III 111th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 254 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 8, 2009 Mrs. Gillibrand submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Honoring, commemorating, and celebrating the historic ties of the United States and the Netherlands on the quadricentennial celebration of the discovery of the Hudson River, and recognizing the settlement and enduring values of New Netherland, which continue to influence American society.

Whereas the Netherlands and the United States are 2 countries with one spirit united by values, history, and a vision for the future; 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 the Hudson River and its fertile lands gave rise to the establishment of the New Netherland settlement and the ensuing historical ties between the Netherlands and the United States; Whereas the Netherlands, in 1776 at Sint Eustatius, was the first country to salute the United States flag, influenced the writing of the United States Declaration of Independence, and has remained a staunch ally to the United States, from providing necessary loans during the Revolutionary War to standing shoulder-to-shoulder in Afghanistan in defense of values and 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 Netherlands and the United States to such an extent that the Netherlands remains among the top 4 foreign investors in the United States; Whereas the Netherlands provided assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and is sharing expertise in water management and helping to 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

That the Senate— (1)on the quadricentennial celebration of the discovery of the Hudson River, honors, commemorates, and celebrates the historic ties and friendship between the United States and the Netherlands; and (2)recognizes the settlement and enduring values of New Netherland which continue to influence American society.