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HRES 1246

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the integration of Kosovo into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lawler and 2 co-sponsors

Advocates accelerating Kosovo’s integration into NATO (PfP, MAP, then full membership) and supporting security-capacity-building, with diplomacy to non-recognizing allies.

Submitted in House
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HRES 1246

Summary of H.Res. 1246 (119th Congress, 2nd Session)

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the integration of Kosovo into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Purpose and Intent

  • The resolution states the sense of the House that Kosovo should be integrated into NATO.
  • It frames Kosovo’s full NATO membership as a national security priority for the United States, particularly in the context of security challenges posed by malign actors in the Western Balkans (e.g., Russia, China) and regional stability goals.

Key Provisions and Provisions-Level Details

  1. Statement of Policy and Priority

    • Declares full NATO integration of Kosovo as a U.S. national security priority in Southeastern Europe.
    • Affirms concern about malign activities by Russia, China, and other actors in the Western Balkans that threaten U.S. forces and strategic interests in the region.
    • Reaffirms U.S. support for Kosovo’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, democracy, and multiethnic society.

  2. Support for Kosovo’s Integration Process

    • Endorses Kosovo’s continued progress toward NATO integration.
    • Calls for ongoing modernization and capacity-building of Kosovo security institutions, including:
      • Kosovo Security Force
      • Kosovo Intelligence Agency
      • Other relevant security agencies

  3. Non-Recognizing NATO Members and Diplomatic Efforts

    • Urges the remaining NATO member states that do not recognize Kosovo (Greece, Romania, Slovakia, and Spain) to amend their positions to permit Kosovo’s formal movement toward NATO membership.

  4. Sequential Pathway to NATO Membership

    • Outlines a stepwise progression for Kosovo’s NATO path:
      • (A) Inclusion in the Partnership for Peace (PfP) program
      • (B) Admission to the NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP)
      • (C) Full NATO membership

  5. U.S. Policy and Actions

    • Directs the United States to:
      • Actively advocate within NATO for Kosovo’s inclusion in PfP and MAP.
      • Engage diplomatically with non-recognizing NATO members to encourage recognition of Kosovo’s sovereignty.
      • Continue security assistance and capacity-building for Kosovo’s security and intelligence institutions.

Who or What Is Affected

  • Kosovo: Receives formal U.S. backing for accelerated NATO integration and for modernization/support of security and intelligence institutions.
  • United States and NATO Allies: The U.S. commitment to advocate for Kosovo within NATO; potential diplomatic efforts toward non-recognizing member states.
  • Regional Security Landscape: Signals a strengthened U.S. stance against malign actors in the Western Balkans and a push for broader stability through alliance expansion.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill is a House resolution (not a binding statute) expressing the sense of the House.
  • Procedural status: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on April 30, 2026.
  • There is no enacted timeline within the resolution itself; rather, it endorses a sequential pathway (PfP → MAP → full membership) and calls for ongoing advocacy and capacity-building.

Additional Context

  • Kosovo declared independence in 2008 and is recognized by the United States and a majority of NATO members.
  • The resolution emphasizes that normalization of relations with Serbia should not be a prerequisite for Kosovo’s NATO progress, aligning with a view that membership considerations can proceed in parallel with regional diplomacy.

This summary presents the bill’s aims and provisions in plain terms, focusing on the substantive policy intent and potential impact on Kosovo’s NATO path and regional security dynamics.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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