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

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1435 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1435

 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

                             July 15, 2026

 Ms. Omar (for herself, Mr. Carson, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Velazquez, and Mr.
   Garcia of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the
Committee on the Judiciary, 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 accountability for
        atrocity crimes are central to the United States values and interests at
        home and abroad;
Whereas the United States has demonstrated its commitment to these values and
        interests by tangibly supporting numerous domestic, international, and
        hybrid courts for atrocity crimes, including the International Criminal
        Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Tribunal
        for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra 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 commitment 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 commitment by the existence
        of offices at the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland
        Security that are dedicated to pursuing and apprehending the
        perpetrators of atrocity crimes;
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 institution 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;
Whereas, because of these principles, cases are not admissible before the
        International Criminal Court where they are being genuinely investigated
        or prosecuted before domestic courts;
Whereas, despite the United States not being a member of the Court,
        administrations of both political parties have recognized 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 Criminal Court; and
Whereas it is in line with American values, interests, and proud history as a
        global leader in the fight against impunity 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 Representatives
that--
            (1) the United States Senate should ratify the Rome
        Statute;
            (2) any sanctions or visa restrictions put in place by the
        Department of State on International Criminal Court personnel
        should be lifted; and
            (3) the United States should use its voice, vote, and
        influence in bilateral and multilateral relationships and
        institutions to encourage foreign countries that are not party
        to the International Criminal Court to join the International
        Criminal Court.
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