Act to 

include the desecration of cemeteries among the listed violations of 

the right to religious freedom. This bill emphasizes that Congress 

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views the desecration of cemeteries as constituting a violation of 

this fundamental right. 

And I want to thank the bill’s author, Ms. Meng, for her leadership on this important issue. 

And I also want to thank Mr. Collins for his amendment today, 

which puts the preservation of burial grounds in its proper context. 

As members know, Mr. Collins has served as a pastor, and we very 

much appreciate his insight. 

So do any members seek recognition to speak on any of the en 

bloc items? 

We will start with Ms. Meng. 

Ms. MENG. I would like to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking 

Member Engel for including H.R. 4028 in the en bloc package of 

bills before the committee today for consideration. 

I also want to thank Congressman Doug Collins for his partnership here and valuable contributions to the bill. 

Thank you to both Republican and Democratic committee staff 

for recognizing the value of this bill and working so hard to bring 

it before the committee today. 

The bill is short but, I believe, significant. It adds the words 

‘‘desecration of cemeteries’’ to the violations of the rights to religious freedom listed in the International Religious Freedom Act of 

1998. 

There are two related problems we seek to address through this 

legislation. One is the religiously motivated vandalism of cemeteries that occurs with alarming regularity. The second is the 

building and development over cemeteries in places where there 

are no communities remaining to protect and look out for the cemeteries. The bill will give our diplomats a new tool they can use to 

protect our interests. 

H.R. 4028 also empowers the Commission for the Preservation of 

America’s Heritage Abroad. This commission was established in the 

1980s through legislation introduced by the late Congressman Stephen Solarz. The Commission works to identify and preserve cemeteries, memorials, and buildings in foreign countries that are associated with the cultural heritage of Americans. 

The Commission has done much work in areas of the former Soviet Union where Jewish communities were destroyed by the Holocaust and where power subsequently passed to atheistic communist 

regimes. It is essential that we act to protect religious freedom in 

these areas where, as we know, political instability and anti-Semitism are widespread. 

It is fitting that we consider this bill during Holocaust Remembrance Week because the bill is largely devoted to the millions who 

perished in genocides in the 20th century. These genocides destroyed communities and left their burial grounds uncared for and 

unpreserved. 

The preservation of cemeteries often reflects the religious tolerance and freedom of the countries in which they are located. It is 

my hope that this legislation will help promote such preservation 

and greater tolerance, respect, and empathy around the world. 

I thank the committee again for its consideration and yield back 

the balance of my time. 

110

Chairman ROYCE. Ms. Meng, we thank you again for this amendment. Thank you. 

Let’s see. I think we need to go to Mr. Smith next and then to 

this side. 

Mr. SMITH. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. And thank you 

for scheduling this important markup and for including H. Con. 

Res. 51 among the bills and resolutions considered. 

I, as no doubt all of you, have been shocked by images of horrific 

human rights violations, including summary executions, torture, 

rape, and chemical weapon attacks in Syria. Since the Syrian Civil 

War began, perhaps as many as 150,000 people have been killed 

and more than 9 million people have been forced to leave their 

homes, 6.5 million of them internally displaced. By the end of last 

year, it is estimated that neighboring countries such as Turkey, 

Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq were holding nearly 3 million Syrian 

refugees. 

Who is culpable for these heinous acts, and how can they be held 

accountable, be they members of the Assad regime or Islamist radicals from neighboring countries? Those who have perpetrated 

human rights violations among the Syrian Government, the rebels 

and the foreign fighters on both sides of this conflict, must be 

shown that their actions will have serious, predictable, and certain 

consequences. They need to learn the lesson that Charles Taylor 

learned, who got a 50-year sentence when he was brought to trial 

and convicted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. 

H. Con. Res. 51, introduced on September 9th, calls for the creation of an international tribunal that would be more flexible and 

more efficient than the International Criminal Court to ensure accountability for human rights violations committed by all sides. 

Such a tribunal would draw upon past experience, creating a justice mechanism robust enough to hold perpetrators accountable for 

the most egregious wrongs yet nimble enough not to derail chances 

for peace due to rigidity. 

Beginning with the Nuremberg and Tokyo tribunals, a body of 

law has developed concerning war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Since the end of the Cold War, we have seen examples of ad hoc tribunals in the former Yugoslavia, Rwanda, and 

hybrid mechanisms such as the Special Court for Sierra Leone. 

As chair of the subcommittee that deals with human rights, especially during the 1990s, as well as Helsinki Commission chairman, 

I held a series of hearings on the Yugoslav tribunal, the courts that 

were in Sierra Leone and Rwanda, the two in Africa, and often had 

the chief prosecutors testify at those, including Carla Del Ponte 

from the Yugoslav court and the chief prosecutor from Sierra 

Leone, David Crane. Well, we brought David Crane back last October 30th to ask him what his view would be on such a court, and 

he gave riveting testimony, as did other experts, as to the absolute 

need for the immediate establishment of this kind of flexible court. 

I would note parenthetically that each of these tribunals, the 

three of them, have achieved a level of success that has escaped the 

International Criminal Court. The Yugoslavian tribunal has won 

67 convictions; the Rwanda tribunal, 47; and Sierra Leone has won 

16 convictions. Meanwhile, the ICC, costing about $140 million annually, has thus far seen only one conviction—all of the indictVerDate 0ct 09 2002 14:37 Jul 17, 2014 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 F:\WORK\_FULL\043014M\87713 SHIRL
111

ments have been in Africa, and only one conviction of somebody, a 

lower-level person from the DR Congo. 

One thing we do not want to do is go down the ICC route. The 

ICC process is distant and has no local ownership of its justice 

process. It is far less flexible than an ad hoc tribunal that can be 

designed to fit the situation. The ICC requires a referral. In the 

case of the current President and Deputy President of Kenya, it 

was Kenya itself that facilitated the referral. That is highly unlikely in the case of Syria. 

Since Syria is a Russian client state, this U.N. Security Council 

member would oppose any referral of the Syria matter to the ICC 

but might be convinced to support an ad hoc proceeding that focuses on war crimes by the government as well as the rebels, one 

that allows for plea-bargaining for witnesses and other legal negotiations to enable such a court to successfully punish at least some 

of the direct perpetrators of these increasingly horrific crimes. 

And Syria, like the United States, never ratified the Rome Statute that created the ICC, which raises legitimate concerns about 

sovereignty, with implications for our country, which this panel 

also addresses. 

There are issues that must be addressed for any Syrian war 

crimes tribunal to be created and to operate successfully. There 

must be sustained international will for it to happen in a meaningful way. An agreed-upon system of law must be the basis for the 

proceedings. An agreed-upon structure, funding mechanism, and location for the proceedings must be found. There must be a determination on how many targets of justice will be pursued. A timetable and time span of such a tribunal must be devised. There are 

even more issues that must be settled before such an ad hoc tribunal can exist. 

Those who are even now perpetrating crimes against humanity 

must be shown that their crimes will not continue with impunity. 

Syria has been called the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. One 

might reasonably also consider it the worst human rights crisis in 

the world, as well. Therefore, the international community owes it 

to the people of Syria and their neighbors to do all that we can do 

right now to bring to a halt the actions of those creating this crisis 

for Syria and the region. Now we have the opportunity to give hope 

to the terrorized people of Syria. 

The subcommittee that I chair had a hearing last October 30th 

where we heard from some of the most experienced voices concerning international justice mechanisms, as we have met several 

times with the State Department and have worked diligently with 

the committee, especially Ranking Member Eliot Engel and Chairman Ed Royce, in shaping a lean, muscular resolution that could 

be adapted to address this situation in Syria as it currently exists, 

providing broad latitude for the administration to conduct foreign 

policy. 

The suffering of the people of Syria must end, and today we have 

our opportunity to help achieve that. This is a means to that end. 

And, again, those who are committing these horrific crimes need to 

know that they face certain punishment. 

I yield back, and I thank you very much. 

Chairman ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Smith. 

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Mr. Gerry Connolly of Virginia. 

Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Chairman, because of scheduling, if you don’t 

mind, I would yield to my friend, Mr. Deutch. 

Mr. DEUTCH. Thank you, Mr. Connolly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

Thank you, Chairman Royce, for holding today’s markup and for 

your leadership in addressing the Syria crisis. 

I would like to offer my full support for H. Res. 520, which seeks 

to refocus U.S. policy toward Syria and provide greater access to 

humanitarian relief to those who are suffering. 

As my colleagues have noted, there are now 9.3 million people in 

need of humanitarian assistance, 61⁄2 million internally displaced 

people in Syria, with potentially 3 million of those in besieged 

areas, and 2.7 million refugees in neighboring countries. Our regional allies are struggling to absorb this massive influx. 

And while the United States has provided over $1.7 billion in relief, funding appeals from the United Nations have been grossly ignored by the international community, with only $1.5 billion of the 

U.N.’s $6.5-billion appeal having been fulfilled. 

The conversation surrounding Syria can no longer be just about 

how we put an end to the conflict. It must be about what we can 

do to mitigate the immediate effects of this tragic situation on so 

many innocent civilians. 

We saw a glimmer of hope when the United Nations Security 

Council passed a nonbinding resolution calling on all sides to respect humanitarian access. But the terms of this resolution have 

been largely ignored, as millions are still cut off from food deliveries and basic medical treatment. 

All of this continues in the midst of new reports that chemical 

attacks using chlorine gas may have happened this past month. 

The United States alone will not solve the Syrian crisis, but we 

must continue to press our allies to act on humanitarian needs. 

Ending this type of unimaginable human suffering should be a priority for the entire world, but the United States and our reputation 

throughout the world is strengthened when human rights holds a 

prominent place in our foreign policy. 

I would again like to thank the chair and the ranking member 

for their commitment to continuing to advance our Syria policy. 

And I thank my good friend, Mr. Connolly, for yielding. 

Mr. CONNOLLY. Thank you. 

Mr. Chairman, I want to lend my support, my very enthusiastic 

support, to both H. Res. 520 and H. Con. Res. 51, companion pieces 

with respect to Syria. 

The humanitarian crisis in Syria is almost unprecedented in the 

region. We had testimony just a few weeks ago before this committee by Rajiv Shah, the USAID Administrator, that the number 

of internal displaced persons in Syria and the number of external 

refugees generated by the crisis has quadrupled in the year since 

he testified previously—quadrupled. 

We now have 25 to 30 percent of the equivalent population as 

refugees in Lebanon and Jordan. These are clearly potential 

sources of destabilization in that part of the world that we can 

least afford. So addressing the humanitarian crisis, it seems to me, 

must be a priority for the United States Government. 

113

And I applaud Mr. Smith for his remarks, and for your leadership as well, Mr. Chairman, and for that of Mr. Engel, on the war 

crimes resolution. We do know that that is efficacious. We do know 

that that makes a difference. And holding out that hope to the victims of this violence, that sooner or later they will be brought to 

justice, we will see to it, that is what this resolution says. And I 

think it is a very important cornerstone of our evolving foreign policy with respect to the crisis in Syria. 

I thank the chair, and I thank my colleagues for their leadership. 

And I yield back. 

Chairman ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Connolly. 

Mr. Dana Rohrabacher of California. 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I 

appreciate you recognizing me for this semi-colloquy. 

And I appreciate your leadership on the issue that was brought 

before us in H.R. 4490, the communications amendment and legislation that we just passed through this committee. That really is 

desperately needed reform that has been needed for a long time. 

And it is my understanding that you are seriously considering including report language that indicates that broadcasting entities 

should not hire an individual who has worked within the previous 

6 years for the foreign ministry, state-sponsored media, or security 

services of any country that does not provide objective, accurate, 

and credible news. 

This policy is vital to protect our honest and hardworking journalists and broadcasters from foreign agents acting at the behest 

of hostile powers. This will also add other improvements to the security that this committee has already put in place by passing that 

legislation. 

Three years ago, when I chaired the Oversight and Investigation 

Subcommittee, the very first hearing I called looked into the BBG. 

A major problem that we uncovered at that hearing was the lack 

of effective counterintelligence protection for our international 

broadcasters. 

Mr. Chairman, you know what a powerful tool the Voice of America and the Freedom Broadcasters are for our country. Preventing 

such people from working for our broadcasters will increase the 

credibility of our broadcasters and add additional security against 

efforts by foreign powers to disrupt their work. I appreciate your 

willingness to consider including language in that legislation, report language, that will deal with this issue. 

Chairman ROYCE. And I want to thank Mr. Rohrabacher for the 

seriousness that he has brought to this debate over how we go forward with the Broadcasting Board of Governors. 

One of the specific concerns you have is, of course, the vetting 

of employees who would be tied to foreign governments. We accepted your first amendment, which directly says that foreign agents—

that employees will be vetted to catch foreign agents of foreign regimes or those tied to advocating terrorism, et cetera. That may 

have caught most of what you want to go after. 

If there is additional language, we are happy to try to work with 

you to work something out as we go forward. This is just the first 

step in the process. But we did accept your first amendment——

Mr. ROHRABACHER. Thank you very much. 

114

Chairman ROYCE [continuing]. Going directly to the point. 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. And I appreciate your willingness to perfect 

it. 

Chairman ROYCE. Very good. Well, we will try to perfect it. 

Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher. 

We go now to this side. Any other members seeking recognition 

at this time? 

If not, I think Mr. Collins had the amendment. 

Mr. COLLINS. Yes. Mr. Chairman, thank you. 

And I would want to thank Congresswoman Meng for bringing 

this issue of desecration of cemeteries to light. It is good when we 

can come together, and especially on issues such as, not only religious expression, but also doing so in a very tangible way I think 

is very good. And it is always good to reach across and show that 

we can find common ground, and I appreciate that. 

My amendment only adds finding language to the H.R. 4028 to 

highlight the necessity for Congress to add cemetery desecration as 

a violation of religious expression. The desecration of the Kaposvar 

Jewish Cemetery in Hungary is a sobering reminder of the lack of 

religious freedom abroad. Something that we have here is not universal. Those grounds are final resting places for the deceased and 

deserve the respect of all, regardless of personal beliefs. 

These acts and others like them around the world show the continued prejudice toward ethnic and religious groups. These attacks 

affect the fundamental right to freedom of religion, especially when 

tolerated or encouraged by local or national governments. 

As an Air Force Reserve chaplain, I believe expressing your personal religious beliefs shouldn’t be just a privilege, but it should be 

a right given to everyone. That is why I am cosponsoring Representative Meng’s bill and encourage Congress to put its weight 

behind such a cause. 

This body is committed to protecting the freedom of religion, including the preservation of heritage of cemeteries across the United 

States and abroad. That is what brings us to this amendment and 

also to this fine bill and the work that has been done by Congresswoman Meng, which I commend, and also the chairman and ranking member. 

And, with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. 

Chairman ROYCE. Thank you, Pastor Collins. 

Now, hearing no further requests for recognition, the question 

now occurs on the items considered en bloc. This would be the legislation by Ms. Meng on International Religious Freedom Act, as it 

regards desecration of cemeteries, expanding that. It would include 

Mr. Smith’s bill, the Syrian war crimes tribunal legislation, and the 

Royce-Engel legislation on Syrian humanitarian access. So we will 

consider that en bloc. 

All those in favor, say aye. 

All those opposed, no. 

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it. The measures are 

considered en bloc. H.R. 4028, House Resolution 520, and House 

Concurrent Resolution 51 are agreed to as amended. 

And, without objection, each of the measures as amended is ordered favorably reported as a single amendment in the nature of 

a substitute. 

115

Staff is directed to make any technical and conforming changes. 

And that concludes our business of today. I want to thank Ranking Member Engel and all of our committee members here for their 

contributions and assistance to this legislation. 

The committee is adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 10:48 a.m., the committee was adjourned.] 

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