[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 140 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 140

Commemorating 200 years of official relations between the United States 
                 of America and the Republic of Chile.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 30, 2023

  Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Hagerty, and Mr. Murphy) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating 200 years of official relations between the United States 
                 of America and the Republic of Chile.

Whereas January 2023 marked two centuries of bilateral relations between the 
        United States of America and the Republic of Chile;
Whereas the United States established official relations with Chile on January 
        27, 1823, when the Senate confirmed the appointment of Heman Allen as 
        the first United States Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary 
        to Chile;
Whereas the United States legation in Santiago, Chile, was elevated to embassy 
        status on October 1, 1914;
Whereas Chile is one of the strongest partners of the United States in Latin 
        America, with a partnership grounded in mutual respect, shared 
        democratic values, the defense of human rights, and the pursuit of 
        economic prosperity and shared security interests;
Whereas the United States and Chile have historically enjoyed strong commercial 
        and investment ties, and, on January 1, 2004, the United States-Chile 
        Free Trade Agreement entered into force and further contributed to 
        economic growth for the people of the United States and Chile;
Whereas, in 1955, Chile was the first country in Latin America to establish a 
        bilateral Fulbright Commission for academic exchange of knowledge and 
        expertise;
Whereas Chile was the first South American country to join the Organization for 
        Economic Cooperation and Development in 2010;
Whereas the bilateral relationship between the United States and Chile has 
        contributed to tourism in both countries, including through the visa 
        waiver program under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
        (8 U.S.C. 1187), of which Chile is the only Latin American participant;
Whereas the United States and Chile collaborate regularly on efforts to promote 
        democracy, human rights, security, and development, including through 
        the High-Level Bilateral Political Consultative Mechanism, and the U.S.-
        Chile Defense Consultative Committee;
Whereas Chile and the United States have a long history of strong cooperation on 
        science and technology, including the more than $800,000,000 in funding 
        contributed by the National Science Foundation to the Atacama Large 
        Millimeter/submillimeter Array;
Whereas the National Science Foundation has collaborated with the Government of 
        Chile toward the advancement of research in the Antarctic region through 
        the United States Antarctica Program and the Chilean Antarctic 
        Institute;
Whereas the United States and Chile have strong cooperation on the development 
        of critical minerals and renewable energy, and Chile stands out as a 
        global leader in renewable energy, with renewable energy accounting for 
        approximately 59 percent of the installed electricity capacity in Chile;
Whereas the United States and Chile collaborate on environmental stewardship and 
        conservation matters, and the Government of Chile led the establishment 
        of the Americas for the Protection of the Ocean coalition at the Ninth 
        Summit of the Americas in June 2022, which has strengthened efforts to 
        advance marine conservation in South America; and
Whereas Chileans in the United States have enriched and added to the way of life 
        of the United States and become an integral part of the cultural history 
        of the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) commemorates the 200th anniversary of the establishment 
        of the official relationship between the United States of 
        America and the Republic of Chile;
            (2) recognizes the historical partnership between the 
        United States and Chile, and reaffirms long-lasting 
        collaboration with Chile to address mutual challenges and 
        enhance the prosperity and security of the people of the United 
        States and Chile;
            (3) reaffirms bilateral cooperation between the United 
        States and Chile to promote the advancement of science and 
        technology and environmental sustainability;
            (4) expresses support for the shared principles of 
        democratic governance, human rights, and rule of law 
        underpinning the relationship between the United States and 
        Chile; and
            (5) celebrates the contributions that Chileans and Chilean 
        Americans have made in the United States.
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