H. Res. 132 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
February 27, 2023. 
Whereas, on February 6, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake 
struck central-southern Tu¨rkiye, followed by a magnitude 
7.5 earthquake later the same day, followed by over a 
thousand aftershocks in Tu¨rkiye and northwest Syria; 
Whereas the earthquakes have caused massive death and de-
struction, killing more than 36,000 people and injuring 
tens of thousands more in Tu¨rkiye and Syria; 
Whereas the United States Agency for International Develop-
ment and other agencies mobilized Federal agencies and 
partners to provide life-saving assistance to the people of 
Tu¨rkiye and Syria; 
Whereas dangerous freezing winter weather conditions nega-
tively impacted rescue efforts and put earthquake sur-
vivors at further risk after thousands of buildings col-
lapsed into rubble; 
Whereas the Republic of Tu¨rkiye is a North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization (NATO) ally of the United States; 
Whereas prior to the devastating earthquakes, millions of 
people in Syria were relying on humanitarian assistance, 
and Tu¨rkiye was hosting more than 3,500,000 Syrian 
refugees;
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Whereas through 12 years of war in Syria, the Assad regime 
has impeded the delivery of humanitarian assistance to 
civilians, including those in areas now impacted by the 
February 6, 2023, earthquakes; 
Whereas the Russian Federation and People’s Republic of 
China have used their veto power at the United Nations 
Security Council to restrict the number of United Na-
tions-authorized border crossings between Tu¨rkiye and 
Syria from four to just one—Bab al-Hawa; 
Whereas although areas outside of the Assad regime’s control 
have been the worst affected by the earthquake, Foreign 
Minister Faisal Mekdad stated that any aid to victims 
must go through the Syrian Government in Damascus; 
Whereas Department of State Spokesman Ned Price has 
stated it would be ‘‘ironic, if not even counterproductive, 
for us to reach out to a government that has brutalized 
its people over the course of a dozen years now’’; 
Whereas the Assad regime has shamefully used the earth-
quake to call for the lifting of United States sanctions, 
falsely claiming that such sanctions impede the aid re-
sponse; and 
Whereas the human cost of this disaster transcends mere sta-
tistics and has resulted in deeply personal tragedies for 
countless families: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) mourns the horrific loss of life in Tu¨rkiye and 
Syria caused by the earthquakes in Tu¨rkiye on February 
6, 2023; 
(2) expresses its deep condolences to the families of 
the many earthquake victims;
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(3) applauds the heroic work of humanitarian aid 
and rescue workers on the ground to save lives and pro-
vide care for victims, including United States Agency for 
International Development Urban Search and Rescue 
teams, the Armed Forces of the United States, including 
members of such Armed Forces stationed at the Incirlik 
Air Force base in Tu¨rkiye, and the Syrian Civil Defense, 
otherwise known as the White Helmets; 
(4) applauds the response to the earthquake trag-
edy by the United States Government, other govern-
ments, and nongovernmental organizations; 
(5) applauds the civilians in Tu¨rkiye and Syria who 
have selflessly volunteered to assist with response to the 
devastating aftermath; 
(6) urges the international community to support 
heroic disaster response efforts in Tu¨rkiye and Syria, in-
cluding those by the Syrian Civil Defense, the White 
Helmets; 
(7) condemns efforts by the Assad regime to cyni-
cally exploit the disaster to evade international pressure 
and accountability, including by preventing the United 
Nations from providing assistance through multiple bor-
der crossings between Tu¨rkiye and Syria; 
(8) calls on the Biden administration to continue to 
use all diplomatic tools, including through the United
•HRES 132 EH 
Nations Security Council, to open all Tu¨rkiye-Syria bor-
der crossings for United Nations assistance; 
(9) underscores the need for international assist-
ance to reach northwest Syria to assist with disaster re-
lief; 
(10) calls for an increased oversight mechanism to 
ensure that United States-funded assistance is not di-
verted for the benefit of the Assad regime; 
(11) urges the Biden administration to remain com-
mitted to the protection of the Syrian people including 
by implementing the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection 
Act of 2019; and 
(12) welcomes the Republic of Tu¨rkiye’s continuing 
support to Syrian refugees in Tu¨rkiye and in north-
western Syria. 
Attest: 
Clerk.