[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 170 (Monday, November 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H12468-H12469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THE
REPUBLIC OF SAN MARINO
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 236) recognizing the close
relationship between the United States and the Republic of San Marino,
as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 236
Whereas the Republic of San Marino is the oldest republic
in the world;
Whereas the Republic of San Marino was founded by those
fleeing the religious persecution of the Roman Empire, and
has adhered to the principles of tolerance and individual
liberty throughout its history;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of San Marino
have long held close ties based on common interests and
common values;
Whereas the special bond between the Republic of San Marino
and the United States was first expressed nearly a century
and a half ago in an exchange of letters between President
Abraham Lincoln and the Captains Regent of San Marino;
Whereas President Lincoln expressed in his letter his deep
respect for the Republic of San Marino as ``one of the most
honored in all of history'' and took encouragement from its
example that a ``government founded on republican principles
is capable of being so administered as to be secure and
enduring'';
Whereas the Republic of San Marino has been a steadfast
ally of the United States in many international
organizations, such as the United Nations and the
International Monetary Fund;
Whereas the Republic of San Marino has been a close
collaborator on a number of key economic issues, such as the
protection of intellectual property;
Whereas the Republic of San Marino has been a close
collaborator in the fight against terrorism, including
efforts to combat international terrorist financing;
Whereas through its chairmanship of the Committee of
Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Republic of San
Marino has worked to promote inter-religious and inter-
cultural dialogue;
Whereas earlier this year, the United States and the
Republic of San Marino upgraded their diplomatic relations to
ambassador-level, and exchanged the first bilateral
Ambassadors in our history;
Whereas Paolo Rondelli, the first Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of San Marino to the
United States, presented his credentials to President Bush at
a ceremony at the White House on July 25, 2007; and
Whereas the Honorable Ronald P. Spogli presented
credentials to the Captains Regent (co-Heads of State) in a
ceremony in San Marino's Palazzo Publico on March 8, 2007:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes the close relationship between the United
States and the Republic of San Marino;
(2) expresses its deep gratitude to the Republic of San
Marino for its close collaboration and support in issues of
critical importance to our economic and national security
interests; and
(3) commemorates the first bilateral exchange of
Ambassadors in the history of our long relationship.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
I would like to thank my good friend and colleague, the gentleman
from California (Mr. Dreier), for introducing this resolution that
recognizes a small but important friend of the United States.
It is often said, Mr. Speaker, that good things come in small
packages, and in the case of San Marino, this is certainly true. San
Marino is the third smallest country in Europe, only Vatican City and
Monaco being smaller.
San Marino, which is home to 29,000 inhabitants in a territory one-
third the size of the District of Columbia, attracts several million
visitors a year. The tourist industry makes up over 50 percent of the
country's GDP.
San Marino is said to be the oldest republic in the world. It was
founded in 301 A.D. by Marinus of Rab, a Christian fleeing from
religious persecution by the Roman Emperor.
Its constitution, which dates back to 1600, is the world's oldest
written constitution, and remains in effect to this day.
San Marino has been an active player at the international level,
including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, and Council
of Europe. Through these bodies, San Marino has sought to promote
interreligious and intercultural dialogue, as well as the protection of
intellectual property.
San Marino has also cultivated a close friendship with the United
States based on our shared values and interests. This relationship was
first expressed when President Abraham Lincoln exchanged letters with
the Captains Regent of San Marino.
Nearly 150 years after these letters were sent, the United States and
San Marino upgraded their bilateral relations to include the first ever
exchange of ambassadors. President Bush welcomed San Marino's new
Ambassador, Paulo Rondelli, during a White House ceremony on July 25.
U.S. Ambassador Ronald Spogli presented his credentials to the Captains
Regent in San Marino's Palazzo Publico on March 8. I welcome this
development in our bilateral relations, and look forward to ever closer
cooperation with our European ally.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution which
recognizes the close relationship between our two countries, expresses
gratitude to San Marino for its friendship and support, and
commemorates the first ever exchange of ambassadors.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, let's take a moment to recognize an ally whose
relationship with the United States certainly exceeds its size.
Completely surrounded by Italy, the European microstate of San Marino
has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of
Europe. Yet, San Marino has made a strong ally of the United States,
most notably within a number of international institutions, including
the United Nations and the International Monetary Fund. In fact, the
U.S. and San Marino have collaborated closely on several key issues
such as combating international terrorist financing and protecting
intellectual property rights.
Moreover, San Marino has been a leader in promoting interreligious
and intercultural dialogue within the European Union. The value of our
relationship was marked earlier this year by the first exchange of
ambassadors between the U.S. and San Marino.
I, therefore, ask my colleagues to join me in supporting Ranking
Member Dreier's H. Con. Res. 236, recognizing our close relationship
with the Republic of San Marino.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve my time.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the author of this resolution,
the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier) such time as he may consume.
(Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. DREIER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues, the gentleman
from New York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr.
Boozman), for their very thoughtful remarks on this resolution.
I also want to join in expressing my appreciation to my fellow
Californian, the distinguished Chair of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Lantos and, of course, the ranking Republican, Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen.
{time} 1500
I think both of the sets of remarks offered underscore something that
is extraordinarily important, and that is that we thank and express our
appreciation to our allies, no matter how
[[Page H12469]]
large or how small their populations, in dealing with the challenges
that we face internationally.
But I will say I have a particular interest in the world's oldest
republic because I am privileged to represent its namesake, the City of
San Marino, California.
I had the privilege, Mr. Speaker, of leading the first bipartisan
delegation to what, as my friend from New York correctly said, is the
oldest republic on the face of the Earth, and we took this delegation
back in 2004 to the Republic of San Marino. I had the opportunity to
present to the Captains Regent, as was said, the co-heads of their
state, of their government, a proclamation passed by the San Marino
City Council expressing its greetings and appreciation for the
friendship that they share.
San Marino, California, was named at its founding for the republic on
the Adriatic Sea and displays in its seal Mount Titano, where the
republic was first established. Today, like its namesake, San Marino,
California, is known for its beauty. It is home to the Huntington
Library and Gardens, one of Southern California's great treasures. But
the relationship with the Republic of San Marino reaches far beyond
beauty. It's my hope that this resolution will help to make us all more
aware of the great bond the United States shares with this small, but
very important, country.
The Republic of San Marino, as was said, was founded over 17
centuries ago by those who were fleeing the religious persecution of
the Roman Empire. They founded a community based on liberty and
tolerance 1,300 years before the Pilgrims would land on Plymouth Rock
on a similar endeavor. Since those early days of the republic, San
Marino has continued its strong tradition of democracy and freedom.
Our close bond, based on a shared commitment to these principles, was
first, as my friend from New York said, recorded in history through an
exchange of letters between President Lincoln and the Captains Regent.
President Lincoln expressed in that letter his deep respect for the
Republic of San Marino, saying, ``as one of the most honored in all of
world history.''
Mr. Speaker, he took encouragement from its example that any
``government founded on republican principles is capable of being so
administered as to be secure and enduring.'' Those are the words of
President Lincoln. Now, as our Nation faced a great crisis, Lincoln
looked to the example of San Marino, which had endured for so long
while standing with its small ``r'' republican foundation.
As the United States has faced new crises in the 20th and 21st
centuries, it has again relied upon San Marino for its steadfast
support within international institutions such as the United Nations.
San Marino has been a close collaborator on a number of critical issues
like combating international terrorist financing. This year we have
honored their friendship and support, as was said, by elevating our
relationship to the ambassadorial level.
My good friend and fellow Californian Ron Spogli, as the first U.S.
Ambassador to the Republic of San Marino, presented his credentials to
the Captains Regent in a ceremony in San Marino's Palazzo Publico on
March 8 of 2007. And as my friend from New York said, the exchange was
completed when on July 25 of this year, Paolo Rondelli, the first
Ambassador of the Republic of San Marino to the United States,
presented his credentials to President Bush at the White House.
Mr. Speaker, today we honor this exchange of ambassadors, and we
honor the close relationship between our Nation and the world's oldest
republic and the fundamental values that bind us.
And, again, I thank my colleagues for their support of this
resolution.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of Congressman Dreier's
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 236, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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