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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 143 Introduced in House (IH)]

109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 143

Recognizing and commending the courage of Iraqi women candidates in the 
                   January 30, 2005, Iraqi elections.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2005

 Mrs. Tauscher (for herself, Mr. Lantos, Ms. Granger, Mr. Osborne, Ms. 
  Ros-Lehtinen, and Mr. Ackerman) submitted the following resolution; 
     which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing and commending the courage of Iraqi women candidates in the 
                   January 30, 2005, Iraqi elections.

Whereas, on January 30, 2005, more than eight million Iraqis voted in 
        unprecedented elections to select a national assembly, 18 provincial 
        assemblies, and for the northern part of the country, a Kurdistan 
        regional assembly;
Whereas for the first time in the history of Iraq, a 275-member Transitional 
        National Assembly that will serve as Iraq's national legislature will be 
        seated;
Whereas the national legislature will have the vital task of drafting Iraq's 
        constitution;
Whereas over 2,000 women ran for office and it is expected that women will 
        occupy 31 percent of the seats in the National Assembly;
Whereas women's nongovernmental organizations played an active role in voter 
        education and many women participated as election monitors;
Whereas these women displayed unwavering courage and many of them suffered 
        intimidation and violence designed to discourage their participation;
Whereas several women who participated in the electoral process lost loved ones 
        and family members to terrorist actions; and
Whereas the United States played a significant role in supporting democracy-
        building programs that helped Iraqi women candidates learn democratic 
        organization and advocacy skills: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses the unequivocal support and appreciation of 
        the United States to the Iraqi women who have played an 
        important role, and will continue to play an important role, in 
        the economic development of Iraq, the building of civil 
        society, and the creation of lasting democratic institutions in 
        Iraq;
            (2) notes that Iraqi women are furthermore creating a 
        climate in which women can continue to engage in the political 
        process by playing active roles as educators, engineers, police 
        and military personnel, government officials, and small 
        business owners;
            (3) commends the Iraqi women candidates who endured 
        personal danger to run for office in their country's first 
        democratic elections; and
            (4) encourages ongoing programs designed to support Iraqi 
        women to participate more fully in a democratic Iraq.
                                 <all>
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