Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the...
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court.
This bill, HR1435, proposes that the United States should join the International Criminal Court by ratifying the Rome Statute. The Rome Statute is an agreement among countries to prevent and punish serious crimes like genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity. The bill expresses the opinion of the House of Representatives, which means it's a statement of what the House believes, but it doesn't create any laws or change anything on its own.
If the United States were to join the International Criminal Court, it would mean that American officials could be held accountable under international law for serious crimes committed anywhere in the world. This could also mean that U.S. officials might be investigated or prosecuted by the court, which some have concerns about because it could affect national sovereignty.
HR1435 was introduced on July 15, 2026, and was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary. This is the first step in the legislative process, where the bill is now being reviewed by these committees before it can move forward in the House.
