[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 96 (Thursday, June 16, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S4306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 41--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS ON 
             THE PESHMERGA OF THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ

  Mrs. ERNST (for herself and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 41

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq have been 
     one of the most effective fighting forces in the military 
     campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham 
     (ISIS);
       (2) the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham poses an acute 
     threat to the Iraqi people and territorial integrity of Iraq, 
     including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and the security and 
     stability of the Middle East;
       (3) the severe budget shortfalls faced by both the 
     Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government are 
     hindering the stability of Iraq and have the potential to 
     undermine long-term efforts to bring about the sustainable 
     defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham;
       (4) the $415,000,000 pledged by the United States 
     Government to the Kurdish Peshmerga in April of 2016, in 
     coordination with the Government of Iraq, in addition to the 
     $65,000,000 already provided from the Iraq Train and Equip 
     Fund, should remain a priority for the United States as part 
     of the continued support for Iraqi Security Forces, including 
     the Peshmerga, in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq 
     and al-Sham;
       (5) the Peshmerga should receive all weapons and equipment 
     that the United States, in coordination with the Government 
     of Iraq, agrees to provide in an expeditious and in a timely 
     manner;
       (6) the Peshmerga require equipment that will allow them to 
     defend themselves and their coalition advisers against the 
     increased use of vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices 
     by the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham;
       (7) the Peshmerga are vital partners in the fight against 
     the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham; and
       (8) in coordination with the Government of Iraq, the United 
     States will endeavor to increase assistance to Iraqi Kurdish 
     Forces to enhance their combat medicine and logistical 
     capabilities, to defend internally displaced persons and 
     refugees, and to defend the Peshmerga and their coalition 
     advisers.

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