[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 45 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]
103d CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 45
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Authorizing the use of United States Armed Forces in Somalia.
103d CONGRESS
1st Session
S. J. RES. 45
_______________________________________________________________________
JOINT RESOLUTION
Authorizing the use of United States Armed Forces in Somalia.
Whereas an estimated 300,000 Somalis reportedly have died of hunger or as
casualties of widespread violence since the fall of Siad Barre in
January 1991;
Whereas international relief agencies had been unable to deliver adequate
assistance to those most in need due to increasingly difficult and
dangerous security conditions, including pervasive banditry and looting;
Whereas Congress has expressed its support for a greater United Nations role in
addressing the political and humanitarian situation in Somalia through
Senate Resolutions 258 and 132 and House of Representatives Resolution
370;
Whereas the United Nations Secretary General and United States officials had
concluded that massive intervention in Somalia would be necessary to
avert further starvation on this scale;
Whereas the United Nations Security Council on December 3, 1992, enacted
Resolution 794, authorizing the use of ``all necessary means to
establish as soon as possible a secure environment for humanitarian
relief operations in Somalia'';
Whereas President Bush began deploying United States armed forces on December 8,
1992, in response to United Nations Resolution 794;
Whereas more than 20,000 American servicemen and women are now in Somalia under
Operation Restore Hope and have been joined by troops from many other
nations;
Whereas President Bush has emphasized that United States Armed Forces will be
withdrawn and that the security mission will be assumed by the United
Nations' UNOSOM operation as soon as a ``secure environment'' for the
delivery of food has been created; and
Whereas, on December 10, 1992, President Bush formally reported to Congress on
the deployment of United States Armed Forces in Somalia: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This joint resolution may be cited as the ``Authorization for Use
of United States Armed Forces in Somalia''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.
(a) Authorization.--The President is authorized to use United
States Armed Forces pursuant to United Nations Security Council
Resolution 794 in order to implement the Resolution, which authorizes
the use of ``all necessary means to establish as soon as possible a
secure environment for humanitarian relief operations in Somalia''.
(b) War Powers Resolution Requirements.--Consistent with section
8(a)(1) of the War Powers Resolution, the Congress declares that this
section is intended to constitute specific statutory authorization
within the meaning of section 5(b) of the War Powers Resolution.
SEC. 3. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
(a) United Nations Peacekeeping Forces.--It is the sense of
Congress that the President should consult with the Secretary General
of the United Nations and with the other member countries of the United
Nations Security Council to ensure that peacekeeping forces from other
countries of the United Nations continue to be deployed in Somalia to
maintain a secure environment and to allow United States Armed Forces
to transfer the mission to a United Nations-led force at the earliest
possible date.
(b) Measures of Self-Protection.--It is the sense of Congress that
the President should make every effort to ensure that United States
Armed Forces serving in Somalia as part of a United Nations-led force
are permitted to take all reasonable measures to protect themselves.
(c) Assessment of Costs.--It is the sense of Congress that the
President should submit a report to Congress providing an assessment of
the costs of Operation Restore Hope, indicating the costs assessed to
the United States, the United Nations, and other countries and related
organizations involved in the operation.
SEC. 4. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Not later than September 1, 1993, the Secretary of State and the
Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit to Congress a report on the
introduction and commitment of United States Armed Forces into combat
situations. This report shall include--
(1) a specific review of the goals of United States policy
in Somalia and an outline of objective criteria which will
enable the United States to evaluate when those goals are
achieved;
(2) a review of all actions taken to ensure that United
States material contributions to United Nations forces in
Somalia are counted against United States assessments in
Somalia;
(3) a review of United States international interests and
their correlation to the commitment of United States Armed
Forces;
(4) a description of the factors to be used in evaluating
future commitments of United States combat forces;
(5) specifically, a review of the many situations in the
world where there are intense humanitarian needs and a means of
evaluating what elements, when present, would permit these
situations to rise to a level of importance necessary for the
commitment of United States combat forces; and
(6) considerations which will affect whether United States
Armed Forces will be permitted to be engaged as a portion of an
international peacekeeping force, including--
(A) United States command of United States troops;
(B) equitable financial contributions of nations so
engaged; and
(C) the right of United States combat forces to
defend themselves throughout all levels of conflict.
Passed the Senate February 4 (legislative day, January 5),
1993.
Attest:
Secretary.