Congressional Record, Volume 154 Issue 95 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)

[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5139-H5141]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

{time} 1230
MARKING THE 225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TREATY OF PARIS OF 1783

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 1063) marking the 225th anniversary of the Treaty
of Paris of 1783, which ended the Revolutionary War with the Kingdom of
Great Britain and recognized the independence of the United States of
America, and acknowledging the shared values and close friendship
between the peoples and governments of the United States and the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
Mr. BERMAN. I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Berman) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 6028, 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. POE. 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.

H. Res. 1063

Whereas the United States will celebrate this year the
225th anniversary of its relationship with the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the September 3,
1783 signing of the Treaty of Paris, which formally ended the
American Revolutionary War between the Kingdom of Great
Britain and the United States of America;
Whereas both the United Kingdom and the United States are
free and democratic nations with a common commitment to human
rights and the rule of law;
Whereas the United Kingdom is a major ally of the United
States and 2008 marks the 50th anniversary of the US-UK
Mutual Defense Agreement that was signed in Washington, DC,
on July 3, 1958, and renewed in Washington, DC, on June 14,
2004;
Whereas both the United Kingdom and the United States are
founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO), having been party to the North Atlantic Treaty signed
in Washington, DC, on April 4, 1949;
Whereas the United Kingdom is a major partner in the
worldwide fight against terrorism, supporting the United
States in many key armed struggles;
Whereas the United Kingdom is the second largest
contributor to the multinational force in Iraq;
Whereas the United Kingdom plays a significant role in the
military effort to bring lasting stability to Afghanistan and
is the second largest contributor to NATO's International
Security Assistance Force;
Whereas the United Kingdom and the United States share a
steadfast alliance and a long tradition of opposing
extremism, which included fighting the forces of nazism and
communism in the 20th century;
Whereas the United Kingdom is the sixth largest trading
partner of the United States, and the United States is the
largest trading partner of the United Kingdom;
Whereas the United States and the United Kingdom share the
world's largest foreign direct investment partnership, with
American investment sustaining over a million jobs in the
United Kingdom and British investment sustaining over a
million jobs in the United States;
Whereas approximately 675,000 British citizens reside in
the United States, and 155,000 Americans reside in the United
Kingdom, with both communities contributing to the fabric of
life in their host countries;
Whereas approximately 8,400 British students are currently
studying at universities in the United States, and 32,000
American students are studying at universities in the United
Kingdom; and
Whereas the relationship between the United States and the
United Kingdom is one of unity and strength, and has been
proven to be of mutual benefit: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) marks the 225th anniversary of relations between the
United States and the Kingdom of Great Britain;
(2) recognizes that the Kingdom of Great Britain's
recognition of the United States was an important event in
the history of the Nation;
(3) reaffirms the value of the deep friendship that has
developed between our two Countries since the signing of the
Treaty of Paris; and
(4) looks forward to a continued and strengthened
relationship between the British and American people.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.

General Leave

Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 legislative
days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous
material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
I am pleased to support this resolution that marks 225 years since
the Treaty of Paris concluded the Revolutionary War with Great Britain
and that acknowledges the close friendship enjoyed by our two countries
ever since.
I commend our distinguished colleague, Representative Wu of Oregon,
and Vice-Chair of the British-American Parliamentary Group, who
introduced this measure. It is important that the House marks this
anniversary and celebrates such a vital bipartisan partnership,
bilateral partnership also.
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, formally ending
the Revolutionary War between the 13 original colonies and the Kingdom
of Great Britain. The settlement of the war and the recognition of our
young Nation by Great Britain was a moment of great significance in the
infancy of our Nation.
Two hundred twenty-five years later, the United Kingdom remains one
of our closest allies by virtue of our shared history and values. Both
the United States and the UK have proud histories of representative
democracy and respect for the rule of law.
They have also encouraged and helped many people around the world
secure the freedoms and rights their

[[Page H5140]]

own citizens enjoy. During World War I, the United States and the
United Kingdom fought together as a part of the allied forces against
autocratic imperialism.
During World War II, again, against the Axis, our countries stood
together against the scourge of Nazism and fascism. Our brave troops
helped to liberate European countries from Nazi occupation, and
innocent civilians from the horrors of concentration camps. We talked
about the greatest generation, our World War II veterans, that we today
still admire and respect.
Throughout the 20th century, the United Kingdom has stood side-by-
side with the United States on critical issues concerning liberty and
human rights. Most recently the United Kingdom has strongly supported
the United States' effort in South Asia and the Middle East. British
soldiers are the second largest contributors to NATO's International
Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and the multinational force in
Iraq.
The United States and the United Kingdom share long histories of
industrialization, being among the first nations to develop
technologically. Both nations have a culture of intervention and
curiosity, as evidenced by the innumerable number of scientific
discoveries and inventions. This work has enhanced the frequent
collaboration between American and British researchers. We have a
tremendous bilateral system going.
Indeed, such links are often developed at an early stage as young
people take advantage of educational opportunities in each others'
countries. There are currently 8,400 British students attending
American universities and 32,000 American youth staying in the UK.
These young people know all too well the extensive cultural links
between our countries as British and American arts, music, literature,
cinema, are enjoyed on both sides of the Atlantic.
In recognition of the close bilateral relations shared by the United
States and the United Kingdom, I strongly support this resolution and
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, while the positive relationship enjoyed by the United
States and Great Britain is certainly historic, enduring and merits
recognition, and it merits nurturing, we should also be focusing our
time and debating policies to address the rising energy costs that are
facing our Nation.
Nevertheless, we have this resolution before us marking the 225th
anniversary of the Treaty of Paris of 1783 between the United States
and the United Kingdom. The great British Prime Minister Winston
Churchill was the first to refer to the alliance between the United
States and the United Kingdom as a special relationship. In a speech he
delivered in 1946, he was right to use that term.
The American British relationship is, indeed, special, with its
foundation lying in the common values of freedom, democracy and human
rights. Our mutual commitments to those principles have led the United
States and Great Britain to stand side by side on the beaches of
Normandy, at the Berlin wall, in the mountains of Afghanistan, and in
those the parts of Iraq where the challenges today are greatest.
The murderous terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, in America,
and on July 7, 2005, in Britain, have bound America and Britain even
closer together in our determination to defeat extremism.
During his recent visit to the United States, British Prime Minister
Gordon Brown reaffirmed our strong relationship saying, ``I continue to
stand shoulder to shoulder [with the US] in the fight where freedom and
justice are at risk.''
By adopting the resolution before us, we will again recognize the
history of our special relationship with Britain, a relationship that
ironically began with the revolution of one against the other, but that
came into its full strength because of the values and the ideals that
our two people have continued to share.
Now, 225 years after the treaty of peace, in which Britain recognized
the independence of the United States of America, that alliance between
our two countries takes its guidance from the speech in 1946 in which
Mr. Churchill noted our special relationship, and here is what he said
then:
If there is to be a fraternal association . . . with all the extra
strength and security which both our countries can derive from it, let
us make sure that that great fact is known to the world, and that it
plays its part in steadying and stabilizing the foundations of peace.
There is the path of wisdom.
I encourage my colleagues to join supporting this resolution which
follows Mr. Churchill's advice and lets the world know that the United
States and the United Kingdom, indeed, have a strong and continuing
relationship. I am not sure what Winston Churchill would say about
today's high energy costs, but I bet that he would have a detailed plan
to help us bring our costs down.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of our time.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the
author of this resolution, Mr. David Wu of Oregon, chairman of the
Subcommittee on Science and Technology.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for his many kindnesses.
Thomas Jefferson once said that ``no two countries upon Earth have so
many points of common interest and friendship'' as the United States
and the United Kingdom. Indeed, our two nations share values,
traditions and a common commitment to democracy, human rights and the
rule of law.
I introduced House Resolution 1063 to mark the 225th anniversary of
our diplomatic relationship with the United Kingdom, which began with
the signing of the Treaty of Paris of 1783. This treaty formalized the
peace between the United States and Great Britain following our
Revolutionary War.
In September of 1782, Benjamin Franklin, along with fellow peace
commissioners John Adams and John Jay, began formal negotiations for an
end to hostilities between Great Britain and the de facto independent
United States of America.
After 2 months of negotiation, Britain and France and the United
States reached a preliminary peace agreement. The following September,
the parties met in Paris and signed what would become known as the
Treaty of Paris of 1783. Since that time, Britain and the United States
have come to be friends, allies and economic partners, a relationship
that advances, enriches and inspires both sides of the Atlantic.
As with all old sayings, it is the exception which proves the rule.
For the old saying that great powers have only interests, not friends,
the relationship between the United States of America and the United
Kingdom is the exception which proves the rule.
Recently I joined several of my colleagues in Congress and with
members of the British Parliament for extensive discussions. It was a
productive and thought-provoking exchange of ideas. I believe we can
learn much from the experience of our British counterparts. One example
would be dealing with the challenge of global climate change.
I also believe our own knowledge and expertise can be of continued
value to our friends in the United Kingdom. One example of that would
be their expressed interest in the Death with Dignity Law which we
passed in the State of Oregon.
After two centuries, we can still learn from each other, prosper
together, and jointly promote a better world.
So it is fitting that we should mark with special approbation the
225th anniversary of the treaty that began our relations with the
United Kingdom as independent States. For over two centuries, our two
nations have stood together in peace and war, in prosperity and
hardship. Together we have faced two world wars, the Great Depression,
the Cold War, terrorism, and triumphs and tragedies too numerous to
recount.
Please join me in marking the genesis of our diplomatic relationship
with the United Kingdom by supporting House Resolution 1063. I thank
the Speaker of the House for the House consideration of this resolution
today, and I urge swift passage of H.R. 1063.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, in order to close, I would like to
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to note that this 225th
anniversary

[[Page H5141]]

of the signing of the Treaty of Paris, the declaration in that treaty
of the intention of both the U.S. and the United Kingdom to forget all
past misunderstandings and differences and to secure perpetual peace
and harmony, over 200 years later these goals remain a cornerstone to
our strong relationship.
I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution and reaffirm our
close ties to our dear ally, Great Britain.
Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, let me, once again, say what a great occasion
it is marking the 225th anniversary of the Treaty of Paris of 1783.
As has been indicated, we are close allies. Many of our
organizations, as a matter of fact, the YMCA, which was founded in
Great Britain in the late 1840s to take people who were coming into
London because of the Industrial Revolution in London and England found
a place where they could have a wholesome relationship. Twenty-five
years later, that organization was brought to the United States of
America. Still we have relations between them, just another example of
close ties between the United States and the United Kingdom.
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 Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1063.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. 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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