So the Islamic State is committing genocide. Now what?

One month after Secretary of State John Kerry's declaration that the mass slaughter of Christians and other minorities by the Islamic State is genocide, the administration so far appears to be satisfied by checking that box, and has yet to take any new, concrete steps to help the victims.

Pope Francis, the European parliament and U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have hailed the genocide declaration as a gratifying first step, but others argue it may do little to preserve communities living on the edge of extinction if the U.S. government fails to go beyond its finding and take some action.

Rep. Joe Pitts, R-Pa., last week commended Secretary of State John Kerry for making "the accurate, right and just decision" to designate Islamic State atrocities as genocide. But he said the determination "may prove to ring hollow" if the U.S. government doesn't do something about it.

"The United Nations convention on the prevention and punishment of the crime of genocide requires our government and other parties to the agreement to prevent and punish acts of genocide," Pitts said during a Tuesday hearing.

The world watched as the Islamic State broadcast the murder of 21 Christians in Libya last year, but outside groups have since documented far more extensive brutality against Christians, Yezedis, Turkmen and other minorities. That includes forced conversions, mass slayings and the enslavement and rape of women and young girls.