IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 855 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States 

should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 12, 2020 

Ms. OMAR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 

case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 

the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the United States should ratify the Rome Statute and 

join the International Criminal Court. 

Whereas crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and 

war crimes are uniquely heinous and of global concern; 

Whereas the United States has been a global leader in the 

field of international criminal justice for atrocity crimes 

since the Nuremberg Trials; 

Whereas the fundamental principles of the rule of law and accountability for atrocity crimes are central to the United 

States values and interests at home and abroad; 


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•HRES 855 IH 

Whereas the United States has demonstrated its commitment 

to these values and interests by tangibly supporting numerous domestic, international, and hybrid courts for 

atrocity crimes, including the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International 

Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of 

Cambodia, the Extraordinary African Chambers, and the 

Special Tribunal for Lebanon; 

Whereas the United States further demonstrates this commitment by being party to the Convention on the Prevention 

and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United 

Nations Convention Against Torture, and the Geneva 

Conventions; 

Whereas the United States further demonstrates this commitment by the existence of offices at the Department of 

Justice and the Department of Homeland Security that 

are dedicated to pursuing and apprehending the perpetrators of atrocity crimes, as well as the existence of a dedicated Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Department of State; 

Whereas the United States signed the Rome Statute of the 

International Criminal Court on December 31, 2000, but 

has yet to ratify the statute and join the Court as a full 

member; 

Whereas the International Criminal Court is an important institution in the global fight against impunity for war 

crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; 

Whereas the International Criminal Court operates on the 

principle of complementarity and as a court of last resort; 


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Whereas because of these principles, cases are not admissible 

before the International Criminal Court where they are 

being genuinely investigated or prosecuted before domestic courts; 

Whereas despite the United States not being a member of the 

Court, administrations of both political parties have recognized its utility for the national interests of the United 

States; 

Whereas only by ratifying the Rome Statute and becoming a 

member of the International Criminal Court can the 

United States credibly shape the Court’s activities and 

priorities; 

Whereas the vast majority of the United States oldest and 

closest allies are state parties to the International Criminal Court; and 

Whereas it is in line with American values, interests, and 

proud history as a global leader in the fight against impunity and for justice that the United States becomes a 

full member of the International Criminal Court: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) the United States Senate should ratify the 

4 Rome Statute; 

5 (2) any visa restrictions put in place by the De6 partment of State on International Criminal Court 

7 personnel should be lifted; and 

8 (3) the United States should use its voice, vote, 

9 and influence in bilateral and multilateral relationVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR855.IH HR855

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1 ships and institutions to encourage foreign countries 

2 that are not party to the International Criminal 

3 Court to join the International Criminal Court. 

Æ 


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