[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 50 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 50

Reaffirming a strong commitment to the United States-Australia alliance 
                             relationship.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 6, 2017

  Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Markey, Mr. Rubio, Mr. 
Durbin, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Blunt) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Reaffirming a strong commitment to the United States-Australia alliance 
                             relationship.

Whereas Australia is a fellow democracy and vital partner of the United States;
Whereas the United States and Australia share core values as well as deep 
        cultural, security, and people-to-people ties;
Whereas Australia has been a treaty ally of the United States since the signing 
        of the Australia-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951;
Whereas an alliance bond is a sacred vow of friendship and trust, and Australia 
        has always been a faithful and reliable partner to the United States;
Whereas United States-Australia defense and intelligence ties and cooperation 
        are exceptionally close, and Australian forces have fought together with 
        the United States military in every significant conflict since World War 
        I and over 100,000 Australian servicemembers have paid the highest price 
        in the course of their service alongside United States allies;
Whereas Australia was one of the first countries to commit troops to United 
        States military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq after September 11, 
        2001;
Whereas Australia is a close partner of the United States, sharing information 
        essential to the defense and security of the two countries, including 
        through the Five Eyes intelligence community;
Whereas the United States-Australia alliance is an anchor for peace and 
        stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region and around the world;
Whereas, United States and Australia signed the U.S.-Australia Force Posture 
        Agreement at the annual Australia-United States Ministerial 
        consultations (AUSMIN) in August 2014, paving the way for even closer 
        defense and security cooperation;
Whereas, on October 2015, United States and Australia defense agencies signed a 
        Joint Statement on Defense Cooperation to serve as a guide for future 
        cooperation;
Whereas Australia has welcomed proposals to reposition United States Marines to 
        maintain Marine forces in the western Pacific and improve the United 
        States strategic posture in the Indo-Asia Pacific region;
Whereas Australia has led peacekeeping efforts in the Indo-Asia Pacific, 
        including in Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands;
Whereas Australia and the United States share strategic interests in the Indo-
        Asia Pacific region and globally, and have worked together to promote 
        these shared goals and objectives;
Whereas the United States and Australia have been free trade agreement partners 
        since 2005, and the United States has a positive trade balance with 
        Australia;
Whereas robust United States-Australia defense cooperation contributes not only 
        to the mutual defense of the two countries but also to American jobs;
Whereas more than 300,000 United States jobs are supported by United States 
        exports to Australia and nearly 9,000 Australian companies sell or 
        operate in the United States;
Whereas the United States and Australia work closely in the numerous global and 
        regional fora, including the World Trade Organization and the Asia-
        Pacific Economic Cooperation forum;
Whereas Australia shares many of the United States concerns in the struggle 
        against Islamist militancy in Southeast Asia and beyond, and is part of 
        the global coalition to defeat the ``so-called Islamic State (IS)''; and
Whereas the United States and Australia have enjoyed a close relationship over 
        many successive Republican and Democratic administrations: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the strong alliance relationship between 
        Australia and the United States;
            (2) supports continued diplomatic, military, and economic 
        cooperation between Australia and the United States; and
            (3) reaffirms the importance of a United States-Australia 
        relationship based on mutual respect and befitting a close and 
        longstanding United States alliance partner crucial to the 
        preservation of United States national interests in the Indo-
        Asia Pacific region and around the world.
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