[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 75 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 75
Strongly condemning the January 2019 terrorist attack on the 14
Riverside Complex in Nairobi, Kenya, offering condolences to the family
and friends of the victims, and reaffirming solidarity with the people
of Kenya.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 24, 2019
Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. McCaul, Ms. Bass, and Mr. Smith of New
Jersey) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Strongly condemning the January 2019 terrorist attack on the 14
Riverside Complex in Nairobi, Kenya, offering condolences to the family
and friends of the victims, and reaffirming solidarity with the people
of Kenya.
Whereas, on January 15, 2019, armed gunmen attacked the 14 Riverside Complex in
Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 21 people during the 20-hour siege;
Whereas one of the individuals killed in this heinous act of violence was an
American citizen named Jason Spindler, a 9/11 survivor and former Peace
Corps volunteer who was the CEO and managing director of a strategy and
investment firm in Nairobi;
Whereas Kenyan security forces rescued more than 700 civilians from the complex;
Whereas al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist organization based in
Somalia designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Department
of State, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the 14 Riverside
Complex;
Whereas Kenya has previously been a target for al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist
attacks in August 1998, when the United States embassy in Nairobi,
Kenya, and the United States embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were
simultaneously bombed, killing 224 people and injuring over 5,000
people;
Whereas al-Shabaab has previously perpetrated numerous mass-casualty terrorist
attacks in Kenya, notably the siege at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in
September 2013, which killed 67 people, and the assault on Garissa
University College in April 2015, which killed 148 people;
Whereas the United States and Kenya share a longstanding and mutually beneficial
political, economic, and security partnership; and
Whereas security cooperation between the United States and Kenya plays an
essential role in combating terrorism and violent extremism in the Horn
of Africa, particularly efforts to combat al-Shabaab; Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns in the strongest terms the recent terrorist
attack by al-Shabaab in Nairobi, Kenya, that resulted in the
tragic loss of 21 lives;
(2) offers its deepest condolences to the family and
friends of the victims and to the Republic of Kenya, and
reaffirms its solidarity with the Kenyan people;
(3) honors the memory of Jason Spindler, who was murdered
in this horrific terrorist attack;
(4) recognizes the heroism exhibited by Kenyan citizens,
first responders, security forces, and the Kenya Red Cross
Society to rescue those held hostage during the siege;
(5) expresses its support for the Government of Kenya's
efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism, including
efforts to prevent, detect, and deter future attacks, and
encourages all Kenyans to stand together in condemning
terrorism and violent extremism;
(6) recognizes Kenya's contributions to countering
terrorism and violent extremism in the region, particularly al-
Shabaab, including as troop contributors to the African Union
Mission in Somalia;
(7) recognizes the important role of United States
assistance to combat al-Shabaab and other terrorist activity in
the region, including efforts to build Kenya's capacity to
respond to and prevent such attacks; and
(8) urges the Government of Kenya to work expeditiously to
bring the perpetrators to justice, adhering to the rule of law,
respect for human rights, and due process in its efforts to
counter terrorism and violent extremism.
<all>