HRES 361119th CongressIn Committee

Supporting the recognition of April 4, 2025, as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, and reaffirming the leadership of the United States in eliminating landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Introduced: Apr 30, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

This House Resolution (H. Res. 361) designates April 4, 2025 as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and reaffirms the United States’ leadership role in eliminating landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) around the world. It frames mine action as a humanitarian and development priority, noting the widespread human costs of mines and UXO and the positive impact that clearance has on safety, livelihoods, education, food security, and economic development. The resolution highlights the United States’ past and ongoing contributions to demining and survivor assistance, and it lays out a set of commitments to continue leadership, funding, and rededication to clearing mined areas, including legacy contamination. As a non-binding statement, the resolution expresses congressional support for international humanitarian mine action and calls on the U.S. government to maintain funding and leadership, recognize affected communities and survivors, and uphold the goals of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, including efforts to clear mined areas as a humanitarian priority.

Key Points

1Recognizes April 4, 2025, as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and aligns U.S. statements with international recognition of mine action as a humanitarian priority.
2Reaffirms the United States’ leadership role in eliminating landmines and UXO and cites substantial U.S. contributions, including more than $4.6 billion in demining/related programs across 120 countries since 1993, and more than $337 million from USAID’s Leahy War Victims Fund since 1989 for survivor assistance.
3Acknowledges the humanitarian and development impact of mines/UXO, including threats to civilians, displacement, and impediments to recovery and growth, and recognizes those who work to locate and remove mines and assist survivors.
4Supports the Maputo +15 declaration’s goal to intensify demining efforts and clear mined areas as fully as possible by 2025, while noting ongoing and evolving humanitarian needs in conflict-affected regions (e.g., Ukraine, the Middle East, and other areas with mine contamination).
5Calls on the U.S. Government to continue funding international humanitarian demining, maintain leadership in reducing mined areas, address legacy mine contamination as an urgent humanitarian priority, and reaffirm the goals of the International Day.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Civilians in mine-affected countries and communities, including survivors and their families, who benefit from mine clearance, safer environments, and improved access to education, livelihoods, and development.Secondary group/area affected- U.S. and international humanitarian organizations, donor governments, and partner militaries involved in demining, survivor assistance, and risk education.- U.S. military personnel and veterans concerned with safety in regions where mine/UXO contamination remains from past conflicts.Additional impacts- Policy and funding signal: reinforces Congress’s support for sustained U.S. leadership and funding in mine action, potentially influencing budget priorities and interagency coordination.- International norms: aligns U.S. stance with global humanitarian mine action efforts and recognizes affected communities, contributing to ongoing discussions about international frameworks (including questions around participation in the Ottawa Treaty).- Public awareness and commemorations: raises visibility of mine action, potentially spurring awareness campaigns, commemoration events, and collaboration with civil society, victims’ groups, and international organizations.

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