[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 178 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 178


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 24, 2009

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress that we reaffirm the historic ties 
   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.

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.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 23, 2009.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.