May 20, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 84 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H3970]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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             REFUGEE SANITATION FACILITY SAFETY ACT OF 2019

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 615) to provide women and girls safe access to sanitation 
facilities in refugee camps.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 615

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Refugee Sanitation Facility 
     Safety Act of 2019''.

     SEC. 2. SECURE ACCESS TO SANITATION FACILITIES FOR WOMEN AND 
                   GIRLS.

       Section 501 of the Foreign Relations Act, Fiscal Years 1994 
     and 1995 (22 U.S.C. 2601 note) is amended in subsection (a)--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (10);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (11) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(12) the provision of safe and secure access to 
     sanitation facilities, with a special emphasis on women and 
     girls, and vulnerable populations.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 615, the Refugee Sanitation 
Facility Safety Act 2019.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, first of all, I want to thank Ms. Meng and Mr. Zeldin 
for authoring this important bipartisan measure.
  We are facing a devastating refugee crisis around the world right 
now. Over 25 million people are currently refugees having fled from 
violence, conflict, and crisis. Many of these people are now living in 
refugee camps.
  And let me be clear, we need a foreign policy that addresses the root 
causes of this crisis.
  So I am pleased we just considered my Global Fragility bill, which 
works to prevent the kind of conflict and instability that leads to 
these refugee crises.
  The United States also needs to open its doors to more of these 
families who have fled violence in search of a better life. America 
should be leading the world to help in relocating these displaced 
people, so they can find new homes and start anew.
  And we need to make sure that when people are living in refugee 
camps, they are cared for and treated with dignity.
  Sadly, far too many women and girls in these camps face danger right 
now. Bathrooms and shower facilities have often become dangerous places 
with predators taking advantage of poor lighting to stage attacks.
  After facing the trauma of being driven from their homes, women and 
girls in refugee camps should not have to worry about being sexually 
assaulted, period.
  We need to do what we can to make sure that refugee camps have safe, 
accessible sanitation facilities for everyone. So I am pleased that we 
are considering legislation today that works to do just that.
  Madam Speaker, with H.R. 615, the State Department, when providing 
overseas assistance for refugees, will seek to ensure safe access to 
sanitation facilities, especially for those most vulnerable.
  Madam Speaker, this is a good bipartisan bill. I am proud to support 
it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the Refugee Sanitation Facility 
Safety Act.
  I want to commend my two colleagues from New York, Representatives 
Meng and Zeldin, and also Chairman Engel for the good work on this 
bill.
  Around the world, conflict and humanitarian disasters are causing 
unprecedented levels of displacement in places like South Sudan, 
Somalia, Syria, Nigeria, and Venezuela.
  Some of these crises have dragged on for years and even decades. 
Generations of young people are growing up knowing only life in a 
refugee camp where conditions can be dire, and even dangerous, for 
women, children, and other vulnerable populations.
  In these situations, things as basic as lights and locks can make a 
difference between safe restrooms and bathing facilities in dangerous 
environments where refugees are vulnerable to sexual violence and other 
crimes.
  This bill amends the Foreign Relations Act to ensure support for safe 
sanitation facilities for refugees and displaced persons living in 
camps around the world.
  The U.S. continues to be the largest donor to refugees and displaced 
persons around the world, and we will continue to lead, while 
encouraging other countries to step up and do more.
  In closing, Madam Speaker, the United States is a leading donor of 
humanitarian assistance to refugees around the world. Through the work 
of UNHCR and NGO partners, we are saving millions of lives every day.
  This bill does not increase those assistance levels but will help 
ensure that our funding is put to effective use in protecting the 
safety and dignity of vulnerable refugees.
  Madam Speaker, I want to, again, thank Chairman Engel and 
Representatives Meng and Zeldin for their leadership, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, in closing, let me say that we are facing a 
refugee crisis around the world. Wars, violence, instability--millions 
of people have fled their homes in search of safety.
  We need to do what we can to help these people find new homes and 
start anew. And while they are living in temporary refugee camps, we 
need to make sure they have the tools to stay safe and healthy.
  The Refugee Sanitation Facility Safety Act of 2019 provides refugee 
women and girls with safe access to sanitation facilities.
  This is one clear, straightforward way we can help those most 
vulnerable people. It is a good, commonsense bill; I am pleased to 
support it. And I thank Mr. McCaul as well for his support.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 615.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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