H. Res. 658 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
March 23, 2016. 
Whereas, on March 22, 2016, at least three Islamist terror-
ists conducted coordinated attacks against two sites in 
Brussels, Belgium, resulting in the loss of more than 30 
innocent lives and the severe wounding of many more in-
nocent civilians; 
Whereas a number of American citizens are among those 
wounded; 
Whereas the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has 
claimed responsibility for the attacks; 
Whereas the brutal attacks at the Brussels airport and the 
Maelbeek metro station are the latest in a series of as-
saults by ISIS in Europe, including the November 13, 
2015, terrorist attacks in Paris, France, that were delib-
erately aimed at killing and maiming as many innocent 
people as possible; 
Whereas Belgian first responders and law enforcement re-
acted swiftly and heroically, caring for the wounded and 
taking immediate measures to prevent additional attacks 
and the further loss of life; 
Whereas at least two of the terrorists were killed in the sui-
cide bombings, and Belgian intelligence and law enforce-
•HRES 658 EH 
ment are pursuing others possibly connected to these at-
tacks and to those in Paris; 
Whereas Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel called the 
attacks ‘‘a black moment’’ for the country and urged his 
fellow citizens to stay united in their response; 
Whereas Belgium and its capital Brussels are the symbolic 
center of the alliance between the United States and Eu-
rope that was created following the devastation of World 
War II, including by hosting on its territory the head-
quarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) and the institutions of the European Union; 
Whereas Belgium and the United States have maintained 
strong ties based on shared values since Belgium’s inde-
pendence in 1831; 
Whereas Belgium was a founding member of NATO in 1949 
and has been a steadfast ally of the United States in the 
decades since; 
Whereas, on September 12, 2001, for the first time in the 
history of the Alliance, Belgium joined our NATO allies 
to invoke Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty that 
states ‘‘an armed attack against one or more of them in 
Europe or North America shall be considered an attack 
against them all’’; 
Whereas Belgium has been a steadfast partner of the United 
States in the international effort to defeat ISIS and other 
terrorist threats; 
Whereas the coordination of these attacks, following the ter-
rorist assaults in Paris and in several other countries, 
demonstrates that ISIS members continue to plan and 
execute attacks, targeting United States interests and al-
lies;
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Whereas continued and enhanced intelligence cooperation, law 
enforcement engagement, and information sharing on 
emerging threats and identified Islamist extremists is es-
sential to enhancing security for the people of the United 
States, Europe, and our allies around the world; 
Whereas the loss of innocent lives in Brussels strengthens our 
resolve to defeat ISIS and its terrorist affiliates which 
pose a growing threat to international peace and sta-
bility; and 
Whereas we stand in solidarity with our Belgian allies in 
their time of national mourning, ready to provide assist-
ance in bringing to justice all those involved with the 
planning and execution of these attacks, as well as identi-
fying and disrupting any plans to undertake similar as-
saults in the future: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist 
attacks in Brussels on March 22, 2016, which murdered 
more than 30 innocent people, and severely wounded 
many more; 
(2) expresses its deepest sympathies and condo-
lences for those killed and injured in the attacks and for 
their families and friends; 
(3) pledges support for the Government of Belgium 
in its efforts to bring to justice all those involved with 
the planning and execution of these terrorist attacks;
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(4) declares that the Islamic State of Iraq and 
Syria (ISIS) poses a fundamental threat to the universal 
value of freedom in all countries; 
(5) remains concerned regarding the flow of foreign 
fighters to and from the Middle East and West and 
North Africa and the threat posed by these individuals; 
and 
(6) expresses its readiness to assist the Government 
and people of Belgium to respond to the threat posed by 
ISIS and its terrorist affiliates. 
Attest: 
Clerk.