,,iv  #aaf? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,h4 ,,res4 #di  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(      
,,repres5tatives  ,janu>y #af1 #bjai,mr4
 ,hill ( ,arkansas 7= himself1 ,mr4     
,cicill9e1 ,mr4 ,b>r1 ,mr4 ,correa1 ,mr4
 ,bo/1 ,mrs4 ,walorski1 ,mr4 ,bilirakis1
 ,mr4 ,lip9ski1 ,mr4 ,david ,p4 ,roe (  
,t5nessee1 ,mr4 ,mool5a>1 ,mr4 ,%imkus1 
,mr4 ,r\z]1 & ,mr4 ,bab97 submitt$ !    
foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !    
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs           
,,resolution  ,support+ ,coptic         
,*ri/ians 9 ,egypt4  ,:]eas ,/4 ,m>k    
br\ght ,*ri/ianity to ,egypt1 :]e       
,coptic ,*ri/ians h be5 "o ( ! indig5\s 
p ( ,egypt = ov] #b1jjj ye>s2 ,:]eas !re
 are ov] #aj1jjj1jjj ,copts 9 ,egypt1   
mak+ ! ,copts ! l>ge/ ,*ri/ian & ! l>ge/
 non-,muslim community 9 ! ,middle ,ea/2
 ,:]eas ,copts & o!r ,*ri/ians h be5    
t>gets ( societal aggression result+ 9 !
 loss ( life1 prop]ty1 & ! de/ruction ( 
*ur*es2 ,:]eas1 9 ,janu>y #bjae1        
,presid5t ,abdel ,fattah el-,sisi 0 !   
fir/ ,egyptian ,presid5t to make an     

appe>ance at a ,coptic ,*ri/ian ,*ri/mas
 liturgy2 ,:]eas1 9 ,augu/ #bjaf1 ,egypt
 pass$ ,law #hj to /reaml9e ! *ur*      
con/ruction process2 ,:]eas1 z (        
,novemb] #bjah1 ( ! approximately #c1hjj
 unlic5s$ *ur*es await+ legalization1   
au?orities h conditionally recogniz$    
only #fbg2 ,:]eas !re are #ci memb]s (  
,egypt's ,p>liam5t t are ,coptic2       
,:]eas1 9 #bjah1 ,presid5t el-,sisi     
appo9t$ ! fir/ ,coptic female ,gov]nor1 
,dr4 ,manal ,awad ,mikhael1 to ,damietta
 ,gov]norate & a ,coptic man1 ,dr4      
,gamal ,gad ,saad z ,gov]nor (          
,daqahleya ,gov]norate2 ,:]eas previ\sly
 !re 7 no ,copts among ! #bg ,gov]nors &
 #ah ,deputy ,gov]nors 9 ! entire       
c\ntry2 ,:]eas ,coptic ,*ri/ians face   
discrim9ation 9 ,egypt's public-sector  
employm5t1 includ+ ! police =ce1 arm$   
s]vices1 education1 ! judici>y1 & !     
=eign s]vice2 ,:]eas ,islamic ,/ate (   
,iraq & ,syria 7,,isis7 releas$ a video 
call+ ,copts _! favorite prey & w>n+ (  
increas$ attacks2 ,:]eas viol5ce aga9/  

,coptic ,*ri/ians1 p>ticul>ly 9 local   
villages1 is r>ely puni%$1 mak+ ,copts m
 susceptible to attacks2 ,:]eas         
,egyptian ,gov]nm5t (ficials frequ5tly  
p>ticipate 9 in=mal reconciliation      
sessions to address incid5ts ( sect>ian 
viol5ce or t5sion1 say+ t su* sessions  
prev5t$ fur!r viol5ce2 ,:]eas accord+ to
 human rights gr\ps1 ! reconciliation   
sessions h regul>ly l$ to outcomes      
unfavorable to religi\s m9orities &     
preclud$ rec\rse to ! judicial sy/em by 
su* m9orities2 ,:]eas1 9 ! summ] (      
#bjag1 ,egypt's security app>atus w>n$  
*ur*es aga9/ attacks & urg$ !m to cancel
 _! summ] activities = fe> ( attacks by 
,islami/s2 ,:]eas civil society         
in/itutions1 wom5's rights              
organizations1 nongov]nm5tal            
organizations 7bo? national & =eign7 h  
be5 %ut d[n or _! activities sev]ely    
curtail$2 ,:]eas j\rnali/s1 ?9k]s1 &    
diss5t]s h be5 sil5c$ or imprison$2     
,:]eas ,unit$ ,/ates diplomatic lead]%ip
 contributes mean+fully & mat]ially to !

 int]national protection ( religi\s     
m9orities & _! fai?-bas$ practices &    
places ( wor%ip2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
has a /rong int]e/ 9 combatt+ ! ?reat ( 
,islamic t]rorism & ensur+ ! /ability ( 
! region2 & ,:]eas religi\s fre$om &    
human rights are an ess5tial corn]/one (
 democracy t promotes respect =         
individual lib]ty & contributes to      
great] /ability & are priority values = 
! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 promot+ its engagem5t 
) o!r c\ntries3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t !  
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives-- 7#a7          
ackn[l$ges ! c5tral & hi/oric importance
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates-,egypt p>tn]%ip 9    
advanc+ ! common int]e/s ( bo? c\ntries2
  7#b7 appreciates ,egypt's regional    
role z a p>tn] 9 ! fight aga9/ t]rorism 
& viol5t extremism2  7#c7 recognizes !  
necessity = ,egypt's lead]s to take /eps
 t[>d education re=m t prioritize       
imp>tial in/ruction ( all religions &   
political re=m t prioritizes human      
rights1 fundam5tal fre$oms1 & ! rule (  
law2  7#d7 urges ! ,gov]nm5t ( ,egypt to

 enact s]i\s & legitimate re=ms to      
ensure ,coptic ,*ri/ians are giv5 ! same
 rights & opportunities z all o!r       
,egyptian citiz5s2 &  7#e7 urges !      
,gov]nm5t ( ,egypt to take additional   
/eps to end ! culture ( impunity =      
attacks on ,*ri/ians1 to cont9ue to     
und]take ! arre/1 prosecution1 &        
conviction ( individuals :o c>ry out    
attacks on ,copts & o!r ,*ri/ians 9     
,egypt1 & to hold acc\ntable ,gov]nm5t  
(ficials :o fail to en=ce ! law4