H. Res. 873 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

May 19, 2010. 

Whereas 15 countries, including leading European nations, 

have diplomatic and consulate representation in Erbil, 

the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; 

Whereas the United States Department of State modified its 

Travel Warning for Iraq this year to reflect the relative 

safety and security of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; 

Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in 

the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as well as in other regions 

of Iraq, is consistent with current United States policy to 

normalize United States–Iraqi relations at the diplomatic, 

commercial, cultural, and educational levels as United 

States Armed Forces responsibly redeploy from Iraq in 

accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement between 

the United States and Iraq; 

Whereas greater United States Government civilian representation throughout Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region, will serve United States interests during this period 

of transition; 

Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in 

the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will increase travel between 

the United States and Iraq and thus strengthen peopleto-people exchanges between both sides; 
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•HRES 873 EH 

Whereas currently, United States citizens either living in or 

visiting the Kurdistan Region of Iraq must travel to the 

United States Embassy in Baghdad, 200 miles away, to 

receive consular services; 

Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in 

the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will be helpful both in attracting greater United States business and investment 

to the region and in ensuring that the region continues 

to serve as a ‘‘gateway’’ to United States business success in other parts of Iraq, as a number of United States 

Government agencies have advocated; 

Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in 

the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will reaffirm United States 

support for the stability, prosperity, and democracy that 

the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has achieved; 

Whereas the establishment of United States Consulate in 

Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region will facilitate 

more governmental and nongovernmental missions between the United States and the Iraq; 

Whereas the Kurds of Iraq have been willing partners with 

the United States in the democratic transition in Iraq 

since 2003; 

Whereas the United States and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) have been full partners in the battle 

against terrorists who seek to undermine progress toward 

an Iraq that is prosperous, free, and federal; 

Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in 

the Kurdistan Region and in other regions will play a 

helpful role in continuing to safeguard Iraq’s territorial 

integrity from external aggression and support United 
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•HRES 873 EH 

States and Iraqi diplomatic initiatives that seek to prevent outside interference in Iraq’s affairs; 

Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in 

the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will also foster continued 

dialogue between the United States and the KRG; and 

Whereas the establishment of a United States Consulate in 

the Kurdistan Region of Iraq will positively contribute to 

continued diplomatic initiatives between the KRG and 

Turkey: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) calls on the Department of State to establish a 

United States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region of 

Iraq, as well as in other appropriate regions of Iraq; and 

(2) affirms that the establishment of a United 

States Consulate in the Kurdistan Region as well as in 

other regions of Iraq will be an important United States 

diplomatic step in supporting stability, prosperity, 

human rights, and democracy throughout Iraq. 

Attest: 

Clerk.