[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 21, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               WELCOMING THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES

  Mr. BROWNBACK. I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 152 which was submitted earlier 
today and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 152) welcoming the President of the 
     Philippines to the United States, expressing gratitude to the 
     Government of the Philippines for its strong cooperation with 
     the United States in the campaign against terrorism and its 
     membership in the coalition to disarm Iraq, and reaffirming 
     the commitment of Congress to the continued expansion of 
     friendship and cooperation between the United States and the 
     Philippines.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BROWNBACK. I ask unanimous consent the resolution and the 
preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 152) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 152

       Whereas the United States and the Philippines have shared a 
     special relationship as close friends for more than a 
     century;
       Whereas the United States and the Philippines have been 
     allies for more than 50 years under the Mutual Defense Treaty 
     which was signed at Washington on August 30, 1951 (3 UST 
     3947);
       Whereas the United States and the Philippines share a 
     common commitment to democracy, human rights, and freedom;
       Whereas the United States and the Philippines share a 
     common goal of bringing peace, stability and prosperity to 
     the Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency 
     Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was the first leader in Asia to 
     commit full support for the United States and its war against 
     global terror after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
     2001;
       Whereas the Governments of the United States and the 
     Philippines have effectively joined forces to combat the 
     terrorist threat in Southeast Asia and are collaborating on a 
     comprehensive political, economic, and security program 
     designed to defeat terrorist threats in the Philippines, 
     including those from Muslim extremists, Communist insurgents 
     and international terrorists;
       Whereas the Governments of the United States and the 
     Philippines believe that, in light of growing evidence that 
     links exist between entities in the Philippines and the 
     international terrorist groups, the two countries should 
     enhance their cooperative efforts to combat international 
     terrorism;
       Whereas Government of the United States welcomes and will 
     assist the efforts of the Government of the Philippines to 
     forge a lasting peace, protect human rights, and promote 
     economic development on the island of Mindanao;
       Whereas President Arroyo has fully supported the United 
     States' position on Iraq, including joining the coalition to 
     enact change in Iraq and arranging to send a humanitarian 
     contingent to help the newly-liberated people of that 
     country;
       Whereas the United States welcomes the strong statements by 
     President Arroyo on the need for North Korea to accept 
     international norms on non-proliferation of weapons of mass 
     destruction;
       Whereas the United States fully supports the campaign of 
     President Arroyo to implement economic and political reforms 
     and to build a strong Republic in the Philippines to defend 
     Philippine democracy from terror and to strengthen the 
     Philippines as an ally of the United States: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That Congress
       (1) welcomes the President, Her Excellency Gloria 
     Macapagal-Arroyo, to the United States;
       (2) expresses profound gratitude to the Government and the 
     people of the Philippines for the expressions of support and 
     sympathy provided after the September 11, 2001, terrorist 
     attacks, and for the Philippines' strong cooperation in the 
     on-going war against global terrorism, membership in the 
     coalition to disarm Iraq, and assistance in helping to 
     rebuild that country; and
       (3) reaffirms its commitment to the continued expansion of 
     friendship and cooperation between the Governments and the 
     people of the United States and the Philippines.

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