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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 712 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 712

 Commending the people of Iraqi Kurdistan for reaffirming in the July 
25, 2009, parliamentary elections the region's dedication to democratic 
ideals and congratulating all the political slates and candidates that 
         participated in the elections, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 31, 2009

Mr. Filner (for himself, Mr. Graves, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, and 
 Mr. Davis of Tennessee) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Commending the people of Iraqi Kurdistan for reaffirming in the July 
25, 2009, parliamentary elections the region's dedication to democratic 
ideals and congratulating all the political slates and candidates that 
         participated in the elections, and for other purposes.

Whereas at least since Iraq's liberation in 2003, the people of Kurdistan have 
        fulfilled the dreams of Kurdish movement founders who envisioned a 
        stable democracy in Iraqi Kurdistan;
Whereas the centerpiece of democracy in Iraqi Kurdistan is its system of fair 
        and free elections;
Whereas on July 25, 2009, the people of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq--Kurds and 
        non-Kurds, Muslims, and Christians--went to the polls in large numbers 
        in a peaceful election and projections indicate that almost 80 percent 
        of eligible voters participated in the elections;
Whereas Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission, the country's formal 
        elections organization, said in a statement following the elections in 
        Iraqi Kurdistan that ``the electoral process took place in accordance 
        with international standards'';
Whereas voters in Iraqi Kurdistan have ensured in the elections representation 
        from every constituency within the region: Turkoman, Christians, and 
        Armenians as well as Kurds will be elected among the candidates who ran 
        from more than 25 political slates participating in the elections;
Whereas at least 30 percent of the new Kurdistan Region parliament will be women 
        members; and
Whereas these elections are only the latest example of Iraqi Kurdistan's 
        commitment to the democratic ideals of freedom and pluralism, values 
        that it shares with the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the people of Iraqi Kurdistan for reaffirming 
        in the July 25, 2009, parliamentary elections the region's 
        dedication to democratic ideals;
            (2) congratulates all the political slates and candidates 
        that participated in the elections; and
            (3) pledges to work with the President of the United States 
        and the newly elected Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to 
        strengthen the bonds between the United States and Iraqi 
        Kurdistan and to advance the cause of peace in Iraq.
                                 <all>
```