Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 855 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 12, 2020 Ms. OMAR submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judi- ciary, 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 concerned RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court. Whereas crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes are uniquely heinous and of global concern; Whereas the United States has been a global leader in the field of international criminal justice for atrocity crimes since the Nuremberg Trials; Whereas the fundamental principles of the rule of law and ac- countability for atrocity crimes are central to the United States values and interests at home and abroad; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR855.IH HR855 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 855 IH Whereas the United States has demonstrated its commitment to these values and interests by tangibly supporting nu- merous domestic, international, and hybrid courts for atrocity crimes, including the International Criminal Tri- bunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Si- erra Leone, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, the Extraordinary African Chambers, and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon; Whereas the United States further demonstrates this commit- ment by being party to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, the United Nations Convention Against Torture, and the Geneva Conventions; Whereas the United States further demonstrates this commit- ment by the existence of offices at the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security that are dedicated to pursuing and apprehending the perpetra- tors of atrocity crimes, as well as the existence of a dedi- cated Office of Global Criminal Justice at the Depart- ment of State; Whereas the United States signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court on December 31, 2000, but has yet to ratify the statute and join the Court as a full member; Whereas the International Criminal Court is an important in- stitution in the global fight against impunity for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; Whereas the International Criminal Court operates on the principle of complementarity and as a court of last resort; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR855.IH HR855 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 855 IH Whereas because of these principles, cases are not admissible before the International Criminal Court where they are being genuinely investigated or prosecuted before domes- tic courts; Whereas despite the United States not being a member of the Court, administrations of both political parties have rec- ognized its utility for the national interests of the United States; Whereas only by ratifying the Rome Statute and becoming a member of the International Criminal Court can the United States credibly shape the Court’s activities and priorities; Whereas the vast majority of the United States oldest and closest allies are state parties to the International Crimi- nal Court; and Whereas it is in line with American values, interests, and proud history as a global leader in the fight against im- punity and for justice that the United States becomes a full member of the International Criminal Court: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) the United States Senate should ratify the 3 Rome Statute; 4 (2) any visa restrictions put in place by the De- 5 partment of State on International Criminal Court 6 personnel should be lifted; and 7 (3) the United States should use its voice, vote, 8 and influence in bilateral and multilateral relation- 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR855.IH HR855 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 855 IH ships and institutions to encourage foreign countries 1 that are not party to the International Criminal 2 Court to join the International Criminal Court. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:27 Feb 12, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR855.IH HR855 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS