Skip to main content
HR 379 115th Congress House International Affairs 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

Justice for Yazidis Act

Introduced: January 9, 2017 See on congress.gov
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 9, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Jan 9, 2017
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.
Jan 9, 2017
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E36)
Jan 9, 2017
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

What's happening now January 9, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 3