H.Res. 718 — Introduced in House

IV 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 718 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 9, 2014 Mr. Schweikert (for himself, Mr. Rohrabacher, and Ms. Gabbard) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Calling on the Department of Defense to expedite the delivery of all necessary military equipment, weapons, ammunition, and other needed materials to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to successfully combat and defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS). Whereas the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) has committed acts of terrorism, crimes against humanity and continues to threaten the security and stability of the Middle East; Whereas the Kurdish Peshmerga forces have fought bravely against ISIS to secure Iraqi Army bases that contained United States-made weapons and equipment and to protect critical infrastructure vulnerable to invasion by ISIS; Whereas successful battles against Iraqi security forces have provided ISIS with advanced weapons systems and armored vehicles, severely limiting the Kurdish Peshmerga forces’ capabilities against ISIS; Whereas the strain of combat against ISIS has depleted the Kurdish Peshmerga forces’ weapons caches, leaving them lightly armed and inadequately equipped to counter the better-equipped ISIS force; Whereas the Kurdish Peshmerga forces are a longtime ally of the United States and are perfectly positioned to effectively fight against ISIS and have recently asked for material and non-material support; Whereas Department of Defense spokesman, Rear Admiral John Kirby, confirmed that the Department of Defense knows what the Kurdish Peshmerga forces need to combat ISIS; Whereas Albania, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have committed to supplying arms to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces; and Whereas the United States, through the Department of Defense, have provided no meaningful military equipment, weapons, ammunition or other needed materials to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives calls on the Department of Defense to expedite the direct delivery of all necessary military equipment, weapons, ammunition, and other needed materials to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces to successfully combat and defeat ISIS.