[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 127 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 127

  Declaring that the provision of humanitarian assistance, including 
   United States agricultural products, for Iraq is in the national 
                security interest of the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 27, 2003

  Mr. Filner submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition 
  to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Declaring that the provision of humanitarian assistance, including 
   United States agricultural products, for Iraq is in the national 
                security interest of the United States.

Whereas Iraq is currently suffering a humanitarian crisis which could worsen 
        during Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas an estimated 4,500,000 to 10,000,000 people in Iraq, or approximately 40 
        percent of the population, could require food assistance within weeks of 
        the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas most of the warehouses in Iraq that store food under the ``Oil-for-
        Food'' program are empty, which means there are few food reserves in 
        Iraq;
Whereas food security is important for the reconstruction of Iraq and improving 
        the living conditions of the civilian population of Iraq;
Whereas the Department of Defense has recognized the need for, and taken an 
        inter-agency approach to, the delivery of humanitarian and 
        reconstruction assistance for Iraq through the Department's Office of 
        Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance;
Whereas the United States has a deep and enduring interest in the welfare of the 
        citizens of Iraq who have been living under the regime of Saddam Hussein 
        for decades; and
Whereas providing United States agricultural commodities to Iraq to alleviate 
        the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and therefore provide food security for 
        Iraq would also help strengthen our Nation's economy: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) commends the Department of Defense for recognizing the 
        need for, and taking an inter-agency approach to, the delivery 
        of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Iraq through 
        the Department's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian 
        Assistance;
            (2) declares that the provision of humanitarian assistance, 
        including United States agricultural commodities, for Iraq is 
        in the national security interest of the United States; and
            (3) further declares that all such United States 
        humanitarian assistance should be transported to Iraq on United 
        States-flag vessels as required by law.
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