[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1435 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1435

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
   States should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International 
                            Criminal Court.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 15, 2026

 Ms. Omar (for herself, Mr. Carson, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Velazquez, and Mr. 
   Garcia of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
   States should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International 
                            Criminal Court.

Whereas crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes are uniquely 
        heinous and of global concern;
Whereas the United States has been a global leader in the field of international 
        criminal justice for atrocity crimes since the Nuremberg Trials;
Whereas the fundamental principles of the rule of law and accountability for 
        atrocity crimes are central to the United States values and interests at 
        home and abroad;
Whereas the United States has demonstrated its commitment to these values and 
        interests by tangibly supporting numerous domestic, international, and 
        hybrid courts for atrocity crimes, including the International Criminal 
        Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal 
        for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary 
        Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the Extraordinary African Chambers, 
        and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon;
Whereas the United States further demonstrates this commitment by being party to 
        the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of 
        Genocide, the United Nations Convention Against Torture, and the Geneva 
        Conventions;
Whereas the United States further demonstrates this commitment by the existence 
        of offices at the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland 
        Security that are dedicated to pursuing and apprehending the 
        perpetrators of atrocity crimes;
Whereas the United States signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal 
        Court on December 31, 2000, but has yet to ratify the statute and join 
        the Court as a full member;
Whereas the International Criminal Court is an important institution in the 
        global fight against impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, 
        and genocide;
Whereas the International Criminal Court operates on the principle of 
        complementarity and as a court of last resort;
Whereas, because of these principles, cases are not admissible before the 
        International Criminal Court where they are being genuinely investigated 
        or prosecuted before domestic courts;
Whereas, despite the United States not being a member of the Court, 
        administrations of both political parties have recognized its utility 
        for the national interests of the United States;
Whereas only by ratifying the Rome Statute and becoming a member of the 
        International Criminal Court can the United States credibly shape the 
        Court's activities and priorities;
Whereas the vast majority of the United States oldest and closest allies are 
        state parties to the International Criminal Court; and
Whereas it is in line with American values, interests, and proud history as a 
        global leader in the fight against impunity and for justice that the 
        United States becomes a full member of the International Criminal Court: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the United States Senate should ratify the Rome 
        Statute;
            (2) any sanctions or visa restrictions put in place by the 
        Department of State on International Criminal Court personnel 
        should be lifted; and
            (3) the United States should use its voice, vote, and 
        influence in bilateral and multilateral relationships and 
        institutions to encourage foreign countries that are not party 
        to the International Criminal Court to join the International 
        Criminal Court.
                                 <all>