IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 132 
Responding to the earthquakes in Tu¨rkiye and Syria on February 6, 2023. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 17, 2023 
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina (for himself, Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
TENNEY, Ms. WILD, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. MCCORMICK, 
Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. GIMENEZ, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. MOYLAN, Ms. DEAN of 
Pennsylvania, Mr. ISSA, Mr. SHERMAN, Mr. KEAN of New Jersey, Ms. 
STEVENS, Mr. ELLZEY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. KEATING, Mr. 
NORMAN, Ms. LOIS FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. LAWLER, Mr. CICILLINE, 
Mr. WALTZ, Ms. MANNING, Mrs. RADEWAGEN, Mr. SCHNEIDER, Mr. 
TIMMONS, and Mr. PANETTA) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committees on Financial Services, and the Judiciary, 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 
RESOLUTION 
Responding to the earthquakes in Tu¨rkiye and Syria on 
February 6, 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; 
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•HRES 132 IH 
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; 
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; 
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•HRES 132 IH 
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 fami-
lies of the many earthquake victims; 
(3) applauds the heroic work of humanitarian 
aid and rescue workers on the ground to save lives 
and provide 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; 
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•HRES 132 IH 
(4) applauds the response to the earthquake 
tragedy by the United States Government, other 
governments, and nongovernmental organizations; 
(5) applauds the civilians in Tu¨rkiye and Syria 
who have selflessly volunteered to assist with re-
sponse to the devastating aftermath; 
(6) urges the international community to sup-
port heroic disaster response efforts in Tu¨rkiye and 
Syria, including those by the Syrian Civil Defense, 
the White Helmets; 
(7) condemns efforts by the Assad regime to 
cynically exploit the disaster to evade international 
pressure and accountability, including by preventing 
the United Nations from providing assistance 
through multiple border crossings between Tu¨rkiye 
and Syria; 
(8) calls on the Biden administration to con-
tinue to use all diplomatic tools, including through 
the United Nations Security Council, to open all 
Tu¨rkiye-Syria border crossings for United Nations 
assistance; 
(9) underscores the need for international as-
sistance to reach northwest Syria to assist with dis-
aster relief; 
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•HRES 132 IH 
(10) calls for an increased oversight mechanism 
to ensure that United States-funded assistance is 
not diverted for the benefit of the Assad regime; 
(11) urges the Biden administration to remain 
committed to the protection of the Syrian people in-
cluding by implementing the Caesar Syria Civilian 
Protection Act of 2019; and 
(12) welcomes the Republic of Tu¨rkiye’s con-
tinuing support to Syrian refugees in Tu¨rkiye and in 
northwestern Syria. 
Æ 
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