[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 275 Referred in Senate (RFS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 275


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           December 19, 2005

                                Received

                            January 27, 2006

             Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the education curriculum in 
                      the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Whereas the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, were 
        carried out by 19 hijackers, including 15 Saudi Arabian nationals;
Whereas since September 11, 2001, multiple terrorist attacks have occurred 
        inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that were carried out by Saudi 
        nationals;
Whereas Saudi nationals have joined the insurgency in Iraq, carrying out 
        terrorist activities and providing financial support;
Whereas the Government of Saudi Arabia controls and regulates all forms of 
        education in public and private schools at all levels;
Whereas Islamic religious education is compulsory in public and private schools 
        at all levels in Saudi Arabia;
Whereas the religious curriculum is written, monitored, and taught by followers 
        of the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam, the only religion the Government 
        of Saudi Arabia allows to be taught;
Whereas rote memorization of religious texts continues to be a central feature 
        of much of the educational system of Saudi Arabia, leaving thousands of 
        students unprepared to function in the global economy of the 21st 
        century;
Whereas the Government of Saudi Arabia has tolerated elements within its 
        education system that promote and encourage extremism;
Whereas some textbooks in Saudi Arabian schools foster intolerance, ignorance, 
        and anti-Semitic, anti-American, and anti-Western views;
Whereas these intolerant views instilled in students make them prime recruiting 
        targets of terrorists and other extremist groups;
Whereas extremism endangers the stability of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the 
        Middle East region, and threatens global security;
Whereas the events of September 11, 2001, and the global rash of terrorist 
        attacks since then, have created an urgent need to promote moderate 
        voices in the Islamic world as an effective way to combat extremism and 
        terrorism;
Whereas the report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the 
        United States stated that ``Education that teaches tolerance, the 
        dignity and value of each individual, and respect for different beliefs 
        is a key element in any global strategy to eliminate Islamist 
        terrorism''; and
Whereas the ascension of King Abdullah to the throne in August 2005 presents a 
        new opportunity for education reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the Congress--
            (1) urges the Government of Saudi Arabia to reform its 
        textbooks and education curriculum in a manner that promotes 
        tolerance and peaceful coexistence with others, develops civil 
        society, and encourages functionality in the global economy;
            (2) urges the President to direct the Secretary of State to 
        use existing public diplomacy channels, international visitor 
        exchanges, professional development, and educational reform 
        programs, including those under the Middle East Partnership 
        Initiative and the Broader Middle East Initiative, to focus on 
        the issue of educational reform in Saudi Arabia in accordance 
        with the objectives enumerated in paragraph (1);
            (3) expresses extreme disappointment with the slow pace of 
        education reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
            (4) urges the President to take into account progress in 
        meeting the goals outlined in paragraph (1) when determining 
        the level and frequency of United States 
        bilateral relations with the Government of Saudi Arabia; and 
            (5) requests that the Secretary of State examine the 
        educational system in Saudi Arabia, monitor the progress of the 
        efforts to reform the education curriculum, and report on such 
        progress, in classified form if necessary, to the appropriate 
        congressional committees.

            Passed the House of Representatives December 19 
      (legislative day, December 18), 2005.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.