[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 222 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 222

Recognizing the long-term partnership and friendship between the United 
 States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, working together towards 
                 peace and security in the Middle East.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 17, 2013

  Mr. Meeks (for himself, Mr. Boustany, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Deutch, Mr. 
 Engel, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Fortenberry, Mr. Grimm, Mr. Hastings of 
  Florida, Mrs. Lowey, Mr. Moran, Mr. Schiff, and Mr. Weber of Texas) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the long-term partnership and friendship between the United 
 States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, working together towards 
                 peace and security in the Middle East.

Whereas the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan have maintained 
        official diplomatic relations since 1949, and during this partnership 
        spanning over 6 decades, the United States and Jordan have developed a 
        close relationship in security, economic development, and 
        counterterrorism cooperation;
Whereas a United States-Jordanian Joint Military Commission facilitates 
        bilateral consultations between the United States Department of Defense 
        and Jordanian Armed Forces since 1974, and has led to increased 
        cooperation in regional and global counterterrorism efforts;
Whereas Jordan has provided key security and humanitarian support in both 
        Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas Jordan hosted a United States-developed training program for the 
        Palestinian National Security Forces on human rights, proper use of 
        force, and civil disturbances to further enhance peace and security in 
        the West Bank;
Whereas in 1996, the United States designated Jordan as a major non-NATO ally, 
        recognizing Jordan as a close ally with a strategic working 
        relationship;
Whereas the Jordanian Armed Forces are a proven reliable contributor to the 
        international community, particularly as a member of the United Nations, 
        contributing 57,000 troops to 18 different United Nations peacekeeping 
        missions, most notably in Haiti where Jordan endured multiple casualties 
        during such missions;
Whereas Jordan signed the historic Jordan-Israel Peace Treaty on October 26, 
        1994, normalizing relations between Jordan and Israel by resolving 
        territorial disputes and establishing a partnership towards peaceful 
        relations;
Whereas King Abdullah II has been a key advocate of peace between the Israelis 
        and Palestinians, often reiterating the urgent need for peaceful 
        reconciliation and offering to serve as a mediator and host for peace 
        negotiations;
Whereas Jordan is a leader for progress and tolerance in the Arab world and 
        recently held parliamentary elections, as part of a political reform 
        movement;
Whereas the economic partnership between the United States and Jordan was 
        further strengthened through the signing of the United States-Jordan 
        Free Trade Agreement by President Bill Clinton and King Abdullah II on 
        October 24, 2000, and fully implemented on January 1, 2010;
Whereas in 2008, the United States and Jordan signed a 5-year Memorandum of 
        Understanding in the amount of $360,000,000 in economic support funds 
        and $300,000,000 per year in foreign military financing to further 
        bolster the United States-Jordan strategic relationship;
Whereas the United States is strongly committed to the continued development and 
        progress of the Jordanian people, civil society, and political 
        institutions, specifically in the areas of democracy assistance, water 
        and energy preservation, education services, and economic development;
Whereas the al-Assad regime continues to fuel a humanitarian crisis within the 
        region through attacks against innocent civilians, resulting in the loss 
        of approximately 70,000 Syrian lives and the displacement of 
        approximately 5,500,000 civilians and over 1,300,000 women, children, 
        and men who have fled Syria;
Whereas the international community, led by the United Nations, has issued dire 
        warnings regarding the severity of the growing humanitarian crisis, 
        calling for the international community to use all available resources 
        to end the crisis that is destroying families, homes, and cities;
Whereas the Government of Jordan has maintained open borders with Syria, despite 
        a heavy burden of hosting and providing for the security and basic needs 
        of approximately 500,000 refugees, with that number growing by 2,000 to 
        4,000 persons per day;
Whereas three-quarters of the refugees are women and children, and 1 in 5 
        refugees is under the age of 4; and
Whereas the Government of Jordan has worked in partnership with the 
        international community, particularly the United Nations High 
        Commissioner for Refugees to provide for the needs of vulnerable refugee 
        populations, including clean water, food, shelter, health care, and 
        education: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the people and Government of the Hashemite 
        Kingdom of Jordan for their continued friendship with the 
        United States and commitment to peace, security, and stability 
        in the Middle East;
            (2) commends the Government of Jordan for its response to 
        the Syrian humanitarian crisis by hosting and caring for 
        refugees fleeing violence from the conflict with the al-Assad 
        regime; and
            (3) expresses a firm commitment to support the Government 
        of Jordan as it faces regional challenges and works toward a 
        more peaceful and stable Middle East.
                                 <all>