House approves bill aiming to provide emergency aid for surviving victims of ISIS

The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bipartisan legislation that would authorize the government to provide emergency aid to religious minorities who fled from their homes in Iraq and Syria due to the rise of the Islamic State terror group.

The bill, known as HR 390 or "The Iraq and Syria Emergency Genocide Relief and Accountability Act," would authorize the Department of Defense and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to provide support to organizations that are assisting religious minorities that have been targeted by ISIS for genocide.

It would also provide resources for organizations that are gathering evidence against militants who are perpetrating crimes against humanity in Iraq and Syria.

The measure, authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) in January was passed by the House on Tuesday and is now headed to the Senate for approval.

"President Trump and Vice President Pence have strongly, publicly committed the administration to providing relief to Christians, Yazidis and other genocide survivors, and ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice. HR 390 will help ensure that officials implement these commitments and is a blueprint for implementation," Smith said about the legislation, according to Charisma.

The advocacy group In Defense of Christians (IDC) noted that thousands of Christians, who are now displaced in northern Iraq, are not receiving aid even though the U.S. has given millions of dollars to the Iraqi government for relief efforts.

"Unless Christians begin receiving assistance from the international community, including from the U.S. government, they are going to continue leaving Iraq, which is not in the interests of the United States," said IDC Executive Director Philippe Nassif in a statement, as reported by The Christian Post.

"This legislation will ensure that the U.S. government is assisting the organizations that are effectively serving these communities," he added.

After the House passed the bill, Eshoo stated that the measure will not only provide aid to the victims of what has been labeled by the U.S. government and Congress as "genocide," but it will also ensure that those who are causing the suffering will be held responsible.

Nate Lance, the advocacy manager for International Christian Concern, said that the bill must be signed into law as quickly as possible so that the victims of ISIS can receive the much-needed aid.