Pennsylvania HR 373: A Resolution condemning any threats of political violence made against elected representatives and reaffirming the duty of uniformed military personnel to comply with the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2662
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 373
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY FRIEL, WEBSTER, PIELLI, HOWARD, OTTEN, SAPPEY,
SHUSTERMAN, D. WILLIAMS, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, BURGOS, WAXMAN,
ISAACSON, KOSIEROWSKI, McANDREW, VENKAT, DAVIDSON, GREEN,
TAKAC, SCOTT, PROBST, BOYD, SALISBURY, DONAHUE, BOROWSKI,
STEELE, KHAN, RIVERA, POWELL, CIRESI, FLEMING, KINKEAD,
SOLOMON, SCHLOSSBERG, MALAGARI, BRENNAN, GIRAL, HOHENSTEIN,
INGLIS, CERRATO, MADDEN, SANCHEZ AND BRIGGS,
NOVEMBER 21, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, DECEMBER 3, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Condemning any threats of political violence made against
elected representatives and reaffirming the duty of uniformed
military personnel to comply with the Uniform Code of
Military Justice.
WHEREAS, Recent public statements, attributed to the
President of the United States, have been widely interpreted as
threats of political violence or retaliation against elected
representatives who have publicly affirmed that members of the
armed forces of the United States must refuse unlawful orders;
and
WHEREAS, The Constitution of the United States establishes a
system of separated powers and checks and balances that are
designed to prevent the consolidation of authority in any one
individual, including the President, and guarantees that all
elected officials may discharge their duties free from threats
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of retaliation or violence; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reaffirms the
principle, declared in the Declaration of Independence, that the
government "derives their just powers from the consent of the
governed," and that the legitimacy of the republic depends upon
the free exercise of representative government without fear,
intimidation or coercion; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania expresses grave concern regarding any rhetoric,
regardless of the speaker or political party, that could
reasonably be construed to encourage, endorse or threaten
political violence or prosecution against members of the
legislative branch for the lawful exercise of their
constitutional duties; and
WHEREAS, The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) and the
longstanding traditions of the armed forces of the United States
make unequivocally clear that service members have a legal and
moral obligation to refuse unlawful orders, consistent with
Articles 90, 91 and 92 of the UCMJ, which require obedience only
to lawful orders; and
WHEREAS, The Nuremberg Principles, the rulings of American
military tribunals and United States military doctrine establish
that following orders is not a defense for participation in
illegal acts and that the rule of law requires individual
responsibility; and
WHEREAS, Any direct or implied attempt to threaten elected
representatives for affirming these foundational principles
represents a danger to constitutional governance, civilian
control of the military and the rule of law itself; therefore be
it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania condemn any statements, threats or
insinuations of political violence from any official, including
the President of the United States, that seek to intimidate or
punish elected representatives for upholding the Constitution of
the United States or for reaffirming the duty of service members
to refuse unlawful orders; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania reaffirm the constitutional and
statutory obligations of all uniformed military personnel to
obey only lawful orders, to protect the Constitution of the
United States and to reject any directive that violates the
rights of the people or the rule of law; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense,
the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
member of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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