[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 92 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 92

  To recognize the value of continued friendly relations between the 
 United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 5, 1997

  Mr. Gilman (for himself, Mr. Young of Alaska, and Mr. Faleomavaega) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  To recognize the value of continued friendly relations between the 
 United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and for other 
                               purposes.

Whereas on November 3, 1986, President Reagan issued Proclamation 5564, 
        implementing a Compact of Free Association between the United States and 
        the newly formed governments of Pacific island areas which had been 
        administered by the United States since 1947 under a United Nations 
        trusteeship;
Whereas the Compact of Free Association was approved by the United States 
        Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support on January 14, 1986, under 
        the terms set forth in the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 (P.L. 
        99-239);
Whereas, in addition to providing the multilateral framework for friendly 
        political relations with the new Pacific island nations, the Compact of 
        Free Association established, on a bilateral basis, a long-term military 
        alliance and permanent strategic partnership between the United States 
        and the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
Whereas for 50 years the Marshall Islands has played a unique and indispensable 
        role in maintaining international peace and security through activities 
        of the United States in the Marshall Islands which were essential to the 
        feasibility and ultimate success of the United States-led strategy of 
        nuclear deterrence during the Cold War era, as well as the United States 
        Strategic Defense Initiative which contributed significantly to the end 
        of the nuclear arms race;
Whereas, the Republic of the Marshall Islands includes Bikini Atoll and Enewetak 
        Atoll, which were the nuclear weapons proving grounds for Operation 
        Crossroads from 1946 to 1958, as well as Kwajalein Atoll, which was the 
        site of the mid-Pacific missile testing range for intercontinental 
        ballistic missiles fired from the Vandenberg facility, a vital 
        installation of the United States Army's ballistic missile systems 
        command and a key support facility for the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration and other programs critical to the promotion of 
        vital national interests;
Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands and the United States have a close 
        and mutually beneficial relationship which evolved from liberation and 
        military occupation at the end of World War II to United States 
        administration under the United Nations trusteeship from 1947 to 1986 
        and which is now maintained on a government-to-government basis under 
        the Compact of Free Association;
Whereas this relationship was forged through a process of self-determination and 
        democratization which reflects the common values and cross-cultural 
        respect that the people of the Marshall Islands and the people of the 
        United States have developed since the middle of the last century when 
        American missionaries first came to the Marshall Islands;
Whereas the people of the United States and its allies paid a high price, 
        including great loss of life and injuries in the heroic battles for 
        Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, to liberate the Marshall Islands during World 
        War II and again made sacrifices as a result of the Cold War nuclear 
        arms race;
Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands suffered great injury and hardship 
        due to the exposure of individuals to nuclear test radiation and the 
        radiological contamination of the Marshall Islands;
Whereas, in recognition of the unique role of the Republic of the Marshall 
        Islands in supporting the United States during the Cold War, the 104th 
        Congress provided additional assistance, pursuant to the Compact of Free 
        Association Act of 1985, to meet the special need of the people of the 
        Marshall Islands arising from the nuclear testing program, including 
        funding for radiological monitoring, island rehabilitation, and 
        community resettlement programs;
Whereas within the framework of the settlement of all legal claims under section 
        177 of the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, the Congress 
        continues to monitor and evaluate measures being taken to implement 
        programs authorized under Federal law to promote the recovery, 
        resettlement, health, and safety of individuals and communities affected 
        by the nuclear testing program in the Marshall Islands;
Whereas the special relationship between our nations and our peoples is a bond 
        that has grown strong as a result of our shared history and common 
        struggle and sacrifices in the cause, not of conquest, but to promote 
        international peace and security and secure liberty for future 
        generations; and
Whereas, just as the extraordinary demands of world leadership fell on the 
        United States in this century, among this Nation's allies the Marshall 
        Islands bore an immensely disproportionate share of the burden of the 
        Cold War, and this remote island nation continues to play an important 
        strategic role in the preservation of global peace as well as in the 
        military and scientific programs which promote the United States, the 
        Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the other people of the world: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the value of continued friendly relations 
        between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall 
        Islands;
            (2) intends to maintain, through appropriate mutually 
        agreed political and economic measures, the long-term military 
        alliance and strategic partnership defined by the Compact of 
        Free Association as a primary element of bilateral relations 
        between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall 
        Island in the future;
            (3) recognizes the importance of ongoing measures to 
        address, in accordance with the legal settlement set forth in 
        section 177 of the Compact of Free Association of 1985, the 
        impact on the Marshall Islands of the nuclear testing program; 
        and
            (4) intends, through its oversight responsibilities and the 
        exercise of its Constitutional authority regarding negotiation 
        and approval of bilateral agreements with respect to those 
        provisions of the Compact of Free Association which expire in 
        2001, to exercise vigilance in preserving the strategic 
        interests of the United States in ensuring that the friendship 
        between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall 
        Islands is sustained as mutually agreed pursuant to their 
        respective constitutional processes.
                                 <all>