[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 176 Introduced in House (IH)]
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114th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 176
Honoring in praise and remembrance the extraordinary life, steady
leadership, and remarkable, 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of
Thailand.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 30, 2016
Mr. Salmon (for himself, Mr. Heck of Nevada, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Judy
Chu of California, Mr. Rohrabacher, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Gabbard, Mr.
Carter of Georgia, Mr. Barton, Mr. Marino, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Honda, Mr.
Bishop of Michigan, and Mr. Peters) submitted the following concurrent
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Honoring in praise and remembrance the extraordinary life, steady
leadership, and remarkable, 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of
Thailand.
Whereas His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej enjoyed a special relationship with
the United States, having been born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1927
while his father was completing his medical studies at Harvard
University;
Whereas King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended to the throne on June 9, 1946, and
celebrated his 70th year as King of Thailand in 2016;
Whereas, at the time of his death, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the longest-
serving head of state in the world and the longest-reigning monarch in
the history of Thailand;
Whereas His Majesty dedicated his life to the well-being of the Thai people and
the sustainable development of Thailand;
Whereas His Majesty led by example and virtue with the interest of the people at
heart, earning His Majesty the deep reverence of the Thai people and the
respect of people around the world;
Whereas His Majesty reached out to the poorest and most vulnerable people of
Thailand, regardless of their status, ethnicity, or religion, listened
to their problems, and empowered them to take their lives into their own
hands;
Whereas, in 2006, His Majesty received the first United Nations Human
Development Award, recognizing him as the ``Development King'' for the
extraordinary contribution of His Majesty to human development;
Whereas His Majesty was recognized internationally in the areas of intellectual
property, innovation, and creativity, and in 2006, the World
Intellectual Property Organization presented His Majesty with the Global
Leadership Award;
Whereas His Majesty was an anchor of peace and stability for Thailand during the
turbulent decades of the Cold War;
Whereas His Majesty was always a trusted friend of the United States in
advancing a strong and enduring alliance and partnership between the
United States and Thailand;
Whereas His Majesty addressed a joint session of Congress on June 29, 1960,
during which His Majesty reaffirmed the strong friendship and goodwill
between the United States and Thailand;
Whereas the United States and Thailand remain strong security allies, as
memorialized in the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty (commonly
known as the ``Manila Pact of 1954'') and later expanded under the
Thanat-Rusk Communique of 1962;
Whereas for decades, Thailand has hosted the annual Cobra Gold military
exercises, the largest multilateral exercises in Asia, to improve
regional defense cooperation;
Whereas Thailand has allowed the Armed Forces of the United States to use the
Utapao Air Base to coordinate international humanitarian relief efforts;
Whereas President George W. Bush designated Thailand as a major non-NATO ally on
December 30, 2003;
Whereas close cooperation and mutual sacrifices in the face of common threats
have bound the United States and Thailand together and established a
firm foundation for the advancement of a mutually beneficial
relationship; and
Whereas, on October 13, 2016, at the age of 88, His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej passed away, leaving behind a lasting legacy for Thailand:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the United States--
(1) honors the extraordinary life, steady leadership, and
remarkable, 70-year reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej of Thailand;
(2) extends our deepest sympathies to the members of the
Royal Family and to the people of Thailand in their
bereavement; and
(3) celebrates the alliance and friendship between Thailand
and the United States that reflects common interests, a 183-
year diplomatic history, and a multifaceted partnership that
has contributed to peace, stability, and prosperity in the
Asia-Pacific region.
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