[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 127 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 127
Declaring that the provision of humanitarian assistance, including
United States agricultural products, for Iraq is in the national
security interest of the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 27, 2003
Mr. Filner submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was
referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in addition
to the Committee on Armed Services, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Declaring that the provision of humanitarian assistance, including
United States agricultural products, for Iraq is in the national
security interest of the United States.
Whereas Iraq is currently suffering a humanitarian crisis which could worsen
during Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas an estimated 4,500,000 to 10,000,000 people in Iraq, or approximately 40
percent of the population, could require food assistance within weeks of
the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas most of the warehouses in Iraq that store food under the ``Oil-for-
Food'' program are empty, which means there are few food reserves in
Iraq;
Whereas food security is important for the reconstruction of Iraq and improving
the living conditions of the civilian population of Iraq;
Whereas the Department of Defense has recognized the need for, and taken an
inter-agency approach to, the delivery of humanitarian and
reconstruction assistance for Iraq through the Department's Office of
Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance;
Whereas the United States has a deep and enduring interest in the welfare of the
citizens of Iraq who have been living under the regime of Saddam Hussein
for decades; and
Whereas providing United States agricultural commodities to Iraq to alleviate
the humanitarian crisis in Iraq and therefore provide food security for
Iraq would also help strengthen our Nation's economy: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) commends the Department of Defense for recognizing the
need for, and taking an inter-agency approach to, the delivery
of humanitarian and reconstruction assistance for Iraq through
the Department's Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian
Assistance;
(2) declares that the provision of humanitarian assistance,
including United States agricultural commodities, for Iraq is
in the national security interest of the United States; and
(3) further declares that all such United States
humanitarian assistance should be transported to Iraq on United
States-flag vessels as required by law.
<all>