[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 622 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 622

   Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Security 
 Treaty among Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 3, 2021

    Mr. Gallagher (for himself, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Wenstrup, and Mr. 
Panetta) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Commemorating the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Security 
 Treaty among Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America.

Whereas the United States and Australia signed the Security Treaty among 
        Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America (referred to in 
        this resolution as the ``ANZUS Treaty'') in San Francisco on September 
        1, 1951;
Whereas the United States Senate provided advice and consent for ratification of 
        the ANZUS Treaty on March 20, 1952, and the ANZUS Treaty entered into 
        force on April 29, 1952;
Whereas the signing of the ANZUS Treaty formalized an alliance that began when 
        United States and Australian forces fought together and won the Battle 
        of Hamel on the Western Front, France on July 4, 1918, under the command 
        of Australian General John Monash;
Whereas since 1915, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have a 
        longstanding history of supporting each other in the realm of defense 
        and security, fighting alongside each other during World War I, World 
        War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and in Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas more than 100,000 Australian and New Zealander service members have paid 
        the ultimate sacrifice alongside their brothers and sisters in arms from 
        the United States;
Whereas Australia is the only party to the treaty to invoke Article IV of the 
        ANZUS Treaty, done so on September 14, 2001, in response to the 
        terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, in a show 
        of stalwart support for the American people;
Whereas the Force Posture Agreement between the Government of Australia and the 
        Government of the United States of America, done at Sydney August 12, 
        2014, enables closer security and defense cooperation between the two 
        allies;
Whereas the United States and Australia conduct diverse joint military exercises 
        and training to enhance capabilities throughout the world, and Australia 
        hosts United States Marines at its bases in the Northern Territory;
Whereas nearly 600 Australian defense personnel work alongside the United States 
        military in 31 states and the District of Columbia;
Whereas the United States and Australia continue to strengthen their mutual 
        security interests, including through the biennial Talisman Sabre 
        exercise, a joint bilateral military exercise most recently concluded in 
        July 2021, which included forces from other important allies and 
        partners, such as New Zealand;
Whereas in 2020, Australia committed to $438,000,000,000 in defense funding over 
        10 years, including $206,000,000,000 to grow the Australian Defense 
        Force's self-reliance and to enhance its combined deterrent capabilities 
        with the United States military;
Whereas approximately 60 percent of Australia's defense capability is sourced 
        from the United States;
Whereas the United States and Australia work closely in a number of 
        international fora, including the Group of Twenty;
Whereas the United States and Australia address shared strategic and security 
        concerns through the Quad, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
        (ASEAN)-centered regional architecture and emerging groupings, including 
        the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the Trilateral 
        Strategic Dialogue;
Whereas cooperation between the United States and Australia is vital to the 
        security of our digital information and critical infrastructure from the 
        malicious activities of state and non-state actors, through deep 
        operational collaboration and policy innovation;
Whereas the United States and Australia work to improve outcomes for women and 
        girls in conflict areas and to ensure that the perspectives of women are 
        included in peace and security efforts, through the implementation of 
        the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-68; 131 Stat. 
        1202) and Australia's National Action Plan for Women, Peace, and 
        Security of 2021;
Whereas the United States and Australia have further integrated their economies 
        since entering into the United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement on 
        January 1, 2005, after which 2-way investment has tripled and 2-way 
        trade has doubled, benefitting both countries;
Whereas the United States and Australia have remained steadfast partners in 
        space for more than 60 years, including through collaboration between 
        the Australian Space Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration;
Whereas the United States and Australia have maintained strong bilateral 
        research linkages, collaborating in key areas such as astronomical and 
        space sciences, materials engineering, mathematics, biochemistry, 
        psychology and medicine, with over 80,000 co-authored publications 
        during the past 5 years;
Whereas the United States and Australia share strong people-to-people linkages, 
        with the United States providing the third-largest number of tourists to 
        Australia in 2019;
Whereas, on May 13, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed the 
        United States ``unshakeable commitment'' to the United States-Australia 
        alliance as ``an anchor for peace, security, and stability in the Indo-
        Pacific for decades'';
Whereas New Zealand and the United States have enjoyed strong ties for decades, 
        bolstered by shared cultural traditions, values, and common interests;
Whereas, on November 5, 2010, the United States and New Zealand signed the 
        Wellington Declaration, which was then enhanced in 2012 by the signing 
        of the Washington Declaration, strengthening the defense relationship by 
        providing a framework and strategic guidance for security cooperation 
        and defense dialogues;
Whereas in November 2016, the destroyer USS Sampson visited New Zealand at the 
        request of the New Zealand Government, the first bilateral ship visit in 
        more than 30 years, providing humanitarian assistance and disaster 
        relief to affected communities in the aftermath of the 7.8-magnitude 
        Kaikoura earthquake;
Whereas the United States, Australia's, and New Zealand's shared values of 
        democracy, respect for human rights, and adherence to the rule of law 
        provide a strong foundation for broad multilateral cooperation;
Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand share information 
        essential for security and defense through the Five Eyes Intelligence 
        Oversight and Review Council, a partnership that has expanded to include 
        collaboration on economic and homeland security initiatives;
Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand remain resolute partners 
        in addressing environmental issues;
Whereas bilateral and multilateral cooperation among the United States, 
        Australia, and New Zealand has evolved to meet contemporary challenges, 
        including global health security and pandemic preparedness and response, 
        supply chain resilience, environmental and climate-related challenges, 
        and the development, promotion and protection of emerging technologies;
Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand are committed to free and 
        fair trade and the international rules-based trading system by working 
        in collaboration through various mechanisms, including bilateral trade 
        and investment agreements, the World Trade Organization, and the Asia-
        Pacific Economic Cooperation, and by continuing to address future 
        challenges such as digital trade;
Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have worked together 
        within the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS to counter terrorism, restore 
        regional stability, and combat the spread of violent extremist ideology;
Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand strive for a free, open, 
        prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific, unimpeded by economic coercion;
Whereas, on April 22, 2021, Secretary Blinken stated, ``Since 1915, U.S., 
        Australian, and New Zealand service members have served alongside one 
        another in many global conflicts. Through our strong and deep 
        interpersonal ties, the partnership between our nations continues to 
        grow each year along with the realization that the kinship our armed 
        forces share is more important than ever in helping ensuring a free, 
        open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.''; and
Whereas September 1, 2021 marks 70 years since the signing of the ANZUS Treaty: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commemorates the 70th anniversary of the signing of the 
        ANZUS Treaty;
            (2) recognizes the value of the longstanding security 
        commitments between the United States and Australia, and 
        reaffirms the United States commitments under the ANZUS Treaty;
            (3) supports new opportunities to deepen and broaden 
        military and security relations among the United States, 
        Australia, and New Zealand;
            (4) supports continued diplomatic, security, and scientific 
        cooperation among the United States, Australia, and New Zealand 
        to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region; and
            (5) supports new opportunities to deepen and broaden 
        economic ties among the United States, Australia, and New 
        Zealand to boost our respective competitiveness and to respond 
        to attempts at economic coercion through mutual action and 
        building resilience in the Indo-Pacific region.
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