[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 873 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 873

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                          May 19, 2010.
Whereas 15 countries, including leading European nations, have diplomatic and 
        consulate representation in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region 
        of Iraq;
Whereas the United States Department of State modified its Travel Warning for 
        Iraq this year to reflect the relative safety and security of the 
        Kurdistan Region of Iraq;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region 
        of Iraq, as well as in other regions of Iraq, is consistent with current 
        United States policy to normalize United States-Iraqi relations at the 
        diplomatic, commercial, cultural, and educational levels as United 
        States Armed Forces responsibly redeploy from Iraq in accordance with 
        the Status of Forces Agreement between the United States and Iraq;
Whereas greater United States Government civilian representation throughout 
        Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region, will serve United States 
        interests during this period of transition;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region 
        of Iraq will increase travel between the United States and Iraq and thus 
        strengthen people-to-people exchanges between both sides;
Whereas currently, United States citizens either living in or visiting the 
        Kurdistan Region of Iraq must travel to the United States Embassy in 
        Baghdad, 200 miles away, to receive consular services;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region 
        of Iraq will be helpful both in attracting greater United States 
        business and investment to the region and in ensuring that the region 
        continues to serve as a ``gateway'' to United States business success in 
        other parts of Iraq, as a number of United States Government agencies 
        have advocated;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region 
        of Iraq will reaffirm United States support for the stability, 
        prosperity, and democracy that the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has 
        achieved;
Whereas the establishment of United States Consulate in Iraq, including in the 
        Kurdistan Region will facilitate more governmental and nongovernmental 
        missions between the United States and the Iraq;
Whereas the Kurds of Iraq have been willing partners with the United States in 
        the democratic transition in Iraq since 2003;
Whereas the United States and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have been 
        full partners in the battle against terrorists who seek to undermine 
        progress toward an Iraq that is prosperous, free, and federal;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region 
        and in other regions will play a helpful role in continuing to safeguard 
        Iraq's territorial integrity from external aggression and support United 
        States and Iraqi diplomatic initiatives that seek to prevent outside 
        interference in Iraq's affairs;
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region 
        of Iraq will also foster continued dialogue between the United States 
        and the KRG; and
Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region 
        of Iraq will positively contribute to continued diplomatic initiatives 
        between the KRG and Turkey: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) calls on the Department of State to establish a United States 
        Consulate in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as in other 
        appropriate regions of Iraq; and
            (2) affirms that the establishment of a United States Consulate in 
        the Kurdistan Region as well as in other regions of Iraq will be an 
        important United States diplomatic step in supporting stability, 
        prosperity, human rights, and democracy throughout Iraq.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.