[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 20 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 20

     Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty 
                             Organization.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 26, 2009

   Mr. Voinovich (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Lugar, Mr. 
 Crapo, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Byrd, 
Mrs. Shaheen, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Johanns, Mr. 
    Risch, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Kaufman, Mr. Bennett, and Mr. DeMint) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

                             March 31, 2009

                Reported by Mr. Kerry, without amendment

                             April 1, 2009

                        Considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Celebrating the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty 
                             Organization.

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will celebrate its 60th 
        anniversary at a summit to be held on April 4, 2009, in Kehl, Germany, 
        and Strasbourg, France;
Whereas this summit will be held along the border of France and Germany to 
        commemorate the historic post-war reconciliation in Europe that NATO has 
        done so much to facilitate;
Whereas for 60 years, NATO has served as the preeminent organization to defend 
        the territory of its member states against all external security 
        threats;
Whereas the security of the United States is inseparably linked to the peace and 
        stability of the European continent by the participation of the United 
        States in NATO;
Whereas the security of the United States has been significantly enhanced by the 
        integration of security and military structures in the United States and 
        Europe achieved by NATO;
Whereas NATO continues to promote a Europe that is whole, undivided, free, and 
        at peace;
Whereas NATO continues to support an open-door policy of admitting states that 
        can contribute to the promotion and protection of freedom, democracy, 
        stability, and peace throughout Europe;
Whereas, since the end of the Cold War, NATO has continued to redefine and 
        transform itself and to take on new missions, in order to ensure that 
        each NATO member state can defend itself against emerging threats such 
        as terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, instability 
        caused by failed states, cyber attacks, piracy, and threats to global 
        energy security;
Whereas NATO continues to help stabilize the Balkans through the deployment of 
        troops to Kosovo;
Whereas NATO has deployed naval assets to the Gulf of Aden to address the 
        growing threat of piracy in the region and to help protect the delivery 
        of United Nations food assistance to Somalia;
Whereas after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, article 5 of the 
        North Atlantic Treaty, signed at Washington April 4, 1949 (TIAS 1964), 
        was invoked for the first time in the history of the organization, and 
        NATO deployed 50,000 troops from all 26 NATO member states to 
        Afghanistan to respond to a dangerous insurgency and terrorist threat 
        and to help re-build a shattered country;
Whereas the challenges that continue to be posed by the resurgence of the 
        Taliban and the illicit drug trade in Afghanistan highlight the need for 
        a sustained and strengthened NATO presence in Afghanistan;
Whereas NATO continues to enhance the security of Europe and the world by 
        strengthening partnerships with countries around the world; and
Whereas Congress continues to support NATO, the leadership role of the United 
        States Government in European security affairs, and the continued 
        enlargement of NATO: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) celebrates the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic 
        Treaty Organization;
            (2) reaffirms that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
        is strong, enduring, and oriented for the challenges of the 
        future; and
            (3) expresses appreciation for--
                    (A) the steadfast partnership between the North 
                Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United States 
                Government; and
                    (B) the work of the North Atlantic Treaty 
                Organization to ensure peace, security, and stability 
                in Europe and throughout the world.
                                 <all>