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March 9, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1427 SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS placed in and approximately civilians committed by multiple parties to 2,000,000 people in the were al- the conflict; ready in need of humanitarian assistance; Whereas examples of reported atrocities SENATE RESOLUTION 97—CALLING Whereas the conflict in the Tigray Region committed in the Tigray Region include the ON THE GOVERNMENT OF ETHI- has prompted more than 61,000 to massacre in the town of Mai Kadra on No- OPIA, THE TIGRAY PEOPLE’S seek refuge in Sudan, has displaced as many vember 9, 2020, in which, according to esti- mates from the Ethiopian Human Rights LIBERATION FRONT, AND OTHER as 500,000 people internally, and has caused severe shortages of food, water, medical sup- Commission (EHRC), more than 600 civilians BELLIGERENTS TO CEASE ALL plies, and other necessary goods for those died from what the EHRC Chief Commis- HOSTILITIES, PROTECT HUMAN who remain in the region; sioner concluded was ‘‘for no reason other RIGHTS, ALLOW UNFETTERED Whereas the conflict has disrupted har- than their ethnicity,’’ and a mass killing in HUMANITARIAN ACCESS, AND vests, livelihoods, markets, and supply the city of Axum on November 28 through 29, COOPERATE WITH INDEPENDENT chains, food and medical supplies have been 2020, which involved, according to reports INVESTIGATIONS OF CREDIBLE looted, and restrictions and bureaucratic im- from , the systematic killing of ‘‘hundreds of unarmed civilians’’ ATROCITY ALLEGATIONS PER- pediments continue to constrain the humani- tarian response, with nearly 4,000,000 people after Ethiopian and Eritrean troops retook TAINING TO THE CONFLICT IN the city; THE TIGRAY REGION OF ETHI- in the Tigray Region estimated to require urgent food assistance, including 100,000 Eri- Whereas Special Represent- ative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Vi- OPIA trean refugees; olence in Conflict Pramila Patten has high- Mr. RISCH (for himself, Mr. CARDIN, Whereas, during the first few weeks of the lighted reports of sexual and gender-based vi- conflict, there was a complete shutdown of Mr. RUBIO, Mr. COONS, Mr. KAINE, Mr. olence, including a high number of alleged electricity, banking, internet, and telephone YOUNG, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN) sub- rapes in Mekelle; services throughout the Tigray Region by mitted the following resolution; which Whereas, on January 27, 2021, the United the , with govern- was referred to the Committee on For- States Government publicly confirmed that ment reports of TPLF forces also destroying Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) are partici- eign Relations: communications infrastructure, and subse- S. RES. 97 pating in the conflict in alliance with the quent service restorations have been limited; ENDF and called for the immediate with- Whereas the United States and the Federal Whereas, in addition to the shutdown of drawal of all EDF soldiers from the Tigray Democratic Republic of Ethiopia share an telephone and internet services, which has Region, and credible reports have emerged important relationship and more than a cen- severely limited the flow of information on that EDF soldiers participating in the con- tury of diplomatic relations; the conflict and the humanitarian situation, flict have attacked civilians, including Eri- Whereas Ethiopia is the second most popu- journalists have been restricted from access- trean refugees, and looted and destroyed lous country in Africa and plays a key role ing much of the Tigray Region, several jour- homes and religious institutions; in advancing security and stability across nalists have been arrested in connection to Whereas Ethiopia has been beset in recent sub-Saharan Africa, including as a top con- their coverage of the conflict, and one jour- years by multiple human rights and humani- tributor of uniformed personnel to United nalist working for the Tigray Mass Media tarian challenges, including targeted ethnic Nations missions; Agency was killed; violence, intercommunal conflict, natural Whereas tensions between Prime Minister Whereas, although the Government of disasters, and political unrest; Abiy Ahmed’s and the Ethiopia entered into an agreement with the Whereas, since mid-2020, the Office of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), United Nations on November 29, 2020, to fa- United Nations High Commissioner for which was part of the ruling coalition in cilitate humanitarian access to the Tigray Human Rights, Amnesty International, and Ethiopia until late 2019, escalated when the Region, that access remains limited; the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission TPLF held elections in the Tigray Region of Whereas, on February 1, 2021, the Secretary have reported atrocities and a rise in ethnic Ethiopia on September 9, 2020, despite the General of the Norwegian Refugee Council and intercommunal violence in other parts decision by the Federal Government of Ethi- stated, ‘‘Twelve weeks since the fighting of Ethiopia, including in the Amhara, opia to postpone general elections due to the began, the basic elements of a response on Benishangul-Gumuz, Somali, Afar, and COVID–19 pandemic; the scale needed are still not in place. It is regions; Whereas the TPLF rejected the postpone- false to say that aid is increasingly getting Whereas, according to international ment of general elections and considered the through. Aid has only gone to the places human rights organizations, during the con- extension of the term of the Federal Govern- with little conflict and more limited needs flict in the Tigray Region, ethnic ment to be unconstitutional, and the Federal and is not keeping pace with the humani- throughout Ethiopia have been suspended Government subsequently deemed the Tigray tarian crisis as it inevitably grows over from their jobs and prevented from leaving regional elections illegitimate; time.’’; the country, and there are reports of surveil- Whereas, in the early hours of November 4, Whereas, on February 6, 2021, the United lance and mass arrests of citizens of Ethiopia 2020, Prime Minister Abiy ordered a military Nations (WFP) an- based on their ethnicity; offensive in response to an attack by the nounced a new agreement with the Govern- Whereas Ethiopia is undergoing a fragile TPLF on the Northern Command of the ment of Ethiopia to rapidly scale up the de- democratic transition, with the postponed Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), ployment of emergency food assistance while 2020 general elections rescheduled for June which evolved into an armed conflict be- improving the process for reviewing and ap- 2021, except in the Tigray Region, where tween the ENDF and allied forces on one side proving requests from United Nations and elections have not yet been scheduled; and the TPLF on the other side, with thou- humanitarian partner agencies; Whereas the Government of Ethiopia has sands of deaths reported; Whereas humanitarian access to the ref- restricted the right of several opposition po- Whereas the Government of Ethiopia re- ugee camps that were home to almost 100,000 litical parties to peacefully assemble, and a jected all offers, including one extended by Eritrean refugees at the start of the conflict number of opposition leaders have been African Union Chairman Cyril Ramaphosa in has been especially restricted, with the jailed since the summer of 2020, with varying November 2020, to mediate talks with the Hitsats and Shimelba camps still completely degrees of due process violations and proce- TPLF; inaccessible, and the United Nations Refugee dural delays in their trials; and Whereas, on November 28, 2020, the Govern- Agency estimates that 20,000 Eritrean refu- Whereas the conflict in the Tigray Region ment of Ethiopia claimed victory in the con- gees displaced from those camps remain un- occurs within the context of complicated re- flict after taking Mekelle, the capital city of accounted for; gional and global dynamics featuring ongo- the Tigray Region, with Prime Minister Abiy Whereas United Nations High Commis- ing negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt, announcing that his forces had ‘‘completed sioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi has ex- and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renais- and ceased the military operations’’ and pressed alarm about the ‘‘overwhelming sance Dam, Ethiopia’s rapprochement with would shift focus to rebuilding the region number of disturbing reports of Eritrean ref- Eritrea, threats posed by the violent extrem- and providing humanitarian assistance while ugees in Tigray being killed, abducted and ist organization Al-Shabaab, a struggle for Federal police attempt to apprehend leaders forcibly returned to Eritrea’’; influence and power among regional and of the TPLF; Whereas, in November 2020, four humani- global actors, increasingly hostile border Whereas clashes have continued in the tarian workers, including one employee of disputes between Ethiopia and Sudan, and Tigray Region and Ethiopian soldiers and al- the International Rescue Committee and the fragile democratic transition and peace lied forces have pursued prominent TPLF three employees of the Danish Refugee Coun- process in Sudan: Now, therefore, be it leaders, notably killing former Minister of cil, were killed at Hitsats refugee camp; Resolved, That the Senate— Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Whereas challenges to access have signifi- (1) strongly disapproves of the escalation as part of a ‘‘stabilizing mission . . . to bring cantly restricted the reporting and docu- of political tensions between the Govern- to justice perpetrators’’; mentation of atrocities, but survivor and ment of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Whereas, in 2020, prior to the outbreak of eye-witness testimony and satellite imagery Liberation Front (TPLF) into armed conflict fighting in the Tigray Region, there were have enabled reports to emerge of targeted and condemns in the strongest terms all vio- more than 1,800,000 people internally dis- violence or indiscriminate attacks against lence against civilians;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:11 Mar 10, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A09MR6.017 S09MRPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S1428 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 9, 2021 (2) appreciates the willingness of Sudan to flict in the Tigray Region and bring atten- 13; 123 Stat. 1460), which authorized the ex- welcome refugees fleeing the conflict in the tion to the conflict in international fora, in- pansion of national service, expanded oppor- Tigray Region of Ethiopia; cluding the United Nations Security Council. tunities to serve, increased efficiency and ac- (3) calls on the Government of Eritrea to f countability, and strengthened the capacity immediately and fully withdraw its military of organizations and communities to solve forces from Ethiopia; SENATE RESOLUTION 98—RECOG- problems; (4) calls for the swift and complete restora- NIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF Whereas national service programs have tion of electricity, banking, telephone, and AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND engaged millions of people in the United internet services throughout the Tigray Re- ALUMNI AND AMERICORPS SEN- States in results-driven service in the most gion and other parts of Ethiopia where com- IORS VOLUNTEERS TO THE vulnerable communities of the United munications have been restricted; States, providing hope and help to individ- (5) calls on the Government of Ethiopia LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE uals with economic and social needs; to— UNITED STATES Whereas national service and volunteerism (A) ensure that any apprehensions of TPLF Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. CAS- demonstrate the best of the spirit of the members are carried out with the least pos- United States, with people turning toward sible use of force and that the rights to SIDY) submitted the following resolu- tion; which was referred to the Com- problems and working together to find com- which those detained are entitled under munity solutions; and Ethiopian and international law are fully re- mittee on Health, Education, Labor, Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in spected; and Pensions: 2021 from March 7 through March 13, is an (B) release opposition leaders detained on S. RES. 98 appropriate time for the people of the United the basis of their political activity as well as Whereas, since their inceptions, each of the States— journalists detained on the basis of their re- AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors na- (1) to salute current and former porting, and respect the rights of all Ethio- tional service programs have proven to be a AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Sen- pians to free expression and political partici- highly effective way— iors volunteers for their positive impact on pation, without discrimination based on eth- (1) to engage the people of the United the lives of people in the United States; nicity, ideology, or political affiliation; and States in meeting a wide range of local and (2) to thank the community partners of (C) convene a national dialogue inclusive AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors for of all nonviolent political parties, ethnic national needs; and (2) to promote the ethics of service and vol- making the programs possible; and communities, religious groups, and civil so- (3) to encourage more people in the United ciety organizations in Ethiopia to work to- unteerism; Whereas, each year, nearly 270,000 individ- States to become involved in service and vol- ward the sustainable resolution of grievances unteering: Now, therefore, be it and chart a democratic and peaceful path uals serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors at 40,000 locations across the United Resolved, That the Senate— forward for the country; (1) encourages the people of the United (6) urges all parties to the conflict to— States to give back in an intensive way to communities, States, Tribal nations, and the States to join in a national effort— (A) cease all hostilities, fully comply with (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and international humanitarian law, and refrain United States; alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers; from actions that could spread or escalate Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Sen- and the conflict, particularly attacks on civilian iors funds have been invested in nonprofit, (B) to raise awareness about the impor- targets; community, educational, and faith-based tance of national and community service; (B) make demonstrable progress to guar- groups, and those funds leverage hundreds of (2) acknowledges the significant accom- antee unfettered and immediate humani- millions of dollars in outside funding and in- plishments of the members, alumni, and tarian access, for personnel and supplies, to kind donations each year; community partners of AmeriCorps and areas affected by the conflict, and take all Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors; possible steps to protect the safety of civil- AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have pro- (3) recognizes the important contributions ians, including refugees, displaced persons, vided millions of hours of service nation- and humanitarian aid workers; and wide, helping— made by AmeriCorps members and alumni (C) allow for, and cooperate with, inde- (1) to improve the lives of the most vulner- and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the pendent and transparent investigations of able people of the United States; lives of the people of the United States; and any alleged human rights abuses committed (2) to protect the environment; (4) encourages individuals of all ages to in the course of the conflict and hold per- (3) to contribute to public safety; consider opportunities to serve in petrators to account; and (4) to respond to disasters; AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors. (7) urges the Secretary of State, the Sec- (5) to strengthen the educational system of f retary of the Treasury, and the Adminis- the United States; and trator of the United States Agency for Inter- (6) to expand economic opportunity; SENATE RESOLUTION 99—OBSERV- national Development, in coordination with Whereas AmeriCorps members and ING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF the heads of other relevant Federal depart- AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers recruit and THE UPRISING IN SYRIA ments and agencies, to— supervise millions of community volunteers, (A) engage at the highest levels with lead- demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. ers of the Government of Ethiopia, the Gov- powerful force for encouraging people to be- RISCH, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. RUBIO, Mrs. ernment of Eritrea, and the TPLF to encour- come involved in volunteering and commu- SHAHEEN, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. KAINE, Mr. age the full cessation of hostilities and the nity service; ROMNEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. HAGERTY, withdrawal of Eritrean forces, mitigate the Whereas, for more than 5 decades, and Mr. COONS) submitted the fol- humanitarian crisis that has emerged from AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the RSVP, lowing resolution; which was referred the conflict, and support an inclusive process Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion to the Committee on Foreign Rela- of national dialogue and reconciliation; programs have played an important role in tions: (B) immediately establish criteria to end strengthening communities by sharing their the pause of all non-life-sustaining assist- experience, knowledge, and accomplishments S. RES. 99 ance to Ethiopia and support programming with the individuals they serve; Whereas 10 years ago, on March 15th, 2011, to meet immediate humanitarian needs, in- Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,200,000 in- in the midst of the Arab Spring, hundreds of cluding of refugees and internally displaced dividuals have taken the AmeriCorps pledge Syrians peacefully assembled to call on their persons, advance nonviolent conflict resolu- to ‘‘get things done for America’’ by becom- leadership for democratic reforms and re- tion and reconciliation, and aid a democratic ing AmeriCorps members through the spect for their fundamental freedoms, spark- transition in Ethiopia; AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps ing a nationwide movement; (C) ensure that the call made by Secretary VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC programs; Whereas in response to the predominantly of State Blinken on February 27, 2021, for a Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, peaceful protests, Syrian President Bashar ‘‘full, independent, international investiga- in return for the service of those members, al-Assad ordered unyielding violence against tion into all reports of human rights viola- have earned more than $4,000,000,000 to use to the people of Syria, including arbitrary de- tions, abuses, and atrocities’’ committed in further their own educational advancement tentions, torture, killing, and attacks on ci- the course of the conflict is realized and im- at colleges and universities across the vilians and civilian infrastructure, often pose strict accountability measures on those United States; under the false premise of combating ter- found responsible; Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway rorism; (D) take all possible diplomatic steps to to employment, providing members with val- Whereas over the course of this conflict, prevent further ethnic-based violence and uable career skills, experience, and contacts the Assad regime has exhibited unrelenting mass atrocities, including by non-state to prepare them for the 21st century work- depravity in its use of chemical weapons and armed groups, in Ethiopia; and force and to help close the skills gap in the barrel bombs, deliberately targeting civilian (E) maintain close coordination with inter- United States; infrastructure, including hospitals and national allies and multilateral organiza- Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bi- schools, and committing gross violations of tions regarding efforts to address the con- partisan Serve America Act (Public Law 111– international humanitarian law;

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