[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 152 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 152

   Welcoming the President of the Philippines to the United States, 
   expressing gratitude to the Government of the Philippines for its 
   strong cooperation with the United States in the campaign against 
   terrorism and its membership in the coalition to disarm Iraq, and 
 reaffirming the commitment of Congress to the continued expansion of 
     friendship and cooperation between the United States and the 
                              Philippines.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 21, 2003

     Mr. Lugar (for himself and Mr. Biden) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Welcoming the President of the Philippines to the United States, 
   expressing gratitude to the Government of the Philippines for its 
   strong cooperation with the United States in the campaign against 
   terrorism and its membership in the coalition to disarm Iraq, and 
 reaffirming the commitment of Congress to the continued expansion of 
     friendship and cooperation between the United States and the 
                              Philippines.

Whereas the United States and the Philippines have shared a special relationship 
        as close friends for more than a century;
Whereas the United States and the Philippines have been allies for more than 50 
        years under the Mutual Defense Treaty which was signed at Washington on 
        August 30, 1951 (3 UST 3947);
Whereas the United States and the Philippines share a common commitment to 
        democracy, human rights, and freedom;
Whereas the United States and the Philippines share a common goal of bringing 
        peace, stability and prosperity to the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-
        Arroyo, was the first leader in Asia to commit full support for the 
        United States and its war against global terror after the terrorist 
        attacks of September 11, 2001;
Whereas the Governments of the United States and the Philippines have 
        effectively joined forces to combat the terrorist threat in Southeast 
        Asia and are collaborating on a comprehensive political, economic, and 
        security program designed to defeat terrorist threats in the 
        Philippines, including those from Muslim extremists, Communist 
        insurgents and international terrorists;
Whereas the Governments of the United States and the Philippines believe that, 
        in light of growing evidence that links exist between entities in the 
        Philippines and international terrorist groups, the two countries should 
        enhance their cooperative efforts to combat international terrorism;
Whereas the Government of the United States welcomes and will assist the efforts 
        of the Government of the Philippines of forge a lasting peace, protect 
        human rights, and promote economic development on the island of 
        Mindanao;
Whereas President Arroyo has fully supported the United States' position on 
        Iraq, including joining the coalition to enact change in Iraq and 
        arranging to send a humanitarian contingent to help the newly-liberated 
        people of that country;
Whereas the United States welcomes the strong statements by President Arroyo on 
        the need for North Korea to accept international norms on non-
        proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; and
Whereas the United States fully supports the campaign of President Arroyo to 
        implement economic and political reforms and to build a strong Republic 
        in the Philippines to defend Philippine democracy from terror and to 
        strengthen the Philippines as an ally of the United States: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate
            (1) welcomes the President, Her Excellency Gloria 
        Macapagal-Arroyo, to the United States;
            (2) expresses profound gratitude to the Government and the 
        people of the Philippines for the expressions of support and 
        sympathy provided after the September 11, 2001, terrorist 
        attacks, and for the Philippines' strong cooperation in the on-
        going war against global terrorism, membership in the coalition 
        to disarm Iraq, and assistance in helping to rebuild that 
        country; and
            (3) reaffirms its commitment to the continued expansion of 
        friendship and cooperation between the Governments and the 
        people of the United States and the Philippines.
                                 <all>