[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 38 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 38

    Commending the people of Iraq on the January 30, 2005, national 
                               elections.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 7, 2005

Mr. Frist (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Biden, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
 Alexander, Mr. Allard, Mr. Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, 
  Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. 
 Burns, Mr. Burr, Mr. Byrd, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. Chafee, Mr. 
  Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Dayton, Mr. DeMint, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, 
Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, 
Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. 
 Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
  Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. 
   Lott, Mr. Martinez, Mr. McCain, Mr. McConnell, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, 
   Mr. Obama, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. 
  Salazar, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. 
 Shelby, Mr. Smith, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, 
    Mr. Sununu, Mr. Talent, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Thune, Mr. Vitter, Mr. 
     Voinovich, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Commending the people of Iraq on the January 30, 2005, national 
                               elections.

Whereas on January 30, 2005, Iraq held its first democratic elections in nearly 
        half a century;
Whereas after more than 3 decades of enduring harsh repression and lack of 
        freedom, millions cast ballots on January 30, 2005, to determine the 
        future of their country in an election widely recognized as a success by 
        the international community;
Whereas the hard work, contributions, vision, and sacrifices of the Interim 
        Iraqi Government in undertaking major political, economic, social, and 
        legal reforms and, in conjunction with the efforts of the Iraqi 
        Independent Electoral Commission, in ensuring that Iraq held nationwide 
        elections on January 30, and in not being intimidated by terrorist and 
        insurgent forces resulted in the successful elections of January 30;
Whereas on January 30, President George W. Bush stated that the election in Iraq 
        was a ``milestone'' in Iraq's history and that the ``world is hearing 
        the voice of freedom from the center of the Middle East'';
Whereas the January 30 election is another step in the process of developing a 
        free and democratic Iraq;
Whereas the people of Iraq cast votes to freely choose the 275-member 
        Transitional National Assembly that will serve as the national 
        legislature of Iraq for a transition period, name a Presidency Council, 
        and select a Prime Minister;
Whereas the Transitional National Assembly will draft the permanent constitution 
        of Iraq;
Whereas the election establishes a credible process for governing Iraq under a 
        mandate from the majority of the people of Iraq for a new Iraq in which 
        all communities are represented, minority rights are respected, and 
        violence is not tolerated;
Whereas an estimated 14,300,000 Iraqis were registered to vote at more than 
        5,000 polling stations across Iraq and in 14 other countries;
Whereas, with 256 political entities composed of 18,900 Iraqi candidates 
        standing for election in 20 different elections (the national election, 
        18 provincial elections, and Kurdistan Regional government election), 
        voter turnout demonstrated widespread enthusiasm for self-determination;
Whereas Iraqi security forces joined with United States and Coalition forces in 
        providing security for the elections;
Whereas despite these efforts, many Sunni Iraqis in some provinces did not vote 
        because of fear and intimidation;
Whereas the United Nations Electoral Assistance Division and other 
        nongovernmental organizations provided technical support and assistance 
        to the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq and the Iraqi Interim 
        Government;
Whereas the people of Iraq will again exercise their popular will through a 
        national referendum in October 2005, when the Transitional National 
        Assembly presents a draft constitution for Iraq;
Whereas national elections based on that constitution are then to be held in 
        December 2005 to choose an Iraqi government in a manner prescribed by 
        the constitution;
Whereas it is in the interest of Iraq, the Middle East, the United States, and 
        the international community that Iraq successfully transitions to a 
        functioning democratic state, as this may serve as a catalyst for peace 
        and stability in the region; and
Whereas the Iraqi government needs assistance from the broader international 
        community to further develop governing capacity, train effective 
        security forces who can defeat the terrorists and insurgents and 
        maintain law and order, improve economic conditions, and maintain 
        essential services, such as the delivery of electricity, gasoline, and 
        water: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commends the people of Iraq on the successful 
        nationwide elections held in Iraq on January 30, 2005, and 
        recognizes the elections as another step in developing a free 
        and democratic Iraq;
            (2) recognizes the desire for freedom and liberty of all 
        individuals who served as candidates, campaign workers, United 
        Nations and Iraqi election officials, and voters in the January 
        30, 2005, elections in Iraq and congratulates the new members 
        of the Transitional National Assembly and the leaders of the 
        provincial and regional governments;
            (3) urges the new leadership of Iraq to move forward with 
        drafting the constitution, upholding the law, and holding a 
        referendum on the new constitution in October 2005;
            (4) encourages participation of all groups and communities 
        in the drafting of a new constitution and the formation of a 
        permanent government for Iraq;
            (5) recognizes and honors the sacrifices made for freedom 
        and liberty in Iraq by the people of Iraq;
            (6) commends the Iraqi security forces, and the U.S. armed 
        forces and Coalition forces, who ensured the elections could be 
        conducted in a relatively safe, secure, and credible manner;
            (7) condemns and deplores all acts of violence and 
        intimidation against the people of Iraq by members of the 
        former Iraqi regime, insurgents, and other extremists and 
        terrorists;
            (8) supports the establishment of a fully democratic Iraqi 
        government that respects the rule of law, promotes ethnic and 
        religious tolerance, respects the rights of women and all 
        minorities, provides security and stability for the people of 
        Iraq, and has the capacity to maintain basic services such as 
        the delivery of sufficient electricity, gasoline, and water;
            (9) believes that it is in the interest of the people of 
        Iraq, the Middle East, the United States, and the international 
        community that Iraq transitions to a fully democratic state, 
        and that doing so may serve as a catalyst for peace and 
        stability in the region;
            (10) calls on the international community, particularly 
        Arab states, countries with predominantly Muslim populations, 
        and all North Atlantic Treaty Organization member states, to 
        provide military and police personnel to train and assist Iraqi 
        security forces and to otherwise assist in the political and 
        economic development of Iraq;
            (11) encourages the newly-elected transitional government 
        of Iraq to ensure that all Iraqis, including members of the 
        Sunni religious community, are represented in the Constitution-
        writing process and in the new Iraqi cabinet to improve the 
        prospects for national unity and consensus; and
            (12) looks forward to welcoming Iraq into the world 
        community of democratic nations.
                                 <all>