Regular Session 2019-2020 House Resolution 0667 P.N. 3143

PRINTER'S NO. 3143

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

667

Session of

2020

INTRODUCED BY BOROWICZ, RYAN, MILLARD, KAIL, WARNER, BERNSTINE,

ROTHMAN, KNOWLES, MOUL, ROAE, ROWE, METCALFE, BARRAR,

KAUFFMAN, LEWIS, JONES AND DUSH, JANUARY 15, 2020

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY

PREPAREDNESS, JANUARY 15, 2020

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and honoring the members of the United States Armed

Forces and intelligence community who carried out the mission

that killed Qasem Soleimani to protect United States

personnel.

WHEREAS, On January 3, 2020, the United States Armed Forces

killed terrorist leader Qasem Soleimani during the course of a

targeted strike against terrorists engaged in planning imminent

attacks against United States personnel in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Soleimani was the leader of the Islamic

Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF) terrorist

organization, a global terrorism threat to the United States and

the international community; and

WHEREAS, Soleimani was the architect of terrorist attacks in

Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries that killed hundreds of

United States personnel through the use of weapons and

improvised explosive devices provided directly by the IRGC-QF;

and

WHEREAS, Soleimani planned or supported numerous other deadly

terrorist attacks against the United States and its allies,

including the 2011 plot to assassinate the Saudi Arabian

Ambassador to the United States Adel al-Jubeir while he was in

the United States and the December 31, 2019, attack on the

United States Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Soleimani also planned or supported terrorist

attacks in Germany, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Kenya, Bahrain, Turkey and

other countries; and

WHEREAS, During the administrations of Presidents George W.

Bush and Barack Obama, the United States Department of the

Treasury designated Soleimani for the imposition of sanctions

under Executive Order 13224 for Soleimani's role with the IRGC-

QF and Executive Order 13572 for Soleimani's human rights abuses

in Syria; and

WHEREAS, The valiant members of the United States Armed

Forces have courageously and vigorously pursued the IRGC-QF and

its terrorist affiliates in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the

world; and

WHEREAS, The anonymous, unsung heroes of the United States

intelligence community have pursued the IRGC-QF and its

terrorist affiliates in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world

with tremendous dedication, sacrifice and professionalism; and

WHEREAS, Although the death of Soleimani represents a

significant blow to the IRGC-QF and its terrorist affiliates

around the world, terrorism remains a critical threat to the

national security of the United States and this Commonwealth;

and

WHEREAS, Soleimani and the IRGC-QF have provided critical

support to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and pursued

the targeted killing and ethnic cleansing of hundreds of

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thousands of Sunni Muslims across the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, The IRGC-QF supports terrorist organizations around

the world, including Kata'ib Hezbollah, the Taliban, Lebanese

Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular

Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command; and

WHEREAS, During the administrations of Presidents George W.

Bush and Donald J. Trump, the United States Department of the

Treasury designated the IRGC-QF for the imposition of sanctions

under Executive Order 13224 for being a terrorist organization

and providing material support to other terrorist organizations;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognize and honor the members of

the United States Armed Forces and intelligence community who

carried out the mission that killed Qasem Soleimani to protect

United States personnel; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania declare that the death of Soleimani

represents a measure of justice and relief for the families and

friends of the hundreds of United States personnel who have lost

their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan and other people around the

world who have lost their lives because of terrorist attacks

sponsored by the IRGC-QF and planned by Soleimani; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commend all of the following:

(1) The members of the United States Armed Forces and

intelligence community for the tremendous commitment,

perseverance, professionalism and sacrifice they displayed in

disrupting imminent terrorist attacks planned by Soleimani

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and their dedication to defeating, disrupting and dismantling

the IRGC-QF.

(2) President Trump for ordering the successful

operations to locate and eliminate Soleimani;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania declare that defeating, disrupting

and dismantling the IRGC-QF and its terrorist affiliates is

necessary to protect the national security of the United States

and this Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the President of the United States, the United States Secretary

of Defense, the presiding officers of each house of Congress and

each member of Congress from Pennsylvania.

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