IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 741 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the rebuilding 
and resettlement of the Nineveh Plain, which is essential for preserving 
the homeland and heritage of Christian Assyrians (also known as 
Chaldean and Syriac), Yezidis and Shabaks. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 16, 2018 
Mr. DENHAM (for himself, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. WEBER of Texas, and Mr. 
HULTGREN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regard-
ing the rebuilding and resettlement of the Nineveh Plain, 
which is essential for preserving the homeland and herit-
age of Christian Assyrians (also known as Chaldean and 
Syriac), Yezidis and Shabaks. 
Whereas 
the 
Nineveh 
Plain 
territorially 
affirms 
the 
indigeneity of the Assyrian people for seven millennia, 
and is one of a precious few remaining regions of terri-
torial concentration for the Christian Assyrians and as 
such presents a viable territorial solution to the existen-
tial crisis facing the indigenous Assyrians; 
Whereas, on October 22 and 23, 2003, through the final dec-
laration of the ‘‘Chaldean Syriac Assyrian General Con-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:13 Feb 16, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR741.IH
HR741
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 741 IH 
ference’’, the Christian Assyrians declared their intention 
to make the Nineveh Plain a new, separate jurisdiction 
under Iraq’s burgeoning federal system with the express 
intent of actualizing their right of ‘‘self-administration’’; 
Whereas the Iraqi Minorities Council brought together inde-
pendent, elected representatives from the Shabak, Yezidi, 
Turkmen, and Assyrian peoples in order to combine their 
efforts and formally call on the ‘‘Iraqi government to es-
tablish a new administrative unit (a new province) in 
[the] Nineveh Plain in order to live [in] peace’’ at least 
since 2007; 
Whereas the United States Congress has at least twice for-
mally legislated support for Iraqis in their efforts to cre-
ate a province in the Nineveh Plain through appropria-
tions report language in Senate Report 112–85, adopted 
on September 22, 2011, and Senate Report 113–195, 
adopted on June 19, 2014; 
Whereas the Government of Iraq, through a decision of the 
Council of Ministers, which is the executive branch of the 
Government of Iraq, initiated the process of forming a 
province in the Nineveh Plain (as well as Tel Afar, 
Fallujah and Tuz Khurmato) at the Council’s Session 
No. 3 of 1/21/2014; 
Whereas the Nineveh Plain province formation process was 
underway in mid-2014 when ISIL attacked Iraq, seizing 
Mosul and soon after the Nineveh Plain, thereby derail-
ing the process; 
Whereas ISIL committed genocide and crimes against hu-
manity against the peoples of the Nineveh Plain, killing 
and persecuting thousands and forcing survivors to flee 
their homeland; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:13 Feb 16, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR741.IH
HR741
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 741 IH 
Whereas the Nineveh Plains Protection Unit (NPU) was es-
tablished in late 2014 in response to the invasion of 
Mosul and the Nineveh Plain by ISIL; 
Whereas the Nineveh Plain Protection Units are part of the 
Iraqi Security Forces apparatus and are authorized to se-
cure towns and villages in the Nineveh Plain by Nineveh 
Liberation Operations Command (NLOC); 
Whereas the Nineveh Plains Protection Units are the only 
Assyrian Christian force formally listed as an ally along-
side United States and Coalition forces in Operation Con-
quest, to liberate the Nineveh Plain and Mosul from 
ISIL; 
Whereas ISIL was driven out of Mosul and the Nineveh 
plains in 2017, ending its territorial control in Iraq; and 
Whereas persecuted and displaced peoples are returning to 
their homeland in order to continue the establishment of 
a Nineveh Plain province: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that the United States should— 
(1) work with the Iraqi Government, local gov-
ernments, and the international community to facili-
tate the safe return of displaced peoples to the 
Nineveh Plain region; 
(2) continue to support the establishment of a 
self-governing province in the Nineveh Plain, in ac-
cordance with the Government of Iraq’s decision to 
establish a Nineveh Plain Province through the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:13 Feb 16, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR741.IH
HR741
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 741 IH 
Council of Ministers Session No. 3 of January 21, 
2014; 
(3) prioritize rehabilitation efforts in war-rav-
aged areas like the Nineveh Plain; 
(4) expand partners in development and res-
toration to encourage involvement and empowerment 
of non-sectarian, indigenous, and ethnic organiza-
tions from the Assyrian and Yezidi communities to 
build unity among vulnerable peoples and transcend 
the vicious cycle of sectarian conflict in Iraq; 
(5) recognize the importance of the Nineveh 
Plain Protection Units in maintaining order and fa-
cilitating resettlement and reconstruction rehabilita-
tion efforts in the Nineveh Plain region; and 
(6) work vigorously to ensure there is a home 
and future for vulnerable Iraqi minorities such as 
Assyrian, Yezidis, Shabaks, and others. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:13 Feb 16, 2018
Jkt 079200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR741.IH
HR741
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with BILLS