IV 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 118
Concerning the treatment of members of the Armed Forces held as prisoner 
of war by Iraqi authorities. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 26, 2003
Mr. KINGSTON (for himself, Mr. REYES, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 
HUNTER, Mr. SKELTON, Mr. HYDE, Mr. MCHUGH, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. 
EDWARDS, Mr. CUNNINGHAM, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. 
BLUNT, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. COX, Mr. HOBSON, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. 
BALLENGER, Mrs. KELLY, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. MCINNIS, Mr. AKIN, Mr. 
HAYWORTH, Mr. KLINE, Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. 
TOOMEY, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. SNYDER, Mr. PORTMAN, Mr. LAN-
TOS, Mr. JONES of North Carolina, Mr. DELAY, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. BE-
REUTER, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Flor-
ida, Mr. COLE, and Mr. DREIER) submitted the following concurrent res-
olution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations, 
and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Concerning the treatment of members of the Armed Forces 
held as prisoner of war by Iraqi authorities.
Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States and military 
forces of United States coalition partners are currently 
engaged in hostilities in Iraq under the name Operation 
Iraqi Freedom;
•HCON 118 IH 
Whereas an unknown number of members of the Armed 
Forces of the United States have been taken prisoner by 
Iraqi authorities and it is possible that, before the end of 
hostilities, additional members of the Armed Forces of 
the United States and members of other coalition forces 
may be taken prisoner by Iraqi authorities; 
Whereas members of the military forces of Iraq have been 
taken prisoner by coalition armed forces; 
Whereas all such prisoners who are captured while operating 
under the laws of war are entitled to prisoner of war sta-
tus until their final release and repatriation; 
Whereas article 13 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the 
Treatment of Prisoners of War (referred to as the ‘‘Third 
Geneva Convention’’), to which both Iraq and the United 
States are parties, requires the humane treatment of 
prisoners of war and that prisoners of war be protected 
against acts of violence or intimidation and against in-
sults and public curiosity; 
Whereas article 17 of the Third Geneva Convention explicitly 
prohibits the infliction of physical or mental torture and 
other forms of coercion on prisoners of war to secure 
from them information of any kind whatever and provides 
that prisoners of war who refuse to answer may not be 
threatened, insulted, or exposed to unpleasant or disad-
vantageous treatment of any kind; 
Whereas article 23 of the Third Geneva Convention provides 
that a prisoner of war may not at any time be sent to, 
or detained in areas where the prisoner may be exposed 
to the fire of the combat zone, nor may a prisoner’s pres-
ence be used to render certain points or areas immune 
from military operations;
•HCON 118 IH 
Whereas the Third Geneva Convention requires that a gov-
ernment holding prisoners of war grant representatives of 
the International Committee of the Red Cross free access 
to all prisoners of war; 
Whereas the Government of the United States has informed 
the Iraqi authorities that it intends to treat captured 
members of the Iraqi armed forces fully in accordance 
with the Third Geneva Convention; and 
Whereas Iraqi television has broadcast what appear to be pic-
tures of captured American military personnel; Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress—
(1) commends the bravery and professionalism 
of the members of the Armed Forces of the United 
States and the military forces of United States coali-
tion partners; and 
(2) extends heartfelt sympathies to the families 
and loved ones of those who are killed, wounded, 
missing in action, or taken prisoner by Iraqi authori-
ties. 
SEC. 2. The Congress—
(1) demands that Iraqi authorities abide by the 
principles and the obligations of the Geneva Conven-
tion Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War;