Honoring the 25th anniversary of the partnership between Guam and the Republic of the Philippines under the State Partnership Program.

Honoring the 25th anniversary of the partnership between Guam and the Republic of the Philippines under the State Partnership Program.

Whereas, on July 4, 1946, the United States and the Philippines have maintained enduring diplomatic relations, founded on the basis of security and economic interests, alongside close bonds between our two nations;

Whereas the State Partnership Program supports the security cooperation objectives of the United States by carrying out activities to strengthen partner capacity and enhance United States relations, while increasing the readiness of the United States and partner forces to meet evolving security challenges in the Indo-Pacific;

Whereas, since February 18, 2000, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Guam National Guard have maintained an enduring partnership under the State Partnership Program;

Whereas the United States Indo-Pacific Command, serving as the primary Geographic Combatant Command for the Guam National Guard and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has provided oversight and support for the State Partnership Program;

Whereas the Philippines was the first established USPACOM partner country in collaboration with Guam and Hawaii;

Whereas the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Guam National Guard’s State Partnership Program aims to foster regional friendship, strengthen mutual understanding, and promote regional security in the Indo-Pacific;

Whereas, over the past 25 years, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Guam National Guard have collaborated in joint training exercises, including disaster risk management and emergency response, and critical infrastructure projects, and in recent years, the Guam National Guard has provided the Armed Forces of the Philippines with information on Guam’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program in order to assist the Armed Forces of the Philippines in crafting its own program;

Whereas the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Guam National Guard’s State Partnership Program enables a strengthened United States military presence in the Philippines through the increased rotation of United States military personnel and assistance devoted to strengthening the territorial defense and humanitarian and maritime operations of the Philippines;

Whereas, from June 6–10 2024, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Guam National Guard’s State Partnership Program conducted a joint mass-casualty field training exercise;

Whereas, on June 15, 2023, Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a joint mass-casualty exercise with the Guam National Guard’s State Partnership Program on Mactan Island, Philippines;

Whereas, on September 14, 2014, a turnover ceremony was held for infrastructures devasted by natural disasters and subsequently rebuilt through the joint efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Guam National Guard, and the Hawaii National Guard, under the State Partnership Program;

Whereas these exercises have strategic value for the United States and the Philippines, increase confidence in the alliance, and provide opportunities for operational cooperation to advance shared security priorities;

Whereas the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Guam National Guard’s State Partnership Program serves as a deterrent against increasing aggression by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea;

Whereas the 25th anniversary of this partnership serves as a testament to the success of the State Partnership Program in enhancing United States-Philippine relations, promoting regional security, and ensuring our shared commitment of a free and open Indo-Pacific; and

Whereas the Republic of the Philippines has been recognized with awards for joint military operations carried out in cooperation with the United States, and acts of heroism and service: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the cooperation and beneficial relationship between the Republic of the Philippines and the State of Guam and the steadfast partnership between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States over the past 25 years through the State Partnership Program;

(2) expresses appreciation for the commitment of the Armed Forces of the Republic of the Philippines to the Guam National Guard in advancing peace, stability, and mutual understanding;

(3) expresses continued support for the State Partnership Program between the Territory of Guam and the Republic of the Philippines;

(4) commends the Republic of the Philippines for increasing its cooperation in regional security, including collaboration that may enhance regional defense posture;

(5) highlights the strengths of defense cooperation, capability development, and the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines; and

(6) expresses support for possible State Partnership Programs between the Republic of the Philippines and other States and Territories of the United States, to bolster the efforts of the State Partnership Program between the territory of Guam and the Republic of the Philippines.