S.Res.49 / 118th Congress

A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Chinese Communist Party's espionage mission to send a surveillance balloon across the United States, in violation of international law, is unacceptable and should be condemned.

Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S431; text: 02/09/2023 CR S329)

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 55 · Passed Senate · Feb 15, 2023

This resolution condemns the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP's) invasion of U.S. airspace to conduct surveillance. The resolution also (1) affirms that U.S. airspace should be protected from foreign and hostile state actors, and (2) calls on the President to be transparent regarding this spying attempt and all other attempts by the CCP to surveil U.S. citizens, territory, and assets.

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. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] · R–MO

Committees

Armed Services Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

Legislative record

Actions

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

Feb 15, 2023
Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S431; text: 02/09/2023 CR S329)
Feb 15, 2023
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S431; text: 02/09/2023 CR S329)
Feb 15, 2023
Senate Committee on Armed Services discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 15, 2023
Senate Committee on Armed Services discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Feb 9, 2023
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Feb 9, 2023
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 · Feb 15, 2023 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Introduced in Senate · Feb 9, 2023 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: May 27, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.Res.49 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.49, 118th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Chinese Communist Party's espionage mission to send a surveillance balloon across the United States, in violation of international law, is unacceptable and should be condemned.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/49

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2023-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/sres49/BILLS-118sres49ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-05-27T14:16:40Z. 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.49 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.49 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.49, 118th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Chinese Communist Party's espionage mission to send a surveillance balloon across the United States, in violation of international law, is unacceptable and should be condemned.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/49

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2023-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/sres49/BILLS-118sres49ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-05-27T14:16:40Z. 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.49 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.49 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.49, 118th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Chinese Communist Party's espionage mission to send a surveillance balloon across the United States, in violation of international law, is unacceptable and should be condemned.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/49

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2023-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/sres49/BILLS-118sres49ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-05-27T14:16:40Z. 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.49 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.49 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.49, 118th Congress: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Chinese Communist Party's espionage mission to send a surveillance balloon across the United States, in violation of international law, is unacceptable and should be condemned.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-resolution/49

Text version to examine: Agreed to Senate · 2023-02-15.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/sres49/BILLS-118sres49ats.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-05-27T14:16:40Z. 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.49 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.