[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 149 Engrossed in House (EH)]

<DOC>
H. Res. 149

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        March 19, 2024.
Whereas, on January 12, 1951, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of 
        the Crime of Genocide (commonly known as the ``Genocide Convention''), 
        of which the Russian Federation is a party, came into effect;
Whereas, on February 24, 2022, the Russian Federation escalated its eight-year-
        long occupation of sovereign Ukrainian territory by launching an 
        unprovoked large-scale invasion of Ukraine;
Whereas, on March 9, 2022, Russian Forces attacked a maternity hospital in 
        Mariupol, Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of 5 individuals and injuries 
        to 17 other individuals;
Whereas, on March 22, 2022, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced that the 
        Russian military had illegally abducted and forcibly transferred 2,389 
        Ukrainian children from temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine;
Whereas, on June 2, 2022, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that 
        200,000 children are among the Ukrainians who have been forcibly 
        transferred to Russia;
Whereas forcibly transferring children of one group to another group is a 
        violation of Article II(e) of the Genocide Convention;
Whereas Maria Lvova-Belova, Children's Rights Commissioner for the President of 
        Russia, admitted to abducting and forcibly transferring Ukrainian 
        children and facilitating forced adoptions to Russian families;
Whereas Ukrainian authorities have stated that a number of the abducted and 
        forcibly transferred Ukrainian children have families who remain in 
        Ukraine, but have been separated due to the renewed Russian invasion;
Whereas, on June 16, 2022, Russian authorities announced that children born in 
        occupied Ukrainian territories after the February 24, 2022, invasion 
        will be deemed Russian citizens;
Whereas, on June 22, 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High 
        Commissioner verified that at least 320 children have been killed since 
        Russia's renewed invasion began;
Whereas, on July 11, 2022, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres 
        ordered an investigation into the deaths and injuries of Ukrainian 
        children; and
Whereas, on July 13, 2022, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken issued a 
        statement calling upon Russia to ``immediately halt its systemic 
        filtration operations in Ukraine'', which have caused the disappearance, 
        detention, or forcible deportation of between 900,000 and 1,600,000 
        Ukrainians (approximately 260,000 of whom are children): Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) declares that the abduction and forcible transfer of children 
        and facilitation of illegal adoptions is contrary to Russia's 
        obligations under the Genocide Convention and amounts to genocide;
            (2) further declares that the Russian Federation is attempting to 
        wipe out a generation of Ukrainian children, thereby crippling Ukraine's 
        ability to nurture the next generation of Ukrainian citizens and leaders 
        and to rebuild their country after Russia's unprovoked war, with the 
        purpose of demolishing Ukraine's unique language, culture, history, and 
        identity;
            (3) notes with concern that the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian 
        Federation has significantly increased the risks of children being 
        exposed to human trafficking and exploitation, child labor, gender-based 
        violence, hunger, injury, trauma, deprivation of education and shelter, 
        and death; and
            (4) holds the Government of the Russian Federation, under the 
        leadership of Vladimir Putin, responsible for the wrongful and illegal 
        abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine and officially 
        condemns these actions in the strongest terms.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.