Bill Summary
The legislation is a resolution calling for urgent humanitarian aid to address the severe crisis facing civilians in Gaza. It highlights the dire situation where approximately 2.2 million people are experiencing acute hunger, with reports indicating that around 10,000 children are suffering from acute malnutrition, indicating the risk of famine. The resolution notes that from March 2 to May 19, 2025, Gaza's borders were closed, preventing the entry of essential supplies like food and medicine. It emphasizes the need for a significant increase in the aid that has recently begun to enter Gaza, as existing resources are insufficient. The resolution expresses grave concern for the humanitarian crisis, the suffering of hostages, and calls on U.S. government agencies to use diplomatic means to facilitate the release of hostages, ensure the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid, and work towards a lasting resolution to the conflict in Gaza.
Possible Impacts
The resolution outlined in the provided text could affect people in several significant ways:
1. **Improved Access to Basic Necessities**: If the humanitarian aid is delivered and distributed as called for in the resolution, it would provide essential food, medicine, and other life-saving supplies to the civilians in Gaza. This would directly address the acute levels of hunger and malnutrition affecting the population, particularly vulnerable groups such as children and women, helping to alleviate the immediate suffering and potentially prevent famine.
2. **Strengthened Health Outcomes**: The resolution acknowledges the near-total collapse of the health system in Gaza. By securing humanitarian aid and medical supplies, the health outcomes for the population could improve. This would enable medical facilities to provide necessary care, reduce mortality rates, and enhance the overall health and well-being of the civilian population, particularly in addressing acute malnutrition among children.
3. **Psychological and Social Stability**: The resolution highlights the suffering of both hostages and their families. By addressing humanitarian needs and working towards the release of hostages, the resolution could help restore a sense of hope and stability in the community. This may lead to improved mental health outcomes and foster a more resilient social environment as civilians receive support and acknowledgment of their plight.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 473 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 473
Calling for the urgent delivery and disbursement of humanitarian aid to
address the needs of civilians in Gaza.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 4, 2025
Ms. Jayapal (for herself, Mr. Raskin, Mr. Keating, Mrs. Foushee, Ms.
Balint, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Brownley, Mr.
Carson, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Casar, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms.
Chu, Ms. Clarke of New York, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Conaway, Mr.
Courtney, Ms. Crockett, Ms. Davids of Kansas, Mr. Davis of Illinois,
Ms. Dean of Pennsylvania, Ms. DeGette, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. DeSaulnier, Ms.
Dexter, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Doggett, Ms. Escobar, Mr. Evans of
Pennsylvania, Mr. Fields, Mr. Frost, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Garcia of
California, Mr. Garcia of Illinois, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Mr. Gomez, Mr.
Green of Texas, Mr. Himes, Ms. Hoyle of Oregon, Mr. Huffman, Mr.
Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Ms. Kaptur, Ms. Kelly of
Illinois, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Larsen of Washington, Mr. Larson of
Connecticut, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. Leger Fernandez, Mr.
Liccardo, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Matsui, Ms. McClellan, Ms.
McCollum, Ms. McDonald Rivet, Mr. McGovern, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Mfume, Ms.
Moore of Wisconsin, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Norton, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Ms.
Omar, Ms. Pelosi, Mr. Peters, Ms. Pingree, Ms. Plaskett, Mr. Pocan, Ms.
Pressley, Mr. Quigley, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Ross, Ms. Sanchez, Ms.
Schakowsky, Ms. Simon, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Stansbury, Mr.
Subramanyam, Mr. Thompson of Mississippi, Mr. Thompson of California,
Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Tonko, Mrs. Trahan, Mr. Tran, Ms. Underwood,
Ms. Velazquez, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Ms. Williams of Georgia)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Calling for the urgent delivery and disbursement of humanitarian aid to
address the needs of civilians in Gaza.
Whereas the entire population of the Gaza Strip, an estimated 2,200,000 people,
is facing acute levels of hunger;
Whereas, according to the United Nations, since January 2025, approximately
10,000 children have been identified as suffering from acute
malnutrition--a telltale sign of imminent famine;
Whereas the borders of Gaza were blocked from March 2, 2025, to May 19, 2025,
prohibiting entry of food, medicine, infant formula, fuel, and other
lifesaving humanitarian supplies;
Whereas the limited aid that has entered Gaza, since May 19, 2025, needs to be
sufficiently scaled up and widely dispersed to Palestinian civilians
immediately;
Whereas all 25 World Food Programme-supported bakeries in Gaza closed on March
31, 2025, as wheat flour and cooking fuel ran out, and the same week
World Food Programme food parcels distributed to families--with two
weeks of food rations--were exhausted;
Whereas the Executive Director of the World Food Programme Cindy McCain said on
April 25, ``People are starving, and . . . many more are going to starve
as a result of this.'';
Whereas women eat last and least in times of heightened food insecurity; and
Whereas the health system in Gaza is near total collapse: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) is gravely concerned with--
(A) the humanitarian crisis and acute suffering of
the Palestinian civilians in Gaza; and
(B) the suffering of the hostages and hostage
families; and
(2) calls on the White House, Department of State, and
other relevant United States Government agencies to urgently
use all available diplomatic tools to bring about the release
of the hostages, the immediate and secure delivery and
disbursement of the necessary food and humanitarian aid for
Palestinian civilians, and a durable end to the conflict in
Gaza.
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