•HRES 909 IH 
the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, demanded 
the Russian Federation’s immediate withdrawal from 
Ukraine, and reaffirmed Ukraine’s sovereignty and terri-
torial integrity; 
Whereas the Russian Federation has carried out a brutal war 
against Ukraine, threatening to destroy Ukraine as a sov-
ereign nation state, and has attempted to annex entire 
regions of Ukraine’s sovereign territory to its own ben-
efit; 
Whereas the Russian Federation has committed atrocities 
against Ukrainian civilians, has occupied and threatened 
to destroy civilian-use nuclear power stations, placing 
millions of people both inside and outside Ukraine at 
risk, and has purposefully caused the destruction of en-
tire Ukrainian cities; 
Whereas the Russian Federation has repeatedly threatened to 
use nuclear weapons against Ukraine in disregard of the 
Joint Statement on Preventing Nuclear War and Avoid-
ing Arms Races that the Russian Federation adopted in 
2022, in concurrence with the 4 other permanent mem-
bers of the United Nations Security Council; 
Whereas the Russian Federation is in violation of its commit-
ments under the Memorandum on Security Assurances in 
Connection with Ukraine’s Accession to the Treaty on the 
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed in Buda-
pest on December 7, 1994, whereby Ukraine agreed to 
relinquish its nuclear weapons in exchange for the assur-
ances of the Russian Federation that it would respect the 
independence, sovereignty, and existing borders of 
Ukraine, and would refrain from the threat or use of 
force against the territorial integrity and independence of 
Ukraine; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
Whereas the Russian Federation continues to threaten the 
local and global food supply by destroying crop harvests, 
reducing agricultural yields, and preventing deliveries to 
and from Ukraine in violation of its commitments under 
the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and 
Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports which it adopted on 
July 22, 2022; 
Whereas the Russian Federation’s continued war of aggres-
sion against Ukraine since February 24, 2022, and its 
escalation of military activities to unprecedented levels 
have caused thousands of civilian casualties, displaced 
millions of people, devastated Ukraine cities, destroyed 
most of the countryside, and stretched the humanitarian 
capacities of Ukraine’s neighboring nations to provide aid 
and shelter to Ukraine and her displaced citizens to their 
limits; 
Whereas the Russian Federation has repeatedly chosen brutal 
force over diplomacy to achieve its foreign policy objec-
tives, in violation of the international norms that govern 
the peaceful coexistence of nations, thereby showing a 
blatant disregard for the core principles and values of the 
United Nations and its Charter; 
Whereas the Russian aggression in Ukraine has been strongly 
condemned by the international community; 
Whereas the Russian Federation continues to curtail the free-
dom of expression and the freedom of assembly in its own 
country via the closure of independent news organiza-
tions, the intensification of crackdowns and the manipu-
lation of Russian citizens, the repression of peaceful pro-
tests, and the application of extreme restrictions on ac-
cess to social media to control the narrative of the 
Ukraine war and its activities therein; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
Whereas the spirit, purpose, and principles of the United Na-
tions have been obstructed by the Russian Federation 
and its malfeasant behavior; 
Whereas the Russian Federation continues to utilize its veto 
power to block United Nations Security Council resolu-
tions that are detrimental to its national interests, result-
ing in the paralysis of the Security Council, inhibiting its 
very function and purpose, and exacerbating the geo-
political rivalry between Western democracies and the 
dictatorships of the People’s Republic of China and the 
Russian Federation; 
Whereas the Russian Federation’s continued brutal aggres-
sion is a fundamental violation of the United Nations 
Charter; 
Whereas the Russian Federation has ignored its obligation to 
observe and implement rulings and recommendations 
issued by United Nations bodies, including determina-
tions by the United Nations General Assembly, the 
United Nations Human Rights Council, the International 
Court of Justice, the President of the United Nations Se-
curity Council, and the United Nations Secretary Gen-
eral, which have called for the Russian Federation to 
cease all military operations in Ukraine and stop its 
human rights violations and illegal annexation of Ukrain-
ian sovereign territory; 
Whereas the Russian Federation has abused its veto power 
and violated the procedures of the United Nations Secu-
rity Council under Article 23, paragraph 1 of the United 
Nations Charter with false claims and disagreements; 
Whereas the Russian Federation has blocked 152 resolutions, 
by veto, since the Security Council’s founding, more than 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
any other nation, and as of February 2023, has effec-
tively stopped the business of the Security Council; 
Whereas nations in the international community and inter-
national organizations have condemned the Russian Fed-
eration’s violations of international law and taken actions 
to condemn the Russian Federation; 
Whereas Article 6 of the United Nations Charter permits the 
United Nations Security Council to recommend the ex-
pulsion of a member nation that has persistently violated 
the principles of the United Nations Charter upon a two- 
thirds vote of the United Nations General Assembly; 
Whereas the United Nations has the power to amend its 
Charter to remove or add new permanent members; 
Whereas the United Nations General Assembly established an 
open-ended working group in 1993 to address the issue 
of Security Council reform; 
Whereas discussions have occurred regarding many aspects of 
Security Council reform, including— 
(1) increasing the number of permanent members; 
(2) increasing the number of nonpermanent mem-
bers; 
(3) discussing the status of new permanent mem-
bers, including extension of the veto to such members; 
(4) the continuation of the veto power; and 
(5) limits on veto use; 
Whereas Security Council reform discussions have increased 
recently, due in part to some United Nations members’ 
objections to the Security Council’s lack of action regard-
ing the Russia-Ukraine conflict; 
Whereas the United States has generally supported enlarging 
Security Council membership, both for permanent and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
nonpermanent members, and cited the importance of pro-
viding permanent seats for those nations that the United 
States has long supported, including the Republic of 
India; 
Whereas the issue of the Republic of India’s accession to a 
permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council 
is not new, but has been discussed by permanent mem-
bers since the 1950s; 
Whereas the Republic of India was a founding member of the 
United Nations; 
Whereas the Republic of India has served as a nonpermanent 
member of the United Nations Security Council for 8 
terms (16 years), with the last term ending in 2022; 
Whereas the Republic of India has grown into an emerging 
diplomatic, economic, military, and technological power-
house and the world’s most populous country; 
Whereas the Republic of India is South Asia’s predominant 
nation with nearly 1,400,000,000 citizens and the world’s 
sixth-largest economy; 
Whereas the Republic of India has expressed an interest in 
becoming a permanent member of the United Nations Se-
curity Council for decades, most recently in response to 
the paralysis of the United Nations Security Council over 
the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine; 
Whereas the Republic of India’s case for permanent member-
ship has focused on its existing contributions to peace 
and security; 
Whereas, since the onset of United Nations peacekeeping 
missions in 1948, the Republic of India has sent contin-
gents of personnel on over 49 operations, contributed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
close to 200,000 military troops, and lost more than 160 
military personnel in service to United Nations missions; 
Whereas the emergence of the United States-Republic of 
India partnership has been a noteworthy reformation of 
the geopolitical landscape in the 21st century, including 
extensive cooperation on defense operations and military- 
to-military weapon sales discussions; 
Whereas the Republic of India is a key player in the United 
States Indo-Pacific strategy and a member of the Quad-
rilateral Security Dialogue, which has rapidly become a 
strong and outspoken regional partnership dedicated to 
advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific; 
Whereas the United States not only views the Republic of 
India as an emerging great power player and important 
partner of the United States, but as a fundamental coun-
terbalance to China’s growing international influence; 
Whereas the United States and the Republic of India have 
pursued a strategic partnership and an expansion of bi-
lateral security cooperation to include sales of United 
States weapons to the Republic of India and the Republic 
of India’s participation in combined military exercises; 
Whereas the Republic of India shares common values with 
the United States and many of the permanent members, 
supports the principles of the United Nations Charter, 
and seeks to promote a rules-based international order 
that safeguards sovereignty and territorial integrity, up-
holds democratic values, and promotes peace and pros-
perity; 
Whereas, in contrast, the Russian Federation thwarts the 
purpose of the United Nations and continues to be in di-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
rect violation of the principles of the United Nations 
Charter and the Security Council; and 
Whereas the Security Council is the principal organ of the 
United Nations, with the primary responsibility for main-
taining global peace and security: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
tives that the Russian Federation’s attack on 
Ukraine is a breach of the United Nations Charter, 
qualifying as a ‘‘crime against peace’’ as defined by 
the Charter of the International Military Tribunal 
(Nuremberg Charter) and as an ‘‘aggression’’ per 
the terms of Resolution 3314 (XXIX) of the United 
Nations General Assembly adopted in 1974; and 
(2) the House of Representatives— 
(A) condemns, in the strongest terms pos-
sible, the Russian Federation’s brutal attack 
against Ukraine, and reaffirms its continuing 
support for the Ukrainian people, and the sov-
ereignty, independence, and territorial integrity 
of the nation of Ukraine; 
(B) is deeply disturbed by evidence of vio-
lations of human rights and international hu-
manitarian law by the Russian Federation, in-
cluding attacks against civilian targets, indis-
criminate use of artillery and weapons, attacks 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
on humanitarian corridors, and the taking of 
hostages; 
(C) finds that the Russian Federation has 
repeatedly and with intent, through the exercise 
of its veto power and actions, violated the spirit, 
principles, and the very purpose of the United 
Nations and has hindered the United Nations 
in its ability to fulfill its role of maintaining 
global peace and security in the world; 
(D) finds that the Russian Federation’s 
actions are antagonistic and counterproductive 
to the interests of the United Nations, the 
United States, and the other permanent mem-
bers of the United Nations Security Council; 
(E) finds that the Republic of India shares 
core democratic values with the United States 
and other permanent member nations; 
(F) finds that the Republic of India sup-
ports the principles of the United Nations 
Charter and seeks to promote a rules-based 
international order that safeguards sovereignty 
and territorial integrity, upholds democratic val-
ues, and promotes peace and prosperity; 
(G) finds that the accession of the Repub-
lic of India to a permanent seat on the United 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
Nations Security Council would further the pur-
pose and principles of the United Nations and 
would be beneficial to the furtherance of the in-
terests and national security goals of the 
United States; and 
(H) urges the President of the United 
States to direct the Department of State and 
all other relevant Federal departments and 
agencies to engage in all appropriate meas-
ures— 
(i) to determine whether the Russian 
Federation is, lawfully, a member of the 
United Nations Security Council since the 
United Nations Charter itself assigned the 
responsibility to the Union of Soviet So-
cialist Republics and was never amended to 
reflect its dissolution; and 
(ii) in conjunction with United Na-
tions permanent members, nonpermanent 
members, and allies— 
(I) to limit, suspend, or termi-
nate the rights and privileges that the 
Russian Federation enjoys as a per-
manent member of the United Na-
tions Security Council; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
•HRES 909 IH 
(II) to support the accession of 
the Republic of India as a permanent 
member of the United Nations Secu-
rity Council, to enjoy all the rights 
and privileges of that position, and to 
do the same with respect to ensuring 
that the Republic of India enjoys 
membership in all other organs and 
specialized agencies of the United Na-
tions. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
23:05 Dec 05, 2023
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR909.IH
HR909
ssavage on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS