[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 685 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 685

  Welcoming President Santiago Pena of Paraguay and commemorating the 
bilateral relationship between the Republic of Paraguay and the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2024

  Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. 
Merkley) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Welcoming President Santiago Pena of Paraguay and commemorating the 
bilateral relationship between the Republic of Paraguay and the United 
                                States.

Whereas 2024 marks 163 years of official bilateral relations between the United 
        States and the Republic of Paraguay;
Whereas the shared values of democracy and the rule of law have always 
        underpinned the bilateral relationship starting with the Treaty of 
        Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation of 1859, done at Washington March 
        12, 1860;
Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed an especially strong 
        partnership since Paraguay's transition to a democratically elected 
        civilian government in 1989;
Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed bilateral economic 
        cooperation, especially under the United States-Paraguay Trade and 
        Investment Framework Agreement, done at Washington January 13, 2017;
Whereas the Parana River accounts for 80 percent of Paraguay's trade and is a 
        lifeline to many communities;
Whereas the United States Senate appreciates mutual collaboration with Paraguay 
        across many sectors, including supporting United States businesses 
        operating in Paraguay and $2,400,000,000 in trade in goods;
Whereas the United States is the second largest foreign investor in Paraguay, 
        with hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign direct investment in 
        Paraguay;
Whereas the United States has strongly supported and will continue to support 
        democratic institutions, the rule of law, and economic opportunity in 
        Paraguay, including working collaboratively to tackle corruption and 
        support indigenous peoples, afro-descendants, and youth in Paraguay;
Whereas the Governments of Paraguay and the United States have effectively 
        partnered to address shared priorities across the hemisphere, including 
        countering human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, 
        and other illicit cross-border activities, as well as increasing 
        cooperation in security and defense, cybersecurity, and promoting 
        exchange programs;
Whereas Paraguay and the United States are aligned on key foreign policy 
        priorities beyond the hemisphere;
Whereas Paraguay joined the United States and other democratic-oriented 
        countries in key multilateral fora, including the United Nations and the 
        Organization of American States to condemn Russia's 2022 invasion of 
        Ukraine;
Whereas Paraguay has maintained a consistent and uninterrupted diplomatic 
        relationship with Taiwan based on shared democratic values;
Whereas, alongside the United States, the Government of Paraguay has 
        consistently supported Israel's right to self-defense;
Whereas the people and the Government of the United States celebrates the 
        bilateral relationship with Paraguay and encourage a continuing close 
        relationship;
Whereas Paraguayans in the United States have contributed and enriched American 
        culture and have become an important part of United States society; and
Whereas President Santiago Pena was elected President of Paraguay in April 2023 
        in free and fair elections: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes the visit of President Santiago Pena;
            (2) commemorates 163 years of official diplomatic relations 
        between the United States and the Republic of Paraguay;
            (3) recognizes the historical partnership between the 
        United States and Paraguay rooted in shared values of democracy 
        and the rule of law;
            (4) reaffirms bilateral cooperation between the Governments 
        of the United States and Paraguay to address pressing issues 
        across the hemisphere;
            (5) calls on the Department of State, the United States 
        International Development Corporation, and the United States 
        Agency For International Development to support efforts to 
        improve the navigability of the Parana River through dredging 
        and port modernization;
            (6) expresses support for continuing to work towards shared 
        foreign policy priorities; and
            (7) celebrates the contributions that Paraguayans and 
        Paraguayan-Americans have made in the United States.
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