IA 

113TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 61 

To prevent further use of chemical weapons in Syria. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 

Mr. PASCRELL introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 

JOINT RESOLUTION 

To prevent further use of chemical weapons in Syria. 

Whereas the abuses of the regime of Bashar al-Assad have 

included the brutal repression and war upon its own civilian population, resulting in more than 100,000 people 

killed in the past two years, 2,000,000 Syrian refugees 

in neighboring countries, and 4,500,000 internally displaced persons in Syria, creating an unprecedented regional crisis and instability; 

Whereas the Assad regime has the largest chemical weapons 

programs in the region and has demonstrated its capability and willingness to repeatedly use weapons of mass 

destruction against its own people, including the August 

21, 2013, attack in the suburbs of Damascus in which 

the Assad regime murdered over 1,400 innocent people, 

including hundreds of children; 


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Whereas there is clear and compelling evidence of the direct 

involvement of Assad regime forces and senior officials in 

the planning, execution, and after-action attempts to 

cover up the August 21, 2013, attack and hide or destroy 

evidence of such attack; 

Whereas Syria is in material breach of the laws of war by 

having employed chemical weapons against its civilian 

population; 

Whereas the Arab League has declared with regards to the 

August 21, 2013, incident to hold the ‘‘Syrian regime responsible for this heinous crime’’; 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council, in Resolution 

1540 (2004), affirmed that the proliferation of nuclear, 

chemical, and biological weapons constitutes a threat to 

international peace and security; 

Whereas in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–175), 

Congress found that Syria’s acquisition of weapons of 

mass destruction threatens the security of the Middle 

East and the national security interests of the United 

States; 

Whereas the actions and conduct of the Assad regime are in 

direct contravention of Syria’s legal obligations under the 

United Nations Charter, the Geneva Conventions, and 

the Protocol to the Hague Convention on the Prohibition 

of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other 

Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, done 

at Geneva June 17, 1925, and also violate the standards 

set forth in the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical 


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Weapons and on their Destruction, done at Paris January 13, 1993; 

Whereas all possible diplomatic means should be pursued to 

assure that chemical weapons are not used again; 

Whereas pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 

1541 et seq.), Congress retains the power to authorize 

the use of military force; and 

Whereas, the conflict in Syria will only be resolved through 

a negotiated political settlement, and Congress calls on 

all parties to the conflict in Syria to participate urgently 

and constructively in the Geneva process: Now, therefore, 

be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. LIMITATION ON USE OF UNITED STATES 

4 ARMED FORCES. 

5 The President is authorized to use the United States 

6 Armed Forces with respect to Syria only if the President 

7 makes available to the Speaker of the House of Represent8 atives and the President pro tempore of the Senate the 

9 President’s determination, not later than the date that is 

10 14 days after the date of the enactment of a joint resolu11 tion specifically authorizing such use of the United States 

12 Armed Forces, that— 

13 (1) the Assad regime has not agreed to sur14 render its chemical weapons stockpiles to the interVerDate Mar 15 2010 22:12 Sep 11, 2013 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HJ61.IH HJ61

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1 national community to be dismantled as part of a 

2 verifiable, enforceable agreement; and 

3 (2) the Assad regime has not agreed to become 

4 a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of 

5 the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of 

6 Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, done at 

7 Paris January 13, 1993. 

Æ 


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