[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 171 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 171

     Supporting the creation of the Office of the Coordinator for 
 Reconstruction and Stabilization at the Department of State, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 17, 2005

 Mr. Dreier submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Supporting the creation of the Office of the Coordinator for 
 Reconstruction and Stabilization at the Department of State, and for 
                            other purposes.

Whereas the United States is engaged in a Global War on Terrorism, in which 
        threats to the security of the United States often originate in weak or 
        failing countries;
Whereas the National Security Strategy of the United States announced by the 
        President in September 2002 states that ``the United States and 
        countries cooperating with us must not allow the terrorists to develop 
        new home bases'';
Whereas weak or failing countries provide breeding grounds for terrorism, crime, 
        trafficking, humanitarian catastrophes, and other threats to United 
        States national security;
Whereas it is in the interests of the United States to develop a comprehensive 
        framework to monitor weak or failing countries and prepare to deal 
        effectively with these countries before they become imminent threats to 
        the people of the United States;
Whereas the Department of State is uniquely equipped to communicate with other 
        United States agencies and international organizations to plan for pre-
        conflict stabilization operations and post-conflict reconstruction 
        operations in weak or failing countries, both as an alternative to 
        military intervention and as a successor to military conflict, if such 
        conflict becomes unavoidable;
Whereas the United States has, over the past 15 years, been involved in major 
        post-conflict reconstruction and stabilization operations in Somalia, 
        Haiti, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Liberia, Afghanistan, and Iraq;
Whereas the United States has contributed significant resources to post-conflict 
        operations in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, 
        Colombia, and East Timor;
Whereas the knowledge and experience of United States agencies, in cooperation 
        with international organizations, was critical to successfully providing 
        security and humanitarian relief and establishing the rule of law in 
        these countries and their regions;
Whereas the ability of the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the 
        National Security Council, other United States Government agencies, and 
        various international organizations to coordinate and cooperate 
        effectively to address emerging threats is essential to success in the 
        war on terrorism;
Whereas on August 5, 2004, the Department of State created the Office of the 
        Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization to enhance the capacity 
        of the United States to respond to crises involving failed, failing, and 
        post-conflict countries and complex emergencies; and
Whereas the core mission of the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction and 
        Stabilization is to lead and coordinate United States Government 
        planning, and institutionalize United States capacity, to help stabilize 
        and reconstruct societies in transition from conflict or civil strife so 
        they can reach a sustainable path towards peace, democracy, and a market 
        economy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the creation of the Office of the Coordinator 
        for Reconstruction and Stabilization at the Department of 
        State;
            (2) congratulates the President, the Cabinet, and the 
        National Security Council for addressing the unique interagency 
        challenges posed by stabilization and post-conflict 
        reconstruction operations by creating the Office of the 
        Coordinator for Reconstruction and Stabilization;
            (3) encourages other United States Government departments 
        and agencies, including the Department of Defense and the 
        Central Intelligence Agency, to support the goals, mission, and 
        operations of the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction 
        and Stabilization;
            (4) encourages the Office of the Coordinator for 
        Reconstruction and Stabilization to work with the international 
        community to ensure that the burden of addressing weak or 
        failing countries is shared equitably among nations;
            (5) recognizes that weak or failing countries pose 
        potential danger to United States national security; and
            (6) urges the Office of the Coordinator for Reconstruction 
        and Stabilization to be proactive in addressing potential weak 
        or failing countries so that crisis situations might be 
        resolved peaceably prior to conflict, thereby reducing the 
        threat to the national security of the United States and 
        reducing the cost to the United States and the international 
        community.
                                 <all>