,,iii  #aah? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  
,s4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #bh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate  
,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #ac   
7legislative day1 ,febru>y #ab71        
#bjbd,mr4 ,scott ( ,s\? ,c>ol9a 7=      
himself & ,mr4 ,wick]7 submitt$ ! foll[+
 concurr5t resolution2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !
 ,committee on ,=eign ,relations        
,,concurr5t ,,resolution  ,express+ !   
s5se ( ,congress reg>d+ ! au?ority ( !  
,presid5t to use appropriate & necess>y 
=ce to lib]ate ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s be+
 held by ,hamas4  ,:]eas ,hamas1 an     
,iranian-back$ t]rori/ organization1    
c>ri$ out a coord9at$ s]ies ( surprise  
t]rori/ attacks aga9/ ,israel on ,octob]
 #g1 #bjbc2 ,:]eas1 dur+ ! attacks (    
,octob] #g1 #bjbc1 ,hamas brutally      
claim$ ! lives ( m ?an #a1bjj ,israelis 
& =eign nationals1 includ+ #ce ,unit$   
,/ates citiz5s2 ,:]eas1 dur+ ! attacks (
 ,octob] #g1 #bjbc1 ,hamas took an      
e/imat$ #bdj ,israelis & =eign nationals
 ho/age2 ,:]eas1 aft] a tempor>y pause 9
 ho/ilities 9 ,novemb] #bjbc1 dur+ :i*  

"s ho/ages 7 releas$ 9 ex*ange = !      
release ( ,pale/9ian prison]s1 ,hamas   
cont9ues to hold approximately #acj p   
ho/age 9 ,gaza1 includ+ #f ,unit$ ,/ates
 citiz5s2 ,:]eas ! ho/ages :o 7 releas$ 
f ,gaza 9 ,novemb] #bjbc h provid$ h>r[+
 reports ( ! brutality !y fac$ at ! h&s 
( ,hamas t]rori/s1 includ+ />vation1    
sexual assault1 & o!r =ms ( torture2    
,:]eas ,presid5tial ,policy ,directive  
#cj1 issu$ on ,june #bd1 #bjae1 /ates1  
,! ,unit$ ,/ates w use e appropriate    
res\rce to ga9 ! safe return ( ,u4,s4   
nationals :o are held ho/age4 ,b !      
,unit$ ,/ates ,gov]nm5t w make no       
concessions to individuals or gr\ps     
hold+ ,u4,s4 nationals ho/age42 ,:]eas  
article ,,ii ( ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$
 ,/ates emp[]s ! ,presid5t1 z           
,comm&]-9-,*ief1 to direct ! use (      
milit>y =ce 9 self-def5se1 includ+ !    
def5se ( ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s2 ,:]eas  
section #b7;c7 ( ! ,w> ,p[]s ,resolution
 7#ej ,u4,s4,c4 #aeda7;c77 fur!r /ates t
 ! article ,,ii p[]s ( ! ,presid5t1 z   

,comm&]-9-,*ief1 to introduce ! ,arm$   
,=ces into situations ( ho/ilities or   
imm95t ho/ilities c be ex]cis$ 9 ! ev5t 
( national em]g5cy creat$ by attack ^u !
 ,unit$ ,/ates1 its t]ritories or       
possessions1 or its ,arm$ ,=ces42 ,:]eas
 ,executive ,ord] ,no4 #adjgh 7relat+ to
 bol/]+ ef=ts to br+ ho/ages &          
wrongfully deta9$ ,unit$ ,/ates         
nationals home71 issu$ on ,july #ai1    
#bjbb1 decl>$ a national em]g5cy to     
address ! unusual & extraord9>y ?reat to
 ! national security1 =eign policy1 &   
economy ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates pos$ by !     
wrongful det5tion & ho/age-tak+ ( ,unit$
 ,/ates citiz5s & o!r p]sons abroad2 &  
,:]eas1 s9ce #aihj1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates has 
utiliz$ milit>y =ce at lea/ t5 times = !
 rescue or attempt$ rescue ( ,unit$     
,/ates citiz5s & o!r p]sons held ho/age 
ov]seas3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t x is ! s5se
 ( ,congress t-- 7#a7 ! act by ,hamas ( 
tak+ ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s ho/age on    
,octob] #g1 #bjbc1 con/itutes an attack 
on ! ,unit$ ,/ates & its citiz5s2  7#b7 

! ,presid5t has ! au?ority "u article   
,,ii ( ! ,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 
to use appropriate & necess>y =ce to    
lib]ate ,unit$ ,/ates citiz5s be+ held  
ho/age by ,hamas2 &  7#c7 su* au?ority  
%\ld be utiliz$4