[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 178 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.Con.Res.178
                                       Agreed to October 5, 2009        

                      One Hundred Eleventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
             the sixth day of January, two thousand and nine


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas the Netherlands and the United States are two countries united 
  by shared values and historic ties;

Whereas 2009 marks the Quadricentennial year that Henry Hudson 
  captained the ship ``Halve Maen'' under the auspices of the Dutch 
  East India Company and discovered the Hudson River;

Whereas the discovery of that river and its fertile lands gave rise to 
  the establishment of the New Netherland settlement and the ensuing 
  positive relations between the Netherlands and America;

Whereas the Netherlands was the first country to salute the U.S. flag 
  in 1776 at St. Eustatius;

Whereas the drafters of the Declaration of Independence were influenced 
  by the Dutch Constitution;

Whereas the Netherlands has remained a friend and staunch ally of the 
  United States, from providing necessary loans during the 
  Revolutionary War to standing shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan in 
  defense of democratic values, protection of human rights and 
  promotion of the rule of law;

Whereas the New Netherland settlement left a legacy of values such as 
  open-mindedness, entrepreneurship, democracy, tolerance and hard 
  work, as well as freedom of religion and speech;

Whereas the bonds of free trade, open markets and commerce have 
  continuously linked the Dutch and the Americans to such an extent 
  that the Netherlands remains among the top four foreign investors in 
  the U.S.;

Whereas the Netherlands provided immediate assistance in the aftermath 
  of Hurricane Katrina and continues today by sharing expertise in 
  water management that will help rebuild New Orleans and its levees; 
  and

Whereas the heritage of 400 years of friendship between the Netherlands 
  and the United States is a laudable example and should be properly 
  extolled: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that we reaffirm the historic ties and 
friendship between the United States and the Netherlands by recognizing 
the Quadricentennial celebration of the discovery of the Hudson River 
and honoring the enduring values of the settlers of New Netherland that 
continue to permeate American society.
Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.