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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1285 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1285

 Condemning the Government of Syria for transferring Scud missiles to 
     the Hizballah terrorist organization, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 21, 2010

     Mr. Engel (for himself and Mr. Kirk) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Condemning the Government of Syria for transferring Scud missiles to 
     the Hizballah terrorist organization, and for other purposes.

Whereas Hizballah was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by 
        Secretaries of State Albright, Powell, Rice, and Clinton in accordance 
        with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act;
Whereas, according to the United States District Court for the District of 
        Columbia, Hizballah murdered 241 United States servicemen in 1983 at the 
        Marine barracks in Beirut;
Whereas Hizballah also claimed responsibility for the murder of 17 Americans at 
        the United States Embassy in Beirut in 1983 under the pseudonym, 
        ``Islamic Jihad'';
Whereas Hizballah receives direction, weapons, and millions of dollars per year 
        from Iran and is strongly supported by Syria;
Whereas Syria was first designated as a state sponsor of terrorism by President 
        Carter on December 29, 1979;
Whereas Presidents Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and Obama reaffirmed Syria's 
        designation as a state sponsor of terrorism;
Whereas the Government of Syria allows Iran to transfer weapons to Hizballah 
        across the Syrian-Lebanese border in violation of United Nations 
        Security Council Resolution 1701;
Whereas the Government of Syria has materially supported Iran's efforts to rearm 
        Hizballah reportedly with greater quantity and quality of rockets and 
        missiles than it had before the August 2006 conflict;
Whereas recent media reports state that the Government of Syria directly 
        transferred Scud missiles to Hizballah;
Whereas Scud missiles in the hands of the Hizballah terrorist organization put 
        the lives of United States citizens and the security of democratic 
        allies like the State of Israel in serious jeopardy;
Whereas a Department of State spokesperson stated on April 19, 2010, ``the 
        United States condemns in the strongest terms the transfer of any arms, 
        and especially ballistic missile systems such as the SCUD, from Syria to 
        Hizballah. . . . The transfer of these arms can only have a 
        destabilizing effect on the region, and would pose an immediate threat 
        to both the security of Israel and the sovereignty of Lebanon.'';
Whereas, on July 26, 2009, Special Envoy George Mitchell informed the Government 
        of Syria that the United States would process requests for waivers 
        normally and expeditiously with regard to spare aircraft parts, 
        information-technology products and telecommunications equipment;
Whereas, on February 16, 2010, President Obama nominated Robert Ford to be 
        Ambassador to Syria; and
Whereas, in the wake of the Government of Syria's reported decision to transfer 
        Scud missiles to the Hizballah terrorist organization, any perceived 
        easing of sanctions would be seen as condoning Syria's dangerous efforts 
        to destabilize the Middle East and undermine peace: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) strongly condemns the Government of Syria for 
        transferring Scud missiles and other advanced weapons and 
        missile systems to the Hizballah terrorist organization;
            (2) strongly condemns the Government of Syria for 
        materially supporting the transfer of Iranian weapons to 
        Hizballah across the Syrian-Lebanese border in violation of 
        United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701;
            (3) urges the President to reevaluate the nomination of 
        Robert Ford as Ambassador to Syria;
            (4) urges the President to tighten and enforce all existing 
        sanctions against the Government of Syria;
            (5) urges the President to impose all sanctions authorized 
        by the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty 
        Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-175; 22 U.S.C. 2151 
        note) against the Government of Syria;
            (6) urges the President and the Secretary of State to work 
        with United States allies to increase international pressure on 
        Syria for its support of terrorist groups; and
            (7) urges the President, the Secretary of State, and the 
        Secretary of the Treasury to use all tools at their disposal to 
        increase pressure on the Government of Syria to comply with its 
        international obligations and end its sponsorship of the 
        Hizballah terrorist organization.
                                 <all>
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