H. Res. 554 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
November 20, 2024. 
Whereas national, ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities 
and indigenous peoples, including Yezidis, Turkmen, 
Shabak, Sabaean-Mandeans, Kaka’i, and indigenous 
Christians (including Chaldean, Syriac, Assyrian, Arme-
nian, and Melkite communities), among others, have been 
an integral part of the cultural fabric and history of Iraq 
and the broader Middle East; 
Whereas these same religious and ethnic minorities have 
made and continue to make invaluable contributions to 
the prosperity and well-being of societies across the Mid-
dle East and the world, including in the United States; 
Whereas, according to the 2017 Report on International Reli-
gious Freedom, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria 
(‘‘ISIS’’) is responsible for carrying out a ‘‘campaign of 
violence against members of all faiths, in particular non- 
Sunnis’’; 
Whereas ethnic and religious minorities were subjected to in-
numerable atrocities by ISIS, including forced religious 
conversion, kidnapping, slavery, human trafficking, un-
lawful forced displacement, ethnic cleansing, torture, sex-
ual violence, and sex trafficking, among other crimes;
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Whereas the Secretary of State declared on March 17, 2016, 
and on August 15, 2017, that ISIS is responsible for 
genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities 
against religious and ethnic minority groups in Iraq and 
Syria, including Shia Muslims, Christians, and Yezidis, 
among other religious and ethnic groups; 
Whereas the Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Account-
ability Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–300) affirms that 
it is the policy of the United States to ensure that assist-
ance for religious and ethnic minorities is directed to-
wards those most in need, including those that the Sec-
retary of State declared were targeted for genocide, 
crimes against humanity, or war crimes, and have been 
identified as being at risk of persecution, forced migra-
tion, genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes; 
Whereas members of these religious and ethnic minority com-
munities continue to face daily insecurity, discrimination, 
and hardship; 
Whereas religious and ethnic minorities continue to face sig-
nificant challenges to returning to their ancestral home-
lands, including in Mosul, Baaj, Sinjar, the Nineveh 
Plain, and other Yezidi places, due to security concerns, 
economic hardship, and shifting demographics; and 
Whereas the restoration and stabilization of these regions will 
provide an opportunity for diverse ethnic and religious 
communities to flourish: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) commits to protecting and upholding inter-
nationally recognized human rights of members of reli-
gious and ethnic minority communities;
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(2) supports the restoration of security, stability, 
and economic opportunity of, as well as the safe, dig-
nified, and voluntary return of, internally displaced per-
sons, including those originally from the territories of 
Mosul, Baaj, Sinjar, and the Nineveh Plain; 
(3) supports the restoration of religious and cul-
tural heritage sites in Iraq, including, churches, and 
other religious sites, and community buildings of reli-
gious and ethnic minority communities in these regions; 
and 
(4) supports equal and inclusive representation for 
religious and ethnic minority groups in Iraq in line with 
article 125 of the Constitution of Iraq and encourages 
the Secretary of State to promote opportunities for af-
fected minority groups to further that objective. 
Attest: 
Clerk.