Washington, DC (July 18, 2018) – The Quaker lobby, the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) applauded the House of Representatives for passing the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act (H.R. 3030). Named after Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, the bill ensures the U.S. government is equipped with the most constructive and cost-effective tools to address the root causes of violent conflict.
Contact: Adlai Amor, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2538
Contact: Adlai Amor, Friends Committee on National Legislation, media@fcnl.org; 202-903-2538
“Quakers have long worked to end violence and promote peace,” said Diane Randall, FCNL Executive Secretary. “Real global peacebuilding requires U.S. government leadership to prevent, reduce, transform, and help people recover from violence in all forms.”
Introduced in 2017, the bill ensures coordination among U.S. government departments to prevent global atrocities from occurring and mandates training for Foreign Service Officers to identify early warning signs of genocide. It also requires the president to update Congress on measures to lessen violence in specific countries, funding related to conflict prevention initiatives, and a global assessment of instability, conflict, and atrocities.
The Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act is the product of nearly a decade of work by FCNL and a broad coalition of organizations seeking to move the U.S. from fighting wars to preventing them. Last month, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed its version of the Elie Wiesel Act, which has received strong bipartisan support since its introduction.
“Congress has taken a vital step towards a stopping deadly conflict before it starts,” said Theo Sitther, FCNL’s Legislative Secretary for Peacebuilding Policy. “This bipartisan bill is needed now more than ever, as global violence is on the rise and the U.S. has taken steps to prioritize militarization over diplomacy and development.”
The House voted 406-5 to pass the bill last night. The bill was sponsored Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO-02), and lead co-sponsor, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY-14).
FCNL’s advocacy is rooted in Quaker foundations of peace, equality, simplicity, and truth. For 75 years, FCNL has worked to build pathways to peace, advocating for policies that enable the U.S. to prevent, reduce, transform, and help people recover from violence in all forms.
For more information, please visit www.fcnl.org.
Founded in 1943 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), FCNL lobbies Congress and the administration for U.S. policies that advance peace, justice, and good government.