Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability

In August 2014, ISIS began committing genocide against Christians and Yazidis in Iraq. Three years later those persecuted are still not receiving assistance that they need from the United States, and so their very survival in their ancient homeland is in jeopardy. Two consecutive secretaries of state and the Congress have declared that ISIS is responsible for the genocide. This year [2017], the President and Vice President declared the genocide and committed the administration to provide relief to the surviving religious and ethnic minority communities. In the final appropriations bill for fiscal year 2017, Congress required that the State Department and U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) fund the assistance promised by the administration. Sadly, career staff at the State Department and USAID have ignored the law and thwarted the will of the President, the Congress, and the people we represent. These bureaucrats have refused to direct assistance to religious and ethnic minority communities, even to enable them to survive genocide. This obstruction is unacceptable. This hearing will explore the urgent crisis for Christians and Yazidi genocide survivors, especially in Iraq; what the administration can do now to enable them to survive; and what the consequences will be for these communities and our national security if we fail to act.