Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should accede to the Rome Statute and become a full member of the International Criminal Court.

Whereas the 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 rule of law and accountability for atrocity crimes are central to the United States’ values and interests at home and abroad; 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 dedicated offices at the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security 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 accede to 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; Whereas, because of these principles, the International Criminal Court does not hold jurisdiction over countries that are willing and able to prosecute those accused of atrocity crimes in their 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 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 states 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 That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should accede to the Rome Statute and become a full member of the International Criminal Court.

Summary: This resolution expresses that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should accede to the Rome Statute and become a full member of the International Criminal Court.