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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 600 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 600

  Urging the Government of Afghanistan, following a successful first 
   round of the presidential election on April 5, 2014, to pursue a 
 transparent, credible, and inclusive run-off presidential election on 
 June 14, 2014, while ensuring the safety of voters, candidates, poll 
                    workers, and election observers.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 28, 2014

 Mr. Grayson (for himself, Mr. Israel, and Mr. Sherman) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
  Affairs, 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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Urging the Government of Afghanistan, following a successful first 
   round of the presidential election on April 5, 2014, to pursue a 
 transparent, credible, and inclusive run-off presidential election on 
 June 14, 2014, while ensuring the safety of voters, candidates, poll 
                    workers, and election observers.

Whereas on April 5, 2014, the Government of Afghanistan held the first round of 
        the presidential election in which voter participation was 60 percent;
Whereas on May 15, 2014, Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission (IEC) 
        certified the results, and announced that a run-off election would be 
        held on June 14, 2014, because no candidate received more than 50 
        percent of the votes;
Whereas on May 14, 2014, the IEC invalidated votes from 331 polling stations and 
        removed them from the final tabulation, based on Electoral Complaints 
        Commission (ECC) decisions;
Whereas there have been widespread reports of voter and election monitor 
        intimidation, including the killing of members of the National 
        Democratic Institute (NDI) during an attack at the Serena Hotel in Kabul 
        on March 20, 2014, as well as attempts to bribe members of the IEC, the 
        ECC, and other election monitoring organizations;
Whereas investigations by the ECC, and its coordination with the IEC, have not 
        been conducted in a transparent manner;
Whereas 17 members of the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) were 
        killed while supporting the April 5, 2014, elections;
Whereas United States and coalition armed forces have greatly contributed to the 
        stability and security of Afghanistan at a considerable personal 
        sacrifice; and
Whereas the United States has contributed more than $200,000,000 toward the 2014 
        Afghan presidential election: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Government of Afghanistan for holding a 
        successful first round of the presidential election and 
        expresses strong support for a credible, inclusive, and 
        transparent second round on June 14, 2014;
            (2) supports the mandate of Afghan electoral bodies such as 
        the Independent Election Commission (IEC) and the Electoral 
        Complaints Commission (ECC) to administer, adjudicate, and 
        manage polls, as well as oversee logistical and technical 
        preparations in a transparent, fair, and credible manner to 
        prevent fraud and misconduct;
            (3) encourages the Government of Afghanistan to implement 
        measures that will increase voter participation, particularly 
        among the Afghan female population;
            (4) recognizes the determination of the Afghan people to 
        exercise their right to vote and determine their country's 
        destiny;
            (5) urges the Government of Afghanistan to take steps to 
        assure that fraudulent electoral activities do not take place 
        during the runoff;
            (6) urges the IEC to adopt measures to better mitigate 
        fraud, improve electoral transparency of the polling and 
        counting process, and communicate these measures clearly and 
        consistently to the people of Afghanistan;
            (7) urges close and continuing communication between the 
        IEC and the Afghanistan National Security Forces (ANSF) to 
        identify and provide security for vulnerable areas of the 
        country during the election period;
            (8) encourages all elements of Afghan society to refrain 
        from fomenting violence and other disturbances in voting areas;
            (9) urges the ANSF to make every necessary effort to ensure 
        the safety of voters, candidates, poll workers, and election 
        observers;
            (10) expresses its support for the full participation of 
        Afghan civil society in the election process;
            (11) recognizes that a democratically elected government 
        that reflects the will of the Afghan people would promote the 
        long-term prosperity, stability, and security interests of 
        Afghanistan and its neighbors, its partners in the North 
        Atlantic Treaty Organization International Security Assistance 
        Force, and the United States; and
            (12) recognizes the sacrifices of United States and 
        coalition armed forces that have contributed, and will continue 
        to contribute, to the security and stability of Afghanistan.
                                 <all>
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