Whereas, on February 6, 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck central-southern Türkiye, followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake later the same day, followed by over a thousand aftershocks in Türkiye and northwest Syria; Whereas the earthquakes have caused massive death and destruction, killing more than 36,000 people and injuring tens of thousands more in Türkiye and Syria; Whereas the United States Agency for International Development and other agencies mobilized Federal agencies and partners to provide life-saving assistance to the people of Türkiye and Syria; Whereas dangerous freezing winter weather conditions negatively impacted rescue efforts and put earthquake survivors at further risk after thousands of buildings collapsed into rubble; Whereas the Republic of Türkiye is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) ally of the United States; Whereas prior to the devastating earthquakes, millions of people in Syria were relying on humanitarian assistance, and Türkiye was hosting more than 3,500,000 Syrian refugees; Whereas through 12 years of war in Syria, the Assad regime has impeded the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians, including those in areas now impacted by the February 6, 2023, earthquakes; Whereas the Russian Federation and People’s Republic of China have used their veto power at the United Nations Security Council to restrict the number of United Nations-authorized border crossings between Türkiye and Syria from four to just one—Bab al-Hawa; Whereas although areas outside of the Assad regime’s control have been the worst affected by the earthquake, Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad stated that any aid to victims must go through the Syrian Government in Damascus; Whereas Department of State Spokesman Ned Price has stated it would be ironic, if not even counterproductive, for us to reach out to a government that has brutalized its people over the course of a dozen years now