[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 41 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1462-H1463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATING THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES AND THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND
Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 290) commemorating the 175th
anniversary of the special relationship between the United States and
the Kingdom of Thailand, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 290
Whereas the United States will celebrate the 175th
anniversary of its relationship with the Kingdom of Thailand
since the signing of the original Treaty of Amity and
Commerce in 1833 during President Andrew Jackson's
administration and the reign of King Rama III;
Whereas the Kingdom of Thailand was the United States'
first treaty ally in the Asia-Pacific region and remains a
steadfast friend with the Thai and American people sharing
the values of freedom, democracy, and liberty;
Whereas Thailand was designated as a major non-NATO ally in
December 2003, which improved the security of both nations,
particularly through joint counterterrorism efforts;
Whereas for more than a quarter century Thailand has been
the host country of Cobra Gold, the United States Pacific
Command's annual multinational military training exercise
designed to ensure regional peace and promote regional
security cooperation;
Whereas the United States and Thailand launched joint
relief operations in the wake of the tragic 2004 tsunami from
Utapao, Thailand, thus strengthening the overall capacity of
the forces involved in providing relief and setting the model
for effective humanitarian operations throughout the entire
region affected by the deadly tsunami;
Whereas Thailand is a key partner of the United States in
Southeast Asia and has supported closer relations between the
United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(``ASEAN'');
Whereas Congress passed H. Con. Res. 409 in 2006
commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Ascension to the
Throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand;
Whereas on December 5, 2007, the people of Thailand
celebrated the 80th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol
Adulyadej, the world's longest serving monarch, who is loved
and respected by Thai for his lifelong dedication to the
social and economic development of the Thai people;
Whereas on December 23, 2007, the Royal Thai Government
held nationwide parliamentary elections that should help pave
the way for a successful return of stable democracy to
Thailand;
Whereas approximately 500,000 Americans of Thai descent are
living in the United States and share in the mutual pursuit
of the American Dream;
Whereas Thailand is America's 20th largest trading partner
with bilateral trade totaling $30,600,000,000 per year; and
Whereas the bonds of friendship and mutual respect between
the United States and Thailand are strong: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That the Congress--
(1) commemorates the 175th anniversary of United States and
Thailand relations;
(2) offers its sincere congratulations to the Kingdom of
Thailand and the Thai people for their democratic, free, and
fair election;
(3) commemorates the 80th birthday of His Majesty King
Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand and offers its sincere
congratulations and best wishes for the continued prosperity
of the Kingdom of Thailand; and
(4) looks forward to continued, enduring ties of friendship
between the Thai and American people.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Crowley) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. CROWLEY. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5
legislative days to revise and extend 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. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this
resolution and yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, as the lead Democratic sponsor of this legislation, I
want to thank my friend and distinguished colleague from Illinois, the
ranking member of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global
Environment, Mr. Don Manzullo, for introducing this resolution before
us today.
In 1833, 2 years before the publication of Alexis de Tocqueville's
``Democracy in America'' and 3 years before the Battle of the Alamo,
the United States and Kingdom of Thailand signed the Treaty of Amity
and Commerce, making the Kingdom of Thailand the United States' first
treaty ally in the Asia-Pacific region.
Now, 175 years later, Thailand remains our oldest Asia-Pacific ally.
During this time, the relationship between our two countries has
strengthened as it has changed with the times, and the friendship
between our two peoples has grown deep and enduring.
Our military partnership, which began when King Mongkut offered
combat elephants to President Lincoln during the Civil War, is now one
of the closest in Asia.
Thai soldiers fought alongside U.S. military personnel in World War
I, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Today, Thailand is one of only
a handful of our major non-NATO allies and is a crucial partner in our
efforts to combat international terrorism. Thailand is also the host
country of Cobra Gold, U.S. Pacific Command's annual multinational
military training exercise.
Our economic relationship is similarly robust, with bilateral trade
topping $30 billion annually.
On the political front, traditionally Thailand has been an anchor of
stability and democracy in the volatile region of Southeast Asia. While
it has been tested repeatedly by its own political upheavals, the Thai
people have consistently responded by renewing their dedication to
democracy.
The country has had 18 coup attempts since World War II, and
Thailand's December elections only recently ended the latest coup
government, which had come to power in 2006.
[[Page H1463]]
We all hope and believe that Thailand can move beyond the differences
which led to the coup and return to its position as a democratic leader
in Southeast Asia.
Key to resilience of the Thai political system is the strength and
pride of the Thai people.
No one epitomizes the spirit of Thai people more than their beloved
king, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
On December 5, 2006, the king turned 80 years old. We in Congress
join the Thai people in celebrating this landmark birthday and wishing
the king a continued long life.
This resolution commemorates the 175th anniversary of the special
relationship between the United States and Thailand and congratulates
Thailand on maintaining its commitment to democracy by holding national
elections and returning to a civilian-led government.
I strongly support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do
the same.
And with that, Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise today to recognize the 175th anniversary of the strong and
enduring relationship between the people of the United States and the
people of Thailand. The United States has no older ally in the Asia-
Pacific region than the Kingdom of Thailand.
It was in the early days of our Republic, during the administration
of Andrew Jackson, that the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed
with King Rama III. Thailand has been a staunch friend of the United
States ever since.
Remarkably, during the dark days of our Civil War, the King of
Thailand offered to send President Lincoln a herd of elephants to help
lead the Union to victory. While Lincoln did not take up the offer, the
gesture was greatly appreciated.
More recently, Thailand provided support for our military forces
during the Vietnam War. It has also served for more than a quarter
century as the host for our Pacific Command's annual multinational
military training exercise known as ``Cobra Gold.''
Our two nations have worked closely together on humanitarian issues
as well. Thailand was of great assistance as the host nation for many
of the refugees who came out of Indochina after the war there. More
recently, Thailand has provided a safe haven for Burmese and North
Korean refugees. Thailand also came together with the United States in
launching joint relief operations following the tragic tsunami which
caused its devastation in 2004.
Thailand is America's 20th largest trading partner. A half million
Americans are of Thai descent, including the remarkable Tiger Woods.
These are indeed the ties that bind.
It is my strong hope that the Government of Thailand with build on
last year's successful parliamentary elections by ensuring that all
parties in Thailand are brought into the political process.
Thailand's rebirth of diplomacy is something which all Americans
welcome. I therefore urge my colleagues to support this resolution
which recognizes our oldest and one of our most loyal Asian allies.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, at this time I reserve the balance of my
time.
Mr. MANZULLO. I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman
from California (Mr. Royce).
Mr. ROYCE. I thank the gentleman, Madam Speaker. I rise also to
support this resolution commemorating the 175th anniversary of the
special relationship that we have with the Kingdom of Thailand. I am an
original cosponsor of this resolution, but I think this resolution
rightly points out the improving security relationship between our two
countries.
What I would like to share with my colleagues here today is the
growing cooperation in law enforcement that we are having with
Thailand.
Madam Speaker, last week, Viktor Bout, the most notorious of
international arms dealers, was brought into custody by Thai
authorities. A criminal complaint was unsealed in New York detailing
Viktor Bout's efforts to sell mass amounts of weapons to the FARC, a
foreign terrorist organization that operates in Colombia.
He was arrested in the final stages of arranging a sale of millions
of dollars of high-powered weapons, including 100 advanced shoulder-
fired missiles capable of taking out airliners. With the cooperation of
Thai authorities, the ``Merchant of Death,'' as Viktor Bout is known,
is out of the game. He is being retired from the role he has played in
the killings and maimings around the world. And this is good news to
anyone who cares about checking strife in Africa, anyone who cares
about stopping those who armed child soldiers, anyone who cares about
checking support for transnational terrorists.
Because while many were attempting to stop conflicts across Africa,
this is the individual who was pouring fuel on the fire. In U.N. report
after U.N. report, Viktor Bout was cited as the chief sanctions buster,
supplying arms to anyone who could pay. And I saw this up close when I
chaired the Africa subcommittee and when I traveled across the
continent. It is a bloody trail from Liberia and then across sub-
Saharan Africa that he left.
Bout simultaneously, by the way, also managed to arm the Taliban
while he was arming the Northern Alliance. As I said, he has had
dealings with the FARC in Colombia, and he has been connected with
Hezbollah. He is an international menace who needs to face justice, and
we look forward to his expeditious extradition to the United States.
And thank you to the Thai authorities, because they are the ones who
took him into custody.
Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CROWLEY. I yield back my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 290, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as amended, was
agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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