Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-5961
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2016-09-08 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Evidence and witnesses
Foreign aid and international relief
Government studies and investigations
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
International organizations and cooperation
Iraq
Middle East
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Syria
Terrorism
United Nations
War crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity

Summary:
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: 

Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016

 
This bill directs the Department of State to provide assistance to entities taking specified criminal and judicial actions against individuals who are suspected of committing genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes in Iraq since January 2014 or in Syria since March 2011. 
 
The State Department shall encourage foreign governments to identify and prosecute individuals who are suspected of committing such crimes, including members of foreign terrorist organizations operating in Iraq or Syria. 
 
The Department of Justice shall review existing criminal statutes concerning genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes to determine: 
 
 
the extent to which U.S. courts have jurisdiction over such crimes where the perpetrators or victims are U.S. nationals, residents, or persons present in a U.S. territory; 
 
 current statutes that would apply to such conduct and whether additional statutory authorities are necessary; and 
 
the extent to which the absence of criminal statutes defining the crimes or granting jurisdiction impede their prosecution in U.S. courts.
 
 
The State Department shall identify: 
 
 
threats of persecution, genocide, crimes against humanity, and forced migration against members of Iraqi or Syrian religious or ethnic groups with respect to whom the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has committed such crimes in Iraq or Syria since January 2014 or who are members of other persecuted religious or ethnic groups; 
 
humanitarian, stabilization, and recovery needs of these individuals; and 
 
assistance provided by the United States, the U.N., and other entities, including faith-based entities.
 
 
The Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1990 is amended to: 
 
 
 include as a category for U.S. refugee determinations aliens who are or were nationals and residents of Iraq or Syria and who share common characteristics that identify them as targets of persecution on account of religion or membership in an ethnic minority in such foreign states, 
 
include in such category aliens who are or were nationals and residents of Iraq or Syria and who are members of a religious or ethnic community against which genocide has been committed or that has otherwise been identified as a persecuted group, and
 
extend such Act's coverage to refugee applications submitted before October 1, 2017.



Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-09-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1231-1232)
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2016-09-08
text: Introduced in House