III 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 344 

Expressing support for a credible, inclusive, and transparent presidential 

election in Afghanistan on September 28, 2019. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 

Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. COONS, Ms. 

ERNST, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. REED, and Mr. 

RISCH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for a credible, inclusive, and transparent 

presidential election in Afghanistan on September 28, 2019. 

Whereas Afghanistan will hold a presidential election on September 28, 2019, in which the citizens of Afghanistan 

will have an opportunity to participate; 

Whereas, according to the United Nations Population Fund, 

63.7 percent of the people of Afghanistan are under 25 

years of age, reflecting the need for a fully functioning 

and transparent government to administer and provide 

services to the youth of Afghanistan, who are facing significant challenges related to health, education, and employment; 


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•SRES 344 IS 

Whereas, in the last parliamentary election in 2018, more 

than 3,000,000 people in Afghanistan exercised the 

democratic right to choose the individuals who would represent the people of Afghanistan in parliament; 

Whereas Afghanistan has made significant progress on 

human rights, including the rights of women and minorities, which are enshrined in the constitution of Afghanistan and further protected by the participation of the 

people of Afghanistan in democratic elections; 

Whereas free and fair elections are a fundamental part of a 

strong democracy and allow the citizens of a country to 

exercise full civil, political, and human rights; 

Whereas a credible electoral process is necessary for citizens 

of a country to trust in the democratic institutions and 

political leaders of that country; 

Whereas elections should serve as peaceful processes through 

which the will of the voters is expressed and political 

power is transferred or reaffirmed; 

Whereas the people of Afghanistan will go to the polls to exercise their democratic right to vote amid heightened 

threats and attacks by the Taliban; 

Whereas the Taliban has targeted campaign rallies, candidates, and election events, resulting in 48 deaths on 

September 17, 2019, alone; 

Whereas, since 2001, the United States has invested significantly in efforts to bring security and stability to the region, accounting for more than $800,000,000,000 in efforts that include— 

(1) helping to rebuild Afghanistan, including efforts 

to rebuild and reform the institutions of Afghanistan; 

and 


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•SRES 344 IS 

(2) helping to defend the rights of the people of Afghanistan; 

Whereas, since 2001, more than 775,000 members of the 

Armed Forces of the United States have been deployed 

to Afghanistan, of which— 

(1) more than 20,500 have been wounded; and 

(2) more than 2,400 have died while serving; 

Whereas the international community has also made critical 

investments in democratic processes and institutions in 

Afghanistan; 

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to 

in this preamble as ‘‘NATO’’) invoked Article V of the 

North Atlantic Treaty for the first time in history in the 

wake of the attacks on the United States on September 

11, 2001; 

Whereas, since the date on which NATO invoked Article V 

of the North Atlantic Treaty, the longest and most challenging mission of NATO has been in commanding the 

International Security Assistance Force mandated by the 

United Nations— 

(1) beginning in August 2003 and ending in December 2014; and 

(2) which, at its largest, comprised more than 

130,000 troops from 50 NATO allies and partner countries; 

Whereas, in January 2015, NATO launched the Resolute 

Support Mission, which comprises approximately 17,000 

troops from 39 NATO allies and partner countries as of 

September 2019; 

Whereas the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces 

will have responsibility for providing security for the 


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•SRES 344 IS 

presidential election in Afghanistan on September 28, 

2019; 

Whereas, despite threats from the Taliban, people across Afghanistan are risking their lives to support, administer, 

and secure democratic election operations, including— 

(1) 13,000 women and men who are serving as independent election observers; 

(2) 50,000 citizens of Afghanistan who have signed 

up to be poll watchers from the political parties; and 

(3) more than 200 members of the independent 

media who have been accredited to cover and report on 

the campaigns and election processes; and 

Whereas a democratically elected and legitimate government 

that reflects the will of the people of Afghanistan is in 

the security interests of Afghanistan and the allies of Afghanistan, including the United States: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) expresses support for a credible, inclusive, 

3 and transparent presidential election in Afghanistan 

4 on September 28, 2019; 

5 (2) commends the people of Afghanistan for 

6 their commitment to democracy, the rule of law, and 

7 free and fair elections; 

8 (3) condemns all threats against the adminis9 tration of free and fair democratic elections, includ10 ing all acts of terrorism designed to depress turnout 

11 and intimidate voters; and 


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•SRES 344 IS 

1 (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United 

2 States Government to peace and stability in further3 ance of a democratic Afghanistan. 

Æ 


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