[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 606 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 606

 To recognize the 203rd anniversary of the independence of Greece and 
         celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 21, 2024

Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
  Whitehouse, Mr. Schumer, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Reed, Mr. 
   Bennet, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Cardin, Mr. 
Rounds, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Markey) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 To recognize the 203rd anniversary of the independence of Greece and 
         celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States.

Whereas the people of ancient Greece developed the concept of democracy, in 
        which the supreme power to govern was vested in the people;
Whereas the founding fathers of the United States, many of whom read Greek 
        political philosophy in the original Greek language, drew heavily on the 
        political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming the 
        representative democracy of the United States;
Whereas Petros Mavromichalis, the former Commander-in-Chief of Greece and a 
        founder of the modern Greek state, said to the citizens of the United 
        States in 1821, ``It is in your land that liberty has fixed her abode 
        and . . . imitating you, we shall imitate our ancestors and be thought 
        worthy of them if we succeed in resembling you.'';
Whereas, in an October 21, 1823, letter to Greek scholar Adamantios Koraes 
        discussing the ongoing Greek struggle for independence, Thomas Jefferson 
        wrote that ``[n]o people sympathise more feelingly than ours with the 
        sufferings of your countrymen, none offer more sincere and ardent 
        prayers to heaven for their success'';
Whereas, on January 19, 1824, in a speech in support of his resolution to send 
        an American envoy to Greece amid its struggle for independence, then-
        Congressman Daniel Webster recognized ``the struggle of an interesting 
        and gallant people . . . contending against fearful odds, for being, and 
        for the common privilege of human nature'';
Whereas individual American Philhellenes, including future abolitionist Dr. 
        Samuel Gridley Howe, future abolitionist Jonathan Peckham Miller, and 
        George Jarvis, traveled to Greece to fight alongside and provide aid to 
        the Greek people in their struggle for independence;
Whereas the people of the United States generously sent humanitarian assistance 
        to the people of Greece during their struggle for independence, often 
        through philhellene committees;
Whereas Greece heroically resisted Axis forces at a crucial moment in World War 
        II, forcing Adolf Hitler to change his timeline and delaying the attack 
        on Russia;
Whereas Winston Churchill said that ``if there had not been the virtue and 
        courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War II 
        would have been'' and ``no longer will we say that Greeks fight like 
        heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks'';
Whereas hundreds of thousands of Greeks were killed during World War II;
Whereas Greece consistently allied with the United States in major international 
        conflicts throughout its history as a modern state;
Whereas the United States has demonstrated its support for the trilateral 
        partnership of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus by enacting into law the 
        Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (title 
        II of division J of Public Law 116-94) and through joint engagement with 
        Greece, Israel, and Cyprus in the ``3+1'' format;
Whereas this support was bolstered in the United States-Greece Defense and 
        Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021 (subtitle B of title XIII of 
        Public Law 117-81), establishing a 3+1 Interparliamentary Group to 
        discuss the expansion of co-operation in other areas of common concern;
Whereas the United States and Greece's commitment to security cooperation led to 
        the conclusion of a Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, which was 
        updated in 2021, in order to enhance defense ties between the two 
        countries and promote stability in the broader region;
Whereas the ongoing United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue reflects Greece's 
        importance to the United States as a geostrategic partner, especially in 
        the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans, and as an important NATO ally;
Whereas, on November 13, 2023, the United States Agency for International 
        Development and Greece signed a memorandum of understanding to advance 
        energy security and cooperation in the Western Balkans;
Whereas Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Greece in January 2024 and 
        met with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and in February 
        2024, Foreign Minister of Greece George Gerapetritis visited Washington, 
        DC, for the fifth United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue and along with 
        Secretary Blinken, reaffirmed the importance of the United States-Greece 
        relationship and pledged to continue and increase cooperation based on 
        shared values and interests;
Whereas, in the framework of the fifth United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue, 
        on February 9, 2024, Greece became the 35th country to sign onto the 
        Artemis Accords, affirming its commitment to a peaceful, sustainable, 
        and transparent cooperation in space;
Whereas Greece and the United States have joined their democratic allies in 
        standing in support of Ukraine following Russia's unprovoked invasion 
        and in March 2024, from Odessa, Ukraine, Prime Minister of Greece 
        Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Greece ``has consistently maintained from the 
        very first moment, because in the 21st century no war can bleed the 
        heart of Europe, nor can violate the defined borders and territorial 
        integrity of an independent country'';
Whereas the Government and people of Greece actively participate in peacekeeping 
        and peace-building operations conducted by international organizations, 
        including the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
        the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation 
        in Europe;
Whereas Greece remains an integral part of the European Union;
Whereas the Greek-American community has greatly contributed to American society 
        and has helped forge the strong ties between the United States and 
        Greece;
Whereas the Governments and people of Greece and the United States are at the 
        forefront of efforts to advance freedom, democracy, peace, stability, 
        and human rights;
Whereas those efforts and similar ideals have forged a close bond between the 
        peoples of Greece and the United States; and
Whereas it is proper and desirable for the United States to celebrate March 25, 
        2024, Greek Independence Day, with the people of Greece and to reaffirm 
        the democratic principles from which those two great countries were 
        founded: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) extends sincere congratulations and best wishes to the 
        people of Greece as they celebrate the 203rd anniversary of the 
        independence of Greece;
            (2) expresses support for the principles of democratic 
        governance to which the people of Greece are committed;
            (3) commends the Greek-American community for its 
        contributions to the United States and its role as a bridge 
        between the two countries;
            (4) notes the important role that Greece has played in the 
        wider European region and in the community of nations since 
        gaining its independence 203 years ago;
            (5) appreciates the ever-stronger bilateral relationship, 
        based on shared values and interests, including the important 
        energy partnership that exists between the United States and 
        Greece, and the important role that Greece plays in bolstering 
        European energy security; and
            (6) commends Greece's support for the people of Ukraine in 
        their fight for freedom against Russian aggression.
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