[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 217 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 217

Welcoming Prime Minister Youssef Chahed of the Tunisian Republic on his 
first official visit to the United States, congratulating the people of 
 the Tunisian Republic on their embrace of democracy after decades of 
             dictatorship, and encouraging future reforms.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 11, 2017

 Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Coons, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Murphy, 
  Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Perdue, Mr. 
 Cotton, and Mr. McCain) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Welcoming Prime Minister Youssef Chahed of the Tunisian Republic on his 
first official visit to the United States, congratulating the people of 
 the Tunisian Republic on their embrace of democracy after decades of 
             dictatorship, and encouraging future reforms.

Whereas, on December 17, 2010, Mohammad Bouazizi, a young fruit vendor in Sidi 
        Bouzid, set himself on fire to protest his unjust treatment by the 
        regime of Tunisian President Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, and in his death 
        inspired the ``Jasmine Revolution'' in the Tunisian Republic and popular 
        revolutions across the Arab world of citizens demanding transparency, 
        reform, and representation;
Whereas, on January 14, 2011, the peaceful mass protests of the Jasmine 
        Revolution successfully brought to an end the authoritarian rule of 
        President Ben Ali;
Whereas, in the aftermath of Ben Ali's resignation, Tunisians initiated a 
        peaceful, consensus-based, inclusive, and civilian-directed transition 
        to democracy;
Whereas, on January 26, 2014, the Tunisian Republic adopted its first 
        constitution drafted by a democratically elected governing body, 
        formally ending a period of transitional governments;
Whereas the new constitution of the Tunisian Republic enshrines gender equality 
        through enumerated rights and responsibilities, protects the rights of 
        minorities, and specifically outlaws religiously motivated violence;
Whereas, on October 26, 2014, the Tunisian Republic held its first parliamentary 
        elections under the new constitution, which the international community 
        praised as free and fair;
Whereas, on December 31, 2014, after winning free and fair Presidential 
        elections, Beiji Caid Essebsi was inaugurated as the first freely 
        elected President of the Tunisian Republic;
Whereas, on October 9, 2015, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Tunisian 
        National Dialogue Quartet, a coalition of four civil society 
        organizations, the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize for the coalition's work in 
        building on the promise of the 2011 Jasmine Revolution and ensuring the 
        transition of the Tunisian Republic into a democracy did not descend 
        into violence;
Whereas President Essebsi, Prime Minister Chahed, and other political leaders of 
        the Tunisian Republic have formed a national unity government to work in 
        the national interest of the Tunisian Republic;
Whereas the political evolution of the Tunisian Republic stands as a model for 
        citizens of other states aspiring to establish the institutions of 
        democracy after a history of autocratic rule;
Whereas, on March 18, 2015, a terrorist attack on the Bardo National Museum 
        killed 21 people;
Whereas, on July 26, 2015, a terrorist attack on a beach in the town of Sousse 
        left 38 people, including 30 British nationals, dead, and dealt a blow 
        to tourism in the Tunisian Republic, an important industry upon which 
        the economy of the Tunisian Republic depends;
Whereas a terrorist attack on November 24, 2015, on the Presidential Guard of 
        the Tunisian Republic killed 12 people;
Whereas, in the aftermath of these attacks, citizens and leaders of the Tunisian 
        Republic have reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue, pluralism, and 
        democracy;
Whereas the Tunisian Republic continues to face serious threats to its security 
        from violent extremist groups operating within the Tunisian Republic as 
        well as in neighboring countries;
Whereas, in July 2015, the United States designated the Tunisian Republic as a 
        major non-NATO ally;
Whereas the Government of the Tunisian Republic, as a member of the Global 
        Coalition to Counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), is 
        seeking to reduce the significant number of Tunisian citizens who become 
        foreign fighters for ISIS;
Whereas the Tunisian Republic faces economic challenges, including high 
        inflation and high unemployment, especially among young Tunisians;
Whereas Prime Minister Chahed has committed to combating corruption and 
        facilitating necessary economic reforms for the prosperity of the people 
        of the Tunisian Republic;
Whereas the United States Government is committed to continuing a strong 
        economic partnership with the Tunisian Republic as the Government of the 
        Tunisian Republic undertakes reforms to transform its economy to meet 
        the aspirations of all citizens of the Tunisian Republic;
Whereas it is the interest of the United States, and consistent with the values 
        of the United States, to support the aspirations of the people of the 
        Tunisian Republic in developing a pluralist democracy and transparent, 
        effective institutions;
Whereas the Governments and people of the United States and the Tunisian 
        Republic have enjoyed friendly relations for more than 200 years;
Whereas, in accordance with the U.S.-Tunisia Strategic Partnership, both 
        countries are dedicated to working together to promote economic 
        development and business opportunities in the Tunisian Republic, 
        education for the advancement of long-term development in the Tunisian 
        Republic, and increased security cooperation to address common threats 
        in the Tunisian Republic and across the region; and
Whereas the United States Government should provide a level of funding to 
        strongly assist and reinforce the promising transition of the Tunisian 
        Republic into a democratic, stable, and prosperous nation: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes Prime Minister Chahed on his first official 
        visit to the United States;
            (2) commends the political leaders of the Tunisian Republic 
        for their willingness to compromise and work together in the 
        national interest and form a national unity government;
            (3) reaffirms the commitment of the United States 
        Government to the Tunisian Republic, including a commitment to 
        provide appropriate levels of assistance, in support of the 
        ongoing transition of the Tunisian Republic to an inclusive, 
        prosperous, and secure democracy;
            (4) condemns all acts of terrorism, and extends condolences 
        to the families of victims of terrorism and to the people and 
        Government of the Tunisian Republic;
            (5) commends the people and Government of the Tunisian 
        Republic for their resilience in the face of terrorist attacks 
        and their enduring commitment to a free, democratic, and 
        peaceful Tunisian Republic;
            (6) encourages Prime Minister Chahed and the parliament of 
        the Tunisian Republic to work together to accelerate economic 
        reforms and anti-corruption measures;
            (7) looks forward to the continued implementation of the 
        2014 constitution of the Tunisian Republic, including the new 
        protections of civil liberties;
            (8) urges the authorities of the Tunisian Republic to 
        continue to make every effort to prevent the continued flow of 
        Tunisian jihadist ``foreign fighters'' to Syria and Iraq;
            (9) calls on the neighbors and partners of the Tunisian 
        Republic to work in concert with the Government of the Tunisian 
        Republic to counter terrorist threats, secure borders, and 
        support the democratic transition of the Tunisian Republic;
            (10) strongly urges the Government of the Tunisian Republic 
        to cease support for all resolutions and other measures that 
        discriminate against or otherwise target Israel in the United 
        Nations Education, Science, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 
        and other United Nations organizations; and
            (11) reaffirms the historic and continuing friendship 
        between the people of the United States and the people of the 
        Tunisian Republic.
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