IA 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 77 

Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts to prevent Turkish 

military operations against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 15, 2019 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. COOPER, Mr. 

GONZALEZ of Texas, Ms. NORTON, Mr. ROONEY of Florida, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Ms. HILL of California, Mr. SIRES, and Mr. CROW) submitted 

the following joint resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

Opposing the decision to end certain United States efforts 

to prevent Turkish military operations against Syrian 

Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria. 

Whereas thousands of Syrian fighters, including Syrian 

Kurds, fought courageously with the United States 

against the brutality of ISIS throughout Syria, liberating 

nearly one-third of Syrian territory from ISIS’ so-called 

‘‘caliphate.’’; 

Whereas, on October 6, 2019, the White House announced 

‘‘Turkey will soon be moving forward with its longplanned operation into Northern Syria’’ while the 

‘‘United States Armed Forces will not support or be inVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HJ77.IH HJ77

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•HJ 77 IH 

volved in the operation, and United States forces . . . 

will no longer be in the immediate area.’’; 

Whereas, on October 6, 2019, the White House announced 

‘‘Turkey will now be responsible for all ISIS fighters in 

the area captured over the past two years . . . .’’; 

Whereas an October 10, 2019, White House statement said, 

‘‘This morning, Turkey, a NATO member, invaded Syria. 

The United States does not endorse this attack and has 

made it clear to Turkey that this operation is a bad 

idea.’’; 

Whereas Turkey has historically threatened, forcibly displaced, and killed Syrian Kurds, including during military operations in the Afrin District; 

Whereas, on August 1, 2019, Special Envoy James Jeffrey 

stated in reference to the Syrian Kurds and Syrian 

Democratic Forces (SDF), ‘‘We are committed to defeating ISIS in northeast Syria. The SDF . . . is our partner there. We are committed to those who have fought 

with us not being attacked and not being harmed by anyone. The President made that clear publicly. That includes our concerns about the Turks.’’; 

Whereas in January 2019, Director of National Intelligence 

Dan Coats stated in Congressional testimony that ‘‘The 

conflicts in Iraq and Syria have generated a large pool 

of skilled and battle-hardened fighters who remain dispersed throughout the region . . . and the group has returned to its guerilla-warfare roots while continuing to 

plot attacks and direct its supporters worldwide. ISIS is 

intent on resurging.’’; 

Whereas, during the counter-ISIS campaign in Syria, the 

SDF captured thousands of ISIS fighters, including forVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:16 Oct 16, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HJ77.IH HJ77

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•HJ 77 IH 

eign terrorist fighters from around the world who pose 

threats to our allies in the region; 

Whereas in addition to ISIS fighters in detention approximately 70,000 women and children are currently held at 

the Al-Hol internally displaced persons camp and at 

other camps in northeast Syria; 

Whereas the Lead Inspector General for Combined Joint 

Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve stated in August 

2019, ISIS is already ‘‘seeking to establish safe haven in 

al-Hol’’ aiming to recruit individuals who are ‘‘susceptible 

to ISIS messaging, coercion, and enticement.’’; 

Whereas the SDF has warned the United States and international community that a Turkish incursion into Northeast Syria would significantly decrease the SDF’s ability 

to combat ISIS and to continue providing security and 

management for ISIS detainees and their family members; 

Whereas, on October 6, 2019, President Trump conducted a 

call with President Erdogan in which, according to the 

official White House press release, they discussed the upcoming Turkish incursion, and soon after this call, a 

White House press release announced the withdrawal of 

the United States military from the immediate area, 

which was completed within hours; and 

Whereas an abrupt withdrawal of United States military personnel from certain parts of Northeast Syria is beneficial 

to adversaries of the United States government, including 

Syria, Iran, and Russia: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 That Congress— 


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•HJ 77 IH 

1 (1) opposes the decision to end certain United 

2 States efforts to prevent Turkish military operations 

3 against Syrian Kurdish forces in Northeast Syria; 

4 (2) calls on Turkish President Erdogan to im5 mediately cease unilateral military action in North6 east Syria and to respect existing agreements relat7 ing to Syria; 

8 (3) calls on the United States to continue sup9 porting Syrian Kurdish communities through hu10 manitarian support, including to those displaced or 

11 otherwise affected by ongoing violence in Syria; 

12 (4) calls on the United States to work to ensure 

13 that the Turkish military acts with restraint and re14 spects existing agreements relating to Syria; and 

15 (5) calls on the White House to present a clear 

16 and specific plan for the enduring defeat of ISIS. 

Æ 


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