[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 61 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. J. RES. 61

          To prevent further use of chemical weapons in Syria.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 11, 2013

   Mr. Pascrell introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
          To prevent further use of chemical weapons in Syria.

Whereas the abuses of the regime of Bashar al-Assad have included the brutal 
        repression and war upon its own civilian population, resulting in more 
        than 100,000 people killed in the past two years, 2,000,000 Syrian 
        refugees in neighboring countries, and 4,500,000 internally displaced 
        persons in Syria, creating an unprecedented regional crisis and 
        instability;
Whereas the Assad regime has the largest chemical weapons programs in the region 
        and has demonstrated its capability and willingness to repeatedly use 
        weapons of mass destruction against its own people, including the August 
        21, 2013, attack in the suburbs of Damascus in which the Assad regime 
        murdered over 1,400 innocent people, including hundreds of children;
Whereas there is clear and compelling evidence of the direct involvement of 
        Assad regime forces and senior officials in the planning, execution, and 
        after-action attempts to cover up the August 21, 2013, attack and hide 
        or destroy evidence of such attack;
Whereas Syria is in material breach of the laws of war by having employed 
        chemical weapons against its civilian population;
Whereas the Arab League has declared with regards to the August 21, 2013, 
        incident to hold the ``Syrian regime responsible for this heinous 
        crime'';
Whereas the United Nations Security Council, in Resolution 1540 (2004), affirmed 
        that the proliferation of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons 
        constitutes a threat to international peace and security;
Whereas in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 
        2003 (Public Law 108-175), Congress found that Syria's acquisition of 
        weapons of mass destruction threatens the security of the Middle East 
        and the national security interests of the United States;
Whereas the actions and conduct of the Assad regime are in direct contravention 
        of Syria's legal obligations under the United Nations Charter, the 
        Geneva Conventions, and the Protocol to the Hague Convention on the 
        Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, 
        and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, done at Geneva June 17, 1925, 
        and also violate the standards set forth in the Convention on the 
        Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of 
        Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, done at Paris January 13, 
        1993;
Whereas all possible diplomatic means should be pursued to assure that chemical 
        weapons are not used again;
Whereas pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.), Congress 
        retains the power to authorize the use of military force; and
Whereas, the conflict in Syria will only be resolved through a negotiated 
        political settlement, and Congress calls on all parties to the conflict 
        in Syria to participate urgently and constructively in the Geneva 
        process: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. LIMITATION ON USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

    The President is authorized to use the United States Armed Forces 
with respect to Syria only if the President makes available to the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President pro tempore 
of the Senate the President's determination, not later than the date 
that is 14 days after the date of the enactment of a joint resolution 
specifically authorizing such use of the United States Armed Forces, 
that--
            (1) the Assad regime has not agreed to surrender its 
        chemical weapons stockpiles to the international community to 
        be dismantled as part of a verifiable, enforceable agreement; 
        and
            (2) the Assad regime has not agreed to become a signatory 
        to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, 
        Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical Weapons and on 
        their Destruction, done at Paris January 13, 1993.
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