A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Libya should apologize for the welcome home ceremony held to celebrate the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.

Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S9705)

S.Res.253 through Congress

S.Res.253 is considered only in the Senate.

SenateSep 23, 2009Agreed to the resolutionUnanimous consentOfficial record

Major milestones in the imported record. See all actions.

Separate related House measures (1)

These are different measures identified as related by Congress.gov. Their text and outcomes may differ; they are not the House stage of S.Res.253.

Related House measure: H.Res.732 Condemning the release of convicted terrorist Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi from a prison in Scotland to return home to Libya.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 82 · Passed Senate without amendment · Sep 23, 2009

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Condemns: (1) the August 2009 release from prison in Scotland of Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the lone person convicted in connection with the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, that killed 270 people, including 189 Americans; and (2) the lavish welcome home ceremony held in Libya to celebrate Mr. al-Megrahi's release.

Calls on the government of Libya to apologize for the public celebration of Mr. al-Megrahi's release.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] · D–NY

Committees

Foreign Relations Committee

9 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Sep 23, 2009
Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S9705)
Sep 23, 2009
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S9705)
Sep 23, 2009
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9705-9706)
Sep 23, 2009
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S9705-9706)
Sep 8, 2009
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S9140)
Sep 8, 2009
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Agreed to Senate · Sep 23, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in Senate · Sep 8, 2009 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HRES 732 · Condemning the release of convicted terrorist Abdel Basset Mohamed al-Megrahi from a prison in Scotland to return home to Libya.

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.Res.253 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Res.253, 111th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Libya should apologize for the welcome home ceremony held to celebrate the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-resolution/253

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2009-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sres253/BILLS-111sres253ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:36:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.Res.253 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.Res.253 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Res.253, 111th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Libya should apologize for the welcome home ceremony held to celebrate the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-resolution/253

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2009-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sres253/BILLS-111sres253ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:36:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.Res.253 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.Res.253 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Res.253, 111th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Libya should apologize for the welcome home ceremony held to celebrate the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-resolution/253

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2009-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sres253/BILLS-111sres253ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:36:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.Res.253 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.Res.253 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.Res.253, 111th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Government of Libya should apologize for the welcome home ceremony held to celebrate the release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/senate-resolution/253

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2009-09-23.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/111/bills/sres253/BILLS-111sres253ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-04-07T15:36:01Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.Res.253 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.