PRINTER'S NO. 235
No. 63 Session of 2005
INTRODUCED BY GEIST, ADOLPH, ALLEN, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BALDWIN,
BARRAR, BASTIAN, BEBKO-JONES, BENNINGHOFF, BOYD, BROWNE,
BUNT, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, CIVERA, CLYMER, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA,
CREIGHTON, DALLY, DENLINGER, DiGIROLAMO, J. EVANS, FAIRCHILD,
FICHTER, FLICK, FREEMAN, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOOD, GOODMAN,
GRELL, GRUCELA, HABAY, HARPER, HASAY, HENNESSEY, HERMAN,
HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, W. KELLER, KILLION,
LEDERER, MAHER, MAJOR, MANDERINO, MARSICO, McGILL, MELIO,
MICOZZIE, S. MILLER, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PAYNE,
PETRONE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, RAYMOND, READSHAW, REICHLEY,
ROHRER, RUBLEY, SATHER, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SEMMEL, SHANER,
B. SMITH, STAIRS, T. STEVENSON, E. Z. TAYLOR, TIGUE, TRUE,
TURZAI, WATSON, WILT, YOUNGBLOOD AND ZUG, FEBRUARY 8, 2005
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
FEBRUARY 8, 2005
A RESOLUTION
1 Congratulating the people of Iraq on the first free and
2 democratic election in their country in more than 50 years on
3 January 30, 2005.
4 WHEREAS, The Iraqis sought to hold elections that are free,
5 credible and legitimate, that advance the development of a
6 constitution that embraces the freedoms and principles of a
7 democratic system of government and that results in a
8 representative government committed to peace, stability and
9 democracy in Iraq and throughout the region; and
10 WHEREAS, On January 30, 2005, the 14.3 million Iraqis
11 registered worldwide voted for the first time in more than 50
12 years for democracy and for their future; and
1 WHEREAS, Local Iraqi officials ran nearly 5,200 polling
2 centers that were protected by Iraqi security forces for
3 millions of Iraqi voters who, despite the risks, demonstrated
4 their commitment to democracy; and
5 WHEREAS, The Iraqis voted on a Transitional National
6 Assembly, which will select a Presidency Council consisting of a
7 President and two Vice Presidents who will in turn choose the
8 Prime Minister and approve the cabinet. These selections will
9 then be approved by a majority of the National Assembly which
10 will also draft Iraq's permanent constitution; and
11 WHEREAS, Iraqis demonstrated a widespread enthusiasm for the
12 political process of the January 30 elections, with a total
13 18,900 candidates registered to compete, composed of 256
14 political entities on the ballots, 196 parties, 33 coalitions of
15 parties and 27 individuals; and
16 WHEREAS, Twelve thousand election observers plus another
17 12,500 registered observers representing the candidates and
18 political entities monitored voting, checked the implementation
19 of election rules and regulations and assessed the integrity of
20 the process, including all of the steps of the electoral
21 process, from preparation, to voting and to vote counting, to
22 ensure that Iraq's election is free and fair; and
23 WHEREAS, Despite terrorist intimidation, Iraqis eagerly took
24 the next step to form a democratic government in which the
25 majority are confident their vote will be secure and secret and
26 that this is an opportunity to building a functioning democracy;
27 and
28 WHEREAS, Iraqis will vote in a national referendum on October
29 15, 2005, on a draft of a new constitution and again on December
30 15, 2005, to elect a democratic government based on that
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1 constitution, with the democratic government taking control of
2 Iraq on December 31, 2005; and
3 WHEREAS, Without regard for their own personal safety, the
4 courageous people of Iraq stepped forth to promote democracy and
5 show the terrorists that they cannot stop the march of freedom;
6 therefore be it
7 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
8 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania congratulate the courageous
9 citizens of Iraq for their participation in the first free and
10 democratic election, held January 30, 2005, in their nation in
11 more than 50 years; and be it further
12 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
13 the United States Ambassador to Iraq, Ambassador John D.
14 Negroponte, Embassy of the United States, APO AE 09316, Baghdad,
15 Iraq, for presentation to the Prime Minister of Iraq, Ayad
16 Allawi.
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