IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 453 
Celebrating the establishment of democracy in Iraq and urging the people 
of the United States and of other countries in all communities and 
congregations to ring bells on June 30, 2004, to commemorate the 
restoration of freedom to the people of Iraq. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 17, 2004 
Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, and in 
addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Celebrating the establishment of democracy in Iraq and urg-
ing the people of the United States and of other coun-
tries in all communities and congregations to ring bells 
on June 30, 2004, to commemorate the restoration of 
freedom to the people of Iraq. 
Whereas the Coalition Provisional Authority has taken posi-
tive steps to improve the quality of life in Iraq by rebuild-
ing schools, refurbishing hospitals and health clinics, 
building transportation links, and modernizing the com-
munications system of Iraq; 
Whereas on June 30, 2004, power and governing authority 
will be handed over to the Government of Iraq by the Co-
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alition Provisional Authority and the United States 
Armed Forces; 
Whereas the transfer of power and governing authority is one 
of the most significant actions toward the establishment 
of a free and democratic Iraq; 
Whereas the noble effort of the United States to rid the peo-
ple of Iraq and the world of Saddam Hussein’s evil re-
gime and of the fear, torture, and poverty under which 
the people of Iraq were forced to live has progressed to-
ward the establishment of an Iraq free of dictatorship 
and the creation of an interim government containing the 
positions of a President, two Vice Presidents, a Prime 
Minister, and 26 other ministers; 
Whereas in January 2005, the people of Iraq will go to the 
polls to democratically elect officials to govern the coun-
try; 
Whereas the Iraqi interim government has already gained le-
gitimacy with the people of Iraq by successfully negoti-
ating in June 2004 with the radical Shiite cleric Moktada 
al-Sadr to have his Mahdi Army lay down their arms and 
disband; 
Whereas economic development is critically important to the 
reconstruction, stabilization, and democratic transition of 
Iraq; 
Whereas the Iraqi economy has been developing and expand-
ing, a new currency has been introduced, and the Gov-
erning Council of Iraq has approved a new law that 
opens the country to foreign investment for the first time 
in decades; 
Whereas the international community is coming together to 
help the people of Iraq secure their future;
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Whereas on June 8, 2004, the United Nations Security 
Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1546, which 
supports free elections in Iraq and reauthorizes the mul-
tinational force to help provide security in Iraq; 
Whereas full sovereignty will give the people of Iraq a direct 
interest in the success of their government and country; 
Whereas full sovereignty will allow the people of Iraq to expe-
rience a remarkable improvement in the quality of life, 
and Iraq will cease to support international terrorism and 
cease to provide a safe haven for international terrorists; 
Whereas the United States has always supported the pro-
motion of freedom and liberty throughout the world and 
the United States supports efforts of Iraq and of the 
Iraqi leaders to provide these inherent rights to the peo-
ple of Iraq; 
Whereas the transition of Iraq from dictatorship to democ-
racy is an extremely significant accomplishment, and the 
people of Iraq, as well as all the people of the world, are 
the beneficiaries of this transition; and 
Whereas the United States Armed Forces were sent to Iraq 
to free the Iraqi people from an evil regime, to effectuate 
a transition to democracy in Iraq, and to make the world 
a safer place for everyone: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress— 
(1) celebrates the establishment of democracy 
in Iraq; 
(2) recognizes the importance of the freedoms 
that are being restored to the Iraqi people;
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(3) supports the five-step plan outlined by 
President Bush regarding the restoration of sov-
ereignty to Iraq, including— 
(A) handing over authority to a sovereign 
Iraqi government; 
(B) helping establish the stability and se-
curity in Iraq that democracy requires; 
(C) continuing to rebuild the infrastructure 
of Iraq; 
(D) encouraging more international sup-
port for Iraq; and 
(E) moving toward free national elections 
that will bring forward new leaders empowered 
by the Iraqi people; 
(4) expresses gratitude to the brave members of 
the United States Armed Forces who are partici-
pating in Operation Iraqi Freedom to end the re-
gime of Saddam Hussein and bring democracy and 
freedom to Iraq; 
(5) encourages all the people of Iraq to work to-
gether to create a new Iraq and respect the rights, 
freedoms, and liberties of all Iraqis; and 
(6) urges the people of the United States and 
of other countries in all communities and congrega-
tions to ring bells on June 30, 2004, in recognition
•HCON 453 IH 
of the establishment of democracy in Iraq and the 
restoration of freedom to the people of Iraq. 
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