IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 482 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United States 

efforts to promote peace and stability in the Gulf region between and 

among United States allies. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 10, 2019 

Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself and Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding United States efforts to promote peace and stability 

in the Gulf region between and among United States 

allies. 

Whereas the United States maintains a strategic alliance with 

numerous countries located in the Gulf region and specifically enjoys a strong relationship and partnership with 

the member nations of the Gulf Cooperative Council 

(GCC); 

Whereas the GCC is a regional political and economic union 

consisting of its member states of Bahrain, Kuwait, 

Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) formally established by the Charter of the 

Gulf Cooperation Council on May 25, 1981; 


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•HRES 482 IH 

Whereas the United States respects the state sovereignty of 

all member states in the GCC; 

Whereas the GCC has been a stabilizing force since 1981 in 

the aftermath of the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran and 

the turbulence following the outbreak of the Iran-Iraq 

War in 1980; 

Whereas the founding charter of the GCC emphasized the integration and interconnection of economics, education, 

and culture among members designed to respond to concerns that Iran would emerge as a political, ideological, 

and economic power; 

Whereas, on June 5, 2017, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, and 

Egypt officially cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, a member 

state of the GCC, resulting in a cessation of diplomatic 

relations, closed borders and airspace with Qatar, and a 

blockade that has now stretched longer than one year, 

and creating increased tensions between members of the 

GCC, as well as with other United States allies in the region; 

Whereas Qatar’s isolation by these countries has created a 

diplomatic crisis in the Gulf region challenging the unity 

of nations that comprise the GCC, as well as the security 

of the entire region; 

Whereas, on January 13, 2019, Secretary of State Mike 

Pompeo stated that the ‘‘rift between Qatar and its Gulf 

neighbors had gone on for too long and was threatening 

regional unity needed to counter Iran’’; 

Whereas Secretary Pompeo also noted that ‘‘Gulf unity was 

essential for a planned Middle East Strategic Alliance 

(MESA) that would also include Jordan and Egypt’’; 


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•HRES 482 IH 

Whereas a key component of the United States military strategy in the Gulf is the maintenance of a United States 

military presence in the region with United States Armed 

Forces stationed at various Gulf state facilities that the 

United States has access to, in accordance with Defense 

Cooperation Agreements between the United States and 

these countries; 

Whereas Al-Udeid Air Base has allowed the United States to 

use strategic assets to counter ISIS, command and control United States air power in the region, and conduct 

missions integral to addressing conflicts in Yemen, Syria, 

Iraq, Afghanistan, and over 15 other nations; 

Whereas, on January 14, 2019, Secretary Pompeo signed a 

memorandum of understanding with Qatar regarding the 

expansion and renovation of Al-Udeid Air Base, which 

hosts the forward headquarters of the United States military’s Central Command and some 10,000 American 

troops; 

Whereas the ability of ISIS and other terrorist groups to 

maintain influence in the Gulf runs counter to the national security objectives of the United States, the GCC, 

and the entire region; 

Whereas the President of the United States has recognized 

the importance of regional cooperation and a united GCC 

to mitigate regional threats and ensure the region’s economic prosperity, counter Iranian destabilizing activities, 

and defeat terrorists and extremists; 

Whereas, on April 23, 2017, United States Ambassador to 

Kuwait Lawrence Silverman stated that President Trump 

was eager to find a ‘‘quick and final’’ solution to the Gulf 

crisis, and Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah 


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said, ‘‘Kuwait and the Gulf countries were determined to 

solve the crisis’’; 

Whereas the Government of Kuwait has led GCC efforts to 

resolve the crisis and has historically called for regional 

solidarity and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts; 

Whereas the Trump administration has sought to negotiate 

a peaceful resolution to the crisis by hosting visits by several Gulf leaders including that of Qatar in March and 

April 2018 and other nations in the region, to mediate 

a resolution of the dispute; 

Whereas a prolonged rift between our allies in the region 

threatens efforts to counter Iran and regional terrorist 

groups; 

Whereas the lengthy blockade has exacted an untold humanitarian cost on all the people of the region, long-term 

damage to the GCC’s economic and financial integration, 

and considerable harm to the region’s social bonds and 

cultural fabric; and 

Whereas the blockade of Qatar has undermined the Middle 

East’s stability and the United States has a significant 

national security interest in the stability and economic 

prosperity of the Gulf: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) reaffirms its appreciation to the Govern3 ment of Kuwait for the efforts they have made in 

4 trying to facilitate mediation between the Gulf Coop5 erative Council (GCC) and its member states; 

6 (2) reaffirms its support for the GCC and its 

7 member states as allies and partners in combatting 


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1 terrorism and promoting stability and prosperity in 

2 the Gulf region; 

3 (3) reaffirms United States policy toward the 

4 GCC and our allies, which has remained consistent 

5 for decades, that a united Gulf is in the best inter6 ests of the entire Middle East; and 

7 (4) encourages President Trump and the Sec8 retary of State to use all efforts at their disposal to 

9 resolve the current crisis peacefully in a manner that 

10 is consistent with United States policy in the region 

11 and will be enduring and enforceable, by initiating a 

12 serious mediation effort with GCC members and 

13 Egypt, including the possibility of hosting a summit 

14 among the GCC, Egypt, and the United States. 

Æ 


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