H.Res. 683: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need to protect religious minorities from persecution from the Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) as it expands its control over areas in northwestern Iraq.

H.Res. 683: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need to protect religious minorities from persecution from the Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) as it expands its control over areas in northwestern Iraq.

113th Congress · introduced 2014-07-24 · International Affairs · Latest: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2014-07-24 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-51] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need to protect religious minorities from persecution from the Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) as it expands its control over areas in northwestern Iraq.

Plain summary

Condemns the religious bigotry, property destruction, and violent attacks on and intimidation of innocent Iraqi civilians by armed extremists. Calls on the Department of State to work with the Kurdistan Regional government, the Iraqi government, neighboring countries, the diaspora community in the United States, the United Nations (U.N.) High Commissioner for Refugees, and other key stakeholders to help secure safe havens for those claiming amnesty in Iraq. Calls on the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to document human rights abuses against Iraqi civilians and develop a plan to facilitate safe humanitarian access to potable water, health care, fuel, electricity, and basic security for the most vulnerable civilian populations. Calls upon the government of Iraq to protect the safety and constitutional rights of all Iraqi citizens. Requests the addition of a Special Representative for Religious Minorities to be included in Prime Minister al-Maliki's newly reconstructed government. Reaffirms the Senate's commitments to promoting and protecting religious freedom around the world and providing relief to minority groups facing persecution.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the current situation in Iraq and the urgent need to protect religious minorities from persecution from the Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) as it expands its control over areas in northwestern Iraq.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-51] · 61 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Scott H. Peters (D-CA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Mike Kelly (R-PA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Robert B. Aderholt (R-AL), Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL), Judy Chu (D-CA), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Robert E. Latta (R-OH), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Steve Scalise (R-LA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL) and 1 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-51] reported raising $836,097 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-113hres683.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/113/hres>

Record fed-us-cong113-hres683 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113