Justice for Yazidis Act

Bill: 115-hr-379
Sponsor: Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20]
Introduced: 2017-01-09 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Child health
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Foreign aid and international relief
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Human rights
Immigration status and procedures
Iraq
Mental health
Middle East
Military operations and strategy
Racial and ethnic relations
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Religion
Sex offenses
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations
Syria
Terrorism
World health

Summary:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: 

Justice for Yazidis Act

 
This bill states that Syrian and Iraqi nationals who are members of a religious minority in their country of origin: (1) shall be classified as refugees of special humanitarian concern, (2) shall be eligible for priority-2 refugee resettlement processing, and (3) may apply directly to the U.S. refugee admissions program. 
 
No alien shall be denied the opportunity to apply for admission under this bill solely because he or she: (1) qualifies as an immediate relative, (2) is eligible for any other immigrant classification, or (3) was referred to apply for refugee admission by a U.S. nonprofit organization. 
 
Each such alien who, after June 1, 2014, and before the date of the enactment of this bill, was denied refugee status may reapply for such status.
 
 The Department of State shall: (1) submit and implement a plan to expedite priority-2 refugee processing, and (2) submit annual program reports through 2020.
 
The Department of Defense shall report on U.S. military efforts in Islamic State (ISIS)-controlled regions to incorporate the rescue and care of religious or minority group captives.
 
The State Department shall establish a program to provide health care and psychosocial support for members of the Yazidi, Christian, Shabak, and Turkmen communities displaced by ISIS. Such program shall provide mental health and psychosocial support for children from such communities, with a particular focus on services to survivors of sexual slavery.
 
The State Department shall establish a program to provide training on trauma-informed care to psychologists, social workers, and physical therapists based in Iraq, Syria, or any country that hosts Yazidi, Christian, Shabak, or Turkmen refugees. 
 
Funds for such State Department programs are transferred from amounts available for assistance to Egypt.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Appropriations, 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: 2017-01-09
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Appropriations, 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: 2017-01-09
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Appropriations, 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: 2017-01-09
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Appropriations, 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: 2017-01-09
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, and Appropriations, 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: 2017-01-09
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E36)
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-01-09
text: Introduced in House