IA 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. J. RES. 61 
To prevent further use of chemical weapons in Syria. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 
Mr. PASCRELL introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
JOINT RESOLUTION 
To prevent further use of chemical weapons in Syria. 
Whereas the abuses of the regime of Bashar al-Assad have 
included the brutal repression and war upon its own civil-
ian population, resulting in more than 100,000 people 
killed in the past two years, 2,000,000 Syrian refugees 
in neighboring countries, and 4,500,000 internally dis-
placed persons in Syria, creating an unprecedented re-
gional crisis and instability; 
Whereas the Assad regime has the largest chemical weapons 
programs in the region and has demonstrated its capa-
bility and willingness to repeatedly use weapons of mass 
destruction against its own people, including the August 
21, 2013, attack in the suburbs of Damascus in which 
the Assad regime murdered over 1,400 innocent people, 
including hundreds of children; 
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Whereas there is clear and compelling evidence of the direct 
involvement of Assad regime forces and senior officials in 
the planning, execution, and after-action attempts to 
cover up the August 21, 2013, attack and hide or destroy 
evidence of such attack; 
Whereas Syria is in material breach of the laws of war by 
having employed chemical weapons against its civilian 
population; 
Whereas the Arab League has declared with regards to the 
August 21, 2013, incident to hold the ‘‘Syrian regime re-
sponsible for this heinous crime’’; 
Whereas the United Nations Security Council, in Resolution 
1540 (2004), affirmed that the proliferation of nuclear, 
chemical, and biological weapons constitutes a threat to 
international peace and security; 
Whereas in the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sov-
ereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (Public Law 108–175), 
Congress found that Syria’s acquisition of weapons of 
mass destruction threatens the security of the Middle 
East and the national security interests of the United 
States; 
Whereas the actions and conduct of the Assad regime are in 
direct contravention of Syria’s legal obligations under the 
United Nations Charter, the Geneva Conventions, and 
the Protocol to the Hague Convention on the Prohibition 
of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other 
Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, done 
at Geneva June 17, 1925, and also violate the standards 
set forth in the Convention on the Prohibition of the De-
velopment, Production, Stockpiling and use of Chemical 
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Weapons and on their Destruction, done at Paris Janu-
ary 13, 1993; 
Whereas all possible diplomatic means should be pursued to 
assure that chemical weapons are not used again; 
Whereas pursuant to the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 
1541 et seq.), Congress retains the power to authorize 
the use of military force; and 
Whereas, the conflict in Syria will only be resolved through 
a negotiated political settlement, and Congress calls on 
all parties to the conflict in Syria to participate urgently 
and constructively in the Geneva process: Now, therefore, 
be it 
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. LIMITATION ON USE OF UNITED STATES 
ARMED FORCES. 
The President is authorized to use the United States 
Armed Forces with respect to Syria only if the President 
makes available to the Speaker of the House of Represent-
atives and the President pro tempore of the Senate the 
President’s determination, not later than the date that is 
14 days after the date of the enactment of a joint resolu-
tion specifically authorizing such use of the United States 
Armed Forces, that— 
(1) the Assad regime has not agreed to sur-
render its chemical weapons stockpiles to the inter-
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national community to be dismantled as part of a 
verifiable, enforceable agreement; and 
(2) the Assad regime has not agreed to become 
a signatory to the Convention on the Prohibition of 
the Development, Production, Stockpiling and use of 
Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction, done at 
Paris January 13, 1993. 
Æ 
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