IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 131 
Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
and the need for international efforts toward long-term peace, stability, 
and observance of human rights. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2013 
Ms. BASS (for herself, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. SIRES, Mr. 
CONNOLLY, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. KEATING, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. VARGAS, 
Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. 
SMITH of Washington, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. LEE of California, 
Mr. LEWIS, Mr. MORAN, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. RUSH, Mr. 
TAKANO, Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. HONDA, Ms. 
EDWARDS, 
Mrs. 
BEATTY, 
Mr. 
CAPUANO, 
Mr. 
CLEAVER, 
Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE 
JOHNSON of Texas, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Geor-
gia, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. VEASEY, Mr. THOMP-
SON of Mississippi, Mr. WATT, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. 
JACKSON LEE, Ms. HAHN, Ms. FUDGE, Ms. MOORE, Mr. ELLISON, Ms. 
CLARKE, Mr. LARSEN of Washington, Mr. SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. 
WATERS, and Mr. BISHOP of Georgia) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Concerning the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo and the need for international efforts to-
ward long-term peace, stability, and observance of human 
rights. 
Whereas since the 1990s, an estimated 5,000,000 people have 
died and more than 2,000,000 people have been displaced 
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•HRES 131 IH 
due to repeated cycles of conflict and atrocities, particu-
larly those in North and South Kivu provinces; 
Whereas the United Nations and humanitarian groups have 
reported staggering rates of sexual violence indicating 
tens of thousands of cases perpetrated by the Congolese 
army and armed groups, including the M23 and the 
Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which 
continue to operate with nearly total impunity; 
Whereas human rights defenders in the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo have been subject to intimidation and at-
tack; 
Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s wealth of 
natural resources, including minerals and high-value wild-
life products such as elephant ivory, have been a key 
driver of insurrection and violence, and the discovery and 
exploitation of oil could motivate further conflict; 
Whereas the deeply flawed November 2011 elections in the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo laid bare significant 
political, economic, and social challenges; 
Whereas the Democratic Republic of the Congo is home to 
one of the world’s longest enduring and most expensive 
international peacekeeping operations; 
Whereas the November 20, 2012, seizure of the city of Goma 
by the M23 rebel group, despite bilateral and multilateral 
efforts to address longstanding humanitarian crises, forge 
lasting peace, and pursue security sector reform and ac-
countability, demonstrates that the underlying causes of 
the recurring conflicts in the eastern provinces of the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo remain unresolved; 
Whereas on November 15, 2012, the United Nations Group 
of Experts provided compelling evidence, in report find-
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•HRES 131 IH 
ings corroborated by the United States Assistant Sec-
retary of State for African Affairs in testimony before 
the United States House of Representatives on December 
11, 2012, and December 19, 2012, that the M23 crisis 
is fueled and exacerbated by the Government of Rwanda, 
including through Rwandan Government provision of sig-
nificant military and logistical assistance, and of oper-
ational and political guidance and support, to the M23; 
and 
Whereas the United Nations and United States have imposed 
sanctions on the M23 and its leaders for human rights 
atrocities including rape, massacres, and the recruitment 
and physical and psychological torture of child soldiers: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) asserts that the region’s leaders and the 
international community should break the cycle of 
violence and impunity in the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo and surrounding region and urgently ad-
dress the root causes of the M23 conflict and pre-
vious crises; 
(2) calls on the signatories of the February 24, 
2013, Peace, Security and Cooperation Framework 
for the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the 
Region to abide by the provisions outlined in the 
framework agreement in addition to ensuring that 
those troops being re-integrated into the Congolese 
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•HRES 131 IH 
army are not those accused of human rights viola-
tions; 
(3) calls on governments of the Great Lakes re-
gion of Africa to respect the national security and 
territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo, and to immediately halt and prevent any 
and all forms of support to the M23 and other non- 
state armed groups, including any support provided 
by individuals independently of government policy; 
(4) recognizes the recent efforts by the Govern-
ment of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 
end the recruitment of children into the armed 
forces and demands the immediate cessation of the 
recruitment and exploitation of children by militias, 
and further calls on all armed groups to free chil-
dren and other civilians held against their will; 
(5) calls on the Obama Administration, in close 
coordination with international and regional part-
ners, to mobilize a comprehensive response to pre-
vent further deterioration of regional peace and sta-
bility and to ensure that life-saving humanitarian as-
sistance be unhindered and provided to populations 
in need, particularly displaced persons and conflict- 
affected communities; 
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•HRES 131 IH 
(6) acknowledges the good work of the United 
States Special Advisor on the Great Lakes and the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and finds that 
the challenges of helping to resolve the cycle of vio-
lence and impunity in the Democratic Republic of 
the Congo requires higher-level United States diplo-
matic and political engagement; 
(7) requests that Secretary of State John Kerry 
demonstrate the high-level concern that the United 
States attaches to ensuring stability and security in 
the Democratic Republic of the Congo by appointing 
a Special Envoy who will help lead the United States 
and international efforts to end the M23 conflict and 
secure permanent peace, stability, and safety for the 
people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; 
(8) calls on all nations to increase cooperation 
in order to cease the trade of illegal goods, including 
poached ivory and conflict minerals, that continues 
to fuel violence in the Democratic Republic of the 
Congo; 
(9) calls on the Obama Administration, includ-
ing the Atrocities Prevention Board, in close coordi-
nation with international and regional partners, to 
develop and make actionable recommendations to 
address, prevent, and ensure accountability for seri-
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