[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 252 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 252

   Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the United States-Philippines 
                         Mutual Defense Treaty.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 2, 2011

   Mr. Lugar (for himself, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the United States-Philippines 
                         Mutual Defense Treaty.

Whereas Filipinos and Americans fought together in World War II, and an 
        estimated 1,000,000 Filipinos gave their lives to defend freedom;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of the Philippines signed the United 
        States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in 1951;
Whereas the Philippines and the United States are longstanding allies, as 
        demonstrated by the Mutual Defense Treaty, cooperation in conflicts 
        since World War II, and the United States designation of the Philippines 
        as a Major Non-NATO Ally;
Whereas the United States Government seeks to maintain an alliance with the 
        Government of the Philippines that promotes peace and stability in 
        Southeast and East Asia, rule of law and human rights, economic growth, 
        counter-terrorism efforts, and maritime security;
Whereas United States naval ships visit Philippines' ports, and the United 
        States and Philippines' military forces participate in combined military 
        exercises under the Visiting Forces Agreement established in 1998;
Whereas the United States Government and the Government of the Philippines work 
        closely together in the struggle against terrorism to make local 
        communities safer and help establish an environment conducive to good 
        governance and development;
Whereas the navy of the Government of the Philippines has received a United 
        States Coast Guard cutter and assistance in establishing a coastal radar 
        system to enhance its monitoring of its waters;
Whereas the United States Government works closely with the Government of the 
        Philippines on humanitarian and disaster relief activities, and in the 
        past has provided prompt assistance to make United States troops, 
        equipment, assets, and disaster relief assistance available;
Whereas the Mutual Defense Board and the Security Engagement Board serve as 
        important platforms for the continuing stability of the long-standing 
        alliance between the Philippines and the United States in a rapidly 
        changing global and regional environment;
Whereas Philippines military forces have supported over the years many United 
        Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide;
Whereas the United States ranks as one of the Philippines' top trading partners, 
        with 11 percent of the Philippines' imports coming from the United 
        States and 15 percent of exports from the Philippines delivered to the 
        United States in 2010;
Whereas total United States foreign direct investment in the Philippines was 
        almost $6,000,000,000 at the end of 2009;
Whereas the Philippines is one of four countries that has been invited to 
        participate in the new Partnership for Growth Initiative, which promotes 
        broad-based economic growth in emerging markets;
Whereas many Americans and Filipinos have participated in people-to-people 
        programs such as the Peace Corps, the International Visitor Leadership 
        Programs, the Aquino Fellowship, Eisenhower Fellowships, and the 
        Fulbright Scholar Program;
Whereas an estimated 4,000,000 people living in the United States are of 
        Filipino ancestry, over 300,000 United States citizens live in the 
        Philippines, and an estimated 600,000 United States citizens travel to 
        the Philippines each year;
Whereas the alliance between the United States and the Philippines is founded on 
        core values that aim to promote and preserve democracy, freedom, peace, 
        and justice, and is fortified by the two nations' partnerships in 
        defending these values;
Whereas the Government of the Philippines seeks to improve governance, 
        strengthen the rule of law, and further develop accountable, democratic 
        institutions that can better safeguard human rights, secure justice, and 
        promote equitable economic development; and
Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Foreign Secretary of the 
        Philippines, Albert del Rosario, on June 23, 2011, in Washington, DC, 
        and reaffirmed that the United States and the Philippines are 
        longstanding allies that are committed to honoring mutual obligations, 
        and strengthening the alliance: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Senate--
                    (A) celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the United 
                States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty;
                    (B) confirms the alliance's enduring value as one 
                of the key pillars of peace, stability, and prosperity 
                in the Asia-Pacific region; and
                    (C) encourages both countries to mark this 
                important occasion with continued high-level exchanges; 
                and
            (2) it is the sense of the Senate that--
                    (A) the United States Government should propose to 
                the Government of the Philippines that a joint 
                commission be established to review the potential for 
                enhancing security ties between the United States Armed 
                Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, 
                including facilities access, expanded joint training 
                opportunities, and humanitarian and disaster relief 
                preparedness activities;
                    (B) the United States Government should redouble 
                efforts to expand and deepen the economic relationship 
                with the Government of the Philippines toward achieving 
                broad-based economic development in that country, 
                including by working on new bilateral initiatives that 
                support the efforts of the Government of the 
                Philippines to reform its economy and enhance its 
                competitiveness, and through trade-capacity building;
                    (C) the private sectors of the United States and 
                the Philippines should be urged to establish a United 
                States-Philippines organization with a mission to 
                promote actively and expand closer bilateral ties 
                across key sectors, including security, trade and 
                investment, education, and people-to-people programs;
                    (D) the Government of the Philippines should 
                continue its efforts to strengthen its democratic 
                institutions to fight corruption, curtail politically 
                motivated violence and extrajudicial killings, expand 
                economic opportunity, and tackle internal security 
                challenges; and
                    (E) the United States Government should continue 
                efforts to assist the Government of the Philippines in 
                the areas of maritime security, related communications 
                infrastructure to enable enhanced information-sharing, 
                and overall military professionalization.
                                 <all>