Whereas national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples including Yezidis, Turkmen, Shabak, Sabaean-Mandeans, Kaka’i, and indigenous Christians (including Chaldean, Syriac, Assyrian, Armenian, and Melkite communities), among others, have been an integral part of the cultural fabric and history of Iraq and the broader Middle East for millennia; Whereas these same religious and ethnic minorities communities have made invaluable contributions to the prosperity and well-being of Iraq, and to societies across the Middle East and the world, including in the United States; Whereas the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS ) committed innumerable atrocities against these ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq, including murder, subjugation, forced conversion, kidnapping, human trafficking, forced emigration or expulsion, ethnic cleansing, torture, sexual enslavement, rape, and destruction of ancient artifacts and sites among other crimes; Whereas the Secretary of State declared on March 17, 2016, and on August 15, 2017, that ISIS is responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and other atrocities against religious and ethnic minority groups in Iraq and Syria, including Shia Muslims, Christians, and Yezidis, among other religious and ethnic groups