IA 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 67 
Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed Forces in support 
of the NATO mission in Libya. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 21, 2011 
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida introduced the following joint resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
Authorizing the limited use of the United States Armed 
Forces in support of the NATO mission in Libya. 
Whereas peaceful demonstrations that began in Libya, in-
spired by similar movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and else-
where in the Middle East, quickly spread to cities around 
the country, calling for greater political reform, oppor-
tunity, justice, and the rule of law; 
Whereas Muammar Qaddafi, his sons, and forces loyal to 
them responded to the peaceful demonstrations by au-
thorizing and initiating violence against civilian non-com-
batants in Libya, including the use of airpower and for-
eign mercenaries; 
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•HJ 67 IH 
Whereas, on February 25, 2011, President Barack Obama 
imposed unilateral economic sanctions on, and froze the 
assets of, Muammar Qaddafi and his family, as well as 
the Government of Libya and its agencies to hold the 
Qaddafi regime accountable for its continued use of vio-
lence against unarmed civilians and its human rights 
abuses and to safeguard the assets of the people of 
Libya; 
Whereas, on February 26, 2011, the United Nations Security 
Council passed Resolution 1970, which mandates inter-
national economic sanctions and an arms embargo; 
Whereas, in response to Qaddafi’s assault on civilians in 
Libya, a ‘‘no-fly zone’’ in Libya was called for by the 
Gulf Cooperation Council on March 7, 2011; by the head 
of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on March 
8, 2011; and by the Arab League on March 12, 2011; 
Whereas Qaddafi’s advancing forces, after recapturing cities 
in eastern Libya that had been liberated by the Libyan 
opposition, were preparing to attack Benghazi, a city of 
700,000 people and the seat of the opposition govern-
ment in Libya, the Interim Transitional National Coun-
cil; 
Whereas Qaddafi stated that he would show ‘‘no mercy’’ to 
his opponents in Benghazi, and that his forces would go 
‘‘door to door’’ to find and kill dissidents; 
Whereas, on March 17, 2011, the United Nations Security 
Council passed Resolution 1973, which mandates ‘‘all 
necessary measures’’ to protect civilians in Libya, imple-
ment a ‘‘no-fly zone’’, and enforce an arms embargo 
against the Qaddafi regime; 
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Whereas President Obama notified key congressional leaders 
in a meeting at the White House on March 18, 2011, of 
his intent to begin targeted military operations in Libya 
and made clear that the United States ‘‘is not going to 
deploy ground troops into Libya’’; 
Whereas the United States Armed Forces, together with coa-
lition partners, launched Operation Odyssey Dawn in 
Libya on March 19, 2011, to protect civilians in Libya 
from immediate danger and enforce an arms embargo 
and a ‘‘no-fly zone’’; 
Whereas, on March 28, 2011, President Obama stated, 
‘‘America has an important strategic interest in pre-
venting Qaddafi from overrunning those who oppose him. 
A massacre would have driven thousands of additional 
refugees across Libya’s borders, putting enormous strains 
on the peaceful—yet fragile—transitions in Egypt and 
Tunisia. The democratic impulses that are dawning 
across the region would be eclipsed by the darkest form 
of dictatorship, as repressive leaders concluded that vio-
lence is the best strategy to cling to power . . . So while 
I will never minimize the costs involved in military action, 
I am convinced that a failure to act in Libya would have 
carried a far greater price for America.’’; 
Whereas, on March 31, 2011, the United States transferred 
authority for Operation Odyssey Dawn in Libya to 
NATO command, with the mission continuing as Oper-
ation Unified Protector; 
Whereas, in a letter to joint bipartisan congressional leaders 
on May 20, 2011, President Obama expressed support 
for a Senate resolution on the use of force in Libya and 
stated that, ‘‘Since April 4, U.S. participation has con-
sisted of: (1) non-kinetic support to the NATO-led oper-
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•HJ 67 IH 
ation, including intelligence, logistical support, and 
search and rescue assistance (2) aircraft that have as-
sisted in the suppression and destruction of air defenses 
in support of the no-fly zone and (3) since April 23, pre-
cision strikes by unmanned aerial vehicles against a lim-
ited set of clearly defined targets in support of the 
NATO-led coalition’s efforts.’’; and 
Whereas, on June 9, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 
recognized the Transitional National Council ‘‘as the le-
gitimate interlocutor for the Libyan people during this in-
terim period.’’: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the men and women of the United States 
Armed Forces and coalition partners who are en-
gaged in military operations to protect the people of 
Libya have demonstrated extraordinary bravery and 
should be commended; 
(2) the United States Government should con-
tinue to support the aspirations of the people of 
Libya for political reform and self-government based 
on democratic and human rights; 
(3) the goal of United States policy in Libya, 
as stated by the President, is to achieve the depar-
ture from power of Muammar Qaddafi and his fam-
ily, including through the use of diplomatic and eco-
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