[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 213 Introduced in House (IH)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 213
Condemning the April 2015 terrorist attack at the Garissa University
College in Garissa, Kenya, and reaffirming the United States support
for the people and Government of Kenya, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 21, 2015
Ms. Bass (for herself, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr. Clay, Mr. Rush, Mr.
Meeks, Ms. Norton, Ms. Lee, Mr. Engel, Mr. Grijalva, Ms. Brown of
Florida, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Frankel of Florida, Mr. Smith
of New Jersey, Mr. Rangel, Ms. Pingree, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Edwards,
Ms. Maxine Waters of California, Ms. Moore, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Hastings,
Mr. Payne, Mr. Marino, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle
of Pennsylvania, Mr. Grayson, and Mr. Clawson of Florida) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Condemning the April 2015 terrorist attack at the Garissa University
College in Garissa, Kenya, and reaffirming the United States support
for the people and Government of Kenya, and for other purposes.
Whereas, on April 2, 2015, armed terrorists attacked the Garissa University
College in Garissa, Kenya, taking hundreds of students hostage, killing
at least 147 people, many of whom were specifically targeted for being
non-Muslim, and injuring more than 100 others during an almost 12-hour
siege;
Whereas the attack was the deadliest terrorist incident in Kenya since the 1998
bombing of the United States embassy by al Qaeda, and the deadliest
attack by al Shabaab since its 2013 attack on the Westgate Mall;
Whereas al Shabaab, a Somali Islamist extremist group with ties to al Qaeda, has
claimed responsibility for the attack, declaring that it was in
retaliation for the Government of Kenya's participation in the African
Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM);
Whereas al Shabaab was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United
States Government in 2008 and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist
entity by the United States Government in 2012;
Whereas several of the attackers were killed, and others connected to the attack
were arrested, and the investigation to identify the architect(s) of the
attack and efforts to bring them to justice are ongoing;
Whereas Kenya is an important ally and regional security partner, playing a
vital role in breaking al Shabaab's stranglehold on Somalia through its
participation in AMISOM;
Whereas the Republic of Kenya and the United States have a strong and enduring
partnership based on a shared commitment to promote peace and prosperity
in East Africa and around the world; and
Whereas Kenya is a culturally rich and ethnically diverse country: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous
atrocities and terrorist attack that occurred at Garissa
University College in Garissa, Kenya, on April 2, 2015;
(2) offers its condolences to the families, friends, and
loved ones of those who were killed in the attack and expresses
its hope for the recovery of the wounded;
(3) recognizes the many heroic and selfless acts by Kenyan
citizens, first responders, and the Kenya Red Cross to rescue
those caught in the Garissa University College attack;
(4) condemns al Shabaab's apparent effort to foment
divisions among the Kenyan people along religious lines;
(5) reaffirms United States support for the efforts of the
Government and people of Kenya to combat terrorism, counter
extremism, promote tolerance, and bring all the perpetrators of
the Garissa University College attack to justice;
(6) commends the Government of Kenya's continued
participation in the African Union Mission in Somalia;
(7) urges Kenya to maintain its commitment to protecting
Somali refugees who are fleeing the horrors of al Shabaab; and
(8) recognizes Kenya as an important regional ally and
partner of the United States.
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